Expression of collagen-related piRNA is dysregulated in cultured dermal fibroblasts derived from patients with scleroderma

PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) is a class of recently discovered small non-coding RNAs. piRNAs derive from an initial transcript encompassing a piRNA cluster via a unique biosynthesis process, interact with PIWI proteins, bind to specific targets, and recruit chromatin modifiers to enable transcriptional repression. Abnormal expression of PIWI proteins and piRNAs has been reported in some human cancers, with participation of some PIWI/piRNAs complexes in tumorigenesis and association with cancer prognosis. Their expression in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) has not been widely elucidated. PIWI/piRNAs and their role in the pathogenesis of collagen accumulation in SSc was therefore investigated; no difference was found in the PIWIL1-4 levels between normal and cultured SSc dermal fibroblasts. Among piRNAs predicted to target SSc-related molecules, we first found significant piR-32364 up-regulation in SSc dermal fibroblasts, likely due to intrinsic TGF-β signaling. Forced piR-32364 overexpression in normal fibroblasts significantly reduced COL1A1 expression both at mRNA and protein levels, but not COL1A2. Thus, piR-32364 overexpression in SSc fibroblasts may be the negative feedback against collagen up-regulation, which could suggest the potential of piRNAs as a therapeutic target.

Glycoprotein M6A upregulation detected by transcriptome analysis controls the proliferation of keloidal fibroblasts

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are fibroproliferative disorders caused by abnormal wound healing. Their exact cause has not been found, but abnormalities during the wound healing process including inflammatory, immune, genetic, and other factors are thought to predispose an individual to excessive scarring. In the present study, we performed transcriptome analysis of established keloid cell lines (KEL FIB), focusing on gene expression analysis and fusion gene detection for the first time. For gene expression analysis, fragments per kilobase per million map read values were calculated, which were validated by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Fusion genes were predicted by transcriptome sequence, and validated by Sanger sequence and G-banding. As a result, GPM6A was shown in the expression analysis to be upregulated in KEL FIB compared with normal fibroblasts. The GPM6A upregulation in KEL FIB was confirmed by real-time PCR, and GPM6A messenger ribonucleic acid expression was consistently significantly elevated in the tissues of hypertrophic scar and keloid compared to normal skin. Immunohistochemistry also revealed that the number of fibroblast-like spindle-shaped cells positive for GPM6A was significantly increased in keloidal tissues. GPM6A inhibition by small interfering ribonucleic acid significantly reduced the number of KEL FIB. On the other hand, although we hypothesized that fusion genes are involved in the pathogenesis of keloids, the transcriptome analysis could not prove the presence of fusion genes in KEL FIB. Taken together, GPM6A upregulation may have an inducible effect on cell proliferation in keloidal fibroblasts. GPM6A can be a novel therapeutic target in hypertrophic scars and keloids. The inflammatory nature may be more prominent in the pathogenesis of keloids, rather than being skin tumors, as proposed by Ogawa et al. Future studies using several cell lines will be required.

Cribriform carcinoma in the lymph nodes is associated with distant metastasis, recurrence, and survival among patients with node-positive colorectal cancer

Cribriform lymph node pattern is an independent risk factor for metachronous or synchronous distant metastasis in patients with stage III and IV node-positive colorectal cancer. Multivariable analysis in patients with stage III disease indicated that the cribriform pattern of carcinoma in the lymph nodes was an independent risk factor for recurrence and survival. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the group with stage III cribriform-type lymph node carcinoma had shorter recurrence-free and overall survival times than the stage III group with the tubular type (P < 0.001).

Shift-and-add image processing incorporated with the unsharp masking method

Shift-and-add (SAA) is a simple image processing procedure. SAA was devised to reconstruct a diffraction-limited image from atmospherically degraded stellar images. Recently SAA has been applied to biological imaging. There are several variants of SAA. Here proposed is an SAA procedure incorporated with unsharp masking (USM). The SAA procedure proposed here encompasses an extended version of USM. The proposed SAA method retains the simplicity and easiness, and the basic features of SAA. The effectiveness of the proposed method is examined by restoring atmospherically degraded solar images. It is shown that the USM SAA reconstructed image exhibits high contrast and reveals fine structures blurred by atmospheric turbulence. It is also shown that the USM SAA performs better with a data frame selection scheme.

A rapid and facile preparation of APTS-labeled N-glycans by combination of ion pair-assisted extraction and HILIC-SPE for routine glycan analysis

Glycoanalytical technology is required for a wide variety of scientific research, including basic glycobiological pharmaceutical, and biomarker research. Although several innovative analytical techniques have been developed for these purposes, quantitative glycan analysis based on electrophoretic separation, has often been impeded by the lack of cost-effective and facile sample preparation approaches. Here, we developed a rapid and facile sample preparation workflow for cost-effective glycan analysis and demonstrated its use with fully automated microchip electrophoresis (ME). Purification of 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (APTS)-labeled glycans was based on the combination of ion-pair assisted extraction (IPAE) with hydrophilic interaction chromatography-solid phase extraction (HILIC-SPE). Compared to commonly used sample preparation methods, the IPAE/HILIC-SPE method undergoes minimal nonspecific loss and undesirable degradation of N-glycans during the purification step. Furthermore, our method required only 10 min, and the entire workflow, including glycan release, labeling, and concentration processes was completed within 4 h. Although the present system should be improved to enable analysis of more complex mixtures, ME-based separation of APTS-labeled N-glycans offers a fully automated operation including conditioning, sample loading, separation, and can be analyzed with a sample-to-sample throughput of 120 s in parallel processes. The present workflow is easy to implement, does not require expensive reagents and instruments and may be useful for glycoscientists across disciplines.

Reaching Out to Public Libraries to Help Reduce Cancer Information Disparity

In light of growing interest in people taking more proactive roles in managing the course of long term illnesses, ensuring ready access to cancer information supporting programs has become one of the paramount mandates, for many national cancer control programs. In Japan, the Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, a division of the National Cancer Center Japan (NCC-CIS), is tasked with dissemination of reliable and comprehensive cancer information for all citizens including patients and their families. NCC-CIS compiled cancer information has long been delivered via both dedicated portal “Ganjoho (Cancer Information) Service” ( https://ganjoho.jp ) as well as brochures. As majority of cancer patients and their carers tend to be seniors who are not net-savvy, the portal has its limitations as dissemination channel. A more personalized support is provided by a nationwide network of Cancer Information and Support Centers (CISCs), collocated within 434 state-designated cancer hospitals. CISCs offer both information and counseling support to anyone who has cancer related issues, even if they have never been treated at the given facility. While CISC is a public service, subsidized with national and prefectural funding, many of those in need, remain unaware of the CISCs - at least in part, due to its very location, within a hectic acute care settings. To reach a wider audience, NCC-CIS and CISCs have started to collaborate with public libraries which have traditionally been a neighborhood source of reference information for both the young and old, and clearly more approachable than medical professionals in large hospitals. We have begun by disseminating a “starter-kit” of NCC-CIS publications to public libraries that have signed up with “Cancer Information Gift” project, a donor funded effort launched last summer. To date, almost 60 libraries have taken up this opportunity to either launch a new “Cancer Information Corner”. We have also brought the participating libraries and local CISCs together in regional workshops settings, to explore ways to mutually complement the information services offered by both parties. Collaborative initiatives that have come out of such explorations include “Book Talk on Disease in Library”, an interactive session in relaxed settings, where participants can feel more at ease, raising a wide range of personal concerns, around an issue highlighted in a given book, with both librarians and cancer counselors mediating the discussion. Referrals to CISCs from libraries are also beginning though in low volumes. While the “Cancer Information Gift” project, and its related initiatives are still very much at a nascent stage, we believe this collaboration could potentially go a lot further, to make reliable cancer information (and CISCs) more accessible to a wider segment of those in need, and in the process, help reduce the cancer disparity across the nation.

Effect of GLP-1 receptor agonist on gastrointestinal tract motility and residue rates as evaluated by capsule endoscopy

AIM

This study evaluated the effects of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist on gastrointestinal (GI) tract motility and residue rates by examining GI transit time and lumen using capsule endoscopy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

GI motility and lumen were assessed by capsule endoscopy before and after liraglutide administration in 14 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESULTS

Gastric transit time in the group with diabetic neuropathy (DN) was 1:12:36±1:04:30h before liraglutide administration and 0:48:40±0:32:52h after administration (nonsignificant difference, P=0.19). Gastric transit time in the non-DN group was 1:01:30±0:52:59h before administration and 2:33:29±1:37:24h after administration (significant increase, P=0.03). Duodenal and small intestine transit time in the DN group was 4:10:34±0:25:54h before and 6:38:42±3:52:42h after administration (not significant, P=0.09) and, in the non-DN group, 3:51:03±0:53:47h before and 6:45:31±2:41:36h after administration (significant increase, P=0.03). The GI residue rate in the DN group was 32.1±24% before administration and 90.0±9.1% after administration (significant increase, P<0.001), and increased in all patients; in the non-DN group, it was 32.1±35.3% before and 78.3±23.9% after administration (significant increase, P<0.001), and also increased in all patients.

CONCLUSION

Liraglutide causes delayed gastric emptying and inhibits duodenal and small intestine motility. However, these GI movement-inhibiting effects may be decreased or absent in patients with DN-associated dysautonomia.

The effect of hydroxychloroquine on lupus erythematosus-like skin lesions in MRL/lpr mice

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on lupus erythematosus (LE)-like skin lesions in the MRL/lpr mouse, a model for systemic LE (SLE).

METHODS

We divided the MRL/lpr mice into three groups that were given: (1) drinking water, (2) HCQ at a dose of 4 mg/kg/d, or (3) HCQ at a dose of 40 mg/kg/d. The HCQ was administered to examine the effect and safety of HCQ on skin lesions and the number of infiltrating cells including mast cells in the dermis.

RESULTS

Six of 13 mice in the group given drinking water, 3 of 11 mice in the group administered low-dose HCQ (4 mg/kg/d), and 1 of 10 mice in the group administered high-dose HCQ (40 mg/kg/d) presented the skin lesions. The average number of mast cells was 81, 50, and 12 (magnification, ×100), the mortality rate was 24%, 8%, and 9% and the mean body weight gain was 4.6 g, 8.0 g and 5.1 g, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

HCQ was demonstrated to decrease the appearance of LE-like lesions and the number of mast cells in the dermis. Furthermore, there were no obvious systemic adverse effects. This study provides evidence that suggests benefits in human patients.

Administration of teriparatide improves the symptoms of advanced bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: preliminary findings

Teriparatide is a synthetic polypeptide hormone that contains the 1-34 amino acid fragment of the recombinant human parathyroid hormone that stimulates bone formation. Currently, it is approved only for the treatment of osteoporosis. The outcomes of daily teriparatide injections for the treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in 10 patients are reported here. Two of the 10 cases dropped out due to adverse events. Of the remaining eight cases, seven exhibited clinical improvement of the jaw-related symptoms of osteonecrosis and progression of the sequestration, while one case did not show improvement of the symptoms. Administration of teriparatide in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw promotes bone formation and subsequent sequestration over a short period of time. These results suggest that adjunctive teriparatide therapy is a viable and effective option for treating osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Current-induced magnetic domain wall motion below intrinsic threshold triggered by Walker breakdown

Controlling the position of a magnetic domain wall with electric current may allow for new types of non-volatile memory and logic devices. To be practical, however, the threshold current density necessary for domain wall motion must be reduced below present values. Intrinsic pinning due to magnetic anisotropy, as recently observed in perpendicularly magnetized Co/Ni nanowires, has been shown to give rise to an intrinsic current threshold J(th)(0). Here, we show that domain wall motion can be induced at current densities 40% below J(th)(0) when an external magnetic field of the order of the domain wall pinning field is applied. We observe that the velocity of the domain wall motion is the vector sum of current- and field-induced velocities, and that the domain wall can be driven against the direction of a magnetic field as large as 2,000 Oe, even at currents below J(th)(0). We show that this counterintuitive phenomenon is triggered by Walker breakdown, and that the additive velocities provide a unique way of simultaneously determining the spin polarization of current and the Gilbert damping constant.

Feasibility of cytological diagnosis of sarcoidosis with endobronchial US-guided transbronchial aspiration

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a high diagnostic value in sarcoidosis if the obtained histological specimen is indicative of a non-caseating epithelioid-cell granuloma. However, EBUS-TBNA in sacoidosis sometimes affords solely cytological specimens.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relevance of EBUS-TBNA cytology specimens in diagnosing sarcoidosis.

DESIGN

The study population comprised 72 patients with sarcoidosis and 116 patients who had thoracic malignancies and intrathoracic lymphadenopathy but were eventually proven to be metastasis-free (controls). The EBUS-TBNA samples obtained for these subjects were blindly evaluated for the presence of epithelioid cell clusters by 2 independent cytoscreeners and a pathologist.

RESULTS

Interobserver variability in the specimen grading was minimal. The sensitivity and specificity were 65.3% and 94.0%, respectively. The sensitivity was high, at 87.5%, for the combined cytological and histological examinations. Of 7 controls whose cytological specimens showed epithelioid cell clusters, 3 were also deemed positive for sarcoidosis on histological examination, which indicated that they had sarcoid reaction to cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytological evaluation of the EBUS-TBNA specimens had higher sensitivity than histological evaluation alone for intrathoracic lymphadenopathy due to sarcoidosis. It should be recognized, however, that up to 6% of patients with thoracic malignancy may have sarcoid reaction in non-metastatic lymph nodes.

Observation of the intrinsic pinning of a magnetic domain wall in a ferromagnetic nanowire

The spin transfer torque is essential for electrical magnetization switching. When a magnetic domain wall is driven by an electric current through an adiabatic spin torque, the theory predicts a threshold current even for a perfect wire without any extrinsic pinning. The experimental confirmation of this 'intrinsic pinning', however, has long been missing. Here, we give evidence that this intrinsic pinning determines the threshold, and thus that the adiabatic spin torque dominates the domain wall motion in a perpendicularly magnetized Co/Ni nanowire. The intrinsic nature manifests itself both in the field-independent threshold current and in the presence of its minimum on tuning the wire width. The demonstrated domain wall motion purely due to the adiabatic spin torque will serve to achieve robust operation and low energy consumption in spintronic devices.

Detection of human papillomavirus type 56 in Bowen's disease involving the nail matrix

BACKGROUND

As Bowen's disease of the nail apparatus is quite rare, there have been only a few reports on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in this condition.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of HPV with this disease involving the nail apparatus.

METHODS

Five patients with Bowen's disease of the nail apparatus were investigated clinically, virologically and histologically. Total DNAs extracted from excised skin lesions were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HPV DNA and the amplified products were subjected to DNA sequence analyses. Histological localization of HPV DNA was examined by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

In three of five patients, HPV was detected by PCR amplification, and subsequent sequence analyses of the PCR products showed the sequences of HPV type 56. A common clinical feature of the three HPV-positive patients was longitudinal melanonychia. In contrast, the two HPV-negative patients presented with a convex nail deformity and a periungual ulcerative lesion. In two of three positive cases, there was a silent point mutation in the L1 gene of each HPV. In the remaining one case, the nucleotide sequence was consistent with the consensus sequence of HPV 56. Sequence analyses of the E6 gene revealed the infection of different variants of HPV 56 among the three cases. The viral genomes were located in keratinocyte nuclei upon in situ hybridization.

CONCLUSIONS

HPV 56 may be involved in the carcinogenesis of Bowen's disease affecting the nail matrix with longitudinal pigmentation.

Ca2+ Channel Currents Inhibited by Serum from Select Patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome

We performed an electrophysiological study demonstrating inhibition of spontaneous muscle action potentials within a coculture of rat muscle and spinal cord by exposure to serum, as well as purified IgG, from patients with the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). However, exposure to serum from two patients with the acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) form of GBS had no effect. Using a whole-cell recording technique, we then investigated the effects of serum and purified IgG from patients with GBS on voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) currents in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. Serum from patients with GBS (AMAN) inhibited VDCC currents in PC12 cells, which was fully reversible by washing with the bath solution. Similarly, purified IgG from the serum of two patients with GBS (AMAN) also inhibited VDCC currents in PC12 cells. In contrast, sera from patients with AIDP and healthy volunteers did not affect VDCC currents in PC12 cells. These results suggest that muscle weakness in some patients with GBS might be induced by inhibition of Ca2+ channel currents within motor nerve terminals.

How is epigenetic information on chromatin inherited after DNA replication?

Although most somatic cells have identical genetic information, gene expression profiles are quite distinct in each cell type. The gene expression profiles are considered to be determined mainly by chromatin-encoded epigenetic information that includes histone modifications, histone variants, and factors such as HP1 and polycomb group proteins that organize higher-ordered chromatin structures. To gain insights into how such epigenetic information on chromatin is inherited on daughter DNA strands after DNA replication, we have purified the preassembled form of histone H3 by immunoaffinity purification. The histone H3 complex contains the two histone H3-H4 chaperones CAF1 and ASF1. Surprisingly, the H3 complex also contains a pair of H3-H4 dimers. This observation is striking because histones H3-H4 are known to exist as tetramers in solution. Since histones H3-H4 in the predeposition complex exist as a dimer, this raises the possibility that the H3-H4 dimer in the complex pairs with a parental H3-H4 dimer, assembling the de novo-synthesized and parental H3-H4 dimers in the same nucleosome. Based on these results, we propose a semi-conservative model of nucleosome duplication, which allows for segregation of parental H3-H4 dimers with encoded epigenetic information evenly to daughter DNA strands.

Transbronchial Fine Needle Aspiration Cytological Examination: A Useful Tool for Diagnosing Primary Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Obtaining a definitive preoperative diagnosis plays a critical role in deciding upon the treatment approach for lung carcinoma. However, success in making definitive diagnoses of small primary lung cancers will require new approaches because these cancers are difficult to detect using standard biopsy procedures.

METHODS

We evaluated the results of morphologic definitive diagnosis together with various clinical factors in 1003 primary lung cancers resected surgically. Patients underwent transbronchial brushing, fine needle aspiration cytology, forceps biopsy, and/or forceps biopsy-stamp cytology for preoperative diagnoses, in conjunction with the use of Diff-Quik to confirm that hits had been made on the radiographic shadows before terminating the examinations.

RESULTS

Sensitivities of the diagnostic procedures for primary lung cancers were as follows: 64.8% for brushing, 56.1% for transbronchial forceps biopsy, 72.0% for transbronchial forceps biopsy-stamp cytology, and 86.4% for transbronchial fine needle aspiration. The four transbronchial biopsy procedures had a combined overall sensitivity of 92.7%. In patients with peripheral lung cancers of 2 cm or less in diameter, transbronchial fine needle aspiration had a sensitivity of 75.9%, which was the highest sensitivity for all transbronchial examinations. In the subset of 296 patients who underwent all four transbronchial biopsy examinations, transbronchial fine needle aspiration had the highest sensitivity of preoperative diagnosis of all the transbronchial examination methods.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of preoperative cytological diagnosis for primary lung cancers, especially transbronchial aspiration cytology, is high. Transbronchial fine needle aspiration cytology is useful for the preoperative diagnosis of primary lung cancer.

Increased stress protein ORP150 autoantibody production in Type 1 diabetic patients

AIMS

Various genetic and environmental stresses interfere with protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which leads to the induction of ER stress. It has recently been reported that ER stress is involved in the development of diabetes in diabetic animal models. The aim of this study is to estimate ER stress levels in Type 1 diabetic patients.

METHODS

We recruited Type 1 diabetic patients undergoing periodic follow-up examinations (n = 91) and healthy non-diabetic individuals (n = 37), and measured their serum anti-oxygen-related protein (ORP)150 autoantibody levels.

RESULTS

Anti-ORP150 autoantibody levels in Type 1 diabetic patients were significantly higher compared with those in healthy non-diabetic subjects. Furthermore, the serum autoantibody levels in Type 1 diabetic patients correlated with HbA(1c) (F > 3.0, P = 0.079), indicating that hyperglycaemia itself induces ER stress in diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-ORP150 autoantibody levels in Type 1 diabetic patients are higher compared with non-diabetic subjects, suggesting that ER stress is increased in Type 1 diabetes.

Blue-dye technique complements four-node sampling for early breast cancer

AIMS

To examine four-node axillary sampling assisted by a blue dye (4NAS/dye) technique as a sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for breast cancer.

METHODS

Lymphatic mapping was performed by injection of patent blue for 33 consecutive cases with breast cancer. Axillary sampling was performed until four nodes were obtained. This was followed by back-up axillary lymph node dissection to examine the feasibility of 4NAS/dye. The same study with 30 cases was conducted at an independent hospital to confirm the feasibility of this method. This method was then applied to 101 consecutive clinically node-negative patients to avoid axillary-node dissection, with intraoperative diagnosis made by frozen section examination.

RESULTS

The median numbers of blue-stained nodes and nodes excised by 4NAS/dye were 1.7 and 3.4, respectively. The identification rate of sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) was 81.8% using the dye alone and 97.0% when the combination was used. Pathological examination revealed that the nodal status was correctly predicted by the dye alone in 62.5% of cases with metastasis, whereas in 100% by 4NAS/dye. The dye alone was not sufficient to identify SNs, especially in cases with prior excisional biopsy. The identification rate of SNs and the accuracy rate in another feasibility study were 100% and 92.5% in 30 consecutive cases, respectively. 4NAS/dye successfully detected SNs in 100 of 101 cases of the subsequent observational study with an acceptable post-operative axillary morbidity and thus succeeded as an SNB.

CONCLUSIONS

The 4NAS/dye method is reliable for the detection of SNs. This method could be applied to observational studies without radio-isotope.