CCAR2 negatively regulates IL-8 production in cervical cancer cells.

Cell cycle and apoptosis regulator 2 (CCAR2) is a multifaceted protein that controls diverse cellular functions; however, its function in cancer is unclear. To better understand its potential role in cancer, we examined gene expression patterns regulated by CCAR2 in cervical cancer cells. Cytokine and chemokine production by CCAR2-deficient cells increased under oxidative conditions.

Comparison of Unsatisfactory Samples from Conventional Smear versus Liquid-Based Cytology in Uterine Cervical Cancer Screening Test.

Background: Cervical cytology for uterine cervical cancer screening has transitioned from conventional smear (CS) to liquid-based cytology (LBC), which has many advantages. The aim of this study was to compare the proportion of unsatisfactory specimens from CS versus LBC at multiple institutions including general hospitals and commercial laboratories.

Methods: Each participating institution provided a minimum of 500 Papanicolaou (Pap) test results for analysis.

A rapid, simple, and accurate plaque assay for human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV).

Plaque assays of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are time-consuming, requiring 4 to 7 days for plaque formation and several hours for dye staining. Here, we describe a simple method by which RSV plaques can be visualized and counted with the naked eye only 2 days after infection of HEp-2 cells. In this assay, the infected cells are stained with monoclonal antibodies and the plaques are developed using diaminobenzidine (DAB).

Inhibition of Carbonyl Reductase 1 Safely Improves the Efficacy of Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer Treatment.

Aims: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic drug that is used to treat many cancers, but its use is limited by cardiotoxic side effect. Carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) is an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that reduces DOX to doxorubicinol (DOXOL), a less potent derivative that is responsible for DOX cardiotoxicity. Thus, we aimed to demonstrate that inhibition of CBR1 enhances the chemotherapeutic efficacy of DOX and attenuates cardiotoxicity.

Pseudoaneurysm at the Distal Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery After Blunt Head Trauma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is extremely rare. We report our experience of a case of pseudoaneurysm that developed on the PICA after blunt trauma to the head.

Case Description: A 55-year-old woman was transferred to our emergency department presenting with a semicomatose mental status after falling to the floor from a standing position.

Microneedle delivery of trivalent influenza vaccine to the skin induces long-term cross-protection.

A painless self-immunization method with effective and broad cross-protection is urgently needed to prevent infections against newly emerging influenza viruses. In this study, we investigated the cross-protection efficacy of trivalent influenza vaccine containing inactivated A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2) and B/Lee/40 after skin vaccination using microneedle patches coated with this vaccine. Microneedle vaccination of mice in the skin provided 100% protection against lethal challenges with heterologous pandemic strain influenza A/California/04/09, heterogeneous A/Philippines/2/82 and B/Victoria/287 viruses 8 months after boost immunization.

Expression of tumoral FOXP3 in gastric adenocarcinoma is associated with favorable clinicopathological variables and related with Hippo pathway.

FOXP3 is a transcription factor and well-known hallmark of immune suppressive T regulatory cells (Tregs). Recent studies indicate that, in addition to its association with Treg function in the immune system, FOXP3 plays an important role in tumor development. And important tumor suppressor relay between the FOXP3 and Hippo pathways was found in human cancer.

High DBC1 (CCAR2) expression in gallbladder carcinoma is associated with favorable clinicopathological factors.

There have been several studies on gallbladder carcinogenesis, and mutations of the KRAS, TP53, and CDKN2A genes have been reported in gallbladder carcinoma. The DBC1 gene (deleted in breast cancer 1) was initially cloned from region 8p21, which was homozygously deleted in breast cancer. DBC1 has been implicated in cancer cell proliferation and death.

Polarized CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages are associated with increased angiogenesis and CXCL12 expression in gastric cancer.

Purpose: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a significant role in tumor progression and angiogenesis. However, the prognostic value of TAMs in different histologic locations of gastric cancer (GC) is still unknown. We evaluated the distribution of TAMs in different histologic locations to investigate its importance in predicting prognosis and the relationship with angiogenesis and CXCL12 expression in GC.

Single nodular opacity of granulomatous pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in an asymptomatic lymphoma patient.

The radiologic findings of a single nodule from Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) have been rarely reported. We described a case of granulomatous PJP manifesting as a solitary pulmonary nodule with a halo sign in a 69-year-old woman with diffuse large B cell lymphoma during chemotherapy. The radiologic appearance of the patient suggested an infectious lesion such as angioinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis or lymphoma involvement of the lung; however, clinical manifestations were not compatible with the diseases.

Autophagy is related to the hedgehog signaling pathway in human gastric adenocarcinoma: prognostic significance of Beclin-1 and Gli2 expression in human gastric adenocarcinoma.

Beclin-1 induces autophagy, which is known to be involved in many physiopathological processes such as cell development, aging, stress response, immune response and cancer. Several studies showed that Beclin-1 expression is associated with several prognostic factors of gastric carcinomas. Recently, the connection between autophagy and the hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway has been studied.

Tumoral FOXP3 has potential oncogenic function in conjunction with the p53 tumor suppressor protein and infiltrated Tregs in human breast carcinomas.

FOXP3 is a transcription factor and a well-known hallmark of immune suppressive T regulatory cells. Recent studies indicate that in tumor cells, FOXP3 plays an important role in tumor development in addition to its well-established Treg function in the immune system. We investigated tumoral FOXP3 expression in breast carcinoma, and the relationships between tumoral FOXP3 expression and p53, HER-2/ErbB2, Ki67, infiltrated Tregs, and other clinicopathological variables.

Downregulation of GLTSCR2 expression is correlated with breast cancer progression.

Glioma tumor-suppressor candidate region gene2 (GLTSCR2) is a recently identified nucleolus-localized protein participating in the regulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Down-regulation of GLTSCR2 in several types of cancers and increased transforming activity in GLTSCR2-downregulated cancer cells indicated its tumor suppressive potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate GLTSCR2 expression in breast cancer and to investigate the question of whether reduced expression of GLTSCR2 may have any pathological significance in breast cancer development or progression.

Laboratory tools for oligo-secretory myeloma diagnosis: capillary electrophoresis versus free light chain assay.

Background: To investigate how capillary electrophoresis (CE) works in oligo-secretory myeloma (OSM), we report a case here of OSM using multiple diagnostic methods including gel electrophoresis (GE), CE, and free light chain assay (sFLC). Also, we provide a brief review of laboratory methods to compare their diagnostic utilities in OSM.

Methods: A 72 year-old Korean male suffering from low back pain during the past 6 months was transferred to the department of neurosurgery in order to evaluate abnormal findings in an imaging study, suggesting plasma cell myeloma (PCM) with multiple bone metastasis.

MCPH1 protein expression and polymorphisms are associated with risk of breast cancer.

Microcephalin 1 (MCPH1) has a crucial role in the DNA damage response by promoting the expression of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1). MCPH1 containing BRCT domain has been suggested as a tumor suppressor in breast and ovarian cancers. We analyzed the effect of both protein expression and MCPH1 polymorphisms in breast cancer patients.