The novel driver gene ASAP2 is a potential druggable target in pancreatic cancer

Targeting mutated oncogenes is an effective approach for treating cancer. The 4 main driver genes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4, collectively called the "big 4" of PDAC, however they remain challenging therapeutic targets. In this study, ArfGAP with SH3 domain, ankyrin repeat and PH domain 2 (ASAP2), one of the ArfGAP family, was identified as a novel driver gene in PDAC. Clinical analysis with PDAC datasets showed that ASAP2 was overexpressed in PDAC cells based on increased DNA copy numbers, and high ASAP2 expression contributed to a poor prognosis in PDAC. The biological roles of ASAP2 were investigated using ASAP2-knockout PDAC cells generated with CRISPR-Cas9 technology or transfected PDAC cells. In vitro and in vivo analyses showed that ASAP2 promoted tumor growth by facilitating cell cycle progression through phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A repositioned drug targeting the ASAP2 pathway was identified using a bioinformatics approach. The gene perturbation correlation method showed that niclosamide, an antiparasitic drug, suppressed PDAC growth by inhibition of ASAP2 expression. These data show that ASAP2 is a novel druggable driver gene that activates the EGFR signaling pathway. Furthermore, niclosamide was identified as a repositioned therapeutic agent for PDAC possibly targeting ASAP2.

First record of the terrestrial amphipod, Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Brevitalitridae), from Japan

We report Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) from Miyako Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Although this terrestrial amphipod is distributed worldwide, including Indo-Pacific islands, Europe, and North and South America, the present specimens represent the first record of this species from Japanese islands. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence of a Miyako Island specimen was unique compared with the known COI sequences from Taiwanese and Bermudan populations.

[Effects of Recommended Consultation Practice Using Fracture Risk Assessment Tool and Fracture Evaluation Questionnaire for Early Detection of Osteoporosis at Community Pharmacies]

As one of the strategies for the early detection and treatment of osteoporosis, we have recommended visiting a hospital, based on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX^®) and evaluation questionnaire for osteoporotic fracture risk. In this study, we evaluated the impact of intervention by community pharmacists by integrating our data for the FRAX^® and questionnaire. The measurement of FRAX^® and the questionnaire survey were conducted through participation in health seminars organized by a community general support center from June 2018 to December 2019. Participants with a FRAX^® score more than 15% and at least one item in the questionnaire were considered to have "suspected osteoporosis" were recommended medical consultation. The medical treatment status for the participants considered to have "suspected osteoporosis" aged 40-90 years were analyzed. Of the 84 participants, 54 had a FRAX^® score more than 15%, and 44 participants fulfilled at least one item in the questionnaire. Medical consultation was recommended to 26 of these 44 participants, excluding 18 under treatment. Of the 25 participants, six (excluding one who disagreed) received consultation, and medical treatment was started for four of them (66.7%). However, consultation with the attending physician was recommended to five of the 18 participants who were initially on treatment but discontinued it at the time of the survey. Consequently, two participants resumed their osteoporosis treatment. Our data suggest advantages of community pharmacists' intervention using FRAX^® and a questionnaire for osteoporotic fracture risk measurement for early detection and medical treatment.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) with carboplatin plus pemetrexed or carboplatin plus paclitaxel in patients with lung cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background

Patients with lung cancer who are treated with carboplatin-based chemotherapy regimens often experience chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, knowledge on the effect of regimen and cofactors on the risk of CINV is limited. This study aimed to analyze and compare the incidence of CINV between lung cancer patients undergoing carboplatin plus pemetrexed (CBDCA+PEM) and those undergoing carboplatin plus paclitaxel (CBDCA+PTX) chemotherapy.

Methods

Pooled data of 240 patients from two prospective observational studies were compared using propensity score matching. Separate multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy.

Results

Delayed nausea was significantly more common in patients treated with CBDCA+PEM than in those treated with CBDCA+PTX (51.1% vs. 36.2%, P = 0.04), but the incidence of vomiting did not significantly differ between the two groups (23.4% vs. 14.9%, P = 0.14). The occurrence of CINV peaked on day 4 in the CBDCA+PTX group and on day 5 in the CBDCA+PEM group. Multivariate analysis showed that female sex, younger age, and CBDCA+PEM regimen were independent risk factors for delayed nausea, while female sex was an independent risk factor for delayed vomiting.

Conclusions

The CBDCA + PEM regimen has a higher risk of causing delayed nausea than the CBDCA + PTX regimen, and aggressive antiemetic prophylaxis should be offered to patients treated with CBDCA + PEM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07802-y.

Valproic acid-exposed astrocytes impair inhibitory synapse formation and function

Valproic acid (VPA) is widely prescribed to treat epilepsy. Maternal VPA use is, however, clinically restricted because of the severe risk that VPA may cause neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, such as autism spectrum disorder. Understanding the negative action of VPA may help to prevent VPA-induced neurodevelopmental disorders. Astrocytes play a vital role in neurodevelopment and synapse function; however, the impact of VPA on astrocyte involvement in neurodevelopment and synapse function has not been examined. In this study, we examined whether exposure of cultured astrocytes to VPA alters neuronal morphology and synapse function of co-cultured neurons. We show that synaptic transmission by inhibitory neurons was small because VPA-exposed astrocytes reduced the number of inhibitory synapses. However, synaptic transmission by excitatory neurons and the number of excitatory synapses were normal with VPA-exposed astrocytes. VPA-exposed astrocytes did not affect the morphology of inhibitory neurons. These data indicate that VPA-exposed astrocytes impair synaptogenesis specifically of inhibitory neurons. Our results indicate that maternal use of VPA would affect not only neurons but also astrocytes and would result in perturbed astrocyte-mediated neurodevelopment.

Integrative taxonomy reveals multiple lineages of the spider genus Cybaeus endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Arachnida : Araneae : Cybaeidae)

The epigean spiders of the genus Cybaeus L. Koch, 1868 are known to have diversified in western North America and the Japanese Archipelago. To date, ~80 species of Cybaeus are known from Japan, but they have not previously been recorded from the Ryukyu Islands that harbour a diversity of endemic species. Here we describe eight new species of Cybaeus from the Ryukyu Islands, extending the range of Cybaeus southward to the central Ryukyus. Both sexes of each of the new species are described, and their phylogenetic relationships are estimated using nuclear and mitochondrial gene markers. Although Cybaeus okumurai, sp. nov. and C. kumadori, sp. nov. possess genital features that are common in the other Japanese congeners, the other six species (C. yakushimensis, sp. nov., C. kodama, sp. nov., C. amamiensis, sp. nov., C. aikana, sp. nov., C. tokunoshimensis, sp. nov., and C. hikidai, sp. nov.) are characterised by an elongated embolus and tubular spermathecae. These unique genital characteristics and the phylogeny recovered here suggest that these features evolved independently among the Japanese and Ryukyu Cybaeus species. Phylogenetic analyses highlight an unusual biogeographical pattern in which C. yakushimensis and C. kodama endemic to Yakushima Island in the northern Ryukyus are related to species distributed in the central Ryukyus. In contrast, our phylogeny suggests that C. okumurai from Tanegashima Island in the northern Ryukyus is sister to C. ashikitaensis (Komatsu, 1968), distributed in Kyushu of the Japanese Archipelago. The retreat constructs and sympatric distribution of Cybaeus found among the Ryukyus are also briefly discussed. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:640D15AA-17F4-48EE-88B4-485CFF8FCD60

5HT3 RA plus dexamethasone plus aprepitant for controlling delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in colorectal cancer

Delayed chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is not well controlled in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing oxaliplatin (L‐OHP)‐based chemotherapy. Whether neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist addition to a first‐generation 5HT₃ antagonist (1st 5‐HT₃RA) and dexamethasone (DEX) is beneficial to these patients remains controversial. Furthermore, whether palonosetron (PALO) or aprepitant (APR) is more effective in controlling delayed CINV is unclear. We, therefore, investigated whether PALO+DEX or 1st 5‐HT₃RA+DEX+APR was more effective in controlling delayed CINV, and the risk factors for delayed CINV, in CRC patients undergoing L‐OHP–based chemotherapy. Data were pooled from two prospective observational Japanese studies and a phase III trial to compare CINV incidence between the PALO + DEX (PALO) and 5‐HT₃RA+DEX+APR (APR) groups by propensity score–matched analysis. CINV risk factors were identified using logistic regression models. The CINV incidence was higher in the PALO group than in the APR group. Logistic regression analysis revealed alcohol consumption, motion sickness, and the PALO+DEX regimen as independent risk factors for delayed nausea, and female sex and the PALO+DEX regimen as those for delayed vomiting. Compared with prophylactic PALO + DEX, 1st 5‐HT₃RA+DEX+APR was more effective in controlling delayed CINV. Thus, CRC patients receiving L‐OHP–based chemotherapy should be treated with three antiemetics, including APR.

Pan-tropomyosin receptor kinase immunoreactivity, ETV6-NTRK3 fusion subtypes, and RET rearrangement in salivary secretory carcinoma

Salivary secretory carcinoma (SASC) is frequently associated with ETV6-neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) 3 fusion and more rarely with RET, MET, or ALK rearrangement. We aimed to elucidate the potential diagnostic utility of pan-tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) immunohistochemistry and its relationship with the fusion gene subtype in SASC. We examined 33 cases of SASC for immunoexpression of pan-Trk, ALK and ROS1, and gene rearrangement of the ETV6, NTRK3, and RET genes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Thirty (90.9%) of 33 SASCs harbored ETV6-NTRK3 fusion gene transcripts by RT-PCR and/or both ETV6 and NTRK3 gene rearrangements by FISH, and 3 cases (9.1%) had RET gene rearrangement. Most NTRK3-rearranged SASCs (27/33 cases; 81.8%) had conventional ETV6 exon 5-NTRK3 exon 15 fusion, whereas 2 cases (6.1%) had both the conventional fusion and a novel ETV6 exon 4-NTRK3 exon 15 fusion variant. In the remaining one case (3%), only FISH revealed both ETV6 and NTRK3 rearrangements, suggesting an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion with an as yet undetermined break point. All 30 SASCs with ETV6-NTRK3 fusion and/or NTRK3 rearrangement showed nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for pan-Trk. In contrast, 3 SASCs with RET rearrangement showed negative or only weak cytoplasmic staining for pan-Trk. There was no case harboring ALK and ROS1 rearrangements. All 17 non-SASC tumors were negative for pan-Trk. The results suggest that nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for pan-TRK may be helpful to identify ETV6-NTRK3-fused SASCs and to distinguish them from RET-rearranged SASCs and morphological mimics.

Occurrence and clinical course of peri-stent contrast staining: comparison between second-generation drug-eluting stents and third generation drug-eluting stents

Background

Peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) has been reported to be associated with very late stent thrombosis.

The aims of this study was to compare the occurrence rate of PSS between second generation drug-eluting stents (2nd DES) and third generation drug-eluting stents (3rd DES), and to identify clinical characteristics associated with PSS.

Methods and results

This study comprised 1899 patients with 2493 de novo lesions treated with 2nd or 3rd DES from October 2015 to September 2018. Follow-up angiography was available for 1883 lesions (75.5%). There were 725 patients with 968 lesions treated with 2nd DES, and 716 patients with 915 lesions treated with 3rd DES. The occurrence of PSS, types of PSS, and VLST related to PSS were compared between 2nd and 3rd DES implantation. Mean follow-up period was 30±12 months. The occurrence rate of PSS and segmental type of PSS were similar between two groups (2nd DES vs. 3rd DES, 1.5% vs. 1.7%, p=0.73, 47% vs. 50%, p=0.85, and respectively). The VLST related to PSS occurred in only one case in 3rd DES group. (0% vs. 6.3%, p=0.33).

Conclusion

The occurrence rate of PSS and clinical course were similar between 2nd and 3rd DES.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

mTOR Inhibition Ablates Cisplatin-Resistant Salivary Gland Cancer Stem Cells

Patients with advanced salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are treated with surgery and radiotherapy, as current systemic therapies are largely ineffective. As such, current treatment frequently leads to poor long-term survival due to locoregional recurrence or metastases. We have shown that salivary gland cancer stem cells (CSCs) are resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy and drive tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of therapeutic inhibition of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) on resistance of CSCs to cisplatin, a prototypic platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent. Viability assays determined the effect of several inhibitors of PI3k/mTOR signaling (e.g., temsirolimus, BKM120, AZD8055, PF4708671) and/or cisplatin on survival of human MEC cells. The impact of mTOR inhibitors and/or cisplatin on MEC stemness was examined with salisphere assays, flow cytometry for ALDH/CD44 (CSC markers for MEC), and Western blots for Bmi-1 expression (marker of stem cell self-renewal). Salivary gland MEC patient-derived xenografts were used to examine the effect of cisplatin and/or temsirolimus on CSCs in vivo. We observed that cisplatin induced mTOR and S6K1 phosphorylation, increased the number and size of MEC salispheres, and induced Bmi-1 expression and the fraction of CSCs in MEC models in vitro. Cisplatin also increased the fraction of CSCs in vivo. In contrast, mTOR inhibition (e.g., temsirolimus) blocked cisplatin-induced Bmi-1 expression and salisphere formation in vitro. Remarkably, temsirolimus slowed down tumor growth and decreased the fraction of CSCs (P < 0.05) even in presence of cisplatin in a short-term in vivo experiment. Collectively, these results demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of mTOR ablates cytotoxic-resistant CSCs, and they suggest that a combination of an mTOR inhibitor and platinum-based chemotherapy might be beneficial to patients with salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Molecular phylogenetic position of Minamitalitrus zoltani elucidates a further troglobisation pattern in cave-dwelling terrestrial amphipods (Crustacea: Talitridae)

Talitrids are a highly diverse group of amphipod crustaceans that have colonized various terrestrial habitats. Three genera have successfully adapted to cave habitats on islands in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. However, the evolutionary origin of the Pacific troglobitic talitrids has remained unknown. We estimate the phylogenetic position of the troglobitic Minamitalitrus zoltani, which inhabits limestone caves on Minamidaito Island in the Northwestern Pacific, on the basis of the traditional multi-locus dataset. For the analyzed talitrids, we also reconstruct ancestral states of the maxilliped palp and male gnathopod 2. Our results indicate that Minamitalitrus zoltani is sister to the epigean Nipponorchestia curvatus with a deep divergence. Nipponorchestia curvatus inhabits coastal habitats in Japan, but is not indigenous to Minamidaito Island. A previous study estimated that the Atlantic troglobitic species had invaded subterranean habitats multiple times, but we provide new insight into the troglobisation history in talitrids. We also recover secondary shifts of character states of the maxilliped palp and male gnathopod 2 within the lineage composed of Minamitalitrus and its phylogenetically close genera. Our findings highlight the need for the genus-level reclassification of these genera; we split Nipponorchestia into two genera, establishing a new genus for Nipponorchestia nudiramus.

First records of a blind centipede, Cryptops navis Chamberlin, 1930 (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, Cryptopidae), from Japan

Eight specimens of a scolopendromorph centipede collected in Tokashiki Island and Minamidaito Island (both in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan) represent the first record of Cryptops (Cryptops) navis Chamberlin, 1930 from the islands of the Far East (i.e., Japanese Archipelago, Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan). This material also provides new details of the morphological variability of C. (C.) navis and the first data on natural habitats of C. (C.) navis, which previously was known only from soil samples from Singapore and China.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudocrangonyx joolaei (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pseudocrangonyctidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of a subterranean pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx joolaei, was determined in this paper. The complete mitogenome of P. joolaei was 14,814 bp in length with the typical 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and a control region (CR). The gene order of P. joolaei was unique in that the CR was an inversion, and the gene order of Pseudocrangonyx was not concordant when compared to that of P. daejeonensis, a subterranean amphipod found in Korea. A maximum-likelihood tree, constructed based on 26 eumalacostracan mitogenomes, confirmed that P. joolaei supported monophyly in the family Pseudocrangonyctidae and is most closely related to the superfamily Crangonyctoidea.

A new species of buffalo leech in the genus Hirudinaria Whitman, 1886 (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinidae) from Thailand

Hirudinaria manillensis (Lesson, 1842), commonly known as the buffalo leech, shows a polymorphism of two ventral colorations. The green color morph has a plain green ventral surface and the red color morph has a brick-red ventral surface with two black submarginal stripes. Based on molecular and morphological evidence in the present study, these two color morphs were revealed as two different species. The red color morph fits well with the description of H. manillensis, while the green color morph showed some distinctions, and therefore is described herein as Hirudinaria thailandica Jeratthitikul & Panha, sp. nov. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the dark greenish or dark olive ventral surface and a round atrium with ventral insertion of ejaculatory ducts in the male reproductive organ. A phylogenetic tree based on concatenated data of COI and 28S genes supported the new species and further indicated it as a sister species to H. bpling Phillips, 2012.

Sika deer presence affects the host-parasite interface of a Japanese land leech

Since the 1990s, increasing populations of a blood feeding land leech (Haemadipsa japonica) have become a serious issue in several Japanese prefectures, and it may be caused by the increases in sika deer (Cervus nippon) populations seen over the last quarter of the century. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the host animal species of H. japonica using iDNA (vertebrate DNA isolated from invertebrates) and to test the hypothesis that the increasingly widespread distribution of sika deer results in increased H. japonica populations through changes to the host-parasite interface. We amplified mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosome RNA fragments from iDNA isolated from the blood clots of H. japonica collected across Japan. We identified 17 host animal species, including four orders of Mammalia (Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) and two orders of Amphibia (Caudata and Anura). The sika deer was the dominant host species of H. japonica. Additionally, the host animal species composition of H. japonica differed according to the presence or absence of sika deer. In the sites where sika deer were not found, Anura (frog) species were the most commonly identified hosts of H. japonica. These results suggest that the increases in H. japonica populations might have occurred via a change in host preference to sika deer. This change might be driven by the increases in sika deer populations and subsequent increase in the frequency that H. japonica uses the sika deer as easy prey, as well as by sika deer providing more reproductive energy per blood meal than blood meal from frog species. The present study suggests that a more widespread distribution of sika deer resulted in an increase in H. japonica through a change in the host-parasite interface. Therefore, management that focuses on decreasing sika deer populations would likely be an effective method for the reduction of H. japonica populations.

Coherent Transfer of Spin Angular Momentum by Evanescent Spin Waves within Antiferromagnetic NiO

Insulating antiferromagnets have recently emerged as efficient and robust conductors of spin current. Element-specific and phase-resolved x-ray ferromagnetic resonance has been used to probe the injection and transmission of ac spin current through thin epitaxial NiO(001) layers. The spin current is found to be mediated by coherent evanescent spin waves of GHz frequency, rather than propagating magnons of THz frequency, paving the way towards coherent control of the phase and amplitude of spin currents within an antiferromagnetic insulator at room temperature.

Search for η^{'} Bound Nuclei in the ^{12}C(γ,p) Reaction with Simultaneous Detection of Decay Products

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2  nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.