Essential Immunoregulatory Role for BCAP in B Cell Development and Function

BCAP was recently cloned as a binding molecule to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). To investigate the role of BCAP, mutant mice deficient in BCAP were generated. While BCAP-deficient mice are viable, they have decreased numbers of mature B cells and B1 B cell deficiency. The mice produce lower titers of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG3, and mount attenuated responses to T cell–independent type II antigen. Upon B cell receptor cross-linking, BCAP-deficient B cells exhibit reduced Ca2+ mobilization and poor proliferative responses. These findings demonstrate that BCAP plays a pivotal immunoregulatory role in B cell development and humoral immune responses

Clinical, Radiological, and Pathological Investigation of Asbestosis

By the radiological examination, differential diagnosis of asbestosis from chronic interstitial pneumonia such as IPF/UIP is difficult. The pathological features of asbestosis show the peribronchiolar fibrosis which suggest that asbestos fibers cause the inflammation of bronchioli. Therefore, the criteria for pathological diagnosis of asbestosis in 2010, contain the finding of peribronchiolar fibrosis again. Chest CT scanning including HRCT for total of 38 cases clinically diagnosed asbestosis were reviewed by 3 radiologists and one pulmonologist. On the other hand, the histology of lung tissues obtained by surgery or autopsy were examined by 4 pulmonological pathologists. Furthermore, the content of asbestos bodies in the lung was counted by phase-contrast microscopy. Thirteen cases were definitely diagnosed of asbestosis in the image including HRCT and 17 cases were diagnosed by the histopathological examination showing lung fibrosis with peribronchiolar fibrosis. Only 10 cases were indicated asbestosis by both the radiological and histopathological examinations. The mean value of asbestos bodies for these cases, was 2,133,255 per gram of dry lung tissue

Disturbance of cerebellar synaptic maturation in mutant mice lacking BSRPs, a novel brain-specific receptor-like protein family

AbstractBy DNA cloning, we have identified the BSRP (brain-specific receptor-like proteins) family of three members in mammalian genomes. BSRPs were predominantly expressed in the soma and dendrites of neurons and localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Expression levels of BSRPs seemed to fluctuate greatly during postnatal cerebellar maturation. Triple-knockout mice lacking BSRP members exhibited motor discoordination, and Purkinje cells (PCs) were often innervated by multiple climbing fibers with different neuronal origins in the mutant cerebellum. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) were significantly downregulated in the mutant cerebellum. Because cerebellar maturation and plasticity require metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling and resulting PKC activation, BSRPs are likely involved in ER functions supporting PKCα activation in PCs

Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus and Helicobacter pylori in Primary Malignant Gastric Lymphomas

We studied five patients diagnosed with primary gastric lymphoma between 1985 and 1995 in Omura Munisipa Hospital to investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus and primary malignant gastric lymphoma. H. pylori was detected by hematoxylin-eosin stain, Giemsa stain, immunohistochemistry while EBV was detected by in situ hybridization in the lymphoma and background mucosa. H. pylori but not EBV, was detected in all cases. Furthermore, malignant lymphomas were mainly located in the area of the fundic gland where H. pylori was frequently identified and caused inflammation. In contrast, malignant lymphomas were not detected in areas with intestinal metaplasia. Our results suggest that malignant lymphoma may develop in a region where the immune system has been activated by H. pylori. In contrast, EBV is unlikely to play an important role in the development of gastric lymphoma, compared to H. pylori

Clozapine and Antipsychotic Monotherapy

Background: Although clozapine is effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), the rate of clozapine prescription is still low. Whereas antipsychotic monotherapy is recommended in clinical practice guidelines, the rate of antipsychotic polypharmacy is still high. There is little evidence on whether a clozapine prescription influences changes in the rate of monotherapy and polypharmacy, including antipsychotics and other psychotropics. We therefore hypothesized that the rate of antipsychotic monotherapy in patients with TRS who were prescribed clozapine would be higher than that in patients with schizophrenia who were not prescribed clozapine. Methods: We assessed 8306 patients with schizophrenia nationwide from 178 institutions in Japan from 2016 to 2019. We analyzed the psychotropic prescription data at discharge in patients diagnosed with TRS and with no description of TRS (ND-TRS) based on the diagnosis listed in the discharge summary. Results: The rate of antipsychotic monotherapy in the TRS with clozapine group (91.3%) was significantly higher than that in the TRS without clozapine group (45.9%; P < 2.0 × 10−16) and the ND-TRS without clozapine group (54.7%; P < 2.0 × 10−16). The rate of antipsychotic monotherapy without any other concomitant psychotropics in the TRS with clozapine group (26.5%) was significantly higher than that in the TRS without clozapine group (12.6%; P = 1.1 × 10−6) and the ND-TRS without clozapine group (17.0%; P = 5.9 × 10−6). Conclusions: Clozapine prescription could be associated with a high rate of antipsychotic monotherapy. Patients will benefit from the correct diagnosis of TRS and thus from proper clozapine prescription

Nivolumab Versus Gemcitabine or Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin for Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: Open-Label, Randomized Trial in Japan (NINJA)

PURPOSE: This phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab versus chemotherapy (gemcitabine [GEM] or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [PLD]) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer, received ≤ 1 regimen after diagnosis of resistance, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of ≤ 1. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to nivolumab (240 mg once every 2 weeks [as one cycle]) or chemotherapy (GEM 1000 mg/m2 for 30 minutes [once on days 1, 8, and 15] followed by a week's rest [as one cycle], or PLD 50 mg/m2 once every 4 weeks [as one cycle]). The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate, duration of response, and safety. RESULTS: Patients (n = 316) were randomly assigned to nivolumab (n = 157) or GEM or PLD (n = 159) between October 2015 and December 2017. Median OS was 10.1 (95% CI, 8.3 to 14.1) and 12.1 (95% CI, 9.3 to 15.3) months with nivolumab and GEM or PLD, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.3; P = .808). Median PFS was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.9 to 2.2) and 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6 to 4.2) months with nivolumab and GEM or PLD, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.9; P = .002). There was no statistical difference in overall response rate between groups (7.6% v 13.2%; odds ratio, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3; P = .191). Median duration of response was numerically longer with nivolumab than GEM or PLD (18.7 v 7.4 months). Fewer treatment-related adverse events were observed with nivolumab versus GEM or PLD (61.5% v 98.1%), with no additional or new safety risks. CONCLUSION: Although well-tolerated, nivolumab did not improve OS and showed worse PFS compared with GEM or PLD in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer