[Clinical application of alternative splicing form of c-myc suppressor FUSE-binding protein-interacting repressor for cancer detection and treatment].

Development of useful biomarkers is pivotal for prediction of micro-metastasis, recurrence probability and/or prognosis of the patients. Recent studies have revealed that cancer-specific alternative splicing can be valuable for cancer cell detection. Among them, FUSE-binding protein-interacting repressor, FIR, has been reported to repress c-myc transcription and its exon2-spliced variant, FIRDelta(exon)2, is unable to repress c-myc by competing with authentic FIR in vivo and in vitro.

Nitrogen fluxes from treefrogs to tank epiphytic bromeliads: an isotopic and physiological approach.

Diverse invertebrate and vertebrate species live in association with plants of the large Neotropical family Bromeliaceae. Although previous studies have assumed that debris of associated organisms improves plant nutrition, so far little evidence supports this assumption. In this study we used isotopic ((15)N) and physiological methods to investigate if the treefrog Scinax hayii, which uses the tank epiphytic bromeliad Vriesea bituminosa as a diurnal shelter, contributes to host plant nutrition.

Application of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for simple and easy determination of chylomicron-triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride.

Background: Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a simple and reagent-free physicochemical analysis method, and is a potential alternative to more time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures. In this study, we aimed to use FT-IR spectroscopy to determine serum concentrations of chylomicron-triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG.

Methods: We analyzed a chylomicron fraction and VLDL fraction, which had been obtained by ultracentrifugation, to search for wavelengths to designate to each fraction.

Serum levels of complement C4 fragments correlate with disease activity in multiple sclerosis: proteomic analysis.

To detect serum biomarkers associated with disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied serum low-molecular peptide profiling of MS patients and normal controls comprehensively by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Serum level of 1741 Da peptide was increased at the time of clinical relapse in patients than in normal controls and returned toward normal during remission.

Identification of Makorin 1 as a novel SEREX antigen of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents one of the most malignant tumors. To improve the poor prognosis, it is necessary to diagnose esophageal SCC at early stages using new tumor markers. SEREX (serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning) is suitable for large-scale screening of tumor antigens and has been applied for various types of human tumors.

Significance of sucrose permeability test in detecting early gastric cancer and changes of permeability after endoscopic mucosal resection.

Background/aims: To evaluate the diagnostic value of sucrose permeability test (SPT) with special reference to early gastric cancer (EGC), and to assess the changes of urinary sucrose level after treatment of gastric damage: gastric ulcer (GU) or EGC.

Methodology: Ninety subjects were included in this study, that is; 18 patients with GU, 25 EGC, 17 advance gastric cancer (AGC), and 30 healthy volunteers (HV). SPT was conducted before treatment in all the subjects, and in 6 patients each with GU and EGC after treatment- proton pump inhibitor for GU and endoscopic mucosal resection for EGC.

A search for novel markers of alcohol abuse using magnetic beads and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

Objective markers are required to assess excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to a various medical and social problems. In this study, we carried out serum peptidome analyses using the ClinProt(™) system, which consists of magnetic beads and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS, to find novel biomarkers of alcohol abuse in 16 chronic alcoholic patients that were hospitalized for a rehabilitation program. A total of 22 peaks were found to be significantly altered during abstinence.

Serum S-100B is superior to neuron-specific enolase as an early prognostic biomarker for neurological outcome following cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Introduction: Most patients with cardiac arrest (CA) admitted to hospitals after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are discharged with various degree of neurological deficits. To determine predictor of neurological outcome early and accurately, and to determine cutoff values, serum levels of protein S-100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) within 24h after CA were assessed.

Methods And Results: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted between May 2007 and April 2008 at three medical institutions in Japan on 107 consecutive non-traumatic CA patients with return of spontaneous circulation after CPR.

In vitro pharmacologic testing using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

The lethal ventricular arrhythmia Torsade de pointes (TdP) is the most common reason for the withdrawal or restricted use of many cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular drugs. The lack of an in vitro model to detect pro-arrhythmic effects on human heart cells hinders the development of new drugs. We hypothesized that recently established human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells could be used in an in vitro drug screening model.

Detection of anti-CUEC-23 antibodies in serum of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a possible new serum marker for esophageal cancer.

Background: Serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning (SEREX) is an established method for detecting new tumor-specific antigens. Antibodies to SEREX antigens may be useful for the detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: A phage cDNA library of a human esophageal SCC cell line was screened using sera of patients with esophageal SCC.

Nm23-H1 is responsible for SUMO-2-involved DNA synthesis induction after X-ray irradiation in human cells.

Human cells derived from nevoid basal carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) patients show increased levels of DNA synthesis activity after X-ray irradiation which is suggested to be casually related to reduction in cellular amounts of small ubiquitin-like protein modifier (SUMO-2/SMT-3A). In the present study, an increased level of DNA synthesis activity was found 8h after X-ray irradiation in HeLa cells with reduction in SUMO-2 amounts by siRNA treatment for SUMO-2. When comparative proteomic analysis was performed between the siRNA and mimic control siRNA treated cells using two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, three proteins were identified as candidates.

c-myc suppressor FBP-interacting repressor for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Based on the genetic background of cancer, we have been trying to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against human cancers. c-myc gene activation has been detected in many human cancers, indicating a key role of c-myc in tumor development. Thus targeting c-myc gene suppression is a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

YKL-40 identified by proteomic analysis as a biomarker of sepsis.

To investigate changes in protein expression by proteomic analysis in the sera of patients with sepsis and to identify new biomarkers of sepsis. A total of 45 consecutive patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (sepsis group), 22 healthy volunteers, and 23 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (control group). Serum samples from eight patients of each group underwent proteomic analysis involving removal of 12 major proteins and subsequent reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography fractionation and one-dimensional electrophoresis.

The isolation and identification of apolipoprotein C-I in hormone-refractory prostate cancer using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Androgens play a central role in prostate cancer pathogenesis, and hence most of the patients respond to androgen deprivation therapies. However, patients tend to relapse with aggressive prostate cancer, which has been termed as hormone refractory. To identify the proteins that mediate progression to the hormone-refractory state, we used protein-chip technology for mass profiling of patients' sera.

[Laboratory medicine in the post-genome era: experiences in Chiba University Hospital].

Since the completion of the human genome project, there is growing interest in the clinical application of genome sciences. For this purpose, particular attention toward identifying at-risk individuals and understanding the complexities of the testing process are essential. In this article, I describe the importance of clinical genetics and genetic counseling, and explain how and why the division of laboratory medicine is involved in these tasks in Chiba University Hospital.

[Sex differences in the field of laboratory medicine].

It is well-known that there are significant "sex differences" in many laboratory tests. After puberty onset, sex-specific organs are well developed and clinical tests concerning their functions show obvious sex differences. On the other hand, sex differences are minimal or negligible in other test items representing functions of organs common in the both sexes.

Protein profiling in pancreatic juice for detection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Background/aims: Malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN) has a very poor prognosis, and there is no useful biomarker for an early diagnosis at present. A biomarker is expected to allow an early diagnosis of IPMNs and consequently lead to an improvement of the patients' prognosis. Recent advances in proteomic analysis are remarkable; therefore we explored novel biomarkers for IPMN using Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption and Ionization (SELDI) Mass Spectrometry.

[HCV-RNA test in hepatitis C virus infection--a systematic review].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The severity of disease varies widely from mild illness to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The routine diagnostic test for HCV infection is performed using anti-HCV antibodies and an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for serologic identification and HCV-RNA assay employing the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for genetic identification.

Perioperative changes of serum p53 antibody titer is a predictor for survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Although the presence of serum p53 antibody (s-p53-Abs) before treatment has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer, there has been little information about postoperative s-p53-Abs titer and perioperative changes of s-p53-Abs titers in patients with esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: A highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze s-p53-Abs in 110 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before and 1 month after surgery. The cutoff level of 1.

Multicenter prospective investigation on efficacy and safety of carperitide as a first-line drug for acute heart failure syndrome with preserved blood pressure: COMPASS: Carperitide Effects Observed Through Monitoring Dyspnea in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Study.

Background: Recently, vasodilators have been increasingly being recognized as useful for the treatment of acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS). Although carperitide (alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide) has vasodilatory, diuretic and organ-protective effects, its efficacy and safety for the first-line drug treatment of AHFS have not been reported.

Methods And Results: A prospective observational study was performed in AHFS patients with preserved systolic blood pressure (SBP >or=120 mmHg), pulmonary congestion and dyspnea who were receiving carperitide monotherapy.

Annexin II overexpression predicts rapid recurrence after surgery in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing gemcitabine-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Gemcitabine has been shown to exhibit significant clinical activity against pancreatic cancer and has become a first-line chemotherapeutic for this disease in recent years. However, there are still many patients who do not respond to this treatment and it is expected to improve the clinical outcome if we can develop a method to predict the efficacy of gemcitabine before treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine novel factors that make pancreatic cancer resistant to gemcitabine.