Expression of a lymphocyte adhesion molecule (CD44) in malignant lymphomas: relevance to primary site, histological subtype and clinical stage.

Lymphocyte adhesion molecules defined by anti-CD44 antibody (Hermes-3) may be involved in lymphocyte binding to high endothelial venules at sites where lymphocytes exist the blood. CD44 expression was immunohistochemically examined in 167 well characterized cases of malignant lymphomas (MLs). None of 12 nodal follicular lymphomas (FLs) were CD44+, whereas 3 of 4 extranodal ones showed distinct CD44 expression. In contrast to nodal FLs, 28 of the 38 (74%) nodal diffuse B-cell lymphomas were CD44+ (p < 0.0001). T-cell lymphomas showed a significantly higher expression of CD44 antigen than diffuse B-cell lymphomas in the nodal cases (p < 0.04), but not in the extranodal ones. In nodal diffuse lymphomas, 3 of 5 stage I lymphomas (60%) were CD44+ in contrast to 53 of 63 stage II-IV lymphomas (84%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Of 14 Hodgkin's diseases, 9 cases were CD44+ with no significant correlation with clinical stage. The data of flow cytometric analysis confirmed the results of immunohistochemical analysis. In conclusion, CD44 expression is relevant to primary sites of distinctive MLs originating in the mucosal regions (MALToma) and some histological subtypes, but the relation with clinical stage was not defined. Some other adhesion molecules or different mechanisms must also be taken into account concerning the genesis and the expansion of MLs.</p

Quantitative Threshold Determination of Auditory Brainstem Responses in Mouse Models

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a scalp recording of potentials produced by sound stimulation, and is commonly used as an indicator of auditory function. However, the ABR threshold, which is the lowest audible sound pressure, cannot be objectively determined since it is determined visually using a measurer, and this has been a problem for several decades. Although various algorithms have been developed to objectively determine ABR thresholds, they remain lacking in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and convenience. Accordingly, we proposed an improved algorithm based on the mutual covariance at adjacent sound pressure levels. An ideal ABR waveform with clearly defined waves I–V was created; moreover, using this waveform as a standard template, the experimentally obtained ABR waveform was inspected for disturbances based on mutual covariance. The ABR testing was repeated if the value was below the established cross-covariance reference value. Our proposed method allowed more efficient objective determination of ABR thresholds and a smaller burden on experimental animals.Tanaka K., Ohara S., Matsuzaka T., et al. Quantitative Threshold Determination of Auditory Brainstem Responses in Mouse Models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, 11393 (2023); https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411393

Defective killer cell activity in patients with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphokine activated killer (LAK) activity and Epstein-Barr virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (EBV-CTL) activity were examined in 10 children with chronic active EB-virus infection and an adult with persistently positive early antigen-antibody to EB-virus. NK cell activity against erythroleukemia cell line K-562 was significantly (p less than 0.005) lower in the patients (22.3 +/- 8.5%, mean +/- SD) than in normal controls (40.4 +/- 15.9%). Spontaneous cytotoxicity against an EB-virus transformed autologous lymphoblastoid cell line was 15.0 +/- 7.6% in the patients, and was comparable to spontaneous cytotoxicity activity in normal controls (11.7 +/- 4.3%). LAK activity against Raji cells was significantly (p less than 0.02) lower in the patients (14.6 +/- 11.4%) than in normal controls (29.2 +/- 15.9%). EBV-CTL activity against an EB-virus transformed autologous lymphoblastoid cell line was significantly (p less than 0.005) lower in the patients (11.8 +/- 5.5%) than in seropositive normal controls (33.7 +/- 14.7%). No regression of the lymphoblastoid cell line was observed when EBV-CTL activity of the patients was tested by regression assay. It is conceivable that defects in both EB-virus specific and nonspecific killer cell activities play important roles in the pathogenetic abnormalities which allow EB-virus infection to progress to a chronic active state.</p

Exertional evaluation for BT

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) had been reported to improve the symptoms of severe asthma. However, the exertional responses of BT based on the mechanisms have not been elucidated. A 57-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman underwent BT due to intractable severe asthma. We evaluated the therapeutic effects of BT using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). After BT, the exercise time during CPET substantially prolonged reducing exertional dyspnea in the former (good), but not in the latter (poor). In the good responder, the high air remaining in the lung after expiration (i.e., inspiratory tidal volume minus expiratory tidal volume) during CPET decreased after BT. In contrast, in the poor responder, the high air remaining after expiration during exercise was not obtained before BT. Further investigations are necessary to confirm that the presence or absence of the exertional wasted ventilation on CPET may be informative to evaluate the therapeutic effects of BT

Risk factors for perioperative venous thromboembolism: A retrospective study in Japanese women with gynecologic diseases

BACKGROUND: Patients with gynecologic cancer have a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) like patients with other cancers. However, there is little information on risk factors for VTE during gynecologic surgery and no uniform preventive strategy. Our objectives were to identify risk factors for perioperative VTE in gynecologic patients and establish methods for prevention. METHODS: We analyzed 1,232 patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of St. Marianna University School of Medicine between January 2005 and June 2008. We investigated (1) risk factors for preoperative VTE, (2) use of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and (3) risk factors for postoperative VTE. RESULTS: There were 39 confirmed cases of perioperative VTE (3.17%), including 25 patients with preoperative VTE and 14 with postoperative VTE. Thirty-two patients had cancer and seven patients had benign diseases. Twenty-two of the 32 cancer patients (68.7%) had preoperative VTE, while postoperative VTE occurred in 10 cancer patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that ovarian cancer, tumor diameter ≥10 cm, and previous of VTE were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE. Among ovarian cancer patients, multivariate analysis showed that an age ≥50 years, the presence of heart disease, clear cell adenocarcinoma, and tumor diameter ≥20 cm were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE. The factors significantly related to preoperative VTE in patients with benign disease included previous VTE, age ≥55 years, tumor diameter ≥20 cm, and a history of allergic-immunologic disease. Thirteen of the 25 patients (52%) with preoperative VTE had an IVC filter inserted preoperatively. Postoperative screening (interview and D-dimer measurement) revealed VTE in 14/1,232 patients (1.14%). Multivariate analysis indicated that cancer surgery, a history of allergic-immunologic disease, and blood transfusion ≥2,000 ml were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative VTE is often fatal and preventive measures should be taken in the gynecologic field, especially when patients have the risk factors identified in this study. Since VTE is often present before surgery, preoperative screening is important and use of an IVC filter should be considered

Hyperreactivity of lymphocytes to streptolysin O and lack of plasma inhibitory factor (s) in patients with mucocutaneous lymphnode syndrome.

Lymphocyte activation by streptolysin O (SLO) and factors in the plasma which inhibit the response to SLO were examined in 19 patients with mucocutaneous lymphnode syndrome (MCLS), 54 age-matched (6 months-6 years) normal children, 41 normal children older than 6 years and 10 normal adults. In normal children younger than 6 years, the response to SLO was weak and in many cases no response was seen. On the other hand, in the patients with MCLS, the response of lymphocytes to SLO was high and comparable to the response in adults and children older than 6 years. The DNA synthesis of lymphocytes stimulated by SLO was inhibited almost completely by autologous or allogeneic plasma of many of the normal children and adults. The plasma of patients with MCLS did not inhibit, but rather enhanced the response to SLO. These results suggest that the increased response of lymphocytes to SLO and the lack of plasma inhibitory factors in patients with MCLS may be due to the immune response to the pathogen of MCLS, as yet undiscovered.</p