Hemotropic mycoplasmas are common pathogens in animals, but it remains unclear what role these pathogens play in human infections. We report clinical and biologic characterization of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis infection in a 42-year-old man in Japan. The patient had severe hemophagocytic syndrome 1 month after an accidental needlestick injury. Metagenomic deep sequencing identified Candidatus M. haemohominis and determined its draft genome for an isolate from serum of the patient. A high copy number of the Candidatus M. haemohominis genome was detected in serum and bone marrow samples. Electron microscopy examination showed morphologic characteristics of Candidatus M. haemohominis. Levofloxacin monotherapy induced resistance caused by a gyrase A gene mutation in the quinolone resistance–determining region, but a combination treatment with moxifloxacin and minocycline was effective. We identified Candidatus M. haemohominis in a patient who had life-threatening symptoms related to multiple organ infection. Human infection with this mycoplasma might occur more frequently than has been generally recognized.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the treatment of cholelithiasis, and many reports of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been published in the past few years. Situs inversus totalis is a very rare condition, but the variant anatomy should not preclude a minimally invasive approach to surgery. We report a case of successful single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis, describe the technical advantages, and review the literature.
Aims
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is monitored by the host innate immunity that includes the endogenous interferon (IFN), which up‐regulates IFN‐stimulated genes (ISGs). HCV is both hepatotropic and lymphotropic, but HCV replication in lymphoid cells is a controversial issue. Here, we analyzed the mRNA levels of the ISGs in B cells of HCV‐infected patients during antiviral therapy and investigated the effects of viral eradication.
Methods
One hundred and eighty‐one patients with chronic hepatitis C and 26 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Levels of HCV RNA and mRNA of ISGs in B cells isolated from the patients were monitored before, during, and after antiviral therapy.
Results
HCV RNA was detected in B cells of 133/175 (76.0%) patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) before therapy was started. The positive ratio of HCV RNA in B cells was higher in patients with genotype 1 and the non‐major genotype of interleukin 28B. HCV RNA in B cells of most patients disappeared 1 week after antiviral therapy was started. The baseline expression of ISG mRNA was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy volunteers. Levels of ISG mRNA were increased and remained high throughout the IFN‐based therapy. In contrast, levels of ISG mRNA in patients who achieved SVR were significantly decreased 1 week after the IFN‐free therapy was started and remained low during the therapy.
Conclusions
These results suggested that IFN‐free therapy potentially eradicated HCV in the B cells, leading to the down‐regulation of endogenous ISGs. The level of ISG mRNA could be used as a marker for viral eradication in B cells.
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