Brain-specific glycosylation enzyme GnT-IX maintains levels of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor PTPRZ, thereby mediating glioma growth.

Gliomas are the most prevalent primary tumor of the central nervous system. Despite advances in imaging technologies, neurosurgical techniques, and radiotherapy, a cure for high-grade glioma remains elusive. Several groups have reported that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ) is highly expressed in glioblastoma, and that targeting PTPRZ attenuates tumor growth in mice. PTPRZ is modified with diverse glycan, including the PTPRZ-unique human natural killer-1 capped O-mannosyl core M2 glycans. However, the regulation and function of these unique glycans are unclear. Using CRISPR genome-editing technology, we first demonstrated that disruption of the PTPRZ gene in human glioma LN-229 cells resulted in profoundly reduced tumor growth in xenografted mice, confirming the potential of PTPRZ as a therapeutic target for glioma. Furthermore, multiple glycan analyses revealed that PTPRZ derived from glioma patients and from xenografted glioma expressed abundant levels of human natural killer-1-capped O-Man glycans via extrinsic signals. Finally, since deficiency of O-Man core M2 branching enzyme N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IX (GnT-IX) was reported to reduce PTPRZ protein levels, we disrupted the GnT-IX gene in LN-229 cells and found a significant reduction of glioma growth both in vitro and in the xenograft model. These results suggest that the PTPR glycosylation enzyme GnT-IX may represent a promising therapeutic target for glioma.

Clinicopathological characteristics of methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disorder of the thyroid: A study of 11 patients.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a well-known agent that can potentially cause lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD), known as MTX-related LPD (MTX-LPD). Only two cases of thyroid MTX-LPD have been reported to date. This study aimed to report 11 cases of MTX-LPDs arising in the thyroid gland and discuss their clinicopathological characteristics. Of the 747 patients with cytologically suspected lymphoma, 11 had received MTX. The mean age of the patients with MTX-LPD was 70.2 years (range: 51-82 years), and all were female. The duration of MTX administration ranged from 5 to 31 years (mean: 19.5 years). Nine patients (81.8 %) tested positive for anti-thyroglobulin antibody and/or anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody. In three patients, the tumor decreased in size or disappeared without surgery or chemotherapy after withdrawal of MTX therapy. Histologically, all eight nodules examined were B-cell lymphomas, and seven were mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization showed negative results for all six nodules examined. All five patients who were followed-up at our hospital exhibited progression-free survival for >3 years without chemotherapy. Six patients were transferred to other hospitals, and their follow-up details are unknown. MTX-LPDs occurring in the thyroid are characterized by a high female predominance, positivity for anti-thyroid autoantibodies, high prevalence of MALT lymphomas, negativity for Epstein-Barr virus, and good outcomes without chemotherapy. We recommend that patients with thyroid lymphoma should be checked for a history of MTX.

Claudin-4-adhesion signaling drives breast cancer metabolism and progression via liver X receptor ß.

BACKGROUND: Cell adhesion is indispensable for appropriate tissue architecture and function in multicellular organisms. Besides maintaining tissue integrity, cell adhesion molecules, including tight-junction proteins claudins (CLDNs), exhibit the signaling abilities to control a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, it is still fragmentary how cell adhesion signaling accesses the nucleus and regulates gene expression. METHODS: By generating a number of knockout and rescued human breast cell lines and comparing their phenotypes, we determined whether and how CLDN4 affected breast cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. We also identified by RNA sequencing downstream genes whose expression was altered by CLDN4-adhesion signaling. Additionally, we analyzed by RT-qPCR the CLDN4-regulating genes by using a series of knockout and add-back cell lines. Moreover, by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantification, we verified the clinicopathological significance of CLDN4 and the nuclear receptor LXRß (liver X receptor ß) expression in breast cancer tissues from 187 patients. RESULTS: We uncovered that the CLDN4-adhesion signaling accelerated breast cancer metabolism and progression via LXRß. The second extracellular domain and the carboxy-terminal Y197 of CLDN4 were required to activate Src-family kinases (SFKs) and the downstream AKT in breast cancer cells to promote their proliferation. Knockout and rescue experiments revealed that the CLDN4 signaling targets the AKT phosphorylation site S432 in LXRß, leading to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth, as well as cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid metabolism, in breast cancer cells. In addition, RT-qPCR analysis showed the CLDN4-regulated genes are classified into at least six groups according to distinct LXRß- and LXRßS432-dependence. Furthermore, among triple-negative breast cancer subjects, the "CLDN4-high/LXRß-high" and "CLDN4-low and/or LXRß-low" groups appeared to exhibit poor outcomes and relatively favorable prognoses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of this machinery highlights a link between cell adhesion and transcription factor signalings to promote metabolic and progressive processes of malignant tumors and possibly to coordinate diverse physiological and pathological events.

Brain-specific glycosylation of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ) marks a demyelination-associated astrocyte subtype.

Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the brain, where they participate in various homeostatic functions. Transcriptomically, diverse astrocyte subpopulations play distinct roles during development and disease progression. However, the biochemical identification of astrocyte subtypes, especially by membrane surface protein glycosylation, remains poorly investigated. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type zeta (PTPRZ) is a highly expressed membrane protein in CNS glia cells that can be modified with diverse glycosylation, including the unique HNK-1 capped O-mannosyl (O-Man) core M2 glycan mediated by brain-specific branching enzyme GnT-IX. Although PTPRZ modified with HNK-1 capped O-Man glycans (HNK-1-O-Man+ PTPRZ) is increased in reactive astrocytes of demyelination model mice, whether such astrocytes emerge in a broad range of disease-associated conditions or are limited to conditions associated with demyelination remains unclear. Here, we show that HNK-1-O-Man+ PTPRZ localizes in hypertrophic astrocytes of damaged brain areas in patients with multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, we show that astrocytes expressing HNK-1-O-Man+ PTPRZ are present in two demyelination mouse models (cuprizone-fed mice and a vanishing white matter disease model), while traumatic brain injury does not induce glycosylation. Administration of cuprizone to Aldh1l1-eGFP and Olig2KICreER/+ ;Rosa26eGFP mice revealed that cells expressing HNK-1-O-Man+ PTPRZ are derived from cells in the astrocyte lineage. Notably, GnT-IX but not PTPRZ mRNA was up-regulated in astrocytes isolated from the corpus callosum of cuprizone model mice. These results suggest that the unique PTPRZ glycosylation plays a key role in the patterning of demyelination-associated astrocytes.

Rapid Clinical Improvement of Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD) with Renal Involvement Following Treatment with Tocilizumab: AA Amyloidosis as a Possible Renal Involvement of MCD.

Castleman disease (CD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder that manifests as hypergammaglobulinemia and severe inflammation with multiorgan involvement. However, renal involvement has been infrequently described in CD. We present a case of a 63-year-old Japanese male patient with multicentric CD (MCD) in whom kidney involvement, including impaired renal function and massive proteinuria, is present. He had a 2-year history of inflammatory arthritis and was referred to our clinic with newly developed proteinuria, renal dysfunction, and elevated levels of acute-phase proteins. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed hepatosplenomegaly, including mesenteric and inguinal lymph node enlargements. The patient underwent inguinal lymph node resection. Excisional biopsy of the inguinal lymph node showed multiple lymphoid follicles and expansion of interfollicular areas by marked plasmacytosis consistent with mixed type CD. The patient was diagnosed with human herpes virus 8-negative MCD according to the international diagnostic criteria for CD. Diagnostic renal biopsy was not performed following the medical viewpoint. Tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment was highly effective in reducing proteinuria and stabilizing renal function, as well as improving other clinical symptoms. The patient responded to TCZ treatment, and the renal involvement was rapidly improved. Our preliminary immunohistochemical analysis indicated AA amyloid deposits in urinary epithelial cells suggesting a possible renal involvement of AA amyloidosis. TCZ could potentially be one of the therapeutic options in patients with MCD with renal involvement.

Clinical usefulness and acceleratory effect of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 on biliary tract cancer: an experimental biomarker analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) has a poor prognosis; therefore, useful biomarkers and treatments are needed. Serum levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), a member of the TGF-ß superfamily, are elevated in patients with pancreaticobiliary cancers. However, the effect of MIC-1 on BTC is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of MIC-1 on BTC and assessed whether MIC-1 is a biomarker of or therapeutic target for BTC. METHODS: MIC-1 expression in BTC cells was determined by performing histological immunostaining, tissue microarray (TMA), western blotting, and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Cell culture experiments were performed to investigate the effect of MIC-1 on BTC cell lines (HuCCT-1 and TFK-1). The relationships between serum MIC-1 levels and either the disease state or the serum level of the apoptosis marker M30 were retrospectively verified in 118 patients with pancreaticobiliary disease (individuals with benign disease served as a control group, n = 62; BTC, n = 56). The most efficient diagnostic marker for BTC was also investigated. RESULTS: MIC-1 expression was confirmed in BTC tissue specimens and was higher in BTC cells than in normal bile duct epithelial cells, as determined using TMA, western blotting and RT-PCR. In cell culture experiments, MIC-1 increased BTC cell proliferation and invasion by preventing apoptosis and inhibited the effect of gemcitabine. In serum analyses, serum MIC-1 levels showed a positive correlation with BTC progression and serum M30 levels. The ability to diagnose BTC at an early stage or at all stages was improved using the combination of MIC-1 and M30. The overall survival was significantly longer in BTC patients with serum MIC-1 < the median than in BTC patients with serum MIC-1 ≥ the median. CONCLUSIONS: MIC-1 is a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and might be a potential therapeutic target for BTC.

Development of dermatomyositis after anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1-γ antibody seroconversion during treatment for small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory myositis, such as dermatomyositis, is sometimes complicated by cancer and is recognized as cancer-associated myositis. Although some autoimmune antibodies are considered to be involved in the development of myositis in cancer patients, the precise mechanism has not been clarified. The findings of the present case shed light on the mechanism by which anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 (TIF1)-γ Ab was produced and the pathogenesis of cancer-associated myositis. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of dermatomyositis that developed in a 67-year-old man who had been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer of clinical T4N3M0 stage IIIB/limited disease during treatment. He received systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and dermatomyositis developed along with a significant decrease in tumor size. TIF1-γ Ab, which is one of the myositis-specific antibodies, was found to be seroconverted. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis showed that cancer cells were positive for the TIF1-γ antigen. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present case suggest that transcriptional intermediary factor 1-γ, which is released from tumor cells, induces the production of TIF1-γ Ab, leading to the development of dermatomyositis.

Intracellular localization of CK2α as a prognostic factor in invasive breast carcinomas.

Overexpression of the ubiquitous protein kinase, CK2α, has been reported in various human cancers. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear and nucleolar CK2α localization in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast is a reliable predictor of poor prognosis. Cellular localization of CK2α in nuclei and nucleoli was analyzed immunohistochemically using surgical tissue blocks from 112 patients, who had undergone surgery without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical data collection and median follow-up period were for more than 5 y. In total, 93.8% of patients demonstrated elevated CK2α expression in nuclei and 36.6% of them displayed elevated expression predominantly in nucleoli. Clinicopathological malignancy was strongly correlated with elevated nuclear and nucleolar CK2α expression. Recurrence-free survival was significantly worse (P = .0002) in patients with positive nucleolar CK2α staining. The 5-y survival rate decreased to a roughly 50% in nucleolar CK2α-positive patients of triple-negative (P = .0069) and p Stage 3 (P = .0073) groups. In contrast, no patients relapsed or died in the triple-negative group who exhibited a lack of nucleolar CK2α staining. Evaluation of nucleolar CK2α staining showed a high secondary index with a hazard ratio of 6.629 (P = .001), following lymph node metastasis with a hazard ratio of 14.30 (P = .0008). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that nucleolar CK2α is an independent factor for recurrence-free survival. Therefore, we propose that histochemical evaluation of nucleolar CK2α-positive staining may be a new and robust prognostic indicator for patients who need further treatment. Functional consequences of nucleolar CK2 dysfunction may be a starting point to facilitate development of novel treatments for invasive breast carcinoma.

A simple method for diagnosing gallbladder malignant tumors with subserosa invasion by endoscopic ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: If the depth of gallbladder malignant tumor (GBMT) invasion is deeper than the subserosa (ss), cholecystectomy is insufficient. In past reports that used endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) to diagnose the depth of tumor invasion, it was difficult to diagnose GMBT invasion in the ss without a narrow or disrupted lateral hyperechoic layer (LHEL). Therefore, we developed a simple preoperative method to diagnose GBMTs with ss invasion. METHODS: Forty-nine GBMT patients who underwent both EUS and surgery were enrolled: 15 patients whose tumors invaded the mucosa (m) or muscularis propria (mp) were classified as the "shallow group", and 34 patients whose tumors invaded the ss were classified as the "deep group". The EUS findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: An irregular (narrow or thickened) LHEL was significantly more frequently observed on EUS in the deep group than in the shallow group. The diagnosis of ss invasion based on an irregular LHEL had the highest sensitivity and accuracy among the EUS imaging parameters (sensitivity 97.1% (33/34), specificity 86.7% (13/15), accuracy 93.8% (46/49)). When the deep group was limited to patients with a tumor depth of ss, the results were similar. When an irregular LHEL was used, the diagnostic accuracy of GBMTs with ss invasion was not significantly different between EUS specialists and beginners. CONCLUSIONS: The observation of an irregular (thickened or narrow) LHEL observed on EUS could be a reliable and simple method of diagnosing GBMTs with ss invasion and could contribute to choosing an appropriate surgical method.

Labor dystocia and risk of histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis: a study from a single tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine inflammation affects short- and long-term neonatal outcomes. Histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis are acute inflammatory responses in the fetal membranes and umbilical cord, respectively. Although labor dystocia includes a potential risk of intrauterine inflammation, the risk of histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis of labor dystocia has not been evaluated yet. This study aimed to examine the association between labor dystocia and risk of histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the cases who underwent histopathological examinations of the placenta and umbilical cord at Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Japan, between 2015 and 2020, were included. From the dataset, the pathological findings of the patients with labor dystocia and spontaneous preterm birth were reviewed. Based on the location of leukocytes, the inflammation in the placenta (histological chorioamnionitis) and umbilical cord (funisitis) was staged as 0-3. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk of histological chorioamnionitis, histological chorioamnionitis stage ≥2, funisitis, and funisitis stage ≥2. RESULT: Of 317 women who met the study criteria, 83 and 144 women had labor dystocia and spontaneous preterm birth, respectively, and 90 women were included as controls. Labor dystocia was a risk factor for histological chorioamnionitis (adjusted odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidential interval, 1.9-20.5), histological chorioamnionitis stage ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio, 6.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-21.8), funisitis (adjusted odds ratio, 15.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-101.3), and funisitis stage ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio, 18.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-134.0). Spontaneous preterm birth was also a risk factor for histological chorioamnionitis (adjusted odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-7.8), histological chorioamnionitis stage ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.9), and funisitis (adjusted odds ratio, 6.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-30.6). However, the adjusted odds ratio was smaller in spontaneous preterm births than in labor dystocia. CONCLUSION: Labor dystocia is a risk factor for severe histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis on long-term neonatal outcomes.

Introduction of histological classification and cytology reporting format of the Japanese General Rules for the Description of Thyroid Cancer with a special focus on the differences of the WHO Histological Classification and The Bethesda System of Thyroid Cytology.

Histological classification and cytology reporting format described in General Rules for the Description of Thyroid Cancer, the 8th edition (2019) (the Japanese General Rules) were briefly introduced. Moreover, the differences between "the Japanese General Rules", and WHO Histological Classification, the 4th edition (2017) and The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, the 2nd edition (2018) were also explained. The Japanese General Rules did not accept the borderline lesions of thyroid tumor which were newly shown in WHO Histological Classification. We believe it is not necessary to introduce these borderline lesions in daily practice in Japan. Borderline lesions were proposed for avoiding over-surgery for thyroid cancer patients. In the United States, when the patient is diagnosed as malignant on cytology, total thyroidectomy is generally recommended. However, there is no over-surgery in Japan, because surgeons have several choices of treatment for thyroid cancer patients. This article is the first that the Japanese General Rules was shown by foreign language. Therefore, this will be advantageous to us when we present our opinion concerning histology and cytology of thyroid tumor to the world.

Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. METHODS: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. RESULTS: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.

Accuracy comparison of MR elastography and biological markers in detecting liver fibrosis and predicting postoperative ascites.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to compare the discriminative performance between magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and biological markers in detecting liver fibrosis and in predicting postoperative ascites (PA). METHODS: We enrolled 77 patients consecutively who underwent hepatectomy between March 2017 and June 2019. Liver fibrosis was histopathologically graded using the METAVIR scoring system as reference. Discriminative performance of non-invasive assessments in detecting different stages of liver fibrosis and predicting PA was evaluated by receiver-operator curve analysis. RESULTS: The concordance indices (C-indices) for MRE and biological markers for detecting significant fibrosis (≥F2) and cirrhosis (F4) were: MRE, 0.84 and 0.86; Wisteria floribunda agglutinin + Mac-2 binding protein (WM2BP), 0.63 and 0.71; Hyaluronic acid (HA), 0.72 and 0.75; 7 S-type 4 collagen (T4C), 0.61 and 0.66; APRI, 0.76 and 0.83; and Fib-4, 0.75 and 0.76. Univariable logistic analysis for predicting PA showed that C-indices were 0.751 (p = 0.007), 0.798 (p = 0.106), 0.771 (p = 0.050), 0.674 (p = 0.855), 0.655 (p = 0.263), and 0.560 (p = 0.640) for MRE, WM2BP, Fib-4, HA, APRI, and T4C, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRE has a higher diagnostic performance than biological markers in detecting the stages of liver fibrosis and is a predictor for PA after hepatectomy.

[Associations between psychological attitudes toward exercise and fitness club membership resignation among new members: A cohort study].

Objectives　Approximately 40% of new fitness club (FC) members drop out within the first six months; however, the factors associated with FC membership resignation are largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the association between psychological attitudes toward exercise and FC membership resignation.Methods　We conducted a cohort study enrolling participants from 17 FCs. All individuals who became members at FCs between April 1st, 2015 and March 31st, 2016 (n=5,421) were invited to participate in the study, and those who agreed to participate completed a self-administered baseline questionnaire (n=2,934). We excluded participants aged <20 years (n=167) and those with missing values (n=702). Psychological factors were evaluated using the short version of the perceived benefit and barriers to exercise scale. Participants were followed until September 30th, 2016, at which time we assessed the FC membership drop-out rate. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to evaluate the association between perceived benefits/barriers of exercise and FC membership resignation. Sub-analyses were then conducted, stratifying by gender and age group.Results　A total of 2,065 participants were included in the analyses. The mean (standard deviation) age was 39.0 (15.0) years and 28.8% were male. Over 10.1 (4.4) months of newly-joined member follow-up, the FC membership drop-out rate was 24.6 instances per 1000 person-months. Multivariable analyses revealed no significant factors associated with FC membership drop-out. However, men aged 40-59 years who had a high physical benefit score and who perceived improving physical fitness as a benefit, were less likely to resign their memberships (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 [0.52-1.00]). However, women aged <40 years with a high discomfort score and who saw discomfort as a barrier were more likely to resign membership (HR, 1.10 [1.01-1.19]). Women aged 40-59 years with high social benefit scores and who perceived social interaction as a benefit were less likely to resign their memberships, as were women with higher lack of motivation to exercise scores and who perceived lack of motivation as a barrier to exercise (HR for social benefit, 0.84 [0.74-0.97]; HR for lack of motivation, 0.85 [0.73-0.99]). Among both male and female participants aged ≥60 years, higher self-improvement scores, indicating that peer recognition was perceived as a benefit of exercise, was associated with higher HR for drop-out (men, 2.52 [1.10-5.81]; women, 1.31 [1.00-1.72]).Conclusions　The results revealed gender and age differences in the association between the perceived benefits/barriers of exercise and FC membership dropout. Implementing programs based on enrollees' characteristics and psychological factors may contribute to preventing FC dropout in the future.

[A Case Report of Uterine Metastasis Four Years after Breast Surgery for Breast Cancer].

We report a case of uterine metastasis of the breast cancer. The patient was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast and underwent partial right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Tamoxifen was administered as adjuvant endocrine therapy. Four years after the surgery, she had irregular genital bleeding, and was referred to our hospital for cytological diagnosis of uterine cancer. Postoperative pathological diagnosis showed uterine metastasis of breast cancer, and it was decided to treat the recurrence of breast cancer with aromatase inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors, a molecular targeted therapy. The patient has been progression-free for 5 months.

Efficacy of EUS-guided FNB using a Franseen needle for tissue acquisition and microsatellite instability evaluation in unresectable pancreatic lesions.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in the treatment of microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumors was recently reported. Therefore, the acquisition of histological specimens is desired in cases of unresectable solid pancreatic lesions (UR SPLs). This study investigated the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a Franseen needle for UR SPL tissue acquisition and MSI evaluation. METHODS: A total of 195 SPL patients who underwent EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or EUS-FNB (EUS-FNAB) between January 2017 and March 2020 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 89 SPL patients (FNB: 28, FNA: 61) underwent EUS-FNAB using a 22-G needle (UR SPLs: 58, FNB: 22, FNA: 36) (UR SPLs after starting MSI evaluation: 23, FNB: 9, FNA: 14). RESULTS: The puncture number was significantly lower with FNB than with FNA (median (range): 3 (2-5) vs 4 (1-8), P <  0.01, UR SPLs: 3 (2-5) vs 4 (1-8), P = 0.036). Histological specimen acquisition was more commonly achieved with FNB than with FNA (92.9% (26/28) vs 68.9% (42/61), P = 0.015, UR SPLs: 100% (22/22) vs 72.2% (26/36), P <  0.01). The histological specimen required for MSI evaluation was acquired more often with FNB than with FNA (88.9% (8/9) vs 35.7% (5/14), P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNB using a Franseen needle is efficient for histological specimen acquisition and sampling the required amount of specimen for MSI evaluation in UR SPL patients.

Serum Gas6 and Axl as non-invasive biomarkers of advanced histological stage in primary biliary cholangitis.

AIM: Advanced histological stage is an important factor in individual risk stratification in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Non-invasive biomarkers for advanced histological stage are needed. We assessed the utility of Gas6 and Axl as biomarkers for advanced histological stage in patients with PBC. METHODS: A total of 113 biopsy-proven PBC patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this study. Serum Axl and Gas6 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Gas6 / albumin ratio and Axl / albumin ratio were also evaluated as biomarkers of histological stage. RESULTS: Serum Axl (42.6 ng/mL vs. 30.6 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and Gas6 (21.1 ng/mL vs. 18.8 ng/mL, P = 0.007) levels in PBC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. The Axl / albumin ratio was 10.4, and the Gas6 / albumin ratio was 7.6 in patients with PBC. Gas6 and Axl were significantly correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, albumin, and platelets. Gas6 and Axl levels in patients with an advanced Scheuer stage and an advanced Nakanuma stage were significantly higher than those in other patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of Axl, Gas6, Axl / albumin, and Gas6 / albumin for diagnosing Scheuer stage 4 was 0.733, 0.837, 0.845, and 0.893, respectively. The AUROC of Axl, Gas6, Axl / albumin, and Gas6 / albumin for diagnosing Nakanuma stage 4 was 0.794, 0.834, 0.869, and 0.898, respectively. CONCLUSION: High levels of Gas6 and Axl were associated with advanced histological stage in PBC patients. Furthermore, the Gas6 / albumin ratio and the Axl / albumin ratio showed a high AUROC for diagnosing advanced histological stage.

Cytological examination of the thyroid in children and adolescents after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident: the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred on March 11 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Radioactive materials, including I-131, were released into the environment after the accident. Shortly after, the prefectural government initiated the Fukushima Health Management Survey for monitoring the long-term health conditions of the residents of Fukushima Prefecture. In the survey, thyroid ultrasonography was scheduled for all people aged 18 years or younger who were living in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of disaster. The total number of examinees was approximately 370,000 in the Preliminary Baseline Survey (PBLS), and 380,000 in the first Full-scale Survey (FSS). First, thyroid ultrasonography was performed as the Primary Examination. When a thyroid nodule that meets the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) guideline is detected, thyroid FNAC is performed. By the end of June 2017, the cytological specimens of 187 examinees had been interpreted as Malignant or Suspicious for Malignancy (SFM). In this article, the cytological results of whole categories are presented using the criteria of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. The total numbers of examinees with SFM or Malignant in PBLS and at the first FSS were 106 (62.0%) and 71 (38.0%), respectively. The data of the cytological results of SFM and Malignant were already reported. However, this is the first report of cytological data from categories other than SFM and Malignant. The results of the current study will contribute to future research into the thyroid conditions of children and adolescents.

Prevalence and diagnostic challenges of thyroid lymphoma: a multi-institutional study in non-Western countries.

Research on the primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) diagnosis is limited, with only a few large sample size studies, reported from Asian countries. The aim of the present study was to clarify the current prevalence and challenges in PTL diagnosis, and recommended ancillary studies for PTL in non-Western countries. PTL (n = 153) cases were retrieved from 10 institutions in non-Western countries and analyzed. Ultrasound examination (UE) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) were used as main preoperative diagnostic tools in all participating institutions. Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed in the 5 institutions (50%). Lobectomy was the most common histological procedure to confirm the PTL diagnosis. All institutions routinely performed immuno-histochemical analysis. PTL was 0.54% of malignant thyroid tumor cases, with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALTL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) being 54.9% and 38.6%, respectively. Kuma Hospital, where the frequency of MALTL was highest (83.7%), routinely performed FCM using the materials obtained by FNAC. UE and FNAC sensitivities were 62.5% and 57.8%, respectively. In both UE and FNAC, sensitivity of MALTL was lower than of DLBCL. The study elucidated that the prevalence of PTL in non-Western countries was lower than previously reported. We propose that FCM should be more actively used to improve the preoperative diagnosis of MALTL. Our data predicted that the MALTL proportion will increase with improved diagnostic tools, while observation of PTL-suspected nodules without histological examination remains a viable option.

IgG4-Related Disease Complicated by Brain Parenchymal Lesions Successfully Treated with Corticosteroid Therapy: A Case Report.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is distinguished by the infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in a variety of tissues and organs including the pancreas, salivary glands, retroperitoneal lesions, kidney, and lymph nodes with elevated serum IgG4 levels. Even so, central nervous system (CNS) lesions such as brain parenchymal lesions associated with IgG4-RD are scarce. So far, only six cases of IgG4-RD in relation with brain parenchymal lesions have been described, with its characteristics still being not clear. Here we have detailed a case of IgG4-RD with brain parenchymal lesions and reviewed previously-reported cases of IgG4-RD with brain parenchymal lesions. A 62-year-old Japanese male suffering from lung silicosis was admitted to our hospital for abdominal discomfort and altered consciousness. He has shown no major neurologic abnormalities except for drowsiness, urinary retention, and fecal incontinence. Brain magnetic resonance imaging has shown scattered hyperintense signals in the brain parenchyma. The serum IgG4 levels were elevated and systemic lymph nodes were enlarged. Biopsy from inguinal lymph nodes has shown massive infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells: the ratio of IgG4-positive/IgG-positive plasma cells was nearly 100%. Based on clinical courses, images, laboratory data, and pathological findings, a diagnosis of IgG4-RD that was complicated by brain parenchymal lesions and sacral nerve disturbance was confirmed. The patient was then given methylprednisolone pulse therapy (1g for 3 days) succeeding oral prednisolone (1 mg per body weight). The clinical and radiological improvements together with steroid therapy proposed IgG4-RD to be the cause of the lesions.