Regeneration of rat corpora cavernosa tissue by transplantation of CD133 cells derived from human bone marrow and placement of biodegradable gel sponge sheet.

The objective is to develop an easier technique for regenerating corpora cavernosa tissue through transplantation of human bone marrow-derived CD133 + cells into a rat corpora cavernosa defect model. We excised 2 mm × 2 mm squares of the right corpora cavernosa of twenty-three 8-week-old male nude rats. Alginate gel sponge sheets supplemented with 1 × 10 4 CD133 + cells were then placed over the excised area of nine rats.

Balloon Cell Malignant Melanoma in a Young Female: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Balloon cell malignant melanoma (BCMM) is a very rare malignant melanoma subtype. The clinical appearance of BCMM varies; it may be nodular, ulcerated, polypoid, papillomatous and often non-pigmented. The tumor cells histologically appear large, polygonal or round and contain abundant granular or vacuolated cytoplasm.

Induction of KIFC1 expression in gastric cancer spheroids.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common human cancers. Spheroid colony formation is an effective model for characterization of cancer stem cells. However, gene expression profiles of spheroid colonies obtained from GC cells have not been examined.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome with knee joint disorder.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) involves cutaneous vascular malformation characterized by multiple venous malformations. This commonly affects the skin and gastrointestinal tract. BRBNS is associated with anemia and occasionally involves orthopedic manifestations.

HBcrAg predicts hepatocellular carcinoma development: An analysis using time-dependent receiver operating characteristics.

Background & Aims: Several hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers have been identified as factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We clarified the predictive power of HBV markers for the development of HCC using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with a consideration of time dependence.

Methods: A total of 1031 CHB patients who were not treated with nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy were enrolled.

ALK(R1275Q) perturbs extracellular matrix, enhances cell invasion and leads to the development of neuroblastoma in cooperation with MYCN.

Overexpression of MYCN is a hallmark of neuroblastoma (NB). ALK(R1275Q), an activating mutation of ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase), has been found in sporadic and familial NB patients. In this report, we demonstrated that ALK(R1275Q) knock-in, MYCN transgenic compound mice developed NB with complete penetrance.

Viral eradication reduces all-cause mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a propensity score analysis.

Background & Aims: Eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been reported to reduce all-cause mortality rates in patients with chronic HCV infection. However, the impact of HCV eradication on non-liver-related mortality including the causes of death has not been sufficiently investigated in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: We enrolled 2743 patients with chronic HCV infection.

The transcribed-ultraconserved regions in prostate and gastric cancer: DNA hypermethylation and microRNA-associated regulation.

The transcribed-ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs, which are absolutely conserved (100%) between the orthologous regions of the human, rat and mouse genomes. Previous studies have described that several T-UCRs show differential expressions in cancers and might be involved in cancer development. We investigated the transcriptional levels of representative 26 T-UCRs and determined the regions that were differently expressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and gastric cancer (GC).

Data set for volumetric and pathological findings of epicardial adipose tissue.

This article contains the data regarding clinically-assessed visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume on computed tomography (CT) images and EAT pathology, represented by inflammation and neoangiogenesis, complementing the data reported by Kitagawa et al. [1]. In 45 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, we studied CT images obtained prior to surgery and the numbers of CD68+ individual macrophages and CD31+ neovessels in EAT samples subsequently obtained during surgery.

Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus infection disease burden - volume 3.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic was forecasted through 2030 for 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and the relative impact of two scenarios was considered: increased treatment efficacy while holding the annual number of treated patients constant and increased treatment efficacy and an increased annual number of treated patients. Increasing levels of diagnosis and treatment, in combination with improved treatment efficacy, were critical for achieving substantial reductions in disease burden. A 90% reduction in total HCV infections within 15 years is feasible in most countries studied, but it required a coordinated effort to introduce harm reduction programmes to reduce new infections, screening to identify those already infected and treatment with high cure rate therapies.

Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in select countries - volume 3.

Detailed, country-specific epidemiological data are needed to characterize the burden of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection around the world. With new treatment options available, policy makers and public health officials must reconsider national strategies for infection control. In this study of 15 countries, published and unpublished data on HCV prevalence, viraemia, genotype, age and gender distribution, liver transplants and diagnosis and treatment rates were gathered from the literature and validated by expert consensus in each country.

The relationship between inflammation and neoangiogenesis of epicardial adipose tissue and coronary atherosclerosis based on computed tomography analysis.

Objective: Previous studies indicate that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) biologically contributes to the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. We evaluated the relationship between EAT pathology, represented by inflammation and neoangiogenesis, and coronary atherosclerosis on computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: We performed CT examination in 45 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG], n = 21; non-CABG, n = 24) to assess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, EAT volume, coronary calcium score (CCS), and presence of non-calcified coronary plaque (NCP) on CT angiography.

Long-term prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not receive interferon-based therapy: causes of death and analysis based on the FIB-4 index.

Background: Interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been reported to reduce the liver-related mortality rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, predictors of survival and causes of death, including non-liver-related causes, have not been sufficiently investigated in chronic HCV patients who have not received IFN-based therapy.

Methods: A total of 1723 patients with chronic HCV infection who were not treated with IFN-based therapy were enrolled.

TEM1 expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts is correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

The cancer stroma, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), is known to contribute to cancer cell progression and metastasis, suggesting that functional proteins expressed specifically in CAFs might be candidate molecular targets for cancer treatment. The purpose of the present study was to explore the possibility of using TEM1 (tumor endothelial marker 1), which is known to be expressed in several types of mesenchymal cells, as a molecular target by examining the impact of TEM1 expression on clinicopathological factors in gastric cancer patients. A total of 945 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between January 2003 and July 2007 were examined using a tissue microarray approach.

Fukutin, identified by the Escherichia coli ampicillin secretion trap (CAST) method, participates in tumor progression in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth commonest malignancy worldwide and still one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. The aim of this study was to identify a novel prognostic marker or therapeutic target for GC.

Methods: We analyzed candidate genes from our previous Escherichia coli ampicillin secretion trap (CAST) libraries in detail, and focused on the FKTN gene because it was overexpressed in both GC cell line CAST libraries, MKN-1 and MKN-45.

Chlorinated Water Modulates the Development of Colorectal Tumors with Chromosomal Instability and Gut Microbiota in Apc-Deficient Mice.

The gastrointestinal tract is continuously exposed to a variety of chemicals and commensal bacteria. Recent studies have shown that changes in gut microbial populations caused by chlorine or other chemicals in the drinking water influence the development of human colorectal cancer, although the mechanism of tumorigenesis in the gut epithelium is obfuscated by the diversity of microflora and complexity of the tumor microenvironment. In this regard, mouse models that recapitulate human colorectal cancer are an invaluable tool.

An Analysis of Background Factors Influencing Selection of Residency Facility for Dental Students in Universities Located in Rural Areas in Japan.

In Japan, since 2006, participation in a 1-year residency programme by all dentists who have passed the National Board Dental Examination has been mandatory. Therefore, a 'matching system' has become necessary for dental students in their final year to decide their desired residency facility, but the rate of matching in dental schools located in rural areas is still low. Aim : The principal aim of this study was to elucidate the background factors influencing the selection of residency facilities by dental students in rural areas to facilitate the training of dentists working in local communities.

Protection from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice lacking CCL19-CCR7 signaling.

Objective: Several chemokines play important roles in recruiting the monocyte/macrophage lineage into adipose tissues. We previously found CCL19 was highly expressed in adipocytes cocultured with macrophages stimulated by endotoxin. This study aimed to evaluate the role of CCL19-CCR7 axis on obesity and insulin resistance.

Characteristic miR-24 Expression in Gastric Cancers among Atomic Bomb Survivors.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism of radiation-induced cancers, we analyzed the expression profiles of microRNAs extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) gastric cancer (GC) tissue samples from atomic bomb survivors.

Methods: The expression levels of miR-21, miR-24, miR-34a, miR-106a, miR-143, and miR-145 were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: The expression of microRNAs was measured by qRT-PCR in a Hiroshima University Hospital cohort comprising 32 patients in the high-dose-exposed group and 18 patients in the low-dose-exposed group who developed GC after the bombing.

High-grade epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland with mucous cell differentiation.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare salivary gland tumor with a low-grade malignancy, and EMC with high-grade histopathological features is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, EMC with intracellular mucin is also extremely rare. We report an uncommon case of a high-grade EMC of the parotid gland with mucous cell differentiation in a 66-year old Japanese woman who noticed a right palpable parotid mass increasing in size within a one-year period.

TSPAN8, identified by Escherichia coli ampicillin secretion trap, is associated with cell growth and invasion in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common human cancers. Genes expressed only in cancer tissue, especially on the cell membrane, will be useful biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.

Methods: To identify novel genes encoding transmembrane protein specifically expressed in GC, we generated an Escherichia coli ampicillin secretion trap (CAST) library from diffuse-type GC cell line MKN-45.

Population perception of surgical approach in minimally invasive surgery.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to better understand the impact that public opinion might have on surgical approaches in urologic minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

Methods: We collected surveys from 400 participants, including the general population (n = 220) and paramedical staff (n = 180). Participants were anonymous.

Aberrant DNA methylation of DLX4 and SIM1 is a predictive marker for disease progression of uterine cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.

Background: A few uterine cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) are known to progress with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV).

Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients were classified into four groups according to their cervical cytology, hrHPV infection, and follow up. Cytology samples were examined for aberrant DNA methylation of DLX4 and SIM1 genes and protein expressions.

Hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Japan: Prevalence, incidence and occult hepatitis B virus infection.

Aim: A survey of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hemodialysis (HD) patients was conducted to determine the burden and risk of infection and to suggest preventive measures against HBV infection among HD patients at nine hospitals in Hiroshima, Japan, from 1999 to 2003.

Methods: HBV markers were investigated for 1860 HD patients. The prevalence, incidence of HBV and prevalence of occult HBV were calculated.

Adhesive and migratory effects of phosphophoryn are modulated by flanking peptides of the integrin binding motif.

Phosphophoryn (PP) is generated from the proteolytic cleavage of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP). Gene duplications in the ancestor dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) genomic sequence created the DSPP gene in toothed animals. PP and DMP-1 are phosphorylated extracellular matrix proteins that belong to the family of small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs).