MCAM+CD161- Th17 Subset Expressing CD83 Enhances Tc17 Response in Psoriasis.

Recent studies have highlighted the pathogenic roles of IL-17-producing CD8+ T cells (T-cytotoxic 17 [Tc17]) in psoriasis. However, the underlying mechanisms of Tc17 induction remain unclear. In this study, we focused on the pathogenic subsets of Th17 and their mechanism of promotion of Tc17 responses. We determined that the pathogenic Th17-enriched fraction expressed melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) and CCR6, but not CD161, because this subset produced IL-17A abundantly and the presence of these cells in the peripheral blood of patients has been correlated with the severity of psoriasis. Intriguingly, the serial analysis of gene expression revealed that CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells displayed the gene profile for adaptive immune responses, including CD83, which is an activator for CD8+ T cells. Coculture assay with or without intercellular contact between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed that CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells induced the proliferation of CD8+ T cells in a CD83-dependent manner. However, the production of IL-17A by CD8+ T cells required exogenous IL-17A, suggesting that intercellular contact via CD83 and the production of IL-17A from activated CD4+ T cells elicit Tc17 responses. Intriguingly, the CD83 expression was enhanced in the presence of IL-15, and CD83+ cells stimulated with IL-1ß, IL-23, IL-15, and IL-15Rα did not express FOXP3. Furthermore, CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells expressing CD83 were increased in the peripheral blood of patients, and the CD83+ Th17-type cells accumulated in the lesional skin of psoriasis. In conclusion, pathogenic MCAM+CD161- Th17 cells may be involved in the Tc17 responses via IL-17A and CD83 in psoriasis.

Utility of the Japanese version of the Clinical Dementia Rating® plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre Behaviour and Language Domains for sporadic cases of frontotemporal dementia in Japan.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to validate the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) dementia staging instrument plus the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre Behaviour and Language Domains (CDR® plus NACC FTLD) for use in clinical settings in Japan and in the Japanese language. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 29 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia from the Departments of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and Asakayama General Hospital and the Brain Function Centre at Nippon Life Hospital. CDR® plus NACC FTLD, CDR®, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), Neuropsychiatric Inventory-plus (NPI-plus), Stereotypy Rating Inventory (SRI), and frontal behavioural symptom scores obtained from items of NPI-plus and SRI, were conducted to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability, validity, and responsiveness. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to evaluate the discriminating power of the Behaviour/Comportment/Personality (BEHAV) and Language (LANG) domains of the CDR® plus NACC FTLD and the MEMORY domain of the CDR® in patients AD dementia and FTD. RESULTS: The CDR® plus NACC FTLD showed good inter- and intra-rater reliabilities. In patients with FTD, the BEHAV domain of the CDR® plus NACC FTLD was significantly correlated with all clinical measures except for the SRI total score, while the LANG domain of the CDR® plus NACC FTLD was significantly correlated with the MMSE and the WAB-Aphasia quotient. In addition, the CDR® plus NACC FTLD sum of boxes significantly changed after 6 months and after 1 year. ROC curve analysis showed that the BEHAV and LANG domains of the CDR® plus NACC FTLD distinguished between patients with AD dementia and FTD better than the MEMORY domain of the CDR®. CONCLUSIONS: This study validated the Japanese version of the CDR® plus NACC FTLD with good reliability, validity, and responsiveness.

Intraperitoneal transfer of microRNA-29b-containing small extracellular vesicles can suppress peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) contain various microRNAs (miRNAs) and play crucial roles in the tumor metastatic process. Although miR-29b levels in peritoneal exosomes were markedly reduced in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM), their role has not been fully clarified. In this study, we asked whether the replacement of miR-29b can affect the development of PM in a murine model. UE6E7T-12, human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), were transfected with miR-29b-integrating recombinant lentiviral vector and sEV were isolated from culture supernatants using ultracentrifugation. The sEV contained markedly increased amounts of miR-29b compared with negative controls. Treatment with transforming growth factor-ß1 decreased the expression of E-cadherin and calretinin with increased expression of vimentin and fibronectin on human omental tissue-derived mesothelial cells (HPMCs). However, the effects were totally abrogated by adding miR-29b-rich sEV. The sEV inhibited proliferation and migration of HPMCs by 15% (p < 0.005, n = 6) and 70% (p < 0.005, n = 6), respectively, and inhibited adhesion of NUGC-4 and MKN45 to HPMCs by 90% (p < 0.0001, n = 5) and 77% (p < 0.0001, n = 5), respectively. MicroRNA-29b-rich murine sEV were similarly obtained using mouse BMSCs and examined for in vivo effects with a syngeneic murine model using YTN16P, a highly metastatic clone of gastric cancer cell. Intraperitoneal (IP) transfer of the sEV every 3 days markedly reduced the number of PM from YTN16P in the mesentery (p < 0.05, n = 6) and the omentum (p < 0.05, n = 6). Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived sEV are a useful carrier for IP administration of miR-29b, which can suppress the development of PM of gastric cancer.

Aqueous Povidone-Iodine Versus Normal Saline For Intraoperative Wound Irrigation on The Incidence of Surgical Site Infection in Clean-Contaminated Wounds After Gastroenterological Surgery: A Single-Institute, Prospective, Blinded-Endpoint, Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This trial evaluated the superiority of intraoperative wound irrigation (IOWI) with aqueous povidone-iodine (PVP-I) compared with that with saline for reducing the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). BACKGROUND: IOWI with aqueous PVP-I is recommended for the prevention of SSI by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the evidence level is low. METHODS: This single institute in Japan, prospective, randomized, blinded-endpoint trial was conducted to assess the superiority of IOWI with aqueous PVP-I in comparison with IOWI with saline for reducing the incidence of SSI in clean-contaminated wounds after gastroenterological surgery. Patients 20 years or older were assessed for eligibility, and the eligible participants were randomized at a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated block randomization. In the study group, IOWI was performed for 1 minute with 40 mL of aqueous 10% PVP-I before skin closure. In the control group, the procedure was performed with 100 mL of saline. Participants, assessors, and analysts were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional SSI in the intention-to-treat set. RESULTS: Between June 2019 and March 2022, 941 patients were randomized to the study group (473 patients) or the control group (468 patients). The incidence of incisional SSI was 7.6% in the study group and 5.1% in the control group (risk difference 0.025, 95% CI -0.006 to 0.056; risk ratio 1.484, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.448; P =0.154). CONCLUSION: The current recommendation of IOWI with aqueous PVP-I should be reconsidered.

The Ang III/AT2R Pathway Enhances Glucose Uptake by Improving GLUT1 Expression in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Angiotensin III (Ang III) is a heptapeptide derived from Ang II that has been confirmed as the preferred agonist of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R). Recent studies have revealed AT2R mainly exerts anti-inflammation effects. However, the effects of the Ang III/AT2R pathway on adipocytes remain unknown. Here, the effects of Ang III on glucose uptake were examined. The results showed that AT2R expression was upregulated during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, whereas AT1R expression was diminished. Also, Ang III (10 nM) significantly increased glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was blocked by PD123319, an AT2R blocker, but not by irbesartan, an AT1R blocker. Ang III also induced the expression of glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1). These stimulatory effects were inhibited by pretreatment with PD123319, but not with irbesartan. Together, these results indicate that Ang III enhances glucose uptake by upregulating GLUT1 expression via AT2R.

Skewing of peritoneal resident macrophages toward M1-like is involved in enhancement of inflammatory responses induced by secondary necrotic neutrophils in aged mice.

Secondary necrotic cells, which are generated if apoptotic cells are incompletely cleared, induce severe inflammatory responses involving MIP-2 production and subsequent neutrophil infiltration. Recently, we showed that the phagocytic capacity of peritoneal resident macrophages from wild type (WT) aged mice as well as SMP30(-/-) mice fed a VC-limited diet as to secondary necrotic cells was reduced as compared with that in young mice, and that the inflammatory responses induced were stronger than those in young mice, presumably because of the delay in removal of secondary necrotic cells in aged mice. In this study, we investigated why MIP-2 production was increased in aged mice upon injection of secondary necrotic cells and why the phagocytic capacity of peritoneal resident macrophages from aged mice was reduced. When cocultured with secondary necrotic cells, the peritoneal resident macrophages from both types of aged mice significantly produced MIP-2 even in the absence of IFN-γ, whereas MIP-2 production by macrophages from WT young mice required IFN-γ. The peritoneal resident macrophages from both types of aged mice expressed CD40, a M1 macrophage marker, as in the case of M1 macrophages, which were obtained by treatment of macrophages from WT young mice with IFN-γ and LPS. Furthermore, M1 macrophages exhibited less phagocytic capacity as to secondary necrotic cells than non-treated macrophages. These results suggest that the phenotype of peritoneal resident macrophages is skewed toward M1-like in aged mice and that such skewing toward M1-like is involved in enhancement of inflammatory responses induced by secondary necrotic neutrophils in aged mice.

A case of rapidly progressing sarcomatous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with suddenly appearing lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The sarcomatous variant of carcinoma is relatively rare in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Sarcomatous ICC (SICC) is associated with a poorer prognosis compared with ICC. SICC is rarely diagnosed before surgery due to non-descriptive findings; it progresses rapidly, resulting in miserable prognosis. Here, we report a case of rapidly progressing SICC that showed a clinically significant tumor growth rate. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman who had undergone ileocecal resection for cecal cancer 5 years previously was found to have elevated levels of the tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Although an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan did not detect any liver mass lesions until 3 months before this serum examination, the subsequent CT scan revealed a hypodensity 20 mm mass lesion in the right anterior section. Contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging revealed peripheral enhancement in the arterial-to-equilibrium phase. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography revealed uptake in the lesion. None of the imaging modalities showed lymph node swelling or distant metastases. She underwent hepatectomy under the diagnosis of ICC or an atypical metastasis from previous cecal cancer. Although preoperative images showed no suspicious lymph node metastasis 3 weeks prior, the hilar lymph node swelled 3 cm and contained adenocarcinoma. Consequently, the patient underwent right anterior sectionectomy and lymph node dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament. Histopathological examination revealed that the liver tumor was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with sarcomatous pattern. While the patient received adjuvant gemcitabine and S-1 therapy, lymph node metastasis appeared in the mediastinum 13 months after the surgery. She received gemcitabine + cisplatin + S-1 therapy but died 20 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: SICC and lymph node metastasis clinically appeared within 3 months and 3 weeks, respectively. Suspected ICC that rapidly progresses should be considered SICC and treated with early resection. SICC is often missed in clinical diagnosis and has a poor prognosis, even after curative resection. While an alternative strategy involving preoperative biopsy and neoadjuvant therapy may be beneficial, it should be approached with discretion due to the potential risks of tumor progression and peritoneal dissemination.

Vagus nerve signal has an inhibitory influence on the development of peritoneal metastasis in murine gastric cancer.

The vagus nerve is the only pathway for transmitting parasympathetic signals between the brain and thoracoabdominal organs, thereby exhibiting anti-inflammatory functions through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Despite often being resected during lymph node dissection in upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery, the impact of vagotomy on postoperative outcomes in gastric cancer patients remains unclear. Sub-diaphragmatic vagotomy was performed on C57BL/6 mice. Three weeks later, syngeneic murine gastric cancer cell line YTN16P was injected into the peritoneal cavity, and the number of peritoneal metastases (PM) on the mesentery and omentum compared with control mice. The phenotypes of immune cells in peritoneal lavage and omental milky spots one day after tumor inoculation were analyzed using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Intraperitoneal transfer of 3 × 105 YTN16P significantly increased the number of metastatic nodules on the mesentery in the vagotomy group compared to the control group. The omental metastasis grade was also significantly higher in the vagotomy group. Phenotypic analysis of immune cells in peritoneal lavage did not reveal significant differences after vagotomy. However, vagotomized mice exhibited a notable increase in milky spot area, with a higher presence of cytokeratin(+) tumor cells, F4/80(+) macrophages, and CD3(+) T cells. Vagus nerve signaling appears to regulate the immune response dynamics within milky spots against disseminated tumor cells and inhibits the development of PM. Preserving the vagus nerve may offer advantages in advanced gastric cancer surgery to reduce peritoneal recurrence.

Intraperitoneal administration of adeno-associated virus encoding microRNA-29b for the treatment of peritoneal metastasis.

This study explores a novel therapeutic approach for peritoneal metastasis (PM) using AAV-mediated delivery of tumor suppressor microRNA-29b (miR-29b) to peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMC). AAV serotypes 2 and DJ demonstrate high transduction efficiency for human and murine PMC, respectively. In vitro analysis indicates that AAV vectors encoding miR-29b precursor successfully elevate miR-29b expression in PMC and their secreted small extracellular vesicle (sEV), thereby inhibiting mesothelial mesenchymal transition and reducing subsequent attachment of tumor cells. A single intraperitoneal (IP) administration of AAV-DJ-miR-29b demonstrates robust and sustained transgene expression, suppressing peritoneal fibrosis and inhibiting the development of PM from gastric and pancreatic cancers. Additionally, AAV-DJ-miR-29b enhances the efficacy of IP chemotherapy using paclitaxel, restraining the growth of established PM. While conventional gene therapy for cancer encounters challenges targeting tumor cells directly but delivering miRNA to the tumor stroma offers a straightforward and efficient means of altering the microenvironment, leading to substantial inhibition of tumor growth. AAV-mediated miR-29b delivery to peritoneum via IP route presents a simple, minimally invasive, and promising therapeutic strategy for refractory PM.

Suppression of MIP-2 or IL-8 production by annexins A1 and A4 during coculturing of macrophages with late apoptotic human peripheral blood neutrophils.

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a well-known anti-inflammatory protein that is expressed on the surface of apoptotic cells. Annexin A4 (ANXA4) is also recruited from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in apoptotic cells, although it is not known whether or not ANXA4 is expressed on the surface of apoptotic cells. In this study, we obtained rabbit anti-human ANXA1 and ANXA4 antibodies, and then examined whether or not ANXA1 and ANXA4 are expressed on the surface of early and late human apoptotic cells. ANXA1 and, to a lesser extent, ANXA4 were detected on late but not early apoptotic HeLa cells, whereas ANXA1 and a small amount of ANXA4 were detected on both early and late apoptotic human neutrophils. We then examined the effects of the anti-human ANXA1 and ANXA4 antibodies on the mouse or human macrophage response to human apoptotic cells. Upon coculturing of mouse or human macrophages with late apoptotic human neutrophils, anti-human ANXA1 antibodies and, to a lesser extent, anti-human ANXA4 antibodies increased MIP-2 or IL-8 production significantly, suggesting that ANXA1 and ANXA4 suppress MIP-2 or IL-8 production by macrophages in response to late apoptotic human neutrophils.

A novel animal model of Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in humanized mice.

EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is a rare yet devastating disorder caused by EBV infection in humans. However, the mechanism of this disease has yet to be elucidated because of a lack of appropriate animal models. Here, we used a human CD34(+) cell-transplanted humanized mouse model and reproduced pathologic conditions resembling EBV-HLH in humans. By 10 weeks postinfection, two-thirds of the infected mice died after exhibiting high and persistent viremia, leukocytosis, IFN-γ cytokinenemia, normocytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. EBV-infected mice also showed systemic organ infiltration by activated CD8(+) T cells and prominent hemophagocytosis in BM, spleen, and liver. Notably, the level of EBV load in plasma correlated directly with both the activation frequency of CD8(+) T cells and the level of IFN-γ in plasma. Moreover, high levels of EBV-encoded small RNA1 were detected in plasma of infected mice, reflecting what has been observed in patients. These findings suggest that our EBV infection model mirrors virologic, hematologic, and immunopathologic aspects of EBV-HLH. Furthermore, in contrast to CD8(+) T cells, we found a significant decrease of natural killer cells, myeloid dendritic cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the spleens of infected mice, suggesting that the collapse of balanced immunity associates with the progression of EBV-HLH pathogenesis.

Effects of regular exercise on neutrophil functions, oxidative stress parameters and antibody responses against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts in middle aged humans.

Regular exercise has recognized health benefits, partly because it reportedly lowers the levels of the oxidation products of proteins and DNA at rest, in contrast with the effect of acute exercise. However, when we compared oxidative response markers in active middle-aged subjects with those in sedentary ones, the level of urinary 8-OHdG was higher in active subjects. Because neutrophils are the first line of defense against a variety of infectious diseases, we then compared the cell density, functions and apoptosis of neutrophils in active subjects with those in sedentary ones. The cell density of neutrophils and phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by neutrophils were higher in active subjects, being similar with the reported effects of acute exercise. To determine any beneficial effects of oxidative stress in active subjects, we then compared the levels of antibodies against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts in active subjects with those in sedentary ones, because 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal is one of the most common bioactive aldehyde products of oxidative stress, and because the IgM class of antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with atheroprotective properties. The level of the IgM but not the IgG class of antibodies against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts was higher in active subjects. Overall, this study revealed that our active middle-aged subjects showed both oxidative responses and a higher IgM response to reactive carbonyl derivatives, possibly providing a basis for a health benefit by exercise in our active subjects.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric parietal cells and E-cadherin in Mongolian gerbils.

Atrophic gastritis caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori is characterized by parietal cell loss, which is a main risk factor for gastric cancer. Parietal cells play a crucial role in the regulation of cell lineage maturation and proliferation in the gastric units. Among the classical cadherins, E-cadherin plays an important role not only in epithelial cell-cell connections, but also in the maintenance of epithelial polarity and gastric glandular architecture and regulation of cell proliferation. The aim of this study is to elucidate how parietal cells and E-cadherin are altered in gastritis with Helicobacter pylori infection. We studied the effects of Helicobacter pylori on gastric mucosal E-cadherin 2 weeks after inoculation and investigated the relationship between parietal cell loss and the amount of E-cadherin on parietal cells in Mongolian gerbils. The number of parietal cells and amount of staining of E-cadherin below the isthmus were investigated by immunohistochemistry. It was shown that a reduction in intercellular E-cadherin preceded the disappearance of parietal cells. The gastric glands where parietal cells were lost were replaced by mucus secreting cells without E-cadherin. These results suggest that Helicobacter pylori damaged E-cadherin on parietal cells and caused massive parietal cell loss, leading to the deregulation of gastric morphology.

EEG resting-state networks in Alzheimer's disease associated with clinical symptoms.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neuropsychiatric disease affecting many elderly people and is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment of memory, visuospatial, and executive functions. As the elderly population is growing, the number of AD patients is increasing considerably. There is currently growing interest in determining AD's cognitive dysfunction markers. We used exact low-resolution-brain-electromagnetic-tomography independent-component-analysis (eLORETA-ICA) to assess activities of five electroencephalography resting-state-networks (EEG-RSNs) in 90 drug-free AD patients and 11 drug-free patients with mild-cognitive-impairment due to AD (ADMCI). Compared to 147 healthy subjects, the AD/ADMCI patients showed significantly decreased activities in the memory network and occipital alpha activity, where the age difference between the AD/ADMCI and healthy groups was corrected by linear regression analysis. Furthermore, the age-corrected EEG-RSN activities showed correlations with cognitive function test scores in AD/ADMCI. In particular, decreased memory network activity showed correlations with worse total cognitive scores for both Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease-Assessment-Scale-cognitive-component-Japanese version (ADAS-J cog) including worse sub-scores for orientation, registration, repetition, word recognition and ideational praxis. Our results indicate that AD affects specific EEG-RSNs and deteriorated network activity causes symptoms. Overall, eLORETA-ICA is a useful, non-invasive tool for assessing EEG-functional-network activities and provides better understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease.

5'-Phosphate oligodeoxynucleotides enhance the phosphodiester-CpG DNA-induced inflammatory response in macrophages.

Dying cells release genomic DNA into the surroundings where the DNA is first degraded to oligodeoxynucleotides, then to nucleotides, nucleosides and so on. Given that the unmethylated CpG dinucleotide (CpG motif), which is characteristic of bacterial DNA, is also contained in mammalian DNA and has been reported to be involved in the exacerbation of DNA-associated autoimmune diseases, we investigated whether nucleotides and nucleosides affect immune responses to phosphodiester (PO)-CpG DNA. Addition of non-CpG DNA to RAW264.7, murine macrophage-like cells, induced no significant TNF-α production irrespective of treatment with DNase I; however, DNase I-treated, but not untreated, non-CpG DNA increased the PO-CpG DNA-mediated TNF-α production. This increase was not observed with phosphorothioate-CpG DNA or ligands for TLR3, TLR4 or TLR7. Deoxynucleotides with a 5'-phosphate showed similar effects to those of DNase I-treated non-CpG DNA, but DNase II-treated DNA or deoxynucleosides did not. Subcutaneous injection of PO-CpG DNA into the mouse footpad induced little swelling of the paw; however, significant swelling was observed when DNase I-treated DNA was co-injected with PO-CpG DNA. These results imply that PO-CpG DNA-dependent inflammatory responses are increased by DNA molecules with a 5'-phosphate; such molecules could therefore be considered as exacerbating factors for CpG motif-related inflammation.

Sustained exogenous expression of therapeutic levels of IFN-gamma ameliorates atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice via Th1 polarization.

The short in vivo half-life of IFN-gamma can prevent the cytokine from inducing immunological changes that are favorable for the treatment of Th2-dominant diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. To examine whether a sustained supply of IFN-gamma is effective in regulating the balance of Th lymphocyte subpopulations, plasmid vector encoding mouse IFN-gamma, pCpG-Mugamma, or pCMV-Mugamma was injected into the tail vein of NC/Nga mice, a model for human atopic dermatitis. A single hydrodynamic injection of a CpG motif reduced pCpG-Mugamma at a dose of 0.14 microg/mouse resulted in a sustained concentration of IFN-gamma in the serum, and the concentration was maintained at >300 pg/ml over 80 d. The pCpG-Mugamma-mediated IFN-gamma gene transfer was associated with an increase in the serum concentration of IL-12, reduced production of IgE, and inhibition of mRNA expression of IL-4, -5, -10, -13, and -17 and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in the spleen. These immunological changes were not clearly observed in mice receiving two injections of 20 microg pCMV-Mugamma, a CpG-replete plasmid DNA, because of the transient nature of the expression from the vector. The mice receiving pCpG-Mugamma showed a significant reduction in the severity of skin lesions and in the intensity of their scratching behavior. Furthermore, high transepidermal water loss, epidermal thickening, and infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils, all of which were obvious in the untreated mice, were significantly inhibited. These results indicate that an extraordinary sustained IFN-gamma expression induces favorable immunological changes, leading to a Th1-dominant state in the atopic dermatitis model.

Topical application of acetic acid in cytoreduction of gastric cancer. A technical report using mouse model.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Application of acetic acid topically to the mucosal or serosal side of the stomach has been well used to create a chronic gastric ulcer model. The aim of the present study was to apply it as a new cytoreductive approach in a mouse model of gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 43 genetically engineered mice, the so-called (INS-GAS) mice that develop spontaneously gastric cancer at 10-14 months of age, were included. Acetic acid-induced ulcer method was applied to mice under isofluran anesthesia. The ulcer at the cancer side was made by exposing either the anterior serosal or posterior mucosal side of gastric wall to 0.1 mL of 60% or 100% acetic acid for 30 or 60 s with a cylindrical metal mold (4 mm ID). Route to the serosal side was intra-abdominal and one to the mucosal side was through a small hole made in the forestomach. The opposite side of gastric wall (no treatment with acetic acid) was used as the corresponding control. After the mice were sacrificed, the stomachs were collected 1, 3, 6 h or 1, 3 and 7 days, postoperatively, and evaluated by visual inspection and histology. RESULTS: Gastric cancer was found in both the anterior and posterior walls of the corpus in all 43 mice. Intraluminal pH value was between 11 and 13. Severe necrosis in the cancer was observed in the side exposing to acetic acid, but not in the control side, shortly after the treatment (i.e. within 30 or 60 min). The muscularis mucosa and muscle layers were less damaged, regardless of the side of the treatment. Ulcer formation in the cancer took place 1, 3 or 7 days later. The ulcer depth was sometimes at the muscularis mucosa and muscle layers. At 3 and 7 days, regeneration of epithelial cells was clearly observed in the ulcer margin in the stomach of mice. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of acetic acid either from mucosal or serosal surface promptly caused the necrosis of tumor, suggesting the potential approach of this simple and reliable method as a cytoreductive treatment of gastric cancer in patients through endoscopy or laparoscopy.

Acute regeneration and chronic acellular transformation of rabbit cryopreserved aortic allografts.

An analysis of rabbit cryopreserved aortic allografts excised on postoperative days (POD) 2, 5, 11, 60, 210, 360, and 720, as well as controls that were untransplanted native aortas and cryopreserved aortas, was performed. On POD2, the number of medial smooth muscle cells in the allografts was reduced to approximately 50%. Ki-67 analysis revealed that medial smooth muscle cells in the allografts proliferated from the 2nd day. By the 11th day, their proliferation ceased and the number of medial smooth muscle cells was restored to almost at the same level as in the controls. Polymorphic microsatellite DNA marker analysis disclosed that the restored medial smooth muscle cells were of donor origin. From 7 months through 2 years, the media of cryopreserved aortic allografts were transformed into acellular structures, in which the elastic fibers were preserved. On the other hand, newly accumulated smooth muscle cells were observed in the adventitia just outside of acellular media after 7 months. In some cases, scattered lamellar calcium deposition was observed in the same regions. This study presents a comprehensive documentation of regeneration and acellular transformation in cryopreserved aortic allografts based on short and long-term analysis.

Role of Cancer Stem-like Cells in the Process of Invasion and Mesenchymal Transformation by a Reconstituted Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cell Population Resistant to p53-induced Apoptosis.

We investigated the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in a population of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells that are resistant to apoptosis. A human breast cancer cell population capable of inducing p53 expression with doxycycline (Dox) was created and used as an untreated control (UT). After the addition of Dox to UT for 5 days, the cell population reconstituted with cells showing resistance to apoptosis was named RE. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and immunostaining revealed that after the addition of Dox, the ratio of cells in the S and G2/M phases decreased in UT as apoptosis proceeded, but did not markedly change in apoptosis-resistant RE. CSC-like cells in RE exhibited a cell morphology with a larger ratio of the major/minor axis than UT. FACS showed that RE had a higher proportion of CSC-like cells and contained more CD44+CD24- mesenchymal CSCs than ALDH1A3+ epithelial-like CSCs. In a Matrigel invasion assay, UT was more likely to form a three-dimensional cell population, whereas RE exhibited a planar population, higher migration ability, and the up-regulated expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes. These results provide insights into the mechanisms by which TNBC cells acquire treatment resistance at the time of recurrence.

Impact of sarcopenia on surgical and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of sarcopenia on short- and long-term outcomes for laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: Study participants were 209 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for any stage of colorectal cancer between 2016 and 2017. Skeletal muscle indices were calculated with preoperative computed tomography. Patients were divided into sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups based on index cut-off values and variables were compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 41.1%. Sarcopenic patients experienced shorter operative times and a lower incidence of surgical site infections; however, the incidence of severe postoperative complications and readmission were increased for this group. Although the 3-year disease-free survival rate was not statistically different between groups, sarcopenic patients had a significantly worse 3-year overall survival rate compared with than the non-sarcopenic group. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia has both favorable and unfavorable effects on patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.