Selective loss of Purkinje cells in a patient with anti-gliadin-antibody-positive autoimmune cerebellar ataxia

The patient was an 84-year-old woman who had the onset of truncal ataxia at age 77 and a history of Basedow's disease. Her ataxic gait gradually deteriorated. She could not walk without support at age 81 and she was admitted to our hospital at age 83. Gaze-evoked nystagmus and dysarthria were observed. Mild ataxia was observed in all limbs. Her deep tendon reflex and sense of position were normal. IgA anti-gliadin antibody, IgG anti-gliadin antibody, anti-SS-A/Ro antibody, anti-SS-B/La antibody and anti-TPO antibody were positive. A conventional brain MRI did not show obvious cerebellar atrophy. However, MRI voxel based morphometry (VBM) and SPECT-eZIS revealed cortical cerebellar atrophy and reduced cerebellar blood flow. IVIg treatment was performed and was moderately effective. After her death at age 85, the patient was autopsied. Neuropathological findings were as follows: selective loss of Purkinje cells; no apparent degenerative change in the efferent pathways, such as the dentate nuclei or vestibular nuclei; no prominent inflammatory reaction. From these findings, we diagnosed this case as autoimmune cerebellar atrophy associated with gluten ataxia. All 3 autopsies previously reported on gluten ataxia have noted infiltration of inflammatory cells in the cerebellum

Joint AWI-NIPR airborne operations in the past and the future

The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) has in the past operated two ski equipped aircraft (Dornier Do228-101) for scientific and logistic purposes in polar regions-called POLAR 2 and POLAR 4. Both aircraft are easily able to be adapted to different science programs. Aero-geophysical instrumentation and various atmospheric systems are available. In recent years, a long and fruitful cooperation with the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, has been established, whereby so far three joint airborne campaigns have been already performed in the Arctic, namely ASTAR 2000 (Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol and Radiation), AAMP 2002 (Arctic Airborne Measurement Program), and ASTAR 2004. The ANTSYO (Antarctic flight missions at Syowa region: Airborne Geophysical, Glaciological, and Atmospheric Research in East Antarctica) operations of the AWI research aircraft, POLAR 2, started in the season 2005/06, from S17, near Syowa Station in December 2005. Running such surveys presents a logistical challenge that can only be met with the combined support of Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, and the NIPR, Tokyo. Therefore, both national Antarctic programs put their logistical capabilities together in order to perform the first extensive airborne missions in this area over a period of three Antarctic summer seasons (2005/06 till 2007/08)

Mixed Germ Cell Tumor with Extensive Yolk Sac Tumor Elements in the Frontal Lobe of an Adult

Intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) in unusual locations are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of a yolk sac tumor in the frontal lobe in a middle-aged patient. A 42-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for headache and nausea. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an enhanced mass lesion with a marked cyst component. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (αFP) level was extremely high. Histological examination of specimens after subtotal removal revealed a primary mixed germ cell tumor with extensive yolk sac tumor elements, often referred to as an intracranial “yolk sac tumor.” The preoperative diagnosis of NGGCTs in unusual age and locations is extremely difficult. Clinicians should consider the possibility of NGGCTs, including yolk sac tumors, when intracranial tumors with unusual MRI findings are encountered

Diffusely Infiltrating Cerebellar Anaplastic Astrocytoma Effectively Controlled with Bevacizumab: Case Report and Literature Review

BackgroundGliomas that show extensive diffuse infiltration from the cerebellum to the brainstem without masslike expansion are extremely rare. The efficacy of bevacizumab treatment for diffusely infiltrating gliomas remains uncertain.Case DescriptionA 75-year-old man presented with a cerebellar anaplastic astrocytoma showing diffuse infiltration to the brainstem without a definite mass. He had experienced rapidly progressive nausea and dysarthria, as well as vertigo and headache for 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a poorly demarcated T2 high-intensity area in the right cerebellum and brainstem. The tumor in the right cerebellum showed sparse enhancement with gadolinium (Gd). Suboccipital decompressive craniotomy and partial removal of the tumor was emergently performed because of the rapid progression of symptoms and severe tonsillar herniation demonstrated on MRI. The pathologic diagnosis was anaplastic astrocytoma, and genomic analyses revealed no mutation in IDH1, H3F3A, or BRAF. During concomitant chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide, rapid worsening of the neurologic symptoms developed and significant enlargement of the T2 high-intensity area extending to the cerebral peduncle was seen, as well as a new Gd-enhancing lesion in the midbrain. After administration of bevacizumab, the neurologic symptoms gradually improved, the T2 high-intensity area decreased, and the Gd-enhancing lesion disappeared. At follow-up 2 years after the operation, no worsening of neurologic symptoms was seen and the residual T2 high-intensity area remained unchanged on MRI.ConclusionsBevacizumab treatment may be a salvage treatment option for patients with diffusely infiltrating cerebellar gliomas that exhibits rapid progression during standard treatment

A Proposal for Practical Diagnosis of Renal Hypouricemia : Evidenced from Genetic Studies of Nonfunctional Variants of URAT1/SLC22A12 among 30,685 Japanese Individuals

Background: Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is characterized by a low serum uric acid (SUA) level and high fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA). Further studies on FEUA in hypouricemic individuals are needed for a more accurate diagnosis of RHUC. Methods: In 30,685 Japanese health-examination participants, we genotyped the two most common nonfunctional variants of URAT1 (NFV-URAT1), W258X (rs121907892) and R90H (rs121907896), in 1040 hypouricemic individuals (SUA ≤ 3.0 mg/dL) and 2240 individuals with FEUA data. The effects of NFV-URAT1 on FEUA and SUA were also investigated using linear and multiple regression analyses. Results: Frequency of hypouricemic individuals (SUA ≤ 3.0 mg/dL) was 0.97% (male) and 6.94% (female) among 30,685 participants. High frequencies of those having at least one allele of NFV-URAT1 were observed in 1040 hypouricemic individuals. Furthermore, NFV-URAT1 significantly increased FEUA and decreased SUA, enabling FEUA and SUA levels to be estimated. Conversely, FEUA and SUA data of hypouricemic individuals are revealed to be useful to predict the number of NFV-URAT1. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that specific patterns of FEUA and SUA data assist with predicting the number of nonfunctional variants of causative genes for RHUC, and can also be useful for practical diagnosis of RHUC even before genetic tests

From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to Fukushima 2: Health effects of radiation and other health problems in the aftermath of nuclear accidents, with an emphasis on Fukushima

437 nuclear power plants are in operation at present around the world to meet increasing energy demands. Unfortunately, five major nuclear accidents have occurred in the past--ie, at Kyshtym (Russia [then USSR], 1957), Windscale Piles (UK, 1957), Three Mile Island (USA, 1979), Chernobyl (Ukraine [then USSR], 1986), and Fukushima (Japan, 2011). The effects of these accidents on individuals and societies are diverse and enduring. Accumulated evidence about radiation health effects on atomic bomb survivors and other radiation-exposed people has formed the basis for national and international regulations about radiation protection. However, past experiences suggest that common issues were not necessarily physical health problems directly attributable to radiation exposure, but rather psychological and social effects. Additionally, evacuation and long-term displacement created severe health-care problems for the most vulnerable people, such as hospital inpatients and elderly people

Oligo-DNA Custom Macroarray for Monitoring Major Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria in the Phyllosphere of Apple Trees

BACKGROUND: To monitor the richness in microbial inhabitants in the phyllosphere of apple trees cultivated under various cultural and environmental conditions, we developed an oligo-DNA macroarray for major pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi and bacteria inhabiting the phyllosphere of apple trees. METHODS AND FINDINGS: First, we isolated culturable fungi and bacteria from apple orchards by an agar-plate culture method, and detected 32 fungal and 34 bacterial species. Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Rhodotorula, Cystofilobasidium, and Epicoccum genera were predominant among the fungi, and Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, and Pantoea genera were predominant among the bacteria. Based on the data, we selected 29 major non-pathogenic and 12 phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria as the targets of macroarray. Forty-one species-specific 40-base pair long oligo-DNA sequences were selected from the nucleotide sequences of rDNA-internal transcribed spacer region for fungi and 16S rDNA for bacteria. The oligo-DNAs were fixed on nylon membrane and hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes prepared for each species. All arrays except those for Alternaria, Bacillus, and their related species, were specifically hybridized. The array was sensitive enough to detect 10(3) CFU for Aureobasidium pullulans and Bacillus cereus. Nucleotide sequencing of 100 each of independent fungal rDNA-ITS and bacterial 16S-rDNA sequences from apple tree was in agreement with the macroarray data obtained using the same sample. Finally, we analyzed the richness in the microbial inhabitants in the samples collected from apple trees in four orchards. Major apple pathogens that cause scab, Alternaria blotch, and Marssonina blotch were detected along with several non-phytopathogenic fungal and bacterial inhabitants. CONCLUSIONS: The macroarray technique presented here is a strong tool to monitor the major microbial species and the community structures in the phyllosphere of apple trees and identify key species antagonistic, supportive or co-operative to specific pathogens in the orchard managed under different environmental conditions

Heterogeneous fibroblasts underlie age-dependent tertiary lymphoid tissues in the kidney

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition defined as a rapid decline in kidney function. AKI is a global health burden, estimated to cause 2 million deaths annually worldwide. Unlike AKI in the young, which is reversible, AKI in the elderly often leads to end-stage renal disease, and the mechanism that prevents kidney repair in the elderly is unclear. Here we demonstrate that aged but not young mice developed multiple tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) in the kidney after AKI. TLT size was associated with impaired renal function and increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and homeostatic chemokines, indicating a possible contribution of TLTs to sustained inflammation after injury. Notably, resident fibroblasts from a single lineage diversified into p75 neurotrophin receptor(+) (p75NTR(+)) fibroblasts and homeostatic chemokine-producing fibroblasts inside TLTs, and retinoic acid-producing fibroblasts around TLTs. Deletion of CD4(+) cells as well as late administration of dexamethasone abolished TLTs and improved renal outcomes. Importantly, aged but not young human kidneys also formed TLTs that had cellular and molecular components similar to those of mouse TLTs. Therefore, the inhibition of TLT formation may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for AKI in the elderly.</p