Pretreatment serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level predicts survival in patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma.

This retrospective, multicenter observational study investigated the prognostic value of pretreatment serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level for outcomes of newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma (FL) grade 1-3a who required treatment at diagnosis. A total of 628 patients were recorded, and 502 of these were eligible for analysis. Patients were divided into four quartiles, based on their serum sIL-2R levels as follows: Q1 (sIL-2R < 520 IU/mL), Q2 (520 ≤ sIL-2R < 1030 IU/mL), Q3 (1030 ≤ sIL-2R < 2530 IU/mL) and Q4 (sIL-2R ≥ 2530 IU/mL).

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of male-pattern and female-pattern hair loss, 2017 version.

Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL, androgenetic alopecia) is a slowly progressive form of alopecia which begins after puberty. In 2010, we published the first Japanese edition of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of MPHL. It achieved the original goal of providing physicians and patients in Japan with evidence-based information for choosing efficacious and safe therapy for MPHL.

Nestin-Expressing Hair-Follicle-Associated Pluripotent (HAP) Stem Cells Promote Whisker Sensory-Nerve Growth in Long-Term 3D-Gelfoam® Histoculture.

Mouse whiskers containing hair-follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells, from nestin-driven green fluorescent protein (ND-GFP) transgenic mice, were placed in 3D histoculture supported by Gelfoam(®). β-III tubulin-positive fibers, consisting of ND-GFP-expressing HAP stem cells, extended up to 500 mm from the whisker nerve stump in histoculture. The growing fibers had growth cones on their tips expressing F-actin indicating they were growing axons.

Effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate and its alternatives on long-term potentiation in the hippocampus CA1 region of adult rats .

With the limited but ongoing usage of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), the health effects of both PFOS and its alternatives are far from being understood. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was evaluated in rats after exposure to PFOS and its alternatives, aiming to provide some evidence about their potential to affect cognitive ability. Different dosages of PFOS and alternative chemicals, including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (Cl-PFAES), were given to rats acute intracerebroventricular injection.

Distribution of perfluoroalkyl compounds in rats: Indication for using hair as bioindicator of exposure.

Hair analysis is potentially advantageous in exposure assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) as a non-invasive method, combined with the ability to reflect long-term exposure. The present study aims to assess the feasibility of using hair as an indicator of PFAA exposure. Adult male and female rats were subchronically exposed to selected PFAAs, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), for 90 days.

Perfluorinated alkyl substances in water, sediment, plankton and fish from Korean rivers and lakes: a nationwide survey.

Water, sediment, plankton, and blood and liver tissues of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri) were collected from six major rivers and lakes in South Korea (including Namhan River, Bukhan River, Nakdong River, Nam River, Yeongsan River and Sangsa Lake) and analyzed for perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was consistently detected at the greatest concentrations in all media surveyed with the maximum concentration in water of 15 ng L(-1) and in biota of 234 ng mL(-1) (fish blood). A general ascending order of PFAS concentration of water View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The association between dietary lifestyles and hepatocellular injury in Japanese workers.

Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, relevant to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has been often reported from Asian countries and the U.S., and it may be associated with lifestyle behavior.

The role of hair follicle nestin-expressing stem cells during whisker sensory-nerve growth in long-term 3D culture.

We have previously reported that nestin-expressing hair follicle stem cells can differentiate into neurons, Schwann cells, and other cell types. In the present study, vibrissa hair follicles, including their sensory nerve stump, were excised from transgenic mice in which the nestin promoter drives green fluorescent protein (ND-GFP mice), and were placed in 3D histoculture supported by Gelfoam®. β-III tubulin-positive fibers, consisting of ND-GFP-expressing cells, extended up to 500 µm from the whisker nerve stump in histoculture.

Expression of bleomycin hydrolase in keratinization disorders.

A neutral cysteine protease, bleomycin hydrolase (BH), is widely expressed in mammalian tissues, with the skin seeming to contain the highest level. Our previous study revealed that BH transcription is modulated both during differentiation and by cytokines. However, BH involvement in keratinization disorder is not well known.

Hair follicle stem cell marker nestin expression in regenerating hair follicles of patients with alopecia areata.

Cells that are nestin positive and keratin 15 (K15) negative are located in the hair follicle pluripotent stem cell (hfPS) area (hfPSA). The hfPSA is located within the root of the sebaceous glands, in a region just above the hair follicle bulge area. In the current study, we investigated the expression pattern of the stem cell marker nestin in the hair follicle cycling of patients with alopecia areata.

Human nails analysis as biomarker of exposure to perfluoroalkyl compounds.

Extensive human exposure to perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAA) together with their persistence and various toxicities have arisen increasing concern. A noninvasive method would improve exposure assessment for large population, especially the children susceptible to contaminants. The aim of the study was to assess the use of PFAA measurements in human nails as a biomarker of exposure to PFAAs.

The bulge area is the major hair follicle source of nestin-expressing pluripotent stem cells which can repair the spinal cord compared to the dermal papilla.

Nestin has been shown to be expressed in the hair follicle, both in the bulge area (BA) as well as the dermal papilla (DP). Nestin-expressing stem cells of both the BA and DP have been previously shown to be pluripotent and be able to form neurons and other non-follicle cell types. The nestin-expressing pluripotent stem cells from the DP have been termed skin precursor or SKP cells.

Ultrasonic-induced tonic convulsion in rats after subchronic exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the persistent organic pollutants distributed widely in the global environment. We have found that a single oral administration of PFOS induced tonic convulsion in mice and rats when a brief ultrasonic stimulus was applied to the animals. The aim of this study is to examine whether the neurotoxicity is caused by subchronic dietary exposure to PFOS.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) but not perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) showed DNA damage in comet assay on Paramecium caudatum.

Persistent perfluorinated organic compounds such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are distributed widely in the global environment including wildlife and human. In this study, we investigated the genotoxicity of PFOS and PFOA using the novel in vivo comet assay developed for Paramecium caudatum. For the comet assay, large nuclei squeezed out of the paramecia with 0.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease developed into autoimmune disease: a report of two cases.

We report herein the pathological findings and clinical courses of two cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) that developed into autoimmune diseases. The patients are currently undergoing treatment for a disease similar to Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus/mixed connective tissue disease. KFD is not an independent condition and most likely develops due to an autoimmune mechanism.

Neurotoxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in rats and mice after single oral exposure.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are widely used in industrial fields and consumer products, and are ubiquitously found in the environment and animal tissues. In the present study, their neurotoxicity was examined using rats and mice by means of neurobehavioral observation, histopathological inspection and chemical assays. PFOS and PFOA alone did not cause any neurotoxic symptoms up to their sublethal doses (PFOS: 500 mg/kg, PFOA: 1,000 mg/kg).

PFOS and PFOA in environmental and tap water in China.

There is a great concern about global contamination with persistent fluoroorganic compounds including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), however, few data are available on the environmental levels of these chemicals in China. In the present study, therefore, environmental or tap water samples collected from various regions of China were assayed for PFOS and PFOA by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Median concentrations (maximum concentration) of PFOS and PFOA in environmental water were 0.

Reconstruction of human exposure to heavy metals using synchrotron radiation microbeams in prehistoric and modern humans.

Objective: Teeth can serve as records of environmental exposure to heavy metals during their formation. We applied a new technology - synchrotron radiation microbeams (SRXRF) - for analysis of heavy metals in human permanent teeth in modern and historical samples.

Methods: Each tooth was cut in half.

Paradoxical increases in serum levels of highly chlorinated PCBs in aged women in clear contrast to robust decreases in dietary intakes from 1980 to 2003 in Japan.

Objective: Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is considered to have culminated between 1950 and 1970 in Japan, and exposure through diet, the major exposure route, has decreased significantly over the last 10 years. The primary goal of the present study was to investigate the long-term trends and congener profiles of serum and dietary levels of PCBs using historical samples.

Methods: Using banked samples collected in 1980, 1995, and 2003 surveys, we determined the daily intakes and serum concentrations of 13 PCB congeners (#74, #99, #118, #138, #146, #153, #156, #163, #164, #170, #180, #182, and #187) in women.

A comparative study on oxidative damage and distributions of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in mice at different postnatal developmental stages.

Effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on maleic dialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidation capability (T-AOC) were compared in mice at different postnatal developmental stages, and concentrations and distributions of PFOS in different tissues were measured simultaneously. The male and female mice at postnatal day (PD) 7, PD 14, PD 21, PD 28 and PD 35 were distributed randomly to dosage group (50 mg/kg body weight) and control group (0 mg/kg body weight). Mice were administered with PFOS by once subcutaneous injection.

Perfluorosulfonates and perfluorocarboxylates in snow and rain in Dalian, China.

Samples of precipitation events (snow and rain) in Dalian, a typical coastal town in China, were analyzed for perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) to investigate atmospheric contamination by these compounds. In the snow event on December 16, 2006, samples were collected from 21 different sites and in another 6 precipitation events, samples were collected from a single location. Four PFSAs (C4, C6, C8, C10) and seven PFCAs (C6-12) were analyzed.

Cleft palate caused by perfluorooctane sulfonate is caused mainly by extrinsic factors.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is found ubiquitously in the environment, and is known to cause developmental toxicity, including cleft plate (CP). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism of CP associated with in utero exposure to PFOS in mice. We first examined whether the concentration of PFOS in fetal serum was related to susceptibility to CP.