Prognostic significance of WNT signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal human malignancies and is associated with a variety of molecular abnormalities. Although WNT signaling through its canonical/non-canonical pathways is one of the major factors involved in oncogenesis or progression of PDA, the prognostic significance of WNT signaling still remains poorly investigated. In this study, the status of the WNT signaling pathways was immunohistochemically analyzed in 101 PDAs, and its potential association with patient postoperative survival was assessed. Nuclear expression of beta-catenin, a hallmark of the activated canonical pathway, was identified in 59 cases, and was associated with reduced survival compared to the patients lacking nuclear beta-catenin expression (P?=?0.002). In contrast, activation of the non-canonical pathway (25 cases), as indicated by co-expression of WNT2/5a and nuclear NFATc1, was not correlated with reduced survival (P?=?0.268). Co-activation of both pathways (16 cases) was associated with worse prognosis in comparison with cases with an activated non-canonical pathway (P?=?0.034). In addition, nuclear beta-catenin expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor (P?=?0.006). Our data indicate that activated WNT signaling through its canonical pathway has a significantly negative effect on the clinical course of PDA, and the canonical WNT pathway should be considered as a future therapeutic target for PDA.     

Enhanced Gastric Ghrelin Production and Secretion in Rats with Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Background and Aim  

Ghrelin has distinct effects on gastrointestinal motility through the vagus nerve and gastric excitatory neural plexus. The objectives of this study were to investigate the dynamics of ghrelin and expression of neuromuscular markers in a newly established surgically manipulated rat model of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), akin to the pyloric stricture associated with duodenal ulcer, advanced gastric cancer, and other conditions, in the clinical setting.     

Distinct pre-attentive responses to non-scale notes: An auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) study

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine patterns of neural activity in response to variations in scale notes and alterations from a scale note to a non-scale note.Methods: Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in response to scale and non-scale violin notes using an odd-ball mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm. Standard stimuli were set to the scale note A4 (440 Hz). Deviant stimuli included two scale notes (scale-B, B4 = 494 Hz; scale-C, C5 = 523 Hz) and a non-scale note halfway between them (non-scale, B4 + 42¢ = 506 Hz).Results: MMN amplitude elicited by the non-scale was significantly larger than that elicited by the scale-B and scale-C, which did not differ significantly from one another.Conclusion: The current results suggest that the human brain may possess pre-attentive mechanisms for extracting relational aspects among sounds of the musical scale.Significance: The results indicate that non-scale notes may be processed in a different way even in the pre-attentive stage than scale notes.     

Totally Ossified Metaplastic Spinal Meningioma

A 61-year-old woman with a very rare case of totally ossified large thoracic spinal metaplastic meningioma, showing progressing myelopathy is presented. Computed tomographic images showed a large totally ossfied intradural round mass occupying the spinal canal on T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large T9-10 intradural extramedullary mass that was hypointense to spinal cord on T1- and T2-weighted sequences, partial enhancement was apparent after Gadolinium administration. The spinal cord was severely compressed and displaced toward the right at the level of T9-10. Surgical removal of the tumor was successfully accomplished via the posterior midline approach and the histological diagnosis verified an ossified metaplastic meningioma. The clinical neurological symptoms of patient were improved postoperatively. In this article we discuss the surgical and pathological aspects of rare case of spinal totally ossified metaplastic meningioma.     

Insufflation of Hydrogen Gas Restrains the Inflammatory Response of Cardiopulmonary Bypass in a Rat Model

Systemic inflammatory responses in patients receiving cardiac surgery with the use of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) significantly contribute to CPB‐associated morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that insufflated hydrogen gas (H₂) would provide systemic anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic effects during CPB, therefore reducing proinflammatory cytokine levels. In this study, we examined the protective effect of H₂ on a rat CPB model. Rats were divided into three groups: the sham operation (SHAM) group, received sternotomy only; the CPB group, which was initiated and maintained for 60 min; and the CPB + H₂ group in which H₂ was given via an oxygenator during CPB for 60 min. We collected blood samples before, 20 min, and 60 min after the initiation of CPB. We measured the serum cytokine levels of (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐10) and biochemical markers (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase). We also measured the wet‐to‐dry weight (W/D) ratio of the left lung 60 min after the initiation of CPB. In the CPB group, the cytokine and biochemical marker levels significantly increased 20 min after the CPB initiation and further increased 60 min after the CPB initiation as compared with the SHAM group. In the CPB + H₂ group, however, such increases were significantly suppressed at 60 min after the CPB initiation. Although the W/D ratio in the CPB group significantly increased as compared with that in the SHAM group, such an increase was also suppressed significantly in the CPB + H₂ group. We suggest that H₂ insufflation is a possible new potential therapy for counteracting CPB‐induced systemic inflammation.