Pathobiological implications of mucin (MUC) expression in the outcome of small bowel cancer.

Mucins have been associated with survival in various cancer patients, but there have been no studies of mucins in small bowel carcinoma (SBC). In this study, we investigated the relationships between mucin expression and clinicopathologic factors in 60 SBC cases, in which expression profiles of MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC6 and MUC16 in cancer and normal tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. MUC1, MUC5AC and MUC16 expression was increased in SBC lesions compared to the normal epithelium, and expression of these mucins was related to clinicopathologic factors, as follows: MUC1 [tumor location (p = 0.019), depth (p = 0.017) and curability (p = 0.007)], MUC5AC [tumor location (p = 0.063) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.059)], and MUC16 [venous invasion (p = 0.016) and curability (p = 0.016)]. Analysis of 58 cases with survival data revealed five factors associated with a poor prognosis: poorly-differentiated or neuroendocrine histological type (

Isolation and structure of the bacterial sex pheromone, cAD1, that induces plasmid transfer in Streptococcus faecalis

The Streptococcus faecalis sex pheromone cAD1, which is involved in the conjugative transfer of the hemolysin plasmid pAD1, has been isolated and its structure determined. Its Mr is 818 and its amino acid sequence is H-Leu-Phe-Ser-Leu-Val-Leu-Ala-Gly-OH. A replicate of the pheromone synthesized by the liquid phase method showed the same biological activity and Chromatographie behavior as the isolated cAD1. Pheromone activity was detectable at a concentration of ~ 5 x 10-11 M.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24605/1/0000013.pd

Composite Lymphoma Comprising Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

We report a rare case of composite lymphoma comprising extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, (ENKL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in a 70-year-old man complaining of fatigue. Computed tomography showed multiple consolidations in both lungs, and ENKL was diagnosed from transbronchial lung biopsy. Positron emission tomography also detected abnormal uptake in the stomach, and DLBCL was diagnosed from subsequent gastroscopy. Two courses of chemotherapy including rituximab achieved reduction in DLBCL, but ENKL proved resistant to this treatment and progressed. Concomitant ENKL and DLBCL have not been previously described among reports of composite lymphomas

Mechanical Properties of Abandoned and Closed Roadways in the Kushiro Coal Mine, Japan

The objective of this research is to clarify the mechanical properties and self-healing ability of Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ) around rock caverns in clastic rock. Observations of nearly 100 closed roadways up to 50 years old, which can be regarded as very severe EDZs with no initial sealability and are up to 300 m deep in clastic rock, were made at Kushiro Coal Mine, Japan, to accomplish the objective. Most old roadways were closed, though a few remain open. Closure of old roadways was mainly due to roof deflection and/or floor heave. Large plastic deformations dominated; however, severe fractures were seldom observed in closed old roadways. Rayleigh wave velocity and hydraulic conductivity in the closed old roadways were in the range of 0.3 - 1.2 km/s and 5 x 10^[-7] - 1 x 10^[-7]m/s, respectively, and those in EDZ and EdZ (Excavation disturbed Zone) around recently excavated roadways were 1.1 - 1.8 km/s and 1 x 10^[-8] - 5 x 10^[-8] m/s, respectively. The extent of EDZ around the present tailgate was in the range of 1 m to 5 m. Mechanical excavation and prevention from water are suggested as the key points for long-term maintenance of rock repositories. Pressurization from inside the cavern to decrease the permeability of EDZ is proposed for maintenance of rock repositories in medium-hard clastic rock masses at similar depths for long periods