Higher Indocyanine Green Retention Is Associated with Improved Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization.

PURPOSE: To test indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICG-R15) as a prognostic biomarker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed on the data of 278 consecutive patients with HCC treated with TACE after ICG-R15 testing at a single university hospital. Cox proportional hazard model analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors. After adjusting for age, sex, stage of HCC, albumin-bilirubin score, etiologies, and baseline year by propensity score matching, the prognostic impact of higher ICG-R15 was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier curve. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analyses identified higher ICG-R15 as a positive prognostic factor for overall survival. Propensity score matching generated two 77-patient cohorts: ICG-R15 <20% group and ICG-R15 >20% group. The overall survival of the ICG-R15 >20% group was significantly better than that of the ICG-R15 <20% group. CONCLUSIONS: Higher ICG-R15 acted as a positive long-term prognostic factor in patients with HCC treated with TACE.

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma, an important cause of death in Japanese autoimmune hepatitis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was considered rare but is increasing with prolonged prognosis. Its impact on the overall prognosis of AIH is unknown, and treatment has not been established. AIM: To investigate the risk factors and prognosis of HCC in patients with AIH and identify appropriate management strategies. METHODS: We studied patients with AIH including background liver disease, sex, age, complications, treatment, response to treatment, liver fibrosis, prognosis, and treatment. RESULTS: In 131 patients, deaths due to liver failure were more common early after the onset of AIH; however, deaths due to HCC increased gradually. HCC was observed in 12 patients (median age, 70 years; male/female, 4/8; cirrhosis at onset, 11; median time to carcinogenesis, 7 years). Cirrhosis at diagnosis was identified as a risk factor for carcinogenesis in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 41.36; p < 0.0001) and cumulative cancer rates were high. Multidisciplinary therapy other than immune checkpoint inhibitors was administered as treatment for HCC. Two of the three patients who used molecular-targeted drugs discontinued the treatment because of adverse events. CONCLUSION: HCC is an important cause of death in patients with AIH. Currently available drug therapies are limited and early detection is desirable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered in the Ethics Committee of Kagawa University School of Medicine under the identifier 2019 - 238, registered on 4 Feb 2020.

Antitumor Effect of Regorafenib on MicroRNA Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Regorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, is used as a second-line treatment for advanced HCC. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of the antitumor effect of regorafenib on HCC and evaluate altered microRNA (miRNA) expression. Cell proliferation was examined in six HCC cell lines (HuH-7, HepG2, HLF, PLC/PRF/5, Hep3B, and Li-7) using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Xenografted mouse models were used to assess the effects of regorafenib in vivo. Cell cycle analysis, western blotting analysis, and miRNA expression analysis were performed to identify the antitumor inhibitory potential of regorafenib on HCC cells. Regorafenib suppressed proliferation in HuH-7 cell and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and cyclin D1 downregulation in regorafenib-sensitive cells. During miRNA analysis, miRNA molecules associated with the antitumor effect of regorafenib were found. Regorafenib suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth in HCC by decreasing cyclin D1 via alterations in intracellular and exosomal miRNAs in HCC.

Changes in body composition and low blood urea nitrogen level related to an increase in the prevalence of fatty liver over 20 years: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: Qualitative body composition (BC) change, characterized by the combination of visceral fat gain and muscle loss, is drawing attention as a risk factor for fatty liver (FL). The present study aimed to describe trends in BC change and its association with FL in the Japanese population. METHODS: Data from medical checkups carried out on 56 639 Japanese participants every 5 years from 1997 to 2017 were analyzed. Fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated using body mass index and body fat percentage. Subjects were divided into two groups according to deviations from the correlation line of FMI and FFMI as the reference: FMI-predominant BC and FFM-dominant BC. Fatty liver was determined using abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: The prevalence of FL significantly increased from 27.3% to 42.7% in men and from 18.0% to 25.5% in women. The prevalence of FMI predominance significantly increased from 33.6% to 43.9% in men and from 29.1% to 47.0% in women. Fat mass index predominance was independently associated with FL in men and women (odds ratio: 1.96 and 1.94, respectively). Serum blood urea nitrogen level was inversely associated with FL in men and women (0.958 and 0.961, respectively) and significantly decreased from 15.8 to 14.9 mg/dl in men and from 15.1 to 14.0 mg/dl in women. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing FMI-predominant BC and decreasing serum blood urea nitrogen level could account for the increase in the prevalence of FL over 20 years. We believe that these factors stem from current lifestyle habits in Japan.

Identification of microRNA associated with the elimination of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b by direct-acting antiviral therapies.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have been proven to be highly effective for the eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). However, even in cases with no detected RASs, treatment sometimes fails, suggestive of the existence of some host-related factors involved in HCV eradication by DAAs. To explore such factors, we analyzed the serum microRNAs (miRNAs) of patients who received DAA treatment. METHODS: The serum miRNA expression levels of 39 patients with chronic HCV infection without any detectable RASs, who achieved sustained virological response with asunaprevir/daclatasvir or grazoprevir/elbasvir therapy, were investigated cyclopedically, using oligonucleotide microarrays. The effects of specific miRNAs on the replication of HCV were measured in the HCV genomic replicon containing Huh-7 hepatoma cells. RESULTS: Along with the disappearance of HCV, the expression quantiles of 16 miRNAs in the asunaprevir/daclatasvir group and 18 miRNAs in the grazoprevir/elbasvir group showed a tendency to increase or decrease. Among these molecules, adjustments for multiple testing yielded a significant differential expression at a false discovery rate of less than 5% for only one molecule, hsa-miR-762. Its expression quantile increased after HCV exclusion in all patients who had achieved sustained virological response. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis validated a significant increase in the serum hsa-miR-762 after disappearance of HCV. On the contrary, hsa-miR-762 was decreased in the relapse and breakthrough of HCV in DAA failures. Transfection of hsa-miR-762 into cultured HCV-infected hepatocytes significantly decreased HCV-RNA replication. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that hsa-miR-762 is one of the host factors participating in HCV exclusion by DAA therapy.

Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorates methylglyoxal-induced peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis in mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is essential for patients with end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is a complex inflammatory, fibrogenic process. No effective treatments are available to prevent these processes. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to analyze whether HGF suppresses MGO-induced peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model. METHODS: PF was induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injections of MGO for 14 days. C57/BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: Sham group (only vehicle); Sham + MGO group (PF induced by MGO); and HGF + MGO group (PF mice treated with recombinant human-HGF). PF was assessed from tissue samples by Masson's trichrome staining. Inflammation and fibrosis-associated factors were assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: MGO-injected mice showed significant thickening of the submesothelial compact zone with PF. Treatment with HGF significantly reduced PM thickness and suppressed the expression of collagen I and III and α-SMA. Expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines (TGF-ß, TNF-α, IL-1ß) was reduced by HGF treatment. The number of macrophages, and M1 and M2 macrophage-related markers, such as CD86, CD206, and CD163, was reduced in HGF + MGO mice. CONCLUSION: HGF attenuates MGO-induced PF in mice. Furthermore, HGF treatment reduces myofibroblast and macrophage infiltration, and attenuates the upregulated expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic genes in peritoneal tissues. HGF might be an effective approach to prevent the development of PF in patients undergoing PD.

Evaluating the Effect of Lenvatinib on Sorafenib-Resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Sorafenib has been used as a first-line systemic treatment for over a decade. However, resistance to sorafenib limits patient response and presents a major hurdle during HCC treatment. Lenvatinib has been approved as a first-line systemic treatment for advanced HCC and is the first agent to achieve non-inferiority against sorafenib. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the inhibition efficacy of lenvatinib in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Only a few studies have been conducted on this topic. Two human HCC cell lines, Huh-7 and Hep-3B, were used to establish sorafenib resistance, and in vitro and in vivo studies were employed. Lenvatinib suppressed sorafenib-resistant HCC cell proliferation mainly by inducing G1 cell cycle arrest through ERK signaling. Hep-3B sorafenib-resistant cells showed partial cross-resistance to lenvatinib, possibly due to the contribution of poor autophagic responsiveness. Overall, the findings suggest that the underlying mechanism of lenvatinib in overcoming sorafenib resistance in HCC involves FGFR4-ERK signaling. Lenvatinib may be a suitable second-line therapy for unresectable HCC patients who have developed sorafenib resistance and express FGFR4.

Albumin-bilirubin score indicates liver fibrosis staging and prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

AIM: Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade was investigated to predict prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. It was defined using the ALBI score calculated based on serum total bilirubin and albumin, which represent liver function. The diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis staging in patients with chronic hepatitis using the ALBI score has not been investigated well. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic abilities of the ALBI score for liver fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in Japanese patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: Japanese patients with HCV infection who underwent liver biopsy examinations were enrolled in a retrospective study. Fibrosis staging and activity grading were assessed using the modified METAVIR score. The ALBI score was calculated according to the following equation: Log10 total bilirubin (µmol/L) × 0.66 + albumin (g/L) × (-0.085). RESULTS: A total of 382 patients were enrolled in this study. The ALBI score differentiated fibrosis stage 4 from 3 and stage 3 from 2 (P < 0.05). When an ALBI score of -2.125 was adopted as a cut-off value, the sensitivity and specificity were 73.2% and 87.1%, respectively, with a positive likelihood ratio of 5.67 to differentiate stage 4 from stages 1-3. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that smaller ALBI scores at baseline correlated with better hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free and overall survival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ALBI score indicates liver fibrosis staging in Japanese patients with HCV infection. Furthermore, smaller ALBI scores predict better HCC-free survival and overall survival. The ALBI score has the potential to expand its application from cirrhosis to chronic hepatitis.

Telmisartan Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inducing S-Phase Arrest In Vitro and In Vivo.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common primary esophageal malignancy. Telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB) and a widely used antihypertensive, has been shown to inhibit proliferation of various cancer types. This study evaluated the effects of telmisartan on human ESCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and sought to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in these antitumor effects. We examined the effects of telmisartan on three human ESCC cell lines (KYSE150, KYSE180, and KYSE850). Telmisartan inhibited proliferation of these three cell lines by inducing S-phase arrest, which was accompanied by decreased expression of cyclin A2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, and other cell cycle-related proteins. Additionally, telmisartan reduced levels of phosphorylated ErbB3 and thrombospondin-1 in KYSE180 cells. Furthermore, expression of miRNAs was remarkably altered by telmisartan in vitro. Telmisartan also inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, telmisartan inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth in ESCC cells by inducing cell-cycle arrest.

Serum miRNAs Predicting Sustained HBs Antigen Reduction 48 Weeks after Pegylated Interferon Therapy in HBe Antigen-Negative Patients.

The therapeutic goal for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is HBs antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, which is achieved through 48-week pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) therapy. This study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers for sustained HBsAg reduction by analyzing serum microRNAs. Twenty-two consecutive chronic HBV infection patients negative for HBe antigen (HBeAg) with HBV-DNA levels <5 log copies/mL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <100 U/L, and compensated liver functions, were enrolled. The patients were subcutaneously injected with Peg-IFNα-2a weekly for 48 weeks (treatment period), followed by the 48-week observation period. HBsAg 1-log drop relative to baseline levels recorded at the end of the observation period was considered effective. Sera were obtained at weeks 0 and 24 during the treatment period analyzed for microRNAs. The microRNA (miRNA) antiviral activity was evaluated in vitro using Huh7/sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) cells. As a result, six patients achieved the HBsAg 1-log drop after the observation periods. Comparison of serum microRNA levels demonstrated that high miR-6126 levels at week 24 predicted HBsAg 1-log drop. Furthermore, miR-6126 reduced HBsAg in culture medium supernatants and intracellular HBV-DNA quantities in Huh7/NTCP cells. In conclusion, high serum miR-6126 levels during Peg-IFN therapy predicted the HBsAg 1-log drop 48 weeks after the completion of therapy. In vitro assays revealed that miR-6126 was able to suppress HBsAg production and HBV replication.

Two transgenic mouse models for ß-subunit components of succinate-CoA ligase yielding pleiotropic metabolic alterations.

Succinate-CoA ligase (SUCL) is a heterodimer enzyme composed of Suclg1 α-subunit and a substrate-specific Sucla2 or Suclg2 ß-subunit yielding ATP or GTP, respectively. In humans, the deficiency of this enzyme leads to encephalomyopathy with or without methylmalonyl aciduria, in addition to resulting in mitochondrial DNA depletion. We generated mice lacking either one Sucla2 or Suclg2 allele. Sucla2 heterozygote mice exhibited tissue- and age-dependent decreases in Sucla2 expression associated with decreases in ATP-forming activity, but rebound increases in cardiac Suclg2 expression and GTP-forming activity. Bioenergetic parameters including substrate-level phosphorylation (SLP) were not different between wild-type and Sucla2 heterozygote mice unless a submaximal pharmacological inhibition of SUCL was concomitantly present. mtDNA contents were moderately decreased, but blood carnitine esters were significantly elevated. Suclg2 heterozygote mice exhibited decreases in Suclg2 expression but no rebound increases in Sucla2 expression or changes in bioenergetic parameters. Surprisingly, deletion of one Suclg2 allele in Sucla2 heterozygote mice still led to a rebound but protracted increase in Suclg2 expression, yielding double heterozygote mice with no alterations in GTP-forming activity or SLP, but more pronounced changes in mtDNA content and blood carnitine esters, and an increase in succinate dehydrogenase activity. We conclude that a partial reduction in Sucla2 elicits rebound increases in Suclg2 expression, which is sufficiently dominant to overcome even a concomitant deletion of one Suclg2 allele, pleiotropically affecting metabolic pathways associated with SUCL. These results as well as the availability of the transgenic mouse colonies will be of value in understanding SUCL deficiency.

Ectopic expression of Ptf1a induces spinal defects, urogenital defects, and anorectal malformations in Danforth's short tail mice.

Danforth's short tail (Sd) is a semidominant mutation on mouse chromosome 2, characterized by spinal defects, urogenital defects, and anorectal malformations. However, the gene responsible for the Sd phenotype was unknown. In this study, we identified the molecular basis of the Sd mutation. By positional cloning, we identified the insertion of an early transposon in the Sd candidate locus approximately 12-kb upstream of Ptf1a. We found that insertion of the transposon caused overexpression of three neighboring genes, Gm13344, Gm13336, and Ptf1a, in Sd mutant embryos and that the Sd phenotype was not caused by disruption of an as-yet-unknown gene in the candidate locus. Using multiple knockout and knock-in mouse models, we demonstrated that misexpression of Ptf1a, but not of Gm13344 or Gm13336, in the notochord, hindgut, cloaca, and mesonephros was sufficient to replicate the Sd phenotype. The ectopic expression of Ptf1a in the caudal embryo resulted in attenuated expression of Cdx2 and its downstream target genes T, Wnt3a, and Cyp26a1; we conclude that this is the molecular basis of the Sd phenotype. Analysis of Sd mutant mice will provide insight into the development of the spinal column, anus, and kidney.

[A case of renal Fanconi syndrome due to Bence Jones' protein K-type multiple myeloma].

A 60-year-old man, who had been treated for chronic kidney disease and chronic hepatitis B infection, was referred to our hospital following presentation with thoracic bone pain and exacerbation of proteinuria and hematu- ria. On admission, laboratory test results showed evidence of hypophosphatemia, glucosuria and elevated levels of both urinary NAG and 62MG.The patient was diagnosed with Fanconi syndrome based on findings indicating the presence of pan-aminoaciduria, elevated urinary excretion of uric acid and an increased phosphorus reabsorption rate. Furthermore, bone scintigraphy showed increased multiple symmetric uptake of radiotracer in both sides of the ribs, leading to the diagnosis"of hypoposphatemia-related osteomalacia with renal Fanconi syndrome. Urinary immunoelectrophoresis indicated the presence of K Bence Jones' protein (BJP). A bone marrow biopsy examina- tion showed that the plasma-to-cell ratio was less than 10%. However, the patient had over lg/day of proteinuria and suppression of serum IgM (18mg/dL) and was, therefore, diagnosed with multiple myeloma based on SWOG criteria. Light microscopic examination showed evidence of glomerulosclerosis, intimal thickness of interlobular arteries and acidophilic granular deposits in the cytoplasm of the proximal epithelial tubular cells. Immunofluores- cence indicated positive anti-K staining in these regions. Electron microscopic examination of the proximal tubular epithelial cells revealed the presence of numerous diamond-shaped and oval crystals, thought to be the K light chain of BJP. In general, cast nephropathy, light chain deposition disease (LCDD) and AL amyloidosis are recog- nized renal injuries caused by myeloma. However, there have been few clinical reports of Fanconi syndrome with multiple myeloma, such as the case study we have described here. In addition, histological examination of a biopsy sample provided further evidence of K BJP in the proximal epithelial tubular cells.

Database for exchangeable gene trap clones: pathway and gene ontology analysis of exchangeable gene trap clone mouse lines.

Gene trapping in embryonic stem (ES) cells is a proven method for large-scale random insertional mutagenesis in the mouse genome. We have established an exchangeable gene trap system, in which a reporter gene can be exchanged for any other DNA of interest through Cre/mutant lox-mediated recombination. We isolated trap clones, analyzed trapped genes, and constructed the database for Exchangeable Gene Trap Clones (EGTC) [http://egtc.jp]. The number of registered ES cell lines was 1162 on 31 August 2013. We also established 454 mouse lines from trap ES clones and deposited them in the mouse embryo bank at the Center for Animal Resources and Development, Kumamoto University, Japan. The EGTC database is the most extensive academic resource for gene-trap mouse lines. Because we used a promoter-trap strategy, all trapped genes were expressed in ES cells. To understand the general characteristics of the trapped genes in the EGTC library, we used Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for pathway analysis and found that the EGTC ES clones covered a broad range of pathways. We also used Gene Ontology (GO) classification data provided by Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) to compare the functional distribution of genes in each GO term between trapped genes in the EGTC mouse lines and total genes annotated in MGI. We found the functional distributions for the trapped genes in the EGTC mouse lines and for the RefSeq genes for the whole mouse genome were similar, indicating that the EGTC mouse lines had trapped a wide range of mouse genes.

Effectiveness of edoxaban in portal vein thrombosis associated with liver cirrhosis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) worsens the long-term prognosis of patients with cirrhosis; however, the optimal treatment remains to be determined. Reports on the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants are increasing, and further evidence is needed. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of treatment with edoxaban in patients with PVT. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of edoxaban and warfarin as antithrombotic therapies for PVT. The median overall survival time was 4.2 years in patients with PVT, with a 1-year survival rate of 70.7% and a 5-year survival rate of 47.9%. The leading cause of death was hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall response rate for thrombolysis in the edoxaban group was 76.7% compared to 29.4% in the warfarin group, and edoxaban significantly improved PVT compared to warfarin. In addition, edoxaban provided long-term improvement of PVT. Warfarin, on the other hand, was temporarily effective but did not provide long-term benefits. The Child-Pugh and albumin-bilirubin scores did not change after edoxaban or warfarin use. No deaths occurred due to adverse events associated with edoxaban or warfarin. Edoxaban as a single agent can achieve long-term recanalization without compromising the hepatic reserves. Edoxaban is easy to initiate, even in an outpatient setting, and could become a major therapeutic agent for the treatment of PVT.

A Case of Chronic Hepatitis B in which HBs Antigen Seroclearance was Induced by Pegpegylated-interferonα-2a after Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment with Nucleos(t)ide Analogues: A Five-year Follow-up.

We herein report a 40-year-old Japanese man with chronic hepatitis B genotype C (viral load 6.7 LC/mL) who developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) despite achieving undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels with nucleos (t) ide analog (NA) treatment (entecavir). Notably, his hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level remained elevated at 388.4 IU/mL. Given the continued risk of carcinogenesis associated with HBsAg positivity, we initiated pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) therapy one month after HCC surgery. Following three periods of PEG-IFN treatment, HBsAg seroclearance (HBsAg-negative state) was achieved.

Gene-trap mutagenesis using Mol/MSM-1 embryonic stem cells from MSM/Ms mice.

The MSM/Ms strain is derived from the Japanese wild mouse Mus musculus molossinus and displays characteristics not observed in common laboratory strains. Functional genomic analyses using genetically engineered MSM/Ms mice will reveal novel phenotypes and gene functions/interactions. We previously reported the establishment of a germline-competent embryonic stem (ES) cell line, Mol/MSM-1, from the MSM/Ms strain. To analyze its usefulness for insertional mutagenesis, we performed gene-trapping using these cells. In the present study, we compared the gene-trap events between Mol/MSM-1 and a conventional ES cell line, KTPU8, derived from the F1 progeny of a C57BL/6 × CBA cross. We introduced a promoter-trap vector carrying the promoterless ß-galactosidase/neomycin-resistance fusion gene into Mol/MSM-1 and KTPU8 cells, isolated clones, and identified the trapped genes by rapid amplification of cDNA 5'-ends (5'-RACE), inverse PCR, or plasmid rescue. Unexpectedly, the success rate of 5'-RACE in Mol/MSM trap clones was 47 %, lower than the 87 % observed in KTPU8 clones. Genomic analysis of the 5'-RACE-failed clones revealed that most had trapped ribosomal RNA gene regions. The percentage of ribosomal RNA region trap clones was 41 % in Mol/MSM-1 cells, but less than 10 % in KTPU8 cells. However, within the Mol/MSM-1 5'-RACE-successful clones, the trapping frequency of annotated genes, the chromosomal distribution of vector insertions, the frequency of integration into an intron around the start codon-containing exon, and the functional spectrum of trapped genes were comparable to those in KTPU8 cells. By selecting 5'-RACE-successful clones, it is possible to perform gene-trapping efficiently using Mol/MSM-1 ES cells and promoter-trap vectors.

Tim4, a macrophage receptor for apoptotic cells, binds polystyrene microplastics via aromatic-aromatic interactions.

Understanding the interface between microplastics and biological systems will provide new insights into the impacts of microplastics on living organisms. When microplastics enter the body, they are engulfed preferentially by phagocytes such as macrophages. However, it is not fully understood how phagocytes recognize microplastics and how microplastics impact phagocyte functions. In this study, we demonstrate that T cell immunoglobulin mucin 4 (Tim4), a macrophage receptor for phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on apoptotic cells, binds polystyrene (PS) microparticles as well as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through the extracellular aromatic cluster, revealing a novel interface between microplastics and biological systems via aromatic-aromatic interactions. Genetic deletion of Tim4 demonstrated that Tim4 is involved in macrophage engulfment of PS microplastics as well as of MWCNTs. While Tim4-mediated engulfment of MWCNTs causes NLRP3-dependent IL-1ß secretion, that of PS microparticles does not. PS microparticles neither induce TNF-α, reactive oxygen species, nor nitric oxide production. These data indicate that PS microparticles are not inflammatory. The PtdSer-binding site of Tim4 contains an aromatic cluster that binds PS, and Tim4-mediated macrophage engulfment of apoptotic cells, a process called efferocytosis, was competitively blocked by PS microparticles. These data suggest that PS microplastics do not directly cause acute inflammation but perturb efferocytosis, raising concerns that chronic exposure to large amounts of PS microplastics may cause chronic inflammation leading to autoimmune diseases.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir Is Effective for Relapsed Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus Patients after Achieving a Sustained Virological Response at Post-treatment Week 12 with Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir.

A patient with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C virus who had been treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (RBV) was treated with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) for 12 weeks. A sustained virological response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12) was achieved, but relapse occurred approximately 31 weeks after the end of treatment. The patient had a history of allergy to RBV and was treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), achieving SVR12 and remaining hepatitis C virus-negative until 24 weeks after the completion of treatment. LDV/SOF can thus be a secondary treatment for GLE/PIB.

Usefulness of the Measurement of Psoas Muscle Volume for Sarcopenia Diagnosis in Patients with Liver Disease.

Computed tomography (CT) is often used in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. In this study, we validated the assessment of sarcopenia by the psoas muscle volume using versatile software. The study involved a retrospective analysis of data from 190 patients with liver disease who underwent grip-strength testing and abdominal pelvic computed tomography. To assess sarcopenia, SYNAPSE 3D was used to obtain the skeletal muscle index, the psoas muscle index (PMI), and the simple method. We also used the recently proposed PMI cutoff values, for which the usefulness has been evaluated (O-PMI). The cutoff value of the psoas muscle volume index (PMVI) was determined using one of the diagnostic methods as the gold standard. All diagnostic methods showed that patients with sarcopenia had shorter survival, with O-PMI having the highest hazard ratio (HR) (HR, 6.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-14.41; p < 0.001). Even when sarcopenia could not be diagnosed by O-PMI, low PMVI was associated with shorter survival (HR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.34-9.32; p = 0.01). PMVI may be useful in the evaluation of sarcopenia, including the identification of poor overall survival in cases that cannot be diagnosed by O-PMI, which is considered more useful than PMI.