Comparison and Development of Immunohistochemical Diagnostic Criteria for Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematological malignancy derived from the precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Diagnostic criteria for BPDCN have not been fully established. BPDCN is often diagnosed without other BPDCN markers than the 3 conventional markers (CD4, CD56, and CD123) in practice and case reports, although acute myeloid leukemia/myeloid sarcoma (AML/MS), which is always considered in the differential diagnosis of BPDCN, can express them. We reviewed published case reports on BPDCN and found that the diagnosis was made without any other BPDCN markers than the conventional markers in two-thirds of the cases. Next, 4 representative existing diagnostic criteria were applied to 284 cases of our cohort of BPDCN and mimics. The results differed in 20% (56/284) of the cases. The criterion based on the 3 conventional markers alone had a low concordance rate (80%-82%) with the other 3 criteria, which were almost concordant with each other. However, newly found minor limitations in these criteria prompted us to devise new diagnostic criterion for BPDCN composed of TCF4, CD123, TCL1, and lysozyme. We also revealed that CD123-positive AML/MS patients had a significantly poorer outcome than those with BPDCN and that 12% (24/205) of the cases were non-BPDCN even if all 3 conventional markers were positive, thus clarifying the risk of diagnosing BPDCN without more specific markers. In addition, histopathological features, such as the reticular pattern, which is not seen in BPDCN and suggests AML/MS, were also identified.

11C-methionine- and 18F-FDG-PET double-negative metastatic brain tumor from lung adenocarcinoma with paradoxical high 18F-FDG uptake: A case report.

Background: Imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and 11C-methionine (MET)-PET can delineate primary and metastatic brain tumors. Lesion size affects the sensitivity of both scans and histopathological features can also influence FDG-PET, but the effects on MET-PET have not been elucidated. Case Description: We report an unusual case of metastatic brain tumors without accumulation of FDG or MET, contrasting with high FDG uptake in the primary lung lesion. The brain lesions were identified as adenocarcinoma with a more mucus-rich background, contributing to the indistinct accumulation of both FDG and MET. Conclusion: Histopathological characteristics can affect both MET and FDG accumulation, leading to findings contradicting those of the primary lesion.

Direct intracranial invasion of eccrine spiradenocarcinoma of the scalp: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Eccrine spiradenocarcinoma (SC), also known as malignant eccrine spiradenoma, is a rare malignant cutaneous adnexal neoplasm arising from long-standing benign eccrine spiradenoma. Malignant skin tumors rarely show direct intracranial invasion. However, once the intracranial structure is infiltrated, curative excision with sufficient margins can become extremely difficult, particularly when the venous sinuses are involved. No effective adjuvant therapies have yet been established. Here, we report an extremely rare case of scalp eccrine SC with direct intracranial invasion, which does not appear to have been reported previously. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old woman presented with a large swelling on the parietal scalp 12 years after resection of spiradenoma from the same site. The tumor showed intracranial invasion with involvement of the superior sagittal sinus and repeated recurrences after four surgeries with preservation of the sinus. The histopathological diagnosis was eccrine SC. Adjuvant high-precision external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) proved effective after the third surgery, achieving remission of the residual tumor. The patient died 7 years after the first surgery for SC. CONCLUSIONS: Scalp SC with direct intracranial invasion is extremely rare. Radical resection with tumor-free margins is the mainstay of treatment, but the involvement of venous sinuses makes this unfeasible. High-precision EBRT in combination with maximal resection preserving the venous sinuses could be a treatment option for local tumor control.

Surface Modification and Adhesion Mechanism of Isotactic Polypropylene with Low-Energy Electron-Beam Treatments.

Recently, smaller-size electron-beam (EB) accelerators have offered EB irradiation in laboratory systems. Therefore, polymer surface treatments with low-energy EB have been developed in the past years. For high adhesion strength, low-energy EB treatment is also a promising method in comparison to plasma surface treatment. In the plasma treatment, the mechanism of the effect on the adhesion properties has been proved and the excess treatments led to the formation of a weak boundary layer and reduction of adhesion strength. In contrast, the low-energy EB possesses high penetration ability. In this work, we focused on the surface treatments of isotactic polypropylene (it.PP) with low-energy EB irradiation for adhesion. The dependence of adhesion strength on the absorbed dose of electron beam was evaluated, and the mechanism of electron beam on the adhesion properties was investigated from various perspectives of surface properties and morphology. Compared to that of plasma-treated it.PP, the adhesion strength of it.PP with electron-beam irradiation increased drastically. We proved that the radical was generated in the substrates after electron-beam treatments and would form covalent bonds between adhesives and substrates, which achieved higher adhesion than plasma treatments. In addition, the electron beam reached effectively a deep region from the top surface of the substrates and provided larger adhesion strength.

The cytoplasmic region of the amyloid ß-protein precursor (APP) is necessary and sufficient for the enhanced fast velocity of APP transport by kinesin-1.

Amyloid ß-protein precursor (APP) is transported mainly by kinesin-1 and at a higher velocity than other kinesin-1 cargos, such as Alcadein α (Alcα); this is denoted by the enhanced fast velocity (EFV). Interaction of the APP cytoplasmic region with kinesin-1, which is essential for EFV transport, is mediated by JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP1). To determine the roles of interactions between the APP luminal region and cargo components, we monitored transport of chimeric cargo receptors, Alcα (luminal)-APP (cytoplasmic) and APP (luminal)-Alcα (cytoplasmic). Alcα-APP is transported at the EFV, whereas APP-Alcα is transported at the same velocity as wild-type Alcα. Thus, the cytoplasmic region of APP is necessary and sufficient for the EFV of APP transport by kinesin-1.

Cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults participating in synchronized swimming-exercise.

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to examine cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults regularly engaging in synchronized swimming-exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three female synchronized swimmers ranging in age from 49 to 85 years were recruited for the present study. The duration of synchronized swimming experience ranged from 1 to 39 years. The control group consisted of 36 age- and gender-matched community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (age range: 49 to 77 years). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) and compared between the synchronized swimmers and control participants. [Results] No significant differences in mean total MoCA-J scores were observed between the synchronized swimmers and control participants (23.2 ± 3.1 and 22.2 ± 3.6, respectively). Twenty-nine subjects in the control group and 17 in the synchronized swimming group scored below 26 on the MoCA-J, indicative of mild cognitive impairment. Significant differences in delayed recall-but not in visuospatial/executive function, naming, attention, language, abstraction, or orientation-were also observed between the two groups. [Conclusion] The results of the present study suggest that synchronized swimming has beneficial effects on cognitive function, particularly with regard to recent memory.

The relationship between arterial stiffness and the lifestyle habits of female athletes after retiring from competitive sports: a prospective study.

This study investigated the relationship between changes in arterial stiffness and the lifestyle habits of endurance athletes after retiring from competition. The subjects were 10 female university endurance athletes. We used formPWV/ABI® as an index for arterial stiffness and measured brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) directly before subjects retired (0Y) and at 2 years after retirement (2Y). Furthermore, to investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and lifestyle habits 2 years later, Lifecorder ® PLUS was used to measure physical activity levels, hours of sleep were surveyed using a questionnaire, and a food intake survey was conducted using Excel Eiyoukun Food Frequency Questionnaire Based on Food Group, FFQg Ver. 3.5. We found that baPWV increased significantly from 0Y to 2Y (P<0·05). Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between 2Y baPWV and step count as the physical activity index (r = -0·653, P<0·05) and moderate physical activity (r = -0·663, P<0·05). With regard to lifestyle habits that affected the amount of increase in baPWV from 0Y to 2Y (ΔbaPWV), negative correlations were noted between the step count (r = -0·690, P<0·05) and total physical activity (r = -0·657, P<0·05). However, no significant correlations were observed between 2Y baPWV and ΔbaPWV with food intake or hours of sleep. The results of this study suggested that physical activity was a lifestyle habit that inhibited an increase in arterial stiffness after retirement from competition and that having a high step count or engaging in physical activity for long periods of time in particular was useful in this regard.

Brain activation by music in patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state following diffuse brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the brain activity potential of patients with impaired consciousness in a chronic stage of diffuse brain injury (DBI) using functional MRI (fMRI) following music stimulation (MS). METHODS: Two patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) and five patients in a vegetative state (VS) due to severe DBI were enrolled along with 21 healthy adults. This study examined the brain regions activated by music and assessed topographical differences of the MS-activated brain among healthy adults and these patients. RESULTS: MS was shown to activate the bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG) of both healthy adults and patients in an MCS. In four of five patients in a VS, however, no significant activation in STG could be induced by the same MS. The remaining patient in a VS displayed the same MS-induced brain activation in STG as healthy adults and patients in an MCS and this patient's status also improved to an MCS 4 months after the study. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of STG activation by MS may predict a possible improvement of patients in a VS to MCS and fMRI employing MS may be a useful modality to objectively evaluate consciousness in these patients.