HER2 overexpression predicts pathological T2 stage and improved survival in de novo muscle-invasive bladder cancer after immediate radical cystectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) overexpression is a prognostic factor and a therapeutic target for breast cancer; however, anti-HER2 therapies are ineffective in patients with bladder cancer. The authors investigated the effect of HER2 overexpression (HER2 + ) on the prognosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent initial transurethral resection of bladder tumors between 2005 and 2013 and were registered in the Korea National Health Insurance Database, which provides data on overall survival (OS). Sixty-one patients with clinically nonmetastatic de novo MIBC were included in this study. As a subgroup, 33 patients who underwent immediate radical cystectomy (RC) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify prognostic factors for survival. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to identify the favorable T stage. RESULTS: Among the 61 patients with d-MIBC, 14 were HER2 + and 47 HER2 - . Age less than 70 years [hazard ratio (HR): 0.312, CI: 0.16-0.59, P <0.001] and HER2 + status (HR: 0.40, CI: 0.19-0.85, P =0.02) were favorable prognostic factors for OS after adjusting for clinical variables. In the RC subgroup, HER2 + status was a significant predictive factor for the pT2 stage (HR): 36.8, CI: 4.83-797.41, P <0.01). Age less than 70 years (HR: 0.15, CI: 0.05-0.42, P <0.001) and HER2 + status (HR: 0.11, CI: 0.02-0.54, P =0.01) were favorable prognostic factors for OS after adjusting for RC pathological variables. CONCLUSIONS: HER2 + status could be a marker for an indolent subset of MIBC and could predict favorable survival regardless of RC status. Moreover, HER2 + status not only consistently predicted a favorable T stage after RC, but also predicted better survival than pathological outcomes.

HER2 positivity predicts BCG unresponsiveness and adaptive immune cell exhaustion in EORTC risk-stratified cohort of bladder cancer.

Introduction: Predicting the response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in high-risk patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is crucial, as failure may necessitate interventions, such as radical cystectomy or salvage therapy. With the recent classification of genetic class 2a (which has HER2 protein abundance as its signature mutation of ERBB2), evaluating its prognostic role and relationship with BCG response could yield important results. Methods: This retrospective study included 160 patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors at Gangneung Asan Hospital between 2000 and 2013 and were stratified based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk criteria. In addition, we analyzed a subset of 67 patients who had received BCG induction therapy to identify factors predictive of BCG treatment response. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of clinicopathological factors, HER2 positivity, and EORTC risk on recurrence, progression, survival, and BCG response. Each variable's prognostic significance was determined using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were evaluated in relation to HER2 and EORTC risk. Results: Patients with HER2+ had a higher median age, a greater prevalence of high-grade tumors, and more frequent recurrences. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the HER2+, intermediate (vs. low-risk) high (vs. low-risk), and EORTC recurrence risk groups were significantly associated with recurrence. In patients treated with BCG, only the HER2+ status predicted recurrence. In the univariate analysis for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk (vs. low-to-intermediate), HER2+, and programmed death-ligand 1 positive (PD-L1+) were significant factors. In multivariate analyses for progression, age, high EORTC progression risk, and PD-L1+ were significant factors for progression. HER2 expression was associated with the TME, influencing the proportion of PD-L1+ cells, as well as other markers of PD-1, CD8, and Ki67. Conclusion: The HER2+ status may be related to genetic characteristics that appear more frequently in older age, which suggests a potential for predicting the recurrence and response to BCG treatment. Additionally, analyzing TME trends of aggressive adaptive immune response characterized by HER2 expression provides insight into recurrence and BCG response mechanisms.

Prognostic implications of immune classification using IDO1 expression in extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an immunomodulatory enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine and induces immune tolerance in tumor cells. The effects of IDO1 on extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EHBDC) are poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of IDO1 in EHBDC. An immunohistochemical microarray analysis of IDO1 expression was performed for 76 surgically resected cases of EHBDC. CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were also investigated through a combination analysis with IDO1 expression. IDO1 was highly expressed in 25 of 76 (32.9%) cases. High expression of IDO1 was associated with decreased numbers of CD8+ TILs (P=0.008), a higher pN category (P=0.007), an advanced overall stage (P=0.001) and frequent recurrence (P=0.018). When IDO1 expression was further stratified with CD8+ TIL state, the IDO1high/CD8low subgroup was decreased in terms of overall survival (P=0.025) and disease-free survival (P=0.015) compared with IDO1high/CD8high, IDO1low/CD8high and IDO1low/CD8low subgroups. High IDO1 expression was associated with a decreased number of CD8+ TILs and associated with a poor prognosis. As IDO1 may be a new target of immunotherapy applications, IDO1/CD8+ TIL subgrouping can be a useful prognostic and predictive tool in patients with EHBDC.

Identification of New Prognostic Markers and Therapeutic Targets for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: HER2 as a Potential Target Antigen.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the gold standard adjuvant treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, given the current global shortage of BCG, new treatments are needed. We evaluated tumor microenvironment markers as potential BCG alternatives for NMIBC treatment. Programmed death-ligand 1, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), programmed cell death-1 (PD1), CD8, and Ki67 levels were measured in treatment-naïve NMIBC and MIBC patients (pTa, pT1, and pT2 stages). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the impact of these markers and other clinicopathological factors on survival, recurrence, and progression. EP263, IM142, PD1, and Ki67 levels were the highest in the T2 stage, followed by the T1 and Ta stages. HER2 and IM263 expressions were higher in the T1 and T2 stages than in the Ta stage. In NMIBC, the significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival were adjuvant therapy, tumor grade, and HER2 positivity, whereas those for progression-free survival included age, T-stage, and IM263. Age, T-stage, EP263, PD1, CD8, and Ki67 levels were significant factors associated with overall survival. IM263 and HER2 are potential biomarkers for progression and recurrence, respectively. Therefore, we propose HER2 as a potential target antigen for intravesical therapeutics as a BCG alternative.

Novel Biomarker Panels Discriminating between Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Extrahepatic Bile Duct Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC) are distinct entities with different clinicopathological implications. Therefore, research to differentiate between the two diseases is compulsory. In this study, four biomarkers were selected (Hippocalcin-like 1 (HPCAL1); annexin A10 (ANXA10); MUC5AC; sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit beta-1 (ATP1B1)) and focus was placed on clarifying the diagnostic performance of each biomarker and pioneering novel-combined biomarker panels to discriminate between PDAC and EBDC. PROCEDURES: An immunohistochemical microarray analysis of HPCAL1, ANXA10, MUC5AC, and ATP1B1 was conducted for surgically resected 55 PDACs and 77 EBDCs. The diagnostic performance discriminating between PDAC and EBDC was evaluated using four biomarkers and the combined biomarker panels. RESULTS: PDACs exhibited more positive expressions for HPCAL1, ANXA10, and MUC5AC, whereas EBDCs exhibited more ATP1B1-positive expressions. The PDAC panel with the best diagnostic performance was the profile of (+ in ≥ 2 among HPCAL1, ANXA10, MUC5AC)/ATP1B1-. The immunophenotype pattern of (- in ≥ 1 among HPCAL1, ANXA10, MUC5AC)/ATP1B1+ is the EBDC panel with the most excellent discriminating power. CONCLUSION: The suggested combined biomarker panels demonstrate the distinguishing diagnostic ability between PDAC and EBDC is better than previous studies. Therefore, for differentiation between PDAC and EBDC, these panels are expected to help unravel the clinicopathological enigma as promising biomarker panels in the future.

The sulfiredoxin-peroxiredoxin redox system regulates the stemness and survival of colon cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) initiate tumor formation and are known to be resistant to chemotherapy. A metabolic alteration in CSCs plays a critical role in stemness and survival. However, the association between mitochondrial energy metabolism and the redox system remains undefined in colon CSCs. In this study, we assessed the role of the Sulfiredoxin-Peroxiredoxin (Srx-Prx) redox system and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in maintaining the stemness and survival of colon CSCs. Notably, Srx contributed to the stability of PrxI, PrxII, and PrxIII proteins in colon CSCs. Increased Srx expression promoted the stemness and survival of CSCs and was important for the maintenance of the mitochondrial OXPHOS system. Furthermore, Nrf2 and FoxM1 led to OXPHOS activation and upregulated expression of Srx-Prx redox system-related genes. Therefore, the Nrf2/FoxM1-induced Srx-Prx redox system is a potential therapeutic target for eliminating CSCs in colon cancer.

Immune classification for the PD-L1 expression and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal adenocarcinoma is the third most common cancer worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related death. The recent emergence of diverse immunotherapeutic agents has made it crucial to interpret a complex tumour microenvironment intermingled with tumour-infiltrating immune cells to predict the immunotherapeutic response rate. However, in colorectal adenocarcinoma, studies are lacking that provide detailed analyses of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) to elucidate their prognostic values and to identify immunotherapy-targetable subgroups, preferably with multiple immune-related biomarkers. In the present study, we categorize colorectal adenocarcinomas into four types of tumour immune microenvironments according to PD-L1 expression and TIL, analyse their prognostic values, and propose an immunotherapy-targetable subgroup. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of surgically resected primary colorectal adenocarcinomas (n = 489) were obtained and arrayed on tissue microarray blocks. Immunohistochemical stains for PD-L1, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8), and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) were performed and evaluated. RESULTS: Tumour microenvironment immune type (TMIT) I (PD-L1-positive tumour cells and CD8-high TIL) and type II (PD-L1-negative tumour cells and CD8-low TIL) showed the best and worst prognoses, respectively. PD-L1 overexpression was significantly associated with dMMR status. PD-L1 immunoreactivity was positively correlated with TIL having CD8 or PD-1 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: TMIT I subgroup showed stronger CD8/PD-L1/PD-1 signalling interaction compared to the other TMIT. Therefore, we propose that the TMIT I subgroup is a candidate TMIT to predict effective response rate for existing immune checkpoint inhibitors and determine targetable subgroups for emerging therapies.

Prognostic implications of immune classification in a multicentre cohort of patients with small intestinal adenocarcinoma.

The diagnosis of small intestinal adenocarcinoma (SIAC) is usually determined at an advanced stage due to non-specific symptoms and the difficulty of exploring the small intestine. Therefore, the majority of SIAC patients have limited chemotherapeutic options. Until recently, the development of novel and effective therapies for SIAC have been limited owing to the low number of samples that have been collected and the low incidence of SIAC. Immunotherapies are becoming a focus. However, in SIAC, only a few studies to identify immunotherapy-responsive subgroups and their prognostic indicators have been reported. In the present study, we categorise primary SIAC into four types of tumour immune microenvironments and propose a strategy for identifying patient subgroups that are most likely to be immunotherapy-responsive. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of a multicentre cohort of patients with SIAC (n=195) were collected using tissue microarrays. Immunohistochemical (IHC) stains for PD-L1, PD-1, and CD8 were performed, and microsatellite instability was evaluated using an IHC stain. Tumour microenvironment immune type (TMIT) I [PD-L1-positive tumour cells and CD8-high tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)] and TMIT III (PD-L1-positive tumour cells and CD8-low TILs) show the best and worse prognoses, respectively. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with high microsatellite instability (MSI) status. CD8-high TILs were positively correlated with PD-1-high TILs and high MSI. The TMIT I subgroup demonstrated a more patent CD8/PD-L1/PD-1 signalling pathway compared to other TMITs. Therefore, the TMIT I subgroup can be expected to have an effective response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies in SIAC. Such classification of SIACs into four immune types can be useful in predicting the prognosis of patients and the identification of immunotherapy-responsive subgroups.

Can heme oxygenase-1 be a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma?

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an important catalytic enzyme in heme degradation, which increases during stressful conditions. It plays a major role in antioxidative and antiapoptotic processes and is associated with tumor growth and metastasis.This study aimed to evaluate the degree of HO-1 expressions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surgical specimens and the correlation between HO-1 expression and patient prognosis. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HCC tissue samples (n = 96) were included in the analysis, and the expression of HO-1 was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. We reviewed clinical features of patients and evaluated the prognostic role of HO-1 in patient survival and recurrence.Positive HO-1 expression was identified in 43 cases (44.8%) and was frequently found in patients with advanced histology (Edmondson-Steiner [E-S] grade 2, 3, 4), α-fetoprotein (AFP) level of more than 200 IU/mL, and the presence of microvascular and capsular invasion (P < .05). In the univariate analysis, the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with HO-1-positive HCC were not statistically different from those with HO-1-negative HCC. Moreover, HO-1 expression was not associated with patient survival and recurrence based on the multivariate analysis. In the subgroup analysis of patients without preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) (n = 61), HO-1 was not also associated with tumor recurrence (P = .681).The clinical implication of HO-1 activity is controversial in various malignancies. However, HO-1 expression did not seem to influence the prognosis of HCC patients.

Combined Amelioration of Ginsenoside (Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3)-enriched Korean Red Ginseng and Probiotic Lactobacillus on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: Red ginseng is a traditional medicine that has been used to treat numerous metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Probiotic administration has been established to have beneficial effects in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether a combination of Korean red ginseng (KRG) and probiotics could synergistically reduce NAFLD and liver inflammation compared with the effects reported for each individual product. METHOD: db/db and C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal chow diet and high-fat diet (HFD), respectively, and were treated with KRG, probiotics, or both. Samples were examined for lipid content, kinase protein phosphorylation, and gene expression patterns. RESULTS: KRG- and probiotic-treated HFD-fed mice exhibited a reduction in body weight and a decrease in inflammatory cytokine secretion compared with the non-treated control mice. The same treatment was less successful in improving NAFLD parameters in the db/db mice while the combination of both products did not enhance their therapeutic potential. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that KRG and probiotics administration ameliorated NAFLD symptoms in a mouse model of dyslipidemia by reducing weight gain and liver inflammation. Coadministration of both products did not enhance their efficacy, and further research should be conducted to clarify their mechanisms of action.

Corrigendum to: Effects of salmon DNA fraction in vitro and in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis rat model.

[This corrects the article on p. 163 in vol. 22, PMID: 29520169.].

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of heme oxygenase-1 expression in small intestinal adenocarcinomas.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress-response protein, is highly induced in various carcinomas. It is implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. High HO-1 expression is associated with better prognosis of patients with colorectal and gastric cancers. Induction or inhibition of HO-1 can mediate chemo-sensitivity, therefore it might be a therapeutic target to develop anticancer agents. To define the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of HO-1 expression in small-intestinal adenocarcinomas (SIACs), immunohistochemical microarray analysis of HO-1 expression was performed for 191 surgically resected SIAC cases and results were compared with various clinicopathologic variables, including survival. HO-1 was highly expressed in 127 (66.5%) cases. Patients with high HO-1 expression were associated with younger age (P = 0.048), lower pT category (P = 0.017), and less pancreatic invasion (P = 0.047). Patients with high HO-1 expression tended to have longer overall survival (median, 38.5 months) than those with low HO-1 expression (24.5 months), although the difference in overall survival was not statistically significant (P = 0.677). In summary, high HO-1 expression is frequently observed in SIACs. It is related to favorable clinicopathologic parameters, including younger age, lower T category, and less pancreatic invasion. Therefore, HO-1 may serve as a prognostic marker and a new target to modulate chemotherapeutic effects in patients with SIACs.

Effects of salmon DNA fraction in vitro and in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis rat model.

PRF001 is a fragmented DNA polymer extracted from the testes of salmon. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of PRF001 in vitro as well as the protective effect of PRF001 intake against arthritis in a rat model. In vitro, cell survival and inflammatory markers after H2O2 treatment to induce cell damage were investigated in CHON-001 cells treated with different concentrations of PRF001. In vivo, osteoarthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the knee joints of rats. After consumption of PRF001 (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, inflammatory mediators and cytokines in articular cartilage were investigated. In vitro, the levels of inflammatory markers, IL-1ß, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, and PGE2, were significantly suppressed by PRF001 treatment. In vivo, the inflammatory mediators and cytokines, IL-1ß, p-Erk1/2, NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2, and PGE2, as well as MMP3 and MMP7, which have catabolic activity in chondrocytes, were decreased in the MIA-induced osteoarthritic rats following intake of PRF001. Histological analysis revealed that PRF001 had a protective effect on the articular cartilage. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory property of PRF001 contributes to its protective effects in osteoarthritis through deregulating IL-1ß, TNF-α, and subsequent signals, such as p-Erk1/2, NF-κB, COX-2, PGE2, and MMPs.

Protective effect of ginsenoside Rb1 against tacrolimus-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular LLC-PK1 cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of six ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg1, and Rg3) isolated from Panax ginseng against tacrolimus (FK506)-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular LLC-PK1 cells. METHODS: LLC-PK1 cells were treated with FK506 and ginsenosides, and cell viability was measured. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases, caspase-3, and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were evaluated by Western blotting analyses. The number of apoptotic cells was measured using an image-based cytometric assay. RESULTS: Reduction in cell viability by 60µM FK506 was ameliorated significantly by cotreatment with ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. The phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and KIM-1, and cleavage of caspase-3, increased markedly in LLC-PK1 cells treated with FK506 and significantly decreased after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rb1. The number of apoptotic cells decreased by 6.0% after cotreatment with ginsenoside Rb1 (10µM and 50µM). CONCLUSION: The antiapoptotic effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on FK506-induced apoptosis were mediated by the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases and caspase activation.

Prognostic Significance of Categorizing Gastric Carcinoma by PD-L1 Expression and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

GOALS: We categorized gastric cancers into four types of tumor immune microenvironment based on PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to analyze clinicopathologic characteristics and recommend an immunotherapy-targetable subgroup. PROCEDURES: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of randomly selected gastric adenocarcinoma (n=479) were obtained and arrayed using a tissue-arraying instrument. Immunohistochemical stains for PD-L1, PD-1, and CD8 were performed and evaluated in addition to microsatellite instability, EBV infection, and HER-2 analyses. RESULTS: Tumor microenvironment immune type (TMIT) I (both PD-L1-positive tumor cells & CD8-high TILs) and type III (PD-L1-positive tumor cells & CD8-low TILs) showed the best and worse prognosis, respectively. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection (p<0.001) and microsatellite instability status (p<0.001). PD-L1 immunoreactivity was positively correlated with TILs having CD8 or PD-1 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: TMIT I subgroup showed more patent CD8/PD-L1/PD-1 signaling pathway compared to other types. Therefore, TMIT I subgroup is a good candidate to predict effective response rate for immune checkpoint blockers. Such stratification of gastric cancers into four types can be used to predict the prognosis of patients and determine the immunotherapy-targetable subgroup.

A Case of Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Polypoid Type in the Esophagus.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is very rare. Further, polypoid type of esophageal cancer is also rare. We have recently treated a case of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma which presented as a 1.3-cm esophageal polyp. A 48-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a polypoid mass at 36 cm distance from the upper incisor on endoscopic examination, and the result of the biopsy was basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent Ivor Lewis operation with lymph node dissection. Two basaloid squamous cell carcinomas, of 1.3 and 0.4 cm, were diagnosed in the final pathologic examination. Regular periodic follow-up showed no evidence of recurrence or metastasis in the 5-month postoperative period.

Protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng against FK506-induced damage in LLC-PK1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Compound FK506 is an immunosuppressant agent that is frequently used to prevent rejection of solid organs upon transplant. However, nephrotoxicity due to apoptosis and inflammatory response mediated by FK506 limit its usefulness. In this study, the protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) against FK506-induced damage in LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cells was investigated. METHODS: LLC-PK1 cells were exposed to FK506 with KRG and cell viability was measured. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses evaluated protein expression of MAPKs, caspase-3, and KIM-1. TLR-4 gene expression was assessed. Caspase-3 activities were also determined. The number of apoptotic cells was measured using an image-based cytometric assay. RESULTS: The reduction in LLC-PK1 cell viability by 60µM FK506 was recovered by KRG cotreatment in a dose-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of p38, p44/42 MAPKs (ERK), KIM-1, cleaved caspase-3, and TLR-4 mRNA expression was increased markedly in LLC-PK1 cells treated with 60µM FK506. However, with the exception of p-ERK, elevated levels of p-p38, KIM-1, cleaved caspase-3, and TLR-4 mRNA expression were significantly decreased after cotreatment with KRG. Activity level of caspase-3 was also attenuated by KRG cotreatment. Moreover, image-based cytometric assay showed that apoptotic cell death was increased by 60µM FK506 treatment, whereas it was decreased after cotreatment with KRG. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that the molecular mechanism of KRG in the FK506-induced nephrotoxicity may lead to the development of an adjuvant for the inhibition of adverse effect FK506 in the kidney.

Preventive effect of fermented black ginseng against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND: Fermented black ginseng (FBG) is processed ginseng by the repeated heat treatment and fermentation of raw ginseng. The protective effect and mechanism of FBG on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated to evaluate its therapeutic potential. METHODS: The free radical scavenging activity of FBG was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In addition, the protective effect against cisplatin-induced renal damage was tested in rats. FBG was orally administered every day at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for 10 d, and a single dose of cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally (7.5 mg/kg body weight) with 0.9% saline on the 4th d. RESULTS: The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of FBG (IC50 = 384 µg/mL) was stronger than that of raw ginseng. The improved DPPH radical-scavenging activity was mediated by the generation phenolic compounds. The decreased cell viability by cisplatin was recovered significantly after treatment with FBG in a dose-dependent manner. Then, the protective effect of FBG on cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage was investigated in rats. The decreased creatinine clearance levels, which are a reliable marker for renal dysfunction in cisplatin-treated rats, were reduced to the normal level after the administration of FBG. Moreover, FBG showed protective effects against cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage in rats through the inhibition of NF-κB/p65, COX-2, and caspase-3 activation. CONCLUSION: These results collectively show that the therapeutic evidence for FBG ameliorates the nephrotoxicity via regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

[A Case of Cecal Endometriosis Presenting as Subepithelial Tumor].

Endometriosis is a benign gynecologic disease, characterized by the presence and growth of functional endometrial-like tissue outside uterus. This ectopic endometrial tissue is most commonly found in the peritoneum, ovaries and uterosacral ligaments, but extremely rarely there is involvement of the appendix or cecum. Here we report a case of cecal endometriosis presenting as a subepithelial tumor diagnosed by surgical excision.

Synchronous multicentric small hepatocellular carcinomas: defining the capsule on high-frequency intraoperative ultrasonography with pathologic correlation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the capsules of synchronous multicentric small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with use of high-frequency intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS). METHODS: Among the 131 consecutive patients undergoing hepatic resection and high-frequency IOUS for HCC, 16 synchronous multicentric small HCCs in 13 patients were histologically diagnosed in the resected specimens. High-frequency IOUS and pathologic findings of these lesions were compared, with particular focus on the presence and appearance of the capsule in or around each lesion. RESULTS: Synchronous multicentric small HCCs were pathologically classified into distinctly nodular (n=12) or vaguely nodular (n=4) types. All 12 distinctly nodular HCCs including six subcentimeter lesions showed detectable capsules on high-frequency IOUS and pathology. The capsules appeared as a hypoechoic rim containing hyperechoic foci (n=6), hypoechoic rim (n=5), or hyperechoic rim (n=1) with varying degrees of coverage around each lesion. Histologically, the capsules were composed of a combination of one to four layers consisting of a fibrous capsule, peritumoral fibrosis, prominent small vessels, and entrapped hepatic parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Synchronous multicentric small HCCs with distinctly nodular type, even at subcentimeter size, can show capsules with varying coverage and diverse echogenicity on high-frequency IOUS.