Efficacy of Chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC Patients With Brain Metastasis With or Without Prior Brain Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Many patients with advanced lung cancer develop brain metastasis (BM); however, few reports confirming the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with symptomatic BM have been published. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the effects of chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC patients who did or did not receive prior brain radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 103 patients with advanced NSCLC who received ICIs plus chemotherapy at our hospital from January 2019 to July 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. RESULTS: Patients with BM tended to have shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with patients without BM. The maximum size of BM and the proportion of patients with symptomatic BM were greater among patients who received brain radiotherapy before chemoimmunotherapy. However, patients who received prior brain radiotherapy had better PFS and OS compared with patients who did not receive prior brain radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Patients who received prior brain radiotherapy experienced a superior therapeutic benefit of ICIs plus chemotherapy, including those with larger and more symptomatic BM.

Enhanced degradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate by a co-culture of Afipia sp. 624S and Diaphorobacter sp. 624L.

Two strains, Afipia sp. 624S and Diaphorobacter sp. 624L, were isolated from an enrichment culture with 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS) as the only carbon source. Strain 624S utilized 4-ABS as the only source of carbon and energy and degraded 3.8 mM 4-ABS in 2 weeks, releasing a small amount of sulfate ions. On the other hand, strain 624L did not utilize 4-ABS. Additionally, a co-culture of strains 624S and 624L resulted in the enhanced degradation of 4-ABS, and no sulfite was accumulated in the degradation of 4-ABS. When incubated in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0) containing 2.2 mM sodium sulfite, strain 624S exhibited no sulfite oxidation; however, strain 624L completely oxidized the sulfite after 2 days. Furthermore, when manganase, which has the ability to oxidize sulfite, was added to the medium, the degradation rate of 4-ABS was increased in comparison with the non-addition control. These results indicate that the sulfite oxidation might stimulate the degradation of 4-ABS by strain 624S, suggesting syntrophic interaction between strains 624S and 624L based on sulfite oxidation.

Effect of acidic conditions on decomposition of methylene blue in aqueous solution by air microbubbles.

Methylene blue (MB) has recently been proposed as a new chemical probe to colorimetrically verify the presence of hydroxyl radicals and was applied to the microbubble technique in this report. The degradation of MB in water was observed by air microbubbles under acidic condition or adding H2O2. The discoloration of MB induced by air microbubbles supports that hydroxyl radicals are generated by the collapse of microbubbles in water. The decomposition rate of MB increases with increasing the concentration of acids (HCl, HNO3, H2SO4) and H2O2 up to ab. 2 mM, and becomes almost constant above ab. 2 mM. Note that the decomposition rate of MB mainly depends on pH, not the kind of acid and that adding salt slightly enhanced the decomposition of MB. The fact that the blue-shift of the absorbance band of MB was observed for not H2O2 but acids proposed that the methyl groups of MB are preferentially dissociated under acidic conditions due to the protonation of dimethylamino group.

Successful Liposteroid Therapy for a Recurrent Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis with Down Syndrome.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare and life-threatening disorder. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are essential for their better prognosis and patients' quality of life (QOL). It is considered that Down syndrome patients with IPH have a worse prognosis compared to other IPH cases. A 2-year-old girl with Down syndrome received the diagnosis of IPH after two episodes of massive pulmonary hemorrhage requiring assist ventilation, who suffered from recurrent IPH during tapering period of oral corticosteroid, started liposteroid therapy. We report here a case of successful control of recurrent IPH and improved QOL enormously with tapering dose of corticosteroid after starting liposteroid therapy.

Anodic reactions of NADH model compound by utilizing both light irradiation and riboflavin as a redox mediator.

Both light and a redox mediator riboflavin (RF) were utilized to promote the electro-oxidation of an NADH model compound (1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide, BNAH), which is a key process for enzymatic biofuel cells to obtain a high performance. At the cathode, H+ ions were simultaneously reduced to produce H2 gas. To elucidate the cell reactions of this photogalvanic cell, which is significant information about the fabrication of enzymatic biofuel cells with a high performance, the effect of the BNAH and RF concentrations on the cell current, the light wavelength dependence on the current, and reduction of the RF concentration were evaluated. The obtained results strongly suggest that the anodic reactions were composed of the following reactions: 1) the photo-excitation of RF, 2) the attack of the excited RF on the BNAH and the generation of the radical species of BNAH and RF, and 3) the chain reactions between the radical species.

Reduced-intensity conditioning in unrelated donor cord blood transplantation for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a disorder of immune homeostasis characterized by fever, cytopenias, hepatosplenomegaly, and coagulopathy. We studied the outcomes of 13 FHL patients who underwent the first unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) after non-myeloablative conditionings. The major regimen consisted of fludarabine (FLU; n = 12)+melphalan (MEL; n = 11)± low-dose total body irradiation (TBI 2-4 Gy; n = 6). The median age at presentation and period to UCBT were 6 and 5 months, respectively. Central nervous system (CNS) disease developed in one infant at diagnosis, and in two others until UCBT. HLH activity was controlled in all but one at the time of UCBT. Ten patients had early engraftment on median day 21 with no grade >2 treatment-related toxicity and two controllable grade >2 acute GVHD. Two patients with early rejection successfully underwent subsequent UCBT after myeloablative conditioning. Two others had late graft failure following mixed donor chimerism. Two deaths occurred from HLH; early liver failure and late CNS disease. Of 11 FLU+MEL-conditioned patients, the frequency of disease-free complete engraftment was higher for MEL (≥120 mg/m(2) )+TBI, or high-dose MEL (180 mg/m(2) ) than for others (83% vs. 25%, p = 0.036). The FLU+MEL-based non-myeloablative regimen was acceptable for FHL infants undergoing UCBT, although further studies will be needed for confirmation.

Effect of myringotomy on prognosis in pediatric acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: In children with acute otitis media (AOM), we compared clinical outcomes between groups with and without myringotomy to elucidate the effect of this procedure on long-term clinical course and prognosis. METHODS: Fifty-nine children (29 male, 30 female) with tympanic membrane bulging or middle ear fluid (MEF) at initial presentation were assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group A received oral antibiotics and also underwent myringotomy at initial enrollment (36 cases), while group B received oral antibiotics without myringotomy (23 cases). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by otolaryngologic specialists using pneumatic otoscopy and tympanometry at 5, 10, 15, 30 days and 12 weeks and then every 2 weeks after the initial treatment. Otitis media with effusion (OME), early recurrence and recurrent AOM were used as the evaluation criteria for the prognosis. RESULTS: In group A, 6 children (16.7%) showed transition to OME, 11 (30.6%) showed early recurrence of AOM, and 9 (25.0%) developed recurrent AOM. In group B 10, 8, and 3 (43.5%, 34.8%, and 13.0%) showed these respective adverse outcomes. While early recurrence rates and recurrent AOM rates did not differ significantly between groups, progression of OME was significantly less frequent in group A than group B (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Lower rates of progression to OME in the group undergoing myringotomy suggested that myringotomy might be effective in preventing this outcome.

Complete mineralization of propyzamide in aqueous solution containing TiO2 particles and H2O2 by the simultaneous irradiation of light and ultrasonic waves.

Environmental problems arise from the pollution of ground water and soil by propyzamide, 3,5-dichloro-N-(3-methyl-1-butyn-3-yl) benzamide, which is a popular herbicide. To decompose propyzamide, aqueous solutions containing propyzamide and TiO2 particles was irradiated by light. The photocatalytic decomposition was accelerated when the solution temperature and pH were high. The temperature dependence was due to the adsorption processes of propyzamide on the TiO2 particles. The decomposition was further promoted by addition of H2O2 because of its effective electron-trapping and generated *OH which was available to decompose propyzamide. Although no propyzamide was detected in the solution after the irradiation time of about 20 min, the decomposed intermediate compounds still remained. In order to mineralize completely propyzamide, simultaneous irradiation by light and ultrasonic waves was carried out. The hybrid effect of the irradiation by light and ultrasonic waves in conjunction with H2O2 was first confirmed to achieve the complete mineralization of propyzamide.

Successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia and cytomegalovirus retinitis.

A 1-year-old boy with acute myeloid leukemia with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis that was refractory because of severely impaired cellular immunity underwent bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-matched donor after a conditioning regimen of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide. Although we continued administration of ganciclovir from preparation therapy, retinitis worsened after engraftment. Thereafter retinitis improved gradually as the number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes increased. The findings in this case suggest that stem cell transplantation for a leukemia patient with CMV disease may be effective.

Factors associated with poor outcome in children with acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors determining poor outcome in children with acute otitis media (AOM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We considered the following factors in children with AOM: age; gender; the presence of group nursing; the presence of siblings; the duration of breastfeeding; and the type of bacteria isolated from the middle ear fluid (MEF) or nasopharynx. The 73 pediatric patients studied included 61 examined in outpatient clinics and 12 seen at a children's home. RESULTS: Of the 61 children examined in outpatient clinics, 32 (52%) had persistent MEF (fluid accumulation in the middle ear persisting for up to 1 month after treatment); 14 (23%) had early recurrence of AOM (within 1 month following an initial improvement); and 14 (23%) developed recurrent AOM (> 3 recurrences during 6 months of follow-up). Using univariate and multivariate analyses, age < 2 years was found to be significantly related to the development of recurrent AOM and an absence of group nursing was found to be significantly related to the development of early recurrence. Persistent MEF was significantly related to the development of recurrent AOM. There was no difference between bacterial species isolated from the MEF or nasopharynx in terms of clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that particularly close long-term follow-up is necessary for children aged < 2 years and children with a middle ear effusion that persists for up to 1 month after treatment.

Role of respiratory viruses in children with acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: The role of viral infection in acute otitis media (AOM) has not been fully elucidated. We determined the presence of various respiratory viruses in middle ear fluid (MEF) specimens from children with AOM in order to determine whether viral infection or combined effects of viral and bacterial infection enhance or prolong the inflammation in the middle ear, thus worsening clinical outcome. METHODS: Multiplex nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions was carried out to detect influenza A and B viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) types A and B, parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, and 3; rhinovirus; and adenovirus in 93 MEF specimens from 79 children with AOM. And we examined whether viral infection with or without an identifiable bacterial infection affect clinical outcomes in AOM. We considered persistent MEF (fluid accumulation in the middle ear persisting up to 1 month after treatment), early recurrence of AOM (within 1 month after initial improvement), and recurrent AOM (more than three recurrences during 6 months of follow up) as indicators for evaluating clinical outcomes. RESULTS: One or more respiratory viruses were detected in 39 specimens (42%); a total of 42 viral infections identified (three specimens were infected by two viruses). Of the 42 infections, RSV type A was detected in 29, adenovirus in eight, rhinovirus in three, and influenza virus in two. RSV accounted for 73% of viral detections. In children younger than 2 years, RSV infection combined with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Hemophilus influenzae infection carried a higher risk for persistent middle ear effusion than infection with RSV infection alone or those bacterial infection alone. CONCLUSIONS: Accordingly, vaccination of young children against RSV as well as S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae is important in improving the prognosis in AOM.

Multiplex nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for respiratory viruses in acute otitis media.

Because respiratory viruses play an important role in the causation and pathogenesis of acute otitis media (AOM), determining which virus has infected a child is important with respect to vaccines and antiviral drugs. In some instances, this information might be used to prevent the occurrence of AOM. We used a rapid, economical, and sensitive diagnostic system involving a multiplex nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to detect various respiratory viruses in clinical specimens of middle ear fluid (MEF) from children with AOM in our hospital. Multiplex RT-PCR was completed on 40 MEF samples from 28 infants and children less than 6 years old with AOM. Viral RNA was detected in 17 MEF samples (43%). Respiratory syncytial virus type A was present in 12 samples, adenovirus in 3, rhinovirus in 2, and influenza A (H3N2) in 1. The multiplex RT-PCR assay is recommended to clinical laboratories that are considering adoption of a molecular technique for viral diagnosis.

A critical review on the dynamics of Jovian atmospheres.

Some basic theoretical issues of the Jovian atmospheric dynamics are discussed. Those include the depth of the motions, thermal convection both with deep and shallow configurations, the two-dimensional turbulence theory and its relevance. The refractive index analysis is suggested to interpret the coherent structures like Jupiter's Great Red Spot in terms of Charney-Drazin constraint based on the observations. A possibility of Jovian data assimilation is proposed as a future direction.