Increased Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Intra-arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in HCC Patients with Portal Vein Infiltration after Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The role of adjuvant hepatic intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) is considered to be a promising option. METHODS: We examined treatment effects of adjuvant HAI using cisplatin in 37 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein infiltration (PVI) who underwent hepatectomy in comparison with those in 85 patients who did not. RESULTS: PVI in 89 patients. Increased levels of aspartate transaminase, tumor markers, size and microvessel tumor infiltration (MVI) or cirrhosis, poorly differentiation, non-adjuvant HAI was associated with lower overall survival (p = 0.09). Poor differentiation, MVI and HAI were independently risk factors associated with tumor-free and overall survivals by the multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). Adjuvant HAI tended to show longer survivals in comparison with no-HAI (p = 0.08) and the multivariate analysis revealed significant efficacy of HAI for better prognosis. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant HAI showed effectiveness on prolonging tumor-free and patient survival in HCC with PVI and is a promising option in the daily clinical practice.

Genome-wide association study of degenerative bony changes of the temporomandibular joint.

OBJECTIVES: To identify susceptibility genes underlying degenerative bony changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bony changes of the TMJ condylar head were diagnosed by examination of panoramic radiographs and/or magnetic resonance images and/or computed tomography images. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 146 cases with TMJ degeneration and 374 controls from East Asian populations using an Illumina HumanOmniExpress BeadChip. After rigorous quality-control filtering, approximately 550,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for tests of associations with disease status. RESULTS: Forty-one SNPs at 22 independent loci showed association signals at P < 1 × 10(-4). The SNP rs878962, which maps on an intron of TSPAN9 on chromosome 12, showed the strongest association (combined OR = 1.89, 95% confidence interval = 1.43-2.50, P = 8.1 × 10(-6)). According to in silico predictions of the 41 SNPs, two intronic SNPs of APOL3 (rs80575) and MRC2 (rs2460300) may fall within regulatory elements and affect DNA-protein interactions. We could not replicate SNPs located on genes that have been reported to be associated with temporomandibular disorder or temporomandibular osteoarthritis in previous studies at P < 1 × 10(-4). CONCLUSIONS: Our GWAS identified 22 independent loci showing suggestive association signals with degenerative bony changes of the TMJ. These loci provide good candidates for future follow-up studies.

Extracellular volume fraction using contrast-enhanced CT is useful in differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: To evaluate whether tumor extracellular volume fraction (fECV) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) aids in the differentiation between intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this retrospective study, 113 patients with pathologically confirmed ICC (n = 39) or HCC (n = 74) who had undergone preoperative contrast-enhanced CT were enrolled. Enhancement values of the tumor (Etumor) and aorta (Eaorta) were obtained in the precontrast and equilibrium phase CT images. fECV was calculated using the following equation: fECV [%] = Etumor/Eaorta × (100 - hematocrit [%]). fECV values were compared between the ICC and HCC groups using Welch's t-test. The diagnostic performance of fECV for differentiating ICC and HCC was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. fECV and the CT imaging features of tumors were evaluated by two radiologists. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors predicting a diagnosis of ICC. Results: Mean fECV was significantly higher in ICCs (43.8% ± 13.2%) than that in HCCs (31.6% ± 9.0%, p < 0.001). The area under the curve for differentiating ICC from HCC was 0.763 when the cutoff value of fECV was 41.5%. The multivariate analysis identified fECV (unit OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.21; p < 0.05), peripheral rim enhancement during the arterial phase (OR: 17.0; 95% CI: 1.29-225; p < 0.05), and absence of washout pattern (OR: 235; 95% CI: 14.03-3933; p < 0.001) as independent CT features for differentiating between the two tumor types. Conclusions: A high value of fECV, peripheral rim enhancement during the arterial phase, and absence of washout pattern were independent factors in the differentiation of ICC from HCC.

Influence of diabetes on endothelial cell response during sepsis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Several endothelial pathways of cell adhesion, coagulation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling are activated during sepsis. The objective of this analysis was to investigate the influence of diabetes on biomarkers of endothelial cell activation in sepsis. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study of a convenience sample of adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) for whom infection was clinically suspected and who presented to an urban tertiary care emergency department between February 2005 and November 2008. We investigated the association of diabetes and sepsis with various endothelial activation biomarkers of cell adhesion (E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM-1] and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1]), coagulation (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 [PAI-1]) and VEGF signalling (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 [sFLT-1]). RESULTS: A total of 207 patients (34% with sepsis, 32% with severe sepsis and 34% with septic shock) were studied, including 63 (30%) with diabetes. Compared with patients without diabetes, patients with diabetes had significantly increased E-selectin and sFLT-1 levels overall; this was most pronounced during septic shock in the stratified analysis. Multivariate models including age, sex, sepsis severity and other variables as potential covariates confirmed the association of diabetes with elevated circulating plasma levels of E-selectin (standardised ß 0.24, p < 0.001) and sFLT-1 (standardised ß 0.19, p < 0.01), but there was no significant association with VCAM-1, ICAM-1 or PAI-1. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: During septic shock, patients with diabetes had higher levels of circulating biomarkers of endothelial cell adhesion (E-selectin) and VEGF signalling (sFLT-1). Future studies should address whether enhanced activation of the endothelium places patients with diabetes at increased risk for the development of sepsis and worsening morbidity and mortality.

A multi-centre, retrospective case series of oocyte cryopreservation in unmarried women diagnosed with haematological malignancies.

STUDY QUESTION: Is oocyte cryopreservation an applicable option for fertility preservation in unmarried patients with haematological malignancies? SUMMARY ANSWER: Oocyte cryopreservation via the vitrification method is accessible and may be considered an option for fertility preservation in unmarried patients with haematological malignancies. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Haematological malignancies are most commonly observed amongst adolescent and young adult women. Although the survival rate and life expectancy of those with haematological malignancies have improved, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may impair their reproductive potential. Oocyte cryopreservation is thus an ideal option to preserve their fertility. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This study retrospectively evaluated 193 unmarried patients (age: 26.2 ± 0.4 years) with haematological malignancies, who consulted for oocyte cryopreservation across 20 different fertility centres in Japan between February 2007 and January 2015. The primary outcome measures were the oocyte retrievals and oocyte cryopreservation outcomes. The secondary outcome measures were the outcomes following oocyte warming for IVF. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: The patients had commenced ovarian stimulation cycles via antagonist, agonist, natural and minimal methods for oocyte retrievals, defined according to the treatment strategy of each respective fertility centre. A vitrification method using the Cryotop safety kit was used for oocyte cryopreservation. ICSIs were used for insemination of warmed oocytes. The endometrial preparation method for embryo transfer was hormonal replacement therapy, except in the case of a patient who underwent a spontaneous ovulatory cycle. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Among 193 patients, acute myeloid leukaemia (n = 45, 23.3%) was most common, followed by acute lymphoid leukaemia (n = 38, 19.7%) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 30, 15.5%). In total, 162 patients (83.9%) underwent oocyte retrieval, and oocytes were successfully cryopreserved for 155 patients (80.3%). The mean number of oocyte retrieval cycles and cryopreserved oocytes were 1.7 ± 0.2 and 6.3 ± 0.4, respectively. As of December 2019, 14 patients (9.2%) had requested oocyte warming for IVF. The survival rate of oocytes after vitrification-warming was 85.2% (75/88). The rates of fertilisation and embryo development were 80.0% (60/75) and 46.7% (28/60), respectively. Ten patients (71.4%) had successful embryo transfers, and seven live births (50.0%) were achieved. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study was limited by its retrospective nature. Additionally, there remains an insufficient number of cases regarding the warming of vitrified oocytes to reliably conclude whether oocyte cryopreservation is effective for patients with haematological malignancies. Further long-term follow-up study is required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Oocyte retrieval and oocyte cryopreservation were accessible for patients with haematological malignancies; however, the number of oocyte retrievals may have been limited due to the initiation of cancer treatments. Acceptable embryonic and pregnancy outcomes could be achieved following oocyte warming; therefore, our results suggest that oocyte cryopreservation can be considered an option for fertility preservation in patients with haematological malignancies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Association study of TRAF1-C5 polymorphisms with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in Japanese.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association of polymorphisms of TRAF1-C5, a newly identified rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk locus in Caucasians, with susceptibility to RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Japanese populations. Gene expression levels of TRAF1 and C5 to assess the functional significance of genotypes were also analysed. METHODS: A multicentre association study consisting of 4 RA case-control series (4397 cases and 2857 controls) and 3 SLE case-control series (591 cases and 2199 shared controls) was conducted. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan genotyping assay for two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that showed the best evidence of association in the previous Caucasian studies. Quantifications of TRAF1 and C5 expression were performed with TaqMan expression assay. RESULTS: Significant differences in allele frequency for both SNPs were observed between RA and control subjects (combined odds ratio = 1.09), while no significant difference was detected between patients with SLE and controls. Interestingly, alleles rs3761847 A and rs10818488 G had increased the risk for RA in the present study, while they decreased the risk in the original studies. A significant difference was found between risk allele carriers and non-carriers of rs10818488 for the expression level of TRAF1 in phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated lymphoblastoid cell lines (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Association of TRAF1-C5 locus with RA susceptibility was detected in the Japanese populations with modest magnitude, while no significant association was observed for SLE. Significant positive effect of genotype on the expression of TRAF1 might support the genetic association between TRAF1 and RA.

Biological dose estimation of UVA laser microirradiation utilizing charged particle-induced protein foci.

The induction of localized DNA damage within a discrete nuclear volume is an important tool in DNA repair studies. Both charged particle irradiation and laser microirradiation (LMI) systems allow for such a localized damage induction, but the results obtained are difficult to compare, as the delivered laser dose cannot be measured directly. Therefore, we revisited the idea of a biological dosimetry based on the microscopic evaluation of irradiation-induced Replication Protein A (RPA) foci numbers. Considering that local dose deposition is characteristic for both LMI and charged particles, we took advantage of the defined dosimetry of particle irradiation to estimate the locally applied laser dose equivalent. Within the irradiated nuclear sub-volumes, the doses were in the range of several hundreds of Gray. However, local dose estimation is limited by the saturation of the RPA foci numbers with increasing particle doses. Even high-resolution 4Pi microscopy did not abrogate saturation as it was not able to resolve single lesions within individual RPA foci. Nevertheless, 4Pi microscopy revealed multiple and distinct 53BP1- and gamma H2AX-stained substructures within the lesion flanking chromatin domains. Monitoring the local recruitment of the telomere repeat-binding factors TRF1 and TRF2 showed that both proteins accumulated at damage sites after UVA-LMI but not after densely ionizing charged particle irradiation. Hence, our results indicate that the local dose delivered by UVA-LMI is extremely high and cannot be accurately translated into an equivalent ionizing radiation dose, despite the sophisticated techniques used in this study.

Stimulation of RNA polymerase II elongation by hepatitis delta antigen.

Transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is negatively regulated by the human factors DRB-sensitivity inducing factor (DSIF) and negative elongation factor (NELF). A 66-kilodalton subunit of NELF (NELF-A) shows limited sequence similarity to hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg), the viral protein required for replication of hepatitis delta virus (HDV). The host RNAPII has been implicated in HDV replication, but the detailed mechanism and the role of HDAg in this process are not understood. We show that HDAg binds RNAPII directly and stimulates transcription by displacing NELF and promoting RNAPII elongation. These results suggest that HDAg may regulate RNAPII elongation during both cellular messenger RNA synthesis and HDV RNA replication.

Effect of obesity on serum amiodarone concentration in Japanese patients: population pharmacokinetic investigation by multiple trough screen analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of obesity on pharmacokinetics of amiodarone (AMD) using Non-Linear Mixed Effects Modelling (NONMEM) in Japanese patients treated with oral therapy. METHOD: Serum concentrations of AMD were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. One hundred and fifty-one trough concentrations from 23 patients receiving repetitive oral AMD were collected. Body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage were measured. RESULTS: Estimates generated using NONMEM indicated that the clearance of AMD was influenced by BMI, age and daily dosage of AMD. The final pharmacokinetic model was CL (L/h) = 0*16 * TBW * 0.53(AGE >or= 65 ) * 0*78(BMI >or= 25) * DD(0.51), V(d) (L) = 10*2 * TBW, where CL is total body clearance, TBW is total body weight (kg), DD (mg/kg/day) is daily dosage of AMD, AGE (years) >or=65 = 1 for patient was 65 years old or over and 0 otherwise, BMI (kg/m(2)) >or=25 = 1 for patient was 25 kg/m(2) or over and 0 otherwise and V(d) is apparent volume of distribution. The clearance of AMD decreased significantly by 22.3% with a BMI higher than 25 kg/m(2). The clearance of AMD also decreased significantly by 46.9% when patient age was more than 65 years. CONCLUSION: Population pharmacokinetic analysis confirms that obesity affects the pharmacokinetics of AMD.

Size and stabilization of the dorsoulnar fragment in AO C3-type distal radius fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Volar locking plate (VLP) fixation has become the gold-standard treatment for distal radius fractures (DRFs). Especially, internal fixation of the volar lunate facet fragment is essential for the treatment of AO C3-type DRFs. On the other hand, the necessity of the fixation of the dorsal lunate facet fragment (dorsoulnar fragment) remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to measure three-dimensionally the size of the dorsoulnar fragments in AO C3-type DRFs using computed tomography (CT) images in detail, and to reveal relationships of the size and stabilization of the dorsoulnar fragment with postoperative fracture displacement after VLP fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the 101 consecutive Japanese patients who underwent surgical treatment for AO C3-type distal radius fractures. If patient had dorsoulnar fragment, the three-dimensional size of this fragment and the occupying ratio to the radiocarpal joint (RCJ) and the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) were anatomically evaluated using the preoperative CT images. In addition, we investigated the relationship of the size and stabilization of the dorsoulnar fragment with fracture displacement after VLP fixation. We statistically compared the size parameters and occupying ratio of the dorsoulnar fragment between the displaced group and the stable groups using a two-tailed t-test. We also statistically compared the numbers of screws inserted into the dorsoulnar fragments between the displaced and stable groups using a chi-square test. RESULTS: The mean dorsoulnar fragment size was 9.4 mm × 7.9 mm × 11.0 mm and the occupying ratio to the DRUJ and RCJ was 50% and 10%, respectively. The number of patients treated with volar locking plate fixation was 77, of which 12 patients had postoperative displacements. Although the size of the dorsoulnar fragment was not associated with postoperative displacement, stabilization following screw insertion into the dorsoulnar fragment was significantly associated with displacement. CONCLUSION: Stabilization of the dorsoulnar fragment with at least one screw of the volar locking plate was necessary to prevent postoperative fracture displacement regardless of dorsoulnar fragment size in AO C3-type distal radius fractures.

Determination of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in the sera of patients with liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in patients with HCV infection, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and type-I autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to assess the specificity of anti-CCP antibodies. METHODS: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP antibodies were measured in the sera from patients with HCV infection (n=45), PBC (n=73), AIH (n=55) and rheumatoid arthritis (n=48), and also from the sera of healthy subjects (n=23). Anti-CCP antibodies were measured using a second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: No sera with elevated anti-CCP were found in the patients with HCV infection. Two PBC patients (2.7%) and six AIH patients (10.5%) had anti-CCP antibodies. The seropositivity for anti-CCP in these autoimmune disease patients was associated with a high frequency of RA association [PBC; 100% (2/2), AIH; 86.4% (5/6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Although anti-CCP antibodies may be present in patients with autoimmune liver diseases, almost seropositive patients had concomitant RA. As a result, the measurement of anti-CCP antibodies may therefore be helpful for accurately diagnosing RA in patients with these liver diseases.

Helical polyacetylene-a conductive material for self-contained molecular electronic device use.

We describe mono-substituted helical poly(phenyl)acetylene, a structural variation of polyacetylene that may overcome its problem: the lack of chemical stability. Helical polyacetylene shows an intrinsic stiff rod structure, which can be enhanced by the choice of suitable side groups. The structure looks like a narrow spiral with a conjugated electron system, covered by attached side groups spiralling in the opposite sense. We consider this unique material as a prototype for molecular electronic device use. It provides the electronic function, mechanical packaging and electrical insulation through a variety of side groups and exhibits useful self-assembly properties. We provide evidence that such materials, in many variations, show the expected overall structure, can be synthesized through living polymerization (which is necessary for the fabrication of monomers by monomer controlled structures), do show enhanced chemical stability, are amenable to self-assembly, may be deposited in an oriented fashion and do show electrical conductivity.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and its genotypes among a cohort of drug users in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and that of its main genotypes varies between the worlds geographic regions. The risk factors for infection with HCV include blood transfusion, tattoing and injecting drug use. OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of HCV and determine its main genotypes among a cohort of drug users in Kenya. DESIGN: A laboratory based study. SETTING: Hepatitis research laboratory in the Centre for Virus Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and fourteen male and 19 female intravenous and non-intravenous drug users aged between 15-55 years. RESULTS: Seventy four (22.2%) out of 333 samples tested positive for anti-HCV. Sixty nine out of the 74 serum samples were assayed for HCV RNA and 38 (55.5%) were positive. The RNA positive samples were further subjected to sequencing and 19 (73%) of the samples were classified as genotype 1a, while seven (27%) samples were classified as genotype 4. Genotypes 2, 3, 5 and 6 were not identified in this study. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a high HCV infection prevalence among this cohort of drug users (22.2%) as compared to that of the general population, which is estimated to be 0.2-0.9%. The study also confirms the presence of at least two major genotypes among Kenyan drug users (genotypes 1 and 4).

[Rupture of mycotic arch aneurysm with rapid enlargement].

An 85-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for a lumbar compression fracture. Her white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated to 20,400/microl and 30.58 mg/dl, respectively. Chest and back pain occurred suddenly, 16 days after admission. Computed tomography revealed aortic arch aneurysm and bleeding. Rupture of the aortic arch aneurysm was diagnosed and she was transferred to our hospital for an emergency operation. The aneurysm was treated by debridement of the infected aortic tissue, and total aortic arch replacement was performed. Bacterial culture of the aneurysmal wall demonstrated methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Her postoperative course was uneventful. After surgery, antibiotics were administered for 2 weeks intravenously and orally. However oral antibiotics were administered again for about 2 months because wound infection occurred on the day 37 and 60 postoperatively. CRP normalized during her course of antibiotic therapy. Thereafter, the patient remained well without any sign of wound infection or mediastinitis.

[Redo aortic root replacement for prosthetic valve detachment associated with recurrent aneurysm of sinus of valsalva due to aortitis syndrome].

We report a case of 44-year-old male with aortitis syndrome who suffered a prosthetic aortic valve detachment and recurrent aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva 5 years after aortic valve replacement and patch closure of non-coronary sinus of Valsalva. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and angiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation and complicated aneurysm formation of sinus of Valsalva due to prosthetic valve and prosthetic patch dehiscence. Aortic root replacement was performed successfully after induction of steroid therapy to control inflammation. His postoperative course has been uneventful for 18 months.

[Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic disease combined with coronary artery bypass grafting operation].

We evaluated the early outcome of surgical treatment of thoracic aortic disease combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Between January 2001 and December 2007, a total of 22 patients underwent thoracic aortic surgery with CABG. Four patients had an emergency operation performed for acute type A aortic dissection (group D). Three patients with a dissection of the right coronary artery (RCA) and 1 patient with cardiac ischemia during operation underwent CABG. One of the 18 patients with non-dissecting aneurysm (group N) underwent CABG due to injury of RCA. A comparative study was made between the study groups and a control group of 68 patients (group S) who underwent thoracic aortic replacement without CABG. Hospital mortality was 4.5% (1/22 patients) due to low output syndrome. There were significant differences in operation time, total cardiopulmonary bypass time and cardiac arrest time between groups D and N, and between groups N and S. There was also a significant difference in ventilation time and the duration of stay in the intensive care unit between groups D and N. However, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications among all the groups. This operation provides satisfactory early clinical outcomes. Thoracic aortic surgery combined with CABG can be carried out safely in elderly patients.

Spatial measurement in rotating magnetic field plasma acceleration method by using two-dimensional scanning instrument and thrust stand.

A two-dimensional scanning probe instrument has been developed to survey spatial plasma characteristics in our electrodeless plasma acceleration schemes. In particular, diagnostics of plasma parameters, e.g., plasma density, temperature, velocity, and excited magnetic field, are essential for elucidating physical phenomena since we have been concentrating on next generation plasma propulsion methods, e.g., Rotating Magnetic Field plasma acceleration method, by characterizing the plasma performance. Moreover, in order to estimate the thrust performance in our experimental scheme, we have also mounted a thrust stand, which has a target type, on this movable instrument, and scanned the axial profile of the thrust performance in the presence of the external magnetic field generated by using permanent magnets, so as to investigate the plasma captured in a stand area, considering the divergent field lines in the downstream region of a generation antenna. In this paper, we will introduce the novel measurement instrument and describe how to measure these parameters.

Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis.

The murine hair follicle undergoes pronounced cyclic expansion and regression, leading to rapidly changing demands for its vascular support. Our study aimed to quantify the cyclic changes of perifollicular vascularization and to characterize the biological role of VEGF for hair growth, angiogenesis, and follicle cycling. We found a significant increase in perifollicular vascularization during the growth phase (anagen) of the hair cycle, followed by regression of angiogenic blood vessels during the involution (catagen) and the resting (telogen) phase. Perifollicular angiogenesis was temporally and spatially correlated with upregulation of VEGF mRNA expression by follicular keratinocytes of the outer root sheath, but not by dermal papilla cells. Transgenic overexpression of VEGF in outer root sheath keratinocytes of hair follicles strongly induced perifollicular vascularization, resulting in accelerated hair regrowth after depilation and in increased size of hair follicles and hair shafts. Conversely, systemic treatment with a neutralizing anti-VEGF antibody led to hair growth retardation and reduced hair follicle size. No effects of VEGF treatment or VEGF blockade were observed in mouse vibrissa organ cultures, which lack a functional vascular system. These results identify VEGF as a major mediator of hair follicle growth and cycling and provide the first direct evidence that improved follicle vascularization promotes hair growth and increases hair follicle and hair size.

Increased coronary heart disease in Japanese-American men with mutation in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene despite increased HDL levels.

Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are strongly genetically determined and show a general inverse relationship with coronary heart disease (CHD). The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to other lipoproteins and is a key participant in the reverse transport of cholesterol from the periphery to the liver. A high prevalence of two different CETP gene mutations (D442G, 5.1%; intron 14G:A, 0.5%), was found in 3,469 men of Japanese ancestry in the Honolulu Heart Program and mutations were associated with decreased CETP (-35%) and increased HDL chol levels (+10% for D442G). However, the overall prevalence of definite CHD was 21% in men with mutations and 16% in men without mutations. The relative risk (RR) of CHD was 1.43 in men with mutations (P < .05); after adjustment for CHD risk factors, the RR was 1.55 (P = .02); after additional adjustment for HDL levels, the RR was 1.68 (P = .008). Similar RR values were obtained for the D442G mutation alone. Increased CHD in men with mutations was primarily observed for HDL chol 41-60 mg/dl; for HDL chol > 60 mg/dl men with and without mutations had low CHD prevalence. Thus, genetic CETP deficiency appears to be an independent risk factor for CHD, primarily due to increased CHD prevalence in men with the D442G mutation and HDL cholesterol between 41 and 60 mg/dl. The findings suggest that both HDL concentration and the dynamics of cholesterol transport through HDL (i.e., reverse cholesterol transport) determine the anti-atherogenicity of the HDL fraction.

Significance of additional high-dose cytarabine in combination with cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The combination of cyclophosphamide (CY) and total body irradiation (TBI) has been used as a standard conditioning regimen for allogeneic transplantation. Several studies showed an advantage of adding high-dose cytarabine (HDCA) to this regimen. To clarify the significance of additional HDCA, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study and compared the clinical results of these two regimens. From June 1985 to March 2003, 219 patients with hematological malignancies underwent allogeneic transplantation after conditioning with CY+TBI 12Gy (n=73) or CA+CY+TBI 12Gy (n=146). Engraftment, overall survival, transplant-related mortality (TRM), relapse rate and incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were compared according to risks and donors. Addition of HDCA had no impact on the relapse rate in all subgroups, and it was associated with lower TRM among standard-risk patients after related transplantation, and with higher TRM and worse survival among standard-risk patients after unrelated transplantation. The incidence of acute GVHD was not significantly different between the two regimens, and HDCA resulted in a higher incidence of chronic GVHD among standard-risk patients after related transplantation. In summary, addition of HDCA is not beneficial for high-risk patients, and is not recommended for standard-risk patients receiving unrelated transplantation.