Therapeutic activity of glycoengineered anti‐GM2 antibodies against malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasm that arises from the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal lining. Although surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combinations of these therapies are used to treat MPM, the median survival of such patients is dismal. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop novel therapeutics with different modes of action. Ganglioside GM2 is a glycolipid that has been shown to be overexpressed in various types of cancer. However, there are no published reports regarding the use of GM2 as a potential therapeutic target in cases of MPM. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the anti‐GM2 antibody BIW‐8962 as an anti‐MPM therapeutic using in vitro and in vivo assays. Consequently, the GM2 expression in the MPM cell lines was confirmed using flow cytometry. In addition, eight of 11 cell lines were GM2‐positive (73%), although the GM2 expression was variable. BIW‐8962 showed a significant antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity against the GM2‐expressing MPM cell line MSTO‐211H, the effect of which depended on the antibody concentration and effector/target ratio. In an in vivo orthotropic mouse model using MSTO‐211H cells, BIW‐8962 significantly decreased the incidence and size of tumors. Additionally, the GM2 expression was confirmed in the MPM clinical specimens. Fifty‐eight percent of the MPM tumors were positive for GM2, with individual variation in the intensity and frequency of staining. These data suggest that anti‐GM2 antibodies may become a therapeutic option for MPM patients.     

Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery for a Small-Intestinal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: Report of a Case

Our report concerns a 64-year-old man with a small-intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), which was successfully treated with single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). Small-bowel endoscopy detected a submucosal tumor located approximately 10 cm from the ligament of Treitz in the wall of the proximal jejunum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a tumor (diameter, 4 cm) containing high- and low-density areas in the proximal jejunum. On 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET), the tumor demonstrated intense FDG uptake (maximum standard uptake value, 3.82), whereas it displayed high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images. No metastatic lesions were observed. The patient was diagnosed with a jejunal GIST. Wedge resection of the jejunum was performed using the SILS procedure. The tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as a low-grade malignant GIST. SILS is a useful resection technique for small-intestinal GIST.Key words: SILS, Small intestine, GIST, Laparoscopic, FDG-PET, DWIA 64-year-old man with a past history of diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital because of a suspected tumor in the small bowel, which was subsequently revealed by an abdominal ultrasonography screening examination. He had no digestive symptoms. He had a history of cigarette smoking and alcohol use, but his family history was unremarkable, and he did not display elevated tumor marker levels. Small-bowel endoscopy showed a submucosal tumor located approximately 10 cm from the ligament of Treitz in the wall of the proximal jejunum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor (diameter, 4 cm) containing high- and low-density areas in the proximal jejunum. On 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT, the tumor showed increased FDG uptake [maximum standard uptake value (SUV) = 3.82; Fig. 1a], whereas it displayed high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI Fig. 1b). No metastatic lesions were observed. The patient was diagnosed with a jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).Open in a separate windowFig. 1(a) FDG-PET/CT scan showing that a tumor (diameter, 4 cm) displayed increased FDG uptake in the proximal jejunum (arrow). (b) Diffusion-weighted MRI showing that the tumor displayed high signal intensity (arrow).We treated the tumor with single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). In this procedure, an extra-small wound retractor (ALEXIS wound retractor XS, Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, California) was inserted through a 3-cm umbilical incision, and a surgical glove was used as the single port. Three 5-mm trocars were inserted into the surgical glove, which was then fixed to the outer ring of the wound retractor. The section of the small bowel close to the tumor was pulled toward the incision site, and the tumorous area of the jejunum was extracted through the incision. Wedge resection of the jejunum and closure of the enterotomy were performed outside the abdominal cavity (Fig. 2a and ​and2b).2b). The tumor was elastic and had not invaded any adjacent structures. The dimensions of the tumor were 42 × 43 × 20 mm.Open in a separate windowFig. 2(a) Intraoperative appearance after the tumor had been extracted through the umbilical incision. (b) Postoperative appearance of the umbilical incision.A histopathologic examination revealed the bundle-like growth of spindle-shaped tumor cells with a mitotic rate of 3/50 high-power fields (HPF; Fig. 3). In immunohistochemical staining, the tumor was found to be positive for c-kit and CD34, but negative for keratin, smooth muscle actin, and s-100. In addition, 3.5% of the tumor cells were positive for Ki-67. As a result, we diagnosed the tumor as low-grade malignant GIST. After 6 months'' follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and displays no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis.Open in a separate windowFig. 3Histologic examination detected the bundle-like growth of spindle-shaped tumor cells (×66).     

Glutamate perception, soup stock, and the concept of umami: the ethnography, food ecology, and history of dashi in Japan

This article examines the use of dashi stock as the most characteristic umami-yielding foodstuff in Japanese culinary practice. While umami is scientifically defined as a taste provided by umami substances (e.g., glutamate), the popular meanings attached to the term umami among Japanese is more complex. The article shows how glutamates are encoded in Japanese culinary culture. The research identifies socioeconomic and political factors that have influenced on the changes in perception of glutamate within Japanese society. Through observing changes in the preparation and consumption of umami-containing food, dashi, this study traces the uses and perception of umami over time.     

Compression longitudinale de stent dans le traitement d’une bifurcation coronaire

Longitudinal stent deformation is defined as a compression of stent length after its implantation. It's a rare complication but dangerous seen with several stents. We reported a case of longitudinal stent deformation during bifurcation lesion treatment with a Promus Element^® and we perform a short review of this complication.