Anaphylaxis to husband's seminal plasma and treatment by local desensitization

Hypersensitivity to human seminal fluid is rare but can be life threatening. We report a case of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis to seminal plasma that was diagnosed by skin prick tests and successfully treated by local desensitization. A 32-year-old woman suffering from angioedema and hypotension after exposure to semen was treated with epinephrine upon admission. Skin prick tests and immunoblotting for IgE binding components showed that she was sensitized to her husband's seminal plasma. Local desensitization, which persisted for six months, was achieved by intravaginal administration of serial dilutions of her husband's seminal plasma

Effect of fermented sarco oyster extract on age induced sarcopenia muscle repair by modulating regulatory T cells

Sarcopenia is an age-related, progressive skeletal muscle disorder involving the loss of muscle mass and strength. Previous studies have shown that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from fermented oysters aids in regulatory T cells (Tregs) cell expansion and function by enhancing autophagy, and concomitantly mediate muscle regeneration by modulating muscle inflammation and satellite cell function. The fermentation process of oysters not only increases the GABA content but also enhances the content of branched amino acids and free amino acids that aid the level of protein absorption and muscle strength, mass, and repair. In this study, the effect of GABA-enriched fermented sarco oyster extract (FSO) on reduced muscle mass and functions via Treg modulation and enhanced autophagy in aged mice was investigated. Results showed that FSO enhanced the expression of autophagy markers (autophagy-related gene 5 [ATG5] and GABA receptor-associated protein [GABARAP]), forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) expression, and levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-10 and transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) secreted by Tregs while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-17A and interferon [IFN]-γ). Furthermore, FSO increased the expression of IL-33 and its receptor IL-1 receptor-like 1 (ST2); well-known signaling pathways that increase amphiregulin (Areg) secretion and expression of myogenesis markers (myogenic factor 5, myoblast determination protein 1, and myogenin). Muscle mass and function were also enhanced via FSO. Overall, the current study suggests that FSO increased autophagy, which enhanced Treg accumulation and function, decreased muscle inflammation, and increased satellite cell function for muscle regeneration and therefore could decrease the loss of muscle mass and function with aging

Early gastric cancer arising from heterotopic gastric mucosa in the gastric submucosa

The incidence of heterotopic gastric mucosa located in the submucosa in resected stomach specimens has been reported to be 3.0 to 20.1%. Heterotopic gastric mucosa is thought to be a benign disease, which rarely becomes malignant. Heterotopic gastric mucosa exists in the gastric submucosa, and gastric cancer rarely occurs in heterotopic gastric mucosa. Since tumors are located in the normal submucosa, they appear as submucosal tumors during endoscopy, and are diagnosed through endoscopic biopsies with some difficulty. For such reasons, heterotopic gastric mucosa is mistaken as gastric submucosal tumor. Recently, two cases of early gastric cancer arising from heterotopic gastric mucosa in the gastric submucosa were treated. Both cases were diagnosed as submucosal tumors based on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and computed tomography findings, and in both cases, laparoscopic wedge resections were performed, the surgical findings of which also suggested submucosal tumors. However, pathologic assessment of the surgical specimens led to the diagnosis of well-differentiated intramucosal adenocarcinoma arising from heterotopic gastric mucosa in the gastric submucosa

Enhancement of hole injection using ozone treated Ag nanodots dispersed on indium tin oxide anode for organic light emitting diodes

The authors report the enhancement of hole injection using an indium tin oxide (ITO) anode covered with ultraviolet (UV) ozone-treated Ag nanodots for fac tris (2-phenylpyridine) iridium Ir(ppy)3-doped phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-visible spectrometer analysis exhibit that UV-ozone treatment of the Ag nanodots dispersed on the ITO anode leads to formation of Ag2O nanodots with high work function and high transparency. Phosphorescent OLEDs fabricated on the Ag2O nanodot-dispersed ITO anode showed a lower turn-on voltage and higher luminescence than those of OLEDs prepared with a commercial ITO anode. It was thought that, as Ag nanodots changed to Ag2O nanodots by UV-ozone treatment, the decrease of the energy barrier height led to the enhancement of hole injection in the phosphorescent OLEDs.This work was supported by Korea Research Foundation grant funded by Korean Government (MOEHRD: Basic Research Promotion Fund)(KRF-2006-003-D00243) and Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy

Bio-orthogonal Supramolecular Latching inside Live Animals and Its Application for in Vivo Cancer Imaging

© 2019 American Chemical Society.Here, we demonstrate a supramolecular latching tool for bio-orthogonal noncovalent anchoring of small synthetic molecules in live animal models using a fully synthetic high-affinity binding pair between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and adamantylammonium (AdA). This supramolecular latching system is small (∼1 kDa), ensuring efficient uptake into cells, tissues, and whole organisms. It is also chemically robust and resistant to enzymatic degradation and analogous to well-characterized biological systems in terms of noncovalent binding. Occurrence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between cyanine 3-CB[7] (Cy3-CB[7]) and boron-dipyrromethene 630/650X-AdA (BDP630/650-AdA) inside a live worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) indicates efficient in situ high-affinity association between AdA and CB[7] inside live animals. In addition, selective visualization of a cancer site of a live mouse upon supramolecular latching of cyanine 5-AdA (Cy5-AdA) on prelocalized CB[7]-conjugating antibody on the cancer site demonstrates the potential of this synthetic system for in vivo cancer imaging. These findings provide a fresh insight into the development of new chemical biology tools and medical therapeutic systems11sciescopu

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging of biopsy-proven Kikuchi disease: initial experiences for evaluating feasibility in pediatric patients

Purpose This study evaluated the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and characterized the sonographic features of lymph nodes (LNs) with Kikuchi disease in pediatric patients. Methods Seventy-six cervical LN biopsies were performed for the diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy. ARFI imaging was performed, and the characteristic ultrasound features of the biopsied LNs and the contralateral LNs were analyzed. We also reviewed clinical and conventional ultrasonographic findings. Results On histology, 56 patients were diagnosed with Kikuchi disease. These LNs were large and elongated, with increased perinodal echogenicity and capsular thickening. In 38 of them, ARFI elastography was performed, and the median shear wave velocity (SWV) of the biopsied LNs with Kikuchi disease (2.19 m/sec; range, 1.45 to 4.57 m/sec) was higher than of the contralateral LNs (1.72 m/sec; range, 0.95 to 2.65 m/sec; P<0.001). In patients with reactive hyperplasia, the mean SWV of the biopsied LNs (2.00 m/sec; range, 1.49 to 2.26 m/sec) was higher than that of the contralateral LNs (1.55 m/sec; range, 1.21 to 2.32 m/sec; P=0.031). Conclusion The SWV of LNs with Kikuchi disease was significantly higher than that of the contralateral LNs. Morphologically, LNs with Kikuchi disease showed an enlarged, elongated, and oval shape, increased perinodal echogenicity, and capsular thickening. In addition to the conventional ultrasonographic findings, the application of ARFI is feasible even in pediatric patients for the evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathy

Long-term follow-up result of antithyroid drug treatment of Graves’ hyperthyroidism in a large cohort

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) and risk factors associated with the recurrence of Graves’ hyperthyroidism using a comprehensive retrospective cohort. Methods: We included 1829 patients newly diagnosed with Graves’ hyperthyroidism, with sufficient follow-up data. Clinical outcomes of the patients and risk factors associated with recurrence-free survival, including the changes in thyrotropin receptor antibody, were evaluated. Results: The median age of the patients was 44.5 years, and 69% were female. Among the patients, 1235 had a chance to withdraw ATD after a median of 23 (interquartile range (IQR) 17.0–35.5) months of treatment. The first remission rate was 55.6% during a median of 72.7 months of follow-up. After the first recurrence, 95% of patients underwent the second course of ATD treatment for a median of 21 .1 (IQR 14.8–31.7) months, and the remission rate was 54.1%. During a median of 67 months of follow-up, 7.7% of patients underwent surgery, and 10.5% underwent radioac tive iodine therapy. Approximately 30% were still on ATD therapy for recurrent disease or prolonged lowdose maintenance. Younger age (<45 years), male sex, and fluctua ting or smoldering of TRAb levels were independent risk factors of the first recurrenc e after ATD treatment. Conclusions: ATD treatment is an acceptable option for the initial treatment of Graves’ hyperthyroidism as well as for recurrent disease. The optimal treatment period for ATD treatment needs to be determined using the individual risk factors of recurrence