A case of gastrojejunocolic fistula with steatohepatitis.

A man in his 30s, who had undergone retrocolic Billroth II reconstruction for perforated duodenal ulcer, presented with watery diarrhea for 2 years and suspected fatty liver. He was referred to our hospital for management of chronic diarrhea, weight loss, hepatopathy and hypoalbuminemia. Initial upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies were negative.

Application of surface-linked liposomal antigens to the development of vaccines that induce both humoral and cellular immunity.

The first characteristic identified in surface-linked liposomal antigens was the ability to induce antigen-specific, IgE-selective unresponsiveness. These results remained consistent even when different coupling procedures were employed for antigens with liposomes or for liposomes with different lipid components. The potential usefulness of surface-linked liposomal antigens for application to vaccine development was further investigated.

Coupling to the surface of liposomes alters the immunogenicity of hepatitis C virus-derived peptides and confers sterile immunity.

We have previously demonstrated that antigens chemically coupled to the surface of liposomes consisting of unsaturated fatty acids were cross-presented by antigen presenting cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Liposomal form of immunodominant CTL epitope peptides derived from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus exhibited highly efficient antiviral CTL responses in immunized mice. In this study, we coupled 15 highly conserved immunodominant CTL epitope peptides derived from hepatitis C virus (HCV) to the surface of liposomes.

Online reporting system for transfusion-related adverse events to enhance recipient haemovigilance in Japan: a pilot study.

Background: A surveillance system for transfusion-related adverse reactions and infectious diseases in Japan was started at a national level in 1993, but current reporting of events in recipients is performed on a voluntary basis. A reporting system which can collect information on all transfusion-related events in recipients is required in Japan.

Methods: We have developed an online reporting system for transfusion-related events and performed a pilot study in 12 hospitals from 2007 to 2010.

An analysis of factors affecting the incidence of inhibitor formation in patients with congenital haemophilia in Japan.

Studies conducted in European and North American countries have demonstrated that various factors including races affect the frequency of inhibitor formation in haemophilia patients. The present study was undertaken to analyse factors affecting the incidence of inhibitor formation in Japanese haemophilia A and B patients. Analytical data were retrospectively collected from haemophilia A and B patients born after 1988, the year when monoclonal antibody-purified factor VIII products were first marketed in Japan.