microRNA-18a induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells via the autophagolysosomal degradation of oncogenic heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1

It is well known that microRNAs (miRs) are abnormally expressed in various cancers and target the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of cancer-associated genes. While (miRs) are abnormally expressed in various cancers, whether miRs directly target oncogenic proteins is unknown. The present study investigated the inhibitory effects of miR-18a on colon cancer progression, which was considered to be mediated through its direct binding and degradation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1). An MTT assay and xenograft model demonstrated that the transfection of miR-18a induced apoptosis in SW620 cells. A binding assay revealed direct binding between miR-18a and hnRNP A1 in the cytoplasm of SW620 cells, which inhibited the oncogenic functions of hnRNP A1. A competitor RNA, which included the complementary sequence of the region of the miR-18a-hnRNP A1 binding site, repressed the effects of miR-18a on the induction of cancer cell apoptosis. In vitro single and in vivo double isotope assays demonstrated that miR-18a induced the degradation of hnRNP A1. An immunocytochemical study of hnRNP A1 and LC3-II and the inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine and ATG7, p62 and BAG3 siRNA showed that miR-18a and hnRNP A1 formed a complex that was degraded through the autophagolysosomal pathway. This is the first report showing a novel function of a miR in the autophagolysosomal degradation of an oncogenic protein resulting from the creation of a complex consisting of the miR and a RNA-binding protein, which suppressed cancer progression.

Validity of the usefulness of microvascular architecture and microsurface structure using magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging in the colorectal neoplasm

BACKGROUND

Magnifying endoscopy (ME) with narrow-band imaging (NBI) has been described as useful in diagnosing colorectal neoplasms. However, there is no standardized simple classification system, and its usefulness in comparison with pit pattern diagnosis by magnifying chromoendoscopy (MC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of evaluations of microvascular architecture (MV) and microsurface structure (MS) by ME with NBI in the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms.

METHODS

A total of 360 colorectal neoplasms were analyzed by retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The vessel plus surface (VS) classification system was applied for ME with NBI diagnosis. The main outcome measurement was comparison of the diagnostic performance of ME with NBI and MC.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of ME with NBI and MC for the diagnosis of adenomas was 91.9% and 95.7%, respectively, and their specificity was 79.2% and 79.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of ME with NBI and MC for the diagnosis of cancer was 70.5% and 79.9%, respectively, and the specificity was 95.3% and 95.7%, respectively. The sensitivity of ME with NBI and MC for the diagnosis of cancer with deep submucosal invasion was 50.0% and 88.0%, respectively (P < 0.0001), and their specificity was 100% and 82.8%, respectively (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The specificity of evaluation of MV and MS by ME with NBI for the diagnosis of cancer with deep submucosal invasion was much higher than that of pit pattern analysis by MC.

Nature of white opaque substance in gastric epithelial neoplasia as visualized by magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Magnifying endoscopy (ME) with narrow-band imaging (NBI) revealed a white opaque substance (WOS) within the superficial part of the gastric neoplasia; however, its nature has remained obscure. A WOS noted within the duodenum was reported to comprise lipid droplets (LD) absorbed by the duodenal epithelium. We attempted to ascertain whether the WOS within gastric neoplasia could also comprise LD and whether the presence of this WOS could be correlated with a specific phenotype.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with early gastric epithelial neoplasia underwent ME with NBI. The presence or absence of WOS in the neoplasias was recorded based on the findings of ME with NBI. One biopsy specimen was taken from each of the neoplasias. Cryostat sections underwent oil red O staining for LD. Serial sections were immunostained using the first antibody of CD10, MUC2, CDX2, human gastric mucin, MUC5AC and MUC6. The tissue phenotype was classified as intestinal (I), gastric (G) and gastrointestinal (GI) type based on the results of immunostaining. In total, 49 gastric neoplasias from 43 patients were investigated.

RESULTS

Prevalence of LD in WOS-positive versus WOS-negative lesions was 96.2% (25/26) and 4.3% (1/23), respectively (P < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). WOS was present in GI- and I-type lesions, but not in G-type lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

WOS may be LD that have been accumulated in the superficial part of the gastric neoplasia of a certain intestinal phenotype.

Feasibility study of paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with endometrial cancer: a Japan Kanto Tumor Board study (JKTB trial)

AIM

The optimal chemotherapy regimen for patients with endometrial cancer has not been established. We assessed the feasibility of paclitaxel plus carboplatin (TC) for postoperative chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer received TC (paclitaxel 180 mg/m(2) , carboplatin AUC6 mg/mL/min) every three weeks. Treatment was continued until disease progression or completion of six cycles. Toxicities were evaluated every cycle according to NCI-CTCAE version 3.0.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were registered from December 2005 through November 2006. Forty-four of 60 (73.3%) cases completed all of the planned six cycles. Grades 3 and 4 hematologic toxicities were observed as follows: leukopenia (61.7%), neutropenia (95.0%), anemia (21.7%), and thrombocytopenia (5.0%). There were six patients who dropped out from the protocol by neutropenia. Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were observed as follows: nausea (3.3%), vomiting (1.7%), neuropathy (5.0%), myalgia (6.7%) and constipation (1.7%). No grade 4 non-hematologic toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSION

This TC regimen is feasible for endometrial cancer patients.

Usefulness of magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging for determining the horizontal extent of early gastric cancer when there is an unclear margin by chromoendoscopy (with video)

BACKGROUND

Magnifying endoscopy (ME) with narrow-band imaging (NBI) may allow reliable delineation of the horizontal extent of early gastric cancers before endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, the advantages of ME with NBI over standard endoscopy with dye spraying (chromoendoscopy [CE]) have yet to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the usefulness and limitations of ME with NBI when CE is unsuccessful for determining the horizontal extent of early gastric cancer.

DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

Single tertiary referral center.

MATERIALS

Series of 350 consecutive early gastric cancers resected en bloc using ESD.

INTERVENTION

ME with NBI for cancers with unclear margins by CE.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The rate of successful delineation by ME with NBI for cancers that had demonstrated unclear margins using CE.

RESULTS

The proportion of cancers showing unclear margins using CE was 18.9% (66/350). Of these, 62 of 66 cancers were examined using ME with NBI, with the entire margins successfully delineated in 72.6% (45/62) of the lesions that had shown unclear margins using CE. The success rate was 0% for undifferentiated cancers, significantly lower than that for differentiated lesions (P < .00001).

LIMITATIONS

Even by using ME with NBI, endoscopic delineation remains difficult for undifferentiated lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

ME with NBI is an excellent modality for identifying the entire margin of early gastric cancers, when the margins are unclear using CE.

Ion and electron heating characteristics of magnetic reconnection in a two flux loop merging experiment

Characteristics of the high-power reconnection heating were measured for the first time directly by two-dimensional measurements of ion and electron temperatures. While electrons are heated mainly inside the current sheet by the Ohmic heating power, ions are heated mainly by fast shock or viscosity damping of the reconnection outflow in the two downstream areas. The magnetic reconnection converts the energy of reconnecting magnetic field B(p) mostly to the ion thermal energy, indicating that the reconnection heating energy is proportional to B(p)(2).

Clinical and endoscopic features of amyloidosis secondary to Crohn's disease: diagnostic value of duodenal observation and biopsy

AIM

Recent reports have focused on the development of secondary amyloidosis (AMY) as a complication of Crohn's disease (CD). The present study was carried out to investigate the frequency of AMY secondary to CD, its clinical and endoscopic features, and the importance of duodenal biopsy in detecting this disease.

METHODS

This study involved 408 patients diagnosed with CD who were endoscopically and histologically examined at our hospital. At follow up, we analyzed the incidence of AMY complications, the clinical features of AMY and the methods to diagnose AMY.

RESULTS

The incidence of AMY was 2.5% (10/408). The disease type at the time of CD diagnosis was small and large bowel type (SL) in eight patients, small bowel type in one and large bowel type in one. The incidence of AMY was significantly higher in patients with SL than in patients with other disease types. The length of time from onset of CD to diagnosis of AMY was 14.1 ± 8.0 years. The cumulative incidence of AMY was 1.0% at 10 years and 5.7% at 20 years after onset. In terms of the method used to diagnose AMY, the positive rate of AMY diagnosis was 100% with endoscopic duodenal biopsy.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of AMY as a complication of CD was low (2.5%). However, because this complication adversely affects patients' prognoses, it is important to check for the presence of AMY, particularly in the duodenum, in patients for whom more than 10 years have elapsed since the development of CD.

Surface Modification of Si Field Emitter Arrays for Vacuum Sealing

Vacuum packaging is a very important issue for vacuum microelectronics devices, especially for field emission displays. Emission current from the field emitter array (FEA), however, is known to decrease significantly after the vacuum packaging process. The current decrease is caused by heating treatment in the vacuum sealing process. In the present paper, the effect of the heating treatment on Si FEA was investigated and CHF3 plasma treatment was proposed for avoiding the problem. The Si FEA was exposed to plasma for 15sec and emission characteristics were measured before and after the vacuum sealing process using frit. It was confirmed that CHF3 plasma treatment was very effective for avoiding the emission degradation of the Si FEA. Details of the heating damage and CHF3 plasma treatment are described.

Case of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE syndrome) showing dermatomyositis-like eruption

A 73-year-old woman developed linear erythema at the sites of scratching-induced scars on the bilateral thighs 2 weeks before the initial consultation. Subsequently, edematous erythema developed in the upper eyelids, dorsum of the nose and the face, and pitting edema in the dorsum of the bilateral hands and feet. The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 8.2 mg/dL and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 121 mm/h. The antinuclear antibody titer was 1:160, and rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-Jo-1 antibody were negative. X-ray examination of the bilateral hands showed neither narrowing of the joint spaces nor bone erosion. Ga scintigraphy showed synovitis of the bilateral wrists. A diagnosis of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema syndrome (RS3PE) was made. The erythema disappeared after diclofenac sodium administration. However, because the joint swelling and pitting edema did not improve, p.o. administration of prednisolone (20 mg/day) was initiated. The CRP and ESR levels normalized 2 months after the initiation of administration, and pitting edema disappeared after 3 months. We report this case because linear erythema like that observed in dermatomyositis has not been described as eruptions associated with RS3PE.