Vonoprazan as a Long-Term Maintenance Treatment for Erosive Esophagitis: VISION, a 5-Year, Randomized, Open-Label Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acid secretion inhibitors are associated with hypergastrinemia, which can lead to gastric mucosal changes. Potassium-competitive acid blockers, such as vonoprazan, are more potent than proton pump inhibitors, but long-term safety data are lacking. METHODS: In this phase 4, randomized trial, patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) received induction therapy (once-daily vonoprazan 20 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg; ≤8 weeks). Those with healed EE received maintenance therapy (once-daily vonoprazan 10 mg or lansoprazole 15 mg) for 260 weeks (2:1). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with malignant epithelial cell alterations, parietal cell hyperplasia, foveolar hyperplasia, enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyperplasia, and G-cell hyperplasia. RESULTS: Overall, 202/208 patients (vonoprazan n=139; lansoprazole n=69) achieved healed EE and received maintenance therapy. No malignant alterations or gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) were observed; there was one adenoma in each group. At week 260, more patients taking vonoprazan versus lansoprazole had parietal cell hyperplasia (97.1% vs 86.5%) and foveolar hyperplasia (14.7% vs 1.9%); proportions of patients with ECL cell hyperplasia (4.9% vs 7.7%) and G-cell hyperplasia (85.3% vs 76.9%) were similar. Median serum gastrin levels were higher with vonoprazan treatment versus lansoprazole (625 pg/mL vs 200 pg/mL). Incidences of adverse events were comparable for both treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The exploratory VISION study assessed the safety profile of vonoprazan and lansoprazole over 5 years in Japanese patients with healed EE. While gastrin concentration, parietal cell hyperplasia and foveolar hyperplasia were higher in the vonoprazan group, there was no increased risk of malignant epithelial cell alterations and gastric NETs. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02679508.).

Gastric dysplastic lesions in Helicobacter pylori-naïve stomach: Foveolar-type adenoma and intestinal-type dysplasia.

Reports of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-naïve gastric neoplasm (HpNGN) cases have been rapidly increasing due to the recent increase in the Hp-naïve population in Japan. Most HpNGNs exhibit the gastric immunophenotype and a low malignant potential regardless of histological type. Especially, foveolar-type gastric adenoma (FGA) and intestinal-type gastric dysplasia (IGD) rarely progress to invasive carcinoma. FGA is a foveolar epithelial neoplasm that occurs in the fundic gland (oxyntic gland) mucosa and is classified as the flat type or raspberry type (FGA-RA). The flat type is a large, whitish flatly elevated lesion while FGA-RA is a small reddish polyp. Genomically, the flat type is characterized by APC and KRAS gene mutations and FGA-RA by a common single nucleotide variant in the KLF4 gene. This KLF4 single-nucleotide variant reportedly induces gastric foveolar epithelial tumorigenesis and activates both cell proliferation and apoptosis, leading to its slow-growing nature. IGD consists of an intestinalized epithelial dysplasia that develops in the pyloric gland mucosa, characterized as a superficial depressed lesion surrounded by raised mucosa showing a gastritis-like appearance. Immunohistochemically, it exhibits an intestinal or gastrointestinal phenotype and, frequently, p53 overexpression. Thus, IGD shows unique characteristics in HpNGNs and a potential multistep tumorigenic process.

Remarkable response as a new indicator for endoscopic evaluation of local efficacy of non-surgical treatments for esophageal cancer.

In Japan, standard of care of the patients with resectable esophageal cancer is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by esophagectomy. Patients unfitted for surgery or with unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer are generally indicated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Local disease control is undoubtful important for the management of patients with esophageal cancer, therefore endoscopic evaluation of local efficacy after non-surgical treatments must be essential. The significant shrink of primary site after NAC has been reported as a good indicator of pathological good response as well as favorable survival outcome after esophagectomy. And patients who could achieve remarkable shrink to T1 level after CRT had favorable outcomes with salvage surgery and could be good candidates for salvage endoscopic treatments. Based on these data, "Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer, 12th edition" defined the new endoscopic criteria "remarkable response (RR)", that means significant volume reduction after treatment, with the subjective endoscopic evaluation are proposed. In addition, the finding of local recurrence (LR) at primary site after achieving a CR was also proposed in the latest edition of Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer. The findings of LR are also important for detecting candidates for salvage endoscopic treatments at an early timing during surveillance after CRT. The endoscopic evaluation would encourage us to make concrete decisions for further treatment indications, therefore physicians treating patients with esophageal cancer should be well-acquainted with each finding.

Randomised clinical trial: 3-year interim analysis results of the VISION trial to evaluate the long-term safety of vonoprazan as maintenance treatment in patients with erosive oesophagitis.

BACKGROUND: VISION is a randomised, phase 4, open-label, parallel-group, multicentre study conducted in 33 centres in Japan. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term safety of vonoprazan for maintenance treatment of healed erosive oesophagitis versus lansoprazole. METHODS: Patients with endoscopically diagnosed erosive oesophagitis were randomised 2:1 to once-daily vonoprazan 20 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg, for a 4- to 8-week healing phase. Patients with endoscopically confirmed healing entered a 260-week maintenance phase with a once-daily starting dose of vonoprazan 10 mg or lansoprazole 15 mg. Primary endpoint was change in gastric mucosal histopathology. RESULTS: Of 208 patients (vonoprazan, n = 139; lansoprazole, n = 69) entering the healing phase, 202 entered the maintenance phase (vonoprazan, n = 135; lansoprazole, n = 67). At 3 years, 109 vonoprazan-treated and 58 lansoprazole-treated patients remained on treatment. Histopathological evaluation of gastric mucosa showed that hyperplasia of parietal, foveolar and G cells was more common with vonoprazan than lansoprazole at week 156 of the maintenance phase. There was no marked increase in the occurrence of parietal, foveolar and G cell hyperplasia among patients in the vonoprazan group from week 48 to week 156. Histopathological evaluation of the gastric mucosa also showed no neoplastic changes in either group. No new safety issues were identified. CONCLUSIONS: In this interim analysis of VISION, no new safety concerns were identified in Japanese patients with healed erosive oesophagitis receiving vonoprazan or lansoprazole as maintenance treatment for 3 years. (CT.gov identifier: NCT02679508; JapicCTI-163153; Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs031180040).

Increase in the frequency of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones among inpatients of acute care hospitals in the Kyoto and Shiga regions, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Specific epidemic clones of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) are responsible for the worldwide spread of MRSA. However, in recent years, the isolation of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) clones has been increasing. We investigated the latest molecular epidemiology trends of HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA clones in the Kyoto and Shiga regions, Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All nonduplicate MRSA isolates obtained from the clinical specimens of inpatients at four acute care hospitals in the Kyoto and Shiga regions between 2014 and 2019 were typed using the PCR-based open reading frame typing (POT) method. CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA were classified according to the POT1 values. We performed whole-genome sequencing analysis for representative isolates displaying common POT types. RESULTS: A total of 2413 isolates were included in the study, comprising 1730 nosocomial and 683 nonnosocomial isolates. The rates of HA-MRSA decreased from 50.2% in 2014 to 19.0% in 2019, while those of CA-MRSA increased from 44.7% to 76.4% (p < 0.001). Isolates belonging to the most common 10 POT types (CA-MRSA, n = 6; HA-MRSA, n = 4) accounted for 42% of the isolates studied and were obtained from 3 or more hospitals. Whole-genome sequencing analysis showed that the common CA-MRSA isolates with POT types 106-137-80, 106-9-80, 106-9-2, and 106-137-2, those with POT types 106-183-37 and 106-129-5, and HA-MRSA isolates with POT types 93-191-103, 93-157-127, 93-137-103, and 93-223-111 belonged to ST8-SCCmecIV, ST1-SCCmecIV, and ST764-SCCmecII, respectively. CONCLUSION: A recent clonal shift from HA-MRSA to CA-MRSA occurred, and specific regional clones were prevalent among inpatients in the Kyoto and Shiga regions.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection with TpTME for Adenocarcinoma of Anal Canal with Pagetoid Spread].

A man in his 80s was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of perianal erosion. Colonoscopy revealed a peripheral flat lesion in the anal canal. Since immunohistological examination showed positive for CK20 and negative for GCDFP15, we made a preoperative diagnosis of anal canal cancer with Pagetoid spread. It was diagnosed as cT1bN0M0, cStage Ⅰ by TNM classification, and laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection with TpTME was performed. Negative biopsy of the perianal skin was confirmed both preoperation and during the operation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no urinary dysfunction was observed. The patient was discharged 15 days after the operation. The histopathological diagnosis was negative margin. The patient is alive without recurrence 1 year after the operation. Adenocarcinoma of anal canal with Pagetoid spread is rare, and differentiation from Paget's disease is important for determining treatment policy. By conducting a detailed examination of the extent of tumor progression and using TpTME together, it was possible to perform surgery that both secured the CRM and preserved urinary function.

Fundic gland polyps related to diverse aetiologies show subtle morphological differences: a multicentre retrospective study.

AIMS: Fundic gland polyps (FGPs) comprise 66% of all gastric polyps. Although they are usually non-syndromic, they may be associated with various syndromes, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). We aimed to evaluate how histological features relate to distinct FGP subtypes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 118 FGPs from 109 patients for the architecture of fundic glands, microcyst lining, parietal cell hyperplasia and surface foveolar epithelial changes. Age, gender and history of FAP or GAPPS were collected. Based on combinations of histological features, three distinct patterns (A, B and C) of FGPs were delineated and correlated to the aetiologies. Non-syndromic FGPs were well-formed polyps composed of disordered fundic glands with intermediate-sized microcysts typically lined by a mixture of oxyntic and mucin-secreting cells (73%). Parietal cell hyperplasia (80%) and foveolar surface hyperplasia (78%) were common. FAP-associated cases demonstrated small microcysts that were predominantly lined by fundic epithelium (77%), with limited parietal cell hyperplasia (27%); foveolar hyperplasia was uncommon. GAPPS-related polyps were the largest, with prominent, mucin-secreting epithelium-lined microcysts (73%). Hyperproliferative aberrant pits were universally present, whereas parietal cell hyperplasia was uncommon. Pattern A was identified in most non-syndromic FGPs (74%) and in a minority of FAP-related FGPs (26%). The majority (82%) of FAP-related FGPs showed pattern B, but only 18% of non-syndromic FGPs did. Pattern C consisted exclusively of GAPPS-associated polyps. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, although FGPs share similar histomorphology, subtle differences exist between polyps of different aetiology. In the appropriate clinical setting, the recognition of these variations may help to consider syndromic aetiologies.

Clinicopathological characteristics of pancreatic acinar cell metaplasia associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic acinar cell metaplasia (PACM) has been rarely reported in the gastric mucosa. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the clinical and pathological characteristics of PACM associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). METHOD: 5930 patients who underwent five- or two-point gastric biopsy according to the updated Sydney system (USS) by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. The patients were categorized into current H. pylori infection (CHI), post-H. pylori eradication (PHE), and non-H. pylori infection (NHI) groups according to the H. pylori infection status, and the frequency and location of PACM were compared. Additionally, a case-control study was performed to compare the USS scores between patients with CHI and PACM and those with CHI but not PACM. RESULT: The frequencies of PACM were 0.49% (10/2039), 0.75% (25/3332), and 0% (0/559) in the CHI, PHE, and NHI groups, respectively. PACM was found in the greater curvature of the antrum in 33 of the 35 patients with PACM. Among the patients with CHI, the inflammation scores in the greater curvature of the antrum and the greater curvature of the corpus were lower in patients with PACM than in those without PACM. CONCLUSION: Although rarely reported in the gastric mucosa, PACM was closely related to H. pylori infection, especially in the antrum, and was associated with relatively mild inflammation.

Evaluation of screening tests for autoimmune gastritis in histopathologically confirmed Japanese patients, and re-evaluation of histopathological classification.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study are to evaluate non-invasive screening tests for autoimmune gastritis (AIG) and re-evaluate histopathological classification. METHODS: We screened candidates of AIG in JCHO Shiga Hospital between May 2012 and January 2020. The screening criteria were as follows: endoscopic O-p atrophy with Updated Kimura-Takemoto classification, 3 + pepsinogen (PG) test, low serum vitamin B12 or elevated serum gastrin with positive anti-parietal cell (PC) or intrinsic factor antibodies. We evaluated the screening criteria in the patients who were histopathologically confirmed as AIG, and re-evaluated histopathological staging in clinical aspects. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 28 (78.6%) patients who met the screening criteria were histopathologically confirmed as AIG. Common clinical findings in the AIG patients were 10 × or greater anti-PC antibody, elevated serum gastrin greater than 172 pg/mL and endoscopic atrophy O-1 or greater. The areas under the curve of PG I, PG II and PG I/II ratio were 0.81, 0.29 and 0.98, respectively. Among histopathologically confirmed AIG patients, 4 and 18 patients were histopathologically classified into florid and end stages, respectively, while no patients into early stage. We could not find a significant difference between florid and end stages in the screening items studied. CONCLUSIONS: Florid and end stages in histopathological classification are both advanced-stage AIG in clinical aspects. Our screening criteria without biopsy are applicable to screen clinically-advanced AIG with 78.6% positive predictive value. PG I and PG I/II ratio may be useful to screen AIG. However, we may need other criteria to screen early stage of AIG.

Similarities and differences in metabolites of tongue cancer cells among two- and three-dimensional cultures and xenografts.

Metabolic programming of cancer cells is an essential step in transformation and tumor growth. We established two-dimensional (2D) monolayer and three-dimensional (3D) cultures, the latter called a "tissueoid cell culture system", using four types of tongue cancer cell lines. We also undertook a comprehensive metabolome analysis of three groups that included xenografts created by transplanting the cell lines into nude mice. In addition, we undertook a functional analysis of the mitochondria, which plays a key role in cancer metabolism. Principal component analysis revealed the plots of the four cell lines to be much narrower in 2D culture than in 3D culture and xenograft groups. Moreover, compared to xenografts, the 2D culture had significantly lower levels of most metabolites. These results suggest that the unique characteristics of each cell disappeared in 2D culture, and a type of metabolism unique to monolayer culture took over. Conversely, ATP production, biomass synthesis, and maintenance of redox balance were shown in 3D culture using sufficient nutrients, which closely resembled the metabolic activity in the xenografts. However, there were several differences between the metabolic activity in the 3D culture and xenografts. In vivo, the cancer tissue had blood flow with stromal cells present around the cancer cells. In the xenografts, we detected metabolized and degraded products in the liver and other organs of the host mice. Furthermore, the 3D system did not show impairment of mitochondrial function in the cancer cells, suggesting that cancer cells produce energy simultaneously through mitochondria, as well as aerobic glycolysis.

Spontaneous Regression of Mismatch Repair-Deficient Colon Cancer: A Case Series.

Spontaneous regression of cancer is a rare phenomenon, with 33 colorectal cancer cases reported between 1900 and 2020.1-4 Spontaneous regression is defined as the partial or complete disappearance of a tumor without treatment.1,3 Several factors may be involved in this process, including biopsy, mechanical stress, humoral factors, and infection.1,5 However, no concrete evidence for the mechanistic insights has been indicated.

Non-conventional dysplasias of the tubular gut: a review and illustration of their histomorphological spectrum.

The increasing use of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures has led to the recognition by histopathologists of non-conventional (or special-type) dysplasias of the gastrointestinal tract. These lesions can be recognised in association with prevalent underlying gastrointestinal conditions, such as Barrett oesophagus, chronic atrophic gastritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnosis of these special types can be challenging, and their biological behaviours are not fully characterised. The aim of this review is to provide a global view of non-conventional dysplastic lesions observed in the various segments of the tubular gastrointestinal tract and describe their salient features. Furthermore, as the clinical implications of these various subtypes have not been broadly tested in practice and are not represented in most management guidelines, we offer guidance on the best management practices for these lesions.

Posttherapy topographical nodal status, ypN-site, predicts survival of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by curative surgical resection for non-type 4 locally advanced gastric cancer: supplementary analysis of JCOG1004-A.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative treatment is an accepted standard approach for treating locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). Histopathological tumor regression with < 10% residual tumor is a globally accepted prognosticator in LAGC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and curative surgery. However, despite a response of the primary tumor, a significant percentage of patients dies from recurrence and identification of those at risk for relapse remains challenging. We re-estimated the value of histopathological tumor regression as a prognosticator alongside other factors, especially posttherapy topographical nodal status, ypN-site. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individual patient data including clinicopathological variables were used from the four JCOG trials investigating NAC (JCOG0001, JCOG0002, JCOG0210, JCOG0405) for analyzing prognosticators in patients with curative surgery excluding those with type 4 AGC by univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 85 patients, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 46.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.0-56.4] with a median follow-up of 3.2 years. On univariable analysis, histopathological tumor regression with ≥ 10% residual tumor and ypN-site 2-3 were negatively associated with OS [≥ 10% residual tumor: hazard ratio (HR) 2.60; 95% CI 1.22-5.54; P = 0.014; ypN2-3: HR 3.59; 95% CI 1.60-8.06; P = 0.002). On multivariable analysis, only ypN-site 2-3 was predictive of OS (HR 3.67; 95% CI 1.55-8.69; P = 0.003), whereas histopathological tumor regression with ≥ 10% residual tumor was not (HR 2.24; 95% CI 0.98-5.10; P = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: ypN-site may have greater impact on OS than histopathological tumor regression in patients who received NAC plus surgery for non-type 4 LAGC.

A nonrandomized, single-arm confirmatory trial of expanded endoscopic submucosal dissection indication for undifferentiated early gastric cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG1009/1010).

BACKGROUND: While endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is recognized as a minimally invasive standard treatment for differentiated early gastric cancers (EGCs), it has not been indicated for undifferentiated EGC (UD-EGC) because of a relatively high risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). However, patients with surgically resected mucosal (cT1a) UD-EGC ≤ 2 cm in size with no lymphovascular invasion or ulceration are reported to be at a very low risk of LNM. This multicenter, single-arm, confirmatory trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD for UD-EGC. METHODS: The key eligibility criteria were endoscopically diagnosed cT1a/N0/M0, single primary lesion, size ≤ 2 cm, no ulceration and histologically proven components of undifferentiated adenocarcinoma on biopsy. Based on the histological findings after ESD, additional gastrectomy was indicated if the criteria for curative resection were not satisfied. The subjects of the primary analysis were patients with UD-EGC as the dominant component. The primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients with UD-EGC. RESULTS: Three hundred 46 patients were enrolled from 49 institutions. The proportion of en bloc resection was 99%. No ESD-related Grade 4 adverse events were noted. Delayed bleeding and intraoperative and delayed perforation occurred in 25 (7.3%), 13 (3.8%), and 6 (1.7%) patients, respectively. Among the 275 patients who were the subjects of the primary analysis, curative resection was achieved in 195 patients (71%), and 5-year OS was 99.3% (95% CI: 97.1-99.8). CONCLUSIONS: ESD can be a curative and less invasive treatment for UD-EGC for patients meeting the eligibility criteria of this study.

Development of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Metaplasia During Gastric Repair in a Rat Duodenal Contents Reflux Model.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the development of pancreatic acinar cell metaplasia (PACM) in the glandular stomach of a duodenal contents reflux model (reflux model). AIMS: We aimed to investigate the characteristics and histogenesis of PACM using a reflux model. METHODS: A reflux model was created using 8-week-old male Wistar rats, which were killed up to 30 weeks postoperatively. Histological examination was performed to analyze the glandular stomach-jejunal anastomosis. Furthermore, electron microscopic images of PACM samples were compared with pancreatic and gastric glands removed from rats that had not undergone surgery. Immunostaining for α-amylase, HIK1083, TFF2, and Ki-67 was performed, and double fluorescent staining was carried out using antibodies against α-amylase and HIK1083, or α-amylase and TFF2. RESULTS: In all reflux model rats, PACM was observed proximal to the glandular stomach-jejunal anastomosis, surrounded by pseudopyloric metaplasia. The number of chief cells was decreased in the deep part of the gland, where PACM occurred. Electron microscopy showed that PACM cells had greater numbers of rough endoplasmic reticulum tubules than chief cells, and exhibited pancreatic acinar cell morphology. Upon immunochemical staining, the regenerative foveolar epithelium and part of the pseudopyloric glands stained strongly positive for TFF2, whereas PACM cells were only weakly positive. Double fluorescent staining identified early lesions of PACM in the neck, which were double positive for α-amylase and TFF2, but negative for HIK1083. CONCLUSIONS: PACM could be induced by duodenal contents reflux. PACM originates from stem cells located in the neck of oxyntic glands during gastric mucosal regeneration.

Histological diagnostic criterion for chronic endometritis based on the clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic criteria of chronic endometritis remain controversial in the treatment for infertile patients. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in a single university from June 2014 to September 2017. Patients who underwent single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer with a hormone replacement cycle after histological examination for the presence of chronic endometritis were enrolled. Four criteria were used to define chronic endometritis according to the number of plasma cells in the same group of patients: 1 or more (≥ 1) plasma cells, 2 or more (≥ 2), 3 or more (≥ 3), or 5 or more (≥ 5) in 10 high-power fields. Pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and miscarriage rates of the non-chronic endometritis and the chronic endometritis groups defined with each criterion were calculated. A logistic regression analysis was performed for live births using eight explanatory variables (seven infertility factors and chronic endometritis). A receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn and the optimal cut-off value was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 69 patients were registered and 53 patients were finally analyzed after exclusion. When the diagnostic criterion was designated as the presence of ≥ 1 plasma cell in the endometrial stroma per 10 high-power fields, the pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and miscarriage rate were 63.0% vs. 30.8%, 51.9% vs. 7.7%, and 17.7% vs. 75% in the non-chronic and chronic endometritis groups, respectively. This criterion resulted in the highest pregnancy and live birth rates among the non-chronic endometritis and the smallest P values for the pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and miscarriage rates between the non-chronic and chronic endometritis groups. In the logistic regression analysis, chronic endometritis was an explanatory variable negatively affecting the objective variable of live birth only when chronic endometritis was diagnosed with ≥ 1 or ≥ 2 plasma cells per 10 high-power fields. The optimal cut-off value was obtained when one or more plasma cells were found in 10 high-power fields (sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 64.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic endometritis should be diagnosed as the presence of ≥ 1 plasma cells in 10 high-power fields. According to this diagnostic criterion, chronic endometritis adversely affected the pregnancy rate and the live birth rate.

Neuropathology of the spinal nerve roots, spinal cord, and brain in the first autopsied case of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 4F with a D651N mutation in the periaxin gene.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) 4F is an autosomal recessive, hereditary peripheral neuropathy, mostly caused by mutations in the periaxin gene (PRX). This article reports neuropathological findings of the spinal nerve roots, spinal cord, and brain of a patient with CMT4F and a D651N missense mutation in PRX. The patient was a 74-year-old woman who had a history of peripheral neuropathy with onset at the age of 30 years. She also had a history of infantile paralysis at the age of 18 months. The most pronounced autopsy finding was diffuse enlargement of anterior and posterior nerve roots, accentuated at the lumbo-sacral levels. On microscopy, the swollen nerve roots showed a loss of large-diameter myelinated fibers and formation of numerous onion bulbs. Most of the onion bulbs lacked the central, regenerating thin myelin sheaths, and in large-diameter nerve fibers whose axons had been lost, collagen fibers occupied the center of the onion bulbs. Some nerve roots formed glial bundles at the proximal end. The spinal cord showed degeneration of the gracile fascicles, and the lumbar segment anterior horn showed an asymmetric neuronal loss with rarefaction of the neuropil. The brain did not show any notable changes except for multiple foci of a radial microcolumnar arrangement of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Degeneration of the lumbar segment anterior horn is most likely secondary to the anterior radiculopathy, but a localized circulatory disturbance is another possibility.

Differences in the Central Energy Metabolism of Cancer Cells between Conventional 2D and Novel 3D Culture Systems.

The conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture is available as an in vitro experimental model. However, the culture system reportedly does not recapitulate the in vivo cancer microenvironment. We recently developed a tissueoid cell culture system using Cellbed, which resembles the loose connective tissue in living organisms. The present study performed 2D and three-dimensional (3D) culture using prostate and bladder cancer cell lines and a comprehensive metabolome analysis. Compared to 3D, the 2D culture had significantly lower levels of most metabolites. The 3D culture system did not impair mitochondrial function in the cancer cells and produce energy through the mitochondria simultaneously with aerobic glycolysis. Conversely, ATP production, biomass (nucleotides, amino acids, lipids and NADPH) synthesis and redox balance maintenance were conducted in 3D culture. In contrast, in 2D culture, biomass production was delayed due to the suppression of metabolic activity. The 3D metabolome analysis using the tissueoid cell culture system capable of in vivo cancer cell culture yielded results consistent with previously reported cancer metabolism theories. This system is expected to be an essential experimental tool in a wide range of cancer research fields, especially in preclinical stages while transitioning from in vitro to in vivo.

Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for intestinal-type adenocarcinoma with anastomosing glands of the stomach.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastric intestinal-type adenocarcinoma with anastomosing glands (IAAG) is characterized by architectural abnormality with frequent anastomosing glands and low-grade cytologic atypia. Clinicopathologic features and long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for IAAG remain unclear. METHODS: This study included 2828 patients who underwent ESD for early gastric cancers (EGCs) (78 IAAGs [2.6%] and 2893 well-differentiated [WD] or moderately differentiated [MD] EGCs [97.4%]). Clinicopathologic features and short-term and long-term outcomes of ESD for IAAG were reviewed and compared with those for WD or MD EGCs. RESULTS: Gastric IAAGs were larger and more likely to be confined to the lamina propria than WD or MD EGCs. Histological heterogeneity, flat or depressed lesion and lateral resection margin (LRM) involvement were observed with significantly higher frequencies in IAAGs than in WD or MD EGCs. En bloc with R0 resection and curative resection rates of IAAGs were 79.5% and 73.1%, respectively, and both were significantly lower than those of WD or MD EGCs (93.8% and 82.9%). LRM involvement accounted for 57.1% of the non-curative resection cases in gastric IAAGs. Half of IAAGs with LRM involvement had a crawling pattern at tumor periphery. Among patients undergoing curative ESD for IAAG, no recurrences occurred during a median 52 months of follow-up. No lymph node metastasis was found in any of IAAG patients undergoing additional surgery after ESD. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric IAAGs have distinct clinicopathologic features from WD or MD EGCs. Given the favorable long-term outcomes after curative resection, ESD can be indicated for early gastric IAAGs.

Relationship of chronic endometritis with chronic deciduitis in cases of miscarriage.

BACKGROUND: The presence of chronic deciduitis (CD) was determined in patients diagnosed with or without chronic endometritis (CE) before pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of CE on decidua in cases of miscarriage. METHODS: Decidual tissue was obtained from the patients who miscarried at the first pregnancy within a year after the diagnosis of the presence or absence of CE. The number and distribution pattern of plasma cells stained with CD138 in decidual tissue in 10 high-power fields (HPFs) was examined. The prevalence of CD diagnosed with four different grade; grade 0, no plasma cell in 10 HPFs, thus Non-CD;grade 1, rare single plasma cells; grade 2, rare clusters or more than 5 single cells total; and grade 3, many plasma cells with more than 5 clusters, were examined and compared between Non-CE and CE. RESULTS: The incidence rate of CD of grade2 + 3 was significantly higher in CE than Non-CE (53.8%; 7/13 vs. 0%; 0/13, P < 0.01). Presence of clusters or a number of plasma cells in 10 HPFs of decidua showed a sensitivity of 53.8%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 68.4% for the diagnosis of CE. CONCLUSION: Presence of clusters of plasma cells or five or more of plasma cells in decidua was found in more than half of CE, but not found in Non-CE. When CD with cluster or five or more of plasma cells is confirmed histologically in miscarriage decidual tissue, the presence of CE before the pregnancy should be suspected.