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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common human cancers. We previously reported that claspin is a key regulator in the progression of gastric cancer, and it likely plays an important role in cancer stem cells of gastric cancer. However, the significance of claspin in RCC has not been examined. First, we analyzed the expression and distribution of claspin in 95 RCC cases by immunohistochemistry. In the nonneoplastic kidney, the staining of claspin was either weak or absent, whereas RCC tissue showed nuclear staining. In total, claspin expression was detected in 45 (47%) of 95 RCC cases. The claspin staining appeared relatively stronger in high nuclear grade RCC than in low nuclear grade RCC. Claspin‐positive RCC cases were associated with higher T grade, tumor stage, nuclear grade, vein invasion, and poorer prognosis. CLSPN siRNA treatment decreased RCC cell proliferation. The levels of phosphorylated Erk and Akt were lower in CLSPN siRNA‐transfected RCC cells than in control cells. In addition, claspin was coexpressed with CD44, epidermal growth factor receptor, p53, and programmed death ligand‐1. These results suggest that claspin plays an important role in tumor progression in RCC and might be a prognostic marker and novel therapeutic target molecule., The present study is the first detailed analysis of claspin expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) including its clinicopathological significance and biological function. Our investigation showed that claspin plays an important role in tumor progression in RCC and might be a prognostic marker and novel therapeutic target molecule.

Objectives: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy worldwide. Signal peptidase complex 18 (SPC18) protein, which is encoded by the SEC11A gene, is one of the subunits of the signal peptidase complex and induces transforming growth factor-α secretion. In the present study, we analyzed the expression and function of SPC18 protein in human BC. Methods: Expression of SPC18 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RNA interference was used to inhibit SEC11A expression in BC cell lines. For constitutive expression of the SEC11A gene, a SEC11A expression vector was transfected into BC cell lines. To examine cell viability, we performed 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Modified Boyden chamber assays were used to examine cell invasiveness. Results: SPC18 was upregulated in 54% of 81 BC cases. SPC18 expression served as an independent prognostic classifier of patients with BC. SPC18-positive BC cases frequently expressed cytokeratin 5/6, a marker of basal-like BC. Cell growth and invasiveness were inhibited by SEC11A knockdown and enhanced by forced expression of SEC11A. Conclusion: These results indicate that SPC18 plays an important role in the progression of BC. Specific inhibitors of SPC18 may be promising anticancer drugs for patients with basal-like BC.

Objective: Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, and the main subtype is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which comprises 90% of cases. Expression of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2), an enzyme involved in tryptophan catabolism, has been linked with tumor survival and poor prognosis of brain and breast cancer. However, no studies have investigated the potential role of TDO2 in esophageal cancer. Here we explored the expression and biological significance of TDO2 in ESCC. Methods: TDO2 protein expression was evaluated in 90 ESCC tissue samples by immunohistochemistry. TDO2 function in ESCC cell lines and spheroid colony formation were evaluated by RNA interference (RNAi). Results: TDO2 overexpression was associated with tumor stage, recurrence status, and the CD44 cancer stem cell marker in ESCC. TDO2 overexpression was correlated with poor outcome of ESCC patients. Inhibition of TDO2 expression by RNAi in TE-10 and TE-11 cell lines reduced both the number and the size of spheroid colonies as well as cell proliferation. Knockdown of TDO2 expression also induced inactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our results imply that TDO2 could play an important role in the progression of ESCC. Furthermore, TDO2 may be a potential therapeutic target in ESCC.

Hyperplastic anomaly of the anterior choroidal artery (hyperplastic AchA) and posterior communicating artery of duplicate origin (duplicated Pcom) are rare vessel anomalies. With some literature review, we here report three cases of hyperplastic AchA, one of which was considered a new type of hyperplastic AchA. This case was not categorized into Takahashi classification.

Rationale and Objectives For the evaluation of patients scheduled for the treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), accurate anatomical information is essential. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-magnetic resonance (MR) fusion imaging for the pretreatment evaluation of AVMs. Materials and Methods The study population consisted of 11 consecutive patients (7 males, 4 females; age 10–72 years; mean 45 years) with brain AVMs. All prospectively underwent pretreatment MR imaging (MRI), MR angiography (MRA), and two-dimensional (2D) and 3D DSA. The 3D DSA and MR images were semiautomatically fused with fusion software on a workstation. In the delineation of AVM nidus, feeder, drainer, and relationship between AVM and the adjacent brain structures, two radiologists independently evaluated MRA and MRI, three-dimensional (3D) DSA, and MRI, and 3D DSA-MR fusion images using a 4-point scoring system. The referring neurosurgeons were asked whether the information provided by 3D DSA-MR fusion images was helpful for treatment decisions. Results For all four items, the delineation was significantly better with the 3D DSA/MRI or 3D DSA-MR fusion images than the MRA/MRI images. Although the delineation for the nidus, feeder, and drainer were not significantly different between the 3D DSA/MRI and 3D DSA-MR fusion images, 3D DSA-MR fusion imaging were significantly better for the relationship between AVM and the adjacent brain structures than 3D DSA/MR imaging ( P = .0047). The information provided by 3D DSA-MR fusion images was helpful for treatment decisions in all cases. Conclusion 3D DSA-MR fusion images are useful for the pretreatment evaluation of brain AVMs.

Adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) is a T-cell lymphoid neoplasm caused by human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I). Radiological findings in central nervous system (CNS) involvement have not been well characterised. We reviewed the MRI of 18 patients with ATL who developed new neurological symptoms or signs, and pathology specimens from a 53-year-old woman who died of ATL. MRI findings were divided into three categories: definite, probable, and other abnormal. Definite and probable findings were defined as ATL-related. The characteristic findings were multiple parenchymal masses with or without contrast enhancement adjacent to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaced and the deep grey matter of both cerebral hemispheres, plus leptomeningeal lesion. One patient had both cerebral and spinal cord lesions. Other abnormal findings in eight patients included one case of leukoencephalopathy caused by methotrexate. The histology findings consisted of clusters of tumour cells along perivascular spaces, and scattered infiltration of the parenchyma, with nests of tumour cells. Leptomeningeal infiltration by tumour spread into the parenchyma and secondary degeneration of the neuronal tracts was observed. MRI was useful for detecting CNS invasion by ATL and differentiating it from other abnormalities. The MRI findings seemed to correlate well with the histological changes.

Our purpose was to evaluate and compare the performance of ultra-fast single-shot T2-weighted sequences: echo-planar imaging (EPI) versus half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and to assess the usefulness of their combined reading. Comparative experiments on a phantom as well as a prospective clinical study in 47 patients were done. Axial images acquired with the following methods were compared: (a) HASTE; (b) segmented HASTE (s-HASTE); (c) single-shot spin-echo EPI (SE-EPI); and (d) gradient-echo EPI (GREEPI). Quantitative and qualitative criteria as well as lesion detectability were analyzed against the "gold standard" fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence. For contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between gray and white matter, GRE-EPI was best. The visibility of small markedly hyperintense lesion was best with HASTE and s-HASTE in the clinical study. Small hyperintense lesions were detected equally well with all four sequences, although all performed significantly worse than FSE. The two HASTE variants were better than the EPIs for the extraaxial lesions. The combination of the GRE-EPI and s-HASTE was judged best, and sometimes superior to the FSE image. HASTE or EPI alone cannot substitute for FSE in the screening evaluation of the brain. However, together, EPI and HASTE could provide comparable diagnostic information to that of FSE because their combination compensates for their individual limitations.

We used constructive interference in steady state (CISS) 3D Fourier transform (3DFT) MRI data sets to obtain three-dimensional (3D) virtual MRI endoscopic views of the intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces, processing them with a commercially available perspective endoscopic algorithm. We investigated the potential of the intracranial virtual MRI endoscopy applied to visualisation of the pathology in 13 patients with surgically confirmed trigeminal neuralgia (3), hemifacial spasm (3), acoustic neuroma (3), suprasellar germinoma (1), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (1), lateral ventricle nodules (1) and pituitary dwarfism (1). All images were acquired using a 1.5-T imager employing a circular polarised head coil. The CISS-3DFT data sets were transferred to a workstation for processing with the perspective endoscopic algorithm. Postprocessing for virtual MRI endoscopy was possible for all data sets. The lesions in 12 patients, and their complex anatomical relationships with the surrounding structures, were well seen on the 3D images. A small acoustic neuroma in the internal auditory meatus was not seen using virtual endoscopy. Although virtual MRI endoscopy has limitations, it provides 3D images which cannot be acquired using any other procedure.

Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) data acquisition and postprocessing technologies have been playing a important role in widening the potential applications of 3D display. The authors described new applications of a virtual endoscopic algorithm for 3D display of high resolution MR images: (a) intracranial intravascular virtual MR endoscopy using the 3D fast imaging with steady state precession (FISP) sequence, and (b) virtual MR endoscopy of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces using the constructive interference in steady state (CISS) three-dimensional Fourier transform (3DFT) sequence. The virtual endoscopic images were displayed with use of a commercially available perspective volume-rendering algorithm. Our initial experience showed that virtual MR endoscopy can be performed to observe the intracranial arteries and CSF spaces from the viewpoints within themselves. Although the clinical use of the intracranial virtual MR endoscopy has not been established yet, the images obtained are very attractive and further investigations in this field will be expected.

PURPOSE To compare MR imaging findings of the striate cortex with visual field deficits in patients with Minamata disease and to reestimate the classical Holmes retinotopic map by using the data obtained from comparing visual field abnormalities with degree of visual cortex atrophy. METHODS MR imaging was performed in eight patients with Minamata disease who had been given a full neuroophthalmic examination, including Goldmann dynamic perimetry. The atrophic portions of the calcarine area were measured in the sagittal plane next to the midsagittal image and represented as a percentage of atrophy of the total length of the calcarine fissure. MR findings were compared with results of a visual field test. RESULTS The visual field test revealed moderate to severe concentric constriction of the visual fields, with central vision ranging from 7 degrees to 42 degrees (mean, 19 degrees). The ventral portion of the calcarine sulcus was significantly dilated on MR images in all patients. A logarithmic correlation was found between the visual field defect and the extent of dilatation of the calcarine fissure. The central 10 degrees and 30 degrees of vision seemed to fill about 20% and 50% of the total surface area of the calcarine cortex, respectively. CONCLUSION Visual field deficits in patients with Minamata disease correlated well with MR findings of the striate cortex. Our data were consistent with the classical Holmes retinotopic map.

PURPOSE To study MR images for atrophic changes in the calcarine area resulting from retinal degeneration. METHODS MR images from nine patients with retinal degeneration confirmed by ophthalmologic examination and from 30 healthy volunteers were reviewed. The causes of retinal degeneration were hereditary pigmentary degeneration of the retina (four patients), high myopia (two patients), and chorioretinal atrophy (three patients); all patients had visual disturbances and visual field abnormalities. To estimate the morphological changes of the calcarine area, the widths of the right and left calcarine fissures were measured on T1-weighted sagittal images and compared with images from age-matched control subjects. RESULTS The calcarine fissures were significantly dilated in the patients with retinal degeneration. The anterior and middle points, which represent the peripheral visual field center, were more dilated than the posterior point. CONCLUSION The MR findings suggested calcarine atrophy related to retinal degeneration. Transneuronal degenerative changes may occur in the calcarine area after retinal degeneration.