In Japan, pediatric urinary screening in schools for asymptomatic hematuria and proteinuria began in 1974 and has been very successful in detecting asymptomatic kidney diseases at an early stage. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended discontinuing urinalysis as a public health service in 2007, urinary screening in Japan has proven extremely successful in reducing the incidence of kidney failure with replacement therapy in children and young adults, especially through the early treatment of glomerulonephritis, such as immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Furthermore, the positivity rate on urinary screening in Japan is significantly lower than in the United States where the rate of false positive results is typically very high. Japan’s seamless and efficient pediatric urinary screening may be a helpful example for other countries as well. However, the present investigation revealed several, unresolved problems with the system. For example, the methods used varied in terms of their cutoff point, additional examinations, and types of detailed testing. In Japan, various urinary screening methods are being tested to optimize the system for national use. Recently, the authors also recommended a system of detailed examinations, including beta-2 microglobulin testing and ultrasonography, to detect congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, the most common, underlying disease in kidney failure with replacement therapy, which is often overlooked until the symptoms have become grave. While school urinary screening has been ongoing for about 50 years and should be continued, improvements should also be made to it as needed.

OBJECTIVETo understand Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of gastric carcinoma cells.

METHODSThe authors tested the infection of a signet ring cell line HSC-39 derived from human gastric carcinoma with Akata and P3HR-1 strains of EBV. Akata and P3HR-1 infected of EBV cell clones were isolated by a limiting dilution method.

RESULTSEBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) were expressed in the infected cells with each EBV strain by in situ hybridization. The EBV infected parental cells and most clones expressed EBNA1, but not EBNA2, latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 and LMP2A. Both EBV strains infected parental cells and clones presented type I latency. The uninfected HSC-39 cells were negative for CD21 expression; however, the Akata but not P3HR-1-infected clones were positive for CD21 expression at mRNA level.

CONCLUSIONThese results demonstrated that EBV infecting HSC-39 by CD21-independent pathway. This study also defined a signet ring cell line as a new target for EBV.

Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens ; analysis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) is a rare hereditary disorder with a triad of sparse hair, dental hypoplasia, and anhidrosis. Here we report a case of AED with food allergy and atopic eczema. The patient was a 11-month-old boy admitted to our hospital with pyrexia for 2 weeks. He presented with a history of dry skin, eczema, and food allergy to egg. On clinical examination, his body temperature was 38.8°C, with dry skin and eczema almost all over the body, sparse eyebrows, and scalp hair. Laboratory investigations and physical examination did not show any evidence of infection. Radioallergosorbent test was positive to egg yolk, egg white, ovomucoid, milk, house dust, and house dust mite. As the child did not sweat despite the high fever, we performed the sweat test which revealed a total lack of sweat glands. Genetic examination revealed a mutation of the EDA gene and he was diagnosed as AED. His pyrexia improved upon cooling with ice and fan. His mother had lost 8 teeth and her sweat test demonstrated low sweating, suggestive of her being a carrier of AED. Atopy and immune deficiencies have been shown to have a higher prevalence in patients with AED. Disruption of the skin barrier in patients with AED make them more prone to allergic diseases such as atopic eczema, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and food allergy. Careful assessment of the familial history is essential to differentiate AED when examining patients with pyrexia of unknown origin and comorbid allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Body Temperature ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dust ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; Eczema ; Egg White ; Egg Yolk ; Eyebrows ; Fever ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Ice ; Infant ; Male ; Milk ; Mothers ; Ovomucin ; Ovum ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Scalp ; Skin ; Sweat ; Sweat Glands ; Sweating ; Tooth