GWAS for systemic sclerosis identifies six novel susceptibility loci including one in the Fcγ receptor region

Here we report the largest Asian genome-wide association study (GWAS) for systemic sclerosis performed to date, based on data from Japanese subjects and comprising of 1428 cases and 112,599 controls. The lead SNP is in the FCGR/FCRL region, which shows a penetrating association in the Asian population, while a complete linkage disequilibrium SNP, rs10917688, is found in a cis-regulatory element for IRF8. IRF8 is also a significant locus in European GWAS for systemic sclerosis, but rs10917688 only shows an association in the presence of the risk allele of IRF8 in the Japanese population. Further analysis shows that rs10917688 is marked with H3K4me1 in primary B cells. A meta-analysis with a European GWAS detects 30 additional significant loci. Polygenic risk scores constructed with the effect sizes of the meta-analysis suggest the potential portability of genetic associations beyond populations. Prioritizing the top 5% of SNPs of IRF8 binding sites in B cells improves the fitting of the polygenic risk scores, underscoring the roles of B cells and IRF8 in the development of systemic sclerosis. The results also suggest that systemic sclerosis shares a common genetic architecture across populations.

The incidence of all organ malignancies and overall survival of patient with sustained virological response of HCV-comparable to SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of Japan general population

OBJECTIVE

This study prospectively observed the incidence of all malignancies and the prognosis of all patients in a population of patients who achieved Sustained Virological Response (SVR) with a 100% capture rate.

DESIGN

A prospective study of 651 SVR cases was conducted from July 2013 to December 2021. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of all malignancies, and the secondary endpoint was overall survival. The cancer incidence during the follow-up period was calculated using the man-year method, and risk factors were analyzed. In addition, sex- and age-matched standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was used to compare the general population with the study population.

RESULTS

The overall median follow-up was 5.44 years. 107 malignancies occurred in 99 patients during the follow-up. The incidence of all malignancies was 3.94/100 person-years. The cumulative incidence was 3.6% at 1 year, 11.1% at 3 years, and 17.9% at 5 years, and continued to increase almost linearly. The incidence of liver cancer and non-liver cancer was 1.94/100 patient-years vs. 1.81%/100 patient-years. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 99.3%, 96.5%, and 94.4%, respectively. This life expectancy was compared to the standardized mortality ratio of the Japanese population, which proved non-inferior.

CONCLUSION

It was found that malignancies of other organs occur as frequently as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, follow-up of patients who have achieved SVR should focus not only on HCC but also on malignant tumors of other organs, and lifelong follow could contribute prolonged life expectancy for the previously short-lived.

OP0112 THE EVER-LARGEST ASIAN GWAS FOR SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS AND TRANS-POPULATION META-ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED SEVEN NOVEL LOCI AND A CANDIDATE CAUSAL SNP IN A CIS-REGULATORY ELEMENT OF THE FCGR REGION

Background

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified 29 disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for systemic sclerosis (SSc) in non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) regions (1-7). While these GWASs have clarified genetic architectures of SSc, study subjects were mainly Caucasians limiting application of the findings to Asians.

Objectives

The study was conducted to identify novel causal variants for SSc specific to Japanese subjects as well as those shared with European population. We also aimed to clarify mechanistic effects of the variants on pathogenesis of SSc.

Methods

A total of 114,108 subjects comprising 1,499 cases and 112,609 controls were enrolled in the two-staged study leading to the ever-largest Asian GWAS for SSc. After applying a strict quality control both for genotype and samples, imputation was conducted using the reference panel of the phase 3v5 1,000 genome project data combined with a high-depth whole-genome sequence data of 3,256 Japanese subjects. We conducted logistic regression analyses and also combined the Japanese GWAS results with those of Europeans (6) by an inverse-variance fixed-effect model. Polygenicity and enrichment of functional annotations were evaluated by linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), Haploreg and IMPACT programs. We also constructed polygenic risk score (PRS) to predict SSc development.

Results

We identified three (FCRLA-FCGR, TNFAIP3, PLD4) and four (EOMES, ESR1, SLC12A5, TPI1P2) novel loci in Japanese GWAS and a trans-population meta-analysis, respectively. One of Japanese novel risk SNPs, rs6697139, located within FCGR gene clusters had a strong effect size (OR 2.05, P=4.9×10-11). We also found the complete LD variant, rs10917688, was positioned in cis-regulatory element and binding motif for an immunomodulatory transcription factor IRF8 in B cells, another genome-wide significant locus in our trans-ethnic meta-analysis and the previous European GWAS. Notably, the association of risk allele of rs10917688 was significant only in the presence of the risk allele of the IRF8. Intriguingly, rs10917688 was annotated as one enhancer-related histone marks, H3K4me1, in B cells, implying that FCGR gene(s) in B cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SSc. Furhtermore, significant heritability enrichment of active histone marks and a transcription factor C-Myc were found in B cells both in European and Japanese populations by LDSC and IMPACT, highlighting a possibility of a shared disease mechanism where abnormal B-cell activation may be one of the key drivers for the disease development. Finally, PRS using effects sizes of European GWAS moderately fit in the development of Japanese SSc (AUC 0.593), paving a path to personalized medicine for SSc.

Conclusion

Our study identified seven novel susceptibility loci in SSc. Downstream analyses highlighted a novel disease mechanism of SSc where an interactive role of FCGR gene(s) and IRF8 may accelerate the disease development and B cells may play a key role on the pathogenesis of SSc.

References

[1]F. C. Arnett et al. Ann Rheum Dis, 2010.

[2]T. R. Radstake et al. Nat Genet, 2010.

[3]Y. Allanore et al. PLoS Genet, 2011.

[4]O. Gorlova et al. PLoS Genet, 2011.

[5]C. Terao et al. Ann Rheum Dis, 2017.

[6]E. López-Isac et al. Nat Commun, 2019.

[7]W. Pu et al. J Invest Dermatol, 2021.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Relationship of early intensive- or coronary care unit admission and post-discharge performance of activities of daily living in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Background

The management of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) often requires intensive care. However, the effects of early intensive care unit (ICU)/coronary care unit (CCU) admission on activities of daily living (ADL) in ADHF patients have not been precisely evaluated. Thus, we assessed whether early ICU entry can improve post-discharge ADL performance in these patients.

Methods and results

ADHF patients (New York Heart Association I–III) admitted on emergency between April 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018, were selected from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database and divided into ICU/CCU (ICU) and general ward (GW) groups according to the hospitalization type on admission day 1. The propensity score was calculated to create matched cohorts where treatment assignment (ICU/CCU admission) is independent of measured baseline confounding factors including ADL at admission. The primary outcome was post-ADL defined according to the Barthel index (BI) at discharge. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) and total hospitalization cost (expense). Overall, 12,231 patients were eligible, and propensity score matching created 2,985 pairs. After matching, post-ADL was significantly higher in the ICU group (GW 71.5±35.3 vs. ICU 78.2±31.2, P<0.001, difference in mean 6.7 (95% CI 5.1–8.4) points). After matching, LOS was significantly shorter and expenses were significantly higher in the ICU group. Subanalyses showed that patients with low ADL at admission (BI<60) mainly benefited from early ICU/CCU entry.

Conclusions

Early ICU/CCU entry was beneficially associated with post-ADL in patients with emergency ADHF admission. ADL at admission might serve as a useful criterion for ICU admission.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

THU0232 INTERFERON SIGNATURE IN LUPUS KIDNEY IS CORRELATED WITH REMISSION WITHIN 56 WEEKS

Background:

Activation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway has been implicated in the initiation of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and most SLE patients show increased expression of IFN-regulated genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or whole blood. However, the IFN signature in lupus kidney is not well examined especially at single cell resolution.

Objectives:

To clarify the significance of the IFN signature in lupus kidney at single cell resolution

Methods:

18 lupus kidney (LN) and 34 transplanted kidney (KTx) samples were included in the study. Residual frozen kidney biopsies were collected after clinical diagnosis. The tissue from one donor was split into two. One portion was used for total RNA-Seq (tRNA-Seq) by SMARTer Stranded Total RNA-Seq Kit v2 - Pico Input Mammalian (Takara/Clontech). The rest was used for single nucleus RNA-Seq (snRNA-Seq) using Chromium Single Cell 3’ Reagent Kits v3 (10x Genomics) (7 LN and 17 KTx). For the tRNA-Seq, the sequence reads were aligned to Ensembl genome annotation (Ens93) by STAR and the aligned reads were counted by htseq. IFN score of tRNA-Seq was calculated using the reported method [1] per each module (M1.2, M3.4 and M5.12). For the snRNA-Seq, the sequenced reads were processed on the standard pipeline of CellRanger (10x Genomics) and the data was visualized using Seurat. IFN score of snRNA-Seq was computed by the method reported by Arazi A,et al[2].

Clinical outcomes of LN were examined on the medical records retrospectively and the clinical remission in 56 weeks for LN was defined as a urinary protein/creatinine ratio less than 0.5 g/gCr.

Results:

11 LN had clinical remission and 7 LN showed non remitted disease within 56 weeks after the biopsy. There were no statistical significance co-variants such as age, gender and WHO class in pathology. IFN score of M1.2, M3.4 and M5.12 were significantly increased in LN with remission within 56 weeks (median 0.773 vs 0.659, 0.595 vs 0.243 and 0.415 vs 0.100: p-value 0.03, 0.01 and 0.02 [Wilcox rank-test]) in tRNA-Seq. In the snRNA-Seq, the lupus kidney with low IFN score showed restricted IFN signature in the endothelial cells mainly, which can be detected even in the controls, but those with high IFN score indicated broadly spread IFN signature among all of the cell types.

Conclusion:

LN with high IFN score in kidney tissue is correlated with remission within 56 weeks. LN with low IFN score showed IFN signature restricted to endothelial cells but those with a higher IFN score revealed broadly affected cell types with IFN signature. These results suggest that the IFN signature of LN may start from endothelial cells and then spread to the whole kidney.

References:

[1]Chiche L, Jourde-Chiche N, Whalen E,et al.Modular Transcriptional Repertoire Analyses of Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Reveal Distinct Type I and Type II Interferon Signatures.Arthritis & Rheumatology2014;66:1583–95.doi:10.1002/art.38628

[2]Arazi A, Rao DA, Berthier CC,et al.The immune cell landscape in kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis.Nat Immunol2019;20:902–14.

doi:10.1038/s41590-019-0398-x

Disclosure of Interests: :

Masatoshi Kanda: None declared, Takahiro Tsuji: None declared, Masaya Mukai: None declared, Hiroki Takahashi: None declared, Tatsuya Atsumi Grant/research support from: Eli Lily Japan K.K., Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Consultant of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Norbert Hübner: None declared

P5370Pulmonary pressure overload stimulates cardiac stem or progenitor cell-derived cardiac regeneration in the right ventricular area

Introduction and purpose

The number of patients with right heart failure due to pulmonary hypertension has been increasing. Although several drugs have reportedly improved pulmonary hypertension, no treatments have been established for decompensated right heart failure. The heart has an innate ability to regenerate, and cardiac stem or progenitor cells (e.g., side population [SP] cells) have been reported to contribute to the regeneration process. However, their contribution to right ventricular pressure overload has not been clarified. Here, this regeneration process was evaluated using a genetic fate-mapping model.

Methods and results

We used Cre-LacZ mice, in which more than 99.9% of the cardiomyocytes in the left ventricular field were positive for 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactoside (X-gal) staining immediately after tamoxifen injection. Then, we performed either a pulmonary binding (PAB) or sham operation on the main pulmonary tract. In the PAB-treated mice, the right ventricular cavity was significantly enlarged (right-to-left ventricular [RV/LV] ratio, 0.24±0.04 in the sham group and 0.68±0.04 in the PAB group). Increased peak flow velocity in the PAB group (1021±80 vs 1351±62 mm/sec) was confirmed by echocardiography. One month after the PAB, the PAB-treated mice had more X-gal-negative (newly generated) cells than the sham mice (94.8±34.2 cells/mm2 vs 23.1±10.5 cells/mm2; p<0.01). The regeneration was biased in the RV free wall (RV free wall, 225.5±198.7 cells/mm2; septal area, 88.9±56.5/mm2; LV lateral area, 46.8±22.0/mm2; p<0.05). To examine the direct effects of PAB on the cardiac progenitor cells, bromodeoxyuridine was administered to the mice daily until 1 week after the PAB operation. Then, the hearts were isolated and SP cells were harvested. The SP cell population increased from 0.65±0.23% in the sham mice to 1.87% ± 1.18% in the PAB-treated mice. Immunostaining analysis revealed a significant increase in the number of BrdU-positive SP cells, from 11.6±2.0% to 44.0±18%, therefore showing SP cell proliferation.

Conclusions

Pulmonary pressure overload stimulated cardiac stem or progenitor cell-derived regeneration with a RV bias, and SP cell proliferation may partially contribute to this process.

Acknowledgement/Funding

JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP 17K17636, GSK Japan Research Grant 2016

P6298Pericardial transplantation of adipose-derived stromal cells with self-assembling peptides scaffold prevents cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in mice

Introduction and purpose

Cardiac cell therapy to patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI), has shown little improvement in cardiac function. The rate of engraftment after cell transplantation (TX) to the ischemic heart is low because of the leakage of transplanted cells without scaffold, the friction between the graft and thorax, and poor vascularization to the graft. We created a novel TX method (Figure 1) to transplant adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) with scaffold into the pericardial space where the pericardium protected the graft. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of pericardial TX of ASCs on the cardiac function and remodeling after MI.

Methods

We isolated ASCs from the brown adipose tissue of donor mice (C57BL6-Tg (CAG-EGFP), five weeks). ASCs increased and differentiated into spontaneously beating myocytes, endothelial cells, and pericytes three weeks after ex vivo culture. Cells were trypsinized and mixed with self-assembling peptides scaffold. Each graft (100μl gel scaffold) had 1×106 ASCs. To make recipient MI mice (C57BL6, 12 weeks), we ligated the left coronary artery through small chest incision without cutting rib bone to avoid postoperative adhesions. We confirmed the deterioration of cardiac function by echocardiography (n=21) and MRI (n=4) three weeks after MI. Then, recipient MI mice had TX (syngeneic, no immunosuppression). We opened the pericardium and transplanted the graft into the pericardial space. By suturing the pericardium, the graft was fixed on the MI scar area (Figure 1). We labeled donor cells with GFP and the scaffold with biotin. We evaluated cardiac function of TX group (n=10) and control group (MI with sham TX, n=11) by echocardiography.

Results

In the scaffold, donor cells increased three days to two weeks after TX, and slightly decreased four weeks after TX. The graft thickness was 0.9±0.2mm (two weeks after TX) and 0.7±0.2mm (four weeks after TX). There were many vWF positive vessels in the scaffold and some of which were GFP positive. Echocardiography showed that left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDd) of TX group, did not increase four weeks after TX (ΔLVDd = −0.02mm, P=0.80). While, LVDd of control group significantly increased (ΔLVDd = +0.23mm, P=0.02) due to cardiac remodeling after MI. MRI confirmed the increase in left ventricular wall thickness in the MI scar area up to 4 weeks in TX group (n=2).

Conclusions

Pericardial transplantation of ASCs prevents cardiac remodeling. Its beneficial effect might be mediated by improved rate of engraftment, neovascularization, and increased ventricular wall thickness in the MI scar area.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

Synaptotagmin XIII expression and peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastasis is a frequent cause of death in patients with gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to identify molecules responsible for mediating peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODS

Transcriptome and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify molecules associated with peritoneal metastasis. The therapeutic effects of intraperitoneally administered small interfering (si) RNA were evaluated using mouse xenograft models. Expression of mRNA and protein was determined in gastric tissues from patients with gastric cancer.

RESULTS

Synaptotagmin XIII (SYT13) was expressed at significantly higher levels in patients with peritoneal recurrence, but not in those with hepatic or distant lymph node recurrence. Inhibition of SYT13 expression in a gastric cancer cell line transfected with SYT13-specific siRNA (siSYT13) was associated with decreased invasion and migration ability of the cells, but not with proliferation and apoptosis. Intraperitoneal administration of siSYT13 significantly inhibited the growth of peritoneal nodules and prolonged survival in mice. In an analysis of 200 patients with gastric cancer, SYT13 expression in primary gastric cancer tissues was significantly greater in patients with peritoneal recurrence or metastasis. A high level of SYT13 expression in primary gastric cancer tissues was an independent risk factor for peritoneal recurrence.

CONCLUSION

SYT13 expression in gastric cancer is associated with perioneal metatases and is a potential target for treatment.

Detection of serum melanoma-associated antigen D4 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Despite improvements in surgical techniques, perioperative management, and multidisciplinary therapy, treatment outcomes of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain poor. Therefore, development of novel molecular biomarkers, which either predict patient survival or become therapeutic targets, is urgently required. In the present study, to facilitate early detection of ESCC and predict its clinical course, we investigated the relationship of the serum level of melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE)-D4 to patients' clinicopathological characteristics. Using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, we determined the levels of MAGE-D4 mRNA and protein in cell lysates and conditioned medium of cultures, respectively, of nine ESCC cell lines. Further, we determined MAGE-D4 levels in serum samples collected from 44 patients with ESCC who underwent radical esophagectomy without neoadjuvant therapy as well as from 40 healthy volunteers. Samples of conditioned medium and cell lysates contained comparable levels of MAGE-D4 that correlated closely with the levels of MAGE-D4 mRNA. Preoperative MAGE-D4 levels in the sera of 44 patients with ESCC, which varied from 0 to 2,354 pg/mL (314 ± 505 pg/mL, mean ± standard deviation), were significantly higher compared with those of healthy volunteers. By setting the cutoff at the highest value for healthy volunteers (50 pg/mL), the MAGE-D4-positive group of patients was more likely to have shorter disease-specific and disease-free survival compared with those of the MAGE-D4-negative group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Our results indicate that the elevation of preoperative serum MAGE-D4 levels in some patients with ESCC was possibly caused by excess production of MAGE-D4 by tumor cells followed by its release into the circulation. Clinical implications of serum MAGE-D4 levels should be validated in a large population of patients with ESCC.

Salvage pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy following definitive chemoradiotherapy

Historically, total pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy has been the standard radical surgical treatment for synchronous cancer of the thoracoabdominal esophagus and pharyngolaryngeal region, and for cancer of the cervical esophagus that has invaded as far as the thoracic esophagus. Although definitive chemoradiotherapy that enables preservation of the larynx has often been the first choice of treatment for cancers involving the cervical esophagus, total pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy is required as a salvage therapy for cases involving failure of complete remission or locoregional recurrence after chemoradiotherapy. However, salvage esophageal surgery after definitive high-dose chemoradiotherapy is generally associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term outcome of salvage total pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy. From 2001 to 2014, nine patients underwent salvage total pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy at the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya University. The mortality and morbidity rates were high at 22% and 89%, respectively. Four patients (44%) developed tracheal necrosis, which in two patients eventually led to lethal hemorrhage. Salvage total pharyngolaryngectomy with total esophagectomy is an uncommon and highly demanding surgical procedure that should be carefully planned and conducted in selected centers of excellence. Measures must be taken to preserve the tracheal blood supply, thus avoiding fatal complications.

Emergency endoscopic variceal ligation following variceal rupture in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombosis: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of treatment of ruptured varices in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) are unclear. We therefore evaluated the long- (rebleeding and death) and short-term (immediate death within 24 h of variceal bleeding diagnosis) outcomes of patients with PVTT who underwent emergency variceal band ligation.

METHODS

Data on 62 patients with PVTT and endoscopically proven esophageal or gastric variceal bleeding from 2007 to 2012 were studied. In most cases, the varices were treated using endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL). We assessed the patients' rebleeding-free and overall survival using the Kaplan-Meier method, and a Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze effect of independent factors on rebleeding-free and overall survival times.

RESULTS

Most patients had decompensated cirrhosis and were classified as Child-Pugh class B (56%) or C (36%). A total of 35 patients (56%) had PVTT in the main portal trunk. Among all patients, 58 (94%) and 4 (6%) had esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, respectively. Bleeding was managed using EVL in all, but one patient (98%) who was treated with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. A total of 24 patients (39.3%) experienced rebleeding, and these patients had a median overall survival time of 36 days. A PVTT in the main portal trunk was predictive of rebleeding (hazard ratio 3.706, p = .0223), and α-fetoprotein-L3 levels <37.4% (hazard ratio 0.464, p = 0.015) and Child-Pugh class A/B (hazard ratio 0.398, p = 0.007) were associated with overall survival. We observed 95 bleeding events in 62 patients. EVL achieved hemostasis in 92 of the 95 bleeding events, whereas seven immediate deaths occurred due to variceal bleeding (7/92, 7.6%). All three bleeding events treated with modalities other than EVL resulted in immediate deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

EVL is a safe and effective treatment of variceal ruptures in patients with HCC and PVTT. After successful hemostasis, alleviation of the underlying liver function impairment and tumor control are equally important for a good prognosis.

Maternal body mass index and risk of birth and maternal health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies of maternal body mass index (BMI) and risk of adverse birth and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and the British Nursing Index were searched from inception to February 2014. Forty-two studies were included. Our study found that maternal underweight was significantly associated with higher risk of preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.27), low birthweight (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.50-1.84) and small for gestational age (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.69-2.02). Compared with mothers with normal BMI, overweight or obese mothers were at increased odds of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, caesarean delivery and post-partum haemorrhage. The population-attributable risk (PAR) indicated that if women were entirely unexposed to overweight or obesity during the pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy period, 14% to 35% fewer women would develop gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension in Brazil, China, India, Iran or Thailand. The highest PAR of low birthweight attributable to maternal underweight was found in Iran (20%), followed by India (18%), Thailand (10%) and China (8%). Treatment and prevention of maternal underweight, overweight or obesity may help reduce the burden on maternal and child health in developing countries.

[Ultrasonography in Large-Vessel Arteritis]

Vasculitides are a group of diseases in which inflammation occurs in various vascular walls of the whole body, and ischemic symptoms are caused by stenoses and occlusions of blood vessels. Various parts of blood vessels of the whole body are affected, and the clinical manifestations are diverse. In the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) 2012, vasculitides are classified into seven categories. Takayasu arteritis and giant cell arteritis are included in large-vessel vasculitis. Large-vessel arteritis is defined as vasculitis affecting the aorta and its major branches more often than other vasculitides, but any sized artery may be affected. Ultrasonography has been progressing rapidly, so we can easily depict vessels of the surface of the body, in 0.1-mm units, and indicate the blood flow noninvasively. Ultrasonography has been used for the diagnosis of and estimation of the treatment for large-vessel vasculitis, and its importance has been increasing.

Value of peritoneal cytology in potentially resectable pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal lavage cytology (CY) is used in the diagnosis and staging of various cancers. The clinical significance of positive cytology results in patients with pancreatic cancer is yet to be determined.

METHODS

Peritoneal washing samples were collected from consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer between July 1991 and December 2012. The correlations between cytology results, clinicopathological parameters and recurrence patterns were evaluated. The prognostic impact of CY status, regarding resectability and the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy, were analysed.

RESULTS

Of 523 included patients, 390 underwent resection. Patients with tumours at least 2 cm in diameter were more likely to have CY+ status than patients with tumours smaller than 2 cm (48 of 312 versus 3 of 78 respectively; P = 0·005) and there was a significant correlation between CY+ status and tumour invasion of the anterior pancreatic capsule (43 of 276 versus 8 of 113 with no invasion of the capsule; P = 0·030). Although the overall survival of patients with resected CY+ tumours was worse than that of patients with resected CY- tumours, it was significantly better than the survival of unresected patients regardless of CY status. Multivariable analysis of all patients who had pancreatectomy did not identify CY+ as an independent prognostic factor. Patients with CY+ tumours tended to develop peritoneal metastasis more often than those with CY- tumours, although not significantly so. The median survival time of 34 patients with resected CY+ tumours who received adjuvant chemotherapy was better than that of 17 patients who had surgery alone, although this was not statistically significant (15·3 versus 10·0 months; P = 0·057).

CONCLUSION

CY+ status is not clinically equivalent to gross peritoneal metastasis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Curative resection is still recommended regardless of CY status.

Angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva

BACKGROUND

Angiomyofibroblastoma (AMF) is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm that arises in the pelviperial region.

CASE

A patient presented with a painless mass in the right vulva. Under the preoperative diagnosis of Bartholin cyst, she underwent a simple tumor excision. Pathological examination revealed an AMF. Immunohistochemical examination showed that tumor cells were positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, vimentin, and CD34. She has been with no evidence of local recurrence for ten months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

AMF of the vulva is a distinctive mesenchymal tumor that is curable with a simple excision.

Normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome (NOCS) detected with FDG-PET/CT

BACKGROUND

Normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome (NOCS) is an ovarian cancer with ovaries being of normal size, accompanied by diffuse metastatic disease of the peritoneal cavity.

CASE

A 39-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pains. The computed tomopraphy (CT) of the chest, esophagogastroduodenography, and colonoscopy showed no remarkable findings. Amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) displayed a slightly enlarged right ovary, thickening of the peritoneum, and massive ascites. The right ovary showed high intensity on T2 images and scattered low intensity spots on diffusion-weighted images. The cytology of ascites suspected adenocarcinoma cells. A positron emission tomography (PET) and CT using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) demonstrated markedly increased FDG uptake at the right ovary and peritoneum. The presumptive diagnosis of normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome was made. She underwent a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and partial omentectomy. The pathological examination revealed serous cystadenocarcinoma of the right ovary.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT is useful for the detection of NOCS.

Overexpression of melanoma-associated antigen D4 is an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

To pursue an urgently needed treatment target for esophageal cancer (EC), we investigated the function of the recently discovered melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE)-D4 in squamous cell EC. MAGE-D4 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was analyzed in nine EC cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In 65 surgical specimens of squamous cell EC with no prior neoadjuvant therapy, MAGE-D4 mRNA expression in EC tissues and corresponding normal tissues was analyzed and compared, and evaluated in terms of clinicopathological factors. In representative cases, MAGE-D4 protein distribution was analyzed immunohistochemically. The heterogeneity of MAGE-D4 mRNA expression was confirmed in EC cell lines by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In surgical specimens, MAGE-D4 mRNA expression was significantly higher in EC tissues than in corresponding normal tissues (P < 0.001). Patients with the highest MAGE-D4 mRNA expression in EC tissues (top quartile, n = 17) had significantly shorter overall survival than patients with low expression (2-year survival: 44% and 73%, respectively, P = 0.006). Univariate analysis identified age (≥65 years), lymphatic involvement, and high MAGE-D4 mRNA expression as significant prognostic factors; high MAGE-D4 mRNA expression was also an independent prognostic factor in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio: 2.194; P = 0.039) and was significantly associated with Brinkman index (P = 0.008) and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level (P = 0.002). Immunohistochemical MAGE-D4b expression was consistent with MAGE-D4 mRNA profiling. Our results suggest that MAGE-D4 overexpression influences tumor progression, and MADE-D4 can be a prognostic marker and a potential molecular target in squamous cell EC.

Transition of low-grade to high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: a case report

BACKGROUND

The transition of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) to high-grade ESS remains a rare clinical event.

CASE

A patient presented with abdominal pain and abnormal genital bleeding. She underwent a supracervical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and resection of peritoneal disseminated lesions. Pathological examination revealed low-grade ESS in the uterus and omentum. Immunohistochemical examination showed immunoreactivity for CD10 and Ki-67 (MIB1) in the uterus and omentum. However, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, alpha-SMA, desmin, h-caldesmon, and CAM5-2 were negative. P53 immunoreactivity was noted only in the omental lesion. Despite performing six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy, she recurred in the abdomen. She underwent ileostomy and resection of peritoneal disseminated lesions. Pathology showed high-grade ESS in the recurrent lesion of the ileum, which was characterized by severe cytologic atypia, high mitotic index, multifocal necrosis, increased Ki-67 index, and immunoreactivity for p53.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, the transition of low-grade ESS to high-grade ESS may occur and suggests the worsening of the prognosis. Pathological examination and immunohistochemistry are useful for the diagnosis of the transition of low-grade ESS to high-grade ESS.

Analysis of meat pigments with tissue spectrophotometer TS-200

The colour of meat and rice flour pastes containing known amounts of myoglobin and the colour of intact beef and pork samples were analyzed with tissue spectrophotometer TS-200. The differences in the spectra of myoglobin among three types of derivatives were successfully distinguished with this instrument. In addition, there is a close relationship between I(HB) value, a parameter for estimating the content of pigments in animal tissues, and myoglobin content in model systems (rice flour paste and meat paste). Especially, the I(HB) value is proportional to myoglobin content in intact beef and pork meat whose myoglobin is mostly in the state of oxymyoglobin and/or deoxymyoglobin: y = 208·26 x + 6·72, where y is the I(HB) value, x is the myoglobin content (%) and r = 0·94.

Identification of the A kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) gene as a candidate tumor suppressor of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem, and identification of new tumor-related genes is an urgent task.

METHODS

To detect tumor-related genes effectively, we performed double-combination array analysis, which consisted of an expression array and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array of a single surgical HCC specimen.

RESULTS

Expression array analysis identified AKAP12 as one of the genes with reduced expression in HCC tissues when compared with non-cancerous adjacent hepatic tissues. In addition, AKAP12 expression levels in tumor tissues from 48 HCC samples were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those in normal tissues, and the downregulation was significantly correlated with poor overall survival rate (P = 0.003). However, SNP array analysis revealed that locus 6q24-q25 where AKAP12 was located did not show chromosomal deletion. In contrast, hypermethylation in the AKAP12 promoter regions was observed in 41 of 48 HCC samples. We then confirmed that AKAP12 gene re-expression occurs after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment through direct sequence analysis of the AKAP12 promoter region in HCC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

The current data suggest that AKAP12 is downregulated in cancer tissues through promoter hypermethylation, and may have a role as a candidate tumor suppressor gene for HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastasis: clinical features and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

Despite significant advances in the treatment of intrahepatic lesions, the prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have extrahepatic metastasis remains poor. The objective of this study was to further elucidate the clinical course and prognostic determinants of patients with this disease.

METHODS

In total, 342 patients who had HCC with extrahepatic metastasis were enrolled. The metastases were diagnosed at initial presentation with HCC in 28 patients and during follow-up in the remaining patients. The authors analyzed clinical features, prognoses, and treatments and established a scoring system to predict prognosis using a split-sample method with a testing set and a training set.

RESULTS

The most frequent site of extrahepatic metastasis was the lung followed by lymph nodes, bone, and adrenal glands. These metastases were related directly to death in only 23 patients (7.6%). The median survival after diagnosis of extrahepatic metastasis was 8.1 months (range, 0.03-108.7 months). In univariate analysis of the training set (n = 171), performance status, Child-Pugh classification, the number and size of intrahepatic lesions, macroscopic vascular invasion, symptomatic extrahepatic metastases, α-fetoprotein levels, and complete responses to treatment were associated significantly with prognosis. On the basis of multivariate analysis, a scoring system was developed to predict prognosis that assessed uncontrollable intrahepatic lesions, extent of vascular invasion, and performance status. This scoring system was validated in the testing set (n = 171) and produced a concordance index of 0.73.

CONCLUSIONS

The controllability of intrahepatic lesions and performance status were identified as important prognostic factors in patients with advanced HCC who had extrahepatic metastasis.

Prognostic implication of intraoperative radiotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer

346

Background: There is no established treatment strategy for unresectable pancreatic cancer, and the prognostic effect of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is considered to be limited.

Methods: We reviewed 614 surgical cases of pancreatic cancer and selected 198 cases that did not undergo pancreatectomy because of distant metastasis or locally advanced disease, at the Department of Surgery II, between July 1981 and June 2009. Liver metastasis was observed in 70 patients and peritoneal metastasis in 44. Treatment for those who were feasible consisted of IORT and/or postoperative chemotherapy. Overall survival and prognostic factors were evaluated for all patients and for each pattern of disease spread.

Results: IORT was performed in 120 patients (61%), and chemotherapy was indicated in 80 (40%). Overall survival in the non-treatment group was significantly inferior to that for IORT alone and IORT plus gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy (median survival time: 3.2 months vs. 6.1 and 7.9 months; P = 0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively). After multivariate analysis, IORT and GEM-based chemotherapy were identified as independent prognostic factors [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.51, P < 0.001; HR = 0.43, P < 0.001]. IORT was an independent prognostic determinant for patients with peritoneal metastasis (HR = 0.24, P = 0.011), whereas it was not for those with liver metastasis (HR = 0.78, P = 0.381).

Conclusions: The prognostic value of IORT is most prominent in the peritoneal disease. IORT followed by GEM-based chemotherapy is possibly one of the most recommended treatment strategies in unresectable pancreatic cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Nutritional predictors of postoperative outcome in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Nutritional status plays an important role in the incidence of postoperative complications and the prognosis of various tumours. The prognostic value of preoperative nutritional factors in patients with pancreatic cancer is not known.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 268 patients who underwent resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The predictive value of preoperative nutritional status for postoperative outcome (survival, complications) was assessed. Nutritional factors included the three constitutional indices, serum albumin and Onodera's prognostic nutrition index (PNI), calculated as 10 × serum albumin (g/dl) + 0·005× total lymphocyte count (per mm(3)).

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis preoperative low PNI (but not low albumin) was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival: hazard ratio (HR) 1·73 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1·21 to 2·47). The accuracy of a PNI value of less than 45 as cut-off for clinically significant preoperative malnutrition in predicting 1- or 2-year survival after surgery was, however, limited (66·4 and 56·3 per cent respectively). Low preoperative albumin concentration and PNI were significantly associated with postoperative complications: odds ratio 1·98 (95 per cent c.i. 1·18 to 3·32) and 2·14 (1·23 to 3·73) respectively. Low PNI and low body mass index were independently associated with pancreatic fistula: HR 2·52 (1·37 to 4·63) and 0·40 (0·17 to 0·93) respectively.

CONCLUSION

The PNI is associated with overall survival and postoperative complications, in particular pancreatic fistula, in patients with pancreatic cancer. The moderate accuracy of PNI as a predictor of survival limits its clinical use.