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Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal bullous diseases. Autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal adhesion proteins might be involved in the developing process. BP usually affects the elderly with high mortality whereas the drug-induced BP is often improved and rarely relapses after the withdrawal of the suspected drug. An accumulated evidence suggests that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4I), which has been widely used as the antidiabetic drug improves glycemic control with little risk for hypoglycemia, could be an inducer of DPP-4I-associated BP (DPP-4I-BP). While the precise mechanism remains unclear, a unique immunological profile with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1*03:01 could be a biomarker of genetic susceptibility to DPP-4I-BP. Here, we encountered an interesting case of DPP-4I-BP with HLA-DQB1*03:01, which was likely triggered by scabies. A 56-year-old Japanese male with type 2 diabetes on hemodialysis was referred to our hospital due to worsened blisters. Prior to his admission, he had been on linagliptin, a DPP-4I, for 5 months. He then suffered from scabies 2 weeks before his admission while the treatment with ivermectin failed to improve his symptom. Based on his clinical symptom, positive for anti-BP180 autoantibody in serum, and the pathological alterations of skin biopsy specimens, he was diagnosed with DPP-4I-BP. Importantly, he also carried an HLA-DQB1*03:01 allele. Oral prednisolone was subsequently administered after the discontinuation of linagliptin, and his symptom gradually disappeared. Given the fact that the DPP-4I-BP could be a life-threating disease, we should be cautious of prescribing DPP-4I in hemodialysis patients, whose immune system could be impaired.

Quandles can be regarded as generalizations of symmetric spaces. In the study of symmetric spaces, the notion of flatness plays an important role. In this paper, we define the notion of flat quandles, by referring to the theory of Riemannian symmetric spaces, and classify flat connected finite quandles., Comment: 15 pages

Background We have previously shown that hsa-miR-520d-5p can convert cancer cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via a dedifferentiation by a demethylation mechanism. Methods We tested the effect of miR-520d-5p on human fibroblasts to determine whether it could be safely used in normal cells for future clinical therapeutic applications. After we transfected the microRNA into fibroblasts, we analyzed the phenotypic changes, gene expression levels, and stemness induction in vitro, and we evaluated tumor formation in an in vivo xenograft model. Results The transfected fibroblasts turned into CD105+ cell populations, survived approximately 24 weeks, and exhibited increases in both the collagen-producing ability and in differentiation. Combinatorial transfection of small interfering RNAs for miR-520d-5p target genes (ELAVL2, GATAD2B, and TEAD1) produced similar results to miR-520d-5p transfection. These molecules converted normal cells into MSCs and not iPSCs. Conclusions In vitro data indicate the potent usefulness of this small molecule as a therapeutic biomaterial in normal cells and cancer cells because CD105+ cells never converted to iPSCs despite repeated transfections and all types of transfectants lost their tumorigenicity. This maintenance of a benign state following miR-520d-5p transfection appears to be caused by p53 upregulation. We conclude that miR-520d-5p may be a useful biomaterial at an in vitro level. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40268-014-0064-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sixty nine patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, especially those treated by radiotherapy during the 5 year period from 1982 through 1987 were reviewed. Sixty three of 67 patients (94%) had received radiation therapy with curative, adjunctive or palliative intent. In the cases when external irradiation was applied, the antitumor agents were combined in most cases. As the curative therapy for tongue cancer, 23 of 33 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone, i.e., interstitial implants alone or in combination with external irradiation.

Effects of local single irradiation on lung metastasis of VX2 carcinoma transplanted in maxillary sinus of rabbits were evaluated. When an inadequate irradiation for complete regression was given, the rate of pulmonary metastases in irradiated groups was remarkably increased compared with non-irradiated one, although tumor growths in irradiated ones were apt to be inhibited corresponding to the given dose. Three parameters detected in the study related to general conditions were not so significantly different among the groups although those in irradiated groups were apt to be worse than those in control. Histologically most remarkable difference between in control and irradiated groups was stromal respose. However, on the question of whether stromal response could react as a diffensive or promotive mechanisms against tumor metastases, further studies would be needed including analysis of infiltrative cells.