Enhancement of endothelial permeability by coculture with peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of HLA Class II antibody that was associated with transfusion-related acute lung injury.

Background: HLA Class II antibody-initiated activation of monocytes possessing the corresponding antigen is thought to participate in the pathogenesis of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Pulmonary edema, a hallmark of TRALI, is caused by increasing vascular permeability.

Study Design And Methods: To investigate the contribution of HLA Class II antibody and monocytes to the development of pulmonary edema in TRALI, we studied whether the permeability of human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) could be enhanced by coculturing HMVECs with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in the presence of HLA Class II antibody-containing plasma, which was implicated in TRALI (anti-HLA-DR plasma).

A duodenal follicular lymphoma associated with the lesion mimicking MALT lymphoma in terminal ileum and Bauhin valve.

This is a case report of a 66-year-old woman who consulted us with a 1-week history of postprandial epigastric discomfort and dyspepsia. Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy revealed lesions in three parts: a swelling with a shallow depression in the ampulla of Vater, flat and rough nodules in the jejunum, and a mixture of lymphoid polyposis and rough surface of follicular lymphoma of the terminal ileum and Bauhin valve. The histological, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings of the duodenal lesion confirmed the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma.

Solution-phase extraction of ultrathin inner shells from double-wall carbon nanotubes.

We present an efficient method to extract inner shells of double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) in liquid phase. The extraction of inner from outer shells is achieved by cutting the DWCNTs with vigorous sonication in water containing surfactants. The extracted shells are perfectly isolated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and can be separated using density gradient ultracentrifugation.

Spermatogonia-specific proteins expressed in prepubertal buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) testis and their utilization for isolation and in vitro cultivation of spermatogonia.

Buffalo is an economically important livestock species in Asia. Little is known about male germ line technology owing to lack of sufficient understanding regarding expression of germ- and somatic-cell specific-proteins in the testis. In this study, we identified UCHL-1 (PGP 9.

Novel hemoplasma species detected in free-ranging sika deer (Cervus nippon).

Hemoplasma infections in wild ungulates have not been reported yet in Japan. We examined presence of hemoplasmas in blood samples collected from 147 sika deer (Cervus nippon) in the Iwate prefecture by real-time PCR, and found 13 (9%) were positive. Almost entire region of the 16S rRNA gene of the representative strains from positive samples was amplified by conventional PCR.

Bone marrow stromal cell line promotes the proliferation of mast cell progenitors derived from cord blood CD34+ cells under serum-free conditions with a combination of both cell-cell interaction and soluble factors.

A higher production of functional mast cells (MCs) can be generated by co-culturing cord blood-derived CD34+ cells with a human bone marrow stromal cell line under serum-free conditions supplemented with stem cell factor and IL-6. We addressed the question of whether the higher proliferation of MCs in this co-culture system might be due to the higher proliferation of MC progenitors. The stromal cell line increased the cell numbers of MC progenitors derived from cord blood-derived CD34+ cells, in a combination of cell-cell interactions between stromal cells and CD34+ cells, and as yet unidentified soluble factors derived from stromal cells.

Apolipoprotein B100 secretion by cultured ARPE-19 cells is modulated by alteration of cholesterol levels.

Cholesteryl ester rich apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) lipoproteins accumulate in Bruch's membrane before the development of age-related macular degeneration. It is not known if these lipoproteins come from the circulation or local ocular tissue. Emerging, but incomplete evidence suggests that the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) can secrete lipoproteins.

Comparison between in vitro qualities of platelets washed with commercially available additive solutions and those washed with M-sol.

Background And Objectives: We previously developed a novel additive solution (M-sol) with a high ability to preserve the in vitro qualities of platelets (PLTs) in washed PLTs Here, we compared the ability of M-sol with that of commercially available additive solutions (ASs) to preserve the in vitro qualities (pH, mean PLT volume, %disc, P-selectin, %hypotonic shock response and aggregation) of PLTs at a low plasma concentration.

Materials And Methods: The platelet concentrate was divided into two equal aliquots (control group and test group). After centrifugation of both groups and removal of as much supernatant as possible, the pellet of the control group was resuspended in M-sol and those of the test group were resuspended in other ASs, and subsequently stored in polyolefin bags with agitating at 20-24 degrees C.

Stimulation of human neutrophils with sera containing HLA Class I alloantibody causes preferential degranulation of azurophilic granules and secretory vesicles.

Background And Objectives: The activation of neutrophils by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class I alloantibody is thought to be involved in transfusion-related acute lung injury. Neutrophils contain various biological substances in four groups of granules, including secretory vesicles, azurophilic granules, specific granules and gelatinase granules. To characterize the activation of neutrophils by HLA Class I alloantibody, we investigated whether HLA Class I alloantibody could cause the degranulation of these groups of granules either coordinately or selectively.

Case report. Primary hypothalamic third ventriclular Burkitt's lymphoma: a case report with emphasis on differential diagnosis.

A patient with primary Burkitt-type lymphoma of the central nervous system is presented. A hypothalamic-third ventricular tumour in a man 71 years of age was diagnosed histologically as Burkitt's lymphoma. Primary Burkitt's lymphoma of the hypothalamic region is extremely rare and has not been previously reported in adults.

Variation of genes encoding GGPLs syntheses among Mycoplasma fermentans strains.

The information of the biosynthesis pathways of Mycoplasma fermentans specific major lipid-antigen, named glycoglycerophospholipids (GGPLs), is expected to be some of help to understand the virulence of M. fermentans. We examined primary structure of cholinephosphotransferase (mf1) and glucosyltransferase (mf3) genes, which engage GGPL-I and GGPL-III synthesis, in 20 strains, and found four types of variations in the mf1 gene but the mf3 gene in two strains was not detected by PCR.

Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma species detected from Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus).

Nineteen blood samples collected from free-living Japanese serows, Capricornis crispus, between 2006 and 2008 in Iwate prefecture were examined for the anaplasma infection by PCR amplification of a part of the 16S rRNA gene. Ten (52.6%) out of the 19 samples produced a visible band in electrophoresed agarose gels.

Predictive value of endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography for regression of gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphomas after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: Some gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphomas have been reported to regress completely after the successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphomas without any detectable mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma that went into complete remission after successful H. pylori eradication.

Differential detection of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in cattle by melting curve analysis of PCR products.

We developed a real-time PCR procedure followed by melting curve analysis using the green fluorescence dye SYBR Green I for rapid detection and differentiation of hemplasmas in cattle. Analysis of the melting temperature (Tm) of the PCR products allowed for differentiation of the 2 bovine hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma wenyonii and a provisional species, ;Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos' (a synonym of ;Candidatus M. haemobovis').

Growth inhibition of human melanoma cells by a recombinant arginine deiminase expressed in Escherichia coli.

We have cloned the arginine deiminase (ADI) gene from Mycoplasma hominis PG21 genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction, and changed four TGA tryptophan codons (stop codon in E. coli) to TGG codons in the coding region by site-directed mutagenesis in order to express in E. coli.

Hepatocellular carcinoma infiltrated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: report of a case.

A 70-year-old woman diagnosed to have a hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was referred to our hospital because of a solitary liver tumor. because of a solitary liver tumor. She underwent a partial hepatectomy, and the tumor was histologically diagnosed as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Cigarette smoking, oxidative stress, the anti-oxidant response through Nrf2 signaling, and Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. While excellent treatment has emerged for neovascular disease, treatment for early AMD is lacking due to an incomplete understanding of the early molecular events. Cigarette smoking is the strongest epidemiologic risk factor, yet we do not understand how smoking contributes to AMD.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 infection activates the unfolded protein response in MDBK cells, leading to apoptosis.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 (BVDV-2) strains are divided into cytopathic and non-cytopathic biotypes based on the ablity to induce cytopathic effects in cultured cells. The mechanism of cytopathogenicity of BVDV-2 is not well understood. We examined cytopathogenesis in MDBK cells resulting from BVDV-2 infections by microscopic examinations and microarray analysis.

Multipotential ability of primitive germ cells from neonatal pig testis cultured in vitro.

Gonocytes are progenitor-type germ cells that arise from primordial germ cells and differentiate further into spermatogonia, thereby initiating spermatogenesis. In the present study, freshly isolated gonocytes were found to have either weak or no expression of pluripotency determining transcription factors, such as POU5F1, SOX2 and C-MYC. Interestingly, the expression of these transcription factors, as well as other vital transcription factors, such as NANOG, KLF4 and DAZL, were markedly upregulated in cultured cells.

A human apoB100 transgenic mouse expresses human apoB100 in the RPE and develops features of early AMD.

apoB100 lipoprotein particles have been found to accumulate in Bruch membrane prior to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This work was performed to determine whether mice that overexpress apoB100 in the RPE/choroid and liver develop landmarks of early AMD over time. Mice transgenic for a human genomic fragment encoding the full length human apoB ("apoB100" mice) and litter-mate control mice were given a normal chow or high-fat diet for 12 months.

Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level and immunophenotype are prognostic factors for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although many studies have attempted to identify prognostic factors, most have focused on conventionally treated patients. The influence of anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab) should be considered now.

Nrf2 is a critical modulator of the innate immune response in a model of uveitis.

Uveitis is an inflammatory condition that can lead to blindness. It is therefore important to understand the pathophysiology against which to develop targeted therapy. Herein, we tested whether the oxidant-responsive transcription factor Nrf2 is involved in regulating the innate immune response and oxidative damage in the LPS uveitis model.