SWI by 7T MR Imaging for the Microscopic Imaging Diagnosis of Astrocytic and Oligodendroglial Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Despite advances in molecular imaging, preoperative diagnosis of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas can be challenging. In the present study, we assessed whether 7T SWI can be used to distinguish astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas and whether malignant grading of gliomas is possible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

7T SWI was performed on 21 patients with gliomas before surgery with optimization for sharp visualization of the corticomedullary junction. Scoring for cortical thickening and displacement of medullary vessels, characteristic of oligodendroglial tumors, and cortical tapering, characteristic of astrocytic tumors, was performed. Additionally, characteristics of malignancy, including thickening of the medullary veins, the presence of microbleeds, and/or necrosis were scored.

RESULTS

Scoring for oligodendroglial (highest possible score, +3) and astrocytic (lowest score possible, -3) characteristics yielded a significant difference between astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas (mean, -1.93 versus +1.71, P < .01). Scoring for malignancy was significantly different among the World Health Organization grade II (n = 10), grade III (n = 4), and grade IV (n = 7) tumors (mean, 0.20 versus 1.38 versus 2.79). Cortical thickening was observed significantly more frequently in oligodendrogliomas (P < .02), with a sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 85.7%; observation of tapering of the cortex was higher in astrocytomas (P < .01) with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Visualization of the corticomedullary junction by 7T SWI was useful in distinguishing astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Observation of tapering of the cortex was most sensitive and specific for diagnosing astrocytomas. Reliably predicting malignant grade was also possible by 7T SWI.

P-763 effect of duration of cryo-storage of vitrified embryos on obstetric and perinatal outcomes

Study question

Does the duration of cryo-storage of vitrified embryos affect obstetric and perinatal outcomes?

Summary answer

Duration of cryo-storage with an open vitrification system did not affect obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

What is known already

Frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer has been performed widely with improvement of embryo culture conditions and cryopreservation techniques. Although blastocyst vitrification has become an essential method to improve clinical outcomes of IVF, there has been little study into the relationship between a long duration of cryo-storage in liquid nitrogen and obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Study design, size, duration

This retrospective study was conducted at Kyono ART Clinic from January 2007 to December 2020. This study includes a total of 1053 singletons derived from 2461 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers in 2461 patients. Steel’s multiple comparison test was performed for clinical and perinatal outcomes with cases of cryo-storage of less than 3 months as a control group. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The subjects are patients who underwent their first single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT) with an open vitrification system. Females &gt;40 years old at cryopreservation and those who underwent preimplantation genetic testing were excluded. According to cryo-storage duration, patients were grouped as follows: group A, 0-3 months (1255 cycles); group B, 3-6 months (1008 cycles); group C, 6-12 months (162 cycles), group D, 12-24 months (36 cycles).

Main results and the role of chance

Both the mean maternal age at blastocyst cryopreservation (A: 33.7±3.6, B: 34.1±3.5, C: 34.8±3.2, D: 35.1±3.3) and the mean maternal age at FBT (A: 33.8±3.6, B: 34.4±3.5, C: 35.5±3.1, D: 36.4±3.3) in groups B, C, and D were significantly higher compared to those in group A.. There was no significant difference in the survival rate after blastocyst thawing [A: 97.4% (1256/1290), B: 98.3% (1010/1027), C: 99.4% (163/164), D: 97.2% (35/36)]. The pregnancy rate in group C was significantly lower compared to group A [A: 60.0% (752/1254), B: 61.4% (619/1008), C: 48.1% (78/162), D: 63.9% (23/36)] The gestational age of group C was significantly lower compared to group A (A: 39.5±1.8, B: 39.4±1.8, C: 38.4±3.1, D: 39.8±1.6), but there were no significant differences in live birth weight or height. There were no significant differences in congenital abnormality rate [A: 1.3% (7/541), B: 2.5% (11/440), C: 1.8% (1/56), D: 0.0% (0/16)], placental abnormalities such as placenta previa [A: 1.3% (7/541), B: 1.6% (7/440), C: 1.8% (1/56), D: 0.0% (0/16)], perinatal abnormalities such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or gestational diabetes [A: 6.1% (33/541), B: 8.6% (38/440), C: 1.8% (1/56), D: 6.3% (1/16)] among the four groups.

Limitations, reasons for caution

We could not provide sufficient information on confounding factors such as smoking habits, and the sample size was too small for multivariate analysis. The safety of longer storage will need to be verified as this has not been clarified in this study.

Wider implications of the findings

The pregnancy rate in group C was significantly lower than that in group A, but the effect was small: 0.065, power of 0.78. Our data suggested that the duration of cryopreservation with an open vitrification system in liquid nitrogen did not affect obstetric or perinatal outcomes.

Trial registration number

not applicable

Comparison of the Pharmacokinetics of RIPK1 Inhibitor GSK2982772 in Healthy Western and Japanese Subjects

Background and Objectives

GSK2982772 is an oral small-molecule RIPK1 inhibitor with potential therapeutic efficacy in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). An inter-ethnic comparison of GSK2982772 pharmacokinetics was conducted based on data from Western (Study 1) and Japanese subjects (Study 2).

Methods

Both studies were single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with objectives to assess the safety and characterise the pharmacokinetics of GSK2982772. Western subjects in Study 1 (NCT03305419), Part A (N = 15), were randomly assigned to receive 120 mg three times daily (TID), 240 mg TID, or 360 mg twice daily (BID) doses of GSK2982772, or placebo (TID or BID) for 1 day. Part B subjects (N = 47) received GSK2982772 120 mg TID, 240 mg TID, or placebo TID for 14 days. Japanese subjects in Study 2 (N = 13) (NCT03590613) were randomly assigned to receive TID doses of GSK2982772 60, 120, 240 mg TID or placebo TID for 1 day.

Results

GSK2982772 was well tolerated and adverse events were generally mild. Maximum observed plasma drug concentration (C_max), time to reach C_max (T_max), area under the plasma drug concentration versus time curve after the first GSK2982772 dose (AUC_(0–7)) of 120 and 240 mg, and (AUC_(0–24)) values for the 120 and 240 mg TID doses over a single day were similar in Japanese and Western subjects.

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetics and tolerability of GSK2982772 were similar between Western and Japanese subjects, justifying inclusion of Japanese subjects in future global clinical studies to assess the therapeutic potential of RIPK1 inhibition for the treatment of IMIDs.

Clinical Trials: NCT03305419 and NCT03590613 available from http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s13318-020-00652-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Risk model for severe postoperative complications after total pancreatectomy based on a nationwide clinical database

BACKGROUND

Total pancreatectomy is required to completely clear tumours that are locally advanced or located in the centre of the pancreas. However, reports describing clinical outcomes after total pancreatectomy are rare. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to assess clinical outcomes following total pancreatectomy using a nationwide registry and to create a risk model for severe postoperative complications.

METHODS

Patients who underwent total pancreatectomy from 2013 to 2017, and who were recorded in the Japan Society of Gastroenterological Surgery and Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery database, were included. Severe complications at 30 days were defined as those with a Clavien-Dindo grade III needing reoperation, or grade IV-V. Occurrence of severe complications was modelled using data from patients treated from 2013 to 2016, and the accuracy of the model tested among patients from 2017 using c-statistics and a calibration plot.

RESULTS

A total of 2167 patients undergoing total pancreatectomy were included. Postoperative 30-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 1·0 per cent (22 of 2167 patients) and 2·7 per cent (58 of 167) respectively, and severe complications developed in 6·0 per cent (131 of 2167). Factors showing a strong positive association with outcome in this risk model were the ASA performance status grade and combined arterial resection. In the test cohort, the c-statistic of the model was 0·70 (95 per cent c.i. 0·59 to 0·81).

CONCLUSION

The risk model may be used to predict severe complications after total pancreatectomy.

Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of a Single Oral Dose of Pyrimethamine in Healthy Male Subjects of Japanese and European Ancestry

The pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine have been evaluated in various populations but have not been reported in subjects of Japanese ancestry following administration as a single-agent tablet. Furthermore, although pyrimethamine pharmacokinetics after a single dose of the single-agent tablet studied in Western countries have been reported, these studies are old, and the ancestry of the subjects was not specified. Consequently, this study investigated the pharmacokinetics and safety of a single oral 50-mg dose of pyrimethamine in healthy male subjects of Japanese and European ancestry. Seven subjects of each ancestry group were administered pyrimethamine, along with calcium folinate. After absorption, pyrimethamine was eliminated, with a mean half-life of 122.8 hours in Japanese subjects and 99.5 hours in European subjects. The mean C_max and AUC_0-t were 433.8 ng/mL and 59.63 µg·h/mL in Japanese subjects and 372.7 ng/mL and 42.83 µg·h/mL in European subjects. No safety concerns were reported during the study. Although pyrimethamine exposure was slightly higher in subjects of Japanese than of European ancestry, a considerable overlap in the range of parameter values was observed. Considering the range of pyrimethamine exposure reported previously, difference in exposure observed in this study would not be considered of note.

PRDM14 promotes malignant phenotype and correlates with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that stemness in cancer cells is a cause of drug resistance or metastasis and is an important therapeutic target. PR [positive regulatory domain I-binding factor 1 (PRDI-BF1) and retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene (RIZ1)] domain containing 14 (PRDM14), that regulates pluripotency in primordial germ cell, has reported the overexpression and function of stemness in various malignancies, suggesting it as the possible therapeutic target. However, to our knowledge, there have been no reports on the expression and function of PRDM14 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we investigated the expression and the role of PRDM14 in CRC.

METHODS

We performed immunohistochemistry evaluations and assessed PRDM14 expression on 414 primary CRC specimens. Colon cancer cell lines were subjected to functional and stemness assays in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

We found that PRDM14 positive staining exhibited heterogeneity in the CRC primary tumor, especially at the tumor invasion front. The aberrant expression of PRDM14 at the invasion front was associated with lymph node metastasis and disease stage in patients with CRC. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis revealed high PRDM14 expression as an independent prognostic factor in the patients with Stage III CRC. Overexpression of PRDM14 enhanced the invasive, drug-resistant and stem-like properties in colon cancer cells in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that PRDM14 is involved in progression and chemoresistance of CRC, and is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in the CRC patients.

Development of canine X-chromosome inactivation pattern analysis for the detection of cell clonality by incorporating the examination of the SLIT and NTRK-like family member 4 (SLITRK4) gene

X-chromosome inactivation pattern (XCIP) analysis can be used to assess the clonality of cell populations of various origin by distinguishing the methylated X chromosome from the unmethylated X chromosome. In this study, the utility of XCIP analysis was improved by incorporating the examination of AC dinucleotide repeats in SLIT and NTRK-like family member 4 (SLITRK4) gene into the previously reported CAG repeat examination of androgen receptor (AR) gene in dogs. The rate of heterozygosity when both genes were analysed (125/150, 83.3%) was higher than AR gene examination alone (86/150, 57.3%). Blood samples from heterozygous dogs in either AC-1 or AC-2 of SLITRK4 gene were examined for the corrected inactivation allele ratio (CIAR), resulting in the determination of a reference range of CIAR <3.8 in non-neoplastic cell/tissue samples. Using this analytical method, 49% (21/43) of neoplastic tissue samples from dogs showed a CIAR >3.8, indicating the presence of a clonal population. Through the present study, the availability of canine XCIP analysis was improved by incorporating the examination of the SLITRK4 gene, providing a highly useful laboratory examination system for the detection of the clonality of various cell/tissue samples in dogs.

Evaluation of the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a Single Intravenous Dose of Miridesap in Healthy Japanese Subjects

This phase 1 study characterized the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of miridesap (GSK2315698) following an intravenous (IV) infusion in healthy Japanese men. Subjects in Cohort 1 received 1-hour IV infusions of 10, 20, and 40 mg of miridesap or placebo, and subjects in Cohort 2 received a 15-hour IV infusion of 20 mg/h of miridesap or placebo. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. No new safety signals were identified for either vital signs or clinical laboratory parameters. A dose-dependent increase was observed in miridesap exposure (area under the concentration-time curve and maximum observed drug concentration) in the 10 to 40 mg/h dose range after a 1-hour IV infusion of miridesap. Rapid depletion of circulating serum amyloid P component was observed after the initiation of miridesap infusion. Serum amyloid P component concentrations fell in a dose-dependent manner following administration of miridesap.

A transportation network for human ovarian tissue is indispensable to success for fertility preservation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an ovarian tissue transportation network for fertility preservation (FP) for cancer patients in Japan.

METHODS

PubMed was searched for papers on transportation of human ovarian tissue for FP. We analyzed population, area, number of cancer patients for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC), quality control/assessment and safety, cost of a cryopreservation center for the building for 30 years, and medical fees of cancer patients (operation, cryopreservation, and storage of ovarian tissue).

RESULTS

More than twenty babies have been born in Denmark and Germany through a transportation system. Up to 400 new patients a year need OTC. The fees for removal, cryopreservation, and storage for 5 years, and transplantation of ovarian tissue are around €5,000, €4,000, and €5,000, respectively. It costs more than €5 million to establish and maintain one cryopreservation center for 30 years. If we have a few cryopreservation centers in Japan, we can cryopreserve 400 patients' ovarian tissue per year by safer slow freezing and maintain quality control/assessment. We need to lighten the patients' burden for easy to use FP by a government subsidy and medical insurance coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

This model has been termed the Danish model ("the woman stays - the tissue moves"). This is truly patient-centered medicine. We can have maximum effects with the minimum burden. A transportation network like those of Denmark and Germany is the best strategy for FP in Japan. It may be the best system for cancer patients, medical staff, and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

Time-of-Flight MR Angiography of Portal System and Collaterals in Portal Hypertension Using a 2-DFT Fast Spoiled Gradient Recalled Steady-State Precession Technique

MR angiographic examinations were performed in 26 patients. Approximately 30 contiguous fast spoiled GRASS images (8.1/3.1/30°, TR/TE/flip angle) were acquired during single breath-holding for about 35 s, and then new images were reconstructed with maximum intensity projection technique. Spoiled GRASS images (40/12/40) of 2 to 3 slices were taken during breath-holding for about 13 s, and these processes were repeated to obtain about 30 individual images for conventional MR angiography. The new MR angiograms were compared quantitatively and qualitatively with conventional MR angiograms with arterial portography as the gold standard. The new MR angiograms could visualize blood vessels with smooth margins, and provided almost the same anatomic information about the portal vein and collateral vessels as the conventional MR angiograms. Contrast-to-noise ratios between the portal or hepatic vein and liver parenchyma were significantly higher with fast spoiled GRASS images. The new MR angiograms using fast spoiled GRASS images provided useful diagnostic mapping of the collateral venous pathways within a shorter examination time.

Efficacy and Safety of Salmeterol/fluticasone Combination Therapy in Infants and Preschool Children with Asthma Insufficiently Controlled by Inhaled Corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

Clinical evidences of inhaled salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination (SFC) therapy are insufficient in early childhood asthma.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of SFC50, a combination product of salmeterol xinafoate (50 μg/day) and fluticasone propionate (100 μg/day), in infants and preschool children with asthma.

METHODS

The study was conducted at 31 sites in Japan. 35 patients (6 months to 5 years old) with asthma insufficiently controlled by inhaled corticosteroids (100 μg/day) were initiated to treat with SFC50 twice a day for 12 weeks with pressurized metered dose inhalers. The efficacy of SFC50 was assessed using nighttime sleep disorder score as the primary endpoint and the other efficacy measurements. The safety measurement included the incidences of adverse event (AE).

RESULTS

Mean patient age was 3.1 years, and 94.2% had mild-to-moderate persistent asthma (atopic type: 65.7%). Nighttime sleep disorder scores, assessed by a nighttime sleep diary, significantly decreased after treatment with SFC50 throughout the study period (p<0.01). SFC50 also significantly improved other efficacy outcomes including asthma symptom score, frequency of short-acting beta-agonist treatment, frequency of unscheduled visits to clinic, frequency of exacerbation due to virus infection, asthma control score and patient QOL score (p<0.01). AEs of cold, upper respiratory inflammation and asthmatic attack occurred in each of the 3 patients (8.6%); however, these were not regarded as treatment-related AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

SFC50 improved nighttime sleep disorder score and other efficacy outcome measures with no safety concerns. The results suggest that SFC50 treatment is useful to control the mild-to-moderate asthma in infant and preschool-aged children.

Changes in the Small Intestine of a Cat Associated with Barium Sulphate Following Contrast Radiography

A 7-year-old neutered male domestic short-haired cat that had undergone contrast radiography of the bowel with barium sulphate after acute episodes of vomiting 2 months previously, was presented with chronic vomiting, anorexia and weight loss. Abdominal radiography and ultrasonography revealed residual contrast enhancement and an obstruction of the small intestine. A contracted and stenosed ileum and distal jejunum were identified by exploratory laparotomy and surgically resected; subsequently, the clinical signs resolved. Histopathological examination of the ileum revealed mucosal ulceration with severe submucosal granulation tissue formation associated with scattered foreign crystalline material. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the crystals contained barium sulphate. This is the first report in animals of the rare complication of barium sulphate incorporation into the gastrointestinal mucosa after contrast radiography.

Sample Management: Recommendation for Best Practices and Harmonization from the Global Bioanalysis Consortium Harmonization Team

The importance of appropriate sample management in regulated bioanalysis is undeniable for clinical and non-clinical study support due to the fact that if the samples are compromised at any stage prior to analysis, the study results may be affected. Health authority regulations do not contain specific guidance on sample management; therefore, as part of the Global Bioanalysis Consortium (GBC), the A5 team was established to discuss sample management requirements and to put forward recommendations. The recommendations from the team concern the entire life span of the sample and include the following: 1. Sampling procedures should be described in the protocol or within the laboratory manual. This information should include the volume of the sample to be collected, the required anticoagulant, light sensitivity, collection and storage containers, and labeling with a unique identifier. 2. The correct procedures for processing and then storing the samples after collection at the clinical/non-clinical testing site and during shipment are also very important to ensure the analyte(s) stability and should be documented. 3. Chain of custody for the samples must be maintained throughout the complete life span of each sample. This is typically maintained via paper and electronic data systems, including Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) where available. 4. Pre- and post-analysis storage location and conditions must also be clearly defined at the analytical laboratory. The storage temperature of the samples must be traceable and controlled by monitoring and warning alerts. The team suggests moving away from using temperatures and to adopt standard terminology of "room temperature," "refrigerator," "freezer," and "ultra-freezer" that have defined and industry-wide accepted temperature ranges. 5. At the end of the study, documentation of the samples' disposal is required.

Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of losmapimod in healthy Japanese volunteers

This phase 1 study characterized the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of losmapimod and its metabolite GSK198602 following single and repeat doses of oral losmapimod in healthy Japanese volunteers. Subjects (n = 41) received single oral doses of losmapimod (2.5, 7.5, 20 mg) or matching placebo on 3 separate days (n = 20) or losmapimod 7.5 mg or matching placebo twice daily for 14 days (n = 21). Assessments included maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax ), time to Cmax (Tmax ), apparent terminal-phase half-life (t1/ )2 , area under the curve (AUC), and change in C-reactive protein and phosphorylated heat shock protein 27 levels. No serious adverse events occurred during the study, and there were no safety concerns regarding clinical laboratory parameters, 12-lead electrocardiogram, or vital signs. The losmapimod Tmax was 3-4 hours, and the mean t1/2 was approximately 7.9-9.0 hours, with no appreciable difference in Tmax and apparent clearance following oral dosing between dosing regimens. Single and repeat oral doses of losmapimod were well tolerated in healthy Japanese volunteers. The Tmax of GSK198602 was similar to and t1/2 was slightly longer than those of losmapimod. Approximate dose-proportional increases in exposure to losmapimod and GSK198602 were observed in AUC with single-dose administration. Repeat-dose trough concentrations reached steady state within 2 days, with an observed accumulation ratio of 1.56 and 1.91 for losmapimod and GSK198602, respectively.

Japanese multicenter experience of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis: The JENIPaN study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Only a few large cohort studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Therefore, a multicenter, large cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy and to examine the procedural details and follow-up after successful endoscopic necrosectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted in 16 leading Japanese institutions for patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy for infected WOPN between August 2005 and July 2011. The follow-up data were also reviewed to determine the long-term outcomes of the procedures.

RESULTS

Of 57 patients, 43 (75 %) experienced successful resolution after a median of 5 sessions of endoscopic necrosectomy and 21 days of treatment. Complications occurred in 19 patients (33 %) during the treatment period. Six patients died (11 %): two due to multiple organ failure and one patient each from air embolism, splenic aneurysm, hemorrhage from a Mallory - Weiss tear, and an unknown cause. Of 43 patients with successful endoscopic necrosectomy, recurrent cavity formation was observed in three patients during a median follow-up period of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic necrosectomy can be an effective technique for infected WOPN and requires a relatively short treatment period. However, serious complications can arise, including death. Therefore, patients should be carefully selected, and knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced operators should perform the procedure. Further research into safer technologies is required in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

Japanese multicenter experience of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis: The JENIPaN study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Only a few large cohort studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Therefore, a multicenter, large cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy and to examine the procedural details and follow-up after successful endoscopic necrosectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted in 16 leading Japanese institutions for patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy for infected WOPN between August 2005 and July 2011. The follow-up data were also reviewed to determine the long-term outcomes of the procedures.

RESULTS

Of 57 patients, 43 (75 %) experienced successful resolution after a median of 5 sessions of endoscopic necrosectomy and 21 days of treatment. Complications occurred in 19 patients (33 %) during the treatment period. Six patients died (11 %): two due to multiple organ failure and one patient each from air embolism, splenic aneurysm, hemorrhage from a Mallory - Weiss tear, and an unknown cause. Of 43 patients with successful endoscopic necrosectomy, recurrent cavity formation was observed in three patients during a median follow-up period of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic necrosectomy can be an effective technique for infected WOPN and requires a relatively short treatment period. However, serious complications can arise, including death. Therefore, patients should be carefully selected, and knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced operators should perform the procedure. Further research into safer technologies is required in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

A highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method capable of simultaneously quantitating celiprolol and atenolol in human plasma for a cassette cold-microdosing study

A highly sensitive simultaneous quantitative method for a cassette cold-microdosing study on celiprolol and atenolol was developed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method utilizes a combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) with strong cation exchange (SCX) cartridge columns and reversed-phase chromatography with an ODS analytical column. SCX-SPE cartridge columns (100 mg sorbent) were used for a selective extraction of celiprolol, atenolol and metoprolol (internal standard) from 500 μL of human plasma samples. Turbo-ion spray at positive mode was employed for the ionization of the drug compounds. Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer by selected reaction monitoring with the transitions of m/z 380 to m/z 251 for celiprolol and m/z 267 to m/z 145 for atenolol. Separation of analytes was achieved on an ODS column (100 mm length × 2.1 mm id, 3 μm) by a gradient elution with 10 mM formic acid and methanol by varying their proportion at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The method was validated in the range of 1-250 pg/mL for celiprolol and 2.5-250 pg/mL for atenolol and was successfully applied to the elucidation of pharmacokinetic profiling in a cold cassette microdosing study of the β-blockers.

TP53 mutations coincide with the ectopic expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase in the fibroblast-like synoviocytes derived from a fraction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Main features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hyperplasia of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and joint destruction are caused by inflammatory cytokines produced in chronic autoimmune inflammation. Cell-intrinsic acquisition of tumour-like phenotypes of RA-FLS could also be responsible for the aggressive proliferation and invasion, which are supported by the fact that in some cases RA-FLS has mutations of a tumour suppressor gene TP53. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for TP53 mutations in RA-FLS has not yet been clarified. Recently it has been reported that the non-lymphoid cells in the inflammatory tissues express ectopically the activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) gene that induces somatic hypermutations, not only at the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene variable regions in germinal centre B lymphocytes but also at coding regions in TP53. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed more than half (five of nine) of the RA-FLS lines we established showed the markedly increased expression of AID. AID transcription in RA-FLS was augmented by tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and even by physiological concentration of beta-oestradiol that could not induce AID transcription in osteoarthritis-FLS. Furthermore, AID-positive RA-FLS presented a higher frequency of somatic mutations in TP53. Cytological and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated clearly the ectopic expression of AID in the FLS at the RA synovium. These data suggested strongly a novel consequence of RA; the ectopic expression of AID in RA-FLS causes the somatic mutations and dysfunction of TP53, leading to acquisition of tumour-like properties by RA-FLS.

Human Sgo1 downregulation leads to chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is recognised as a hallmark of cancer and is caused by a spindle assembly checkpoint disorder or chromosome mis-segregation during mitosis. Although the recent identification of human shugoshin (hSgo1), an important player in proper chromosome segregation, has suggested the involvement of hSgo1 in colorectal tumourigenesis, little is known about how it is involved. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the status of hSgo1 in human colorectal cancer.

METHOD AND RESULTS

Among the 46 colorectal cancer cases, hSgo1 mRNA expression was decreased in the tumour tissue in comparison with the corresponding normal tissue (p = 0.032). Human Sgo1-downregulated tumours (tumour to normal mucosa ratio<0.5) had preferential location on the left side large bowel rather than on the right side (p = 0.012), and a higher variation of centromere numbers revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). To assess the effects of hSgo1 downregulation, hSgo1 knockdown was performed by transfecting the diploid HCT116 cell line with a short hairpin RNA expression vector. hSgo1 knockdown cells proliferated slowly because of both G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis (p<0.001), and markers of CIN in the form of aneuploidy (p<0.001) and micronuclei (p<0.005) were later observed in hSgo1 knockdown cells. Increased centrosome amplification (p<0.05), the presence of binucleated cells and mitotic catastrophes were also noted in hSgo1 knockdown cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that hSgo1-downregulated colorectal cancers have a clinicopathological character of CIN, and hSgo1 downregulation leads to CIN in colorectal cancer cells.

Induction of centrosome amplification and chromosome instability in p53-deficient lung cancer cells exposed to benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (B[a]PDE)

Benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (B[a]PDE), the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a] pyrene, has been implicated in the mutagenesis of the p53 gene involved in smoking-associated lung cancer. To further understand the role of B[a]PDE in lung tumour progression, we investigated its effect on the numerical integrity of centrosomes and chromosome stability in lung cancer cells lacking p53. Exposure of p53-deficient H1299 lung cancer cells to B[a]PDE resulted in S-phase arrest, leading to abnormal centrosome amplification. Analysis of H1299 cells stably expressing fluorescence-tagged centrin (a known centriolar marker) revealed that the centrosome amplification was primarily attributable to excessive centrosome duplication rather than to centriole splitting. Forced expression of POLK DNA polymerase, which has the ability to bypass B[a]PDE-guanine lesions in an error-free manner, suppressed the B[a]PDE-induced centrosome amplification. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses with probes specific for chromosomes 2, 3, and 16 revealed that B[a]PDE exposure also led to chromosome instability, which was likely to have resulted from centrosome amplification. We extended these findings to primary lung carcinomas containing non-functional p53, and found a strong association between centrosome amplification and a high level of B[a]PDE-DNA accumulation. Therefore B[a]PDE contributes to neoplasia by inducing centrosome amplification and consequent chromosome destabilization as well as its mutagenic activity.

Clathrin is involved in organization of mitotic spindle and phragmoplast as well as in endocytosis in tobacco cell cultures

We previously identified a 175 kDa polypeptide in Lilium longiflorum germinating pollen using a monoclonal antibody raised against myosin II heavy chain from Physarum polycephalum. In the present study, the equivalent polypeptide was also found in cultured tobacco BY-2 cells. Analysis of the amino acid sequences revealed that the 175 kDa polypeptide is clathrin heavy chain and not myosin heavy chain. After staining of BY-2 cells, punctate clathrin signals were distributed throughout the cytoplasm at interphase. During mitosis and cytokinesis, clathrin began to accumulate in the spindle and the phragmoplast and then was intensely concentrated in the cell plate. Expression of the C-terminal region of clathrin heavy chain, in which light chain binding and trimerization domains reside, induced the suppression of endocytosis and the formation of an aberrant spindle, phragmoplast, and cell plate, the likely cause of the observed multinucleate cells. These data strongly suggest that clathrin is intimately involved in the formation of the spindle and phragmoplast, as well as in endocytosis.

Development of an immunochromatographic test kit for rapid detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus antigen

An immunochromatographic test was developed for rapid diagnosis of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections using monoclonal antibodies against the nonstructural protein, NS3, of the virus. The kit detected specifically the NS3 of various BVDV strains. Using the kit, leukocyte extracts of cattle infected persistently with BVDV were found positive while those of healthy cattle were negative. The sensitivity and specificity of this kit in compared with virus isolation were 100% and 97.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the test also gave positive results for calves infected acutely with BVDV in experimental infection. The BVDV antigen was detected in 1 ml of blood using a relatively simple procedure. This test kit should be useful for rapid diagnosis of BVD.

Molecular karyotyping of human hepatocellular carcinoma using single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays

Genomic amplification of oncogenes and inactivation of suppressor genes are critical in the pathogenesis of human cancer. To identify chromosomal alterations associated with hepatocarcinogenesis, we performed allelic gene dosage analysis on 36 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Data from high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays were analysed using the Genome Imbalance Map (GIM) algorithm, which simultaneously detects DNA copy number alterations and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events. Genome Imbalance Map analysis identified allelic imbalance regions, including uniparental disomy, and predicted the coexistence of a heterozygous population of cancer cells. We observed that gains of 1q, 5p, 5q, 6p, 7q, 8q, 17q and 20q, and LOH of 1p, 4q, 6q, 8p, 10q, 13q, 16p, 16q and 17p were significantly associated with HCC. On 6q24-25, which contains imprinting gene clusters, we observed reduced levels of PLAGL1 expression owing to loss of the unmethylated allele. Finally, we integrated the copy number data with gene expression intensity, and found that genome dosage is correlated with alteration in gene expression. These observations indicated that high-resolution GIM analysis can accurately determine the localizations of genomic regions with allelic imbalance, and when integrated with epigenetic information, a mechanistic basis for inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene in HCC was elucidated.