Heat Shock Protein 70 Messenger RNA in Rat Leukocytes Elevates After Severe Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) confers protection against heat shock, oxidative stress, infection, and inflammation in many cell types. A recent study reported that the induction of HSP70 was associated with morphologic protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in the rat small intestine. This study investigated the dynamics of HSP70 in leukocytes during intestinal IRI in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial blood samples were collected at 60-minute intervals up to 240 min from male Wistar rats (n = 15). The rats were divided into three groups of five each: the control group, the nonlethal IRI group, and the lethal IRI group. Rats belonging to the control group underwent a sham operation, and laparotomy was performed on rats in the lethal and nonlethal IRI groups. The nonlethal group experienced a 30-minute clamping of the superior mesenteric artery, and the lethal group experienced a 75-minute clamping of the superior mesenteric artery. The expression of HSP70 messenger RNA (mRNA) in leukocytes was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Mixed-effects modeling of repeated measures was used to carry out the statistical analysis. The Bonferroni correction was applied to multiple comparisons. A P value < 0.0167 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The expression of HSP70 mRNA in leukocytes increased 60 min after reperfusion in both IRI groups, and it was 12.8 times higher in the lethal group and 3.6 times higher in the nonlethal group compared with the control group. The expression of mRNA in the lethal group was significantly increased compared with the nonlethal group and the control group at 120 and 180 min after reperfusion. At 120 min after reperfusion, the expression of HSP70 mRNA was 6.1 times higher in the lethal group than in the nonlethal group (P = 0.0075) and 17.7 times higher than in the control group (P = 0.0011). At 180 min after reperfusion, the expression of HSP70 mRNA was 6.8 times higher in the lethal group than in the nonlethal group (P = 0.0007) and 4.3 times higher than in the control group (P = 0.0032). Although the expression of HSP70 mRNA in the nonlethal group was elevated in the early stages of reperfusion, there was no difference between the nonlethal group and the control group (P = 0.0212 at 60 min). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of HSP70 mRNA in leukocytes may be a clinically useful indicator for evaluating pathologic conditions in intestinal IRI.

S-1 and CPT-11 Plus Ramucirumab (IRIS+Rmab) as Second-Line Chemotherapy for Patients with Oxaliplatin-Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC): A Multicenter Phase II Study in Japan (N-DOCC-F-C-1701).

This multicenter phase II N-DOCC-F-C-1701 trial is being planned in order to investigate the efficacy and safety of CPT-11+S-1 +Ramucirumab (IRIS+Rmab), which is anticipated to have a stronger anti-tumor effect than IRIS+Bmab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) previously treated with oxaliplatin (L-OHP) containing regimen, in consideration of the result of RAISE, FIRIS and some phase II trials of IRIS+Bevacicizumab (Bmab). The number of patients is set at 38 for the statistical analysis, assuming an expected median PFS of 5.0 months (threshold: 3.0 months). The primary endpoint of the study is the progression free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints are the overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), adverse events (AE), quality of life (QOL) and review of nausea and vomiting. This trial is registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000028170. We intend to start conducting the trial in September 1, 2017. If this trial meets the endpoint, IRIS+Rmab might be supported as a new optional standard regimen for mCRC.

High incidence of recess formation at myopectineal orifice during laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Groin hernias are frequently seen in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of patients who might have latent groin hernia. METHODS: During laparoscopic abdominal surgery, we observed the area around the groin lesion and attempted to evaluate the degree of recess at myopectineal orifice. The classification defining the recess was as follows: Grade 0: no recess, Grade I: slight recess with a visible bottom, Grade II: deep recess with an invisible bottom, Grade III: other organ invaginated into the recess, and Grade IV: confirmed bulging on the body surface. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2011, 46 patients were enrolled. A recess around myopectineal orifice were detected in 20 patients. The lesions were as follows: 11 on the lateral side of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA), five on the internal side of the IEA, three at both sites and one found at the femoral ring. According to the grade classification of these groin hernias, 26 (57%) were Grade 0, 14 (30%) Grade I, 4 (9%) Grade II, 1 (2%) Grade III, and 1 (2%) Grade IV. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that rate of patients with asymptomatic latent groin hernias is relatively high in Japanese.

Round ligament varicosities diagnosed as inguinal hernia during pregnancy: A case report and series from two regional hospitals in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Round ligament varicosities (RLV) are not well-known and they are usually caused by pregnancy. Although the groin swelling of RLV mimics an inguinal hernia, it is difficult to distinguish between them through clinical examination alone, and there have been few published reports on this topic, especially from Asia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old Japanese woman complained of left groin swelling for 2 weeks at her 28th week of gestation of her first pregnancy. According to a physical examination, she had a soft, painless swelling in the superficial inguinal ring of the left groin. An inguinal hernia was suspected and she was thus scheduled to undergo herniorrhaphy. However, since she had varicosities in the left labia majora, she first underwent color Doppler ultrasonography and a final diagnosis of round ligament varicosities was this made. Her symptoms resolved after delivery of her baby. DISCUSSION: We herein report 10 cases of RLV in pregnant Japanese women who were initially suspected of having an inguinal hernia. All of them were suspected to suffer from inguinal hernias after a clinical examination by their attending gynecologist. All of them were diagnosed using gray scale and color Doppler ultrasonography, treated with conservative management, and the symptoms resolved in all cases after the delivery. CONCLUSION: This is the largest report from Asia regarding RLV. To avoid unnecessary surgery in pregnant women, surgeons must be aware of this entity make an accurate diagnosis based of the findings of Doppler ultrasonography.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors VEGFR-1 and 2 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors, leiomyomas and schwannomas.

AIM: To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR-1 and 2 in the growth and differentiation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). METHODS: Thirty-three GISTs, 15 leiomyomas and 6 schwannomas were examined by immunohistochemistry in this study. RESULTS: VEGF protein was expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, and VEGFR-1 and 2 were expressed both in the cytoplasm and on the membrane of all tumors. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that 26 GISTs (78.8%), 9 leiomyomas (60.0%) and 3 schwannomas (50.0%) were positive for VEGF; 24 GISTs (72.7%), 12 leiomyomas (80.0%) and 4 schwannomas (66.7%) were positive for VEGFR-1; 30 GISTs (90.9%), 5 leiomyomas (33.3%) and 4 schwannomas (66.7%) were positive for VEGFR-2. VEGFR-2 expression was statistically different between GISTs and leiomyomas (P < 0.0001). However, there was no correlation between the expression of VEGF pathway componenets and the clinical risk categories. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the VEGF pathway may play an important role in the differentiation of GISTs, leiomyomas and schwannomas.

Duodenal tubular resection using laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery: A new technique for the treatment of duodenal lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that combines the advantages of laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic treatment. LECS has been developed for treatment of gastric submucosal tumors and can be applied to superficial non-ampullary duodenal tumors. Here we describe the use of LECS for duodenal mucosal cancer. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: After the placement of five ports, an endoscopic procedure was performed to confirm the tumor location and to place marks around the tumor. The jejunum was then resected 10 cm from the ligament of Treitz, and the connective tissue between the pancreas and duodenum was dissected to close to Vater's papilla. Duodenal resection was performed with a stapling device 2 cm to the oral side of the tumor, with endoscopic confirmation of the duodenal papilla, and duodenal tubular resection was then accomplished. Duodeno-jejunostomy was carried out using the same stapling device. There were no postoperative complications. DISCUSSION: This case shows that duodenal tubular resection using LECS enables curability through a minimally invasive procedure that offers the advantages of laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic treatment. This technique is applicable to duodenal lesions such as those due to duodenal mucosal cancers.