Quality of life after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) often have severe and intractable abdominal pain, leading to decreased quality of life (QOL), inability to work or attend school, and increased health care costs due to repeated emergency room visits and hospitalizations. METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy of total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) in terms of pain control and QOL in CP patients treated at our center in Japan. To evaluate QOL, we used the Short-Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2® Standard, Japanese), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Pancreatic Modification (QLQ-PAN28). RESULTS: Between August 2016 and June 2019, we performed this procedure in 5 patients. All patients were followed up for 12 months and all transplanted islets were still functioning at the 1-year follow-up. The major adverse events were abdominal wall hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, intra-abdominal abscess, and abdominal pain requiring hospitalization; no case had sequelae. No major complications were due to islet transplantation. Pain scores improved postoperatively in all patients. Three QOL item dimensions role-physical (p = 0.03125), general health perception (p = 0.03125) and vitality (p = 0.03125) in the SF-36 were significantly improved 12 months after TPIAT. Mean values of many other QOL items improved, though not significantly. CONCLUSION: The QOL improvement after TPIAT for CP suggests its effectiveness in the Japanese population.

Development of Pancreatic Cancer, Disease-specific Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Nonresected IPMNs: A Long-term Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the cumulative incidence, disease-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality of pancreatic cancer (PC) in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and to identify imaging findings that are associated with these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study had institutional review board approval, and the need to obtain patient consent was waived. Data from an electronic database were analyzed and supplemented by chart reviews for 285 patients with nonresected IPMNs who were periodically followed up with imaging (1273 multidetector computed tomography and 750 magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography examinations). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative development of PC, PC mortality, and all-cause mortality (factors were compared by using the log-rank test). RESULTS: Over a median imaging follow-up period of 39 months, 12 (4.2%) of 285 patients developed PC; the cumulative 5-year PC incidence was 3.9% for branch duct (BD)-IPMNs, 45.5% for main duct (MD)-IPMNs (P < .01), 7.7% for cysts 30 mm or larger, and 5.3% for cysts smaller than 30 mm (P = .82). Over a median survival follow-up period of 47.5 months, seven (2.5%) of 285 patients died of PC and 14 (4.9%) patients died of other causes. Cumulative 5-year PC mortality was 2.1% for BD-IPMNs, 18.5% for MD-IPMNs (P < .01), 2.6% for cysts 30 mm or larger, and 2.8% for cysts smaller than 30 mm (P = .90). Cumulative 5-year all-cause mortality was 5.5% for BD-IPMNs, 18.5% for MD-IPMNs (P < .01), 12.5% for cysts 30 mm or larger, and 5.9% for cysts smaller than 30 mm (P = .89). CONCLUSION: Five-year PC development, disease-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality were approximately 4%, 2%, and 6% for BD-IPMNs and 46%, 19%, and 19% for MD-IPMNs, respectively. The presence of an MD-IPMN, but not cyst size, was significantly associated with PC development and subsequent mortality.

N-Cadherin is a prospective cell surface marker of human mesenchymal stem cells that have high ability for cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the most promising sources of stem cells for regenerative medicine. However, the range of their differentiation ability is very limited. In this study, we explored prospective cell surface markers of human MSCs that readily differentiate into cardiomyocytes. When the cardiomyogenic differentiation potential and the expression of cell surface markers involved in heart development were analyzed using various immortalized human MSC lines, the MSCs with high expression of N-cadherin showed a higher probability of differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes. The differentiated cardiomyocytes expressed terminally differentiated cardiomyocyte-specific markers such as α-actinin, cardiac troponin T, and connexin-43. A similar correlation was observed with primary human MSCs derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue. Moreover, N-cadherin-positive MSCs isolated with N-cadherin antibody-conjugated magnetic beads showed an apparently higher ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes than the N-cadherin-negative population. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that the N-cadherin-positive population expressed significantly elevated levels of cardiomyogenic progenitor-specific transcription factors, including Nkx2.5, Hand1, and GATA4 mRNAs. Our results suggest that N-cadherin is a novel prospective cell surface marker of human MSCs that show a better ability for cardiomyocyte differentiation.

A case of malignant insulinoma: successful control of glycemic fluctuation by replacing octreotide injections with octreotide LAR injections.

A 73-year-old woman with malignant insulinoma was treated with 100 µg/day octreotide for unresected insulinoma and liver metastases. The daily administration of the drug induced hyperglycemia after dinner in addition to existing fasting hypoglycemia possibly because this drug suppressed both insulin and glucagon secretion and its blood concentration was unstable. After replacing a daily injection of octreotide with a monthly injection of octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR), blood glucose levels stabilized within the normal range. The findings of the present study showed that octreotide LAR could be useful for the long-term treatment of unresectable insulinomas.

Efficiently differentiating vascular endothelial cells from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free culture.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have been reported to be multipotent and to differentiate into various cell types, including osteocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and neural cells. Recently, many authors have reported that ASCs are also able to differentiate into vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in vitro. However, these reports included the use of medium containing fetal bovine serum for endothelial differentiation. In the present study, we have developed a novel method for differentiating mouse ASCs into VECs under serum-free conditions. After the differentiation culture, over 80% of the cells expressed vascular endothelial-specific marker proteins and could take up low-density lipoprotein in vitro. This protocol should be helpful in clarifying the mechanisms of ASC differentiation into the VSC lineage.

Pdx1-transfected adipose tissue-derived stem cells differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vivo and reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic mice.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is characterized by the rapid development of potentially severe metabolic abnormalities resulting from insulin deficiency. The transplantation of insulin-producing cells is a promising approach for the treatment of IDDM. The transcription factor pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) plays an important role in the differentiation of pancreatic beta cells. In this study, the human Pdx1 gene was transduced and expressed in murine adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs). To evaluate pancreatic repair, we used a mouse model of pancreatic damage resulting in hyperglycemia, which involves injection of mice with streptozotocin (STZ). STZ-treated mice transplanted with Pdx1-transduced ASCs (Pdx1-ASCs) showed significantly decreased blood glucose levels and increased survival, when compared with control mice. While stable expression of Pdx1 in ASCs did not induce the pancreatic phenotype in vitro in our experiment, the transplanted stem cells became engrafted in the pancreas, wherein they expressed insulin and C-peptide, which is a marker of insulin-producing cells. These results suggest that Pdx1-ASCs are stably engrafted in the pancreas, acquire a functional beta-cell phenotype, and partially restore pancreatic function in vivo. The ease and safety associated with extirpating high numbers of cells from adipose tissues support the applicability of this system to developing a new cell therapy for IDDM.

[Two cases of cancer in the reconstructed gastric tube after resection of esophageal cancer -An analysis of 7 cases in our hospital-].

We review 7 cases of cancer in the reconstructed gastric tube after resection for esophageal cancer in our hospital. From this experience, we report 2 cases which were resected curatively by endoscopic or open surgery. Case 1, a 61-year-old man received a subtotal esophagectomy reconstructed by a gastric tube, retromediastinally. 85 months after operation, cancer in the gastric tube was detected endoscopically, and partial resection was performed. Case 2, a 75-year-old man received subtotal esophagectomy reconstructed by a gastric tube via a retro-mediastinal route. After 104 months, early cancer in the gastric tube was diagnosed and we performed endoscopic mucosal dissection (ESD). Long-term follow-up by regular endoscopy is necessary in patients after esophageal surgery to screen for cancer in the reconstructed gastric tube.

Rapid hepatic fate specification of adipose-derived stem cells and their therapeutic potential for liver failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Multipotential mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), present in many organs and tissues, represent an attractive tool for the establishment of a successful stem cell-based therapy in the field of regeneration medicine. Adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC), known as adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) are especially attractive in the context of future clinical applications because of their high accessibility and minimal invasiveness during the procedure to obtain them. The goal of the present study was to induce human ASC into functional hepatocytes in vitro within a very short period of time and to check their therapeutic potential in vivo. METHODS: In vitro generated ASC-derived hepatocytes were checked for hepatocyte-specific markers and functions. Afterwards, they were transplanted into nude mice with liver injury. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, biochemical parameters were evaluated in blood serum. RESULTS: We have shown here that ASC can be differentiated into hepatocytes within 13 days and can reach the functional properties of primary human hepatocytes. After transplantation into mice with acute liver failure, ASC-derived hepatocytes can restore such liver functions as ammonia and purine metabolism. Markers of liver injury, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as ammonia, were decreased after ASC-derived hepatocyte transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the properties of ASC as having a special affinity for hepatocyte differentiation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo. Thus, ASC may be a superior choice for the establishment of a therapy for injured liver.

IFATS collection: in vivo therapeutic potential of human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells after transplantation into mice with liver injury.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), largely present in the adult human body, represent an attractive tool for the establishment of a stem cell-based therapy for liver diseases. Recently, the therapeutic potential and immunomodulatory activity of MSCs have been revealed. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs), so-called adipose-derived stem cells or adipose stromal cells, because of their high accessibility with minimal invasiveness, are especially attractive in the context of future clinical applications. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of AT-MSCs by their transplantation into nude mice with CCl(4)-caused liver injury. We observed that after transplantation, AT-MSCs can improve liver functions, which we verified by changes in the levels of biochemical parameters. Ammonia, uric acid, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase concentrations returned to a nearly normal level after AT-MSC transplantation. These results raised the question of how AT-MSCs can achieve this. To discover the possible mechanisms involved in this therapeutic ability of AT-MSCs, in vitro production of cytokines and growth factors was analyzed and compared with MSCs from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). As a result we observed that AT-MSCs secrete interleukin 1 receptor alpha (IL-1Ralpha), IL-6, IL-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemotactic protein 1, nerve growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor in a volume higher than both BM-MSCs and NHDFs. Thus, our findings suggest that AT-MSCs may account for their broad therapeutic efficacy in animal models of liver diseases and in the clinical settings for liver disease treatment. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells as a source of human hepatocytes.

UNLABELLED: Recent observations indicate that several stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes; thus, cell-based therapy is a potential alternative to liver transplantation. The goal of the present study was to examine the in vitro hepatic differentiation potential of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs). We used AT-MSCs from different age patients and found that, after incubation with specific growth factors (hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], fibroblast growth factor [FGF1], FGF4) the CD105(+) fraction of AT-MSCs exhibited high hepatic differentiation ability in an adherent monoculture condition. CD105(+) AT-MSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells revealed several liver-specific markers and functions, such as albumin production, low-density lipoprotein uptake, and ammonia detoxification. More importantly, CD105(+) AT-MSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells, after transplantation into mice incorporated into the parenchyma of the liver. CONCLUSION: Adipose tissue is a source of multipotent stem cells that can be easily isolated, selected, and induced into mature, transplantable hepatocytes. The fact that they are easy to procure ex vivo in large numbers makes them an attractive tool for clinical studies in the context of establishing an alternative therapy for liver dysfunction.

Introduction of Sd(a) carbohydrate antigen in gastrointestinal cancer cells eliminates selectin ligands and inhibits metastasis.

The Sd(a) blood group carbohydrate structure is expressed in the normal gastrointestinal mucosa. We reported previously that the expression of Sd(a) carbohydrate structures and beta1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta1,4GalNAcT) activity responsible for Sd(a) synthesis were remarkably decreased in cancer lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we found that Sd(a) antigen was expressed mainly in chief cells of normal stomach but not in cancer tissue by immunohistologic staining. In separated gastric mucosal cells, the Sd(a) glycolipids and beta1,4GalNAcT activity were concentrated in a fraction that contained chief cells as a major population. We cloned the cDNA encoding the glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of Sd(a) (Sd(a)-beta1,4GalNAcT). Introduction of this cloned cDNA into KATO III gastric or HT29 colonic cancer cell lines, which originally expressed the E-selectin ligands, sialyl Lewis(x) and sialyl Lewis(a), resulted in a marked increase in cell-surface expression of Sd(a) along with the concomitant total loss of both sialyl Lewis(x) and sialyl Lewis(a). Both KATO III and HT29 cells transfected with the Sd(a)-beta1,4GalNAcT gene showed significantly decreased adhesion to activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells when compared with mock-transfected cells. Sd(a) determinants showed no direct binding to Siglec-3, -5, -7, and -9. These Sd(a)-beta1,4GalNAcT-transfected cells showed strikingly reduced metastatic potential in vivo when compared with mock-transfected cells. In summary, forced expression of Sd(a) carbohydrate determinant caused remarkable elimination of carbohydrate ligands for selectin and reduced metastasis of human gastrointestinal tract cancer cells.

A recurrent duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor with a frameshift mutation resulting in a stop codon in KIT exon 13.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a specific and rare subset of human gastrointestinal tract tumors. Most GISTs show gain-of-function mutations of KIT, mainly in exon 11, that always maintain the reading frame. We report on data from a 43-year-old Japanese man with recurrent duodenal GIST and a frameshift mutation in KIT exon 13 together with an in-frame deletion in KIT exon 11 detected by genomic DNA sequencing. Deletion of 48 base pairs of KIT exon 11, which preserved the reading frame, was identified in both primary and recurrent tumors, whereas deletion of one nucleotide of codon 642 of KIT exon 13, which changed the reading frame and induced a novel stop codon at amino acid 644, was found only in the recurrent tumor. The predicted protein resulting from the latter would lack part of the kinase domain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation of a GIST with a frameshift mutation of KIT.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for postoperative follow-up of intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: After resection of an intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor (IPMT), benign tumors or portions of the resected tumor are sometimes left in place to avoid total pancreatectomy. We evaluated the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in postoperative follow-up. METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent MRCP 0.5 to 6.5 years after pancreatic resection for IPMT. RESULTS: Two patients with surgical margin involvement of the main pancreatic duct showed mildly enhanced ductal dilatation due to anastomotic stenosis. In 4 patients with residual IPMT of the branch ducts, postoperative MRCP demonstrated no changes. MRCP revealed new IPMT 1 year after surgery in 1 patient. No patients showed intraductal or intracystic mural nodules postoperatively. In 3 patients with postoperative pancreatitis or recurrent abdominal discomfort, MRCP demonstrated ductal dilatation and poor secretin-stimulated pancreatic secretion into the gastrointestinal tract, which suggested pancreatoenterostomic stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: MRCP is useful for postoperative follow-up of IPMT, in terms of investigating residual or recurrent IPMT and evaluating postpancreatectomy long-term complications.

Differential diagnosis of benign versus malignant nonfunctioning islet cell tumors of the pancreas: the roles of EUS and ERCP.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation between benign and malignant nonfunctioning islet cell tumors of the pancreas before surgery is often difficult. The roles of EUS and ERCP were evaluated in the differential diagnosis of these tumors. METHODS: Seven patients with histologically confirmed nonfunctioning islet cell tumors (4 benign, 3 malignant) underwent EUS and ERCP. OBSERVATIONS: EUS demonstrated a homogeneous hypoechoic mass or a hypoechoic mass with a regular central echogenic area in the 4 cases of benign tumor, and a hypoechoic mass with an irregular central echogenic area in all 3 cases of malignant tumor. The irregular central echogenic area corresponded to severe hemorrhage, necrosis, or fibrosis with hyalinosis (hyaline degeneration) on pathologic examination. ERCP demonstrated displacement or complete obstruction (because of ductal invasion) of the main pancreatic duct in 2 patients with malignant tumors and no abnormalities in the other 5 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with nonfunctioning islet cell tumors, a hypoechoic mass with an irregular central echogenic area on EUS or complete obstruction of the main pancreatic duct on ERCP suggests malignancy.