Imaging of Liver Tissues Using a Combination of Silver Impregnation and Low-Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy; A Simple Method for the High-Resolution Visualization of Reticulin Structures with Applicability to a Quantitative Analysis.

Background: Low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) enables the detailed three-dimensional imaging of archival tissues without special pretreatments. The clinical utility of LVSEM in the assessment of liver diseases has not yet been defined. So, we investigated the utility of LVSEM imaging in morphological assessments of normal and diseased liver tissues, with a focus on reticulin structures.

Decreased H3K27me3 Expression Is Associated With Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Especially Combined With Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer, frequently infected with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). H3K27me3 acts as a repressive histone modification that epigenetically controls gene transcription. The aim of this study was to examine H3K27me3 expression in MCC.

Detection of Disease-specific Fusion Genes of Soft Tissue Tumors Using Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Tissues; Its Diagnostic Usefulness and Factors Affecting the Detection Rates.

Background: Recent rapid advances in molecular biology have led the discovery of disease-specific novel fusion genes in a variety of soft tissue tumors. In this study, we attempted to detect these fusion genes using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues and investigated their clinical utility and factors that affect the results of examination.

Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the detection of tumor-specific fusion genes was performed using 41 FFPE tumor samples obtained from 37 patients representing nine histological types of soft tissue tumors that were diagnosed from 2006 to 2017 in our laboratory.

Expression of the IDO1/TDO2-AhR pathway in tumor cells or the tumor microenvironment is associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus status and prognosis in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer, with approximately 80% of cases related to Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase 2 (TDO2) are the key rate-limiting enzymes of the tryptophan-to-kynurenine metabolic pathway. With aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), an intracellular transcription factor, they play a role in escaping the immunosurveillance process in several cancers.

Higher Expression of Activation-induced Cytidine Deaminase Is Significantly Associated with Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-negative Merkel Cell Carcinomas.

Background: Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs), clinically aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancers, are divided into Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-positive and -negative tumors, which show different clinicopathological features and may develop through different mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Aberrant expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) as a genomic modulator was demonstrated through pathogen-related NF-κB signal in -associated gastric cancer, adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (HTLV-1), hepatoma (HCV), and Burkitt lymphoma (EBV).

Methods: To elucidate the relation of aberrant AID expression in MCPyV-positive and -negative MCCs, we evaluated immunohistochemical expressions of AID and AID-regulating factors between 24 MCPyV-positive and 17 MCPyV-negative MCCs.

Association of expression of the hedgehog signal with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection and prognosis of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer that mostly occurs in the elderly. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is detected in approximately 80% of MCCs and is associated with carcinogenesis. Hedgehog signaling pathway plays a role in human embryogenesis and organogenesis.

Multiple Skin Cancers in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Patient Report with Analyses of Human Papillomavirus and Human Polyomavirus Infection.

Skin cancer is an important complication in renal transplant recipients. Associations of transplant-related skin tumor with ultraviolet radiation, age at transplantation, type of immunosuppressant drug administered, and viral infection have been reported; however, the details remain unclear. We report a 61-year-old man who had underwent renal transplantation at 38 years of age and developed multiple skin tumors or squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).

Immunoglobulin expressions are only associated with MCPyV-positive Merkel cell carcinomas but not with MCPyV-negative ones: comparison of prognosis.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer, often associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Recently, immunoglobulin (Ig) expression was reported in MCC, thereby suggesting that B cells might be their cellular ancestors. We tested 30 MCCs (20 MCPyV-positive and 10 MCPyV-negative) using immunohistochemistry for the expressions of IgG, IgA, IgM, Igκ, Igλ, terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase, paired box gene 5 (PAX5), octamer transcription factor-2 (Oct-2), and sex-determining region Y-box 11 (SOX11).

A new in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry with a novel antibody to detect small T-antigen expressions of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV).

Background: Approximately 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) harbor Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) which monoclonally integrates into the genome and has prognostic significance. The presence or absence of MCPyV is usually diagnosed using CM2B4 immunohistochemistry (IHC) for MCPyV-large T antigen (LT) protein. However, this method poses a risk of misdiagnosis.

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) strains in Japanese merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are distinct from Caucasian type MCPyVs: genetic variability and phylogeny of MCPyV genomes obtained from Japanese MCPyV-infected MCCs.

Most of merkel cell carcinomas (MCC), a rare, aggressive skin cancer with neuroendocrine features, harbor merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Seroepidemiological studies suggested high prevalence of MCPyV in the human population. More than ten sequence data on MCPyV strains in Japan have been available, whereas most sequence data were detected from patients living in Europe or European ancestry.

Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus in the human tissues from 41 Japanese autopsy cases using polymerase chain reaction.

It has recently been shown that approximately 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas harbor a novel polyomavirus named Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyV has been detected in human tissue samples. However, detailed distribution of MCPyV in non-neoplastic Japanese human tissues remains unclear.

CD1a expression in PEComas.

According to the World Health Organization classification, neoplasms with perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation (PEComas) are mesenchymal tumors composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive PEC. Generally, nearly all PEComas have immunoreactivity for both melanocytic (HMB-45 and/or melan A) and smooth muscle (actin (SMA) and/or desmin) markers. Recently the authors reported that benign clear cell sugar tumor of the lung, one of the PEComas, expressed CD1a.

A new animal model for primary and persistent Epstein-Barr virus infection: human EBV-infected rabbit characteristics determined using sequential imaging and pathological analysis.

Most adults have persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infection. Adolescents and young adults with primary EBV-infection frequently develop infectious mononucleosis. Latent EBV-infection is associated with various diseases, neoplasms, and hematological disorders.

Immunohistochemical distribution of phosphatidylglucoside using anti-phosphatidylglucoside monoclonal antibody (DIM21).

The immunohistochemical distribution of phosphatidylglucoside (PhGlc) in organs obtained from human autopsy cases was investigated using the DIM21 antibody. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formaline-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections using the simple stain peroxidase method. The sections were then subjected to antigen retrieval by microwave irradiation in citrate buffer.

Imbalance between expression of endothelin receptors A and B in terminal liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C viral infection: immunohistochemical study of autopsy cases.

Background And Aim: Expression of endothelin receptors in terminal liver cirrhosis is not well investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the endothelin type A receptor (ETAR) and endothelin type B receptor (ETBR) immunohistochemically using paraffin-embedded tissue sections from patents with terminal liver cirrhosis (TLC), non-terminal liver cirrhosis (NTLC) and non-cirrhotic liver fibrosis (NCLF) caused by hepatitis C viral infection.

Methods: Liver tissue sections from 38 autopsy cases, including 12 cases of NCLF (mild, moderate or severe liver fibrosis), 11 cases of NTLC and 15 cases of TLC, were stained using anti-ETAR and anti-ETBR antibodies after antigen retrieval.

Lymphatic vessel density in pulmonary adenocarcinoma immunohistochemically evaluated with anti-podoplanin or anti-D2-40 antibody is correlated with lymphatic invasion or lymph node metastases.

In lung cancers, lymph node metastasis of cancer cells is one of the most important prognostic factors, and lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) is very important in the stage preceding lymph node metastases. Recently, it has been reported that lymphatic vessel density (LVD) is associated with lymph node metastasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between LVD and LVI based on the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin or D2-40, which are new specific markers for lymphatic endothelium.

Endosomal accumulation of Toll-like receptor 4 causes constitutive secretion of cytokines and activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription in Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) fibroblasts: a potential basis for glial cell activation in the NPC brain.

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is an inherited lipid storage disorder caused by mutations in NPC1 or NPC2 genes. Loss of function of either protein results in the endosomal accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids, progressive neurodegeneration, and robust glial cell activation. Here, we report that cultured human NPC fibroblasts secrete interferon-beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-8, and contain increased levels of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs).

Benign clear (sugar) cell tumor of the lung with CD1a expression.

Reported herein is a case of benign clear cell tumor of the lung in a 60-year-old man. Chest X-ray and CT examination revealed an abnormal nodule with homogenous density and a clear margin in the lower lobe of the left lung. The resected tumor was 13 mm in size, well-circumscribed and was graysh-white on cut surface.

Ileal ulcers and cytomegalovirus infection in a case of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Churg-Strauss syndrome, or allergic granulomatous angiitis, is an uncommon vasculitic syndrome. We describe a 53-year-old man with Churg-Strauss syndrome and subsequent opportunistic cytomegalovirus enterocolitis. During intensive care, including steroid-pulse therapy, the patient developed rapidly progressive anemia caused by active bleeding from his small intestine, resulting in resection of 20 cm of ileum.

Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison with the non-tumor tissue.

Background/aims: TGF-beta 1 (transforming growth factor-beta 1) has been shown to be overexpressed in various cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this study, we examined the association of the immunohistochemical expression of TGF-beta 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues with the clinicopathological findings.

Methodology: Thirty liver tumor biopsy specimens obtained with ultrasound guidance and in which tumor-tissue and non-tumor tissue existed were examined.

Smad expression of hepatic stellate cells in liver cirrhosis in vivo and hepatic stellate cell line in vitro.

Smad expressions, signaling mediators of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of cytokines, were investigated in paraffin-embedded tissue sections of liver cirrhosis due to the hepatitis C virus infection and in the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line in vitro. Smad 2/3, 4 and 7 was expressed in the nucleus of the HSC in the cirrhotic liver, while the expression was weak in the non-cirrhotic liver. TGF-beta1 expression in the HSC of the cirrhotic liver was strong, while the expression was weak in the non-cirrhotic liver.

Vascular endothelial cells that express dystroglycan are involved in angiogenesis.

We have earlier shown that dystroglycan (DG) is a lamininbinding protein and as such is a cell adhesion molecule. DG is a heterodimer of alpha and beta DG subunits. beta-dystroglycan (betaDG) is the membrane spanning subunit, whereas the alpha subunit is bound to the extracellular domain of betaDG.