Proton Beam Therapy versus Radiofrequency Ablation for Patients with Treatment-Naïve Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Analysis.

Introduction: Proton beam therapy (PBT) is known to be an effective locoregional treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few comparative studies in treatment-naïve cases have been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the survival outcomes of PBT with those of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with treatment-naïve solitary HCC. Methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients with treatment-naïve HCC, a single nodule measuring ≤5 cm in diameter, and a Child-Pugh score of ≤8 who were treated with PBT at the University of Tsukuba Hospital between 2001 and 2013 were enrolled in the study. In addition, 836 patients with treatment-naïve HCC treated by RFA at the University of Tokyo Hospital during the same period were analyzed as controls. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared in 83 patient pairs after propensity score matching. Results: The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS rates were 86.6%, 49.5%, and 35.5%, respectively, in the PBT group and 59.5%, 34.0%, and 20.9% in the RFA group (p = 0.058); the respective OS rates were 97.6%, 77.8%, and 57.1% in the PBT group and 95.1%, 81.7%, and 67.7% in the RFA group (p = 0.16). Regarding adverse effects, no grade 3 or higher adverse events were noted in the PBT; however, two grade 3 adverse events occurred within 30 days of RFA in the RFA group: one hemoperitoneum and one hemothorax. Discussion: After propensity score matching, PBT showed no significant difference in RFS and OS compared to RFA. PBT can be an alternative for patients with solitary treatment-naïve HCC.

Inhibiting SCAP/SREBP exacerbates liver injury and carcinogenesis in murine nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Enhanced de novo lipogenesis mediated by sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) is thought to be involved in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis. In this study, we assessed the impact of SREBP inhibition on NASH and liver cancer development in murine models. Unexpectedly, SREBP inhibition via deletion of the SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) in the liver exacerbated liver injury, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis despite markedly reduced hepatic steatosis. These phenotypes were ameliorated by restoring SREBP function. Transcriptome and lipidome analyses revealed that SCAP/SREBP pathway inhibition altered the fatty acid (FA) composition of phosphatidylcholines due to both impaired FA synthesis and disorganized FA incorporation into phosphatidylcholine via lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3) downregulation, which led to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and hepatocyte injury. Supplementation with phosphatidylcholines significantly improved liver injury and ER stress induced by SCAP deletion. The activity of the SCAP/SREBP/LPCAT3 axis was found to be inversely associated with liver fibrosis severity in human NASH. SREBP inhibition also cooperated with impaired autophagy to trigger liver injury. Thus, excessively strong and broad lipogenesis inhibition was counterproductive for NASH therapy; this will have important clinical implications in NASH treatment.

Cell fate analysis of zone 3 hepatocytes in liver injury and tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver lobules are typically subdivided into 3 metabolic zones: zones 1, 2, and 3. However, the contribution of zonal differences in hepatocytes to liver regeneration, as well as to carcinogenic susceptibility, remains unclear. METHODS: We developed a new method for sustained genetic labelling of zone 3 hepatocytes and performed fate tracing to monitor these cells in multiple mouse liver tumour models. RESULTS: We first examined changes in the zonal distribution of the Wnt target gene Axin2 over time using Axin2-Cre ERT2 ;Rosa26-Lox-Stop-Lox-tdTomato mice (Axin2;tdTomato). We found that following tamoxifen administration at 3 weeks of age, approximately one-third of total hepatocytes that correspond to zone 3 were labelled in Axin2;tdTomato mice; the tdTomato+ cell distribution closely matched that of the zone 3 marker CYP2E1. Cell fate analysis revealed that zone 3 hepatocytes maintained their own lineage but rarely proliferated beyond their liver zonation during homoeostasis; this indicated that our protocol enabled persistent genetic labelling of zone 3 hepatocytes. Using this system, we found that zone 3 hepatocytes generally had high neoplastic potential, which was promoted by constitutive activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in the pericentral area. However, the frequency of zone 3 hepatocyte-derived tumours varied depending on the regeneration pattern of the liver parenchyma in response to liver injury. Notably, Axin2-expressing hepatocytes undergoing chronic liver injury significantly contributed to liver regeneration and possessed high neoplastic potential. Additionally, we revealed that the metabolic phenotypes of liver tumours were acquired during tumorigenesis, irrespective of their spatial origin. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocytes receiving Wnt/ß-catenin signalling from their microenvironment have high neoplastic potential, and Wnt/ß-catenin signalling is a potential drug target for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. LAY SUMMARY: Lineage tracing revealed that zone 3 hepatocytes residing in the pericentral niche have high neoplastic potential. Under chronic liver injury, hepatocytes receiving Wnt/ß-catenin signalling broadly exist across all hepatic zones and significantly contribute to liver tumorigenesis as well as liver regeneration. Wnt/ß-catenin signalling is a potential drug target for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Discovery of a Vitamin D Receptor-Silent Vitamin D Derivative That Impairs Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein In Vivo.

Vitamin D3 metabolites inhibit the expression of lipogenic genes by impairing sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), a master transcription factor of lipogenesis, independent of their canonical activity through a vitamin D receptor (VDR). Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of vitamin D derivatives to search for a drug-like small molecule that suppresses the SREBP-induced lipogenesis without affecting the VDR-controlled calcium homeostasis in vivo. Evaluation of the derivatives in cultured cells and mice led to the discovery of VDR-silent SREBP inhibitors and to the development of KK-052 (50), the first vitamin D-based SREBP inhibitor that has been demonstrated to mitigate hepatic lipid accumulation without calcemic action in mice. KK-052 maintained the ability of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to induce the degradation of SREBP but lacked in the VDR-mediated activity. KK-052 serves as a valuable compound for interrogating SREBP/SCAP in vivo and may represent an unprecedented translational opportunity of synthetic vitamin D analogues.

Post-treatment cell-free DNA as a predictive biomarker in molecular-targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Liquid biopsies, particularly those involving circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are rapidly emerging as a non-invasive alternative to tumor biopsies. However, clinical applications of ctDNA analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We measured the amount of plasma-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in HCC patients before (n = 100) and a few days after treatment (n = 87), including radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and molecular-targeted agents (MTAs), and prospectively analyzed their associations with clinical parameters and prognosis. TERT promoter mutations in cfDNA were analyzed using droplet digital PCR. Furthermore, we performed a comprehensive mutational analysis of post-treatment cfDNA via targeted ultra-deep sequencing (22,000× coverage) in a panel of 275 cancer-related genes in selected patients. RESULTS: Plasma cfDNA levels increased significantly according to HCC clinical stage, and a high cfDNA level was independently associated with a poor prognosis. TERT promoter mutations were detected in 45% of all cases but were not associated with any clinical characteristics. cfDNA levels increased significantly a few days after treatment, and a greater increase in post-treatment cfDNA levels was associated with a greater therapeutic response to MTAs. The detection rate of TERT mutations increased to 57% using post-treatment cfDNA, suggesting that the ctDNA was enriched. Targeted ultra-deep sequencing using post-treatment cfDNA after administering lenvatinib successfully detected various gene mutations and obtained promising results in lenvatinib-responsive cases. CONCLUSIONS: Post-treatment cfDNA analysis may facilitate the construction of biomarkers for predicting MTA treatment effects.

Axin2+ Peribiliary Glands in the Periampullary Region Generate Biliary Epithelial Stem Cells That Give Rise to Ampullary Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Peribiliary glands (PBGs), clusters of epithelial cells residing in the submucosal compartment of extrahepatic bile ducts, have been suggested as biliary epithelial stem/progenitor cell niche; however, evidence to support this claim is limited because of a lack of PBG-specific markers. We therefore sought to identify PBG-specific markers to investigate the potential role of PBGs as stem/progenitor cell niches, as well as an origin of cancer. METHODS: We examined the expression pattern of the Wnt target gene Axin2 in extrahepatic bile ducts. We then applied lineage tracing to investigate whether Axin2-expressing cells from PBGs contribute to biliary regeneration and carcinogenesis using Axin2-CreERT mice. RESULTS: Wnt signaling activation, marked by Axin2, was limited to PBGs located in the periampullary region. Lineage tracing showed that Axin2-expressing periampullary PBG cells are capable of self-renewal and supplying new biliary epithelial cells (BECs) to the luminal surface. Additionally, the expression pattern of Axin2 and the mature ductal cell marker CK19 were mutually exclusive in periampullary region, and fate tracing of CK19+ luminal surface BECs showed gradual replacement by CK19- cells, further supporting the continuous replenishment of new BECs from PBGs to the luminal surface. We also found that Wnt signal enhancer R-spondin3 secreted from Myh11-expressing stromal cells, corresponding to human sphincter of Oddi, maintained the periampullary Wnt signal-activating niche. Notably, introduction of PTEN deletion into Axin2+ PBG cells, but not CK19+ luminal surface BECs, induced ampullary carcinoma whose development was suppressed by Wnt inhibitor. CONCLUSION: A specific cell population receiving Wnt-activating signal in periampullary PBGs functions as biliary epithelial stem/progenitor cells and also the cellular origin of ampullary carcinoma.

GPR30-Expressing Gastric Chief Cells Do Not Dedifferentiate But Are Eliminated via PDK-Dependent Cell Competition During Development of Metaplasia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gastric chief cells, a mature cell type that secretes digestive enzymes, have been proposed to be the origin of metaplasia and cancer through dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation. However, studies supporting this claim have had technical limitations, including issues with the specificity of chief cell markers and the toxicity of drugs used. We therefore sought to identify genes expressed specifically in chief cells and establish a model to trace these cells. METHODS: We performed transcriptome analysis of Mist1-CreERT-traced cells, with or without chief cell depletion. Gpr30-rtTA mice were generated and crossed to TetO-Cre mice, and lineage tracing was performed after crosses to R26-TdTomato mice. Additional lineage tracing experiments were performed using Mist1-CreERT, Kitl-CreERT, Tff1-Cre, and Tff2-Cre mice crossed to reporter mice. Mice were given high-dose tamoxifen or DMP-777 or were infected with Helicobacter pylori to induce gastric metaplasia. We studied mice that expressed mutant forms of Ras in gastric cells, using TetO-KrasG12D, LSL-KrasG12D, and LSL-HrasG12V mice. We analyzed stomach tissues from GPR30-knockout mice. Mice were given dichloroacetate to inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK)-dependent cell competition. RESULTS: We identified GPR30, the G-protein-coupled form of the estrogen receptor, as a cell-specific marker of chief cells in gastric epithelium of mice. Gpr30-rtTA mice crossed to TetO-Cre;R26-TdTomato mice had specific expression of GPR30 in chief cells, with no expression noted in isthmus stem cells or lineage tracing of glands. Expression of mutant Kras in GPR30+ chief cells did not lead to the development of metaplasia or dysplasia but, instead, led to a reduction in labeled numbers of chief cells and a compensatory expansion of neck lineage, which was derived from upper Kitl+ clones. Administration of high-dose tamoxifen, DMP-777, or H pylori decreased the number of labeled chief cells. Chief cells were eliminated from epithelia via GPR30- and PDK-dependent cell competition after metaplastic stimuli, whereas loss of GRP30 or inhibition of PDK activity preserved chief cell numbers and attenuated neck lineage cell expansion. CONCLUSIONS: In tracing studies of mice, we found that most chief cells are lost during metaplasia and therefore are unlikely to contribute to gastric carcinogenesis. Expansion of cells that coexpress neck and chief lineage markers, known as spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia, does not occur via dedifferentiation from chief cells but, rather, through a compensatory response from neck progenitors to replace the eliminated chief cells.

Intermolecular interactions of tetrabenzoporphyrin- and phthalocyanine-based charge-transfer complexes.

The effect of molecular modification on the intermolecular interactions in tetrabenzoporphyrin-based charge transfer complexes is reported. TPP[FeIII(tbp)Cl2]2, TPP[CoIII(tbp)Cl2]2 and TPP[CoIII(tbp)Br2]2 (TPP = tetraphenylphosphonium and tbp = tetrabenzoporphyrin) were synthesized and their crystal structures were compared to those of the reported TPP[MIII(tbp)(CN)2]2, TPP[FeIII(tbp)Br2]2 and TPP[MIII(Pc)L2]2 complexes (Pc = phthalocyanine; and L = CN, Cl or Br). The prepared CT complexes were isostructural to reported systems. However, their intermolecular interactions were found to depend on the combination of the macrocyclic (Mc) and axial ligands (L). In Pc-based systems, the overlap integral between HOMOs of Pc decreased with the increase in the size of the axial ligand, which indicated that the intermolecular interactions in Pc-based systems were dominated by repulsive interactions. On the other hand, in tbp-based systems, attractive and repulsive interactions competed with each other. Furthermore, charge transport properties were found to depend on the central metal ion as well as the combination of Mc and L, which suggested that minor molecular modifications to porphyrin complexes will cause drastic changes in both inter- and intramolecular interactions.

Three types of metaplasia model through Kras activation, Pten deletion, or Cdh1 deletion in the gastric epithelium.

Chronic inflammation and intestinal metaplasia are strongly associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Kras activation and Pten deletion are observed in intestinal-type gastric cancer, and Cdh1 mutation is associated with diffuse-type gastric cancer. Although various mouse models of gastric carcinogenesis have been reported, few mouse lines enable gene manipulation selectively in the stomach. Here we established a Tff1-Cre bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse line in an attempt to induce gene modification specifically in the gastric pit lineage. In the stomach, Tff1-Cre-mediated recombination was most evident in the pit lineage in the corpus and in entire antral glands; recombination was also observed in a few gastric chief and parietal cells. Outside the stomach, recombination was patchy throughout the intestines, and particularly frequently in the duodenum (Brunner glands), cecum, and proximal colon. In the stomachs of Tff1-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D mice, proliferating cell clusters expanded throughout the corpus glands, with foveolar cell expansion with ectopic Alcian blue-positive mucins, oxyntic atrophy, and pseudopyloric changes with spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia; however, gastric cancer was not observed even at 12 months of age. Corpus-derived organoids from Tff1-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D mice exhibited accelerated growth and abnormal differentiation with a loss of chief and parietal cell markers. Tff1-Cre;Ptenflox/flox mice displayed similar changes to those seen in Tff1-Cre;LSL-KrasG12D mice, both with aberrant ERK activation within 3 months. In contrast, Tff1-Cre;Cdh1flox/flox mice initially showed signet ring-like cells that were rapidly lost with disruption of the mucosal surface, and later developed gastric epithelial shedding with hyperproliferation and loss of normal gastric lineages. Eventually, the glandular epithelium in Tff1-Cre;Cdh1flox/flox mice was completely replaced by squamous epithelium which expanded from the forestomach. Tff1-Cre mice offer an additional useful tool for studying gastric carcinogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Metabolic reprogramming for adaptation to the local environment has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Although alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cancer cells have received less attention compared to other metabolic alterations such as glucose or glutamine metabolism, recent studies have uncovered the importance of lipid metabolic reprogramming in carcinogenesis. Obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are well-known risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and individuals with these conditions exhibit an increased intake of dietary FAs accompanied by enhanced lipolysis of visceral adipose tissue due to insulin resistance, resulting in enormous exogenous FA supplies to hepatocytes via the portal vein and lymph vessels. This "lipid-rich condition" is highly characteristic of obesity- and NASH-driven HCC. Although the way in which HCC cells adapt to such a condition and exploit it to aid their progression is not understood, we recently obtained new insights into this mechanism through lipid metabolic reprogramming. In addition, accumulating evidence supports the importance of lipid metabolic reprogramming in various situations of hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, in this review, we discuss the latest findings regarding the role of FA metabolism pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis, focusing on obesity- and NASH-driven lipid metabolic reprogramming.

Peribiliary Glands as the Cellular Origin of Biliary Tract Cancer.

The identification of the cellular origin of cancer is important for our understanding of the mechanisms regulating carcinogenesis, thus the cellular origin of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a current topic of interest. Although CCA has been considered to originate from biliary epithelial cells, recent studies have suggested that multiple cell types can develop into CCA. With regard to the hilar and extrahepatic bile ducts, peribiliary glands (PBGs), a potential stem cell niche of biliary epithelial cells, have attracted attention as the cellular origin of biliary tract cancer. Recent histopathological and experimental studies have suggested that some kinds of inflammation-induced CCA and intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct are more likely to originate from PBGs. During inflammation-mediated cholangiocarcinogenesis, the biliary epithelial injury-induced regenerative response by PBGs is considered a key process. Thus, in this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of cholangiocarcinogenesis from the viewpoint of inflammation and the cellular origin of CCA, especially focusing on PBGs.

CPT2 downregulation adapts HCC to lipid-rich environment and promotes carcinogenesis via acylcarnitine accumulation in obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic reprogramming of tumour cells that allows for adaptation to their local environment is a hallmark of cancer. Interestingly, obesity-driven and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse models commonly exhibit strong steatosis in tumour cells as seen in human steatohepatitic HCC (SH-HCC), which may reflect a characteristic metabolic alteration. DESIGN: Non-tumour and HCC tissues obtained from diethylnitrosamine-injected mice fed either a normal or a high-fat diet (HFD) were subjected to comprehensive metabolome analysis, and the significance of obesity-mediated metabolic alteration in hepatocarcinogenesis was evaluated. RESULTS: The extensive accumulation of acylcarnitine species was seen in HCC tissues and in the serum of HFD-fed mice. A similar increase was found in the serum of patients with NASH-HCC. The accumulation of acylcarnitine could be attributed to the downregulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), which was also seen in human SH-HCC. CPT2 downregulation induced the suppression of fatty acid ß-oxidation, which would account for the steatotic changes in HCC. CPT2 knockdown in HCC cells resulted in their resistance to lipotoxicity by inhibiting the Src-mediated JNK activation. Additionally, oleoylcarnitine enhanced sphere formation by HCC cells via STAT3 activation, suggesting that acylcarnitine accumulation was a surrogate marker of CPT2 downregulation and directly contributed to hepatocarcinogenesis. HFD feeding and carnitine supplementation synergistically enhanced HCC development accompanied by acylcarnitine accumulation in vivo. CONCLUSION: In obesity-driven and NASH-driven HCC, metabolic reprogramming mediated by the downregulation of CPT2 enables HCC cells to escape lipotoxicity and promotes hepatocarcinogenesis.

Mature gastric chief cells are not required for the development of metaplasia.

During human gastric carcinogenesis, intestinal metaplasia is frequently seen in the atrophic stomach. In mice, a distinct type of metaplasia known as spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) is found in several inflammatory and genetically engineered models. Given the diversity of long- and short-term models of mouse SPEM, it remains unclear whether all models have a shared or distinct molecular mechanism. The origin of SPEM in mice is presently under debate. It is postulated that stem or progenitor cells acquire genetic alterations that then supply metaplastic cell clones, whereas the possibility of transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation from mature gastric chief cells has also been suggested. In this study, we report that loss of chief cells was sufficient to induce short-term regenerative SPEM-like lesions that originated from chief cell precursors in the gastric neck region. Furthermore, Lgr5+ mature chief cells failed to contribute to both short- and long-term metaplasia, whereas isthmus stem and progenitor cells efficiently contributed to long-term metaplasia. Interestingly, multiple administrations of high-dose pulsed tamoxifen induced expansion of Lgr5 expression and Lgr5-CreERT recombination within the isthmus progenitors apart from basal chief cells. Thus we conclude that short-term SPEM represents a regenerative process arising from neck progenitors following chief cell loss, whereas true long-term SPEM originates from isthmus progenitors. Mature gastric chief cells may be dispensable for SPEM development. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Recently, dedifferentiation ability in gastric chief cells during metaplasia development has been proposed. Our findings reveal that lesions that were thought to be acute metaplasia in fact represent normal regeneration supplied from neck lineage and that isthmus stem/progenitors are more responsible for sustained metaplastic changes. Cellular plasticity in gastric chief cells may be more limited than recently highlighted.

Potential Effectiveness of Tolvaptan to Improve Ascites Unresponsive to Standard Diuretics and Overall Survival in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: After tolvaptan was approved for the treatment of cirrhosis patients with ascites, only a few studies have reported its efficacy in the real clinical setting, and no studies have reported its contribution to overall survival. This study clarified the clinical outcomes of tolvaptan treatment in terms of improving ascites unresponsive to standard diuretics (AUS) and overall survival. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 80 decompensated cirrhosis patients with AUS who were administered tolvaptan from October 2012 to December 2014. The patients were divided into two groups according to ascites improvement. We compared laboratory results and overall survival and analyzed factors that affected overall survival. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients, 59 (73.8 %) were male and the median age was 70 years. Thirty-nine (48.8 %) patients were Child-Pugh class C, and 36 (45.0 %) had advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tolvaptan was effective in 48 (60.0 %) patients with an average 3.8 kg weight reduction and ineffective in 32 (40.0 %) patients. The cumulative survival rate differed significantly between the two groups (p < 0.0001), with 87.5 and 68.0 % survival at 30 and 90 days, respectively, in the effective group, and 50.0 and 30.5 % survival, respectively, in the ineffective group. Multivariate analysis showed that improvement in AUS, advanced HCC, total bilirubin level, blood urea nitrogen level, and the presence of hyponatremia were independent predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Tolvaptan could possibly improve overall survival in decompensated cirrhosis patients with AUS as long as it was demonstrated to be effective in these patients.

Anti-glutamate ∊2 receptor antibody-positive and anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody-negative lobar encephalitis presenting as global aphasia and swallowing apraxia.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the difference between anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibody-positive encephalitis and anti-glutamate receptor (GluR) antibody-positive encephalitis. OBJECTIVES: To characterize anti-GluR antibody-positive encephalitis. METHODS: We report a 33-year-old man with nonparaneoplastic anti-GluR ∊2, ζ1 and δ2 antibody-positive and anti-NMDAR antibody-negative encephalitis, using neuropsychological tests and imaging studies including magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with a (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer. RESULTS: The patient exhibited global aphasia and swallowing apraxia (inability to transfer food to the pharyngeal cavity without sialorrhea). He was treated with 3 courses of corticosteroid pulse therapy and had recovered markedly 3 weeks after onset. Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted images revealed hyperintensity in the bilateral frontal and left parietal cortices. Seven months later, a small area of hyperintensity in the left supramarginal gyrus remained. SPECT revealed hypoperfusion in extensive regions of the bilateral frontal lobes and left supramarginal gyrus. Thirteen months later, blood flow reduction was restricted to diffuse areas in the frontal lobes. CONCLUSIONS: Frontal lobar encephalitis without medial temporal involvement, marked cognitive impairment with a relatively preserved level of consciousness, and a favorable response to corticosteroid therapy, with nearly reversible cortical damage, may characterize anti-GluR antibody-positive encephalitis.

Photoinduced Volume Transition in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Gels Swollen by a Nematic Solvent.

Nematic liquid crystalline (LC) cross-linked polymer gel sheets containing 3 mol % azobenzene (Az) unit were prepared and swollen by a nematic solvent of 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). This 5CB-swollen gel sheet exhibited a discontinuous volume change around the nematic-isotoropic phase transition temperature of the LC gel (TNIG). UV irradiation at a temperature slightly lower than TNIG provoked a large volume transition (expansion) due to a loss of nematic order within the gel sheet caused by the trans-to-cis photoisomerization of Az. The volume was reverted by irradiation with 436 nm light. By templating the colloidal crystal film of monodispersed silica particles, a LC gel sheet possessing a microporous structure was also prepared. Due to the facilitated diffusion of 5CB, the microporous LC gel exhibited significant enhancements in the extent and rate of the photoinduced volume transition.

Karyotyping of female and male Hediste japonica (Polychaeta, Annelida) in comparison with those of two closely related species, H. diadroma and H. atoka.

Karyotypes of females and males of the brackish-water polychaete Hediste japonica sensu stricto, collected from the Ariake Sea, Japan, were examined by using regenerating tails. We used the Giemsa staining method and a computer-assisted image-analyzing system for the identification of each chromosome pair. The somatic chromosome number was 2n=28. The presence of an XX-XY (male heterogametic) sex chromosome system was determined from well-spread metaphase plates of somatic cells. The type of sex chromosomes related with phenotype exactly. The metacentric Y chromosome was much larger than the submetacentric X chromosome. All autosomes were metacentric. The karyotype of this species was compared with those of the other two closely related species (H. diadroma and H. atoka). The karyotypes of all the three species were similar to one another.