A Case of Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Leriche Syndrome.

Leriche syndrome is an aortoiliac occlusive disease with three chief symptoms: claudication, impotence, and weak femoral pulse. It can also cause occlusion of the aorta up to the level of the renal arteries. We report a case in which aortoiliac bypass and renal artery thrombectomy were effective in ameliorating acute kidney injury caused by bilateral renal artery thrombosis.

[A case of metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin that progressed rapidly after complete remission via second-line chemotherapy].

Leptomeningeal metastasis occurs in approximately 5% of patients with metastatic solid carcinomas, and it is often diagnosed in patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, malignant melanoma, and digestive cancer. Herein, we report a case of a metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin. The leptomeningeal metastasis progressed quite rapidly, and the patient died despite achieving complete remission via second-line chemotherapy.

Development of microscopic polyangiitis-related pulmonary fibrosis in a patient with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Background: Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP) is a rare lung disease caused by the autoantibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The clinical course of aPAP is variable; in severe cases, patients develop lethal respiratory failure due to pulmonary fibrosis. However, the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in aPAP has never been delineated.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor is involved in lung remodeling by stimulating epithelial growth.

Lung epithelial cells have an integral role in the maintenance of lung homeostasis; however, the regulatory mechanism thereof has not been fully clarified. Recently, hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) was reported to be involved in organ development and remodeling through its mitogenic effect. We investigated the biological role of HDGF in lung remodeling.

Role of extracellular subdomains of p185c-neu and the epidermal growth factor receptor in ligand-independent association and transactivation.

We investigated the assembly and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-p185c-neu heterodimer by using a sequential immunoprecipitation methodology. Using this approach we detected heterodimers and also higher-ordered oligomeric complexes. Phosphorylated EGFR-p185c-neu heterodimeric forms were detected in the absence of EGF, but the species became highly phosphorylated after EGF stimulation.

Tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 function to prevent the fusion of mononuclear phagocytes.

Tetraspanins CD9 and CD81 facilitate the fusion between gametes, myoblasts, or virus-infected cells. Here, we investigated the role of these tetraspanins in the fusion of mononuclear phagocytes. Expression of CD9 and CD81 and their complex formation with integrins were up-regulated when blood monocytes were cultured under normal conditions.

Expression of tetraspanins in human lung cancer cells: frequent downregulation of CD9 and its contribution to cell motility in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) invades locally and metastasizes distantly extremely early when compared with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The underlying molecular mechanisms, however, have not been elucidated. Accumulating evidence suggests that downregulation of several members of tetraspanins is associated with progression of solid tumors, thus indicating poor prognosis.

Construction and analysis of new vector systems with improved interleukin-18 secretion in a xenogeneic human tumor model.

Interleukin (IL)-18 plays an important role in enhancing cellular immunity against cancer and bacteria. We constructed retroviral and adenoviral vectors that show improved secretion of bioactive murine IL-18 that could further enhance antitumor immunity in a murine model. Secretion of bioactive IL-18 was facilitated by fusing the leader sequences of prepro-parathyroid hormone (PTH) or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) to the 5; end of the mature murine IL-18 cDNA.