Search

ABCC3 (also known as MRP3) is an ATP binding cassette transporter for bile acids, whose expression is downregulated in colorectal cancer through the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. However, it remained unclear how downregulation of ABCC3 expression contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis. We explored the role of ABCC3 in the progression of colorectal cancer—in particular, focusing on the regulation of bile acid export. Gene expression analysis of colorectal adenoma isolated from familial adenomatous polyposis patients revealed that genes related to bile acid secretion including ABCC3 were downregulated as early as at the stage of adenoma formation. Knockdown or overexpression of ABCC3 increased or decreased intracellular concentration of deoxycholic acid, a secondary bile acid, respectively, in colorectal cancer cells. Forced expression of ABCC3 suppressed deoxycholic acid‐induced activation of MAPK signaling. Finally, we found that nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs increased ABCC3 expression in colorectal cancer cells, suggesting that ABCC3 could be one of the targets for therapeutic intervention of familial adenomatous polyposis. Our data thus suggest that downregulation of ABCC3 expression contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis through the regulation of intracellular accumulation of bile acids and activity of MAPK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of the gene for collagen XVII (COL17A1) in tumor tissue is positively or negatively associated with patient survival depending on cancer type. High COL17A1 expression is thus a favorable prognostic marker for breast cancer but unfavorable for pancreatic cancer. This study explored the effects of COL17A1 expression on pancreatic tumor growth and their underlying mechanisms. Analysis of published single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data for human pancreatic cancer tissue revealed that COL17A1 was expressed predominantly in cancer cells rather than surrounding stromal cells. Forced expression of COL17A1 did not substantially affect the proliferation rate of the mouse pancreatic cancer cell lines KPC and AK4.4 in vitro. However, in mouse homograft tumor models in which KPC or AK4.4 cells were injected into syngeneic C57BL/6 or FVB mice, respectively, COL17A1 expression promoted or suppressed tumor growth, respectively, suggesting that the effect of COL17A1 on tumor growth was influenced by the tumor microenvironment. RNA‐sequencing analysis of tumor tissue revealed effects of COL17A1 on gene expression profiles (including the expression of genes related to cell proliferation, the immune response, Wnt signaling, and Hippo signaling) that differed between C57BL/6‐KPC and FVB‐AK4.4 tumors. Our data thus suggest that COL17A1 promotes or suppresses cancer progression in a manner dependent on the interaction of tumor cells with the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to document the complication status of infants with orofacial clefts born between 2011 and 2014 in Japan. This was a descriptive study using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Among 103 060 pregnancies, 248 infants with orofacial clefts were included (livebirth, 239; stillbirth, 4; miscarriage, 5). The items of interest were complication status of orofacial clefts: isolated (typical orofacial clefts only); multi‐malformed (orofacial clefts with unrelated major defects); syndromic (orofacial clefts with a syndrome or a chromosomal defect). Regarding the cleft subtypes, of 248 infants with orofacial clefts, 104 had cleft lip with cleft palate (CLP) (41.9%), 68 had cleft lip without cleft palate (CL) (27.4%), 58 had cleft palate without cleft lip (CP) (23.4%), and 18 were nonclassified (7.3%). In infants with CLP, the proportions of isolated, multi‐malformed, and syndromic phenotypes were 73.1%, 15.4%, and 11.5%, respectively. In infants with CL, the proportions were 79.4%, 16.2%, and 4.4%, respectively. In infants with CP, the proportions were 69.0%, 13.8%, and 17.2%, respectively. The most frequently associated congenital anomaly was congenital heart disease. In infants with syndromic CLP, 41.7% had trisomy 13. In infants with syndromic CP, 80.0% had the Pierre Robin sequence. Congenital heart disease could be the most frequently associated congenital anomaly. The most frequently associated syndrome could be trisomy 13 in those with CLP and Pierre Robin sequence in those with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective cohort study aimed to examine the associations between mold growth, type of stoves, and fragrance materials and early childhood wheezing and asthma, using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Mold growth at home, usage of kerosene/gas stove, wood stove/fireplace, and air freshener/deodorizer were surveyed using a questionnaire at 1.5‐year‐old, and childhood wheezing and doctor‐diagnosed asthma during the previous year were obtained using a 3‐year‐old questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between exposure to childhood wheezing and asthma. A total of 60 529 children were included in the analysis. In multivariate analyses, mold growth and wood stove/fireplace had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for wheezing (mold growth: 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06−1.22; wood stove/fireplace: 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03−1.46). All four exposures had no significant ORs for childhood doctor‐diagnosed asthma; however, in the supplemental analysis of northern regions, wood stove/fireplace had a significantly higher OR for asthma. Mold growth and wood stove/fireplace had significant associations with childhood wheezing in the northern regions. Mold elimination in the dwellings and use of clean heating (no air pollution emissions) should be taken into consideration to prevent and improve childhood wheezing and asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To describe associations between tooth loss and changes in higher-level functional capacity. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Twenty-four Japanese municipalities between 2010 and 2013. Participants Functionally independent community-dwelling persons aged 65 and older (N = 62,333). Measurements Self-reported number of teeth was used as an exposure variable. The outcome was changes in higher-level functional capacity measured using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence ( TMIG- IC), which consists of three domains: instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, and social roles. The TMIG- IC score ranges from 0 (lowest function) to 13 (highest function). All covariates were chosen from baseline demographic, socioeconomic, health behavior, and health variables based upon evidence from previous studies. Inverse-probability weighting ( IPW) with propensity score and multiple linear regression, estimating nonstandardized coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were used. Results The baseline response rate was 65.2%, and the follow-up rate was 70.1%. During the follow-up period, participants' TMIG- IC score declined by an average of 0.247 points (standard deviation: 1.446). The results showed a significant dose-response association between tooth loss and decline in higher-level functional capacity in multiple linear regression models. IPW models estimated the increment in TMIG- IC score (β = 0.170, 95% CI = 0.114 to 0.227) if edentulous participants gained 20 or more natural teeth. Conclusion Tooth loss is associated with future decline in higher-level functional capacity. IPW models suggest that treatment for tooth loss attenuates decline in higher-level functional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system providing both appropriate cooling and warming are needed for the efficacy and safety of cryofiltration (CF) plasmapheresis. We measured some points of CF circuit temperatures with varying plasma flow rates (QP = 10-40 mL/min) and the numbers of connecting cooling coils (one or two) under the conditions of blood flow rate (QB) 100 mL/min with 7700-mm coil length, 19 turns, and 50-mL priming volume. We measured the respective temperatures of each point of starting/returning for an extracorporeal circuit (TA/TV), intracooling coil (TC), and post-plasma fractionator (PF) (TPF). The subtraction of TV from TA (ΔT) was used as an indicator of safe return. There were no significant differences in TC, TPF, or T in accordance with each QP between that of one and two coils. All of the Tc values under the condition QP = 20 mL/min achieved <4°C.The TPF under the condition QP = 20 mL/min was not significantly different compared to that of QP 30 mL/min (the lowest condition). Although the ΔT increased depending on the QP increase, the ΔT under the condition QP = 15 mL/min was not significantly different from that of the control (one-way double-filtration plasmapheresis [DFPP]) group. We conclude that (i) one coil is enough for effective cooling in CF, and (ii) an ideal QP that fulfills the required conditions for both effective cooling and sufficient warming of returning fluid does not exist, but QP from 15 to 20 mL/min may be a relevant range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 destroyed many communities, and as a result many older victims lost their removable dentures. No previous studies have documented the prevalence of denture loss after a natural disaster or examined its negative impact. Therefore, investigation of the consequences of such a disaster on oral health is of major importance from a public health viewpoint. Materials and Methods Three to five months after the disaster, questionnaire surveys were conducted in two coastal towns, Ogatu and Oshika, located in the area of Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture. Among the survey participants, 715 individuals had used one or more removable dentures before the disaster, and these comprised the population analyzed. The effect of denture loss on oral health-related quality life (OHRQoL) was examined by a modified Poisson regression approach with adjustment for sex, age, subjective household economic status, dental caries, tooth mobility, psychological distress (K6), access to a dental clinic, physical activity, and town of residence. Results There were 123 (17.2%) participants who had lost their dentures. In comparison with participants who had not lost their dentures, those lacking dentures showed a significantly higher relative risk for eating difficulties (RR = 2.65, 95%CI = 1.90-3.69), speech problems (RR = 4.37, 95%CI = 2.46-7.76), embarrassment upon smiling, laughing, or showing their teeth (RR = 5.32, 95%CI = 2.34-12.1), emotional distress (RR = 2.38, 95%CI = 1.41-4.03), and problems related to social interaction (RR = 6.97, 95%CI = 1.75-27.7). Conclusions Denture loss appeared to impair eating and speaking ability, thus discouraging communication with others. Public health intervention after major natural disasters should include dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryofiltration ( CF) is a technique in which separated plasma is chilled before being subjected to a plasma fractionator ( PF), leading to cryoglobulin precipitation or cryogel formation. In CF using the Evaflux-5A as the PF, there is no consensus on the necessity of albumin supplementation, and when or how often the PF column should be washed. We analyzed the sieving effects of various solutes (albumin, IgG, IgM, LDL, HCV-RNA, and cryoglobulin) depending on transmembrane pressure ( TMPPF) during CF using the Evaflux-5A in a patient with hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis. Five CF treatments were initially performed and a sixth one later, at disease recurrence. Quantitative detection of cryoglobulin and a marked rise in TMPPF to 400 mm Hg were observed only at the first and sixth treatment, and albumin losses during these treatments were very high, at 16.8 g, and 14.6 g, respectively, while those of others (from the second to fifth) were 6.7 g, 6.4 g, 5.9 g, and 7.0 g, respectively. The sieving coefficients ( SCs) of both albumin and IgG were stable (0.8-1.0) at TMPPF < 200 mm Hg, but significantly decreased at TMPPF ≥ 200 mm Hg ( P < 0.01). The SC of IgM tended to decrease at TMPPF ≥ 200 mm Hg, but not significantly, while that of LDL was zero regardless of the TMPPF. Albumin loss per treatment likely depends on degree of TMPPF rise, which is mainly affected by the patient's cryoglobulinemic status. In CF using Evaflux-5A, washing the PF column to keep TMPPF < 200 mm Hg during treatment may be a recommended for selective removal and albumin salvage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To our knowledge, incomplete central retinal artery occlusion associated with short posterior ciliary artery occlusion is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a case of a 62-year-old man who was referred to our hospital with of transient blindness in his right eye. At initial examination, the patient's best-corrected visual acuity was 18/20 in the right eye. Fundus examination showed multiple soft exudates around the optic disc and mild macular retinal edema in his right eye; however, a cherry red spot on the macula was not detected. Fluorescein angiography revealed delayed dye inflow into the nasal choroidal hemisphere that is supplied by the short posterior ciliary artery. ?e following day, the patient's visual acuity improved to 20/20. Soft exudates around the optic disc increased during observation and gradually disappeared. His hemodynamic parameters revealed subclavian steal syndrome as examined by cervical ultrasonography and digital subtraction angiography. We speculate that his transient blindness was due to ophthalmic artery spasms. In this particular case, spasms of the ophthalmic artery and occlusion of the short posterior ciliary artery occurred simultaneously. As the short posterior ciliary artery branches from the ophthalmic artery, the anatomical location of the lesion might be near the branching of both arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To our knowledge, there are no reports of Aeromonas hydrophila infection after a scleral buckling procedure. Also, migration of a silicone explant element through the rectus muscles is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a case experiencing extrusion of a solid silicone tire migrating through the superior rectus muscle with Aeromonas hydrophila infection following a scleral buckling procedure. A 42-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of ocular pain and purulent discharge in his left eye which has persisted for several months. He had a history of bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment which had been treated with scleral buckling. The left eye showed extrusion of the solid silicone buckle which had migrated through the superior rectus muscle and an infection in the upper quadrant of the sclera. The buckle was removed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. After the removal of the buckle, the symptoms showed rapid amelioration and there was no recurrence of retinal detachment. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from the discharge and the removed explant. He used well water in daily life. In this case, the Aeromonas hydrophila infection of the extruded buckle might have originated from contaminated well water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagocardiac junction is a condition difficult to define. It is often necessary to differentiate between esophagocardiac junctional adenocarcinoma and carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus. We herein report a case of an 83-year-old Japanese man with adenocarcinoma in situ arising from ectopic submucosal cardiac glands in short-segment Barrett's epithelium, associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the visualization of a nodule in short-segment Barrett's epithelium, we diagnosed the present case as one of esophagocardiac junctional cancer arising from ectopic submucosal cardiac glands, using Alcian-blue staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the case of a 14-year-old boy with rectal mucosal prolapse syndrome and a bidet. Result of the patient's barium enema examination; Most commonly affected area of the anus; Causes of the syndrome.