[IFN-γ and IL-12 from Concentrated Ascites in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer Exerts Growth Inhibitory Effects against Pancreatic Cancer Cells].

Patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) often suffer from refractory ascites associated with peritoneal metastasis. This severely impairs activities of daily living and leads to an unfavorable prognosis. Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) has attracted attention as a promising therapy for relieving the symptoms of malignant ascites.

Ezrin Regulates the Cell Surface Localization of PD-L1 in HEC-151 Cells.

Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule widely expressed on the surface of cancer cells and is an attractive immunotherapeutic target for numerous cancer cell types. However, patients with endometrial cancer derive little clinical benefit from immune checkpoint blockade therapy because of their poor response rate. Despite the increasingly important function of PD-L1 in tumor immunology, the mechanism of PD-L1 localization on endometrial cancer cell surfaces is largely unknown.

Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of malignant ascites: section summary in Clinical Practice Guideline for peritoneal dissemination (2021).

Patients with peritoneal dissemination (PD) caused by abdominal malignancies are often associated with massive ascites, which shows extremely dismal prognosis because of the discontinuation of systemic chemotherapy mostly due to poor performance status. Many treatment methods, such as simple drainage, peritoneovenous shunting (PVS) and cell-free and concentrated reinfusion therapy (CART), have been used for symptom relief. However, the clinical efficacies of these methods have not been fully investigated yet.

Indications for Cold Polypectomy Stratified by the Colorectal Polyp Size: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Cold polypectomy (CP) is widely used because of its safety profile. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the indications for CP based on polyp size.

Methods: We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials that compared cold snare polypectomy (CSP) and other procedures for polyps ≤10 mm.

[Introduction of Team-based Learning to Evidence-based Medicine Educational Course for Pharmacy Students].

In Japanese pharmaceutical education, the Model Core Curriculum was revised in 2013 to train pharmacists who can appropriately evaluate literature and use evidence-based medicine (EBM). However, in the investigation of EBM education at pharmaceutical universities in 2015, it was found that literature evaluation was hardly performed in the education of undergraduate students. One of the reason is the lack of EBM lecturers at each universities.

Clinical Guidelines for Management of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Cancer Patients: The Japanese Society of Palliative Medicine Recommendations.

Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, ascites, constipation, and anorexia, are common and often refractory in advanced cancer patients. The palliation of gastrointestinal symptoms is important in improving the quality of life of cancer patients, as well as that of their families and caregivers. Currently published clinical guidelines for the management of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients do not comprehensively cover the topics or are not based on a formal process for the development of clinical guidelines.

[Evaluation of an Evidence-based Medicine Educational Program for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students].

　Practicing evidence-based medicine (EBM) is likely to gain importance for clinical pharmacists in the relatively near future in Japan. An educational program including research and the critical appraisal of literature was required for pharmacy students as of 2015. We organized a six-month practical EBM course for pharmacy students at Hyogo University of Health Sciences.

[Approach to Evidence-based Medicine Exercises Using Flipped Teaching: Introductory Education for Clinical Practice for 4th-Year Pharmacy Students].

　Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences has included an evidence-based medicine (EBM) exercise in the introductory education for clinical practice for 4th-year pharmacy students since 2015. The purpose of this exercise is to learn the process of practice and basic concepts of EBM, especially to cultivate the practical ability to solve patients' problems and answer their questions. Additionally, in 2016, we have attempted flipped teaching.

[Evaluation of an Evidence-based Medicine Educational Program for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students].

This study evaluated the effect of an evidence-based medicine (EBM) educational program on EBM-related knowledge and skills of pharmacists and pharmacy students. Our preliminary educational program included the following four sessions: 1) ice breaker, 2) formulation of answerable clinical questions from virtual clinical scenario using the PICO criteria, 3) critical appraisal of the literature using a checklist, and 4) critical appraisal of the results and integrating the evidence with experience and patients values. Change in knowledge and skills related to EBM were evaluated using pre- and post-seminar 4-point scale questionnaires comprising of 14 questions.

Non-prescription supplement-induced hepatitis with hyperferritinemia and mutation (H63D) in the HFE gene.

A 55-year-old Japanese woman was hospitalized because liver function tests showed an abnormality. Transaminases and biliary enzymes were markedly elevated with hyperferritinemia. Her imaging tests revealed no significant abnormality.

Inhibitory effects of cancer cell proliferation by novel histone deacetylase inhibitors involve p21/WAF1 induction and G2/M arrest.

Two compounds were synthesized which have a structural component other than those of our new series histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors to determine the structure-activity relationship. It was also examined whether the inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation by HDAC inhibitors involve p21/WAF1 induction and G(1) or G(2)/M arrest in p53-mutated MG63 human osteosarcoma cells as do other HDAC inhibitors. It was demonstrated that inhibitors with the 2-naphthylcarbonyl group and hydroxamic acid at both termimal sides as well as the phenylene component at the center of molecule markedly induce the p21/WAF1 protein by stimulating p21/WAF1 gene promoter activity.

Apigenin induces cell cycle arrest and p21/WAF1 expression in a p53-independent pathway.

Apigenin, a common dietary flavonoid, has been shown to induce cell growth-inhibition and cell cycle arrest in many cancer cell lines. One important effect of apigenin is to increase the stability of the tumor suppressor p53 in normal cells. Therefore, apigenin is expected to play a large role in cancer prevention by modifying the effects of p53 protein.

Genistein induces Gadd45 gene and G2/M cell cycle arrest in the DU145 human prostate cancer cell line.

Genistein is the most abundant isoflavone of soybeans and has been shown to cause growth arrest in various human cancer cell lines. However, the precise mechanism for this is still unclear. We report here that the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 45 (gadd45) gene is induced by genistein via its promoter in a DU145 human prostate cancer cell line.

15-Deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 induces apoptosis through activation of the CHOP gene in HeLa cells.

Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGs) of the J series, which are produced by dehydration of PGD(2), have been reported to induce apoptosis in various cell lines. One of these cyclopentenone PGs, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15-d-PGJ(2)), is the most potent inducer of apoptosis in the series, but the signaling pathways by which it induces apoptosis are poorly understood. We recently reported that cyclopentenone PGs accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and it has been shown that the transcription factor CHOP is induced by ER-stresses and elicits apoptosis.