Hair shaft miRNA‐221 levels as a new tumor marker of malignant melanoma

miRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is known to be abnormally expressed in many human cancers. The serum levels of miR‐221 have been reported as a tumor marker for malignant melanoma (MM). We hypothesized that the hair shaft miR‐221 levels may be increased in patients with MM. We therefore assessed the possibility that hair shaft miR‐221 levels could be a marker for MM. The hair shaft miR‐221 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM than controls. The rates of increased hair shaft miR‐221 levels above the cut‐off value were comparable to those of serum 5‐S‐CD, which is a tumor marker commonly used for MM. Measurements of the hair shaft miR‐221 levels could have potential clinical value in the detection of MM. This is the first report investigating the hair shaft levels of an miRNA in patients with MM. Our investigations offer new insight into the relationship between miR‐221 and MM, and may provide a new, non‐invasive way to screen for melanoma.     

Significance of intraoperative monitoring of arterial blood flow velocity and hepatic venous oxygen saturation for performing minimally invasive surgery in a patient with multiple calcified pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms with celiac artery occlusion

Even for patients with multiple pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms, successful treatment with noninvasive operative procedures can be employed, if intraoperative devices are considered. A 73‐year‐old man, without any symptoms, was admitted to our hospital and had computed tomography (CT) scanning to examine his liver for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Selective superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angiography confirmed multiple aneurysms in the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (AIPDA), one aneurysm in the posterior inferior mesenteric artery (PIPDA), and another in the occluded celiac trunk, all with severe calcification. All of the aneurysms were thought to communicate with each other. With the celiac artery occlusion, the right hepatic artery (RHA) was revealed to be supplied by collateral arteries from the aneurysms in the AIPDA, and the left hepatic artery was shown to be supplied by collaterals from the left gastric artery. Intraoperative Doppler echography, at the time of the clamping of both IPDAs, demonstrated a marked decrease of blood velocity in all aneurysms (before clamping, >50 cm/s; after, <10 cm/s), although loss of pulsation and a marked decrease of flow in the RHA were inevitable. Therefore, each of these two IPDAs were ligated on the proximal side to the aneurysm, thus preserving the blood flow of the pancreas head fed by the PIPDA; bypass grafting from the AIPDA to the RHA, using the great saphenous vein, was done at the same time. After the creation of an anastomosis, the hepatic venous oxygen saturation (ShvO2) increased from 38% (at the time of ligation of the IPDAs) to 57% under ventilation. The patient's postoperative clinical course was uneventful. We describe and discuss our successful noninvasive operative management of multiple pancreaticoduodenal aneurysms, done while monitoring the blood flow and ShvO2, with some consideration of the literature.     

Functional lower lip reconstruction with a forearm flap combined with a free gracilis muscle transfer.

We applied a forearm flap combined with a gracilis muscle flap for total reconstruction of the lower lip. The motor nerve of the gracilis muscle was repaired to the buccal branch in the cheek. The patient obtained good sphincter function for eating and speaking, and he could inflate a balloon without air leakage.     

Desmoglein, the target molecule in autoimmunity and infection]

To form the human body and maintain the integrity of its complex tissues, individual cells need to hold tightly to each other. The desmosome is the major type of intercellular adhesive junction, and has desmoglein (Dsg), a cadherin type cell-cell adhesion molecule, as a transmembrane component. Dsg is now known to be targeted in autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, as well as inherited diseases. Patients with pemphigus, an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membrane, have IgG autoantibodies directed against Dsg1 and Dsg3. A subset of patients with pemphigus have Dsg1/Dsg4 crossreacting IgG autoantibodies. Exfoliative toxins produced by Staphylococcal aureus, which causes Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) and bullous impetigo, specifically digest Dsg1. A subset of patients with SSSS develop a low titer of anti-Dsg1 IgG autoantibodies. A mutation in DSG1 gene causes striate palmoplantar keratoderma and a mutation in DSG4 gene causes inherited hypotrichosis. It is not clear why so many diseases are clustered in desmogleins, but there must be a reason for this. Studies on desmogleins will provide an important framework to understand the mysteries between autoimmunity and infection.     

Evaluation of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries using selective intraarterial microsphere tracer after vascular reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSETo detect areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries after vascular reconstruction, we administered selective intraarterial microsphere tracer into the external carotid arteries and determined (via single-photon emission computed tomography [IA-SPECT]) whether the distribution of radiotracer matched the arteriographic distribution of contrast material as shown on external carotid angiograms.METHODSWe compared the extent of regional distribution of tracer after external carotid artery injection of 20 to 40 MBq of 99mTc-HMPAO or 99mTc-ECD with that of contrast medium on the external carotid angiograms in 582 cortical regions in 12 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease and in 18 patients with moyamoya disease.RESULTSMarked accumulation of tracer was found only in the expected, specific, newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries. The regional distribution of tracer corresponded to that of contrast medium in 523 regions (90%) and did not correspond in 59 regions (10%). Significant overestimation of the distribution of contrast material relative to that of tracer was observed in the patients with moyamoya disease.CONCLUSIONSPECT showed slightly different distribution of tracer from that predicted by conventional angiography. IA-SPECT should enhance the analysis of newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from the bypass arteries.     

Ocular hypotensive effects of monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors in rabbit

The effects of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors with epinephrine on intraocular pressure in the pigmented rabbit were studied. MAO-A inhibitors were used topically with or without various concentrations of epinephrine. For the measurement of intraocular pressure, applanation pneumatonography was used and tissue MAO activities were determined by radiometric assay. After topical administration with clorgyline, MAO-A activities in the bulbar conjunctiva and the iris-ciliary body were remarkably inhibited, whereas MAO-B inhibition was minimal. Maximal reduction of intraocular pressure with 0.05% epinephrine was 3.2 mmHg. Single administration of clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide or CGP 11305-A caused decreases in the intraocular pressure of 2.0, 2.5, 1.8 and 2.4 mmHg, respectively. In the coadministration experiments with epinephrine, the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine were potentiated with clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide and CGP 11305-A (6.6, 4.8, 5.6 and 5.8 mmHg). On the contrary, they were not influenced by the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl. These results indicated that MAO-A inhibitors potentiated the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine, and that the coadministration of a reversible MAO-A inhibitor with epinephrine might be useful for patients with glaucoma.     

Living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia complicated by situs inversus: technical highlights.

Living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an established technique to treat children with end-stage liver disease. Biliary atresia (BA), one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in children, can be associated with situs inversus (SI). In the past, the presence of SI has been considered to be an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation because of the technical difficulties. Recently, some reports of successful diseased-donor liver transplantation in patients with BA complicated by SI have been published; however, few reports of that with LDLT exist. The technical difficulties involved with LDLT for such cases have not been described. Herein, we present 4 successful cases of LDLT for BA with SI. Complex anomalies associated with SI, such as a hepatic artery arising from the supraceliac aorta, a preduodenal portal vein, and absence of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, increase the technical difficulties involved with the operation. Additional caution is required in LDLT because a living-donor graft has short vessels and the availability of vascular grafts from the donor is limited. In conclusion, LDLT for BA complicated by SI can be managed successfully with technical modifications and scrupulous attention. This series represents the largest reported group of patients with BA complicated by SI who underwent a successful LDLT procedure.