[AN ADULT CASE OF PERIODIC FEVER, APHTHOUS STOMATITIS, PHARYNGITIS, AND ADENITIS (PFAPA) SYNDROME DEVELOPED IN CHILDHOOD AND DIAGNOSED AFTER PROGRESS MORE THAN 30 YEARS].

We report an adult case of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome, who had a tonsillectomy at 10 years old and relapsed later. An early 40's-year-old man had been suffering from recurrent fever attack once in 1-2 months during childhood. He was accompanied by fever which was persist for several days, aphthous stomatitis, tongued tonsillitis with moss, pharyngitis, and submandibular lymphadenitis with tenderness. He was not doing well during fare-up. At the time of admission, CRP level was 12.5mg/dl and the remarkably increased expression of CD64 on neutrophils was found. Bacterial infections and collagen diseases were excluded by the several examinations. We suspected PFAPA syndrome, and treated with cimetidine, but cimetidine was not effective. At the time of flare up, administration of prednisolone was remarkably effective. We diagnosed PFAPA syndrome on the basis of clinical courses. Genetic analysis of responsible gene of familial Mediterranean fever, MEFV showed E148Q heterozygous mutation in exon 2.Since an adult case of PFAPA syndrome is likely to be made misunderstanding for infectious recurrent pharyngitis, it is important to note that we should consider PFAPA syndrome as a differential diagnosis when we meet with the adult patient of recurrent fever.

The Asian project for collaborative derivation of reference intervals: (2) results of non-standardized analytes and transference of reference intervals to the participating laboratories on the basis of cross-comparison of test results.

BACKGROUND: The 2009 Asian multicenter study for derivation of reference intervals (RIs) featured: 1) centralized measurements to exclude reagent-dependent variations; 2) inclusion of non-standardized analytes (hormones, tumor makers, etc.) in the target; and 3) cross-check of test results between the central and local laboratories. Transferability of centrally derived RIs for non-standardized analytes based on the cross-check was examined. METHODS: Forty non-standardized analytes were centrally measured in sera from 3541 reference individuals recruited by 63 laboratories. Forty-four laboratories collaborated in the cross-check study by locally measuring aliquots of sera from 9 to 73 volunteers (average 22.2). Linear relationships were obtained by the major-axis regression. Error in converting RIs using the regression line was expressed by the coefficient of variation of slope b [CV(b)]. CV(b) <10% was set as the cut-off value allowing the conversion. The significance of factors for partitioning RIs was determined similarly as in the first report. RESULTS: Significant sex-, age-, and region-related changes in test results were observed in 17, 15, and 11 of the 40 analytes, respectively. In the cross-comparison study, test results were not harmonized in the majority of immunologically measured analytes, but their average CV(b)s were <10% except for total protein, cystatin C, CA19-9, free thyroxine, and triiodothyronine. After conversion, 74% of centrally derived RIs were transferred to each local laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: Our results point to the feasibility of: 1) harmonizing test results across different laboratories; and 2) sharing centrally derived RIs of non-standardized analytes by means of comparative measurement of a set of commutable specimens.

Safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of four-hour intravenous infusions of eritoran in healthy Japanese and Caucasian men.

Eritoran, a synthetic analogue of lipid A, has been shown to bind to TLR4/MD-2 complex and thereby block the interaction of endotoxins with TLR4. We report here the results of a study conducted to assess the single-dose safety and tolerability, as well as the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, of eritoran infusion in Japanese and Caucasian healthy adult men. Sixty-four men (aged 20-45 years; body mass index 18-30 kg/m(2)) were randomized into four groups: 4-mg total dose (six Japanese and six Caucasian men); 12-mg total dose (12 Japanese and 12 Caucasian men); 28-mg total dose (six Japanese and six Caucasian men); and placebo (eight Japanese and eight Caucasian men). Eritoran in single doses up to 28 mg over 4 h was well tolerated, with no apparent ethnic differences noted. Plasma concentrations were slightly higher in Japanese versus Caucasian men; these differences were not significant after adjustment for differences in body mass (clearance: approximately 1.2 ml/h/kg; volume of distribution at steady state: approximately 0.07 l/kg). The ex vivo endotoxin inhibitory activity of eritoran was similar in Japanese and Caucasian men. The data do not indicate any need for clinical dose adjustment for possible ethnic-based differences in drug distribution or metabolism.

Regulation of aged humoral immune defense against pneumococcal bacteria by IgM memory B cell.

Elderly persons have a high incidence of lethal infections by encapsulated bacteria. However, mechanisms involved in their poor defense and maintenance of immunological memory have been poorly understood. The present study characterized the population of B cells known as IgM memory B cell compartment and their response by pneumococcal vaccine in elderly people. CD27+ memory B cells, particularly IgD+IgM+CD27+ IgM memory B cells, had dramatically declined in the aged. Their Ig syntheses by B cells and the differentiation into plasma cells were diminished in vitro compared with those in adults. A rise of anti-pneumococcal IgM in sera of elderly persons was found with lower levels compared with those in adults after pneumococcal vaccination. Although diminished function itself of aged B cells surely exist, decline of the IgM memory B cell pool is expected to result in a poor humoral immunity against pneumococcal infection in elderly people.

Left lumbar subcutaneous cold abscess with tuberculous spondylitis.

We report a 29-year-old man with a rare left lumbar subcutaneous cold abscess complicated by tuberculous spondylitis during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis was rapidly improved by anti-tuberculous drugs, however curative operation for tuberculous spondylitis was necessary after 18 months because tuberculous spondylitis was overlooked. Imaging techniques are important in helping to establish a diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis. It should be stressed that a high clinical index of suspicion for tuberculosis is needed to correctly diagnose this disease.

[Four cases of Klebsiella pneumonia].

Typical Klebsiella pneumonia with mucous sputum is known as an opportunistic nosocomial infection. However, computed tomographic study of limiting in Klebsiella pneumonia is rare. We report three types of chest computed tomography (CT) findings for Klebsiella pneumonia. Case 1 shows typical lobar pneumonia (Friedlander pneumonia), Cases 2 and 3 show acute bronchopneumonia with subclinical aspiration, and Case 4, chronic Klebsiella pneumonia with typical cavitary lung abscesses. Of these four cases of Klebsiella pneumonia, three developed in the right lung, as determined radiologically, but esophagogastroduodenoscopy indicated that the lesions of Case 3 had developed in the left lingula and upper lobe.

Small-intestinal sarcomatoid carcinoma with superior vena cava syndrome.

A 56-year-old man was hospitalized because of swelling of the right upper extremity and anemia. A diagnosis of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome caused by lymphogenous metastasis was made after chest computed tomography (CT) scan and biopsy of cervical lymph nodes were carried out. Standard examinations, such as abdominal CT scan and endoscopies of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, failed to find the primary lesion. However, selective angiography of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) showed a clear stain of bleeding vessels in the small intestine. Laparotomy was performed, and immunohistochemical findings revealed sarcomatoid carcinoma in the small intestine (a rarely seen neoplasm). This aggressive carcinoma, which showed negative reactivity with CD34, CD117 (c-kit), and S-100 was clearly distinguished from other mesenchymal tumors, such as malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH).

Histamine and serotonin stimulate eotaxin production by a human lung fibroblast cell line.

Histamine and serotonin are important inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiology of asthma, and asthmatic patients have higher plasma histamine and serotonin levels than nonasthmatic control subjects. Eotaxin, a potent eosinophil-specific chemotactic factor, is increased in the lower respiratory tract of allergic patients. Recently, lung fibroblasts have been reported to produce eotaxin and are suggested to be the major cellular source of eotaxin. We postulated that lung fibroblasts might release eotaxin in response to histamine or serotonin. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the potential of histamine or serotonin to induce the release of eotaxin by the human fetal lung fibroblast cell line, HFL-1. HFL-1 released eotaxin in response to histamine and serotonin in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Histamine or serotonin treatment of HFL-1 augmented the expression of eotaxin mRNA. Eosinophil chemotactic activity by HFL-1 supernatant fluids was inhibited by anti-human eotaxin-neutralizing antibody. These findings lead to the hypothesis that lung-fibroblast-derived eotaxin may in part be responsible for the eosinophil infiltration observed in allergic disease of the airways.

Chromosomal aberrations in intravascular lymphomatosis.

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is a unique, disseminated type of malignant lymphoma. However, no detailed comparative study limited to the chromosomal aberrations of IVL has been reported, because IVL is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose while the patient is alive. We present here a case of IVL, and compare its karyotype with those of five cases of previously reported IVL. The accumulation of structural aberrations in chromosomes 1, 6, and 18, especially 1p (4 of 6 cases) and trisomy 18 (4 of 6 cases), were found in our comparative study of the B-cell lineage typical IVL. These chromosomal rearrangements must provide important information regarding the characteristics of cytogenetically associated with the cellular genetics of IVL.

[An infection with Legionella pneumophila treated with intravenous ciprofloxacin].

A 60-year-old diabetic man who had had a coronary artery bypass graft operation was admitted to Okaya Enrei Hospital because of coughing, high fever and dyspnea. Chest high-resolution computed tomography scans revealed bilateral pleural effusions and left-sided alveolar shadows and ground glass opacity. These infiltrations in the left lung field showed rapid growth. Legionella pneumonia was diagnosed because of a high titer for Legionella pneumophila antigen in the urine. He was treated with 600 mg per day of parenteral ciprofloxacin for two weeks and 10 mg per day of oral prednisolone for the second week, resulting in improvement of the clinical findings.

Human bronchial epithelium expresses interleukin-9 receptors and releases neutrophil chemotactic factor.

Growing evidence obtained from human genomic analysis and antigen-challenged transgenic mice suggests that interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a candidate factor in immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and thus is thought to be associated with bronchial inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). To evaluate the expression of the IL-9 receptor and its effect on the IL-9 human bronchial cell line BEAS-2B cells, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemical investigation, and chemotaxis assay were performed. The components of the IL-9 receptor, consisting of IL-9 receptor alpha (CD129) and IL-2 receptory ((1)132), were expressed on BEAS-2B cells as determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. BEAS-2B cells exposed to IL-9 released neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the presence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was also detected. This factor is primarily involved in NCA for the measurement of cytokines and in the inhibition assay of neutrophil chemotaxis. These findings suggest that bronchial epithelial cells may express IL-9 receptors, and that IL-9 may induce airway inflammation through the release of G-CSF from bronchial epithelial cells.