Single nucleotide polymorphism in fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 at codon 388 is associated with prognosis in high-grade soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND: A recent study revealed that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 388 (Gly or Arg) of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) was associated with prognosis in patients with carcinoma of the breast and colorectal carcinoma. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the correlation between codon 388 SNP and clinical prognosis in patients with sarcoma of the bone and soft tissues. METHODS: Tumor samples were obtained from 143 patients with high-grade bone and soft tissue sarcomas at Okayama University Hospital between 1986-2002, and from 102 healthy volunteers. SNP of codon 388 was detected by sequencing and fragment length of polymerase chain reaction products digested by restriction enzyme. The chi-square test was used to compare genotype distribution and the Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: With regard to FGFR4 genotypes in the 143 patients studied, 54 (37.8%) were Gly/Gly, 72 (50.3%) were Gly/Arg, and 17 (11.9%) were Arg/Arg, findings that were not significantly different from those of controls (P = 0.97). With regard to cumulative overall and metastasis-free survival, patients with the Gly/Gly genotype were found to have a better prognosis (P = 0.085 and P = 0.27, respectively). FGFR4 SNP was found to be correlated significantly with overall and metastasis-free survival in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (P = 0.029 and P = 0.045, respectively), but not in those patients with bone sarcomas (P = 0.88 and P = 0.75, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, the authors found a significant correlation between FGFR4 SNP and prognosis in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, although the samples were comprised of various histologic types. This SNP might be used to improve the prediction of clinical prognosis and lead to new treatment strategies in patients with soft tissue sarcomas.     

The newly established human hepatocyte cell line: application for the bioartificial liver

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human hepatocyte cell lines are reported to lose many of their biochemical functions in a hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS). Differentiation therapy is useful to up-regulate liver function. METHODS: The human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 was transfected with HSV/tk gene. Albumin synthesis and ammonia removal activity were evaluated when HepG2/tk was cultured with histone deacetylase inhibitor (FR228) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma ligand (pioglitazone). To investigate the function of HepG2/tk in vivo, cell transplantation for 90% hepatectonized rats was conducted. RESULTS: We established stable cell lines which expressed HSV/tk and were sensitive to gancyclovir in vitro and in vivo. Both albumin synthesis rate and ammonia removal rate improved for HepG2/tk incubated with FR228 and pioglitazone for 3 days, which induced nuclear transport of p21. Rats with intrasplenic injection of HepG2/tk precultured for 3 days with FR228 and pioglitazone survived significantly longer than the control rats. The ammonia and total bilirubin concentrations were significantly lower in the test group than in the control group. The injection of gancyclovir inhibited the prolonged survival of the rats with precultured HepG2/tk. CONCLUSIONS: HepG2/tk is safe as well as enhancing high levels of liver function. It will be a potential cell source for HALLS in the future.     

Selective association of S100A6 (calcyclin)-immunoreactive astrocytes with the tangential migration pathway of subventricular zone cells in the rat

In adult rodents, proliferating cells in the subventricular zone of lateral ventricle tangentially migrate into the olfactory bulb, where they become the interneurons. The present immunocytochemical analysis revealed that S100A6 (calcyclin), a specific calcium-binding protein of the S100 family, is restrictedly distributed in some astrocytes in the tangential migration pathway of the rat. These results suggest that a particular type of astrocytes containing S100A6 is associated with the tangential migration pathway.     

The Development of Recombinant Human Serum Albumin

Abstract: We have developed a fermentation process for recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) production using an expression strain of the methylotrophic yeast Pi-chia pastoris. The high productivity of the process enables it to compete with the production of plasma derived HSA. After purification of the rHSA, the content of yeast derived contaminants was less than 1 ng/250 mg of rHSA. The results from structural analyses suggested that purified rHSA possessed an identical conformation to plasma derived HSA. Furthermore, no neoantigenicity different from that of plasma derived HSA was observed. The efficacy and safety of rHSA were tested in clinical studies, and it was shown that there was no difference between rHSA and plasma derived HSA in a comparison study. The high efficacy of rHSA with little or no adverse reaction was confirmed in these studies.     

NONCHROMAFFIN PARAGANGLIOMA IN THE NOSE and PARANASAL SINUSES

Nonchromaffin paraganglioma occurring in the nose and paranasal sinuses are extremely rare. The authors have experienced a case of nonchromaffin paraganglioma of nasal cavity which extended to the epiphar-ynx. To our knowledge, this reported case is the fourth case that has appeared in the world literature.
The patient, a 31-year-old female, had complained of a right nasal obstruction and mucopurulent rhinorrhea for two years. The right nasal cavity was filled with a polypoid mass showing no bleeding tendency or necrosis. Radiographs revealed a homogeneous shadow which occupied the entire nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Histopathological studies revealed that the tumor showed typical findings of nonchromaffin paraganglioma and neurosecretory ganules in cytoplasm were observed by electron microscopic study. Subsequently, the tumor recurred at on the posterior epipharyngeal wall after a duration of one year and three months, and was removed completely. Since then, there was no recurrence of the tumor until the present time. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 35: 489–495, 1985.     

吗啡对谷氨酸和天然辣椒碱引起的大鼠脊髓背角c-Fos蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨足底注射吗啡对谷氨酸和天然辣椒碱所引起的大鼠脊髓背角c-Fos蛋白表达的影响,从而了解阿片和谷氨酸受体在末梢神经痛觉传递中的相互作用。方法72只健康SD雄性大鼠,随机分为12组,每组6只。在大鼠后肢左侧足底分别注射（正常对照组不用药）生理盐水（Saline组）、谷氨酸（Glu组）、天然辣椒碱（Cap组）、吗啡（MOR组）、盐酸纳洛酮（NLX组）、谷氨酸＋吗啡（Glu＋MOR组）、谷氨酸＋盐酸纳洛酮（Glu＋NLX组）、谷氨酸＋盐酸纳洛酮＋吗啡（Glu＋NLX＋MOR组）、天然辣椒碱＋吗啡（Cap＋MOR组）、天然辣椒碱＋盐酸纳洛酮（Cap＋NLX组）、天然辣椒碱＋盐酸纳洛酮＋吗啡（Cap＋NLX＋MOR组）;注射药物2 h后对脊髓（L4-5）背角出现的c-Fos阳性神经细胞的数量进行观察。结果在脊髓（L4-5）背角浅层的c-Fos阳性神经细胞数,正常对照组为0个;Saline组、MOR组、NLX组分别为（60±5）、（50±14）、（67±22）个,3组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;Glu组、Cap组分别为（268±21）（、489±34）个,与Saline组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;Glu＋MOR组为（65±10）个,较Glu组明显减少（P〈0.05）;Glu＋NLX＋MOR组为（321±33）个,较Glu＋MOR组明显增加（P〈0.05）;Cap＋MOR组为（259±52）个,较Cap组明显减少（P〈0.05）;Cap＋NLX＋MOR组为（491±44）个,较Cap＋MOR组明显增加（P〈0.05）。结论谷氨酸受体参与脊髓背角浅层c-Fos蛋白表达,吗啡激活阿片受体可以导致外源性和内源性谷氨酸所引起的c-Fos阳性蛋白的减少,而盐酸纳洛酮可以拮抗吗啡的这种作用。     

Prognostic Impact of Vessels that Encapsulate Tumor Cluster (VETC) in Patients who Underwent Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Annals of Surgical Oncology - There is limited published information about prognostic value of vessels that encapsulate tumor cluster (VETC) based on their involvement with immune cells in...     

Quantitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay during lamivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers

The usefulness of fully automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (Architect HBsAg QT) for monitoring serum levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) during antiviral therapy remains unclear. Using this assay, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was measured in 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B before and during lamivudine treatment. At the start of therapy, 12 patients had detectable hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 8 did not. The median serum HBV DNA level and HBsAg concentration (25th-75th centile) were 7.2 (6.1-7.8) log genome equivalents/ml and 3,932 (1,585-12,330) IU/ml, respectively. The HBsAg concentration was significantly higher in HBeAg positive than in HBeAg negative patients (P=0.031). There was a significant correlation between the HBsAg concentration and HBV DNA level (r=0.490, P=0.027). The HBsAg concentration negatively correlated with patient age (r=-0.395, P=0.085). After the start of lamivudine therapy, HBV DNA levels fell rapidly in all patients. Serum HBsAg concentrations also fell in most patients, but to a lesser extent. When drug-resistant variants emerged, serum HBsAg usually increased before biochemical breakthrough. Although HBV DNA was elevated persistently after the emergence of drug-resistant variants, the increase in HBsAg was transient. In some patients, the increase in HBsAg preceded the increase in HBV DNA. Monitoring of serum HBsAg concentrations with the use of Architect HBsAg QT, in addition to measurement of HBV DNA levels, is helpful for evaluating the response to lamivudine treatment and for the early detection of drug-resistant strains.