Geographical, genetic and functional diversity of antiretroviral host factor TRIMCyp in cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

The antiretroviral factor tripartite motif protein 5 (TRIM5) gene-derived isoform (TRIMCyp) has been found in at least three species of Old World monkey: rhesus (Macaca mulatta), pig-tailed (Macaca nemestrina) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) macaques. Although the frequency of TRIMCyp has been well studied in rhesus and pig-tailed macaques, the frequency and prevalence of TRIMCyp in cynomolgus macaques remain to be definitively elucidated. Here, the geographical and genetic diversity of TRIM5α/TRIMCyp in cynomolgus macaques was studied in comparison with their anti-lentiviral activity. It was found that the frequency of TRIMCyp in a population in the Philippines was significantly higher than those in Indonesian and Malaysian populations. Major and minor haplotypes of cynomolgus macaque TRIMCyp with single nucleotide polymorphisms in the cyclophilin A domain were also found. The functional significance of the polymorphism in TRIMCyp was examined, and it was demonstrated that the major haplotype of TRIMCyp suppressed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) but not HIV-2, whilst the minor haplotype of TRIMCyp suppressed HIV-2 but not HIV-1. The major haplotype of TRIMCyp did not restrict a monkey-tropic HIV-1 clone, NL-DT5R, which contains a capsid with the simian immunodeficiency virus-derived loop between α-helices 4 and 5 and the entire vif gene. These results indicate that polymorphisms of TRIMCyp affect its anti-lentiviral activity. Overall, the results of this study will help our understanding of the genetic background of cynomolgus macaque TRIMCyp, as well as the host factors composing species barriers of primate lentiviruses

Patient Satisfaction after Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy for Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) for palmar hyperhidrosis was performed using a 3-mm small endoscope at our hospital, and we conducted a questionnaire for the purpose of studying the conditions and satisfaction after surgery. The subjects were comprised of 50 patients, of which 35 patients (75%) answered the survey. The average age of the respondents was 27 years old (range: 12?62 years old) including 13 males and 22 females and the average postoperative observation period was 33 months (1?114 months). The results showed the good effects of surgery in all of the patients for palmar sweating while patient satisfaction was 79.4 points, which concluded that ETS was sufficiently accepted as treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. However, compensatory sweating (CS) developed in 97.1% of the patients, and 82.9% answered that they were disturbed because it was more than they had expected. This result makes us realize further the importance of preoperative informed consent for CS. The problem of palmar hyperhidrosis is very serious for patients, and hence it is important to give treatment with a thorough understanding of the effectiveness and problems of ETS for palmar hyperhidrosis according to the analytical results of this questionnaire

Bilateral Multiple Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma in a Young Male Patient

The patient was a 24-year-old male who visited our University Hospital complaining of chest pain, and chest computed tomography revealed multiple bilateral nodules. The chest pain disappeared almost immediately, but the tumor underwent no changes during the 3 years of follow-up observations. We used a thoracoscope to perform a partial lung resection of a nodule that reached a maximum diameter of 9 mm for the purpose of obtaining a definite diagnosis. From the pathological findings, the patient was diagnosed to have pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma in which circular tumor cells lacking nuclear atypia rose to papillary hyperplasia. The mindbomb homolog-1 positive rate (MIB-1 index) of the tumor cells was less than 1%, and it is believed to have a poor proliferation activity. Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma is predominantly found in cases of middle-aged female patients and occurs unilaterally. Cases of bilateral multiple forms in young males are extremely rare. Some cases of enlargement, metastasis and relapse have also been reported, so in the future, careful follow-up is required

Thoracoscopic Resection of an Anterior Mediastinal Bronchogenic Cyst

We report a very rare case of anterior mediastinal bronchogenic cyst, successfully resected by thoracoscopic surgery. A 78-year-old female was noted as having an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray during a routine medical checkup. Chest CT revealed a cystic tumor in the anterior mediastinum. A thymic cyst was suspected after a detailed examination and thoracoscopic surgery was performed. A cystic tumor containing yellowish-white mucus measuring 46 × 33 × 19 mm in size was successfully removed. Calcification was also observed in the cyst wall. Pathologically, the tumor was characterized by a ciliated columnar epithelial lining, and was subsequently diagnosed as a bronchogenic cyst. Although they may be rare, bronchogenic cysts should also be considered in the evaluation of cystic tumors in the anterior mediastinum