Amelioration of ultraviolet-induced photokeratitis in mice treated with astaxanthin eye drops

Purpose: Ultraviolet (UV) acts as low-dose ionizing radiation. Acute UVB exposure causes photokeratitis and induces apoptosis in corneal cells. Astaxanthin (AST) is a carotenoid, present in seafood, that has potential clinical applications due to its high antioxidant activity. In the present study, we examined whether topical administration of AST has preventive and therapeutic effects on UV-photokeratitis in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were administered with AST diluted in polyethylene glycol (PEG) in instillation form (15 μl) to the right eye. Left eyes were given vehicle alone as controls. Immediately after the instillation, the mice, under anesthesia, were irradiated with UVB at a dose of 400 mJ/cm2. Eyeballs were collected 24 h after irradiation and stained with H&E and TUNEL. In an in vitro study, mouse corneal epithelial (TKE2) cells were cultured with AST before UV exposure to quantify the UV-derived cytotoxicity. Results: UVB exposure induced cell death and thinning of the corneal epithelium. However, the epithelium was morphologically well preserved after irradiation in AST-treated corneas. Irradiated corneal epithelium was significantly thicker in eyes treated with AST eye drops, compared to those treated with vehicles (p<0.01), in a doses dependent manner. Significantly fewer apoptotic cells were observed in AST-treated eyes than controls after irradiation (p<0.01). AST also reduced oxidative stress in irradiated corneas. The in vitro study showed less cytotoxicity of TKE2 cells in AST-treated cultures after UVB-irradiation (p<0.01). The cytoprotective effect increased with the dose of AST. Conclusions: Topical AST administration may be a candidate treatment to limit the damages by UV irradiation with wide clinical applications

赤芽球癆を合併したT-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia の一例

T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia は長期(6か月以上)にわたる末梢血中の著明な大顆粒リンパ球(large granular lymphocyte;以下,LGL)のモノクローナルな増加によって特徴づけられる疾患で,しばしば赤芽球癆を伴うことが知られている.今回,我々はHCV陽性肝硬変患者に赤芽球癆を合併したT-LGLの1例を経験した.末梢血および骨髄塗抹標本では細胞質内に微細なアズール顆粒を有し,核異型を示すリンパ球の増加がみられ,末梢血および骨髄のフローサイトメトリーおよび骨髄吸引クロット標本の免疫組織化学で,CD3,CD8,CD57陽性リンパ球の増加が確認された.骨髄細胞のPCRではTCRβの再構成を認めず,TCRγおよびTCRδの再構成がみられた.またプレドニゾロン治療にてCD57陽性リンパ球の減少および赤芽球造血の回復が確認されたことから,赤芽球癆を合併したγδT-LGLと診断した.最近,T-LGLにはSTAT3あるいはSTAT5bのSHドメインの遺伝子変異が高頻度にみられることが報告されているが,本症例においては,これらの遺伝子変異は確認できなかった.T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL) is characterized by marked increase of monoclonal large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in the peripheral blood over the long term (6 months or more). It has been reported about 20% cases of T-LGL cases are associated with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). Here, we describe a case of T-LGL associated with PRCA. This case was characterized by increase in the number of CD3+,CD8+,CD57+, and granzyme B-positive lymphocytes with fine azurophilic cytoplasmic granules and nuclear atypia in peripheral blood and bone marrow. The patient was diagnosed havingγδT-LGL because T-cell receptor (TCR)γ and TCRδ gene but not TCRβ gene rearrangement was detected by the PCR of the bone marrow cells. Prednisolone administration decreased in number of the LGL cells, accompanying recover of erythropoiesis. Although somatic mutations in the Src homology 2 domain of STAT3 or STAT5b gene are reported in 70% percent of the T-LGL with PRCA, such STAT mutations could not be detected in this case

Reconstructing the population history of the sandy beach amphipod Haustorioides japonicus using the calibration of demographic transition (CDT) approach.

Calibration of the molecular rate is one of the major challenges in marine population genetics. Although the use of an appropriate evolutionary rate is crucial in exploring population histories, calibration of the rate is always difficult because fossil records and geological events are rarely applicable for rate calibration. The acceleration of the evolutionary rate for recent coalescent events (or more simply, the time dependency of the molecular clock) is also a problem that can lead to overestimation of population parameters. Calibration of demographic transition (CDT) is a rate calibration technique that assumes a post-glacial demographic expansion, representing one of the most promising approaches for dealing with these potential problems in the rate calibration. Here, we demonstrate the importance of using an appropriate evolutionary rate, and the power of CDT, by using populations of the sandy beach amphipod Haustorioides japonicus along the Japanese coast of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Analysis of mitochondrial sequences found that the most peripheral population in the Pacific coast of northeastern Honshu Island (Tohoku region) is genetically distinct from the other northwestern Pacific populations. By using the two-epoch demographic model and rate of temperature change, the evolutionary rate was modeled as a log-normal distribution with a median rate of 2.2%/My. The split-time of the Tohoku population was subsequently estimated to be during the previous interglacial period by using the rate distribution, which enables us to infer potential causes of the divergence between local populations along the continuous Pacific coast of Japan

Putative Role Of Fgf 23 In The Development Of Hypophosphatemia And Bone Fructures In An Anemic Patient Treated By Intravenous Saccharated Ferric Oxide

A post-menopausal patient with normal kidney function was referred to our hospital because of severe lumber pain. She had been treated by initially oral, and then by intravenous iron for longer than five years for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia due to recurrent GI bleeding. On admission, multiple lumber bone fracture with low bone mineral density was confirmed. Laboratory tests revealed severe hypophosphatemia (1.6 mg/dl) with slight decrease of calcium ion level. Serum levels of 25D and 1,25D were low normal, while increase of intact PTH (83.9 pg/ml) and FGF23 (60 pg/ml) were observed. After terminating intravenous iron supplement, her symptoms and hypophsophatemia were gradually normalized with oral active vitamin D treatment. Although we could not completely exclude the contribution of disturbed iron absorption from the intestine, damages of proximal tubular cells by iron, and osteomalacia caused by the deposition of iron, increased FGF23 level may have played critical roles in the development of severe hypophosphatemia in this patient. Such hypophosphatemia due to high FGF23 has recently been reported in patients treated by intravenous sacharated ferric oxide

Current Issues in Dental Identification in Severely Burned Bodies from a Studio Arson Attack in Japan

A studio arson attack in Japan caused 36 deaths. Dentists obtained dental findings from 33 unidentified bodies immediately after the attack and autopsy. The dental findings before autopsy were obtained on the day of the incident and the next day. Dental findings after autopsy were obtained at 1 week from the day after the incident. We examined issues associated with collecting these dental findings. Other findings recorded were CT images, autopsy findings, and various blood and pathological examinations. Among the 33 unidentified bodies, for 30 bodies, the number of teeth from which the dental findings were obtained was significantly higher after autopsy than before autopsy. The dental findings of the remaining three bodies were not obtained before or after the autopsy. Five percent of anterior teeth and 28.7% of molars had differing pre-autopsy and post-autopsy findings. This discrepancy can be attributed to various factors. One of the major influencing factors was the carbonization of the facial surface muscles and skin along with limited mouth opening due to thermocoagulation. For the scientific identification of an individual based on dental findings, it is mandatory to examine the teeth in all quadrants. The collection of dental findings solely from anterior teeth may not be adequate to establish identity. The present article describes the challenges faced by the dentists while identifying charred bodies in an arson attack

Promotion of Efficient Saccharification of Crystalline Cellulose by Aspergillus fumigatus Swo1▿ †

Swollenin is a protein from Trichoderma reesei that has a unique activity for disrupting cellulosic materials, and it has sequence similarity to expansins, plant cell wall proteins that have a loosening effect that leads to cell wall enlargement. In this study we cloned a gene encoding a swollenin-like protein, Swo1, from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, and designated the gene Afswo1. AfSwo1 has a bimodular structure composed of a carbohydrate-binding module family 1 (CBM1) domain and a plant expansin-like domain. AfSwo1 was produced using Aspergillus oryzae for heterologous expression and was easily isolated by cellulose-affinity chromatography. AfSwo1 exhibited weak endoglucanase activity toward carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and bound not only to crystalline cellulose Avicel but also to chitin, while showing no detectable affinity to xylan. Treatment by AfSwo1 caused disruption of Avicel into smaller particles without any detectable reducing sugar. Furthermore, simultaneous incubation of AfSwo1 with a cellulase mixture facilitated saccharification of Avicel. Our results provide a novel approach for efficient bioconversion of crystalline cellulose into glucose by use of the cellulose-disrupting protein AfSwo1

Treatment of oral cancers during pregnancy: a case-based discussion

Abstract Background Malignancies occur in approximately 1:1000 pregnancies; the most common being breast (46%) and hematological (18%) malignancies. Oral cancers account for only 2% of all cancers in pregnant women, and there are no standard guidelines for the treatment of oral cancer during pregnancy. Methods Between 2007 and 2014, our department managed 1109 patients with oral cancers; four (0.4%) had tongue carcinomas during pregnancy. These cases were retrospectively reviewed. Results The four women were aged 29–39 (median 32.5) years. Two underwent partial glossectomy at 39 and 40 weeks’ gestation, respectively, one received radiotherapy at 17 weeks’ gestation, and one underwent supraomohyoid neck dissection and hemi-glossectomy with a forearm flap reconstruction. Conclusion In addition to tumor factors, the wishes of the patient and her family, gestational age, and fetal and maternal conditions are important factors in deciding on a treatment protocol. Moreover, treatment decisions require multidisciplinary approach