Possible enhancement of BP180 autoantibody production by herpes zoster.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease caused by autoantibodies against type XVII collagen/BP180 (BP180). Although the mechanisms of autoantibody production remain to be elucidated, herpes virus infections have been identified as a possible triggering factor for pemphigus. We report a case of herpes zoster (HZ) having anti-BP180 serum antibodies.

Shortened breath-hold contrast-enhanced MRI of the liver using a new parallel imaging technique, CAIPIRINHA (controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration): a comparison with conventional GRAPPA technique.

Purpose: We examined whether the shortened breath-hold 3-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE) sequence for high acceleration factor (AF) using the controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) could substitute for the conventional sequence using generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) in patients undergoing routine gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients with clinically suspected focal liver lesions were scanned using 3D-VIBE sequences with GRAPPA with AF = 2 and AF = 4 and CAIPIRINHA with AF = 4 (acquisition times: 21, 14, and 12 s, respectively) during the hepatobiliary phase. Visual evaluations using a 3- or 5-point scale and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis were performed for the 3 sequences.

[Opalski syndrome caused by vertebral artery dissection].

A 52-year-old man developed sudden occipital headache followed by vomiting and vertigo. On admission, he displayed right Horner syndrome with ipsilateral reduced facial sensation to pain and temperature that crossed in the body, affecting the left limbs. In addition, he had right hemiparesis.

Influence of genes suppressing interferon effects in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during triple antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

The levels of expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in liver are associated with response to treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV). However, associations between the responses of ISGs to IFN-based therapy and treatment efficacy or interleukin-28B (IL28B) genotype have not yet been determined. Therefore, we investigated the early responses of ISGs and interferon-lambdas (IFN-λs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during PEG-IFN/RBV plus NS3/4 protease inhibitor (PI) therapy.

Amelanotic malignant melanoma of unknown primary origin metastasizing to the bone marrow: a case report and review of the literature.

We herein describe the case of a 77-year-old Japanese man who presented with progressive thrombocytopenia. No lymphadenopathies, bone lesions, hepatosplenomegaly or masses within any internal organs were detectable. Bone marrow smears revealed diffuse infiltration of large atypical cells morphologically resembling mature lymphoid neoplasms.

[Assessment of the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis].

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is known as a serious adverse side effect during long-term glucocorticoid treatment. Several clinical guidelines are available to whom and how we should start to treat GIOP. However, the assessment of the treatment of GIOP is still controversial.

New needle biopsy technique for lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Study Design: Case series.

Objective: To improve the isolation rate for pyogenic spondylodiscitis, we developed a new needle biopsy technique.

Summary Of Background Data: The biggest problem in treating lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis is a low success rate in isolating a causative microorganism.

A case of severe thrombocytopenia in a patient with chronic hepatitis C caused by a single administration of pegylated interferon α 2a subsequent to 48 weeks of pegylated interferon α 2b plus ribavirin therapy.

A 54-year-old female with chronic hepatitis C developed severe thrombocytopenia after a single administration of Peg-IFN alpha 2a subsequent to 48 weeks of Peg-IFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin therapy. The platelet count decreased from 11.3 x 10(4) /mm(3) to 1.

Typing of Clostridium difficile isolates endemic in Japan by sequencing of slpA and its application to direct typing.

A typing system for Clostridium difficile using sequencing of the surface-layer protein A encoding gene (slpA) was evaluated and used to analyse clinical isolates in Japan. A total of 160 stool specimens from symptomatic patients in Japan was examined and 87 C. difficile isolates were recovered.

Supported employment for adults with severe mental illness.

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To review the effectiveness of supported employment compared to other approached to vocational rehabilitation and treatment as usual.Secondary objectives are to establish how far: fidelity to the IPS model affects the effectiveness of supported employment,the effectiveness of supported employment can be augmented by the addition of other interventions.

Rapid analysis of Clostridium difficile strains recovered from hospitalized patients by using the slpA sequence typing system.

Clostridium difficile is a nosocomial pathogen that is transmissible between patients via hospital staff and via contaminated environmental surfaces. Recently, a typing system based on the slpA sequence for C. difficile was developed.

Utility of ovomucoid-specific IgE concentrations in predicting symptomatic egg allergy.

Background: Children with allergy to raw egg white might tolerate low amounts of heated egg. Ovomucoid-specific IgE antibodies have been suggested to be predictors of whether children could tolerate heat-treated egg.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the clinical usefulness and added diagnostic value of measurements of IgE antibodies to egg white, ovalbumin, and ovomucoid in children with egg allergy.

Patch technique for repair of a dural tear in microendoscopic spinal surgery.

A dural tear is a common but troublesome complication of endoscopic spinal surgery. The limitations of space make repair difficult, and it is often necessary to proceed to an open operation to suture the dura in order to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. We describe a new patch technique in which a small piece of polyglactin 910 is fixed to the injured dura with fibrin glue.

[Efficacy of three-dimensional computed tomography for evaluating airway tract involvement in patients with relapsing polychondritis].

The airway tract involvement is known to be one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP). Sequential evaluations of airway tract involvements are necessary, however, the insertion of flexible bronchoscope into the affected airway tract may exacerbate their airway tract stenosis. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) showed stenosis of the trachea and bilateral main bronchi in 2 patients with RP.

A fatal case of acute hepatitis B developed in a toluene abuser.

Liver dysfunction involving toluene intoxicity includes elevation of transaminase level and delayed complications of liver failure, but its effect on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is as yet unknown. Here, we report a case of fulminant hepatitis B developed in a toluene abuser. A 23-year-old female toluene abuser was admitted to a local clinic because of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, and a mild elevation of serum transaminase level was identified.

Expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 in lymphocytes of idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Little is known about the role of chemokines and their receptors interaction, which are essential for recruitment of selective lymphocyte subsets during inflammation, in the pathogenesis of idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Recent studies have revealed Th1 and Th2 cells preferentially employ the chemokine receptors, CXCR3 and CCR4, respectively, in the process of accumulation into inflammatory sites. We evaluated the CXCR3 and CCR4 expression on infiltrated lymphocytes in lung tissues of 12 NSIP cases and 10 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases in our previous study.

[A case of multiple recurrence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea--analysis of isolates from the patient using PCR ribotyping].

Recurrence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a serious and still unsolved problem. Little is known about the precise mechanism of the recurrence with CDAD. To elucidate the issue, we analyzed C.

[Comparison of rapid tests of toxin A and glutamate dehydrogenase and culture for detection of Clostridium diffcile].

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of antibiotics-associated diarrhea (AAD), and accounts for 15-20% of all the cases. Especially, AAD caused by C. difficile is called as C.

Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern as pulmonary involvement of rheumatoid arthritis.

The pathologic patterns of lung involvement were evaluated in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They consisted of six females and ten males, with a median age of 67.5 years and diagnosed according to the American Rheumatism Association revised criteria.

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma: two case reports and a literature review.

Spontaneous regression of a malignant tumor is extremely rare. Here we report two cases of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and review the associated literature. Case 1 was a 77-year-old male with HCC in the right lobe and multiple lung metastases.