Ectopic adrenal adenoma causing gross hematuria: Steroidogenic enzyme profiling and literature review

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149375/1/iju512068.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149375/2/iju512068_am.pd

Feasibility of a new hollow fiber silicone membrane oxygenator for long-term ECMO application

Currently in United States, there are no clinically-applicable hollow fiber extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) oxygenators available. Therefore, our laboratory is in the process of developing a silicone hollow fiber membrane oxygenator for long-term ECMO usage. This oxygenator incorporates an ultrathin silicone hollow fiber. At this time, a specially-modified blood flow distributor (one chamber distributor) is centered in the module to prevent blood stagnation. An ex vivo long-term durability test for ECMO was performed using a healthy miniature calf for 2 weeks. Venous blood was drained from the left jugular vein of a calf, passed through the oxygenator and infused into the left carotid artery using a Gyro C1E3 centrifugal blood pump. A successful 2-week ex vivo experiment was performed. The O2 and CO2 gas transfer rates were maintained at the same value of 40 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 1 L/min flow and V/Q=3 (V=gas flow rate Q=blood flow rate). The plasma free hemoglobin was maintained around 5 mg/dl. After the experiment, no blood clot formation was observed in the module and no abnormal necropsy findings were found. These data suggest that the performance of this newly-improved oxygenator was stable, reliable, and acceptable for long-term ECMO

Factor analysis for construct validity of a trunk impairment scale in Parkinson’s disease: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo investigate the construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), which was developed to assess trunk impairment in patients with stroke, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).DesignThis retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive PD inpatients. Correlation analysis was performed to clarify whether the TIS assessment was related to other balance functions, lower extremity muscle strength, or walking ability. Factor analysis was performed to see how the background factors of TIS differ from balance function, lower limb muscle strength, and walking ability.ResultsExamining the data of 471 patients with PD, there were relationships between TIS and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (r = 0.67), Barthel Index (r = 0.57), general lower limb extension torque (r = 0.51), two-minute walk test (r = 0.54), Hoehn and Yahr stage (r = −0.61), and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III total points (r = −0.59). Factor analysis showed that TIS items were divided into three factors (an abdominal muscles and righting reflex component; a perception and verticality component; and a rotational component), differing from other scales that included clinical assessment items.ConclusionThe TIS can be useful for assessing the underlying trunk impairment as a basis for activities of daily living, gait function, and balance ability in patients with PD

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant

SARS-CoV-2オミクロンBA.2.75株（通称ケンタウロス）のウイルス学的性状の解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-10-12.The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant emerged in May 2022. BA.2.75 is a BA.2 descendant but is phylogenetically distinct from BA.5, the currently predominant BA.2 descendant. Here, we show that BA.2.75 has a greater effective reproduction number and different immunogenicity profile than BA.5. We determined the sensitivity of BA.2.75 to vaccinee and convalescent sera as well as a panel of clinically available antiviral drugs and antibodies. Antiviral drugs largely retained potency but antibody sensitivity varied depending on several key BA.2.75-specific substitutions. The BA.2.75 spike exhibited a profoundly higher affinity for its human receptor, ACE2. Additionally, the fusogenicity, growth efficiency in human alveolar epithelial cells, and intrinsic pathogenicity in hamsters of BA.2.75 were greater than those of BA.2. Our multilevel investigations suggest that BA.2.75 acquired virological properties independent of BA.5, and the potential risk of BA.2.75 to global health is greater than that of BA.5