Involvement of B3GALNT2 overexpression in the cell growth of breast cancer.

A number of glycosyltransferases have been identified and biologically characterized in cancer cells, yet their exact pathophysiological functions are largely unknown. Here, we report the critical role of β1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase II (B3GALNT2), which transfers N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) in a β1,3 linkage to N-acetylglucosamine, in the growth of breast cancer cells. Comprehensive transcriptomics, quantitative PCR and northern blot analyses indicated this molecule to be exclusively upregulated in the majority of breast cancers.

ACVR1 (587T>C) mutation in a variant form of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: second report.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare, congenital disorder caused by heterozygous mutation of the bone morphogenetic protein type I receptor ACVR1. Various forms of atypical FOP have recently been identified, and a novel mutation, ACVR1 (587T>C), was reported in 2011. We report on the second patient worldwide with ACVR1 (587T>C) mutation.

Lack of micronucleus induction activity of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether in the bone marrow of F344 rats by sub-chronic drinking-water treatment, inhalation exposure, or acute intraperitoneal injection.

Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) is an oxygenated gasoline additive synthesized from ethanol and isobutene that is used to reduce CO2 emissions. To support the Kyoto Protocol, the production of ETBE has undergone a marked increase. Previous reports have indicated that exposure to ETBE or methyl tertiary-butyl ether resulted in liver and kidney tumors in rats and/or mice.

Genome-wide association study of breast cancer in the Japanese population.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in worldwide including Japan. Several studies have identified common genetic variants to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. Due to the complex linkage disequilibrium structure and various environmental exposures in different populations, it is essential to identify variants associated with breast cancer in each population, which subsequently facilitate the better understanding of mammary carcinogenesis.

Targeting BIG3-PHB2 interaction to overcome tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells.

The acquisition of endocrine resistance is a common obstacle in endocrine therapy of patients with oestrogen receptor-α (ERα)-positive breast tumours. We previously demonstrated that the BIG3-PHB2 complex has a crucial role in the modulation of oestrogen/ERα signalling in breast cancer cells. Here we report a cell-permeable peptide inhibitor, called ERAP, that regulates multiple ERα-signalling pathways associated with tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells by inhibiting the interaction between BIG3 and PHB2.

Diabetes with preserved renal function is an independent risk factor for renal function deterioration after coronary computed tomography angiography.

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and high fasting glucose levels are reportedly risk factors for contrast-induced nephropathy after invasive coronary angiography in patients with renal dysfunction. Cystatin C (CyC) is a sensitive marker for detecting early impairment of renal function. Using CyC, we investigated whether DM would be a risk for worsening renal function after coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with preserved renal function.

Effectiveness of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy: perioperative and long-term postoperative results.

Background/aims: We analyzed perioperative and long-term postoperative data to determine the effectiveness of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC).

Methodology: 89 LSCs done at our center were classified into 3 groups according to the operative procedure required to treat severe cholecystitis. Perioperative and long-term postoperative results were then compared with standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (s-LC).

TLE3, transducing-like enhancer of split 3, suppresses osteoblast differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells.

In senile osteoporosis the balance of adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is disrupted so that adipogenesis is increased with respect to osteoblastogenesis, and as a result, bone mass is decreased. While the molecular mechanisms controlling the balance between osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis are of great interest, the exact nature of the signals regulating this process remains to be determined. In general, adipogenesis is a reciprocal relationship with osteoblastogenesis in BMSCs.

Incidence of deep vein thrombosis in restrained psychiatric patients.

Background: Although physical restraint is still used in psychiatric inpatient settings, it sometimes causes serious side effects, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and resulting pulmonary embolism.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of the DVT in restrained patients who were receiving routine prophylaxis and to identify the risk factors of this condition.

Methods: This study was conducted at Sakuragaoka Memorial Hospital, Japan from December 2008 to September 2010.

Influence of body mass index on clinicopathological factors including estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Ki67 expression levels in breast cancers.

Background: High body mass index (BMI) is associated not only with a higher incidence of breast cancers but also with poorer prognosis. It is speculated that both enhanced production of estrogens and other factors associated with obesity are involved in these associations, but the biological characteristics associated with high BMI have yet to be thoroughly identified.

Methods: We studied 525 breast cancers, focusing on biological differences between tumors associated with high and low BMI and by immunohistochemically defined intrinsic subtype.

Optical purifications via self-disproportionation of enantiomers by achiral chromatography: case study of a series of α-CF3-containing secondary alcohols.

This work demonstrates that self-disproportionation of enantiomers via achiral chromatography can be recommended as inexpensive and general method for optical purification of enantiomerically enriched compounds. In particular, the advantage of this approach over conventional recrystallization is that it can be used for both crystalline as well as liquid compounds.

Inhalation carcinogenicity of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in rats and mice.

Carcinogenicity of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) was examined by an inhalation exposure of F344 rats and BDF1 mice of both sexes to TCE at 0, 200, 800 or 3200 ppm for 6 h/d, 5 d/week for 104 weeks. In male rats, the incidences of bronchiolo-alveolar adenomas and peritoneal mesotheliomas were significantly increased in the 800 and 3200 ppm-exposed groups, respectively. The incidence of bronchiolo-alveolar adenomas in the 3200 ppm-exposed groups exceeded the range of historical control data in the Japan Bioassay Research Center.

Transesophageal endoscopic myotomy (TEEM) for the treatment of achalasia: the United States human experience.

Background: From our early experience with NOTES, our group has acquired familiarity with transesophageal submucosal dissection and myotomy in swine model, which allowed us to perfect a model to perform purely endoscopic transesophageal myotomy (TEEM) for the treatment of achalasia and apply it into clinical practice. This study was designed to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of TEEM in a series of patients with achalasia.

Methods: Under institutional review board approval, patients were enrolled on our study, where TEEM was offered as an alternative to laparoscopic or robotic Heller myotomy.

Synthesis of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene derivatives from 1,2-dichlorobenzenes using a hybrid metal Mg/CuCl in the presence of LiCl in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.

A practical and safe synthesis of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene from 1,2-dichlorobenzene and Me3SiCl was achieved by use of a hybrid metal of Mg and CuCl in the presence of LiCl in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI). This method does not require a toxic HMPA, provides a high yield of the product under mild conditions, and is also applied to synthesis of substituted 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzenes and poly(trimethylsilyl)benzenes.

Broad clinical utilization of NOTES: is it safe?

Background: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has been the focus of several studies as a less invasive alternative to conventional laparoscopy to access and treat intracavitary organs. For the last 5 years, much has been accomplished with animal studies, yet the clinical utilization of this novel technique is still modest. After 2 years of experience in the laboratory, we started our clinical experience.

Coffee improves insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in liver and skeletal muscle in diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

Coffee has an anti-diabetic effect, specifically the amelioration of both hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, in KK-A(y) mice, a type 2 diabetes animal model. To investigate coffee's effect on insulin signaling in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue (epididymal fat), we assayed the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR) and serine phosphorylation of Akt. In Expt.

Hepatotumorigenicity of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether with 2-year inhalation exposure in F344 rats.

Carcinogenicity of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) was examined with inhalation exposure using F344/DuCrlCrlj rats. Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats, 6 week old at commencement, were exposed to ETBE at 0, 500, 1,500 or 5,000 ppm (v/v) in whole-body inhalation chambers for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 104 weeks. A significant increase in the incidence of hepatocellular adenomas was indicated in males exposed at 5,000 ppm, but not in females at any concentration.

The transcription factor Sp3 regulates the expression of a metastasis-related marker of sarcoma, actin filament-associated protein 1-like 1 (AFAP1L1).

We previously identified actin filament-associated protein 1-like 1 (AFAP1L1) as a metastasis-predicting marker from the gene-expression profiles of 65 spindle cell sarcomas, and demonstrated the up-regulation of AFAP1L1 expression to be an independent risk factor for distant metastasis in multivariate analyses. Little is known, however, about how the expression of AFAP1L1 is regulated. Luciferase reporter assays showed tandem binding motives of a specificity protein (Sp) located at -85 to -75 relative to the transcriptional start site to be essential to the promoter activity.

The unique activity of bone morphogenetic proteins in bone: a critical role of the Smad signaling pathway.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional cytokines that belong to the transforming growth factor-β family. BMPs were originally identified based on their unique activity, inducing heterotopic bone formation in skeletal muscle. This unique BMP activity is transduced by specific type I and type II transmembrane kinase receptors.

Individual hematopoietic stem cells in human bone marrow of patients with aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome stably give rise to limited cell lineages.

Mutation of the phosphatidylinositol N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase subunit A (PIG-A) gene in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) results in the loss of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) on HSCs, but minimally affects their development, and thus can be used as a clonal maker of HSCs. We analyzed GPI-APs expression on six major lineage cells in a total of 574 patients with bone marrow (BM) failure in which microenvironment itself is thought to be unaffected, including aplastic anemia (AA) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). GPI-APs-deficient (GPI-APs(-) ) cells were detected in 250 patients.

Molecular features of triple negative breast cancer cells by genome-wide gene expression profiling analysis.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor outcome due to the lack of beneficial therapeutic targets. To clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the carcinogenesis of TNBC and to identify target molecules for novel anticancer drugs, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of 30 TNBCs as well as 13 normal epithelial ductal cells that were purified by laser-microbeam microdissection. We identified 301 and 321 transcripts that were significantly upregulated and downregulated in TNBC, respectively.

Unconventional preparation of racemic crystals of isopropyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxypropanoate and their unusual crystallographic structure: the ultimate preference for homochiral intermolecular interactions.

This work reports the first example of the transformation of conglomerate (R)- and (S)-crystals into racemic crystals via sublimation. Crystallographic analysis of racemic isopropyl 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxypropanoate did not reveal the highly expected heterochiral dimer indicating that this compound is capable of forming exclusively homochiral oligomers via infinite multi-centred H-bonding networks.

[BMP signaling and bone formation].

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) bind to two types of membrane receptors. Type II receptor phosphorylates type I receptor, then the phosphorylated type I receptor phosphorylates downstream effectors, such as Smads. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification in skeletal muscle tissue.