Phosphorylated smad2 in advanced stage gastric carcinoma.

Background: Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor signaling is closely associated with the invasion ability of gastric cancer cells. Although Smad signal is a critical integrator of TGFβ receptor signaling transduction systems, not much is known about the role of Smad2 expression in gastric carcinoma. The aim of the current study is to clarify the role of phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) in gastric adenocarcinomas at advanced stages.

Transforming growth factor β signaling inhibitor, SB-431542, induces maturation of dendritic cells and enhances anti-tumor activity.

The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) stimulates tumor progression and metastasis. Secretion of TGFβ by tumor cells also suppresses an antitumor immune response in which dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Herein we report that the small molecule TGFβ signaling inhibitor SB-431542, induces DC maturation in vitro and triggers antitumor activity in vivo.

Ontogeny-recapitulating generation and tissue integration of ES cell-derived Purkinje cells.

Purkinje cells are the sole output neurons of the cerebellar cortex and their dysfunction causes severe ataxia. We found that Purkinje cells could be robustly generated from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells by recapitulating the self-inductive signaling microenvironments of the isthmic organizer. The cell-surface marker Neph3 enabled us to carry out timed prospective selection of Purkinje cell progenitors, which generated morphologically characteristic neurons with highly arborized dendrites that expressed mature Purkinje cell-specific markers such as the glutamate receptor subunit GluRδ2.

[A case of Candida parapsilosis fungal balls in the urinary tract associated with a retrocaval ureter].

A 70-year-old man with a medical history of diabetes mellitus presented to a local clinic with seven days history of right flank pain and fever. Because there was no symptomatic improvement after one-week antibiotic administration, abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomographic scans were performed to show mass lesions in the right hydropelvis, and he was transferred to our hospital. Retrograde pyelography revealed a retrocaval ureter and a ureteral stent was indwelt.

Molecular pathway and cell state responsible for dissociation-induced apoptosis in human pluripotent stem cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), unlike mouse ones (mESCs), are vulnerable to apoptosis upon dissociation. Here, we show that the apoptosis, which is of a nonanoikis type, is caused by ROCK-dependent hyperactivation of actomyosin and efficiently suppressed by the myosin inhibitor Blebbistatin. The actomyosin hyperactivation is triggered by the loss of E-cadherin-dependent intercellular contact and also observed in dissociated mouse epiblast-derived pluripotent cells but not in mESCs.

Myofibroblasts are associated with the progression of scirrhous gastric carcinoma.

Fibroblasts, particularly myofibroblasts, affect the malignant progression of cancer cells in vitro. However, to date few reports have addressed the clinical significance of myofibroblasts in the gastric cancer microenvironment. This study examined the correlation between myofibroblast expression and clinicopathological features in gastric carcinoma.

Complications of urologic laparoscopic surgery: a single institute experience of 1017 procedures.

Purpose: We evaluated complications of urologic laparoscopic surgery at our institution.

Patients And Methods: From December 1991 to January 2009, 1017 urologic laparoscopic surgical procedures were performed in Kansai Medical University, including 277 radical prostatectomies, 13 donor nephrectomies, 74 partial nephrectomies, 158 radical nephrectomies, 55 pyeloplasties, 97 nephrouretectomies, 54 simple nephrectomies, 128 adrenalectomies, 34 varicocelectomies, and 127 other procedures. Medical records of each procedure were retrospectively evaluated.

[A case of advanced esophageal cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis with complete response (CR) to combination chemotherapy including nedaplatin].

The patient was a 55-year-old male, who was diagnosed to have a middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The clinical stage diagnosis was T3N4M1, stage IVb, non-resectable esophageal SCC. Systemic chemotherapy with low-dose nedaplatin/5-FU treatment was started as the initial treatment.

[A case of stage IV advanced esophageal cancer with a long term survival by radiation therapy combined with nedaplatin and 5-FU chemotherapy].

The patient was a 73-year-old man who complained of dysphagea. Various examinations revealed an esophageal cancer with direct invasion to the left main bronchus (cT4, N2 (104R, 106recR), M0, Stage IVa) and gastric cancer (cT2, N0, M0, Stage IB). The patient was given preoperative chemoradiotherapy (40 Gy/20 fr with CDGP 10 mg/body day 1-5, 8- 12, 15-19 and 5-FU 250 mg/body day 1-5, 8-12, 15-19).

[Results of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy by FOLFOX and FOLFIRI for colorectal liver metastasis].

We analyzed a treatment outcome and the effect of FOLFOX and FOLFIRI neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for patient with liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. Eleven patients undergoing hepatectomy after NAC were investigated. FOLFOX was performed for 8 patients, and FOLFIRI was for 3 patients.

[Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-fu) for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus].

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the standard treatment for unresectable locally advanced esophageal carcinoma. Although this regimen has been widely accepted in Japan, the adverse effect of CDDP such as gastrointestinal and renal toxicity may sometimes be the cause of interruption of the treatment, especially among the elderly patients. Cis-diammine-glycolatoplatinum(nedaplatin: CDGP) is a new platinum agent, which was developed with the aim of decreasing renal and gastrointestinal toxicities but maintaining the effectiveness of CDDP.

[Impacts of PSK and TbetaR inhibitor on immune response in immunosuppressive status associated with cancer].

Secretion of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) by tumor cells suppresses an antitumor immune response in which dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Here we report that small molecule TGF-beta signaling inhibitor, SB-431542, induces DC maturation in vitro when combined with protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK). PSK has been used clinically as an anti-tumor agent in Japan.

Reduction of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression is an independent predictor of poor survival associated with enhanced cell proliferation in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Prostaglandin (PG) E(2) promotes gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and tumor progression. We determined the correlations between pattern of expression of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a catabolic enzyme for biological inactivation of PGE(2), in gastric adenocarcinoma and various clinicopathological factors and patient outcome in an attempt to elucidate its biological significance. In 35 of 71 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma, expression of 15-PGDH protein was reduced in tumor tissues.

Vitamin D receptor expression is associated with colon cancer in ulcerative colitis.

Since the 1970s, it has been well known that long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC) disposes to the development of colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). To date, CRC associated with UC is thought to arise along a pathway of dysplasia, however, primary factors for developing of UC-related dysplasia and cancer are unclear. Vitamin D, which works through binding the vitamin D receptor (VDR) has an important role in cancer progression and immune response.

Pericellular matrix of decidua-derived mesenchymal cells: a potent human-derived substrate for the maintenance culture of human ES cells.

In routine culture, human embryonic stem (hES) cells are maintained on either feeder cells or special culture substrates such as Matrigel. However, to expand hES cells for clinical applications, it is desirable to minimize animal-derived materials in the culture for safety reasons. In this report, we show that the pericellular matrix prepared from human decidua-derived mesenchymal cells (PCM-DM) is a potent substrate material that supports the growth and pluripotency of hES cells as efficiently as Matrigel does.

[Acquired male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (MHH) in a patient with empty sella: a case report].

A 40-year-old unmarried male was referred to our hospital with anejaculation. His secondary sex characteristics, sexual function and ejaculation were previously normal but for the last 5 years he found it impossible to ejaculate even though he could achieve an erection. His genital stage was Tanner V, and pubic hair stage was Tanner III.

Efficacy of S-1 for gastric cancer patients with positive peritoneal lavage cytology.

Background/aims: Positive peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC) is a strong predictor of subsequent frank peritoneal dissemination. The prognosis for patients with positive PLC is as poor as with macroscopic peritoneal dissemination. We examined the clinical efficacy of S-1 chemotherapy against gastric cancer with positive PLC after macroscopically curative resection.

Crucial roles of Robo proteins in midline crossing of cerebellofugal axons and lack of their up-regulation after midline crossing.

Background: Robo1, Robo2 and Rig-1 (Robo3), members of the Robo protein family, are candidate receptors for the chemorepellents Slit and are known to play a crucial role in commissural axon guidance in the spinal cord. However, their roles at other axial levels remain unknown. Here we examine expression of Robo proteins by cerebellofugal (CF) commissural axons in the rostral hindbrain and investigate their roles in CF axon pathfinding by analysing Robo knockout mice.

Self-organized formation of polarized cortical tissues from ESCs and its active manipulation by extrinsic signals.

Here, we demonstrate self-organized formation of apico-basally polarized cortical tissues from ESCs using an efficient three-dimensional aggregation culture (SFEBq culture). The generated cortical neurons are functional, transplantable, and capable of forming proper long-range connections in vivo and in vitro. The regional identity of the generated pallial tissues can be selectively controlled (into olfactory bulb, rostral and caudal cortices, hem, and choroid plexus) by secreted patterning factors such as Fgf, Wnt, and BMP.

[Human pluripotent stem cell and neural differentiation].

Recovery of lost brain function is an important issue in medical studies because neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) have poor potential for regeneration. Since few CNS diseases can be treated completely by medicines, regenerative therapy by using stem cells should be studied as a new type of therapeutic intervention. The efficacy of cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease has been well investigated.

Minimization of exogenous signals in ES cell culture induces rostral hypothalamic differentiation.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiate into neuroectodermal progenitors when cultured as floating aggregates in serum-free conditions. Here, we show that strict removal of exogenous patterning factors during early differentiation steps induces efficient generation of rostral hypothalamic-like progenitors (Rax(+)/Six3(+)/Vax1(+)) in mouse ES cell-derived neuroectodermal cells. The use of growth factor-free chemically defined medium is critical and even the presence of exogenous insulin, which is commonly used in cell culture, strongly inhibits the differentiation via the Akt-dependent pathway.

Laparoscopic resection of periadrenal paraganglioma: a report of 2 cases.

Two cases with periadrenal paraganglioma are herein reported. Patient 1: A 26-year-old woman who presented with headache and hyperhidrosis was noted to have hypertension. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and I-tagged metaiodobenzylguanidine nuclear scintigraphy revealed a mass measuring 30 x 30 mm in size between the upper pole of the left kidney and the aorta.

[The persisting mesonephric duct with contralateral cryptorchism and ipsilateral renal aplasia: a case report].

A 30-year-old man with azoospermia underwent an examination for infertility. He had a history of right orchiopexy due to cryptorchism. Radiological examinations showed an absence of the left kidney and the left seminal vesicle.

[Small cell carcinoma of the prostate: a case report].

A 76-year-old man had been treated with maximum androgen blockade therapy for a poorly-differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma (T3cN1M0, prostate specific antigen (PSA) 65 ng/ml, Gleason Score 4+5=9) since September 2002. By August 2003, his serum PSA levels were undetectable and the lymph node swelling had vanished. However, in December 2004, his serum PSA levels started rising gradually up to 0.