A method for measuring serum levels of melanin-associated indole metabolites using LC-MS/MS and its application to malignant melanoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

With the development of novel therapies for advanced malignant melanoma (MM), biomarkers that can accurately reflect the progression of MM are needed. Serum levels of melanin-related indole metabolites such as 5-hydroxy-6-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (5H6MI2C) and 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (6H5MI2C) are potential biomarkers for MM. Here, we describe the development of a mass spectrometry (MS)-based assay to determine serum levels of 5H6MI2C and 6H5MI2C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a stable isotope dilution-selective reaction monitoring-MS protocol using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure human serum 5H6MI2C and 6H5MI2C levels. Analytical evaluations of the method were performed and the method was applied to serum samples from MM patients (n = 81).

RESULTS

The method established in this study showed high reproducibility and linearity. This novel method also found that serum 6H5MI2C levels were significantly elevated in patients with metastatic MM compared to those with non-metastatic MM. Unfortunately, 5H6MI2C did not show a comparable significant difference.

CONCLUSION

We successfully established measurement methods for serum 5H6MI2C and 6H5MI2C levels using LC-MS/MS. Serum 6H5MI2C levels offer a potential marker for MM.

Association between low MCV in early pregnancy and perinatal mental health in the Japan Environment and Children's Study and the possible effect of iron deficiency

BACKGROUND

Postpartum anemia and iron deficiency are associated with postpartum depression. This study investigated the association between a low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) without anemia (which implies early-stage iron deficiency) in early pregnancy and perinatal mental health outcomes.

METHODS

The fixed data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a Japanese nationwide birth cohort, were used. Perinatal mental health was assessed using the Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale (K6) in mid-pregnancy and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1- and 6-months postpartum.

RESULTS

Among the 3635 women with MCVs <85 fL in early pregnancy, the proportions of women with K6 scores ≥13 in mid-pregnancy and EPDS scores ≥9 at 1- and 6-months postpartum were 2.7 %, 12.8 %, and 9.9 %, respectively, compared with the 33,242 women with MCVs ≥85 fL at 1.9 %, 11.9 %, and 9.0 %, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that an MCV <85 in early pregnancy was associated with a K6 score ≥ 13 in mid-pregnancy and an EPDS score ≥ 9 at 1- and 6-months postpartum (adjusted odds ratio (95 % confidence interval): 1.48 (1.16-1.87), 1.14 (1.01-1.28), and 1.09 (0.95-1.24), respectively).

LIMITATIONS

Low MCV values do not necessarily represent iron deficiency. Ferritin, currently the best indicator of iron deficiency, was not measured in the JECS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study results suggest that a low MCV without anemia in early pregnancy is associated with a slightly increased risk of perinatal mental health deterioration.

Brain metastasis in a patient with BRCA2-mutated treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma and long-term response to radiotherapy and Olaparib: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

A new subtype of prostate cancer called treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma (t-NEPC) was added to the revised World Health Organization classification of prostate cancer in 2022. t-NEPC cases are increasing, and there is no established standard treatment.

METHODS

A 49-year-old male patient was referred to our department for dysuria. A rectal examination and a prostate biopsy revealed stony hardness and prostate adenocarcinoma, respectively. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of multiple bone and lymph node metastases. The patient was started on upfront treatment with androgen deprivation therapy and an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, which resulted in a significant (>90%) decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The patient experienced postrenal failure 6 months later, attributable to local disease progression. Concurrently, there was an elevation in neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and an enlargement of pelvic lymph node metastases, without PSA progression.

RESULTS

Biopsy specimen for cancer genome profiling revealed deletion of BRCA 2 and PTEN, AR amplification, and the presence of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene. Based on increased NSE and BRCA2 mutations, a diagnosis of t-NEPC with BRCA2 mutation was eventually made. The patient received docetaxel chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy. Subsequently, he was treated with olaparib. His NSE levels decreased, and he achieved a complete response (CR). However, 18 months following the olaparib administration, brain metastases appeared despite the absence of pelvic tumor relapse, and the patient's PSA levels remained low. Consequently, the patient underwent resection of the brain metastases using gamma knife and whole-brain radiotherapy but died approximately 3 months later.

CONCLUSION SUBSECTIONS

Platinum-based chemotherapy is often administered for the treatment of t-NEPC, but there are few reports on the effectiveness of olaparib in patients with BRCA2 mutations. In a literature review, this case demonstrated the longest duration of effectiveness with olaparib alone without platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, the occurrence of relatively rare, fatal brain metastases in prostate cancer after a long period of CR suggests the necessity of regular brain imaging examinations.

Use of finer needles for venipuncture increases in vitro haemolysis despite reducing persistent pain and nerve injury: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Although venipuncture is minimally invasive, and is the most frequently performed medical procedure, it carries the small risk of causing persistent pain, including nerve damage. Recently, our hospital stopped using 22-gauge needles for venipuncture in outpatients and switched to using only 23- and 25-gauge needles. We investigated the impact of using only the finer needles on the incidence of persistent or neuropathic pain and the prevalence of haemolysis, as well as the impact of haemolysis associated with the needle change on other laboratory data.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected and analysed data on venipuncture-associated pain complaints made during the 1-year period prior and 1-year period after the change in needles, as well as the frequency of haemolysis before and after the change. We also focused on 90 cases that showed significant haemolysis after the needle change and compared the serum aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and potassium levels before and after the needle change.

RESULTS

The incidence of persistent pain was significantly reduced from 1 in 10,825 venipunctures before the change to 1 in 29,747 venipunctures after the change. Notably, no patients experienced neuropathic pain after the change. However, the prevalence of haemolysis was significantly increased. Additionally, the serum aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and potassium levels were significantly elevated in the cases that showed moderate to gross haemolysis after the needle change.

CONCLUSION

Using finer needles involves both advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration is needed to determine which type of needle is in the best interests of the patient.

Multimorbidity, consisting of a combination of chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, predicts the risk of difficulty in discharge home in older patients admitted to acute care hospital

AIM

To determine whether multimorbidity, consisting of chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, is associated with home discharge difficulties in older patients.

METHODS

A total of 522 older adults (mean age: 85 ± 7 years) who were admitted to an acute care hospital were enrolled. Multimorbidity was assessed by calculating the number of 16 chronic conditions (CCs): 8 chronic diseases (cardiac diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, anemia, dementia, and Parkinson disease) and 8 geriatric syndromes (depression, constipation, chronic pain, polypharmacy, dysphagia, underweight, hypoalbuminemia, and functional limitations). The patients were divided into four groups based on the number of CCs. The outcome was difficulty in discharging home (transfer to other facilities or in-hospital death). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent associations between four CC groups and failure to discharge home after adjusting for age, sex, living alone, and Barthel index and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Of the 522 patients, 18.8% were transferred to other facilities or died. The proportion of poor outcome in those with 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, and ≥7 CCs was 4.4%, 14.8%, 25.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates revealed that multimorbidity increased the risk of difficulty in discharging home (OR, 2.9 [95% CI, 1.1-8.0] for 3-4 CCs; OR, 4.9 [95% CI, 1.8-13.5] for 5-6 CCs; OR, 8.7 [95% CI, 3.1-24.6] for ≥7 CCs).

CONCLUSION

Multimorbidity, consisting of chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, predicted difficulty in discharge home in older patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 300-305.

Complex phenotypic heterogeneity of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma with a homogenous TERT promoter mutation

To clarify the mechanism underlying the development and poor prognosis of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA), we characterized liver cancer driver mutations and poor prognostic markers in both the HCC and intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) components of a cHCC-CCA tumor. The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation C228T was quantified by digital polymerase chain reaction using DNA from multiple microdissected cancer components of a single cHCC-CCA nodule. The protein expression of cancer-related markers, including TERT, was examined by serial thin-section immunohistochemistry and double-staining immunofluorescence. TERT promoter mutation and TERT protein expression were detected in all cancer components but not in noncancer regions. TERT promoter mutation frequencies were similar among components; those of TERT protein-positive cancer cells were higher in iCCA and mixed components than in HCC. The frequencies of Ki67- and p53-positive cells were similarly higher in iCCA and mixed components than in HCC. However, double-positive cells for the three proteins were unexpectedly rare; single-positive cells dominated, indicating phenotypic microheterogeneity in cancer cells within a component. Interestingly, HCC and CCA marker protein immunohistochemistry suggested dedifferentiation of HCC and transdifferentiation from HCC to iCCA in HCC and iCCA components, respectively. Such phenotypic intercomponent heterogeneity and intracomponent microheterogeneity were detected in a tumor nodule of cHCC-CCA uniformly carrying the early HCC driver mutation. Moreover, poor prognostic markers were randomly expressed without a regular pattern, consistent with the poor prognosis.

External quality control survey on identification of microorganisms using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry（ MALDI-TOF MS） is a bacterial typing tool that was approved as a medical device in 2011. However, external accuracy control examination of bacterial typing using mass spectrometry is still only performed on a small scale. In this study, E. faecium and S. maltophilia were selected and tested according to established procedures using Score Values at 228 institutions. The Score Values for MALDI Biotyper were 2.43±0.08 for E. faecium and 2.38±0.08 for S. maltophilia; and those for VITEK MS/PRIME were 99.9±0.0 for E. faecium and S. maltophilia. These results suggest that it is useful to evaluate external accuracy control with Score Values using the procedures we have developed.

Pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis in Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome-associated lung cysts: A new insight into the pathogenesis?

Multiple lung cysts are one of the major features of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD), but little is known about their nature and pathogenesis. We report a case of a woman diagnosed with BHD lung cysts who exhibited pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis (PIG), a mesenchymal abnormality hitherto undescribed in this disease, in specimens resected at 14 and 29 years of age. Histopathologically, oval to spindle clear cells were seen in the subepithelial interstitial tissue of septal structures and the walls of the cysts. They had abundant periodic acid-Schiff-positive cytoplasmic glycogen. Immunohistochemically, these cells were positive for a few markers of mesenchymal stem cell-like lineage, including vimentin, CD44, and CD10, and negative for markers of epithelial or specific mesenchymal differentiation; these results were consistent with the reported immunophenotype of PIG cells. These PIG cells were more abundant in her specimen at age 14 years than in the second specimen from adulthood. The present case suggests that BHD lung cysts belong to a group of pulmonary developmental disorders characterized by combined PIG and alveolar simplification/cystic change. Disorders with PIG may persist until adulthood and may be of clinical and pathological significance.

Feasibility and safety study of wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb for pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and spinal cord disorders

Introduction

The wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) is the world's first cyborg-type wearable robotic device, and it assists the user's voluntary movements and facilitates muscle activities. However, since the minimum height required for using the HAL is 150 cm, a smaller HAL (2S size) has been newly developed for pediatric use. This study aimed to (1) examine the feasibility and safety of a protocol for treatments with HAL (2S size) in pediatric patients and (2) explore the optimal method for assessing the efficacy of HAL.

Methods

This clinical study included seven pediatric patients with postural and motor function disorders, who received 8-12 sessions of smaller HAL (2S size) treatment. The primary outcome was the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88). The secondary outcomes were GMFM-66, 10-m walk test, 2- and 6-min walking distances, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a post-treatment questionnaire, adverse events, and device failures. Statistical analyses were performed using the paired samples t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

All participants completed the study protocol with no serious adverse events. GMFM-88 improved from 65.51 ± 21.97 to 66.72 ± 22.28 (p = 0.07). The improvements in the secondary outcomes were as follows: GMFM-66, 53.63 ± 11.94 to 54.96 ± 12.31, p = 0.04; step length, 0.32 ± 0.16 to 0.34 ± 0.16, p = 0.25; 2-MWD, 59.1 ± 57.0 to 62.8 ± 63.3, p = 0.54; COPM performance score, 3.7 ± 2.0 to 5.3 ± 1.9, p = 0.06; COPM satisfaction score, 3.3 ± 2.1 to 5.1 ± 2.1, p = 0.04.

Discussion

In this exploratory study, we applied a new size of wearable cyborg HAL (2S size), to children with central nervous system disorders. We evaluated its safety, feasibility, and identified an optimal assessment method for multiple treatments. All participants completed the protocol with no serious adverse events. This study suggested that the GMFM would be an optimal assessment tool for validation trials of HAL (2S size) treatment in pediatric patients with posture and motor function disorders.

Elevated serum uric acid is a risk factor for progression to prediabetes in Japanese women: A 5-year retrospective chort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and prediabetes risk remains poorly understood. The aim of this longitudinal retrospective study was to evaluate the association between SUA levels and prediabetes progression in Japanese individuals through sex-specific analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled 20,743 participants (11,916 men and 8,827 women) who underwent annual medical health checkups in 2017 (baseline) and 2022. None of the participants had diabetes and prediabetes or were taking SUA-lowering medications at baseline. Participants were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of SUA levels at baseline. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis was conducted to examine the risk of prediabetes progression. In addition, multivariate restricted cubic spline analysis was conducted to investigate the dose-response risk.

RESULTS

In women, compared with the lowest SUA quartile (Q1) group, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of prediabetes in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 1.03 (0.86-1.25), 1.41 (1.18-1.68), and 1.55 (1.30-1.84), respectively. However, in men, no significant association in the risk of prediabetes was found across quartiles of SUA. Furthermore, in women, restricted cubic spline analysis revealed the dose-response relationship between SUA and progression to prediabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that elevated serum SUA levels might be positively and independently associated with an increased risk of progression to prediabetes in Japanese women.

Emergence of Phytobacter diazotrophicus carrying an IncA/C2 plasmid harboring bla NDM-1 in Tokyo, Japan

Phytobacter diazotrophicus is an Enterobacterales species that was originally identified as a plant growth-promoting, Gram-negative bacterium. Recently, this species has been recognized as relevant to opportunistic human and nosocomial infections in clinical settings. Its frequent misidentification as other Enterobacterales species from clinical examination occasionally causes a delay in the identification of nosocomial outbreaks. Here, we report the emergence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing P. diazotrophicus isolated from hospitalized pediatric patients and hospital environments in Tokyo, Japan. In our case, these isolates were found during an investigation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in relation to nosocomial infections. Whole-genome sequencing is useful for overcoming the difficulty of species identification. Furthermore, we found that bla NDM-1 was carried by an IncA/C2 plasmid (approximately 170 kbp), which was transferrable from the clinical isolates to the recipient strain Escherichia coli J53. Our study demonstrated that P. diazotrophicus behaves as a carrier of bla NDM-harboring plasmids, potentially disseminating resistance to carbapenems among Enterobacterales. IMPORTANCE Early detection of nosocomial outbreaks is important to minimize the spread of bacteria. When an outbreak is caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, a delay in findings makes it difficult to control it because such bacteria often spread not only among human patients but also in hospital environments. Phytobacter diazotrophicus, an Enterobacterales species that has recently been found to be relevant to clinical settings, is often misidentified as other bacteria in clinical laboratories. Here, we found NDM-producing P. diazotrophicus in hospitalized pediatric patients and their environment in Tokyo, Japan. Given that the isolates carried bla NDM-1-harboring transferrable plasmids, the influence of such bacteria could be greater with the mediation of horizontal transfer of carbapenem resistance. Our findings suggest that P. diazotrophicus should be recognized as an NDM-carrier, for which more attention should be paid in clinical settings.

Sex differences in the evaluation of proteinuria using the urine dipstick test

Background

The urine protein dipstick test is widely used, but false-positive and false-negative results may occur. This study aimed to compare the urine protein dipstick test with a urine protein quantification method.

Methods

The data were extracted using the Abbott Diagnostic Support System, which analyzes the inspection results using multiple parameters. This study included 41,058 specimens tested using the urine dipstick test and protein creatinine ratio from patients aged ≥18 years. The proteinuria creatinine ratio was classified according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.

Results

Urine protein on the dipstick test was negative in 15,548 samples (37.9%), trace in 6,422 samples (15.6%), and ≥1+ in 19,088 samples (46.5%). Among the trace proteinuria samples, A1 (<0.15 g/gCr), A2 (0.15-0.49 g/gCr), and A3 (≥0.5 g/gCr) category proteinuria accounted for 31.2, 44.8, and 24.0% of samples, respectively. All trace proteinuria specimens with a specific gravity of <1.010 were classified as A2 and A3 category proteinuria. In the trace proteinuria cases, women had a lower specific gravity and a higher percentage of A2 or A3 category proteinuria than men. The sensitivity in the "dipstick proteinuria" ≥ trace" group was higher than that in the "dipstick proteinuria ≥ 1+" group within the lower specific gravity group. The sensitivity in the "dipstick proteinuria ≥ 1+" group was higher for men than for women, and the sensitivity in the "dipstick proteinuria ≥ trace" group was higher than that in the "dipstick proteinuria ≥ 1+" group for women.

Conclusion

Pathological proteinuria assessment requires caution; this study suggests that evaluating the specific gravity of urine specimens with trace proteinuria is essential. Particularly for women, the sensitivity of the urine dipstick test is low, and caution is needed even with trace specimens.

Prioritization of nasal polyp-associated genes by integrating GWAS and eQTL summary data

Background: Nasal polyps (NP) are benign inflammatory growths of nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa that can substantially impair patients' quality of life by various symptoms such as nasal obstruction, insomnia, and anosmia. NP often relapse even after surgical treatment, and the curative therapy would be challenging without understanding the underlying mechanisms. Genome wide association studies (GWASs) on NP have been conducted; however, few genes that are causally associated with NP have been identified. Methods: We aimed to prioritize NP associated genes for functional follow-up studies using the summary data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) and Bayesian colocalization (COLOC) methods to integrate the summary-level data of the GWAS on NP and the expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) study in blood. We utilized the GWAS data including 5,554 NP cases and 258,553 controls with 34 genome-wide significant loci from the FinnGen consortium (data freeze 8) and the eQTL data from 31,684 participants of predominantly European ancestry from the eQTLGen consortium. Results: The SMR analysis identified several genes including TNFRSF18, CTSK, and IRF1 that were associated with NP due to not linkage but pleiotropy or causality. The COLOC analysis strongly suggested that these genes and the trait of NP were affected by shared causal variants, and thus were colocalized. An enrichment analysis by Metascape suggested that these genes might be involved in the biological process of cellular response to cytokine stimulus. Conclusion: We could prioritize several NP associated genes including TNFRSF18, CTSK, and IRF1 for follow-up functional studies in future to elucidate the underlying disease mechanisms.

Successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion in a patient on hemodialysis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Patients on long-term dialysis are prone to hemorrhagic complications, particularly uremic bleeding, but gallbladder hemorrhage is rare, even in patients on dialysis. There have been occasional reports of a Dieulafoy lesion being a cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, but its occurrence within the gallbladder is quite rare. This report describes a case of gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion in a patient on hemodialysis that was diagnosed early and successfully treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 68-year-old woman on long-term hemodialysis with end-stage renal failure who presented with epigastralgia and back pain. There was no history of trauma or oral administration of antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. There were no signs of an inflammatory reaction or hyperbilirubinemia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a slightly hyperdense area in the distended gallbladder and extravasation within the gallbladder lumen but no gallstones. A severe atherosclerotic lesion was also found. She was diagnosed to have gallbladder hemorrhage and emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Although the postoperative course was complicated by drug fever, she was discharged on postoperative day 10 in a satisfactory condition. Histology revealed hemorrhagic ulceration with an exposed blood vessel accompanied by abnormal arteries in the submucosa. Arteriosclerosis with eccentric intimal hyperplasia in a small-sized artery was also seen. The diagnosis was gallbladder hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

A Dieulafoy lesion should be kept in mind as a cause of gallbladder hemorrhage in a patient with severe arteriosclerosis and a bleeding diathesis, particularly if on dialysis, and treated as early as possible.

Evaluation of a novel sample preparation method for identifying Aspergillus fumigatus using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Combining Yatalase and silica beads treatment

Aspergillus spp. belong to filamentous fungi and sometimes cause invasive aspergillosis which has high mortality. Filamentous fungi are generally identified morphologically. However, morphologic identification is time consuming and requires advanced skills. It is difficult to train technicians and ensure a high level of quality. Therefore, an identification technique that is both accurate and relatively easy to learn is needed. In the present study, we focused on the effects of Yatalase and silica beads, which enable the efficient extraction of proteins via cell wall disruption of Aspergillus spp., and aimed to establish a novel sample preparation method using Yatalase and silica beads to enhance the efficiency of Aspergillus spp. identification with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The sample preparation method using the combination of Yatalase and silica beads showed higher accuracy for the identification of Aspergillus spp. compared with Yatalase or silica beads alone. The Yatalase/silica beads method also resulted in significantly higher identification scores compared with the conventional method for the identification of Aspergillus fumigatus (n = 33). These findings indicate that our novel Yatalase/silica beads method provides more reliable identification of A. fumigatus than does the conventional method.

Benefits of a Wearable Cyborg HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) in Patients with Childhood-Onset Motor Disabilities: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study

Rehabilitation robots have shown promise in improving the gait of children with childhood-onset motor disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the long-term benefits of training using a wearable Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) in these patients. Training using a HAL was performed for 20 min a day, two to four times a week, over four weeks (12 sessions in total). The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcome measures were gait speed, step length, cadence, 6-min walking distance (6MD), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Patients underwent assessments before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-, 2-, 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Nine participants (five males, four females; mean age: 18.9 years) with cerebral palsy (n = 7), critical illness polyneuropathy (n = 1), and encephalitis (n = 1) were enrolled. After training using HAL, GMFM, gait speed, cadence, 6MD, and COPM significantly improved (all p < 0.05). Improvements in GMFM were maintained one year after the intervention (p < 0.001) and in self-selected gait speed and 6MD three months after the intervention (p < 0.05). Training using HAL may be safe and feasible for childhood-onset motor disabilities and may maintain long-term improvements in motor function and walking ability.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of vancomycin in patients with Enterococcus faecium bacteraemia: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The trough concentration of vancomycin and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio are crucial in determining vancomycin efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, the use of similar pharmacokinetic principles in determining antibiotic efficacy against other gram-positive cocci is lacking. We performed a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis (association of target trough concentration values and AUC/MIC with therapeutic outcome) of vancomycin in patients with Enterococcus faecium bacteraemia.

METHODS

Between January 2014 and December 2021 we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with E. faecium bacteraemia treated with vancomycin. Patients who received renal replacement therapy or had chronic kidney disease were excluded. Clinical failure, the primary outcome, was defined as a composite of 30-day all-cause mortality, vancomycin-susceptible infection requiring change of treatment, and/or recurrence. AUC24 was estimated using a Bayesian estimation approach based on an individual vancomycin trough concentration. The MIC for vancomycin was determined using a standardised agar dilution method. Additionally, classification was used to identify the vancomycin AUC24/MIC ratio associated with clinical failure.

RESULTS

Of the 151 patients identified, 69 were enrolled. All MICs of vancomycin for E. faecium were ≤1.0 µg/mL. The AUC24 and AUC24/MIC ratio were not significantly different between the clinical failure group and the clinical success group (432±123 µg/mL/hour vs 488±92 µg/mL/hour; p=0.075). However, 7 of 12 patients (58.3%) in the clinical failure group and 49 of 57 patients (86.0%) in the clinical success group had a vancomycin AUC24/MIC ratio ≥389 (p=0.041). No significant association between trough concentration or AUC24 ≥600 µg/mL×hour and acute kidney injury was observed (p=0.365 and p=0.487, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The AUC24/MIC ratio is associated with the clinical outcome of vancomycin administration in E. faecium bacteraemia. In Japan, where vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection is rare, empirical therapy with a target AUC24 ≥389 should be recommended.

Metal doped polyaniline as neuromorphic circuit elements for in-materia computing

Polyaniline-based atomic switches are material building blocks whose nanoscale structure and resultant neuromorphic character provide a new physical substrate for the development next-generation, nanoarchitectonic-enabled computing systems. Metal ion-doped devices consisting of a Ag/metal ion doped polyaniline/Pt sandwich structure were fabricated using an in situ wet process. The devices exhibited repeatable resistive switching between high (ON) and low (OFF) conductance states in both Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ ion-doped devices. The threshold voltage for switching was>0.8 V and average ON/OFF conductance ratios (30 cycles for 3 samples) were 13 and 16 for Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ devices, respectively. The ON state duration was determined by the decay to an OFF state after pulsed voltages of differing amplitude and frequency. The switching behaviour is analagous to short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memories of biological synapses. Memristive behaviour and evidence of quantized conductance were also observed and interpreted in terms of metal filament formation bridging the metal doped polymer layer. The successful realization of these properties within physical material systems indicate polyaniline frameworks as suitable neuromorphic substrates for in materia computing.

Two Cases of Familial Mediterranean Fever Involving MEFV Variants: The Importance of Differentiating the Diagnosis from COVID-19

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease associated with the MEFV gene. FMF is common in Mediterranean peoples but not highly recognized in Japan. We herein report two cases of Japanese FMF patients who were diagnosed by genetic testing for the MEFV gene during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Both patients presented with symptoms similar to COVID-19, which delayed the definitive diagnosis. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of FMF may be eligible for physical, emotional, and financial benefits. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of differentiating the diagnosis by genetic testing.

Prospective study of adoptive activated αβT lymphocyte immunotherapy for refractory cancers: development and validation of a response scoring system

BACKGROUND AIMS

This prospective clinical study aimed to determine the efficacy and prognostic factors of adoptive activated αβT lymphocyte immunotherapy for various refractory cancers. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoint was radiological response.

METHODS

The authors treated 96 patients. Activated αβT lymphocytes were infused every 2 weeks for a total of six times. Prognostic factors were identified by analyzing clinical and laboratory data obtained before therapy.

RESULTS

Median survival time (MST) was 150 days (95% confidence interval, 105-191), and approximately 20% of patients achieved disease control (complete response + partial response + stable disease). According to the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model with Akaike information criterion-best subset selection, sex, concurrent therapy, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, CD4:CD8 ratio and T helper (Th)1:Th2 ratio were strong prognostic factors. Using parameter estimates of the Cox analysis, the authors developed a response scoring system. The authors then determined the threshold of the response score between responders and non-responders. This threshold was able to significantly differentiate OS of responders from that of non-responders. MST of responders was longer than that of non-responders (317.5 days versus 74 days). The validity of this response scoring system was then confirmed by internal validation.

CONCLUSIONS

Adoptive activated αβT lymphocyte immunotherapy has clinical efficacy in certain patients. The authors' scoring system is the first prognostic model reported for this therapy, and it is useful for selecting patients who might obtain a better prognosis through this modality.

Clinical entity of cytomegalovirus disease in patients with malignant lymphoma on bendamustine therapy: a single-institution experience

We investigated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in patients with B-cell lymphoma treated with a bendamustine-containing regimen. The incidence of CMV disease was analyzed after starting treatment with 139 regimens in 126 patients. Clinically significant CMV disease was observed in seven patients. The median duration between bendamustine initiation and the diagnosis of CMV disease was 69 d (range, 40-233), and the median of cycles completed at onset was 2 (range, 1-6). Furthermore, the incidence of CMV disease was significantly higher in the elderly patients than that in the younger patients. The target organs of CMV disease were the liver, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and retinas. Antiviral therapy was administered to all patients. However, the recurrence of CMV disease was observed in two patients. This study provides information that could contribute to clinicians' decision-making on lymphoma therapy using bendamustine.

[Thrombotic microangiopathy with gastrointestinal hemorrhage during carfilzomib therapy for multiple myeloma]

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with loss of appetite and melena. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 7 years ago and had been on carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) therapy for a month because her disease had a relapsed/refractory. On admission, her laboratory tests revealed hemolytic anemia with schizocytes, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal dysfunction. TMA (thrombotic microangiography) caused by carfilzomib was suspected. The possibility of thrombotic thrombocytopenia was considered, and steroid pulse therapy was initiated. Her condition improved significantly after she stopped taking carfilzomib, plasma exchange, hemodiafiltration, steroid pulse therapy, and abstaining from food. The previously reported cases of carfilzomib-induced TMA included fever, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea), and acute renal disorders (lower extremity edema, decreasing urine output). As far as we know, this is the first case of carfilzomib-induced TMA with bleeding as the first symptom.

Von Willebrand factor activity levels are influenced by driver mutation status in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia patients with well-controlled platelet counts

Von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor (VWF activity) and platelet count (PLT) are negatively correlated in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). However, VWF activity does not always normalize upon controlling PLT in those patients. To address this issue, we investigated the correlation between VWF activity and PLT in PV and ET patients. The negative correlation between VWF activity and PLT was stronger in calreticulin mutation-positive (CALR+) ET than in Janus kinase 2 mutation-positive (JAK2+) PV or ET groups. When PLT were maintained at a certain level (<600 × 10⁹ /L), low VWF activity (<50%) was more frequently observed in JAK2+ PV patients than in JAK2+ ET (p=0.013) or CALR+ ET (p=0.013) groups, and in PV and ET patients with ≥50% JAK2+ allele burden than in those with allele burden <50% (p=0.015). High VWF activity (>150%) was more frequent in the JAK2+ ET group than in the CALR+ ET group (p=0.005), and often associated with vasomotor symptoms (p=0.002). This study suggests that some patients with JAK2+ PV or ET have VWF activity outside the standard range even with well-controlled PLT, and that the measurement of VWF activity is useful for assessing the risk of thrombosis and hemorrhage.

Elucidation of the Mechanism and Significance of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate from Clinical Laboratory Data

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used marker of inflammation, but the detailed mechanisms underlying the ESR remain unclear. We retrospectively collected laboratory data from our hospital's laboratory information system, and performed multiple linear regression analysis and correlation analysis to determine relationships between the ESR and other laboratory test parameters. The alpha-2, beta-2, and gamma fractions from serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, and complement C3 levels, plasma fibrinogen levels, and platelet count showed positive effects on the ESR; however, the serum albumin level showed negative effects. Since erythrocytes are negatively charged, an increase in positively charged proteins and a decrease in negatively charged albumin were suggested to increase the ESR. Notably, C-reactive protein (CRP) showed the third-strongest correlation with the ESR despite having no significant effect on the ESR. We also reviewed cases with discordant ESR and CRP levels to compare the disease profiles of high ESR/low CRP patients and low ESR/high CRP patients. The patients with high ESR/low CRP had a completely different disease profile from those with low ESR/high CRP. Since the ESR and CRP have different roles, they should be used as markers in a context-dependent manner.

A deep learning-based approach for the diagnosis of adrenal adenoma: a new trial using CT

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) models for the diagnosis of adrenal adenoma (AA) using CT.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 112 patients who underwent abdominal CT (non-contrast, early, and delayed phases) with 107 adrenal lesions (83 AAs and 24 non-AAs) confirmed pathologically and with 8 lesions confirmed by follow-up as metastatic carcinomas. Three patients had adrenal lesions on both sides. We constructed six DCNN models from six types of input images for comparison: non-contrast images only (Model A), delayed phase images only (Model B), three phasic images merged into a 3-channel (Model C), relative washout rate (RWR) image maps only (Model D), non-contrast and RWR maps merged into a 2-channel (Model E), and delayed phase and RWR maps merged into a 2-channel (Model F). These input images were prepared manually with cropping and registration of CT images. Each DCNN model with six convolutional layers was trained with data augmentation and hyperparameter tuning. The optimal threshold values for binary classification were determined from the receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses. We adopted the nested cross-validation method, in which the outer fivefold cross-validation was used to assess the diagnostic performance of the models and the inner fivefold cross-validation was used to tune hyperparameters of the models.

RESULTS

The areas under the curve with 95% confidence intervals of Models A-F were 0.94 [0.90, 0.98], 0.80 [0.69, 0.89], 0.97 [0.94, 1.00], 0.92 [0.85, 0.97], 0.99 [0.97, 1.00] and 0.94 [0.86, 0.99], respectively. Model E showed high area under the curve greater than 0.95.

CONCLUSION

DCNN models may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of AA using CT.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The current study demonstrates a deep learning-based approach could differentiate adrenal adenoma from non-adenoma using multiphasic CT.

Toward the clinical application of the Child Psychosis-Risk Screening System (CPSS)

Introduction

In our previous study, we have developed the Child Psychosis-risk Screening System (CPSS), which incorporates psychological and behavioral characteristics of childhood into an algorithm, based on a retrospective survey.

Objectives

In this study, we actually tried to evaluate the risk of psychosis in pediatric and psychiatric outpatients using the CPSS.

Methods

We conducted an epidemiological study of 323 outpatients aged 6-18 years visiting pediatric and psychiatric departments using CBCL and clinical data (sex, age, winter birth, chief complaint, diagnosis, abuse, bullying, hikikomori). ROC analysis was used to assess the accuracy of CPSS predictions. Cross-sectional logistic regression analysis was performed on the clinical data to identify factors associated with risk groups exceeding the cutoff value.

Results

The results of the ROC analysis showed that the AUC (Area under the ROC Curve) was 80.3%, indicating that the CPSS has Moderate accuracy. The cutoff value was 98.11% (sensitivity: 0.857, specificity: 0.835), and 18% of the subjects were identified as risk groups above this value. Cross-sectional logistic regression analysis showed that schizophrenia diagnosis, no abuse, winter birth, and hikikomori were associated with the risk group, with respective odds ratios of 22.88, 10.76, 1.91, and 1.37.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that the CPSS can be applied to pediatric practice for early detection of risk for psychosis. The risk group is also present among pediatric patients with physical chief complaints. The factors suggested to be associated with risk groups may reflect the factors acting on the critical period of psychosis onset and the dynamic state.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Clinical impact of central nervous system-directed therapies on intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: A single institution's experience

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of B-cell lymphoma characterized by aggressive disease progression with a high incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. We retrospectively analyzed 16 patients with de novo IVLBCL treated at our hospital between 2004 and 2018 with either standard therapy plus CNS-directed therapy or standard therapy alone. CNS-directed therapy was associated with a significantly better 2-year CNS-free survival (100% vs. 63%, p = 0.0191), despite no significant effects on progression-free or overall survival. Further studies should assess CNS-focused treatment in patients with IVLBCL with or without primary CNS involvement.

Celiac Disease Diagnosed after Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Celiac disease is a systemic autoimmune disorder leading to manifestations of malabsorption syndrome. A 47-year-old Japanese man developed severe diarrhea after surgery for gastric cancer. The diarrhea persisted for seven months, leading to a state of malabsorption. Celiac disease was suspected based on small bowel capsule endoscopy findings. The duodenal findings observed during gastric cancer surgery were reassessed, and Marsh-Oberhuber classification type 3c celiac disease was diagnosed. The anti-tissue glutaminase antibody test results were positive. The patient was started on a gluten-free diet, following which the diarrhea resolved, and the nutritional status improved. Adjuvant therapy after gastric cancer surgery was initiated.

Diaphragmatic hernia post coronary artery bypass with gastroepiploic artery

An 86-year-old man, with a medical history of coronary artery bypass grafting with the right gastroepiploic artery 20 years prior, was admitted to our hospital for right-sided heart failure. Computed tomography findings revealed an intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia of the transverse colon compressing the right ventricle. The hernia was successfully repaired, and the patient recovered without any complications. Diaphragmatic hernia is rare but may be a lethal complication following coronary artery bypass grafting. We should be aware of the possibility of this condition.

Computed tomographic features of portal vein thrombosis in two cats with splenosystemic shunts

Two spayed female cats presented with hepatic encephalopathy due to hyperammonaemia. On abdominal ultrasound, concurrent portal vein thrombosis and splenosystemic shunts were suspected in both cats. Computed tomographic angiography clearly detected thrombi as non-contrast enhancing intraluminal structures in the main portal vein of both cats. Additionally, splenorenal shunts were revealed in both cats. Follow-up computed tomographic angiography for portal vein thrombosis was performed in both cats, only one of whom received anticoagulant therapy. In the untreated cat, portal vein thrombosis had progressed with the development of an aberrant tortuous vessel. In the cat treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, the thrombus progressively decreased in size and disappeared on follow-up diagnostic imaging. Computed tomographic angiography might be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of portal vein thrombosis in cats.

Voluntary-assisted Upper Limb Training for Severe Cerebral Palsy Using Robotics Devices and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: Three Case Reports

Background:

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improves the motor function of paralyzed upper limbs of adults after stroke. However, in patients with severe spastic cerebral palsy (CP), the use of CIMT is not warranted. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of repetitive voluntary-assisted upper limb training (VAUT) for three patients with severe CP using a combination of robotics [Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL)] and functional electrical stimulation [Integrated Volitional Control Electrical Stimulation (IVES)].

Case:

Three patients with CP were enrolled. Patients 1, 2, and 3 were 8-, 19-, and 18-year-old males, respectively. Patient 1 had spastic hemiplegia, while patients 2 and 3 had spastic quadriplegia. VAUT using single-joint HAL was performed for 1 or 2 sessions/month for 50 min/session over an 8-month period for 9–13 sessions in total. One patient’s voluntary hand movement was insufficient, affecting his upper limb exercise performance; therefore, IVES was required in addition to HAL. Outcome measures included motor function of the upper limbs and use of paralyzed hands, which were measured before and after intervention. No adverse events were observed during VAUT. After intervention, the Action Research Arm Test scores showed improvements in all three patients. The Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire showed improvements in two patients.

Discussion:

The use of VAUT, together with new systems such as HAL and IVES, for severe CP is safe and may be effective. Our study suggested that upper limb function can be improved for patients with severe CP.

Estimating causal effects of genetically predicted type 2 diabetes on COVID-19 in the East Asian population

BACKGROUND

Observational studies suggested that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was associated with an increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, Mendelian randomization (MR) studies in the European population failed to find causal associations, partly because T2DM was pleiotropically associated with body mass index (BMI). We aimed to estimate the causal effects of T2DM on COVID-19 outcomes in the East Asian (EAS) population using a two-sample MR approach.

METHODS

We obtained summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that included 433,540 EAS participants as the exposure dataset for T2DM risk and from COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative GWAS meta-analyses (round 7) of EAS ancestry as the outcome dataset for COVID-19 susceptibility (4,459 cases and 36,121 controls), hospitalization (2,882 cases and 31,200 controls), and severity (794 cases and 4,862 controls). As the main MR analysis, we performed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Moreover, we conducted a series of sensitivity analyses, including IVW multivariable MR using summary statistics for BMI from a GWAS with 158,284 Japanese individuals as a covariate.

RESULTS

The IVW method showed that the risk of T2DM significantly increased the risk of COVID-19 susceptibility (odds ratio [OR] per log (OR) increase in T2DM, 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.20; P = 0.014) and hospitalization (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.26; P = 0.005), although the risk of severity was only suggestive. Moreover, IVW multivariable MR analysis indicated that the causal effects of T2DM on COVID-19 outcomes were independent of the effect of BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our MR study indicated for the first time that genetically predicted T2DM is a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalized COVID-19 independent of obesity in the EAS population.

Causal effect of atrial fibrillation/flutter on chronic kidney disease: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation are both major burdens on the health care system worldwide. Several observational studies have reported clinical associations between CKD and atrial fibrillation; however, causal relationships between these conditions remain to be elucidated due to possible bias by confounders and reverse causations. Here, we conducted bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses using publicly available summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (the CKDGen consortium and the UK Biobank) to investigate causal associations between CKD and atrial fibrillation/flutter in the European population. Our study suggested a causal effect of the risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter on the decrease in serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and revealed a causal effect of the risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter on the risk of CKD (odds ratio, 9.39 per doubling odds ratio of atrial fibrillation/flutter; 95% coefficient interval, 2.39–37.0; P = 0.001), while the causal effect of the decrease in eGFR on the risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter was unlikely. However, careful interpretation and further studies are warranted, as the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Further, our sample size was relatively small and selection bias was possible.

The Detection of Hyaline Casts in Patients Without Renal Dysfunction Suggests Increased Plasma BNP

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Casts in urinary sediments are useful in the identification of kidney diseases. Among them, hyaline casts have not previously been considered as pathognomonic. However, hyaline casts can occasionally be found in patients undergoing cardiovascular treatment without renal dysfunction. We evaluated the background of these patients and also investigated their levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples from patients who visited the Division of Cardiovascular Disease at Nihon University Hospital (2014-2018) were examined. We set extract conditions from the laboratory information system database, setting the threshold over 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria as absent (-) or trace (±). One hundred forty-seven of 3137 (4.7%) samples showed hyaline casts (M:F=102:45, mean age 69.5±11.2 years). Samples with hyaline casts were divided into three rank groups. We compared BNP levels among each cast group and age-matched controls using Kruskal-Wallis analysis.

RESULTS

The median BNP levels of the controls and the three casts groups were 23.3 pg/mL in the controls, 31.1 pg/mL in group (1+), 35.5 pg/mL in group (2+), and 45.8 pg/mL in group (≥3+). The median BNP levels differed significantly between two casts groups (group (2+) and group (≥3+)) and the control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Hyaline casts could be detected in patients with normal renal function. When hyaline casts are more than 2+, the physician should consider checking plasma BNP levels of the patient.

Direct molecular evidence for both multicentric and monoclonal carcinogenesis followed by transdifferentiation from hepatocellular carcinoma to cholangiocarcinoma in a case of metachronous liver cancer

Frequent recurrence is a major issue in liver cancer and histological heterogeneity frequently occurs in this cancer type. However, it has remained elusive whether such cancers are multicentric or monoclonal. To elucidate the clonal evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) development, the somatic mutation frequency and signatures in a patient with triple occurrence of liver cancer every three years were examined, with samples designated as #1HCC, #2HCC and #3cHCC-CCA, respectively. A total of four tumor regions, including HCC (#3HCC) and intrahepatic CCA (#3iCCA) components of #3cHCC-CCA, and three nontumor regions (#1N, #2N and #3N) were precisely dissected from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of each surgical specimen. DNA was extracted and subjected to tumor-specific somatic mutation determination. Of note, five nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), namely those of KMT2D, TP53, DNMT3A, PKHD1 and TLR4, were identified in #3cHCC-CCA. All five SNVs were detected in both #3HCC and #3iCCA and #2HCC but not in #1HCC. The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation C228T, but not C250T, was observed in all tumors. Digital PCR of C228T also indicated the presence of the TERT promoter mutation C228T in nontumorous liver tissues (#1N, #2N and #3N) at a frequency of 0.11–0.83% compared with normal liver and blood samples. These results suggest the following phylogenetic evolution of three metachronous liver cancers: #1HCC was not related to #2HCC, #3HCC and #3iCCA; both #3HCC and #3iCCA arose from #2HCC. From the above, three novel findings were deduced: i) Both multicentric occurrence and intrahepatic metastasis may be involved in liver cancer in a three-year interval; ii) transdifferentiation from HCC to iCCA is a possible pathogenic mechanism of cHCC-CCA; and iii) a nontumorous, noncirrhotic liver may contain a preneoplastic region with a cancer driver mutation in the TERT promoter.

Relationship between Carnitine Deficiency and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Use in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

BACKGROUND

Some chemotherapeutic agents cause carnitine deficiency, which causes general fatigue. However, there is no study on carnitine deficiency in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) during tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated carnitine concentrations in patients with CML receiving TKI therapy.

METHOD

This study included patients with well-controlled CML. Total carnitine and free carnitine concentrations were evaluated using the enzyme cycling method. The brief fatigue inventory (BFI) and cancer fatigue scale (CFS) were used to assess general fatigue developed during TKI therapy.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients on TKI therapy were included. Of these, 12 (21.8%) patients had low free carnitine concentrations. Free carnitine concentrations were higher in men than in women. Younger age was closely associated with lower free carnitine concentrations. TKI type, TKI dose, treatment response, or therapy duration were not associated with free carnitine concentrations. None of the scores (the global fatigue score with the BFI and CFS score) correlated with carnitine concentrations. Concentrations of free carnitine in patients in the treatment-free remission group were slightly higher than those in the TKI group, with only 9.1% having a low concentration of free carnitine.

CONCLUSION

Carnitine deficiency is probably not a major cause of general fatigue but may occur in patients with CML receiving TKI therapy.

Estimating causal effects of atherogenic lipid-related traits on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity using a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach

BACKGROUND

As the number of COVID-19 deaths continues to rise worldwide, the identification of risk factors for the disease is an urgent issue, and it remains controversial whether atherogenic lipid-related traits including serum apolipoprotein B, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, are risk factors. The aim of this study was to estimate causal effects of lipid-related traits on COVID-19 risk in the European population using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

METHODS

We used summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that included 441,016 participants from the UK Biobank as the exposure dataset of lipid-related traits and from COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative GWAS meta-analyses of European ancestry as the outcome dataset for COVID-19 susceptibility (32,494 cases and 1,316,207 controls), hospitalization (8316 cases and 1,549,095 controls), and severity (4792 cases and 1,054,664 controls). We performed two-sample MR analyses using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. As sensitivity analyses, the MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and weighted mode methods were conducted as were leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, the MR-PRESSO global test, PhenoScanner searches, and IVW multivariable MR analyses. A P value below 0.0055 with Bonferroni correction was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

This MR study suggested that serum apolipoprotein B or LDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly associated with COVID-19 risk. On the other hand, we inferred that higher serum triglyceride levels were suggestively associated with higher risks of COVID-19 susceptibility (odds ratio [OR] per standard deviation increase in lifelong triglyceride levels, 1.065; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.13; P = 0.045) and hospitalization (OR, 1.174; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33; P = 0.012), and were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity (OR, 1.274; 95% CI, 1.08-1.50; P = 0.004). Sensitivity and bidirectional MR analyses suggested that horizontal pleiotropy and reverse causation were unlikely.

CONCLUSIONS

Our MR study indicates a causal effect of higher serum triglyceride levels on a greater risk of COVID-19 severity in the European population using the latest and largest GWAS datasets to date. However, as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and our study might be still biased due to possible horizontal pleiotropy, further studies are warranted to validate our findings and investigate underlying mechanisms.

Tpl2 contributes to IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression via ERK1/2 activation in canine dermal fibroblasts

In autoimmune diseases, fibroblasts produce and secrete various cytokines and act as sentinel immune cells during inflammatory states. However, the contribution of sentinel immune cells (i.e. dermal fibroblasts) in autoimmune diseases of the skin, such as atopic dermatitis, has been obscure. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) induces the expression of chemokines, such as interleukin 8 (IL-8), in autoimmune diseases of the skin. IL-8 induces the activation and recruitment of innate immune cells such as neutrophils to the site of inflammation. IL-1β-mediated induction of IL-8 expression is important for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases; however, the intracellular singling remains to be understood. To elucidate the mechanism of the onset of autoimmune diseases, we established a model for IL-1β-induced dermatitis and investigated MAPK signaling pathways in IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression. We also identified that a MAP3K Tpl2 acts as an upstream modulator of IL-1β-induced ERK1/2 activation in dermal fibroblasts. We observed an increase in the expression of IL-8 mRNA and protein in cells treated with IL-1β. ERK1/2 inhibitors significantly reduced IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression, whereas the inhibitor for p38 MAPK or JNK had no effect. IL-1β induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was attenuated in the presence of an ERK1/2 inhibitor. IL-1β failed to induce IL-8 expression in cells transfected with siRNA for ERK1, or ERK2. Notably, a Tpl2 inhibitor reduced IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. We confirmed that the silencing of Tpl2 in siRNA-transfected fibroblasts prevented both in IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data indicate the importance of Tpl2 in the modulation of ERK1/2 signaling involved in the IL-1β-induced development of autoimmune diseases affecting the dermal tissue, such as atopic dermatitis.

Long-term follow-up of portal vein thrombosis in an American Cocker Spaniel with lobular dissecting hepatitis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Lobular dissecting hepatitis (LDH) is a rare form of canine liver cirrhosis that may be accompanied by portal hypertension in American Cocker Spaniels. In human patients with liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication. However, PVT has not been reported in dogs with LDH. Herein, we describe the long-term follow-up of PVT in an American Cocker Spaniel with LDH.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 8-year-old neutered male American Cocker Spaniel presented with a 1-month history of severe abdominal effusion. The dog was histopathologically diagnosed with LDH and treated with low-dose prednisolone on day 14. On day 115, computed tomography angiography (CTA) confirmed the presence of a thrombus in the portal vein. Therefore, the dog was subcutaneously administered with the anticoagulant dalteparin, and low-dose prednisolone was continued. As a follow-up for PVT, CTA examinations were performed on days 207, 515, 886, and 1168, and the dog's antithrombin and D-dimer levels were measured. Following anticoagulant therapy, the dog was confirmed to have gradually increased antithrombin activity and decreased D-dimer concentrations. In addition, although the thrombus was confirmed to be in the same area of the portal vein system by CTA, atrophy and increased CT values due to organization were observed during the follow-up period. The dog's condition remained stable without clinical signs until day 1112 when it developed hepatic encephalopathy. The dog died on day 1208. On postmortem examination, histopathologically, the liver showed marked bile duct hyperplasia and fibrosis with chronic thrombus in the portal vein.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrated that low-dose glucocorticoid combined with dalteparin allowed long-term follow-up of PVT in an American Cocker Spaniel with LDH.

No significant association between stable iodine intake and thyroid dysfunction in children after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: an observational study

PURPOSE

Stable iodine prophylaxis helps prevent childhood thyroid cancer in nuclear emergencies; however, there is limited information on its effect on thyroid function. This study aimed to examine thyroid function and autoimmunity among children and adolescents that took stable iodine after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.

METHODS

For this observational study, data were obtained from children and adolescents that underwent thyroid cancer screening at Hirata Central Hospital from April 2012 to March 2018. Participant characteristics, including possible hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, were compared between the prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess for possible hypothyroidism, autoantibodies positive, and hyperthyroidism.

RESULTS

A total of 1,225 participants with stable iodine prophylaxis and 3,946 without prophylaxis were enrolled. Of those participants, blood samples were available for 144 and 1,201 participants in the prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis groups, respectively. There were 17 (11.8%) and 146 cases (12.2%) of possible hypothyroidism or autoantibodies positive cases in the prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis groups, respectively, and there were no cases and 3 cases (0.2%) of possible hyperthyroidism in those two groups, respectively. Multivariable analysis for possible hypothyroidism revealed no association between stable iodine intake and possible hypothyroidism or autoantibodies positive [odds ratio 0.716 (95% confidence interval 0.399-1.284)] (p = 0.262). We did not perform multivariable analysis for hyperthyroidism due to the limited number of cases.

CONCLUSION

Significant adverse effects of stable iodine intake on thyroid function were not observed among children and adolescents 7 years after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.

Absolute Lymphocyte Counts After Lenalidomide Initiation may Predict the Prognosis of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND/AIM

We assessed the prognosis of patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (RRMM) by focusing on the change in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) after lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Ld) initiation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 72 patients with RRMM were treated with Ld. ALCs were evaluated before treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months after Ld initiation. The median ALCs in the entire cohort before and at 1, 2, 3 months after Ld initiation were 1,131, 1,059, 1,222, and 1,162/μl, respectively.

RESULTS

ALCs before Ld initiation did not affect time to next treatment (TNT) or overall survival (OS). However, the patients with ALCs equal to or greater than the median at 3 months showed relatively better TNT than those with lower lymphocyte counts, with a significant difference. OS was also significantly longer in patients with higher ALCs.

CONCLUSION

Immunomodulation by lenalidomide may improve prognosis in patients with RRMM.