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1.
J Dermatol ; 2024 Apr 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38619178

The Index for Facial Angiofibromas (IFA), a novel scoring system for angiofibromas, has been validated in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The objective of this analysis was to further validate the IFA using data from a clinical trial of topical sirolimus in patients with TSC. This was an analysis of photographs from a Phase III trial conducted in Japan (NCT02635789). Patients (n = 62) were randomized 1:1 to receive sirolimus or placebo gel for 12 weeks. Changes in angiofibromas were independently assessed using the primary composite endpoint, the Facial Angiofibroma Severity Index (FASI), and the IFA. Thresholds for a clinically meaningful change in IFA score were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The IFA scores had good-to-excellent inter-assessor reliability, very high intra-assessor reliability, and could be used to evaluate the distribution of disease severity at baseline. High correlations were observed between the categorized change from baseline in IFA scores and the primary composite endpoint (Kendall's coefficient of concordance, W = 0.8655, p < 0.0001), and between the change from baseline in IFA and FASI scores (Kendall's coefficient of concordance, W = 0.745, p < 0.0001). By ROC analysis, an optimal IFA cut-off point of 1.667 was determined to distinguish patients with markedly improved or improved angiofibromas from those with slightly improved or unchanged angiofibromas (area under the curve 0.937) as determined by the primary composite endpoint. The IFA score is potentially clinically useful because of its high validity and reliability. A decrease in score from baseline of ≥1.667 may be considered clinically meaningful.

2.
Congenit Anom (Kyoto) ; 64(1): 23-27, 2024 Jan.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38062907

Congenital tracheal stenosis is a rare life-threatening disorder caused by narrow O-shaped tracheal ring without smooth muscle. Its underlying genetic cause has not been elucidated. We performed whole exome sequencing in a patient with congenital tracheal stenosis and congenital heart defect, and identified a de novo pathogenic TBX5 variant (NM_181486.4:c.680T>C, p.(Ile227Thr)). The Ile227Thr-TBX5 protein was predicted to have a decreased stability by in silico protein structural analyses, and was shown to have a significantly reduced activity for the NPPA promoter by luciferase assay. The results, together with the expression of mouse Tbx5 in the lung and trachea and the development of tracheal cartilage dysplasia in the lung-specific Tbx5 null mice, imply the relevance of TBX5 pathogenic variants to congenital tracheal stenosis.


Constriction, Pathologic , Heart Defects, Congenital , Trachea , Tracheal Stenosis , Animals , Humans , Mice , Heart Defects, Congenital/complications , Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis , Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Trachea/abnormalities , Tracheal Stenosis/diagnosis , Tracheal Stenosis/genetics
3.
J Dermatol ; 51(2): 234-242, 2024 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38149403

Acute zoster-associated pain develops in most patients with herpes zoster. Nonopioid analgesics are usually used to treat acute zoster-associated pain but are frequently ineffective. We administered intravenous fosphenytoin, the prodrug of phenytoin, to patients with acute zoster-associated pain to examine its analgesic efficacy and safety. At 13 medical institutions in Japan, we conducted a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of intravenous fosphenytoin in Japanese inpatients with acute zoster-associated pain for whom nonopioid analgesics had shown an insufficient analgesic effect. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a single intravenous dose of fosphenytoin at 18 mg/kg (high dose), a single intravenous dose of fosphenytoin at 12 mg/kg (low dose), or placebo. The primary endpoint was the mean change per hour (slope) in the numerical rating scale score from the baseline score until 120 min after dosing. Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to the low-dose fosphenytoin group (n = 6, median age 62.5 years, range 39-75 years), high-dose fosphenytoin group (n = 5, median age 69.0 years, range 22-75 years), and placebo group (n = 5, median age 52.0 years, range 38-72 years). One patient was excluded because of investigational drug dilution failure. This study was discontinued because of the influences of coronavirus disease 2019. The slope was significantly lower in the high- and low-dose fosphenytoin groups than in the placebo group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). Responsiveness to intravenous fosphenytoin (≥2-point reduction in the numerical rating scale score from baseline to 120 min after dosing) was inferred at plasma total phenytoin concentrations of 10-15 µg/mL. Treatment-emergent adverse events caused no safety concerns in the clinical setting and intravenous fosphenytoin was well tolerated. Intravenous fosphenytoin appears to be an effective and promising alternative treatment for acute zoster-associated pain. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04139330.


Herpes Zoster , Pain , Phenytoin , Adult , Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Analgesics , Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/pharmacology , Double-Blind Method , Herpes Zoster/complications , Herpes Zoster/drug therapy , Herpesvirus 3, Human , Pain/drug therapy , Pain/etiology , Phenytoin/adverse effects
4.
J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci ; 31(3): 162-172, 2024 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38152049

PURPOSE: This study aimed to clarify the incidence, therapeutic modality, and prognosis of acute acalculous cholecystitis and to reveal its optimal treatment strategy. METHODS: As a project study of the Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine, we performed a questionnaire survey of demographic data and perioperative outcomes of acute acalculous cholecystitis treated between January 2018 and December 2020 from 42 institutions. RESULTS: In this study, 432 patients of acute acalculous cholecystitis, which accounts for 7.04% of acute cholecystitis, were collected. According to the Tokyo guidelines severity grade, 167 (38.6%), 202 (46.8%), and 63 (14.6%) cases were classified as Grade I, II, and III, respectively. A total of 11 (2.5%) patients died and myocardial infarction/congestive heart failure was the only independent risk factor for in-hospital death. Cholecystectomy, especially the laparoscopic approach, had more preferable outcomes compared to their counterparts. The Tokyo guidelines flow charts were useful for Grade I and II severity, but in the cases with Grade III, upfront cholecystectomy could be suitable in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: The proportions of severity grade and mortality of acute acalculous cholecystitis were found to be similar to those of acute cholecystitis, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended as an effective treatment option. (UMIN000047631).


Acalculous Cholecystitis , Cholecystitis, Acute , Humans , Acalculous Cholecystitis/epidemiology , Acalculous Cholecystitis/surgery , Tokyo/epidemiology , Japan/epidemiology , Hospital Mortality , Retrospective Studies , Cholecystitis, Acute/epidemiology , Cholecystitis, Acute/surgery , Treatment Outcome
5.
Eur Heart J Open ; 3(4): oead070, 2023 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37441357

Aims: Some lesions have high resting distal coronary pressure/aortic pressure (Pd/Pa) despite low fractional flow reserve (FFR). This study aimed to assess microcirculatory dysfunction as a possible basal mechanism. Methods and results: Patients were grouped into two according to coffee intake (caffeine 222 mg) before coronary angiography. Through an adenosine-induced Pd/Pa decrease, amplitude index was calculated by dividing the difference between the highest pressure after the inflection point and the minimal diastolic pressure by the pulse pressure on the Pd waveform. In 130 coronary lesions (caffeine group, n = 69; non-caffeine group, n = 61) from 113 patients, the amplitude index through the adenosine-induced Pd/Pa decrease in all lesions was 0.54 ± 0.11 at resting Pd/Pa and 0.44 ± 0.12 at FFR (P < 0.0001). The positive dicrotic wave distribution on a maximal hyperaemia (FFRnicr)-resting Pd/Pa graph was analysed. In lesions with FFRnicr <0.80 on the FFRnicr-resting Pd/Pa graph, the resting Pd/Pa was divided into three zones based on Pd/Pa values: high-remaining, intermediate, and low. The high-remaining zone had a higher amplitude index than the intermediate zone (0.60 ± 0.09 vs. 0.48 ± 0.12; P < 0.005); the low zone lesions had no inflection point (no amplitude index). The high-remaining zone correlated with a larger positive dicrotic wave than the intermediate zone (94 vs. 30%; P < 0.005). Most lesions in the high-remaining zone corresponded to the caffeine group. Conclusion: In severe coronary stenosis, a high-remaining resting Pd/Pa with a high amplitude index or a positive dicrotic wave on the resting Pd waveform suggests microcirculatory dysfunction, such as insufficient arteriolar dilation reactive to myocardial ischaemia. Registration: UMIN000046883.

6.
Cureus ; 15(5): e38658, 2023 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37288221

Joubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD) are rare and intractable diseases characterized by delayed psychomotor development, hypotonia and/or ataxia, and abnormal respiratory and eye movements. Cerebellar vermis agenesis and molar tooth signs are distinct on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Children with JSRD present with delayed psychomotor development, including intellectual disability and emotional or behavioral problems. Rehabilitation treatments are provided to promote psychomotor development. However, limited reports and evidence exist on rehabilitation treatments for children with JSRD. Three children with JSRD received rehabilitation treatment. The children received rehabilitation treatment once a week to once every one to two months at our hospital and/or other facilities. All patients received physical, occupational, and speech-language-hearing therapy, depending on their symptoms and conditions. In children with tracheostomies due to abnormal respiration, respiratory physical therapy and speech-language-hearing therapy, including augmentative and alternative communication, were needed. For hypotonia and ataxia, an orthotic intervention was considered in all three cases, and foot or ankle-foot orthoses were used in two cases. Although there is no specific or established rehabilitation method for children with JSRD, appropriate rehabilitation approaches, including physical, occupational, speech-language-hearing therapies and orthotic intervention, should be considered and provided to improve their function and expand their activity and participation. Orthotic intervention for hypotonia seems reasonable for improving gross motor development and function in children with JSRD.

7.
Front Immunol ; 14: 1159058, 2023.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37266426

Dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) is an inhibitory C-type lectin receptor that acts as a negative regulator in the immune system and bone metabolism. We previously revealed that DCIR deficiency enhanced osteoclastogenesis and antigen presentation of dendritic cells, and that asialo-biantennary N-glycan (NA2) functions as a ligand for DCIR. NA2 binding to DCIR suppressed murine and human osteoclastogenesis that occurs in the presence of M-CSF and RANKL. The DCIR-NA2 axis, therefore, plays an important role in regulating osteoclastogenesis in both mice and humans, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we found that Dcir -/- bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) exhibited greater proliferative and differentiation responses to M-CSF and RANKL, respectively, than wild-type (WT) BMMs. Moreover, Dcir -/- osteoclasts (OCs) increased resorptive activity and cell fusion more significantly than WT OCs. DCIR deficiency affects gene expression patterns in OCs, and we found that the expression of neuraminidase 4 was increased in Dcir -/- OCs. Furthermore, DCIR-NA2 interaction in WT BMMs, but not Dcir -/- BMMs, decreased Akt phosphorylation in response to M-CSF and RANKL. These data suggest that DCIR regulates osteoclastogenesis by downregulating M-CSF and RANKL signaling, and that DCIR-mediated signaling may contribute to the terminal modification of oligosaccharides by controlling the expression of glycosylation enzymes.


Bone Resorption , Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor , Animals , Humans , Mice , Bone Resorption/metabolism , Cell Proliferation , Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/pharmacology , Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism , Osteoclasts/metabolism , Signal Transduction
8.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 5504, 2023 04 04.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37015958

Emergent surgery is a common approach for incarcerated obturator hernias, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Moreover, there have been reports of elective surgery cases after noninvasive manual reduction. For a decade, the initial approach in our institution is also manual reduction unless bowel viability is poor. This study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of manual reduction followed by elective surgery. We retrospectively reviewed 50 cases of incarcerated obturator hernia from 2010 to 2022 at Iwate Prefectural Iwai Hospital. Manual reduction was attempted in 31 (62%) patients. The reduction was successful in 21 (42%) patients, and most of them received mesh repair using the extraperitoneal approach as elective surgery. However, two patients underwent emergent surgery in the waiting period because of late-onset constriction and a small bowel perforation. Patients with irreducible hernia underwent emergent surgery, except for two patients who received the best supportive care. Postoperative complications were observed in 5% and 22% of reducible and irreducible cases, respectively. Postoperative mortality was zero in both groups. Manual reduction is useful in some cases, but careful observation is needed because late-onset constriction and perforation could occur.


Hernia, Obturator , Laparoscopy , Humans , Hernia, Obturator/surgery , Hernia, Obturator/complications , Retrospective Studies , Herniorrhaphy , Intestines/surgery
9.
J Hum Genet ; 68(7): 499-505, 2023 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36894704

The recent introduction of genome sequencing in genetic analysis has led to the identification of pathogenic variants located in deep introns. Recently, several new tools have emerged to predict the impact of variants on splicing. Here, we present a Japanese boy of Joubert syndrome with biallelic TCTN2 variants. Exome sequencing identified only a heterozygous maternal nonsense TCTN2 variant (NM_024809.5:c.916C >T, p.(Gln306Ter)). Subsequent genome sequencing identified a deep intronic variant (c.1033+423G>A) inherited from his father. The machine learning algorithms SpliceAI, Squirls, and Pangolin were unable to predict alterations in splicing by the c.1033+423G>A variant. SpliceRover, a tool for splice site prediction using FASTA sequence, was able to detect a cryptic exon which was 85-bp away from the variant and within the inverted Alu sequence while SpliceRover scores for these splice sites showed slight increase (donor) or decrease (acceptor) between the reference and mutant sequences. RNA sequencing and RT-PCR using urinary cells confirmed inclusion of the cryptic exon. The patient showed major symptoms of TCTN2-related disorders such as developmental delay, dysmorphic facial features and polydactyly. He also showed uncommon features such as retinal dystrophy, exotropia, abnormal pattern of respiration, and periventricular heterotopia, confirming these as one of features of TCTN2-related disorders. Our study highlights usefulness of genome sequencing and RNA sequencing using urinary cells for molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders and suggests that database of cryptic splice sites predicted in introns by SpliceRover using the reference sequences can be helpful in extracting candidate variants from large numbers of intronic variants in genome sequencing.


Abnormalities, Multiple , Eye Abnormalities , Kidney Diseases, Cystic , Male , Humans , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Retina , Eye Abnormalities/genetics , Kidney Diseases, Cystic/genetics , Cerebellum , Mutation , RNA Splice Sites/genetics , RNA Splicing , Exons/genetics , Introns , Membrane Proteins/genetics
10.
J Bone Miner Res ; 38(5): 692-706, 2023 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36896612

Lethal short-limb skeletal dysplasia Al-Gazali type (OMIM %601356), also called dysplastic cortical hyperostosis, Al-Gazali type, is an ultra-rare disorder previously reported in only three unrelated individuals. The genetic etiology for Al-Gazali skeletal dysplasia has up until now been unknown. Through international collaborative efforts involving seven clinical centers worldwide, a cohort of nine patients with clinical and radiographic features consistent with short-limb skeletal dysplasia Al-Gazali type was collected. The affected individuals presented with moderate intrauterine growth restriction, relative macrocephaly, hypertrichosis, large anterior fontanelle, short neck, short and stiff limbs with small hands and feet, severe brachydactyly, and generalized bone sclerosis with mild platyspondyly. Biallelic disease-causing variants in ADAMTSL2 were detected using massively parallel sequencing (MPS) and Sanger sequencing techniques. Six individuals were compound heterozygous and one individual was homozygous for pathogenic variants in ADAMTSL2. In one of the families, pathogenic variants were detected in parental samples only. Overall, this study sheds light on the genetic cause of Al-Gazali skeletal dysplasia and identifies it as a semi-lethal part of the spectrum of ADAMTSL2-related disorders. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of meticulous analysis of the pseudogene region of ADAMTSL2 where disease-causing variants might be located. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).


Bone Diseases, Developmental , Limb Deformities, Congenital , Osteochondrodysplasias , Humans , Bone Diseases, Developmental/genetics , Limb Deformities, Congenital/genetics , Limb Deformities, Congenital/pathology , Osteochondrodysplasias/genetics , Bone and Bones/pathology , Homozygote , ADAMTS Proteins/genetics
11.
Surg Case Rep ; 9(1): 34, 2023 Mar 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36855003

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery has reduced surgical morbidity and postoperative duration of hospital stay. Gas embolism is commonly known as a risk factor for all laparoscopic procedures. We report a case of severe cerebral infarction presumably caused by paradoxical CO2 embolism in laparoscopic partial hepatectomy with an insufflation management system. CASE PRESENTATION: A male in his 60 s was diagnosed with recurrence of liver metastasis in the right hepatic lobe after laparoscopic lower anterior resection for rectal cancer. We performed laparoscopic partial hepatectomy with an AirSeal® under 10 mmHg of intra-abdominal pressure. During the surgery, the patient's end-tidal CO2 and percutaneous oxygen saturation dropped from approximately 40-20 mmHg and 100-90%, respectively, while the heart rate increased from 60 to 120 beats/min; his blood pressure remained stable. Postoperatively, the patient developed right hemiplegia and aphasia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebral infarction in the broad area of the left cerebral cortex. Thereafter, transesophageal echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale, suggesting cerebral infarction due to paradoxical gas embolism. CONCLUSIONS: A patent foramen ovale is found in approximately 15-20% of healthy individuals. While gas embolism is a rare complication of laparoscopic surgery, cerebral infarction must be considered a possible complication even if the intra-abdominal pressure is constant under 10 mmHg with an insufflation management system.

13.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(1): e2210283120, 2023 01 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36577074

Single-cell whole-transcriptome analysis is the gold standard approach to identifying molecularly defined cell phenotypes. However, this approach cannot be used for dynamics measurements such as live-cell imaging. Here, we developed a multifunctional robot, the automated live imaging and cell picking system (ALPS) and used it to perform single-cell RNA sequencing for microscopically observed cells with multiple imaging modes. Using robotically obtained data that linked cell images and the whole transcriptome, we successfully predicted transcriptome-defined cell phenotypes in a noninvasive manner using cell image-based deep learning. This noninvasive approach opens a window to determine the live-cell whole transcriptome in real time. Moreover, this work, which is based on a data-driven approach, is a proof of concept for determining the transcriptome-defined phenotypes (i.e., not relying on specific genes) of any cell from cell images using a model trained on linked datasets.


Deep Learning , Robotic Surgical Procedures , Robotics , Transcriptome , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Gene Expression Profiling , Phenotype
14.
Immunity ; 55(5): 912-924.e8, 2022 05 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35413245

Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is a potent inhibitory co-receptor; yet, its functional ligand remains elusive, with distinct potential ligands identified. Here, we investigated the relative contribution of potential ligands, stable peptide-MHC class II complexes (pMHCII) and fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1), to LAG-3 activity in vitro and in vivo. Binding of LAG-3 to stable pMHCII but not to FGL1 induced T cell suppression in vitro. Consistently, LAG-3 mutants lacking FGL1-binding capacity but not those lacking stable pMHCII-binding capacity retained suppressive activity in vitro. Accordingly, targeted disruption of stable pMHCII- but not FGL1-binding capacity of LAG-3 in NOD mice recapitulated diabetes exacerbation by LAG-3 deficiency. Additionally, the loss of stable pMHCII-binding capacity of LAG-3 augmented anti-cancer immunity comparably with LAG-3 deficiency in C57BL/6 mice. These results identify stable pMHCII as a functional ligand of LAG-3 both in autoimmunity and anti-cancer immunity. Thus, stable pMHCII-LAG-3 interaction is a potential therapeutic target in human diseases.


Antigens, CD , Autoimmunity , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II , Neoplasms , T-Lymphocytes , Animals , Antigens, CD/metabolism , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism , Ligands , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Inbred NOD , Neoplasms/immunology , Peptides/metabolism , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
15.
Sci Rep ; 12(1): 7067, 2022 Apr 29.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35487938

Surface ion traps are among the most promising technologies for scaling up quantum computing machines, but their complicated multi-electrode geometry can make some tasks, including compensation for stray electric fields, challenging both at the level of modeling and of practical implementation. Here we demonstrate the compensation of stray electric fields using a gradient descent algorithm and a machine learning technique, which trained a deep learning network. We show automated dynamical compensation tested against induced electric charging from UV laser light hitting the chip trap surface. The results show improvement in compensation using gradient descent and the machine learner over manual compensation. This improvement is inferred from an increase of the fluorescence rate of 78% and 96% respectively, for a trapped [Formula: see text]Yb[Formula: see text] ion driven by a laser tuned to [Formula: see text] MHz of the [Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text]P[Formula: see text] Doppler cooling transition at 369.5 nm.

16.
Clin Genet ; 102(1): 3-11, 2022 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35342932

Kyphomelic dysplasia is a heterogeneous group of skeletal dysplasias characterized by severe bowing of the limbs associated with other variable findings, such as narrow thorax and abnormal facies. We searched for the genetic etiology of this disorder. Four individuals diagnosed with kyphomelic dysplasia were enrolled. We performed whole-exome sequencing and evaluated the pathogenicity of the identified variants. All individuals had de novo heterozygous variants in KIF5B encoding kinesin-1 heavy chain: two with c.272A>G:p.(Lys91Arg), one with c.584C>A:p.(Thr195Lys), and the other with c.701G>T:p.(Gly234Val). All variants involved conserved amino acids in or close to the ATPase activity-related motifs in the catalytic motor domain of the KIF5B protein. All individuals had sharp angulation of the femora and humeri, distinctive facial features, and neonatal respiratory distress. Short stature was observed in three individuals. Three developed postnatal osteoporosis with subsequent fractures, two showed brachycephaly, and two were diagnosed with optic atrophy. Our findings suggest that heterozygous KIF5B deleterious variants cause a specific form of kyphomelic dysplasia. Furthermore, alterations in kinesins cause various symptoms known as kinesinopathies, and our findings also extend the phenotypic spectrum of kinesinopathies.


Abnormalities, Multiple , Bone Diseases, Developmental , Dwarfism , Kinesins , Osteochondrodysplasias , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Bone Diseases, Developmental/genetics , Dwarfism/diagnosis , Dwarfism/genetics , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Kinesins/genetics , Osteochondrodysplasias/diagnosis , Osteochondrodysplasias/genetics
17.
Nat Immunol ; 23(3): 399-410, 2022 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35145298

Targeted blockade of the checkpoint molecule programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) can activate tumor-specific T cells to destroy tumors, whereas targeted potentiation of PD-1 is expected to suppress autoreactive T cells and alleviate autoimmune diseases. However, the development of methods to potentiate PD-1 remains challenging. Here we succeeded in eliciting PD-1 function by targeting the cis-PD-L1-CD80 duplex, formed by binding of CD80 to the PD-1 ligand PD-L1, that attenuates PD-L1-PD-1 binding and abrogates PD-1 function. By generating anti-CD80 antibodies that detach CD80 from the cis-PD-L1-CD80 duplex and enable PD-L1 to engage PD-1 in the presence of CD80, we demonstrate that the targeted dissociation of cis-PD-L1-CD80 duplex elicits PD-1 function in the condition where PD-1 function is otherwise restricted. We demonstrate using murine models that the removal of PD-1 restriction is effective in alleviating autoimmune disease symptoms. Our findings establish a method to potentiate PD-1 function and propose the removal of restraining mechanisms as an efficient strategy to potentiate the function of inhibitory molecules.


Autoimmune Diseases , Neoplasms , Animals , Autoimmunity , B7-1 Antigen , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Mice , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism , T-Lymphocytes
18.
J Hum Genet ; 67(7): 387-392, 2022 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35067677

Exome sequencing and panel testing have improved diagnostic yield in genetic analysis by comprehensively detecting pathogenic variants in exonic regions. However, it is important to identify non-exonic pathogenic variants to further improve diagnostic yield. Here, we present a female proband and her father who is diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a systemic connective tissue disorder caused by pathogenic variants in FBN1. There are also two affected individuals in the siblings of the father, indicating the genetic basis in this family. However, panel testing performed by two institutions reported no causal variants. To further explore the genetic basis of the family, we performed genome sequencing of the proband and RNA sequencing of urinary cells derived from urine samples of the proband and her father because FBN1 is strongly expressed in urinary cells though it is poorly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Genome sequencing identified a rare intronic variant (c.5789-15G>A) in intron 47 of FBN1 (NM_000138.4), which was transmitted from her father. RNA sequencing revealed allelic imbalance (monoallelic expression) of FBN1, retention of intron 47, and fewer aberrant transcripts utilizing new acceptor sites within exon 48, which were confirmed by RT-PCR. These results highlighted urinary cells as clinically accessible tissues for RNA sequencing if disease-causing genes are not sufficiently expressed in the blood, and the usefulness of multi-omics analysis for molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders.


Fibrillin-1 , Marfan Syndrome , RNA Splicing , Urine , Female , Fibrillin-1/genetics , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Male , Marfan Syndrome/diagnosis , Marfan Syndrome/genetics , Mutation , Sequence Analysis, RNA , Urine/cytology
19.
Surg Today ; 52(2): 337-343, 2022 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34370104

PURPOSE: To investigate the factors predictive of anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing elective right-sided colectomy. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 247 patients who underwent elective right hemicolectomy or ileocecal resection with ileocolic anastomosis between April 2012 and March 2019, at our institution. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage occurred in 9 of the 247 patients (3.6%) and was diagnosed on median postoperative day (POD) 7 (range POD 3-12). There were no significant differences in the background factors or preoperative laboratory data between the patients with anastomotic leakage (anastomotic leakage group) and those without anastomotic leakage (no anastomotic leakage group). Open surgery was significantly more common than laparoscopic surgery (P = 0.027), and end-to-side anastomosis was less common (P = 0.025) in the anastomotic leakage group. The C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the anastomotic leakage group was higher than that in the no anastomotic leakage group on PODs 3 (P < 0.001) and 5 (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis revealed that anastomotic leakage was significantly more frequent in patients with a serum CRP level ≥ 11.8 mg/dL [area under the curve (AUC) 0.83]. CONCLUSION: A serum CRP level ≥ 11.8 mg/dL on POD 3 was predictive of anastomotic leakage being detected on median POD 7.


Anastomotic Leak/diagnosis , C-Reactive Protein , Colectomy/adverse effects , Elective Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anastomotic Leak/etiology , Biomarkers/blood , Colectomy/methods , Elective Surgical Procedures/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Period , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Time Factors
20.
Hum Genome Var ; 8(1): 46, 2021 Dec 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34921139

2p15p16.1 microdeletion syndrome is a recently recognized congenital disorder characterized by developmental delay and dysmorphic features. RP2-associated retinal disorder (RP2-RD) is an X-linked inherited retinal disease with a childhood onset caused by a loss-of-function variant in the RP2 gene. Here, we describe a 14-year-old boy with double diagnoses of 2p15p16.1 microdeletion syndrome and RP2-RD. The recurrence risk of each condition and the indication for potential therapeutic options for RP2-RD are discussed.

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