New method to differentiate between lupus anticoagulants, progressive coagulation inhibitors and coagulation factor deficiencies in the mixing tests.

Introduction: Mixing tests in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) are used for the differentiation between lupus anticoagulants (LA), coagulation inhibitors, and factor deficient samples with APTT prolongation. However, the indexes for the differentiation have not been established. The present study aimed to develop new mixing test indexes for the differentiation.

Two patients with α-chain hemoglobin variant Hb Q-Iran detected by measuring hemoglobin A1c using the variant mode of the HA-8180V HPLC analyzer.

Hemoglobin variants are often discovered when hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels measured with a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system in fast mode are found to be low. The HA-8180V HPLC analyzer by Arkray offers two measurement modes: fast mode (FM) and variant mode (VM). Two Japanese patients with α-chain variant Hb Q-Iran detected incidentally after analyses with the HA-8180V in VM showed an abnormal peak, are presented.

Development and Evaluation of "The Delta Plus-Minus Even Distribution Check": A Novel Patient-Based Real-Time Quality Control Method for Laboratory Tests.

Background: Laboratory testing of large sample numbers necessitates high-volume rapid processing, and these test results require immediate validation and a high level of quality assurance. Therefore, real-time quality control including delta checking is an important issue. Delta checking is a process of identifying errors in individual patient results by reviewing differences from previous results of the same patient (Δ value).

Comparison of Microorganism Detection, Time to Positivity, and Time-Dependent Shift in Viable Bacterial Count from VersaTREK and BacT/ALERT 3D Blood Culture Systems.

Rapid positive blood culture reporting allows early and appropriate treatment of severe infections to improve patient prognosis. This study evaluated performance of the VersaTREK system with gas pressure detection and tornado stirring method and the conventional BacT/ALERT 3D system. Time to positivity (TTP) of simulated blood cultures without whole blood using 17 ATCC strains was faster with VersaTREK than BacT/ALERT 3D, averaging 6.

[Chronic myeloid leukemia with variant e13a3 (b2a3) BCR-ABL1 as an ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor-sensitive subtype].

We report the case of a 26-year-old male patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in the chronic phase with the e13a3 (b2a3) variant of BCR-ABL1 fusion. Despite the presence of Philadelphia chromosome and fluorescence in situ hybridization-detectable BCR-ABL1 fusion signals, quantitative measurement of BCR-ABL1 on the ABL1 using a reverse primer in exon 2 of ABL1 failed to detect the fusion transcripts. PCR direct sequencing analysis with a sense primer for exon 13 of BCR and an antisense primer for exon 3 of ABL1 revealed the e13a3 variant of BCR-ABL1 fusion.

The First-Derivative Curve of the Coagulation Waveform Reveals the Cause of aPTT Prolongation.

Clot waveform analysis based on activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is reported to be a useful assay. We attempted to find beneficial parameters with the first-derivative curve. We examined 106 plasma samples with prolonged aPTT and analyzed the first-derivative curve statistically by dividing it into 6 groups (Lupus anticoagulant, Heparin, Direct oral anticoagulants, Factor VIII inhibitor, Hepatic dysfunctions and Factor deficiency).

Usefulness of Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm During Transthoracic Echocardiography in Women ≥50 Years of Age.

Usefulness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in women is uncertain. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical usefulness of screening for AAA during TTE and to identify important TTE indices associated with AAA in women in a routine clinical setting. We prospectively studied 1,495 women (≥50 years) referred for TTE.

Generation and characteristics of a novel "double-hit" high grade B-cell lymphoma cell line DH-My6 with / and / gene arrangements and potential molecular targeted therapies.

"Double-hit" lymphoma (DHL) is a high-grade B-cell lymphoma that harbors concurrent and or rearrangements. Because cases of / DHL are uncommon, most reported conclusions have been based on cases of / DHL. Lack of experimental / DHL models continues to hinder the pathophysiologic and therapeutic investigations of this disorder.

Intravascular hemolysis in patients with mitral regurgitation: Evaluation by erythrocyte creatine.

Background: Intravascular hemolysis has been reported in patients with cardiac valve prostheses, but intravascular hemolysis in patients with mitral regurgitation with native valve has not been evaluated in detail. We designed a study to elucidate the impact of regurgitation flow on intravascular hemolysis in patients with primary mitral regurgitation by measuring erythrocyte creatine.

Methods: Erythrocyte creatine was enzymatically assayed in 29 patients with moderate to severe primary mitral regurgitation and 12 age-matched healthy volunteers.

Differential gene expression profiling linked to tumor progression of splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

The genetic events that lead to aggressive transformation of cases of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) after the chronic clinical stage have not been well understood. We aimed to find candidate genes associated with aggressive features of SMZL. We have successfully established two SMZL cell lines, designated SL-15 and SL-22, derived from the same patient's tumor clone in chronic and aggressive phases, respectively.

Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase-3 serum level and pulmonary artery systolic pressure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been evaluated by various biomarkers including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, but the relationship between the levels of biomarkers and elevation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAs) has not been evaluated in detail. We sought to determine the utility of MMP-3 with other biomarkers for the prediction of PAs in patients with RA. Blood samples for biomarkers and echocardiography were obtained in 100 consecutive patients with RA.

Ecology of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Healthy Skin Among Individuals in an Asian Cohort.

Background: Despite the oncogenic potential of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), it has been found in the normal skin of healthy individuals; however, little is known about geographical variations in the ecology of MCPyV in this tissue.

Methods: This study included 284 Japanese participants. Sun-unexposed arm and sun-exposed forehead skin swab samples were obtained and analyzed for MCPyV infection, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Autoimmunity and pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease.

A link between hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms of these two conditions have not been clearly identified. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical correlates of pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease. Among 50 consecutive patients with Graves' disease referred for echocardiography, 18 patients (36 %) had pulmonary hypertension measured by continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography (pulmonary artery systolic pressure >35 mmHg).

PCR array analysis of gene expression profiles in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

To determine the host cellular gene expression profiles in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV), peripheral blood samples were obtained from three patients with CAEBV and investigated using a PCR array analysis that focused on T-cell/B-cell activation. We identified six genes with expression levels that were tenfold higher in CAEBV patients compared with those in healthy controls. These results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR.

Phylogenetic analysis of Merkel cell polyomavirus based on full-length LT and VP1 gene sequences derived from neoplastic tumours in Japanese patients.

Most Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) gene sequences have been reported from Western countries and few data are available for the virus sequences from other geographical areas, especially Asia. Thus, we performed phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide sequences of the full-length large T-antigen (LT) and viral protein 1 (VP1) genes derived from a variety of cancers in Japanese patients and compared them with sequences from Caucasians. The LT and VP1 gene-based phylogenetic trees identified two main genetic clades.

Novel human polyomaviruses, Merkel cell polyomavirus and human polyomavirus 9, in Japanese chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the rarest adult leukemia in Japan, whereas it is the most common leukemia in the Western world. Recent studies from the United States and Germany suggest a possible etiological association between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and CLL, although no data have been reported from Eastern countries. To increase the volume of relevant data, this study investigated the prevalence and DNA loads of MCPyV and human polyomavirus 9 (HPyV9), another lymphotropic polyomavirus, in Japanese CLL cases.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori cdrA on interleukin-8 secretions and nuclear factor kappa B activation.

Aim: To investigate genetic diversity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cell division-related gene A (cdrA) and its effect on the host response.

Methods: Inactivation of H.

Presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Japanese cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) was first identified in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) as a new tumor virus. Studies have also reported differing frequencies of MCPyV detection in other skin cancers in western countries.

Objectives: Little is known about geographical differences of MCPyV prevalence in non-MCC tumors.

Epstein-Barr virus-infected subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma associated with methotrexate treatment.

Methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD) is a lymphoid proliferation or lymphoma in patients treated with MTX. We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) in a 60-year-old Japanese man treated with MTX for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SPTCL is a rare cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma characterized by involvement of subcutaneous fat mimicking panniculitis.

Link between pericardial effusion and attenuation of QRS voltage in patients with hypothyroidism.

Objectives: To determine the clinical correlates of pericardial effusion (PE) and a low-voltage electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Methods: ECG, echocardiography and blood tests, including thyroid function tests, were performed in 64 consecutive patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Results: Twenty-four patients (38%) had PE and 16 patients (25%) had low voltage.

[In vitro susceptibilities to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 12,919 clinical isolates obtained from 72 centers in 2007].

We have reported in this journal in vitro susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibiotics every year since 1992. In this paper, we report the results of an analysis of in vitro susceptibilities of 12,919 clinical isolates from 72 centers in Japan to selected antibiotics in 2007 compared with the results from previous years. The common respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae maintained a high susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (FQs).

Testican 3 expression in adult T-cell leukemia.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive disease characterized by visceral invasion, and ATL regulates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities of the endothelial cells. The controlling system of MMP activities in ATL is regulated by various factors such as Emmprin and tissue inhibitor of MMP. In this study, we demonstrated that Testican 3 expression in ATL decreased the activity of MMP.

Relationship of IL-8 production and the CagA status in AGS cells infected with Helicobacter pylori exposed to low pH and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3).

We examined the kinetics of IL-8 production and CagA status in AGS infected with Helicobacter pylori, 26695 (Western CagA-type), HPK5 (Eastern CagA-type) and isogenic cagA-disrupted mutants, exposed to different pH (pH 6 and pH 3). IL-8 was produced in the early and late phases after infection in CagA-dependent and -independent manners, respectively, irrespective of CagA-type. The wild-type exposed to low pH tremendously reduced IL-8 level at early phase, but restored with urea, suggesting that low pH exerted the kinetics of H.

[In vitro susceptibilites to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 11,475 clinical isolates obtained from 52 centers in 2002].

The susceptibilities of bacteria to fluoroquinolones (FQs), especially levofloxacin, and other antimicrobial agents were investigated using 11,475 clinical isolates collected in Japan during 2002. Methicillin susceptible staphylococci, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, the family of Enterobactericeae, Haemophilus influenzae and Acinetobacter spp. exhibited stable and high susceptibilities to FQs.