Search

The morphology of the Golgi complex is influenced by the cellular context, which strictly correlates with nuclear functions; however, the mechanism underlying this association remains elusive. The inner nuclear membrane SUN proteins, SUN1 and SUN2, have diverse functions together with the outer nuclear membrane nesprin proteins, which comprise the LINC complex. We found that depletion of SUN1 leads to Golgi complex dispersion with maintenance of ministacks and retained function for vesicle transport through the Golgi complex. In addition, SUN2 associates with microtubule plus-end-directed motor KIF20A, possibly via nesprin-2. KIF20A plays a role in the Golgi dispersion in conjunction with the SUN2-nesprin-2 LINC complex in SUN1-depleted cells, suggesting that SUN1 suppresses the function of the SUN2-nesprin-2 LINC complex under a steady-state condition. Further, SUN1-knockout mice, which show impaired cerebellar development and cerebellar ataxia, presented altered Golgi morphology in Purkinje cells. These findings revealed a regulation of the Golgi organization by the LINC complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various types of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) have been established for rectal cancer; thus, Physicians will need to refine the selection of appropriate preoperative CRT for different patients since there are various treatment regimens. Oral tegafur-uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin (LV) is commonly used to treat rectal cancer in Japan. Oral chemotherapy offers patients many potential advantages. Since 2008, we have been performing preoperative CRT with intermittent oral UFT plus LV in locally advanced rectal cancer patients to prevent postoperative local recurrence. Here, in a retrospective analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and short-term outcomes of preoperative CRT with intermittent oral UFT plus LV. Methods: We analyzed data from 62 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, including 31 patients who underwent preoperative CRT between 2009 and 2013 (the CRT group) and 31 patients who were treated with surgery alone between 2001 and 2008 (the non-CRT group). Clinicopathologically, both groups included patients with rectal cancer at clinical tumor stages III-IV or clinical node stages 0-III. In the CRT group, curative operations were performed ≥8 weeks after CRT. Patients were concomitantly treated with 2 cycles of oral UFT (300 mg/m2/day, days 1-14 and 29- 42) plus LV (75 mg/day, days 1-14 and 29-42) and 45 Gy of radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was repeated every 28 days, followed by a 2-week break. Results: The completion rate of CRT was high at 94% (n = 29/31). The downstaging rate of CRT was 61% (n = 19/31). The pathological complete response rate was 6.5% (n = 2/31). Significant differences were observed in the 3-year local recurrence rate between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Preoperative CRT with intermittent oral UFT plus LV appears to be a tolerable and effective treatment for Japanese patients with rectal cancer. A further investigation of a diversification of preoperative CRT for Japanese rectal cancer patients is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several recent studies have reported that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) whose primary tumor is located in left side of the colon have more favorable responses to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody therapy than those with right-sided tumors. However, the mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown.Methods: Fifty-two cases of primary CRC with liver metastases were analyzed in this retrospective study. The mRNA levels of 19 signal transduction genes in both primary tumor and liver metastases were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the correspondence between signal transduction gene expressions in primary tumors and corresponding liver metastases, and (2) to determine whether expression levels of these genes differ by primary tumor location.Results: mRNA expression levels of 14 of 19 signal transduction genes, including PTEN, ERBB2, MET, HGF, AREG, and EREG, showed significant correlations between the primary tumor and corresponding liver metastases. When the mRNA levels of the primary tumors were compared by tumor location, only PTEN mRNA expression differed significantly between left and right-sided CRC (median PTEN expression: left 1.00 vs. right 1.68; p = 0.017). When rectal cancers were separated from left-sided colon cancers, PTEN mRNA levels increased progressively from rectum to right-sided colon (median; rectum 0.84, left colon 1.23, right colon 1.68, p = 0.013). PTEN mRNA expression in liver metastases also differed significantly according to primary tumor location (median; left 0.92 vs. right 1.27, p = 0.048). There was no difference in overall survival between patients with high versus low levels of PTEN mRNA (p = 0.59).Conclusions: Our data suggest that the PIK3/AKT/mTOR pathway is more active in left- than right-sided CRC, which provides a possible explanation for the fact that efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy differs by location of primary tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouth and genital ulcers with inflamed cartilage (MAGIC) syndrome are disease that fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of Behcet's disease (BD) and relapsing polychondritis (RP). We report a 22-year-old Japanese woman presented with MAGIC syndrome and we described the clinicopathological characteristics of MAGIC syndrome based on a review of published cases from July 1985 to December 2015. In our case, the patient with oral aphthae, erythema nodosum, acne-like eruptions, uveitis, and polyarthritis fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of incomplete form of BD. The patient with uveitis, polyarthritis, and histological confirmation of chondritis also fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of RP. The patient was successfully treated with oral colchicine followed by prednisolone. The symptoms of MAGIC syndrome gradually disappeared, and the prednisolone dosage was gradually decreased and stopped. She has been in remission without active medication for a further 8 months. In the previous reports, some authors suggested that MAGIC syndrome was not a disease entity and might be RP occurring secondary to BD, another association of an autoimmune disease, or vasculitis with RP. However, the pathogenic association between MAGIC syndrome, BD, and RP is still unclear, and the number of reported cases of MAGIC syndrome is insufficient to establish a clear explanation. Therefore, further accumulation of data and careful observation of the clinical course are required to improve the understanding of MAGIC syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

de Garengeot hernia is a rare subtype of a femoral hernia with incarceration of the appendix. This type of hernia usually presents with therapeutic dilemmas, especially because of the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Our patient was a 74-year-old woman with a bulging mass and tenderness in the right inguinal area. Computed tomography revealed an incarcerated appendix, with appendicitis in the femoral hernia. Laparoscopic appendectomy was initially performed, followed by hernioplasty via the anterior approach to prevent properitoneal contamination. Some authors have recently reported cases successfully treated by laparoscopy. However, this type of hernia has a higher risk for SSI, compared with the risk involved in usual hernioplasty. Therefore, selection of the appropriate surgical approach to prevent wound infection is important, especially in the presence of appendicitis. We would like to highlight the usefulness of hybrid surgery, laparoscopic appendectomy and hernioplasty via the anterior approach to prevent SSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]