Brief communication: body composition and hidden obesity in people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Increased incidence of lifestyle diseases as side-effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been reported in people living with HIV (PLWH). Few studies have evaluated obesity and hidden obesity in Japanese PLWH and their association with ART. In order to provide more appropriate drug selection and lifestyle guidance, we investigated the relationship between the effects of HIV infection and ART on the body composition of Japanese PLWH. METHODS: PLWH who visited the outpatient clinic and had body composition measured using the body composition analyzer InBody 570 were included in this study. Medications, comorbidities, and blood test data were obtained. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were measured. RESULTS: In this study, 543 patients were included. Based on body shape, patients were classified into a thin group (13), normal weight group (14), hidden obesity group (158), apparent obesity group (14), and obesity group (218). Compared with the normal weight group, the hidden obesity group had a higher prevalence of comorbidities and a lower SMI. CONCLUSIONS: PLWH are more likely to have obesity than the general population, indicating that hidden obesity is common even among those with a normal BMI. It is important to measure body fat percentage along with body weight, as hidden obesity can be missed. Further investigation of the effects of ART on body composition is needed.

Search for η

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2 nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.

Energy deposition evaluation for ultra-low energy electron beam irradiation systems using calibrated thin radiochromic film and Monte Carlo simulations.

For evaluation of on-site dosimetry and process design in industrial use of ultra-low energy electron beam (ULEB) processes, we evaluate the energy deposition using a thin radiochromic film and a Monte Carlo simulation. The response of film dosimeter was calibrated using a high energy electron beam with an acceleration voltage of 2 MV and alanine dosimeters with uncertainty of 11% at coverage factor 2. Using this response function, the results of absorbed dose measurements for ULEB were evaluated from 10 kGy to 100 kGy as a relative dose. The deviation between the responses of deposit energy on the films and Monte Carlo simulations was within 15%. As far as this limitation, relative dose estimation using thin film dosimeters with response function obtained by high energy electron irradiation and simulation results is effective for ULEB irradiation processes management.

Development and evaluation of a collection apparatus for recoil products for study of the deexcitation process of (235m)U.

The nucleus (235m)U is an isomer with extremely low excitation energy (76.8 eV) and decays dominantly through the internal conversion (IC) process. Because outer-shell electrons are involved in the IC process, the decay constant of (235m)U depends on its chemical environment. We plan to study the deexcitation process of (235m)U by measuring the energy spectra of IC electrons in addition to the decay constants for various chemical forms. In this paper, the preparation method of (235m)U samples from (239)Pu by using alpha-recoil energy is reported. A Collection Apparatus for Recoil Products was fabricated, and then collection efficiencies under various conditions were determined by collecting (224)Ra recoiling out of (228)Th electrodeposited and precipitated sources. The pressure in the apparatus (vacuum or 1 atm of N2 gas) affected the variations of the collection efficiencies depending on the negative voltage applied to the collector. The maximum values of the collection efficiencies were mainly affected by the thickness of the (228)Th sources. From these results, the suitable conditions of the (239)Pu sources for preparation of (235m)U were determined. In addition, dissolution efficiencies were determined by washing collected (224)Ra with solutions. When (224)Ra was collected in 1 atm of N2 gas and dissolved with polar solutions such as water, the dissolution efficiencies were nearly 100%. The method of rapid dissolution of recoil products would be applicable to rapid preparation of short-lived (235m)U samples for various chemical forms.

Measurements of the neutron activation cross sections for Bi and Co at 386 MeV.

Neutron activation cross sections for Bi and Co at 386 MeV were measured by activation method. A quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam was produced using the (7)Li(p,n) reaction. The energy spectrum of these neutrons has a high-energy peak (386 MeV) and a low-energy tail. Two neutron beams, 0° and 25° from the proton beam axis, were used for sample irradiation, enabling a correction for the contribution of the low-energy neutrons. The neutron-induced activation cross sections were estimated by subtracting the reaction rates of irradiated samples for 25° irradiation from those of 0° irradiation. The measured cross sections were compared with the findings of other studies, evaluated in relation to nuclear data files and the calculated data by Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System code.

Development of a rapid source preparation method for high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry.

In order to prepare sources of short-lived actinides for alpha-particle spectrometry, a coprecipitation method with Sm hydroxide was developed. The preparation procedure can be completed within 5 min with a high chemical yield of over 90%. It was found that the uniformity of the produced sources was sufficient to provide a high resolution of better than 20 keV. Under this method, we successfully measured the alpha-particle spectrum of short-lived Cf isotopes produced in the (238)U((12)C, xn) reaction.

Target preparation by the precipitation method for nuclear reactions.

A technique for preparing nuclear reaction targets of various thicknesses was developed by using common filtration technique of hydroxide precipitates with a porous Al(2)O(3) membrane filter. Uniformity was found to be within a few % in each thickness. Durability for beam irradiation was also confirmed. The preparation procedure is convenient and the method is appropriate for several target materials, including not only precious materials but also radioactive materials with low contamination.

Acute respiratory failure caused by vinorelbine tartrate in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer.

We describe a case of vinorelbine tartrate (VNR) associated acute respiratory failure. A 65-year-old man with non-small cell lung cancer developed acute respiratory failure 50 minutes after his first infusion with VNR in combination with mitomycin-C. The patient was treated with furosemide, dopamine and high-dose methylprednisolone, and recovered with no discernible sequelae. Although clinical trials have shown that respiratory symptoms associated with VNR treatment have only rarely been observed and the putative mechanism remains to be elucidated, patients receiving VNR should be monitored carefully, particularly in the first few hours after intravenous administration.

Peritonitis due to Mycobacterium fortuitum infection following gastric cancer surgery.

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a well-documented cause of nosocomial infection. However, no studies have reported peritonitis with M. fortuitum as a postoperative complication. We describe a case of peritonitis with M. fortuitum biovariant peregrinum following gastric cancer surgery. Gram-positive bacterial infection coexisted. Although the source of the infection was unclear, the patient was successfully treated with drainage tube exchange and combination therapy consisting of sparfloxacin, clarithromycin, and imipenem/cilastatin sodium. Thus for postoperative infectious pathogens, not only bacteria but also nontuberculous mycobacteria should be considered.

Rhabdomyolysis after infection and taking a cold medicine in a patient who was susceptible to malignant hyperthermia.

A case of rhabdomyolysis after a possible viral infection and the use of a cold medication is reported. A 41-year-old man who presented with dysarthria, dysphagia, progressive weakness of his muscles and a high grade fever was admitted. He suffered from massive rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, and bronchopneumonia. Hemodialysis, antibiotics, and hydration therapy were effective in the treatment of his illness. Although the cause of the rhabdomyolysis was not completely clear, he was subsequently shown to be susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MH) based on the results of a caffeine-halothane contracture test. When a mild recurrence occurred during a follow-up muscle biopsy, intravenous dantrolene sodium was administered and he improved immediately. This case suggests that MH should be considered in patients with rhabdomyolysis when the cause is unclear. The caffeine-halothane contracture test may also be helpful in the diagnosis.

Pyogenic clavicular osteomyelitis associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute renal failure in a patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Pyogenic osteomyelitis is often accompanied by diabetes, but the disease in the clavicula has rarely been reported. We describe an unusual case of a 53-year-old man with poorly controlled non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who presented with pyogenic clavicular osteomyelitis and developed DIC and acute renal failure. A 67Ga scintigram revealed an abnormal accumulation of the isotope in the right clavicula, where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed inflammatory changes. This suggests that a 67Ga scintigram and MRI are of clinical value for the early diagnosis of the disease. Antibiotic chemotherapy with gamma-globulin and gebexate mesilate, and hemodialysis almost cured his serious condition.

[Effect of macrophage colony-stimulating factor on complement receptors and complement regulatory proteins on human peripheral white blood cells].

The effect of M-CSF and C5a on the expression of complement-related membrane proteins on the peripheral white blood cells was investigated. M-CSF or C5a was added into the suspension of the peripheral white blood cells. The expression of the complement receptors, CD35 (CR1) and CD11b/18 (CR3), and inhibitory membrane proteins, DAF and MCP, was measured by flow cytometry. M-CSF increased CR3 on polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and CR1, CR3, MCP and DAF on monocytes. C5a increased CR1, CR3 and DAF on PMNs, but did not affect the expression of those on monocytes. It is concluded that M-CSF possessed the activity of increase expression of both complement regulatory proteins and complement receptors of monocytes and C5a selectively affected the expression of those on PMNs.

[Demonstration and characterization of CD 46, membrane cofactor protein, in gastric cancer tissue].

CD 46, membrane cofactor protein, is a membrane protein which shows different expression and phenotypes with the organ or cell in the same individual. Previously, we reported that gastric CD 46 was expressed strongly in the mucosal epithelium, mucosa and endothelial cells of vessels in the submucosal layer. Western blot analysis revealed that gastric CD 46 was expressed as one broad band with a molecular weight ranging from 60 kDa to 69 kDa, which was different from that of lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the differences in expression and characterization of CD 46 in gastric cancer obtained by surgery as compared with non-cancerous mucosa. Expression of CD 46 was greater in gastric cancer than in non-cancerous mucosa. In some cases, the phenotypes of CD 46 in gastric cancer were different from those in the non-cancerous tissue.