Publications by authors named "Keisuke Okuno"

Article Synopsis
  • Histone lactylation is a new epigenetic modification driven by lactate from glycolysis, which is often heightened in cancer, notably gastric cancer (GC), and is linked to poorer patient outcomes.
  • In GC, increased levels of histone H3K18 lactylation correlate with worse prognosis, while SIRT1 plays a key role in regulating these levels by either promoting or diminishing H3K18la depending on its expression.
  • Targeting the interplay between SIRT1, the lncRNA H19, and glycolysis presents a promising therapeutic approach for GC, showing significant anti-cancer effects while minimizing harm to normal cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a rare benign condition primarily affecting neonates and young children, often presenting as skin lesions, but intramuscular JXG is much less common, accounting for only 0.6% of cases.
  • A case involving a 5-month-old girl showed a slow-growing lump in her left thigh, which was diagnosed as deep JXG after imaging, biopsy, and surgical resection.
  • Histological findings revealed characteristics typical of JXG, and despite initial concerns about tumor margins, the patient has shown no signs of recurrence over 48 months post-surgery, highlighting the importance of proper diagnosis and monitoring.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Aronia berry extracts (ABE) have recently been reported to possess significant anti-cancer effects in various malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), due to their high polyphenolic content. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the anti-cancer effects of ABE in CRC remain unclear, which is important to consider when considering their use as complementary medicine approaches in cancer.

Methods: We performed genome-wide transcriptomic profiling and pathway enrichment analysis to identify specific growth signaling pathways associated with ABE treatment in CRC cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: During esophagectomy, evaluation of blood supply to the gastric tube is critically important to estimate and avoid anastomotic complications. This retrospective study investigated the relationship between indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography during esophagectomy and postoperative endoscopy findings, especially mucosal color change.

Methods: This study retrospectively collected data from 86 patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy and reconstruction using a gastric tube for esophageal cancer at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University between 2017 and 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluates the effectiveness of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer, focusing on its impact on recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy.
  • Analysis of data from over 4,800 patients revealed that those who underwent surgery with IONM experienced significantly lower rates of postoperative RLN palsy and respiratory complications compared to those without IONM.
  • Though IONM resulted in longer anesthesia times, it potentially shortened hospital stays, indicating its benefits in reducing specific complications related to esophageal cancer surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

It has been postulated from a combination of evidence that a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases among pediatric patients after onset of the Omicron wave was attributed to a reduced requirement for TMPRSS2-mediated entry in pediatric airways with lower expression levels of TMPRSS2. Epidemic strains were isolated from the indigenous population in an area, and the levels of TMPRSS2 required for Delta and Omicron variants were assessed. As a result, Delta variants proliferated fully in cultures of TMPRSS2-positive Vero cells but not in TMPRSS2-negative Vero cell culture (350-fold, Delta vs 9.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is no optimal reconstruction after radical distal esophagectomy for cancers of the esophagogastric junction. We designed a novel reconstruction technique using pedicled ileocolic interposition with intrathoracic anastomosis between the esophagus and the elevated ileum. Two patients underwent the surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Identifying cells infected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is crucial for understanding the disease's development, creating treatment plans, and predicting patient outcomes.
  • The study utilized the PrimeFlow™ RNA Assay Kit to detect EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) in various patient groups, including those with chronic active EBV disease and other EBV-related disorders.
  • Findings revealed that patients with chronic active EBV disease showed widespread infection in T and NK cells, while other disorders demonstrated a mix of infected cell types, indicating that EBV may affect multiple cell types beyond just B cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Although hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of renal anemia, their effects on cardiac and renal dysfunction remain unknown. We previously reported on Dahl salt-sensitive rats, in a rat model of salt-sensitive hypertension, that exhibited anemia and impaired expression of duodenal iron transporters after the development of hypertensive cardiac and renal dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effects of Roxadustat (FG-4592), an HIF-PH inhibitor, on anemia, iron regulation, and cardiac and renal dysfunction in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fruit from the Prunus mume tree is a traditional food in Japan. Recently, bainiku-ekisu, an infused juice concentrate of Japanese Prunus mume, is attracting attention as a health promoting supplement. Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a central role in development of hypertension.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Developing safe and effective therapeutic modalities remains a critical challenge for improving the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, targeting epigenetic regulation in cancers has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. Since several natural compounds have recently been shown to be important epigenetic modulators, we hypothesized that Ginseng might exert its anticancer activity by regulating DNA methylation alterations in CRC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemotherapy, such as Gemcitabine (Gem). Naturally occurring botanicals, including Andrographis (Andro), can help enhance the anti-tumorigenic therapeutic efficacy of conventional chemotherapy through time-tested safety and cost-effectiveness. Accordingly, we hypothesized that Andro might reverse Gem resistance in PDAC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) patients who experience recurrence within the first year following surgery (early recurrence [ER]) exhibit worse prognosis. Herein, we established a microRNA-based liquid biopsy assay to predict ER in GC patients.

Methods: A comprehensive biomarker discovery was performed by analysing miRNA expression profiling in 271 primary GC tumours.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Ang II (angiotensin II) type 1 (AT) receptors play a critical role in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Rodents have 2 types of AT receptor (AT and AT) of which knock-in -mediated smooth muscle AT silencing attenuated Ang II-induced hypertension. Although vascular remodeling, a significant contributor to organ damage, occurs concurrently with hypertension in Ang II-infused mice, the contribution of smooth muscle AT in this process remains unexplored.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: According to current guidelines, more than 70% of patients with invasive submucosal colorectal cancer (T1 CRC) undergo a radical operation with lymph node dissection, even though only ~ 10% have lymph node metastasis (LNM). Hence, there is imperative to develop biomarkers that can help robustly identify LNM-positive patients to prevent such overtreatments. Given the emerging interest in exosomal cargo as a source for biomarker development in cancer, we examined the potential of exosomal miRNAs as LNM prediction biomarkers in T1 CRC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Investigations into alternative treatments for hypertension are necessary because current treatments cannot fully reduce the risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Chronic activation of unfolded protein response attributable to the endoplasmic reticulum stress has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for hypertension and associated vascular remodeling. Triggered by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, chronic unfolded protein response leads to downstream signaling of cellular inflammation and dysfunction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is the mainstay of treatment. Despite clinician efforts and advances in surgical methods, the incidence of complications after gastrectomy remains 10%-20% including fatalities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on utilization of a deep learning method to build a new artificial intelligence model that could help surgeons diagnose these complications.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Gemcitabine (Gem)-based chemotherapy is one of the first-line treatments for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its clinical effect is limited due to development of chemoresistance. Various naturally occurring compounds, including Berberine (BBR), provide an anti-cancer efficacy with time-tested safety, individually and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF