A nuclear factor-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin, ameliorates GVHD in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

GVHD is a crucial mortality factor in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). In this paper, we show that dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), a novel inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB, suppresses GVHD, resulting in an improved mortality rate in a mouse ABMT model. Bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice (B6 mice) were transplanted into lethally irradiated BALB/c mice.

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma with lymph node metastasis: A case report and literature review.

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (SH) is an uncommon benign or low-grade malignant tumor. Multicentric SH and SH with lymph node metastasis have rarely been reported. The present report describes a case of pulmonary SH with lymph node metastasis in a middle-aged female.

Home-based oral immunotherapy (OIT) with an intermittent loading protocol in children unlikely to outgrow egg allergy.

Background: Home based oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy has often been used for young children in Japan, the majority of whom are believed to outgrow the allergy by the school age, therefore the true efficacy of the therapy has been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a newly developed slow- type home-based oral immunotherapy (OIT) regimen in children with hen's egg (HE) allergy, who had low likelihood of outgrowing the allergy, with treatment involving only elimination diet.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 43 children with egg allergy (30 males; median age 6) who fulfilled Burks et al.

Bone marrow cells enhance liver regeneration after massive hepatectomy in mice.

Background: Recent evidence indicates that transplanted autologous bone marrow cells (BMCs) can be converted into functional liver cells. BMC therapy can improve hepatic function and increase the potential for liver regeneration in patients with serious liver damage. We investigated whether BMC therapy influenced liver regeneration after massive hepatectomy in mice.

An autopsy case of pulmonary fissure induced by zygomycosis.

For immunodeficient patients, fungi are life-threatening pathogens. In this paper, we present an autopsy case of combined zygomycosis and aspergillosis. A female in her 70s on chronic hemodialysis was admitted to a hospital suffering bloody sputum, dyspnea, and fever, probably due to perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related vasculitis.

A novel nuclear factor κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin, ameliorates puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in mice.

Background/aims: Minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is a kidney disease defined by selective proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia occurring in the absence of cellular glomerular infiltrates or immunoglobulin deposits. Recent observations suggest that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) of podocyte is strongly associated with the development of proteinuria in MCNS. Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) is a novel NF-κB inhibitor that potently inhibits DNA-binding activity of NF-κB, resulting in several therapeutic effects in various pathological conditions.

Production of nitric oxide is lower in Shiga toxin-stimulated neutrophils of infants compared to those of children or adults.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in infants is mainly caused by the Shiga toxin (Stx), which is produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Infants are prone to develop HUS in comparison to older children and adults, but its underlying mechanism remains unknown. Recent observations suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) including nitric oxide (NO) may be involved in the pathogenesis of HUS.

Predictive value of IgE/IgG4 antibody ratio in children with egg allergy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of specific IgG4 antibodies to hen's egg white and determine their utility as a marker for the outcome of oral challenge test in children sensitized to hen's egg

Methods: The hen's egg oral food challenge test was performed in 105 sensitized children without atopic dermatitis, and the titers of egg white-specific immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies were measured. To set the cut-off values of IgG4, IgE, and the IgE/IgG4 ratio for predicting positive results in oral challenges, receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and the area under the curves (AUC) were calculated.

Results: Sixty-four of 105 oral challenges with whole eggs were assessed as positive.

Serum albumin level accurately reflects antioxidant potentials in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Recent observation revealed that serum albumin plays an important role in the host defense mechanism as it is one of the important antioxidants. This study was conducted to investigate whether hypoalbuminemia contributes to a decreased biological antioxidant potentials (BAP) in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).

Methods: Fifty three heparinised blood samples were obtained from 8 patients with INS (median 13.

Increased urinary calcium excretion caused by ceftriaxone: possible association with urolithiasis.

The administration of ceftriaxone is known to be associated with biliary pseudolithiasis, although the development of urolithiasis has only rarely been reported. We treated a young male with bacterial meningitis complicated by urinary precipitates composed of ceftriaxone-calcium salt, which prompted us to study whether ceftriaxone administration predisposes children to the formation of urinary precipitates. The case-control study reported here included 83 children with bacterial pneumonia aged from 3 months to 8.

Prediction of the risk of coronary arterial lesions in Kawasaki disease by brain natriuretic peptide.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis associated with the development of coronary arterial lesions (CALs) occurring in 3-5% of children treated by intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). However, a considerable number of patients who are not responding to IVIG are at much higher risk. Although studies have explored potential biomarkers to predict patients with KD who are at risk of CAL, no useful single marker exists.

Immunoglobulin preparations affect hyponatremia in Kawasaki disease.

Hyponatremia frequently occurs in Kawasaki disease (KD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Na content of the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparation on serum Na levels in KD. Seventy-eight subjects, of whom 27 had hyponatremia, were split up into two groups: group A receiving IVIG preparations containing high Na (0.