Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type-1-associated Bronchioloalveolar Disorder with Non-necrotizing Granulomas: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1)-associated bronchioloalveolar disorder (HABA) is a pulmonary disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the peribronchiolar space and interstitium in HTLV-1 carriers and in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). We herein report an 85-year-old woman carrying HTLV-1 with HABA who presented with a miliary pattern of micronodules in both lungs on high-resolution computed tomography and a lymphocytic infiltrate with non-necrotizing granulomas on pathology. This rare case of HABA should be differentiated from sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or miliary tuberculosis.

Quantitative analysis of regional endocardial geometry dynamics from 4D cardiac CT images: endocardial tracking based on the iterative closest point with an integrated scale estimation.

Regional cardiac function analysis is important for the diagnosis and treatment planning of ischemic heart disease, but has not been sufficiently developed in the field of computed tomography (CT). Therefore, we propose a 3D endocardial tracking framework for cardiac CT using local point cloud registration based on the iterative closest point with an integrated scale estimation algorithm. We also introduce regional function descriptors that express the curvature and stretching of the endocardium: Surface distortion (E) and Scaling rate (S). For a region-to-region comparison, we propose endocardial segmentation according to coronary perfusion territories defined by the Voronoi partition based on coronary distribution. Our study of 65 endocardial segments in ten subjects showed that global endocardial deformation has a positive relationship with the stroke volume index (r = 0.896 and 0.829 in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively) and ejection fraction (r = 0.804 and 0.835), and a positive relationship with the brain natriuretic peptide level (r = 0.690 and 0.776). A positive relationship between segmental E and S (r = 0.845), a higher value of E in ischemic segments (p  = 0.021) that are determined by fractional flow reserve estimated from coronary CT data, and a higher value of S in the left circumflex artery territory (p  < 0.05) were also observed. The required radiation dose was 5.0 ± 0.7 mSv and the computation time was 7.2 ± 1.1 min. The result suggests that proposed endocardial deformation analysis using CT can be conducted on site and in time for the acute setting, and may be useful for the diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction or myocardial ischemia.

Kangen-karyu raises surface body temperature through oxidative stress modification.

Kangen-karyu, a prescription containing six herbs, has been shown to achieve its pharmacological effect through oxidative stress-dependent pathways in animal models. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the antioxidative effect and pharmacological mechanisms of Kangen-karyu, specifically its body temperature elevating effect in humans. Healthy human volunteers, age 35 ± 15 years old, were enrolled in this study. Surface body temperature, serum nitrite, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities, and inflammatory cytokines were investigated before and 120 min after Kangen-karyu oral intake. Kangen-karyu significantly increased the surface-body temperature of the entire body; this effect was more remarkable in the upper body and continued for more than 120 min. Accompanying this therapeutic effect, serum nitrite levels were increased 120 min after oral administration. Serum ROS scavenging activities were enhanced against singlet oxygen and were concomitantly decreased against the alkoxyl radical. Serum nitrite levels and superoxide scavenging activities were positively correlated, suggesting that Kangen-karyu affects the O2 (•-)-NO balance in vivo. Kangen-karyu had no effect on IL-6, TNF-α and adiponectin levels. These results indicate that the therapeutic effect of Kangen-karyu is achieved through NO- and ROS-dependent mechanisms. Further, this mechanism is not limited to ROS production, but includes ROS-ROS or ROS-NO interactions.