Use of comprehensive target analysis for determination of contaminants of emerging concern in a sediment core collected from Beppu Bay, Japan.

In recent years, concern about the release of anthropogenic organic micropollutants referred to as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) has been growing. The objective of this study was to find potential CECs by means of an analytical screening method referred to as comprehensive target analysis with an automated identification and quantification system (CTA-AIQS), which uses gas and liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS). We used CTA-AIQS to analyze samples from a sediment core collected in Beppu Bay, Japan. With this method, we detected 80 compounds in the samples and CTA-AIQA could work to useful tool to find CECs in environmental media. Among the detected chemicals, three PAHs (anthracene, chrysene, and fluoranthene) and tris(isopropylphenyl)phosphate (TIPPP) isomers were found to increase in concentration with decreasing sediment depth. We quantified TIPPP isomers in the samples by means of targeted analysis using LC-MS/MS for confirmation. The concentration profiles, combined with previous reports indicating persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties, suggest that these chemicals can be categorized as potential CECs in marine environments.

Disclosure to HIV-seropositive children in rural Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Care of children living with HIV comprises various issues, some considered challenging. One of the challenging areas is the serostatus disclosure to HIV-positive children. This study describes the current situation of HIV disclosure among rural children in Zambia and examines the socio-demographic factors promoting disclosure. METHODS: We used a mixed method approach applying both quantitative and qualitative methods to obtain comprehensive picture of HIV serostatus disclosure for children. Data were collected in Mumbwa district, Zambia (2010-2012), included 57 clinical records of children older than 5 years old. We examined children's age, gender, and cohabitation status with their parents, caregivers' level of education and income, and the relation between children and caregivers. Logistic regression model was applied to examine associations between disclosure and socio-demographic characteristics. Semi-structured interviews with 50 caregivers and 22 HIV-positive children were conducted to qualitatively investigate attitude towards disclosure and support needed. RESULTS: Full disclosure was completed in 17 out of 57 (29.8%) patients. Median ages of patients in disclosed group and non-disclosed group were 10 and 9, respectively (IQR 8.0-13.0, 7.0-11.25). In univariate analyses, older age and male gender has positive relation to the completion of serostatus disclosure. In logistic regression models, cohabitation status with patients' mothers showed positive correlation to the completion of serostatus disclosure. In the interviews with caregivers, all caregivers said that disclosure of serostatus is a necessary process and good for their children, while actual serostatus disclosure rate was low. CONCLUSION: Serostatus disclosure to HIV-seropositive children is not prevalent in Rural Zambia. Although further researches would be desirable, increased support to caregivers would be beneficial.

Paediatric HIV and elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the ASEAN region: a call to action.

Recent achievements in scaling up paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) have changed the life of children living with HIV, who now stay healthy and live longer lives. However, as it becomes more of a chronic infection, a range of new problems have begun to arise. These include the disclosure of HIV serostatus to children, adherence to ART, long-term toxicities of antiretroviral drugs and their sexual and reproductive health, which are posing significant challenges to the existing health systems caring for children with HIV with limited resources, experiences and capacities. While intensified efforts and actions to improve care and treatment for these children are needed, it is crucial to accelerate the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, which is the main cause of paediatric HIV in the ASEAN region so as to eliminate the fundamental cause of the problem. This report argues that given over 70% of women have access to at least one antenatal care visit in the region and acceptance of HIV testing after receiving counselling on PMTCT could be as high as 90%, there is an opportunity to strengthen PMTCT services and eventually eliminate new paediatric HIV infections in the ASEAN countries.

A web-based remote radiation treatment planning system using the remote desktop function of a computer operating system: a preliminary report.

We developed a web-based, remote radiation treatment planning system which allowed staff at an affiliated hospital to obtain support from a fully staffed central institution. Network security was based on a firewall and a virtual private network (VPN). Client computers were installed at a cancer centre, at a university hospital and at a staff home. We remotely operated the treatment planning computer using the Remote Desktop function built in to the Windows operating system. Except for the initial setup of the VPN router, no special knowledge was needed to operate the remote radiation treatment planning system. There was a time lag that seemed to depend on the volume of data traffic on the Internet, but it did not affect smooth operation. The initial cost and running cost of the system were reasonable.

[Examination of acute disease in the long-term geriatric ward].

We investigated the acute disorder in cases at the long-term geriatric ward. Fifty seven patients were admitted to the hospital during the period of October 2002 to March 2005. In our study, the following items were analyzed: (1) the number of admission, (2) diagnosis, (3) the duration of hospital stay, and (4) the cause of death. The admission of respiratory disease patients, such as pneumonia, bronchitis and pleuritis, were most frequent and had the longest term of hospitalization. We also found that patients with respiratory disease had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), and their hospitalization was relatively shorter.

Seroepidemiological analysis of influenza pandemics in Shizuoka Prefecture and all Japan.

(1) Seroepidemiological analysis of influenza pandemics (1986-2003) in Shizuoka Prefecture and all Japan revealed differences in geographical, annual, seasonal, and age distributions. (2) For 17 years, the pandemics generally began at the 50th week every year showing over 1.0 patient/clinic, reached the peak at 5th week the following year, and ended over 10-15th week. Two big A/H3N2 pandemics were seen in 1989/1990 and 1997/1998 seasons, claiming over 1 million patients in Japan. (3) As herald strains, A/H3N2 strains (A/Sydney-like) were found in October 1999, and B strains (B/Victoria- and B/Yamagata-like) were detected in July and November 1998 and, in August and December 2000 in Shizuoka. B/Shizuoka/1/98 strain was registered internationally as a vaccine-recommended strain. (4) A/H3N2 and B viruses were detected in 55-78% of flu patients (almost under 10 years) with encephalopathy in 1999/2000 and 78-91% in 2000/2001 by MDCK and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. (5) High hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers over 40 in 250 persons were shown against A/Sydney/5/97 (H3N2), A/Yokohama/8/98 (H3N2), A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2) and A/Moscow/10/99 (H1N1) strains, while low titers showed against A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1) and A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1), and B/Beijing/243/97, B/Shangdong/7/97 and B/Yamanashi/106/98 strains in 1998-2000. (6) In anti-HA titers against A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B subtypes, clear generation gaps were observed between children (0-19 years), adults (20-59 years) and old men (over 60 years). (7) The pandemics are dependent on host immunity (acquired and vaccinated) and climatic conditions (low temperature, low humidity and limited rainfall), considering highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses (A/H5N1, A/H7N7) like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) corona virus in 2002-2003.

Effect of tranilast on proliferation, collagen gel contraction, and transforming growth factor beta secretion of retinal pigment epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

The efficiency of tranilast for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) was investigated in vitro. A tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay showed that the 300-microM concentration of tranilast inhibited proliferation of bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and rabbit dermal fibroblasts with no toxicity. The contraction of collagen gels embedded with these cells was evaluated in the cultures. Compared with the gel incubated with minimal essential medium and 0.35% bovine serum albumin and/or fetal calf serum, tranilast inhibited gel contraction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that a 300-microM concentration of tranilast inhibited transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) secretion significantly (p < 0.01). These results suggest that tranilast may inhibit the proliferation of RPE cells and fibroblasts and contraction of intraocular fibrous membranes by suppressing TGF-beta(1) secretion from these cells with a potential to treat PVR.

Sustained release of cis-hydroxyproline in the treatment of experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbits.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of sustained-release cis-4-hydroxyproline (CHP), a proline analog that inhibits collagen secretion, on experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in rabbits. METHODS: To demonstrate the sustained release of CHP we developed scleral implants weighing 8.5 mg made of a homogeneous mixture of poly( D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and various doses of CHP. The CHP release profiles were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography in vitro. Scleral implants loaded with 20% and 15% of CHP and made from PLGA (copolymer ratios 65/35 and 50/50; mean molecular weights 103,000 and 93,000, respectively) were used to treat experimental PVR and the efficacy was studied. In treated eyes, two PLGA 65/35 implants ( n=7), PLGA 50/50 implants ( n=6), or a PLGA 65/35 and a PLGA 50/50 implant ( n=9) were inserted at the pars plana, followed by PVR induction with autologous fibroblasts. Control eyes ( n=18) received two implants without CHP. Ocular tissue toxicity was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: In vitro release studies demonstrated a triphasic release pattern. The PLGA 65/35 and PLGA 50/50 implants released CHP over 4 and 7 weeks, respectively. The PLGA 65/35 implants decreased the incidence of retinal detachment from 89% (in controls) to 57% on day 28. When both PLGA 65/35 and PLGA 50/50 implants were used, the inhibitory effect was synergistically enhanced ( p=0.0034), while implantation with only PLGA 50/50 implants had no significant effect on PVR. No toxic reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the biodegradable polymeric implants containing CHP represent a potential treatment for PVR.

Targeting of interferon to choroidal neovascularization by use of dextran and metal coordination.

PURPOSE: Bioactive proteins such as interferon (IFN) have been reported to be combined with water-soluble polymers, such as dextran, through metal coordination, without need for complicated procedures. In the current study, the targeting and inhibitory effects of IFN combined with dextran on experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were studied in vivo. METHODS: Interferon (IFN)beta was conjugated to dextran, which has metal-chelating, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) residues. Based on metal coordination, conjugation of IFNbeta with DTPA-dextran resulted from simply mixing both substances in an aqueous solution containing Zn(2+). The effects of IFNbeta on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells (BRPECs) were evaluated. To evaluate the activity loss of IFNbeta by conjugation, the effect of the conjugate on HUVECs was compared with that of free IFNbeta. Experimental CNV was induced by subretinal injection of gelatin microspheres containing basic fibroblast growth factor in rabbits. The rabbits with CNV were intravenously treated twice weekly with 7.5 million international units (MIU)/kg per day free IFNbeta (for 4 weeks), with IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran conjugate containing 7.5 (for 2 weeks) or 0.75 (for 4 weeks) MIU/kg per day IFNbeta, or with saline. The effects of these substances were evaluated by fluorescein angiography and histology. To observe the accumulation of conjugate, the doses of IFNbeta in CNV tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IFNbeta inhibited the growth of HUVECs and enhanced the proliferation of BRPECs. The conjugate seemed to preserve approximately 44% of IFNbeta activity. Although both doses of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran inhibited progression of CNV in rabbits, longer term administration of a lower dose of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran had a sustained inhibitory effect on progression of CNV (P < 0.05). Histologic studies revealed the inhibitory effect of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran on progression of CNV. This conjugate prolonged the plasma half-life of IFNbeta and enabled IFNbeta to accumulate in the CNV in rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, human IFNbeta was successfully used to target CNV, an enhanced antiangiogenic effect was achieved by combining it with dextran, based on metal coordination. This targeted delivery of IFNbeta may have potential as a treatment modality for CNV.