Adsorption and Lubrication of Glutamic Acid-Based Surfactant with Calcium Ions.

The adsorption and lubrication of an amino acid-based surfactant at the solid/liquid interface were studied in the presence of calcium ions. The surfactant used here was disodium N-dodecanoylglutamate (C12Glu-2Na). The solid surface used in this study was hydrophobically modified to mimic the hydrophobicity of the skin surface. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) measurements revealed that the anionic surfactant was adsorbed on the hydrophobically modified solid surface. The replacement of the surfactant solution with CaCl2 aqueous solution resulted in the desorption of the surfactant to some extent; however, a rigid and elastic adsorption film interacting with calcium ions remained on the solid surface. The adsorption film containing calcium ions lowered the kinetic friction coefficient in aqueous media. The insoluble calcium salt of the surfactant, dispersed in the solution phase, also contributed to lubrication. We expect that the usability of personal care products formulated using amino acid-based surfactants is relevant to such adsorption and lubrication properties.

Clinical significance of anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in systemic chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.

Systemic chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease (sCAEBV) is a rare and fatal neoplasm, involving clonally proliferating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected T cells or natural killer cells. Patients with sCAEBV have abnormal titers of anti-EBV antibodies in their peripheral blood, but their significance is unknown. We retrospectively investigated titers and their relationship with the clinical features of sCAEBV using the data collected by the Japanese nationwide survey. Eighty-four patients with sCAEBV were analyzed. The anti-EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody, targeting EBNA-expressing EBV-positive cells, was found in 87.5% of children (<15 years old), 73.7% of adolescents and young adults (15-39 years old), and 100% of adults (≥40 years old). Anti-EBNA antibody titers were significantly lower and anti-VCA-IgG antibody titers significantly higher in patients with sCAEBV than those in healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Patients with high anti-VCA-IgG and anti-early antigen-IgG antibody (antibodies against the viral particles) levels had significantly better 3-year overall survival rates than those with low titers, suggesting that patients with sCAEBV have a reduced immune response to EBV-infected cells.

Cyclosporin A followed by the treatment of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with corticosteroid.

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a slowly progressive disease with a poor prognosis. Acute exacerbation is the worst stage in the clinical course of IPF, as the condition is unresponsive to most conventional therapies. Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs have been attempted for the treatment of acute exacerbation, but only with very limited effectiveness. This study was performed to examine the effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on acute exacerbation of IPF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with acute exacerbation of IPF were retrospectively studied. All 13 patients received pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone (1,000 mg per day for 3 days), followed by oral prednisolone (40-60 mg per day). Seven patients were received CsA (1.0-2.0 mg/kg per day) after the treatment with corticosteroids. We attempted to keep the blood trough level of CsA between 100 and 150 ng/ml. RESULTS: Among the 7 patients treated with CsA, 4 patients have survived for 60, 120, 276 and 208 weeks, respectively; 2 did not respond to pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone and died within 8 weeks after the start of CsA treatment. The other patient experienced re-exacerbation and died 87 weeks after the discontinuation of CsA due to the development of viral encephalitis. In contrast, all 6 patients treated without CsA died within 66 weeks after the onset of acute exacerbation. Four of these patients responded to pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone, but their condition deteriorated again while the subsequent prednisolone was being tapered. CONCLUSION: CsA seems to prevent re-exacerbation of IPF and improve the patients' chances for long-term survival.

Chromosome 9p deletion in squamous metaplasia in cystic lesion of the lung.

A 70-year-old man presented with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Examination of the resected specimen showed a tumour and a thickly walled cyst not immediately adjacent to the main tumour. The surface of the cyst was lined by squamous metaplastic epithelium. Microsatellite analysis of microdissected specimens was performed with seven markers from four chromosomal regions. In the squamous cell carcinoma, a non-informative homozygosity at two markers on 3p, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at D5S346 on 5q, and LOH at D9S146, D9S150, and D9S1748 on 9p were detected. In the metaplastic epithelium of the cyst, LOH was detected at D9S1748 on 9p21. This appears to be the first report providing possible evidence of genetic changes by demonstrating allelic loss on 9p21 in the metaplastic epithelium of a cyst. This allelic loss might be related to an early step in carcinogenesis in lung cysts.

Usefulness of cyclosporine A on rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia in dermatomyositis.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial pneumonia in polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM) is recognized to be a major complication of PM/DM. Rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia (RPIP) in DM is frequently refractory to steroids and is the prognosis-determining factor in DM. Recently cyclosporine A (CyA) has emerged as an available treatment for interstitial pneumonia in PM/DM, but its efficacy on RPIP is unclear. AIM OF THE WORK: To evaluate the usefulness of CyA in the treatment of RPIP in DM. METHODS: We reviewed the medical charts of 10 cases with RPIP in DM to whom CyA was administered. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Combined administration of oral CyA and steroids with/without immuno-suppressants was likely to be beneficial in 4 of 10 cases that were refractory to the conventional preceding therapy. The values of PaO2/FIO2 when CyA were initiated were suggested to be a prognosis-determining factor for the outcome of the disease, showing that initiation of CyA should be considered in the early stage of RPIP in DM. The dosage of steroids was tapered in 3 out of 4 CyA-responsive cases without re-exacerbation. Therefore administration of CyA might be useful in lowering the dosage of steroids.