EBウイルス関連皮膚疾患における痂皮を用いた非侵襲的EBウイルス潜伏感染細胞の証明

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new diagnostic method for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cutaneous disorders. DESIGN: Skin biopsy is usually required to confirm the latent EBV infections in cutaneous lesions of EBV-associated NK/T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, including hydroa vacciniforme (HV) and hypersensitivity to mosquito bites (HMB). We have devised a novel, noninvasive method to detect EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER), BamHI A rightward transcripts (BARTs) in the skin crusts and scales of such patients. PATIENTS: Six patients with EBV-associated cutaneous lesions were enrolled in the present study, including three patients with HV, one with HV-like eruptions and chronic active EBV infection, and two with EBV-associated cutaneous lymphoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: RNA was extracted from the crusts obtained from the cutaneous lesions by forceps, converted to cDNA, and processed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with a specific set of primers. The PCR products were assayed by a DNA sequencer. RESULTS: Intact RNAs were successfully extracted from the crusts as well as control materials. EBER1 and BARTs RNAs were detected in all 7 crusts, and in 6 of 7 crusts of EBV-associated cutaneous diseases, respectively. One of 23 crusts from non EBV-associated diseases was positive for EBER1 RNA. The sensitivity and specificity of our assay for latent EBV infection were 100% and 95.8% for EBER1 RNA, and 85.7% and 100% for BARTs mRNA, respectively. The correct DNA sequence for EBER1 and BARTs was confirmed in the PCR products by a direct sequencing method. CONCLUSIONS: Our procedure may be of use as a biomarker for EBV-associated cutaneous lesions, including HV, HMB, and NK/T-cell lymphomas

A spectrum of clinical manifestations caused by host immune responses against Epstein-Barr virus infections.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), or human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4), infects the vast majority of adults worldwide, and establishes both nonproductive (latent) and productive (lytic) infections. Host immune responses directed against both the lytic and latent cycle-associated EBV antigens induce a diversity of clinical symptoms in patients with chronic active EBV infections who usually contain an oligoclonal pool of EBV-infected lymphocyte subsets in their blood. Episomal EBV genes in the latent infection utilize an array of evasion strategies from host immune responses: the minimized expression of EBV antigens targeted by host cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), the down-regulation of cell adhesion molecule expression, and the release of virokines to inhibit the host CTLs. The oncogenic role of latent EBV infection is not yet fully understood, but latent membrane proteins (LMPs) expressed during the latency cycle have essential biological properties leading to cellular gene expression and immortalization, and EBV-encoded gene products such as viral interleukin-10 (vIL-10) and bcl-2 homologue function to survive the EBV-infected cells. The subsequent oncogenic DNA damage may lead to the development of neoplasms. EBV-associated NK/T cell lymphoproliferative disorders are prevalent in Asia, but quite rare in Western countries. The genetic immunological background, therefore, is closely linked to the development of EBV-associated neoplasms.</p

The aim of the measurement of Epstein‐Barr virus DNA in hydroa vacciniforme and hypersensitivity to mosquito bites

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) DNA load in the blood increases in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders and chronic active EBV infection. In this report, we analyzed the EBV DNA load in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma of patients with hydroa vacciniforme (HV) and/or hypersensitivity to mosquito bites (HMB) to understand the clinical significance of EBV DNA load. All 30 patients showed high DNA loads in the PBMCs over the cut‐off level. Of 16 plasma samples, extremely high in two samples obtained from patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The amount of cell‐free DNA in plasma was correlated to the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and inversely correlated to platelet counts. These results indicate that the EBV DNA load in PBMCs can provide one of the diagnostic indicators for HV and HMB and marked elevation of cell‐free EBV DNA in plasma might be related to cytolysis such as that observed in HLH

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides treated with electron beam therapy that evolved into fatal, tumor-stage mycosis fungoides and erythroderma with multiple ulcerations

　A 71-year-old woman diagnosed with mycosis fungoides with multiple erythematous plaques and follicular papules on the scalp, trunk, and thigh was referred to our institution. Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides was histologically diagnosed, and the erythematous papules and plaques regressed temporarily after total-skin electron beam therapy. The patient then developed tumors and erythroderma. The area of painful erosion spread, and her condition rapidly worsened. The patient died 3 years and 4 months after the first examination due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis. The cause of rapid evolution into erythroderma remains elusive and requires further investigation in similar cases

Enhanced critical current density in MgB2 prepared by reaction of MgB4 and Mg

Instead of reacting B and Mg powders, MgB4 was used as precursor to react with Mg to obtain the polycrystalline samples of nominal composition MgxB2 (x = 1.2, 1.5, and 1.7). Upon increasing the sintering temperature to 750 °C, the reaction between MgB4 and Mg was thermodynamically intensified leading to the formation of larger MgB2 weight fraction as estimated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) data using the Rietveld method. Despite no further improvement to the weight fraction of this phase by increasing the excess nominal Mg, it was shown that the critical current density (Jc) was enhanced by almost one order of magnitude. At 5 K, 2 T, Jc for the sample Mg1.5B2 is estimated to be 4.5 × 105 A cm−2. The enhancement of Jc is attributed to the collective effect of improved grain connectivity and flux pinning by unreacted Mg. Incorporation of nano-SiC for reaction resulted in a more gradual drop of Jc with applied magnetic field. Hence, Jc can be tailored to meet the range of fields intended for various applications via optimization of excess nominal Mg and dopant additions

Recent advances in solid-state organic lasers

Organic solid-state lasers are reviewed, with a special emphasis on works published during the last decade. Referring originally to dyes in solid-state polymeric matrices, organic lasers also include the rich family of organic semiconductors, paced by the rapid development of organic light emitting diodes. Organic lasers are broadly tunable coherent sources are potentially compact, convenient and manufactured at low-costs. In this review, we describe the basic photophysics of the materials used as gain media in organic lasers with a specific look at the distinctive feature of dyes and semiconductors. We also outline the laser architectures used in state-of-the-art organic lasers and the performances of these devices with regard to output power, lifetime, and beam quality. A survey of the recent trends in the field is given, highlighting the latest developments in terms of wavelength coverage, wavelength agility, efficiency and compactness, or towards integrated low-cost sources, with a special focus on the great challenges remaining for achieving direct electrical pumping. Finally, we discuss the very recent demonstration of new kinds of organic lasers based on polaritons or surface plasmons, which open new and very promising routes in the field of organic nanophotonics

Decline in subarachnoid haemorrhage volumes associated with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased volumes of stroke admissions and mechanical thrombectomy were reported. The study\u27s objective was to examine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions demonstrated similar declines. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study across 6 continents, 37 countries and 140 comprehensive stroke centres. Patients with the diagnosis of SAH, aneurysmal SAH, ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions and COVID-19 were identified by prospective aneurysm databases or by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes. The 3-month cumulative volume, monthly volumes for SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling procedures were compared for the period before (1 year and immediately before) and during the pandemic, defined as 1 March-31 May 2020. The prior 1-year control period (1 March-31 May 2019) was obtained to account for seasonal variation. FINDINGS: There was a significant decline in SAH hospitalisations, with 2044 admissions in the 3 months immediately before and 1585 admissions during the pandemic, representing a relative decline of 22.5% (95% CI -24.3% to -20.7%, p\u3c0.0001). Embolisation of ruptured aneurysms declined with 1170-1035 procedures, respectively, representing an 11.5% (95%CI -13.5% to -9.8%, p=0.002) relative drop. Subgroup analysis was noted for aneurysmal SAH hospitalisation decline from 834 to 626 hospitalisations, a 24.9% relative decline (95% CI -28.0% to -22.1%, p\u3c0.0001). A relative increase in ruptured aneurysm coiling was noted in low coiling volume hospitals of 41.1% (95% CI 32.3% to 50.6%, p=0.008) despite a decrease in SAH admissions in this tertile. INTERPRETATION: There was a relative decrease in the volume of SAH hospitalisations, aneurysmal SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm embolisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings in SAH are consistent with a decrease in other emergencies, such as stroke and myocardial infarction