A retrospective comparative study of recombinant human thrombomodulin and gabexate mesilate in sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation patients

The novel biological agent recombinant human thrombomodulin (rhTM) has been used clinically in Japan to treat disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) since 2008. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of rhTM versus heparin therapy or non-rhTM therapy. We retrospectively evaluated and compared the efficacies of rhTM and gabexate mesilate (GM) in patients diagnosed with sepsis-induced DIC. From September 2010 to October 2012, patients with sepsis-induced DIC who were treated with rhTM (n = 13) or GM (n = 10) at Nagasaki Municipal Hospital were extracted. Patients receiving other anticoagulants in combination were excluded. Clinical information, laboratory data, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and DIC scores were obtained from the medical records. Mortality at days 7 and 30 after DIC diagnosis and changes in laboratory data and SOFA scores from days 1-7 were evaluated. The groups\u27 clinical characteristics did not differ, except for the relatively higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the rhTM group (P = 0.0508). The survival rates of the rhTM and GM groups on days 7 and 30 were 92.3%, 69.2% and 80%, 70%, respectively, both group indicated similar mortality. However, on day 7, the platelet counts, SOFA scores, and CRP levels significantly improved in the rhTM group; the platelet counts and SOFA scores did not improve significantly in the GM group. The platelet counts of the rhTM group significantly improved compared to the GM group (P = 0.004). Recombinant human thrombomodulin might be more effective for sepsis-induced DIC than GM

Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis co-existing with breast cancer: a case report

Introduction. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare pulmonary disease characterized by excessive alveolar accumulation of surfactant due to defective alveolar clearance by macrophages. There are only a few published case reports of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis occurring in association with solid cancers. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previously reported cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with breast cancer. Case presentation. A 48-year-old Asian woman, a nonsmoker, presented to our institution with a right breast mass. Biopsy examination of the lesion revealed scirrhous carcinoma. A chest computed tomography scan for metastases showed abnormal shadows in both upper lung fields. As a result of flexible fiberscopic bronchoscopy, this patient was diagnosed as having pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. This case was categorized as autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis due to the positive anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor antibody. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis decreased gradually after mastectomy. Conclusions: The present case involved the coincident occurrence of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with breast cancer; breast cancer may be a factor during pulmonary alveolar proteinosis development

The Comet Interceptor Mission

Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms−1. Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule

Investigation of Trace Element Distribution in Permanent Root Dentine by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

In this study, we report on the effectiveness of using laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to analyze the compositionof trace elements within root dentinal tissue in permanent teeth. The trace elementdistribution in different dentine regions and age related changes in their concentrationwere investigated using the LA-ICP-MS technique, provided semi-quantitative data for12 trace elements among which Mg, Zn, and Sr ranked as the most abundant. Theresults demonstrated that most of the observed elements display conformity throughoutroot dentinal tissue, except for the higher concentrations of Mg in the cervical area andthe higher levels of Zn measured in the pulpal layer. Alterations in the levels of dentinalSr, Cr, Mn, and Se were also observed in relation to the age of dentinal tissue. Thefindings of this investigation indicate that the combination of EPMA and LA-ICP-MSmeasurements may prove instrumental to the further research of this topic in the future

Investigation of Trace Element Distribution in Permanent Root Dentine by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

In this study, we report on the effectiveness of using laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to analyze the compositionof trace elements within root dentinal tissue in permanent teeth. The trace elementdistribution in different dentine regions and age related changes in their concentrationwere investigated using the LA-ICP-MS technique, provided semi-quantitative data for12 trace elements among which Mg, Zn, and Sr ranked as the most abundant. Theresults demonstrated that most of the observed elements display conformity throughoutroot dentinal tissue, except for the higher concentrations of Mg in the cervical area andthe higher levels of Zn measured in the pulpal layer. Alterations in the levels of dentinalSr, Cr, Mn, and Se were also observed in relation to the age of dentinal tissue. Thefindings of this investigation indicate that the combination of EPMA and LA-ICP-MSmeasurements may prove instrumental to the further research of this topic in the future