Epcam regulates intrahepatic bile duct reconstruction in zebrafish, providing a potential model for primary cholangitis model.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAMs) have been identified as surface markers of proliferating ductal cells, which are referred to as liver progenitor cells (LPCs), during liver regeneration and correspond to malignancies. These cells can differentiate into hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in vitro. EpCAM-positive LPCs are involved in liver regeneration following severe liver injury; however, the in vivo function of EpCAMs in the regenerating liver remains unclear. In the present study, we used a zebrafish model of LPC-driven liver regeneration to elucidate the function of EpCAMs in the regenerating liver in vivo. Proliferating ductal cells were observed after severe hepatocyte loss in the zebrafish model. Analyses of the liver size as well as hepatocyte and BEC markers revealed successful conversion of LPCs to hepatocytes and BECs in epcam mutants. Notably, epcam mutants exhibited severe defects in intrahepatic duct maturation and bile acid secretion in regenerating hepatocytes, suggesting that epcam plays a critical role in intrahepatic duct reconstruction during LPC-driven liver regeneration. Our findings provide insights into human diseases involving non-parenchymal cells, such as primary biliary cholangitis, by highlighting the regulatory effect of epcam on intrahepatic duct reconstruction.

Long-term efficacy and feasibility of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device use in patients with adenomyosis.

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) use longer than 5 years in women with adenomyosis.Data were retrospectively collected from patients who were treated with LNG-IUD longer than 5 years at the Chungnam National University hospital for adenomyosis diagnosed with ultrasonography from January 2006 to November 2013.A total of 131 patients who were diagnosed with adenomyosis had treated with LNG-IUD longer than 5 years. The mean duration of keeping 1 device without replacement was 58.35 ±â€Š15.98 months, and total duration of LNG-IUD treatment was 83.86 ±â€Š23.88 months. A total of 51 patients stopped using LNG-IUD after 5 years and the mean age at the time of LNG-IUD removal was 52.46 ±â€Š6.9. LNG-IUD treatment had a significant effect on both menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea starting from the first month of insertion (P < .01), which persisted until 6 years when the effect started to plateau. The decrease in uterine volume was not consistent during the treatment period. The uterine volume decreased significantly only in the first and second year of LNG-IUD treatment and then from eighth to tenth year of LNG-IUD treatment (P < .05). Adverse events after insertion of LNG-IUD decreased significantly after 5 years.LNG-IUD treatment longer than 5 years is an effective and feasible method for patients diagnosed with adenomyosis.

Effect of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for patients with chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) METHODS:: Two authors independently searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochran Library, and Web of Science to identify and review articles published from January 1998 until December 2018 according to selection criteria. Outcomes were expressed as mean difference, the pooled odds ratio, or relative risk in a meta-analysis model. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis: 6 randomized-controlled studies and 4 observational studies. Meta-analysis showed that CIPN was improved after treatment with SNRI (standardized mean difference = 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-3.49; I = 93% in 3 randomized controlled studies). Somnolence and insomnia occurred in <15% of patients. Incidence of somnolence was lower than with pregabalin treatment, and insomnia was comparable to that in expectant management or pregabalin treatment. Incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher than in expectant management, but no significant difference was found when compared to expectant management. CONCLUSION: From the several available studies suitable for indirect comparison, SNRI shows excellent efficacy and tolerability to CIPN. SNRI could provide an important treatment option for CIPN.

Stress Granules Contain Rbfox2 with Cell Cycle-related mRNAs.

Rbfox RNA-binding proteins play important roles in the regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing, but their role in other gene regulatory mechanisms is not well understood. Here, we show that Rbfox2 is a novel constituent of cytoplasmic stress granules, the translational silencing machinery assembled in response to cellular stress. We also show that the RNA binding activity of the Rbfox family protein is crucial for its localization into stress granules. To investigate the role of Rbfox2 in stress granules we used RNA-immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify cytoplasmic transcriptome-wide targets of Rbfox2. We report that a subset of cell cycle-related genes including retinoblastoma 1 is the target of Rbfox2 in cytoplasmic stress granules, and Rbfox2 regulates the retinoblastoma 1 mRNA and protein expression levels during and following stress exposure. Our study proposes a novel function for Rbfox2 in cytoplasmic stress granules.