Genetic structure of Ascaris roundworm in Japan and patterns of its geographical variation

Ascaris roundworm isolates from Japan and central Europe were examined by sequencing analyses to better understand geographically induced nucleotide variation and genotype distribution according to host. Three well-supported clusters (denoted as A, B, C) were identified by generating cox1 sequences of mtDNA from these regions. Among 5 pig isolates collected in eastern Honshu, Japan, in 2010, 3 carried DNA characteristics for cluster A and 2 corresponded with the characteristics of cluster B. The sequence of the human isolate JH1 from north-central Honshu, fixed in formalin since 1972, conformed to the characteristics of cluster A. Differential analysis of ribosomal ITS1 region revealed the JH1 isolate sequence profile of Ascaris lumbricoides. Cluster C, which was the most distinguish cluster, was formed by reference Slovak isolates and has been so far found almost exclusively in European pigs. A fluctuating prevailing distribution of A and B lineages in human and pig hosts in different territories of the world and the global distribution of several haplotypes indicate their establishment before secondary differentiation in a given region due to host affiliation. The protocol established for DNA isolation from formalin-fixed specimens using the modified procedure with the Qiagen extraction set can be used as a tool for retrospective studies in ascarid helminths when only archival specimens are available.     

Respiratory involvement in IgG4-related Mikulicz’s disease

'Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease' is a new clinical concept of multi-organ diseases, with Mikulicz's disease (MD) being a clinical phenotype of IgG4-related disease. To clarify the clinical characteristics of respiratory involvement associated with IgG4-related MD, we retrospectively assessed 25 patients with MD, 11 (44%) of whom had allergic symptoms, and 7 (28%) of whom complained of respiratory problems. Thirteen patients (52%) presented with pulmonary and/or mediastinal lesions (P-MD) on chest computed tomography (CT), and 11 (44%) had lesions limited to the lacrimal and/or salivary glands (L-MD). Mean serum total protein, IgG, and IgG4 concentrations were significantly higher and CH50 was significantly lower in the P-MD than in the L-MD group. Immune complex was present only in the P-MD group. Chest CT images showed bronchial wall thickening, consolidation, nodule(s), interlobular thickening, ground glass opacity, pleural thickening/effusion, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Five of seven patients who underwent histological examination of the lungs had abundant IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltrates (IgG4/IgG-positive plasma cells >40%), but the other two did not. These findings suggest that respiratory lesions are not rare in patients with IgG4-related MD, and that they present with various manifestations. IgG4-related MD should be differentiated from similar diseases, such as sarcoidosis, bronchial asthma, Sj?gren's syndrome, and malignant lymphoma.     

Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 4 Expression is Associated with Liver Metastasis and Poor Survival in Pancreatic Cancer

Background

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy with one of the worst mortality rates of all cancers. Recently, collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) were reported to be associated with proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and invasion in several cancers. However, CRMP expression and their role in pancreatic cancer have not been investigated. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of CRMPs in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Expression of crmp genes in 11 pairs of pancreatic cancer and corresponding noncancerous pancreas tissues were examined by real-time RT-PCR. Knockdown of CRMP4 expression using siRNA was examined in pancreatic cancer cell lines to determine whether CRMP4 regulates cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, CRMP4 protein levels in primary tumors of pancreatic cancer (n = 53) were examined by immunohistochemistry and compared with the clinicopathological features of the tumors.

Results

Of all the CRMPs, only CRMP4 was differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues (p = 0.008). CRMP4 knockdown using siRNA reduced cellular invasion, but did not affect proliferation. The expression of CRMP4 was detected immunohistochemically in 34 (64.2 %) of the 53 pancreatic cancer samples, and CRMP4 expression was correlated with severe venous invasion (p = 0.044), stage (p = 0.019), and liver metastasis (p = 0.021). Multivariate analyses suggested that venous invasion and CRMP4 overexpression were prognostic factors for survival.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that CRMP4 is significantly associated with poor prognosis by promoting liver metastasis and can serve as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

     

EFFICACY OF TEMPORAL MUSCULOPERICRANIAL FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ANTERIOR BASE OF THE SKULL

The skeletal stability of Le Fort I osteotomy was evaluated cephalometrically in 40 consecutive patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) (27 male and 13 female) who were operated on between 1987-1995. Their mean age at the time of operation was 23.7 years (range 16.3-40.4). The onepiece Le Fort I osteotomy was fixed with titanium plates and the osteotomy line was bone-grafted. Neither intermaxillary fixation nor occlusal splints were used postoperatively. Skeletal stability was analysed both horizontally and vertically on cephalograms taken shortly before operation, immediately afterwards, and at six months and at one year postoperatively. The mean maxillary advancement (point A) during the Le Fort I was 3.9 mm (range 0- 8.9) and mean vertical lengthening 4.5 mm (range -0.6-10.5). One year postoperatively the mean maxillary horizontal relapse was 20.5% (0.8 mm, range 0-3.7) whereas the mean vertical relapse was 22.2% (1 mm, range 0-5.7). The vertical relapse reduced from 38% to 8.3% between 1987 and 1995, and there was a positive correlation between the amount of maxillary advancement and relapse both horizontally and vertically.     

Local delivery of mutant CCL2 protein‐reduced orthopaedic implant wear particle‐induced osteolysis and inflammation in vivo

Total joint replacement (TJR) has been widely used as a standard treatment for late‐stage arthritis. One challenge for long‐term efficacy of TJR is the generation of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene wear particles from the implant surface that activates an inflammatory cascade which may lead to bone loss, prosthetic loosening and eventual failure of the procedure. Here, we investigate the efficacy of local administration of mutant CCL2 proteins, such as 7ND, on reducing wear particle‐induced inflammation and osteolysis in vivo using a mouse calvarial model. Mice were treated with local injection of 7ND or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) every other day for up to 14 days. Wear particle‐induced osteolysis and the effects of 7ND treatment were evaluated using micro‐CT, histology, and immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the PBS control, 7ND treatment significantly decreased wear particle‐induced osteolysis, which led to a higher bone volume fraction and bone mineral density. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining showed 7ND treatment decreased the number of recruited inflammatory cells and osteoclasts. Together, our results support the feasibility of local delivery of 7ND for mitigating wear particle‐induced inflammation and osteolysis, which may offer a promising strategy for extending the life time of TJRs. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:58–64, 2016.     

CD133 Expression at the Metastatic Site Predicts Patients’ Outcome in Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastasis

Background

CD133 is a transmembrane protein that is proposed to be a stem cell marker of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the correlation between CD133 expression and survival of CRC patients with liver metastasis has not been fully examined.

Methods

CD133 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically, both in primary tumors and synchronous liver metastases of 88 consecutive CRC patients, as well as recurrent lesions in the remnant liver of 27 of these 88 patients. The relationship between CD133 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

Results

CD133 expression in liver metastases (mCD133) was detected in 50 of 88 patients (56.8 %), and had significant correlation with CD133 expression in primary lesions (pCD133) (p < 0.001). CD133 expression in liver recurrent lesions (recCD133) also had a significant correlation with mCD133 (p < 0.001). mCD133+ patients had significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.043) and OS (p = 0.014) than mCD133? patients. In addition, mCD133+ patients had a significantly lower rate of extrahepatic recurrence (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients without CD133 expression in liver metastasis had significantly shorter survival, perhaps because mCD133? patients had a significantly higher rate of extrahepatic recurrence.

     

Construction of revised versions of the self-perception profile for children, adolescents and college students in Japan

This study developed revised Japanese versions of the self-perception profile for Children, for Adolescents and for College Students. The original versions have an idiosyncratic and time-consuming item format, which was revised by using only one statement for each item. Subjects were fifth to sixth grade students (Boys=129, Girls= 152), tenth to twelfth grade students (Boys=112, Girls=100), and college students (Boys=96, Girls=153) in Japan. The reliability and validity measures showed that the revised versions were similar to the original versions. The present study provides some evidence for the use of these scales with Japanese students.     

Surgical treatment of pharyngeal atresia

Congenital pharyngeal atresia is a very rare gastrointestinal anomaly, with only seven cases of complete pharyngeal atresia having been reported. Five of these cases were autopsy reports and success in surgery to enable oral ingestion was not reported even for the two surviving cases. This is a report of a 1.5-year-old boy with complete congenital pharyngeal atresia who was saved by an emergency tracheostomy directly after birth, and on whom we performed surgery to reconstruct the pharyngeal cavity and prevent re-occlusion and restonosis. Approximately four years after the surgery, no restenosis of the pharyngeal cavity has been observed, and the patient is capable of orally ingesting ordinary meals and breathing and vocalizing by closing the tracheal lumen for nearly satisfactory results.     

Intraoperative bacterial contamination in total hip and knee arthroplasty is associated with operative duration and peeling of the iodine-containing drape from skin

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Surgical site infection (SSI) and periprosthetic joint infection are the most important problems after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and...