Anti-interferon-γ Antibody-seropositive Disseminated Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection Mimicking POEMS and TAFRO Syndromes.

Disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (DNTM) is typically observed in immunocompromised hosts. Recently, it has been reported that healthy individuals with serum neutralizing autoantibodies for interferon (IFN)-γ can also develop DNTM. We herein report a case of anti-IFN-γ antibody-seropositive DNTM caused by Mycobacterium kansasii with symptoms mimicking TAFRO or POEMS syndrome, including anasarca, organomegaly, skin pigmentation, polyneuropathy, osteosclerotic change, thrombocytopenia, serum M protein, high C-reactive protein level, and reticulin fibrosis.

Continuous evolution of clinical phenotype in 578 Japanese patients with Behçet's disease: a retrospective observational study.

Background: It has been suggested that the phenotypes of Behçet's disease (BD) in Japan are changing. To ask whether the evolution of BD holds true in recent-onset cases in Japan, we performed a retrospective study.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 578 patients with BD who met the 1987 revised diagnostic criteria of the Behçet's disease research committee of Japan.

[Additional administration of dutasteride in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who did not respond sufficiently to α1-adrenoceptor antagonist : investigation of clinical factors affecting the therapeutic effect of dutasteride].

We performed additional administration of dutasteride in patients who did not respond sufficiently to α1-adrenoceptor antagonist treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (LUTS/BPH). Among 76 registered patients, efficacy was analyzed in 58 patients. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), subscores for voiding and storage symptoms and quality of life (QOL) on the IPSS, and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) were all significantly improved from the third month of administration compared to the time of initiating additional administration of dutasteride.

[Clinical studies of inverted papilloma of the bladder].

Inverted papilloma of the bladder is an uncommon urothelial neoplasm. Although it is traditionally regarded as a benign tumor, there are conflicting data on multiplicity, reoccurrence rate, and association with urothelial carcinoma. From 2005 to 2011, 14 cases of inverted papilloma of the bladder were diagnosed at our hospital.

[A case of recurrent intracaval renal cell carcinoma effectively treated with sunitinib].

A 67-year-old man received left radical nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (clear cell carcinoma, G2, pT3bN0M0). After 9 months, he presented with an acute onset of left extremity edema. A computed tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging reveal recurrent renal cell carcinoma in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the left renal fossa, thrombus in the left external vein and acute pulmonary embolism.

[Rupture of renal angiomyolipoma during pregnancy: a case report].

A 39-year-old woman, who was followed because of a 4 cm asymptomatic angiomyolipoma (AML) in the left kidney, presented with an acute onset of lower left back pain in the 38th week of her first pregnancy. An ultrasound revealed an 8 cm mass suggestive of AML rupture and retroperitoneal hemorrhage. An emergency caesarean delivery was performed.

[Segmental infarction of the testis presenting as acute scrotum: a case report].

We report a case of segmental testicular infarction that is a rare and usually idiopathic. The patient is a 36-year-old man who presented with acute right scrotal pain and swelling. Scrotal ultrasound demonstrated a round hypoechoic lesion and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings could not rule out intratesticular hemorrhage or necrotic tissue associated with malignant neoplasm.

[Qualitative change in the elastin from the calcified portion of human artery].

To examine the qualitative changes of elastin and the aorta related to calcification of human arteries, biochemical properties were measured, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) contents in the aorta or in the elastin fraction in calcification, cholesterol content in atherosclerosis, desmosine content of cross-link, free thiol contents (free SH/total SH) and hydrophobic properties in the elastin fraction from the calcified portion, adjacent sites and another normal artery. The results from different sites of the calcified abdominal artery are as follows: The contents of Ca, P and Mg in aorta and the elastin fraction from the calcification site were higher than those at other sites. Moreover, Ca in the aorta and elastin fraction correlated positively with P and Mg.

[Properties in elastin of different arteries: cross-links, hydrophobicity and fibronectin in elastin fraction].

In order to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative changes of elastin in different arteries, biochemical properties were measured; that is, elastin content, isodesmosine (ID) as cross-links content, free thiol content (free SH/total SH), hydrophobic properties and coexisting fibronectin (FN) content in elastin fraction from different arteries, correlation coefficients of these properties and these their effect with aging were also calculated. The results from different arteries in regard to changes in elastin can be summarized as follows: 1. The basilar artery in the quantitative changes of elastin.