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Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is a key adaptor protein of inflammasomes and a proapoptotic molecule; however, its roles in signal transduction in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells remain unknown. Here, we clarified the role and mechanisms of action of ASC in PDAC using clinical evidence and in vitro data. ASC expression in PDAC tissues was analyzed using public tumor datasets and immunohistochemistry results of patients who underwent surgery, and PDAC prognosis was investigated using the Kaplan–Meier Plotter. ASC expression in PDAC cells was downregulated using small-interfering RNA, and gene expression was assessed by RNA sequencing. Review of the Oncomine database and immunostaining of surgically removed tissues revealed elevated ASC expression in PDAC tumors relative to non-tumor tissue, indicating poor prognosis. We observed high ASC expression in multiple PDAC cells, with ASC silencing subsequently inhibiting PDAC cell growth and altering the expression of cell cycle-related genes. Specifically, ASC silencing reduced cyclin D1 levels and stopped the cell cycle at the G1 phase but did not modulate the expression of any apoptosis-related molecules. These results show that ASC inhibited tumor progression via cell cycle modulation in PDAC cells and could be a potential therapeutic target.

Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is often associated with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, and the frequency of isolated IgG4-SC seems to be quite low, making the diagnosis of isolated IgG4-SC challenging. A 63-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for frequent fever. Abdominal magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed diffuse narrowing of the common bile duct and post-stenotic dilatation of the right posterior bile duct. Laboratory tests showed abnormalities in the levels of hepatobiliary enzymes and serum IgG4 levels. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed diffuse narrowing of intrahepatic bile ducts and post-stenotic dilatation of the right posterior bile duct but no abnormalities in the pancreas. Intraductal ultrasonography showed symmetric circumferentially thickened walls of both narrowed and non-narrowed common bile ducts. Histologic examination of the common bile duct mucosa showed infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Laparoscopic observations showed discoloration with red lobular markings and multiple small depressed lesions. Liver histology showed mild cholangitis with infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells around the bile ducts. From these findings, the patient was diagnosed with isolated IgG4-SC. After treatment with a steroid, bile duct dilatations improved. Laparoscopy and intraductal ultrasonography were useful to diagnose isolated IgG4-SC.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic intraoral pain syndrome featuring idiopathic oral pain and burning discomfort despite clinically normal oral mucosa. The etiology of chronic pain syndrome is unclear, but preliminary neuroimaging research has suggested the alteration of volume, metabolism, blood flow, and diffusion at multiple brain regions. According to the neuromatrix theory of Melzack, pain sense is generated in the brain by the network of multiple pain-related brain regions. Therefore, the alteration of pain-related network is also assumed as an etiology of chronic pain. In this study, we investigated the brain network of BMS brain by using probabilistic tractography and graph analysis. Fourteen BMS patients and 14 age-matched healthy controls underwent 1.5T MRI. Structural connectivity was calculated in 83 anatomically defined regions with probabilistic tractography of 60-axis diffusion tensor imaging and 3D T1-weighted imaging. Graph theory network analysis was used to evaluate the brain network at local and global connectivity. In BMS brain, a significant difference of local brain connectivity was recognized at the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and left pars orbitalis which belong to the medial pain system; however, no significant difference was recognized at the lateral system including the somatic sensory cortex. A strengthened connection of the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex with the basal ganglia, thalamus, and brain stem was revealed. Structural brain network analysis revealed the alteration of the medial system of the pain-related brain network in chronic pain syndrome.

Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, or Warthin’s tumor, is a benign tumor, primarily localized in the parotid glands. The tumor is more common in men than women, and it occurs usually in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Smoking seems to be one of the predisposing factors. The case of a 65-year-old man is described; he presented with a chief complaint of swelling in the bilateral parotid and submandibular glands. Imaging revealed a benign tumor in the right parotid gland, but only inflammation in both submandibular and the left parotid glands. A biopsy was carried out after rapidly increased swelling of the left parotid and left submandibular glands. Histopathological examinations revealed chronic sialadenitis. Superficial parotidectomies were performed 7 and 21 months after the initial visit on the right parotid and the left parotid glands, respectively. Histopathological examination revealed Warthin’s tumor in both parotid glands, with fibrogenesis and chronic sialadenitis in the submandibular glands.

Purpose: To determine whether cerebral metabolic and circulatory consequences of N20 result from activation of the sympathoadrenal system. The effects of pretreatment with intradstemal injection of 6-OHDA, which produces chemical sympathectomy, were studied in dogs. Method: Seven days before measurement dogs were pretreated with intracistemal injection of either saline vehicle (sham-group) or 100 pg.kg -I 6-hydroxydopamine group). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using an electromagnetic flow-meter probe and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) was calculated as the product of CBF and arterial-sagk'tal sinus blood oxygen content difference [C(a-v)O2]. Results: In the sham group, NzO (6096) increased CMRO 2 from 6. I I + 0.21 ml" 100 g-'.min -I to 7.10 _ 0.39 ml. 100 g-l.min-~ and CBF from 63 + 5 ml. 100 g-l-min -I to 173 - 26 ml' 100 g-l.min-I. In the 6-OHDA group, CMRO 2 did not change during N~O exposure, whereas CBF increased from 61 + 3 ml. 100 g-~.min -~ to 135 +__ 19 ml. 100 g-' "min -~ but less then in the sham group. The 6-OHDA group displayed a reduction in cortical noradrenaline (NA) concentration from 263.2 + 35.6 ng'g -I to 102.7 -+ 16.5 ng'g -I. Cortical dopamine (DA) concentration was not affected by 6-OHDA administration. Conclusion: These results suggest that most of the increase in CMRO~ and, at least a part of, the increase in CBF during N20 exposure in the sham-group are related to sympathoadrenal-stimulating effects of N~O.