Estimation of malignant potential of GI stromal tumors by contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (with videos).

Background: Contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CEH-EUS) is a new sonographic technique that uses US contrast agents and depicts intratumoral vessels in real time.

Objective: To evaluate whether assessment of tumor vascularity by CEH-EUS can predict the preoperative malignancy risk of GI stromal tumors (GISTs).

Design: Prospective study to observe GIST vascularity.

Evaluation of parametrial spread in endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the detailed clinicopathologic characteristics of parametrial spread in uterine endometrial cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 334 individuals with uterine endometrial cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy between 1988 and 2007. Parametrial spread was determined by histopathological analysis of surgically resected specimens.

Prospective comparative study of the EUS guided 25-gauge FNA needle with the 19-gauge Trucut needle and 22-gauge FNA needle in patients with solid pancreatic masses.

Background And Study Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to compare fine-needle aspiration guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS-FNA) using 25-gauge and 22-gauge needles with the EUS-guided 19-gauge Trucut needle biopsy (EUS-TNB) in patients with solid pancreatic mass.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with pancreatic mass underwent biopsies by both EUS-FNA and EUS-TNB. Three needles were compared with respect to technical success rate, tissue size obtained, overall diagnostic accuracy and accuracy for histological and cytological diagnosis.

Elevated serum ALT levels during pegylated interferon monotherapy may be caused by hepatic iron overload.

Objective: Persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels have been observed in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients during pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy. We investigated whether elevated serum ALT levels during PEG-IFN therapy are associated with iron overload.

Methods: Sixty-three CHC patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a monotherapy were evaluated.

Sequential occurrence of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer with the same EGFR mutation.

We report a case of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) developing after prolonged treatment (more than 2 years) for primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, and we show that both the SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues obtained from the same site share the same deletion in exon 19 of EGFR. This case suggests that the activating EGFR mutations may confer the pathogenesis of a subset of SCLC.

Regulatory failure of serum prohepcidin levels in patients with hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Elevated serum ferritin and hepatic iron concentrations are frequently observed in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), which may be related to hepcidin. Because the role of hepcidin in CHC patients remains unknown, we aimed in this study to generate some information about hepcidin in CHC.

Methods: To determine whether serum hepcidin correlates with markers of iron status in patients with viral hepatitis, we measured serum prohepcidin levels in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in healthy controls.

Expression of glucose transporter-1 and aquaporin-4 in the cerebral cortex of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats in relation to the blood-brain barrier function.

Background: Cerebral edema is an important initial event in cases of stroke among humans. Although hypertension is a major risk factor for endothelial injury, the precise mechanisms regulating brain microvascular changes are still unknown. To elucidate the pathogenesis of increases in vascular permeability in the cerebral cortex, we investigated the expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) in endothelial cells and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in astrocytes in relation to blood-brain barrier (BBB) function.

Prophylactic effects of an N- and L-type Ca2+ antagonist, cilnidipine, against cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To clarify the beneficial effects of cilnidipine, an L- and N-type calcium channel blocker, which were clinically observed against diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophied hearts of hypertensive patients, we investigated the effects of cilnidipine on cardiac remodeling and enhanced gene expression in stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive rats in comparison with that of captopril, a well-known angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, at threshold doses with little blood pressure lowering effect. The expression of type III collagen and beta/alpha-myosin heavy chain as well as transforming growth factor-beta, and basic fibroblast growth factor were suppressed by both treatments, indicating the prevention or amelioration of cardiac dysfunction. Such beneficial effects were much more intense with cilnidipine treatment than in captopril.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on cultured rat neural stem cell in three-dimensional collagen gel.

Objectives: The effect of growth factors on the three-dimensional culture of neural stem cells has not been reported. We studied the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on cultured rat neural stem cells in a three-dimensional culture.

Methods: We cultured rat neural stem cells in collagen gel matrix for three-dimensional culture and examined the effect of bFGF under such culture conditions.