MHC-mismatched lung allografts are rapidly rejected by the host immune response. We analyzed cells infiltrating the grafted lung tissue using a collagenase-digestion method. The grafted lung was filled with host-derived leukocytes as early as day 1 post transplantation and the majority of the initial infiltrating cells were granulocytes. This initial influx of granulocytes waned rapidly, followed by a steady increase in lymphocytes, particularly T cells, and then by macrophages. The proportion of CD4+ T cells that express CD25 were increased in the graft the majority of which were activated CD4+ cells. We applied cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4)-Ig treatment in combination with donor-specific blood transfusion to the transplantation of lung allograft, which was significantly prolonged by the treatment. To examine the cellular and molecular basis of the inhibition of the graft rejection, we evaluated number and cytokine mRNA expression of the cells infiltrating in the lung allograft using collagenase-digestion method, although we were unable to detect significant effects of the treatment. Taken together, this study demonstrates that single cell suspensions from cellular infiltrates of lung tissue is useful for phenotypical and functional studies on cells infiltrating lung tissue after graft transplantation.

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Epidemiological studies of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have reported that people who had PLEs during childhood or adolescence have higher incidences of schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychiatric disorders later in life than people who have not had PLEs. Previous work has shown that approximately 15% of children in the city of Tsu had PLEs. In this study, we sought to confirm the prevalence of PLEs in early teens living in Nagasaki and to elucidate the associations between PLEs and other psychopathological items. To this end, we used a self-report questionnaire to sample approximately 5,000 students (aged 12-15 years) in public junior high schools. Similar to the results of previous studies, the prevalence of PLEs was 16.4%. There was a significant association between PLEs and poor mental health status, which was estimated using a 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Moreover, after controlling for confounding factors, we found a significant association between PLEs and a lack of satisfaction with family relationships and several other psychosocial problems. These results suggest that a relatively large proportion of children with PLEs have behavioral, social, or familial problems, which may facilitate future schizophrenic symptoms.

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Background: FUT-175 (nafamostat mesilate) has a variety of pharmacological effects; in addition to its stable potent serine protease inhibitory activity, it exerts far stronger anti-complement activity than other protease inhibitors. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of FUT-175 on pulmonary function of xenografts in an ex vivo guinea pig-to-rat lung perfusion model, using a device for analyzing pulmonary function in small animals. Methods: Animals were divided into three groups (n = 6 each), Isograft (Group I), Xenograft (Group X), and Xenograft with FUT-175 (Group XF). In the latter, 10 mg of FUT-175 was added to the extracorporeal circuit before perfusion with xenogeneic blood was started. The following parameters were serially measured in these three groups: complement activity causing 50% hemolysis (CH50 units) in the perfusion blood either before or during perfusion, pulmonary arterial pressure, dynamic pulmonary compliance, and airway resistance. In addition, Hematoxylin and Eosin staining of the lungs and assays of rat IgM, IgG, and anti-C3 deposition were carried out after perfusion. Results: The duration of satisfactory pulmonary function after the start of perfusion was significantly increased in Group XF. CH50 in Group XF decreased significantly than in Group X. In addition, FUT-175 suppressed both the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and airway resistance, and the decrease in dynamic pulmonary compliance. In Group XF, intraalveolar hemorrhage and the thickening of the arterial wall were not observed. Groups X and XF showed deposition of IgM, IgG, and C3 at the endothelium of the pulmonary arteries but less in Group I. Conclusions: This study suggests that FUT-175 inhibited complement activation including the alternative pathway and improved lung xenograft pulmonary function. FUT-175 ameliorates hyperacute rejection in a guinea pig-to-rat ex vivo xenogeneic lung perfusion model.

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Objectives: We investigated the results of radiotherapy for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the ocular adnexa. Methods: Twenty-one patients with MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa were treated with radiotherapy alone at a dose ranging from 30 to 54Gy. The disease arose from the conjunctiva in 15 patients (9 with bilateral involvement), and from the retrobulbar space in 6 patients (1 with bilateral involvement). Results: All patients with MALT lymphoma achieved a CR or unconfirmed CR (CRu). The 5-and 10-year overall survival rates of all patients with MALT lymphoma were 100% and 90%, respectively. The 5-and 10-year cause-specific survival rates were 100% and 100%, respectively. In all patients with delayed toxicity, the radiation dose was more than 40Gy. Conclusions: Excellent local control and survival can be achieved for patients with MALT lymphoma of the ocular adnexa using radiotherapy alone.

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More than 60 years have elapsed since the atomic bombings to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and since all of the atomic bomb survivors have become old, the importance of caring their mental health has become increasing in Japan. Although approximately 70% of overseas atomic bomb are living in Korea, there have been quite few studies on their mental health. The objectives of the present study were to elucidate whether the mental health conditions of atomic bomb survivor in Korea are similar to those in Japan. The subjects were 181 Korean atomic bomb survivors living in Korea (cases) and 209 outpatients of a hospital in Seoul who were not exposed to atomic bombs (controls). Interviewers administered them at the hospital a questionnaire with Impact of Event Scale-Revised, General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12), Korean version of short form Geriatric Depression Scale and the K scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Excluding subjects with incomplete responses we analyzed 162 cases and 189 controls. The proportion of subjects with high score of GHQ-12 (≥4) was significantly higher in cases (78/162 or 48.1%) than in controls (42/189 or 22.2%) (p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). The present results, though preliminary, indicate that atomic bomb survivors in Korea have also mental health problems similar to those observed in Japanese atomic bomb survivors, indicating the necessity of a larger study.

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A 74-year-old man with a smoking history was admitted for back and right arm pain. On examination, swelling of the face and arms were noted, and computed tomographic imaging of the chest demonstrated a bulky (10.0 x 7.2 cm) tumor in the right upper mediastinum. The lesion compressed the superior vena cava (SVC). Despite treatment, the patient died 5 months after the first admission. On autopsy, he was diagnosed that SVC syndrome caused by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL usually runs an aggressive course with multiple organs involving lymph nodes, liver, spleen, skin, lung, peripheral blood and bone marrow. Although it is extremely rare, SVC syndrome can appear as the earliest symptom of ATL.

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