Clinical Significance of Peripheral Blood T Lymphocyte Subsets in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Patients

Background. Helicobacter pylori chronically colonizes gastric/duodenal mucosa and induces gastroduodenal disease and vigorous humoral and cellular immune responses. Methods. In order to clarify the immunological changes induced by this infection, we determined the percentage and, as indicated, ratios of the following cells in peripheral blood of 45 H. pylori-infected patients and 21 control subjects: CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 cells (Th1), T helper 2 cells (Th2), CD4+CD25+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th1/Th2 ratio. Results. The percentage of CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 18.0 ± 7.1%) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 23.2 ± 7.8%) (P < 0.05). The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 3.1 ± 2.4) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 2.1 ± 1.0) (P < 0.05). The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly lower in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 10.0 ± 8.5) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 14.5 ± 9.0) (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+CD25+ T cells in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 13.2 ± 6.2%) was significantly higher than that in control subjects (mean ± SD; 9.8 ± 3.4%) (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Tregs. Conclusion. Tregs did not decrease, but the activation of humoral immunity and Th2 polarization were observed in the peripheral blood of H. pylori-infected patients. In some cases, these changes may induce systemic autoimmune diseases

Preoperative Evaluation of the Right Upper Lobe Pulmonary Artery by 3D-CT Pulmonary Angiography vs. Thin-Section Multiplanar Reconstruction Images Obtained by Contrast-Enhanced Multidetector-Row CT

We compared the effectiveness of 3-dimensional computed tomography pulmonary angiography (3D-CTPA) and thin-section multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images obtained using contrast-enhanced multidetector row CT (MDCT), in the evaluation of pulmonary artery (PA) branches of the right upper lobe. We studied 127 patients suspected of having lung cancer of the right upper lobe who underwent contrast-enhanced MDCT scans and a right upper lobectomy. We compared the intraoperative findings of the PA branches of the right upper lobe obtained with 3D-CTPA and thin-section MPR images. In 125 (97.7%) patients, one or more PA branches arose from arteries other than the superior trunk. Among 10 (7.9%) patients, a PA branch arose from the middle lobe in one patient and from the superior segment of the lower lobe in the other 9 patients. According to the intraoperative findings, 97.2% and 99.7% of the PA branches were identified by 3D-CTPA and thin-section MPR images, respectively (p＜0.03). The single branch missed by both imaging modalities was 1.0mm in dia. The 8 branches missed only by 3D-CTPA were＜1.4mm in dia. Both the 3D-CTPA and thin-section MPR images provided precise preoperative information regarding PA branches of the right upper lobe. However, the thin-section MPR images appeared to contribute more to the evaluation of smaller PA branches

CT Assessment of Subtypes of Pulmonary Emphysema in Females

We performed a retrospective study examining the prevalence and subtypes of pulmonary emphysema (PE) identified by computed tomography (CT) in females. We reviewed the records of 1,687 female subjects who had undergone CT. They were divided into the following 2 age groups:group A (＜50 years) and group B (>_50 years). PE was diagnosed by the presence of low-attenuation areas using visual assessment (grades 0-3) on CT images. Two subtypes of PE were observed:centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and paraseptal emphysema (PSE). PE was divided into the following 3 categories:I (CLE or CLE-predominant);II (CLE and PSE of equal extent);and III (PSE or PSE-predominant). PE was found in 64 of 274 smokers (23.3%) and 54 of 1,413 non-smokers (3.8%). In smoking subjects, when grades 1 and 2 were grouped together as mild PE, the mean age for CT grade 3 (severe PE) was significantly higher than that for mild PE. In group A, category III predominated, whereas category I was more prevalent in group B, in both smoking and non-smoking subjects. A high incidence of PE was found in smoking subjects as compared with non-smoking subjects. PSE predominated in younger subjects, whereas CLE predominated in older subjects

Production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) P(3HB-co-3HV) from synthetic wastewater using Hydrogenophaga palleronii

In the present study, synthetic wastewater (SW) was used for production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) P(3HB-co-3HV) using the bacteria Hydrogenophaga palleronii. SW at various volatile fatty acids concentrations (5–60 g/l) was evaluated for the growth and biopolymer production using H. palleronii. Substrate degradation was analyzed using total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). H. palleronii showed highest and lowest removal of TOC at 5 g/l (88 ± 4%) and 60 g/l (15 ± 6%) respectively. Among all the concentrations evaluated, bacteria showed highest biopolymer production with 20 g/l (63 ± 5%), followed by 30 g/l (58 ± 3%) and 40 g/l (56 ± 2%). Lowest biopolymer production was observed at 5 g/l concentration (21 ± 3%). Structure, molecular weight, and thermal properties of the produced biopolymer were analyzed. These results denoted that the strain H. palleronii can be used for degradation of high concentration of volatile fatty acids persistent in wastewaters and their subsequent conversion into useable biopolymers

尿閉を来たしたハイリスク患者に対する尿道ステント(アンジオメッドメモサーム)の使用経験

著者らは, 尿閉を来したハイリスク患者に対して, 尿道ステント(アンジオメッド・メモサーム)留置を試みて, 良好な結果が得られた.対象症例15例のうち, 2名は再度尿閉を来し, 1名はステントへの結石付着が原因でステントを抜去せざるをえなかったが, 残る12名はステント留置後から良好な排尿状態を保持することができた.また, BPHだけでなく, 原疾患がNGBと思われる症例に対しても効果を期待できることが確認できた.以上, 非侵襲的で簡便なこの手技は, 本来尿道カテーテルを留置されるべきハイリスク患者に自排尿を促せる, すなわちQOLを高めることのできる優れた手技であると示唆されたTransurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) has been established as the golden standard for the treatment of urinary retention in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, TUR-P is not performed on patients with certain high-risk complications. We have obtained favorable results using urethral stent (Angiomed-Memotherm) implantation to treat high-risk urinary retention patients. Here, we review the results obtained on 15 patients treated using this procedure. Two patients experienced recurrent urinary retention; in one patient, the stent had to be removed due to stone formation; in the remaining 12 patients, urination was favorable after stent implantation. Also, urethral stent implantation was found to be useful in 4 of the 7 patients with neurogenic bladder (rather than BPH) as the underlying disease. The present technique is convenient and noninvasive, and we strongly believe that it can improve the patient's quality of life (QOL) by facilitating urination in high-risk patients who would otherwise require urethral catheterization

Ligation of MHC Class II Induces PKC-Dependent Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis of MHC Class II

In addition to antigen presentation to CD4(+)T cells, aggregation of cell surface major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules induces signal transduction in antigen presenting cells that regulate cellular functions. We previously reported that crosslinking of MHC-II induced the endocytosis of MHC-II, which was associated with decreased surface expression levels in murine dendritic cells (DCs) and resulted in impaired activation of CD4(+)T cells. However, the downstream signal that induces MHC-II endocytosis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that the crosslinking of MHC-II induced intracellular Ca(2+)mobilization, which was necessary for crosslinking-induced MHC-II endocytosis. We also found that these events were suppressed by inhibitors of Syk and phospholipase C (PLC). Treatments with a phorbol ester promoted MHC-II endocytosis, whereas inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) suppressed crosslinking-induced endocytosis of MHC-II. These results suggest that PKC could be involved in this process. Furthermore, crosslinking-induced MHC-II endocytosis was suppressed by inhibitors of clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Our results indicate that the crosslinking of MHC-II could stimulate Ca(2+)mobilization and induce the clathrin-dependent endocytosis of MHC-II in murine DCs

The Usefulness of ^99mTc-Technegas Scintigraphy for Diagnosing Pulmonary Impairment Caused by Pulmonary Emphysema

X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been used for diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema because it can reveal the morphology of low attenuation areas. Recently, 99mTc-Technegas imaging, one of several types of scintigraphic techniques, has been used for ventilation scintigraphy. Technegas scintigraphy was performed on 15 patients with pulmonary emphysema, and we compared the extent and degree of abnormal findings on Technegas scintigraphy with the extent of low attenuation areas shown by CT. We classified the findings of Technegas imaging into three grades, from mild to severe, according to the extent of peripheral irregularity and central hot spot formation. We also classified the findings of CT as centrilobular emphysema into three grades from mild to severe according to the extent of low attention areas in the peripheral lung fields. In 5 cases, CT and Technegas assessment resulted in equivalent diagnoses. In eight cases, Technegas images showed more detailed findings than CT images. In the two remaining cases, which were diagnosed as panlobular emphysema on CT, Technegas images showed the severe stage. Technegas scintigraphy was useful for diagnostic assessment of pulmonary emphysema, especially for panlobular emphysema, which is difficult to distinguish from the normal lung condition by CT assessment.</p

Bone marrow stroma cells are susceptible to prion infection.

Abnormal protease-resistant prion protein (PrP-res) is the only surrogate biochemical marker for prion diseases, and a sensitive technique to detect PrP-res in blood or tissues is urgently needed. Primary cultured bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) expressed PrP and were capable of supporting stable human prion infection. Using a mouse-adapted BSE strain, we demonstrated that PrP-res can be detected in expanded MSCs. We then analyzed the bone marrow cells collected at autopsy from two individuals with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and, in both cases, cultured MSCs were positive for PrP-res. These data would suggest that ex vivo MSC expansion accompanied by PrP-res analysis could be a helpful tool in the definitive diagnosis of prion disease at an earlier stage in the disease process than is currently possible, and with considerably less distress to the patient

Knockout of MMP3 Weakens Solid Tumor Organoids and Cancer Extracellular Vesicles

The tumor organoid (tumoroid) model in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems has been developed to reflect more closely the in vivo tumors than 2D-cultured tumor cells. Notably, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are efficiently collectible from the culture supernatant of gel-free tumoroids. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 is a multi-functional factor playing crucial roles in tumor progression. However, roles of MMP3 within tumor growth and EVs have not unveiled. Here, we investigated the protumorigenic roles of MMP3 on integrities of tumoroids and EVs. We generated MMP3-knockout (KO) cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system from rapidly metastatic LuM1 tumor cells. Moreover, we established fluorescent cell lines with palmitoylation signal-fused fluorescent proteins (tdTomato and enhanced GFP). Then we confirmed the exchange of EVs between cellular populations and tumoroids. LuM1-tumoroids released large EVs (200-1000 nm) and small EVs (50-200 nm) while the knockout of MMP3 resulted in the additional release of broken EVs from tumoroids. The loss of MMP3 led to a significant reduction in tumoroid size and the development of the necrotic area within tumoroids. MMP3 and CD9 (a category-1 EV marker tetraspanin protein) were significantly down-regulated in MMP3-KO cells and their EV fraction. Moreover, CD63, another member of the tetraspanin family, was significantly reduced only in the EVs fractions of the MMP3-KO cells compared to their counterpart. These weakened phenotypes of MMP3-KO were markedly rescued by the addition of MMP3-rich EVs or conditioned medium (CM) collected from LuM1-tumoroids, which caused a dramatic rise in the expression of MMP3, CD9, and Ki-67 (a marker of proliferating cells) in the MMP3-null/CD9-low tumoroids. Notably, MMP3 enriched in tumoroids-derived EVs and CM deeply penetrated recipient MMP3-KO tumoroids, resulting in a remarkable enlargement of solid tumoroids, while MMP3-null EVs did not. These data demonstrate that EVs can mediate molecular transfer of MMP3, resulting in increasing the proliferation and tumorigenesis, indicating crucial roles of MMP3 in tumor progression