RESUMEN
Jejunoileal diverticula (JD) are an uncommon condition most prevalent in the sixth and seventh decade of life. Although mostly asymptomatic, JD can be complicated by perforation, diverticulitis, abscess, bleeding, fistula, and small bowel obstruction (SBO) secondary to enterolith formation. There are a limited number of cases describing JD complicated by SBO secondary to enterolith formation. Most of these cases are not associated with diverticulitis and multiple JD are present in all but one previously reported case. We present a case of diverticulitis of a large, isolated jejunal diverticulum complicated by de novo enterolith-induced SBO initially diagnosed as intussusception based on computerized tomography (CT) imaging. Our main objective is to increase awareness that isolated JD are not as readily evident on imaging as cases presenting with multiple JD, but nevertheless should be considered as possible etiology of acute abdomen.
RESUMEN
Although several lines of evidence have established the central role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) in malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), the molecular events connecting EMT to malignancy remain poorly understood. This study presents evidence that Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 (LINE-1) retrotransposon couples EMT programming with malignancy in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). This conclusion is supported by studies showing that: 1) activation of EMT programming by TGF-ß1 increases LINE-1 mRNAs and protein; 2) the lung carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene coregulates TGF-ß1 and LINE-1 mRNAs, with LINE-1 positioned downstream of TGF-ß1 signaling; and, 3) forced expression of LINE-1 in BEAS-2B cells recapitulates EMT programming and induces malignant phenotypes and tumorigenesis in vivo. These findings identify a TGFß1-LINE-1 axis as a critical effector pathway that can be targeted for the development of precision therapies during malignant progression of intractable NSCLCs.