Regulation of cell-cell adhesion by the metastasis suppressor tetraspanin CD82/KAI1

Cell junctions are important sites of intercellular adhesion. They preserve the integrity of epithelial tissue and control cell signalling. Deregulation of genes associated with cellular junctions can result in tumour transformation and invasion. Cell junctions consists of desmosomes, tight junctions, gap junctions and adherens junctions. Cellular transformation, invasion and metastasis is brought about by the dysregulation of cell junction components and are therefore crucial for the suppression of metastases. Preliminary experiments in the lab indicated a potential interaction between the metastasis suppressor CD82 a member of the tetraspanin superfamily pf glycoproteins, and desmosomes. By performing Western blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR it showed CD82 regulates the expression of desmosomal proteins plakoglobin and desmoglein2, and the distribution of desmoglein2 within the cell. Despite down regulating plakoglobin and desmoglein2 protein levels, CD82 was found to promote cell-cell adhesion. Plakoglobin and CD82 were found to co-localise by immunofluorescence and an interaction was observed by immunoprecipitation. CD82 did not associate with desmoplakin and was not implicated in the trafficking of desmoplakin to the membrane during desmosome assembly. The significance of these finding remain to be determined, but they provide a useful platform for the development of future work

Role of computed tomography in acute pancreatitis and its complications among age groups

Objective: To determine value of CT scan in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, its complications and to correlate with severity among different age groups.Methods: The study was carried out from August 2001 to August 2002 at the Radiology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital. A total of 40 patients (33 male and 7 female) with age range from 16-71 years were divided in three groups. Group I was less than 40 years (12 patients), Group II was between 40-60 years (17 patients), and Group III was more than 60 years (11 patients). CT scans were assessed for pancreatic necrosis and its complications. CT Severity Index (CTSI) was calculated according to Balthazar\u27s method.Results: In 17 patients with mild pancreatitis, 5 had necrosis involving one-third of pancreas. In 13 patients with severe pancreatitis, 8 had necrosis involving more than half of the pancreas and 5 had necrosis involving half of the pancreas. No significant correlation was demonstrated between moderate pancreatitis and degree of necrosis. Thirty patients had complications, 8 had mild CTSI, 9 had moderate CTSI and 13 patients had severe CTSI.CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated a relationship between CTSI and severity of pancreatic damage and incidence of complications

The GALNT9, BNC1 and CCDC8 genes are frequently epigenetically dysregulated in breast tumours that metastasise to the brain.

Tumour metastasis to the brain is a common and deadly development in certain cancers; 18-30 % of breast tumours metastasise to the brain. The contribution that gene silencing through epigenetic mechanisms plays in these metastatic tumours is not well understood

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy: results and complications

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is usually difficult in patients with malignant involvement of oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus. Flouroscopic guided insertion of Gastrostomy catheter with Gastropexy have gained acceptance because it is easy and less time consuming as well as less invasive as compare to surgical procedure. This study was done to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous placement of gastrostomy with gastropexy using imaging guidance in patients with oropharyngeal and esophageal cancers.Methods: Over five years, 105 patients were referred to our department for percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy. In five patients the procedure was not performed because of overlying viscera and high position of stomach. We performed 100 gastrostomies with gastropexy procedures using seldinger technique.Results: Success rate for percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy was 100%. No major complication had occurred. There were 11 minor complications occurred including 4 stomal infection, 3 catheter obstruction, one peritonism and three were extensive pneumoperitoneum. Stomal infection and catheter obstruction were not related to procedure. So, our true minor complications were only 4 (4%) which is comparable to literature.CONCLUSION: Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy is an effective and safe procedure for enteric access of nutrition in patients with oral, pharyngeal and esophageal cancer where percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is difficult