Vascular access interventional therapy of early arteriovenous fistula occlusion leading to long-term patency: A case report.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are frequently used for hemodialysis access, but approximately 15%-20% of AVFs fail to mature within 3 months of their creation. Vascular access interventional therapy (VAIVT) is typically performed for treating an immature AVF. However, it should be performed 4-6 weeks or later after AVF creation. Here, we present a case in which VAIVT effectively addressed AVF occlusion that occurred only 9 days after its creation. The patient was an 82-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease who underwent surgery to create a left radiocephalic AVF for hemodialysis. Nine days postoperatively, disappearance of the AVF sound prompted an angiography, revealing thrombosis near the AVF anastomosis. VAIVT successfully restored blood flow, resulting in AVF maturation, and with no thrombosis or flow dysfunction at 21 months after VAIVT. To the best of our knowledge, this case presents the earliest successful intervention for an occluded AVF.

Thrombotic microangiopathy on kidney biopsy in a patient with TAFRO syndrome.

TAFRO syndrome represents a characteristic constellation of symptoms comprising Thrombocytopenia, Anasarca, myeloFibrosis, Renal dysfunction, and Organomegaly, and is considered to be a clinicopathologic variant of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease. A 51-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of abdominal distension. Findings on physical examination were indicative of anasarca. Computed tomography revealed mild splenomegaly, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, ascites, and paraaortic lymphadenopathy. Blood tests showed thrombocytopenia, and urinalysis demonstrated hematuria, proteinuria, and worsening renal function. Kidney biopsy was performed and revealed thrombotic microangiopathy-like lesions with global sclerosis of 1 of the 16 glomeruli on light microscopy. The remaining glomeruli had a distinct lobular pattern, with mesangiolysis, double contours of the glomerular basement membranes, and marked endothelial swelling. Immunofluorescence studies for IgG, IgM, IgA, C1q, C3, C4, κ-light chains, and λ-light chains were indeterminate. Electron microscopy showed marked endothelial swelling. We made a diagnosis of TAFRO syndrome and started steroid treatment, following which her symptoms gradually improved. There are few reports describing renal pathology in a patient with TAFRO syndrome.

Recurrent infectious subcapsular renal hematoma accompanied by microaneurysm.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of loss of appetite. 10 days earlier, her oral intake gradually decreased with no other specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, or low back pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a left subcapsular renal hematoma. We suspected infective subcapsular renal hematoma, so percutaneous needle aspiration and drainage were performed. Intravenous sulbactam-ampicillin was started immediately. On day 9 after admission, repeat CT scan revealed the subcapsular hematoma had reduced in size. The drain was removed, and intravenous antibiotics were discontinued. Follow-up CT scan on day 21 revealed increased subcapsular renal hematoma size. The patient also had high fever. Suspecting recurrence of infective subcapsular renal hematoma, we repeated the drainage of the hematoma and restarted intravenous antibiotics. Renal arteriography showed a renal artery microaneurysm and her condition improved with renal artery embolization. Renal arteriography was useful for detecting renal artery microaneurysm in infective subcapsular renal hematoma that did not resolve after antibiotic treatment and drainage.

Biocompatibility of a titanium dioxide-coating method for denture base acrylic resin.

OBJECTIVES: Ease of denture cleaning is of paramount importance in geriatric patients and those with limited dexterity. We have previously investigated methods of coating dentures with titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and reported the effects (self-cleaning and antibacterial) of such treatments in in vitro studies. This study was to verify the biocompatibility of a TiO2 -coated acrylic resin produced by the new coating method with spray-coating technique. METHODS: Specimens were prepared from denture base acrylic resin and polished up to grit #1000. The TiO2 -coating agent was sprayed onto the specimens using an airbrush gun. Specimens were then divided into 'polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)', 'primer-coated PMMA' and 'TiO2 -coated PMMA' groups to be evaluated for biological safety using a hamster oral mucosa irritation test, a guinea pig skin sensitisation test and a rabbit intracutaneous test. The biological reaction was scored. RESULTS: Reaction scores were considerably <1.0, the acceptable limit set by the ISO, in all three tests. Indeed, in most samples, there was no deleterious effect at all. CONCLUSION: These results tested on animals demonstrate that denture base resin coated with TiO2 by this method does not cause irritation or sensitisation of the oral mucosa, skin or intracutaneous tissue and is therefore good biocompatibility for use in close proximity to oral mucosa and skin.

Color and gloss evaluation of titanium dioxide coating for acrylic resin denture base.

PURPOSE: We examined the clinical appearance (color, gloss, and surface roughness) of TiO(2) coating on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin dentures. METHODS: A spraying method, using air brushes, was used to generate thin uniform TiO(2) coating. PMMA resin, primer-coated PMMA, and TiO(2)-coated PMMA (with primer) specimens were compared. RESULTS: The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) color system revealed color variations between the with/without coated samples. The TiO(2)-coated PMMA specimen displayed high levels of glossiness, highlighting the efficient self-cleansing actions of the denture. The measured surface roughness decreased upon primer coating, and increased following TiO(2) coating. CONCLUSIONS: The thin TiO(2) coating afforded high levels of glossiness while maintaining the color of the denture base material.

A versatile approach to organic photovoltaics evaluation using white light pulse and microwave conductivity.

State-of-the-art low band gap conjugated polymers have been investigated for application in organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) to achieve efficient conversion of the wide spectrum of sunlight into electricity. A remarkable improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) has been achieved through the use of innovative materials and device structures. However, a reliable technique for the rapid screening of the materials and processes is a prerequisite toward faster development in this area. Here we report the realization of such a versatile evaluation technique for bulk heterojunction OPVs by the combination of time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) and submicrosecond white light pulse from a Xe-flash lamp. Xe-flash TRMC allows examination of the OPV active layer without requiring fabrication of the actual device. The transient photoconductivity maxima, involving information on generation efficiency, mobility, and lifetime of charge carriers in four well-known low band gap polymers blended with phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), were confirmed to universally correlate with the PCE divided by the open circuit voltage (PCE/V(oc)), offering a facile way to predict photovoltaic performance without device fabrication.

Detection and distinction of DNT and TNT with a fluorescent conjugated polymer using the microwave conductivity technique.

We report the detection and distinction of dinitrotoluene (DNT) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) by the microwave conductivity technique using a cyclopentadithiophene-bithiazole-based polymer (CPDT-BT) as sensor. Although the conventional fluorescence quenching experiments showed just "turn OFF" of the polymer fluorescence for both DNT and TNT, time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) revealed that the photoconductivity of the polymer, which is "turned OFF" in the pristine state became "ON" in the presence of DNT but remained "OFF" with TNT, allowing easy distinction between them. Moreover, the decay rate of the transient kinetics was found to be sensitive to the DNT concentration, implementing a unique method for the determination of unknown DNT concentration. The observations are discussed in viewpoint of charge separation (CS) and formation of charge transfer (CT) complex by considering deeper LUMO of TNT than DNT calculated from the DFT method. This study brings out a novel technique of speedy detection and distinction of environmentally important analytes, an alternative to the fluorescence quenching.

Immobilization of 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose onto silica gel using (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane as linker.

The 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose were effectively immobilized onto plain silica gels as chiral packing materials (CPMs) for HPLC by means of intermolecular polycondensation of triethoxysilyl groups introduced with (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane. The immobilization and chiral recognition abilities of the obtained CPMs prepared with different amounts of (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane were investigated. In addition, the solvent compatibilities of the immobilized-type CPMs were examined with eluents containing chloroform and THF. When these eluents were used, for most of the tested racemates, the chiral resolving abilities of the obtained CPMs were improved.

Immobilization and chiral recognition of 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose bearing 4-(trimethoxysilyl)phenylcarbamate groups.

A small amount of 4-(trimethoxysilyl)phenyl groups was randomly introduced onto the 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates of cellulose and amylose by a one-pot method. The obtained derivatives were then effectively immobilized onto silica gel as chiral packing materials (CPMs) for high-performance liquid chromatography through intermolecular polycondensation of the trimethoxysilyl groups. The effects of the amount of 4-(trimethoxysilyl)phenyl groups on immobilization and enantioseparation were investigated. Also, the solvent durability of the immobilized-type CPMs was examined with the eluents containing chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. When these eluents were used, the chiral recognition abilities of the CPMs for most of the tested racemates were improved to some extent depending on the compounds.

Reversible formation of giant and normal-sized mitochondria in gastric parietal cells of guinea pigs.

Mitochondria occasionally increase in size in response to metabolic injury. Numerous studies have reported giant mitochondria in patients with various diseases and animals with metabolic injuries, and there are few reports on giant mitochondria in normal cells under physiological conditions. Here, we report a reversible formation of giant and normal-sized mitochondria in gastric parietal cells of guinea pigs. We morphometrically analyzed the frequency distribution of mitochondrial area on ultrathin sections of parietal cells in guinea pigs fed freely (control group), starved for 60-72 hr (starvation group), and starved and then injected with histamine (histamine group). The distribution was significantly different between the control and starvation group and between the starvation and histamine group: the histogram of the starvation group significantly shifted toward large mitochondria compared with that of the control or histamine group; the frequency of mitochondria more than 2 microm2 in size was significantly higher in the starvation group than that in the control or histamine group. This is the first report that clearly demonstrated the presence of giant mitochondria in gastric parietal cells under the starved condition and a mitochondrial recovery in a normal size after the administration of histamine. Because gastric parietal cells change their membrane system according to the state of gastric acid secretion, the present data may offer new insight into the morphological changes in gastric parietal cells.

Poly(2,7-di-n-pentyldibenzofulvene) showing chiroptical properties in the solid state based purely on a chiral conformation.

Poly(2,7-di-n-pentyldibenzofulvene)s with no stereocenters, obtained by anionic polymerization using chiral 9-fluorenyllithium ligand complexes, showed intense circular dichroism in film form due purely to the chiral conformation of the main chain, while no chiroptical properties were detectable in solution.

Starvation induces the formation of giant mitochondria in gastric parietal cells of guinea pigs.

Mitochondria occasionally increase in size in response to metabolic injury. Numerous studies have reported giant mitochondria in patients with various diseases and animals with metabolic injuries, but there are few reports on giant mitochondria in normal cells under physiological conditions. Here, we report giant mitochondria in normal gastric parietal cells. Stomachs of guinea pigs fed freely, fasted or fasted and then injected with histamine were processed for electron microscopy. Giant mitochondria >2 microm in the diameter of their major axis were observed in resting-type parietal cells in the gastric glands of animals fasted for 60-72 h, whereas acid-secreting-type parietal cells found in those fed ad libitum did not contain giant mitochondria. Giant mitochondria showed unusual structures, especially in their cristae: they contained closely packed, tubular and concentric cristae as well as amorphous and pleomorphic inclusion bodies in their matrix. We observed giant mitochondria consisting of several segments, suggesting the fusion of several normal-sized mitochondria. Histamine injection decreased in a frequency of giant mitochondria in accordance with a decrease in a frequency of resting-type parietal cells. This is the first report of giant mitochondria in gastric parietal cells under physiological or near physiological conditions. Gastric parietal cells might be a good model for examining mitochondrial fusion and fission in a physiological state accompanied by the morphological change of the cells in the membrane system from an acid-secreting to resting type.