A locally-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ propagates cell-to-cell in the presence of plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase inhibitors in non-excitable cells

AbstractIntercellular Ca2+ waves are commonly observed in many cell types. In non-excitable cells, intercellular Ca2+ waves are mediated by gap junctional diffusion of a Ca2+ mobilizing messenger such as IP3. Since Ca2+ is heavily buffered in the cytosolic environment, it has been hypothesized that the contribution of the diffusion of Ca2+ to intercellular Ca2+ waves is limited. Here, we report that in the presence of plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase inhibitors, locally-released Ca2+ from the flash-photolysis of caged-Ca2+ appeared to induce further Ca2+ release and were propagated from one cell to another, indicating that Ca2+ was self-amplified to mediate intercellular Ca2+ waves. Our findings support the notion that non-excitable cells can establish a highly excitable medium to communicate local responses with distant cells

Diagnosis and Prognostication of Ductal Adenocarcinomas of the Pancreas Based on Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling by Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Array-Based Methylated CpG Island Amplification

To establish diagnostic criteria for ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (PCs), bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) array-based methylated CpG island amplification was performed using 139 tissue samples. Twelve BAC clones, for which DNA methylation status was able to discriminate cancerous tissue (T) from noncancerous pancreatic tissue in the learning cohort with a specificity of 100%, were identified. Using criteria that combined the 12 BAC clones, T-samples were diagnosed as cancers with 100% sensitivity and specificity in both the learning and validation cohorts. DNA methylation status on 11 of the BAC clones, which was able to discriminate patients showing early relapse from those with no relapse in the learning cohort with 100% specificity, was correlated with the recurrence-free and overall survival rates in the validation cohort and was an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling may provide optimal diagnostic markers and prognostic indicators for patients with PCs

The Usefulness of Colonoscopy for the Detection of Ileal Involvement in Intestinal Follicular Lymphoma Patients

　To evaluate the usefulness of colonoscopy for the detection of ileal involvement in patients with intestinal follicular lymphoma, seventeen patients with intestinal follicular lymphoma who underwent colonoscopy and biopsy sampling from the terminal ileum were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: cases with ileal involvement (n=6) and cases without ileal involvement (n=11). Patients’ clinical backgrounds were compared between the two groups. Subsequently, 10 board-certified endoscopists independently evaluated the endoscopic pictures and determined whether the ileum was involved with follicular lymphoma. Infiltration of follicular lymphoma cells were identified in 6 patients (35.3%). Cases with positive ileal involvement were diagnosed with follicular lymphoma at a younger age than were cases without ileal involvement (55.4±7.4 vs. 68.1±10.3 years, p=0.011). Macroscopically, in patients with ileal involvement, there were multiple polypoid elevations smaller than 5 mm in 4 cases, single polypoid elevation smaller than 5 mm in 1 case, and single polypoid elevation larger than 5 mm in 1 case. In patients without ileal involvement, there were no lesions in the terminal ileum in 7 cases, and multiple polypoid elevations smaller than 5 mm were seen in 4 cases. The accuracy of the macroscopic evaluation by 10 board-certified endoscopists was 68.8%. Colonoscopy is particularly recommended during the initial workup of patients with follicular lymphoma diagnosed at age ≤ 60 years. The diagnosis of ileal involvement based on morphology alone is difficult; thus, biopsy and pathologic diagnosis are required for accurate diagnosis

Another century of gods ? A re-evaluation of Seleukid ruler cult.

This paper argues that numismatic representations portraying living Seleukid kings as divine can be found before the reign of Antiochos III on royal coinage. Furthermore, the numismatic evidence does not support a claim that Antiochos III presented his own divinity on coinage in a way that is significantly different from that of his predecessors. Instead it was not until the reign of Antiochos IV that the living king was unequivocally portrayed as divine through the legend on his coinage. The numismatic evidence therefore differs from the epigraphic evidence as it is only under Antiochos III that there is inscriptional evidence for the recognition of a deified living Seleukid king in a non-civic context. This paper argues that the coinage re-examined here provides evidence for the royal presentation of the kings’ divinity in a non-civic context. In doing so, this paper opens the possibility of re-assessing when a Seleukid royal cult developed

A pediatric case of ureterolithiasis due to cystinuria accompanied by acute appendicitis; a case report

Introduction: Acute abdominal pain, a chief complaint frequently seen in the emergency department, can be triggered by a vast range of conditions. Although ureterolithiasis is a less common cause in children, renal colic can be caused by calculi due to hereditary metabolic diseases among patients in those age groups. Presentation of case: We report a 12-year-old girl with abdominal pain who was diagnosed with concurrent acute appendicitis and ureterolithiasis due to cystinuria. Acute appendicitis was successfully treated with cefmetazole, and the calculus was eliminated after adequate fluid loading. Discussion: Synchronous acute appendicitis and ureterolithiasis is reported to be rare. Cystinuria is a hereditary metabolic stone-forming disease, and the first calculi can be detected in childhood. Increasing the solubility of cystine in the urine is required to prevent recurrent stone formation and accompanying complications. Urinalysis, ultrasound, and computed tomography coincidentally demonstrated two different acute pathological processes of ureterolithiasis and appendicitis. Conclusion: Careful physical and laboratory examination can help clinicians find coexisting etiologies of acute abdominal pain. Ureterolithiasis can be seen in children with hereditary disorders such as cystinuria. Early diagnosis of cystinuria and close monitoring may lead to a better long-term outcome