Identification and clinical implications of endogenous retrovirus elements suppressed by SETDB1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The inhibition of epigenetic regulators activates endogenous retrovirus (ERV) expression, which can stimulate a viral mimicry response in cancer cells. ERV elements are aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the expression of ERVs regulated by histone modifications and their clinical significance in HCC remain unclear. Here, we identified specific human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements epigenetically suppressed by the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 in HCC.

Nitrided Ti-6Al-4V: A Catalyst for Increase Mineralization and Osteogenic Marker Expression.

Plasma nitriding is one of the surface modifications that show more effectiveness than other methods. In this study, the plasma-based ion implantation (PBII) technique was performed on the surface of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V, Ti64) using a mixture of nitrogen (N) and argon (Ar), resulting in a plasma-nitrided surface (TiN-Ti64). The surface composition of the TiN-Ti64 was verified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Portomesenteric Venous Thrombosis after Pancreatic Cancer Surgery with Venous Resection and Reconstruction: Timing, Incidence, and Risk Factors.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of portomesenteric venous thrombosis (PVT) after pancreatic cancer surgery with portomesenteric venous resection (PVR).

Summary Background Data: Pancreatic cancer surgery with PVR can be complicated by PVT, but the long-term associations, risk factors, and consequences of PVT have not been clearly elucidated.

Methods: This study included pancreatic cancer patients undergoing any type of pancreatic resection with PVR at the University of Colorado Hospital between January 2012 and June 2023.

Middle segment preserving pancreatectomy versus total pancreatectomy: a comparative analysis of short- and long-term outcomes.

Purpose: Middle-segment preserving pancreatectomy (MSPP) serves as an alternative to total pancreatectomy (TP) for preserving the pancreatic body in multifocal pancreatic neoplasms. Despite the potential benefits of TP, the detailed short- and long-term prognoses remain unclear. We evaluated the feasibility of MSPP by comparing the perioperative outcomes and postoperative endocrine and exocrine functions with those of TP.

Questionnaire survey of Japanese board-certified expert hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons and instructors on the surgical indications for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Recent advancements in systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) necessitate the establishment of resectability criteria for advanced HCC.

Methods: A questionnaire survey sought to clarify the perspectives of Japanese expert hepatobiliary surgeons regarding surgical indications for HCC. Thirty-one questions were used to determine when surgery is strongly recommended (resectable: R) or not recommended (unresectable: UR).

Technical Strategy for Pancreatic Body Cancers: A Raison d'etre of Distal Pancreatectomy with Portal Resection.

Background: Advancements in multiagent chemotherapy have expanded the surgical indications for pancreatic cancer. Although pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with portal vein resection (PVR) has become widely adopted, distal pancreatectomy (DP) with PVR remains rarely performed because of its technical complexity. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of DP-PVR compared with PD-PVR for pancreatic body cancers, with a focus on PV complications and providing optimal reconstruction techniques when DP-PVR is necessary.

Surgical anatomy of the dorsal pancreatic artery: Considering embryonic development.

Objectives: The dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) is a pancreatic branch with various anatomical variations. Previous studies mostly focused on the origin of the DPA, and its pathways and branching patterns have rarely been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the branching patterns and pathways of the DPA.

Loss of SFXN1 mitigates lipotoxicity and predicts poor outcome in non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imposes a huge global burden, arising from various etiological factors such as hepatitis virus infection and metabolic syndrome. While prophylactic vaccination and antiviral treatment have decreased the incidence of viral HCC, the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome has led to an increase in non-viral HCC. To identify genes downregulated and specifically associated with unfavorable outcome in non-viral HCC cases, screening analysis was conducted using publically available transcriptome data.

Incidence and Mechanism of Refractory Postoperative Cholangitis After Hepatectomy with Hepaticojejunostomy.

Introduction: Malignant tumors, such as hilar cholangiocarcinoma, have shown improved long-term outcomes, and measures to prevent late postoperative complications are important. Postoperative cholangitis after hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy (HHJ) may occur and can significantly decrease the quality of life. However, there are few reports on the incidence and pathogenesis of postoperative cholangitis after HHJ.

Epitranscriptome Mapping of N-Methyladenosine Using mA Immunoprecipitation with High Throughput Sequencing in Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells.

N-Methyladenosine (mA), one of the most abundant chemical modifications in mRNA (epitranscriptome), contributes to the regulation of biological processes by iterating gene expression post-transcriptionally. A number of publications on mA modification have escalated in the recent past, due to the advancements in profiling mA along the transcriptome using different approaches. The vast majority of studies primarily focused on mA modification on cell lines but not primary cells.

RRM1 is mediated by histone acetylation through gemcitabine resistance and contributes to invasiveness and ECM remodeling in pancreatic cancer.

The invasiveness of pancreatic cancer and its resistance to anticancer drugs define its malignant potential, and are considered to affect the peritumoral microenvironment. Cancer cells with resistance to gemcitabine exposed to external signals induced by anticancer drugs may enhance their malignant transformation. Ribonucleotide reductase large subunit M1 (RRM1), an enzyme in the DNA synthesis pathway, is upregulated during gemcitabine resistance, and its expression is associated with worse prognosis for pancreatic cancer.

A liquid biopsy signature for predicting early recurrence in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) patients who experience recurrence within the first year following surgery (early recurrence [ER]) exhibit worse prognosis. Herein, we established a microRNA-based liquid biopsy assay to predict ER in GC patients.

Methods: A comprehensive biomarker discovery was performed by analysing miRNA expression profiling in 271 primary GC tumours.

Vasculitis, CA19-9, and Perineural Invasion Differentially Predict Response and Surgical Outcome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Curative intent treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) relies on surgical resection. Modern treatment protocols focus on optimizing neoadjuvant therapy to increase resectability and improve oncologic outcomes. To elucidate differences in outcomes, we investigated the relationship between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), either with or without stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and vascular inflammation, surgical outcomes, and the resultant transcriptomic changes.

Identification of a novel target of SETD1A histone methyltransferase and the clinical significance in pancreatic cancer.

Although histone H3K4 methyltransferase SETD1A is overexpressed in various cancer types, the molecular mechanism underlying its overexpression and its target genes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unclarified. We conducted immunohistochemical staining for SETD1A in 105 human PDAC specimens to assess the relationship between SETD1A overexpression and clinicopathological features. The function and target genes of SETD1A were investigated using human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Facilitatory Effect of Extending the Course Duration on Dissemination of Educational Content.

Unlabelled: The physiological practice course at Saitama Medical University provides students with the opportunity to learn physiological principles through wet labs and discussions. To develop a more effective method for maximizing learning outcomes, we extended the course's schedule from one day (1d) to two days (2d) per theme, evaluated self-administered questionnaires between two different years (pre and post-change), and examined whether the increased course length affected learning outcomes. Within the 2018 curriculum year, every theme of the course was completed in a day, including experiments in the wet lab and discussions.

A YAP/TAZ-TEAD signalling module links endothelial nutrient acquisition to angiogenic growth.

Angiogenesis, the process by which endothelial cells (ECs) form new blood vessels from existing ones, is intimately linked to the tissue's metabolic milieu and often occurs at nutrient-deficient sites. However, ECs rely on sufficient metabolic resources to support growth and proliferation. How endothelial nutrient acquisition and usage are regulated is unknown.

Targeting Treg-Expressed STAT3 Enhances NK-Mediated Surveillance of Metastasis and Improves Therapeutic Response in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Metastasis remains a major hurdle in treating aggressive malignancies such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Improving response to treatment, therefore, requires a more detailed characterization of the cellular populations involved in controlling metastatic burden.

Experimental Design: PDAC patient tissue samples were subjected to RNA sequencing analysis to identify changes in immune infiltration following radiotherapy.

Relayed signaling between mesenchymal progenitors and muscle stem cells ensures adaptive stem cell response to increased mechanical load.

Adaptation to mechanical load, leading to enhanced force and power output, is a characteristic feature of skeletal muscle. Formation of new myonuclei required for efficient muscle hypertrophy relies on prior activation and proliferation of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). However, the mechanisms controlling MuSC expansion under conditions of increased load are not fully understood.

Selecting surgical candidates with locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a review for modern pancreatology.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is likely to become the second leading cause of malignancy-associated mortality within the next 10 years and surgery remains the best hope for cure. The introduction of effective neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) has increased the resection rate of PC in the era of contemporary pancreatology. This review summarizes the surgical selection criteria for locally advanced PC (LAPC), by focusing on the commonly used predictors for resectability and better overall survival outcome.

Occupational difference in use of heated tobacco products: a cross-sectional analysis of retail workers in Japan.

Objective: Although heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become popular worldwide, research on occupational differences in smoking HTPs remains scarce. We aimed to examine the prevalence of smoking HTPs among a working population in Japan.

Setting, Design And Participants: In 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study comprised of 7714 retail business workers in the service industry in Japan.

A novel classification of portal venous tumor invasion to predict residual tumor status after surgery in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Purpose: To elucidate whether portal venous tumor invasion (PVTI) is a prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (Pan-NENs).

Methods: From 2002 to 2019, 240 patients with Pan-NEN were included to examine prognostic factors. PVTI based on computed tomography (CT) images are classified into four types: no PVTI (Vp0/1), PVTI not invading the superior mesenteric vein (Vp2), PVTI invading the superior mesenteric vein or portal vein (Vp3), and PVTI invading the portal bifurcation (Vp4).

C646 inhibits G2/M cell cycle-related proteins and potentiates anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer.

The activity of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) plays a central role in an epigenetic modification in cooperation with HDACs (histone deacetyl transferases). It is likely that malfunction of this enzymatic machinery controlling epigenetic modification is relevant to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, in pancreatic cancer, the clinical relevance of HAT activity and histone acetylation has remained unclear.