ABSTRACT Background Maspin is known to be a tumor suppressor protein and its prognostic significance in patients with several types of cancer has been reported. To date, however, no study has focused ...on the association between maspin expression and the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. We explored the prognostic value of maspin expression with particular reference to its subcellular localization in patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. Methods Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 46 patients diagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix were immunohistochemically analyzed using an antibody for maspin. The patients were followed up for 3 to 165 months (median: 64.2 months) and the prognostic value was evaluated by the log-rank test and the Cox regression hazard model. Results A sample was considered maspin-positive if maspin was expressed in only the cytoplasm; 69.6% (32 cases) of the specimens were maspin-positive, and there was significant correlation between positivity and recurrence (P=0.022). Maspin-positive patients had both shorter disease free survival and shorter overall survival by the log-rank test (P=0.023, P=0.043, respectively). By Cox's multivariate analysis, the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) status was the only independent prognostic factor for disease free survival and overall survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. Conclusion This is the first report to reveal an association between cytoplasmic maspin expression and the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. Although further studies with a larger series of patients and a longer follow up period are necessary, the present results suggest that cytoplasmic maspin expression could be an indicator of unfavorable prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Nef, an accessory protein of HIV−1, has been shown to be critical for both high viral loads and progression to AIDS. We recently demonstrated that Nef inhibited the bioactivities of M-CSF, a ...monocytes/macrophages-specific cytokine (Blood 105: 3230–3237, 2005). The inhibitory effect of Nef is a likely explanation for dysregulated functions in HIV−1−infected macrophages. Here, we examined the specificity and molecular mechanism of the newly-characterized function of Nef, to clarify its relevance to the pathogenetic activity of Nef. By analyzing cytokine-dependent cell lines expressing the conditionally active Nef, we found that Nef had a profound inhibitory effect on M-CSF signal, but not on IL-4- and GM-CSF signals. We also found that Nef down-regulated the surface expression of M-CSF receptor (M-CSFR) but not of GM-CSF receptors. The M-CSFR down-regulation by Nef was reproducible in 293 cells when co-transfected with Hck, a member of Src kinases. Interestingly, the down-regulation of cell surface M-CSFR in the presence of Nef and Hck correlated with the concomitant increase of the immature form of M-CSFR. These results suggested that Nef perturbed M-CSFR maturation through Hck and thereby selectively inhibited M-CSF signal.
Primary retroperitoneal cystic tumor is extremely rare, and its histogenesis and biological behavior remain speculative. Two surgical cases of retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma (Case 1, an ...18‐year‐old woman; and Case 2, an 85‐year‐old woman) are reported. The cystadenomas in these cases were mainly lined by a monolayer of columnar or thin flat cells. Case 1 was positive for mucin and epithelial membrane antigen, whereas Case 2 was positive for a mesothelial marker (calretinin). Ciliated epithelium was also interspersed in Case 2. Some parts showed papillary projections, resembling well‐differentiated papillary mesothelioma. Within the cyst walls of both cases, ovarian‐like stroma that was positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors was found. Interestingly, focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver was also detected in Case 1. We believe the retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma might have arisen from the peritoneum via mucinous epithelial metaplasia with a phenotype of extragenital Mullerian system.
To clarify the causes, types, and mechanisms of injuries in children, we collected injury cases and analyzed their causes.
During the 3-year period from 2013, we collected injury cases from three ...sources: nursery schools and kindergartens (A), emergency clinics of hospitals (B), and schools and a clinic for the developmentally disabled (C), using a format designed by Safe Kids Japan.
In all, 383 cases were collected during the 3-year period. The causes of the injuries in group A were crashes, falls, and so on. The types of injuries were cuts, bruises, fractures, injuries of teeth, etc. Dislocations and abrasions were prominent in nursery school children (aged less than 3 years) and bone fractures were prominent in kindergarten children aged more than 3 years.Group B consisted of 144 cases. The most common causes of injuries were falls, traffic accidents, and so on, and the types of injuries were fractures, abrasions, sprains, etc. The incidence of fractures was particularly high and 50% of the accidents were bicycle accidents.Group C consisted of 41 cases. Although the age distribution was similar to that of group B, the types of accidents and injuries were similar to those of group A.The Bodygraphic Injury Surveillance System (BISS) analysis showed that groups A and C were similar, that is, injuries occurred mainly to the head, whereas in group B, the extremities were mainly affected.
We analyzed the causes, types, and mechanisms of childhood injuries. The BISS may help to clarify the mechanisms of injuries in childhood.
We report the case of an 80-year-old female suffering from pancreatic cancer who developed severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) resulting in fatal hepatic failure after anti-cancer ...chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Hepatic encephalopathy appeared 1 year after the chemotherapy, and the patient developed progressive liver failure and eventually died. Radiological examination showed severe fatty liver. Histopathological examination of a liver needle necropsy showed almost panlobular macrovesicular fatty change. Ballooning degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes accompanying neutrophil infiltration, Mallory bodies, and a few bile plugs were found in zone 3. Marked perivenular and pericellular/perisinusoidal fibrosis and extensive bridging fibrosis were also found. Together, these findings indicated steatohepatitis at a precirrhotic stage. Because the patient had no history of drinking in excess, we made a diagnosis of NASH, in particular, chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis (CASH). Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine nucleoside antimetabolite with anti-cancer activity. A few reports have mentioned fatal hepatotoxicity caused by gemcitabine, but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of steatohepatitis, possibly associated with gemcitabine. Physicians treating patients with this drug should be aware of the possibility of steatohepatitis.
Abstract Aims The atherogenicity of chylomicron remnants has been discussed. We examined whether serum apoB48 level is associated with the presence of carotid plaque in type 2 diabetic patients. ...Method Forty type 2 diabetic patients (21 males and 19 females, 52.8 ± 11.8 years old; mean ± S.D.) were divided into two groups by the presence or absence of carotid plaque. The diurnal change of serum apoB48 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Fasting serum apoB48 level was higher in the subjects with carotid plaque than those without (6.5 ± 3.8 vs. 4.1 ± 1.9 μg/ml, p = 0.01). Age- and gender-adjusted analysis showed that the presence of carotid plaque was associated with fasting apoB48 (OR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.07–2.09, p = 0.04) and triglyceride (OR 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02–1.32, p = 0.04) levels. In normal LDL-cholesterol (<140 mg/dl) subjects, the presence of carotid plaque was associated with fasting apoB48 level (OR 2.16; 95% CI, 1.22–5.32, p = 0.04), but not associated with fasting triglyceride level (OR 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99–1.30, p = 0.13). Conclusions Serum apoB48 level was strongly associated with the presence of carotid plaque in type 2 diabetic patients.
Nationwide survey of hip fractures in Japan
Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association,
2004, Volume:
9, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
To elucidate the current status of hip fracture incidence and treatment in Japan, a tally of hip fractures in patients from 1998 to 2000 was conducted in Japanese Orthopaedic Association-related ...hospitals. Response rates were from 40.5% to 55.6% in each observation year. The survey found a total of 110,747 new hip fractures aged 35 years old and over during the survey years. Age- and gender-specific number of patients increased with age and peaked at the age of 80-84 years, then leveled off after 85 years of age. The number of patients with femoral neck fractures exceeded that with trochanteric fractures before 75 years of age, and these figures became inverted thereafter. More left hips were fractured than right in all survey years; however, the difference was not significant. The most common cause of hip fractures was a simple fall; 68.8% sustained fractures indoors, and there was a significant monthly variation. Ninety-three percent of the patients with femoral neck fractures and 94% of the patients with trochanteric fractures were treated surgically, and about three fourths were treated with hemiarthroplasty among patients with femoral neck fractures. The mean hospitalization period was 56.4 days during the observation period.
A 70-year old man was admitted to our hospital because of nonproductive cough, fever and increasing dyspnea associated with alveolar opacities on chest roentgenogram, which later migrated to ...previously unaffected areas. The diagnosis of Chlamydial pneumonitis was made on serological grounds. Organizing pneumonia was documented by transbronchial lung biopsies and the subsequent course was satisfactory under minocycline therapy. Chlamydial infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of migratory pulmonary infiltrates.
The adenosine receptor subtype mediating glucose production by glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis was studied in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Adenosine and adenosine agonists caused cyclic AMP ...accumulation in rat hepatocytes. The order of potency was 5′-
N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA)>
R(−)-
N
6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (RPIA)>adenosine>2-
p-(carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino-5′-
N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680). Furthermore, adenosine agonists stimulated glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. The order of potency was NECA>RPIA>CGS21680. The rank order of potency is typical for adenosine A
2B receptors. Glycogenolysis stimulated by NECA was fully inhibited by nonselective adenosine antagonists, 9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)1,2,4triazolo1,5-
cquinazolin-5-amine (CGS15943). However, the adenosine A
2A receptor-selective antagonist, 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine (CSC), and the adenosine A
1 receptor-selective antagonist, (+)-(
R)-(
E)-3-(2-phenylpyrazolo1,5-alphapyridin-3-yl)acryloyl-2-piperidine ethanol (FK453), had a low inhibitory potency. A strong correlation was found between the inhibitory effect of adenosine antagonists on NECA-induced glucose production and that on intracellular cyclic AMP generation in rat hepatocytes. Our results suggest that adenosine stimulates cyclic AMP formation and regulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, most likely through the adenosine A
2B receptor subtype in rat hepatocytes.
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