A case of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated hemophagocytosis after initiation of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

A woman in the 70s with a decreased appetite and weight loss (4 kg) in the last 3 months was referred to our hospital. An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showed a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of 83 mm in diameter of the liver with metastasis to the para-aortic lymph nodes, the left adrenal gland, and the right lower lung lobe (cStage IVb). She was started on atezolizumab + bevacizumab (Atezo-Bev) therapy.

An interactive simulator to deepen the understanding of Guyton's venous return curve.

Mean circulatory filling pressure, venous return curve, and Guyton's graphical analysis are basic concepts in cardiovascular physiology. However, some medical students may not know how to view and interpret or understand them adequately. To deepen students' understanding of the graphical analysis, in place of having to perform live animal experiments, we developed an interactive cardiovascular simulator, as a self-learning tool, as a web application.

Bone marrow ring sideroblasts in hematological diseases: an analysis of consecutive 1300 samples in a single institution.

The incidence of MDS-RS in Japan has been recognized as about 5% which is lower than that in European countries. Insufficient use of iron staining tests in Japan has been noted as one conceivable factor contributing to this apparently lower prevalence. To investigate this issue, we analyzed the proportion of ring sideroblasts (RS) in 1300 bone marrow samples from patients with hematological diseases at Kitasato University Hospital, including iron staining of all samples.

[Acute leukemia developing in the second trimester of pregnancy].

Acute leukemia (AL) during pregnancy poses a substantial risk to both mothers and fetuses. Treatment for leukemia should be initiated promptly; however, the management of AL in pregnant women and fetuses is usually challenging, especially during the second trimester. Here, we report two cases of AL that developed during the second trimester of pregnancy.

KIF5A transports collagen vesicles of myofibroblasts during pleural fibrosis.

Fibrosis involves the production of extracellular matrix proteins in tissues and is often preceded by injury or trauma. In pleural fibrosis excess collagen deposition results in pleural thickening, increased stiffness and impaired lung function. Myofibroblasts are responsible for increased collagen deposition, however the molecular mechanism of transportation of procollagen containing vesicles for secretion is unknown.

Antibacterial and anti-biofilm efficacy of fluoropolymer coating by a 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-p-phenylenedimethanol structure.

Fluorinated polymers generally function as antibacterial agents, but their anti-biofilm effect remains unresolved. This study investigates the efficacy of fluoropolymers containing 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-p-phenylenedimethanol (TFPDM) in preventing biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species). To this end, TFPDM-based acrylate and epoxy polymers (AF and EF, respectively) and their structural analogues without TFPDM (A and E, respectively) were synthesized.

Rac1 regulates myosin II phosphorylation through regulation of myosin light chain phosphatase.

Phosphorylation of regulatory light chain (MLC) activates myosin II, which enables it to promote contractile and motile activities of cells. We report here a novel signaling mechanism that activates MLC phosphorylation and smooth muscle contraction. Contractile agonists activated Rac1, and Rac1 inhibition diminished agonist-induced MLC phosphorylation, thus inhibiting smooth muscle contraction.

[Efficacy and safety of piperacillin-tazobactam for febrile neutropenic patients in Japan].

The IDSA guideline for management of febrile neutropenic patients updated in 2010 recommends monotherapy with anti-pseudomonal-lactam agents, including piperacillin-tazobactam (PIPC/TAZ) for high-risk patients. However, clinical studies of PIPC/TAZ are limited in Japanese patients. In this study, we conducted an open-labeled non-randomized prospective trial to examine the efficacy and safety of PIPC/TAZ as an empirical treatment for Japanese patients with febrile neutropenia.

CD3- and CD4-positive plasmablastic lymphoma: a literature review of Japanese plasmablastic lymphoma cases.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a very rare and recently-described subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A maxillary tumor in an 84-year-old HIV-negative Japanese-man was referred. The biopsied specimen showed a diffuse proliferation of mature plasma cells, expressing CD3 (+), CD4 (+), CD20 (-), CD138 (+) and EBER (+) by immunohistochemistry.