A Case of Multiple Pilosebaceous Cysts

Multiple pilosebaceous cysts include the entities of steatocystoma multiplex and eruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHCs). Multiple pilosebaceous cysts are proposed to be one entity originating in the pilosebaceous duct, since steatocystoma multiplex and EVHCs are frequently present concomitantly and are caused by a cystic change in the same pilosebaceous duct. Here, we describe a patient with yellowish papules, 3–8 mm in diameter, on the neck and skin-colored or light-brown papules, 1–3 mm in diameter, on the neck, chest and upper abdomen. The smaller cysts were histopathologically diagnosed as EVHCs. The larger cysts had both features of EVHCs and steatocystoma multiplex. Therefore, a diagnosis of these lesions was made as multiple pilosebaceous cysts. Our case supports the proposition that multiple pilosebaceous cysts are a more appropriate diagnosis than the terms of EVHCs and steatocystoma multiplex

Beyond acne: current aspects of sebaceous gland biology and function

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Involvement of Propionibacterium acnes in the Augmentation of Lipogenesis in Hamster Sebaceous Glands In Vivo and In Vitro

Propionibacterium acnes is considered to be involved in the aggravation of acne vulgaris, but it remains unclear whether P. acnes directly influences lipogenesis in sebaceous glands. In this study, we showed that a culture medium of P. acnes (acnes-CM) and formalin-killed P. acnes (F-acnes) prepared from P. acnes strains, JCM6473 and JCM6425, intracellularly augmented lipid droplet formation and triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis in undifferentiated and insulin-differentiated hamster sebocytes. Acnes-CM and F-acnes prepared from four clinical P. acnes strains elicited the same lipogenesis augmentation. The augmented TG production resulted from an increase in the diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. Topical application of acnes-CM to the skin of hamster auricles every day for 4 weeks revealed that sebum accumulation was augmented in sebaceous glands and ducts. Furthermore, both acnes-CM and F-acnes increased the production of 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), a cytochrome P450 (CYP)-linked sebaceous lipogenic factor, in differentiated sebocytes. A CYP inhibitor, SKF-525A, decreased the acnes-CM- and F-acnes-augmented production of TG and 15d-PGJ2. Thus, to our knowledge these results provide previously unreported evidence that P. acnes directly participates in the augmentation of sebaceous lipogenesis through a proposed mechanism in which an increase of 15d-PGJ2 production through the CYP pathway is closely associated with the enhancement of TG production

Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, blocks osteoclastic bone resorption

AbstractThe biological role of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase was examined in osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) formed in co-cultures of mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. The expression of PI-3 kinase in OCLs was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Wortmannin (WT), a specific inhibitor of PI-3 kinase, inhibited PI-3 kinase activity in OCLs both in vitro and in vivo. WT also inhibited pit-forming activity on dentine slices and disrupted a ringed structure of F-actin-containing dots (an actin ring) in OCLs in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory profiles of WT for pit and actin ring formation were similar to that for PI-3 kinase activity in OCLs. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that OCLs treated with WT did not form ruffled borders. Instead, numerous electron lucent vacuoles of differing sizes were found throughout the cytoplasm. These results suggest that PI-3 kinase is important in osteoclastic bone resorption

Comparative genomic analyses of Streptococcus mutans provide insights into chromosomal shuffling and species-specific content

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Streptococcus mutans </it>is the major pathogen of dental caries, and it occasionally causes infective endocarditis. While the pathogenicity of this species is distinct from other human pathogenic streptococci, the species-specific evolution of the genus <it>Streptococcus </it>and its genomic diversity are poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have sequenced the complete genome of <it>S. mutans </it>serotype <it>c </it>strain NN2025, and compared it with the genome of UA159. The NN2025 genome is composed of 2,013,587 bp, and the two strains show highly conserved core-genome. However, comparison of the two <it>S. mutans </it>strains showed a large genomic inversion across the replication axis producing an X-shaped symmetrical DNA dot plot. This phenomenon was also observed between other streptococcal species, indicating that streptococcal genetic rearrangements across the replication axis play an important role in <it>Streptococcus </it>genetic shuffling. We further confirmed the genomic diversity among 95 clinical isolates using long-PCR analysis. Genomic diversity in <it>S. mutans </it>appears to occur frequently between insertion sequence (IS) elements and transposons, and these diversity regions consist of restriction/modification systems, antimicrobial peptide synthesis systems, and transporters. <it>S. mutans </it>may preferentially reject the phage infection by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). In particular, the CRISPR-2 region, which is highly divergent between strains, in NN2025 has long repeated spacer sequences corresponding to the streptococcal phage genome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These observations suggest that <it>S. mutans </it>strains evolve through chromosomal shuffling and that phage infection is not needed for gene acquisition. In contrast, <it>S. pyogenes </it>tolerates phage infection for acquisition of virulence determinants for niche adaptation.</p

内反小趾変形のX線学的形態の特徴

Background: Bunionette deformity is characterized as head hypertrophy, lateral bowing, or splaying of the fifth metatarsal, or a combination of these deformities. Most previous studies have focused on the fourth and fifth metatarsals; few have analyzed the radiographic morphologic characteristics of the entire foot. The morphologic characteristics of the entire foot in cases of symptomatic bunionette deformity were analyzed with a radiographic image-mapping system. Methods: The system was used for the morphologic analysis of 112 feet with symptomatic deformity and 123 asymptomatic control feet. The mapping system includes 2-dimensional coordinates. We compared morphologies of both groups on the basis of simple models prepared from x and y coordinates of each reference point, calculated by using the mapping system and various angle measurements. We set cutoff values and categorized cases according to Fallat’s system. We evaluated the characteristics of each type and a new deformity type (type V) wherein no measurement exceeded the cutoff values. Results: The heads of the third, fourth, and fifth metatarsals were more laterally displaced, and the angles between the metatarsal axes were larger in the deformity group. Comparison of deformity types showed that the morphology of the fifth metatarsal might be only one cause of deformity. The intermetatarsal angles between the second and third metatarsals and between the third and fourth metatarsals were larger in deformity type II and type V feet than in control feet. Additionally, the intermetatarsal angles between the third and fourth metatarsals and between the fourth and fifth metatarsals were larger in deformity type III and type IV feet than in control feet. Conclusion: We believe it is necessary to not only focus on the fourth and fifth metatarsals, but also assess the morphologic characteristics of the entire foot in patients with a bunionette, including splaying of all the metatarsals and the forefoot width, when planning surgery. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.博士（医学）・甲第651号・平成28年3月15日© The Author(s) 2015Copyright © 2016 by American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle SocietyThe definitive version is available at " http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1071100715614923

Intratumoral Injection of Propionibacterium acnes Suppresses Malignant Melanoma by Enhancing Th1 Immune Responses

Malignant melanoma (MM) is an aggressive cutaneous malignancy associated with poor prognosis; many putatively therapeutic agents have been administered, but with mostly unsuccessful results. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is an aerotolerant anaerobic gram-positive bacteria that causes acne and inflammation. After being engulfed and processed by phagocytes, P. acnes induces a strong Th1-type cytokine immune response by producing cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α. The characteristic Th2-mediated allergic response can be counteracted by Th1 cytokines induced by P. acnes injection. This inflammatory response induced by P. acnes has been suggested to have antitumor activity, but its effect on MM has not been fully evaluated

A preliminary proposal of policy for dairy herd health management from the viewpoints of culling in the Hiroshima University Farm

近年日本の乳牛の平均除籍産次数が3.4産程度に低下しており，対策が必要な現状にある．本研究の目的は，本学農場の乳牛除籍の傾向を把握して，対策について考察することである．2000～2015年度の本農場の記録をもとに解析した．本農場では常時20～25頭程度の搾乳牛が飼養され，2011年3月までは1日2回のパーラー搾乳，それ以降は24時間自動搾乳が行われた．期間内に83頭の乳牛が除籍になり，うち67頭が肉畜として出荷され，16頭が農場内で死亡した．除籍頭数割合は産次とともに増加し，6産時が最も多かった．除籍率は，初産時が最も低く，徐々に増加して4産，5産時に40%を超え，6産時に急激に増加して77.8%となった．除籍理由として，繁殖障害，乳房炎等の疾病が推察された．一般的な繁殖成績改善と疾病予防を進めるとともに，6産以降は繁殖と疾病の履歴に基づき，飼養継続の判断基準確立が必要と考えられた．In Japan, mean value for parity of dairy cows at culling has decreased to 3.4; measures to improve this are required. The aim of the present study is to understand the trends of culling of dairy cows at the Hiroshima University Farm. For that purpose, the farm’s records for dairy cow culling during the period of 2000–2015 were analyzed. At the farm, 20–27 dairy cows are regularly being milked. In March 2011, the milking system at the farm was changed from a milking parlor system to an automatic milking system. During the 16 years analyzed, 67 cows sold for meat and 16 cows that died at the farm totaled to 83 culled cows. The proportion of culled cows for each parity to total culled cows increased with increasing parity, and the number of cows culled at their 6th parity was the highest. The proportion of culled cows to cows that delivered at each parity gradually increased to more than 40% at the 5th parity, and drastically increased to more than 77.8% at the 6th parity. The reasons for culling were reproductive difficulty and diseases, such as mastitis. Therefore, general measures for improving reproductive performance and disease prevention should be taken for the cows at the 4th or lower parity. In addition, for dairy cows at the 5th or higher parity, a diagnostic decision on whether they are artificially inseminated for further delivery or not might be required depending on the individual cow’s record of reproduction and diseases