Hepatocyte Growth Factor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exerts biological activity through the Met receptor tyrosine kinase. HGF plays essential roles in the embryonic development of the liver and placenta, and in the migration of myogenic precursor cells. In mature tissues, HGF plays roles in tissue protection and regeneration, including in the liver and kidney. HGF participates in invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Drug development targeting HGF-Met has been challenging. One focus has been the use of recombinant HGF as a biological drug and another has been the use of HGF-Met inhibitors for cancer treatment. Clinical trials using HGF or HGF-Met inhibitors are ongoing. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.[Book Chapter

Adamantinoma of the Tibia. - Report of a Case with Findings of Ultrastructural and Immunohistochemical Studies,

A case of tibial adamantinoma in a one-year and ten-month old girl is reported. She had gait disturbance and her roentogenogram showed a well circumscribed radiolucent area in the tibia. Light microscopic examination showed the epithelial component of nests and pseudoglandular arrays in the loose fibrous connective tissue. We finally diagnsed the tumor as adamantinoma of the tibia based on roentogenographical and histological findings. Moreover, the nature of the neoplastic cells was studied by the immunohistochemical and electron microscopic methods. The adamantinoma is regarded as a unique neoplasm capable of differen - tiating into epithelial elements as well as mesenchymal ones . Detection of epithelial component is important to differentiate from similar disorders. The fibrous dysplasia- like lesion in stroma is interpreted as a part of the spectrum of mesenchymal differentiation

An Autopsy Case of Oligodendroglioma with Extracranial Metastases - A Statistical Review of Reported Cases -

An autopsy case of oligodendroglioma with extracranial metastases through blood vessels and cerebro-spinal fluid in a 44-year-old female is reported. Post-mortem examination revealed that the tumor involved the left frontal region, optic chiasma, cauda equina, spinal cord, subarachinoid space and bone (sternum, spine, ribs). Microscopic appearances showed the features of rapid anaplastic transformation. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive neoplastic oligodendrocytes were found in some areas of the honey-comb structure with prominant vascular stromata in recurrent and metastatic lesions. The histogenesis of this tumor may be interpreted as the constant or temporary production of GFAP by neoplastic oligodendrocytes as a sign of reversion to the fetal oligodendroglia without necessarily implying astrocytic hitogenesis. The present case is the second case of oligodendroglioma with extracranial metastases reported in Japan

An Autopsy Case of Carcinosarcoma of the Esophagus

A case of carcinosarcoma, a rare polypoid tumor of the esophagus is presented. The characteristic gross and microscopic features as well as a discussion of the histogenesis of the sarcomatous elements are presented by microscopic, immunohistochemical and electron micronscopic examinations. Immunohistochemically, keratin and EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) were demonstrated in the islands of squamous cell carcinoma within the sarcomatous elements and in the carcinoma in situ at the border of normal mucosa. Vimentin, desmin, actin, myoglobin, factor VIII, S-100 protein, NSE, neuraminidase were not demonstrated in both the carcinomatous and the sarcomatous elements except for a positive reactivity to a-1-antichymotrypsin in the sarcomatous elements at part. It is suggested that the sarcomatous elements are of epithelial origin based on the facts as follows : 1 transition from overlying epithelium or carcinomatous islands to sarcomatous elements existent ; 2 some small tubules were formed within the sarcomatous elements, which showed transition into the sarcomatous elements ; and 3 a part of the sarcomatous elements revealed either positive or weak reactivity to keratin and EMA. Further, weak reactivity to keratin and EMA in the more anaplastic lesion may reflect the lack of tonofilaments and desmosomes in the ultrastructural findings

PTBDにおけるVirtual Fluoroscopic Preprocedural Planningの有用性の検討

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of virtual fluoroscopic preprocedural planning (VFPP) in the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) procedure. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients who were treated by PTBD were included in this study. Twelve patients were treated using PTBD intraoperative referencing coronal computed tomography (CT) images (i.e., coronal CT group), and 10 patients were treated using PTBD intraoperative referencing VFPP images (i.e., VFPP group). To analyze the effect of the intraoperative referencing VFPP image, the VFPP group was retrospectively compared with the coronal CT group. Results: The characteristics of both patient groups were not statistically significantly different. There were no significant differences in the targeted bile duct, diameter and depth of the target bile, breath-holding ability, number of targeted bile duct puncture attempts, change in the targeted bile duct, and exchange of the drainage catheter. However, the X-ray fluoroscopy time and the procedure time were significantly shorter in the VFPP group than in the coronal CT group (196 vs. 334 seconds, P < 0.05; and 16.0 vs. 27.2 minutes, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Intraoperative referencing using the VFPP imaging in PTBD intuitively can be a useful tool for better localization of the guidewire in the bile duct, and therebyshorten the X-ray fluoroscopy time and procedure 1 time while minimizing radiation exposure and complications

Development of a soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission system applicable to 100 µm crystals

A soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission system applicable to 100 µm crystals has been developed

High variability of expression profiles of homeologous genes for Wnt, Hh, Notch, and Hippo signaling pathways in Xenopus laevis

Cell signaling pathways, such as Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), Notch, and Hippo, are essential for embryogenesis, organogenesis, and tissue homeostasis. In this study, we analyzed 415 genes involved in these pathways in the allotetraploid frog, Xenopus laevis. Most genes are retained in two subgenomes called L and S (193 homeologous gene pairs and 29 singletons). This conservation rate of homeologs is much higher than that of all genes in the X. laevis genome (86.9% vs 60.2%). Among singletons, 24 genes are retained in the L subgenome, a rate similar to the average for all genes (82.8% vs 74.6%). In addition, as general components of signal transduction, we also analyzed 32 heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-related genes and eight TLE/Groucho transcriptional corepressors-related genes. In these gene sets, all homeologous pairs have been retained. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq data from developmental stages and adult tissues demonstrated that most homeologous pairs of signaling components have variable expression patterns, in contrast to the conservative expression profiles of homeologs for transcription factors. Our results indicate that homeologous gene pairs for cell signaling regulation have tended to become subfunctionalized after allotetraploidization. Diversification of signaling pathways by subfunctionalization of homeologs may enhance environmental adaptability. These results provide insights into the evolution of signaling pathways after polyploidization

A ^<31>P NMR Study on HIbernating Myocardium

科学研究費補助金研究成果報告書研究種目: 一般研究(B)研究期間: 1989～1991課題番号: 01480246研究代表者: 木之下 正彦（滋賀医科大学・医学部・教授）研究分担者: 三ッ浪 健一（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助教授）研究分担者: 福原 武久（滋賀医科大学・医学部・講師）研究分担者: 高橋 正行（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 蔦本 尚慶（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手

Clinical outcomes for olfactory neuroblastoma

BackgroundOlfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare malignant tumor arising from the olfactory neuroepithelium. The standard of care for ONB is surgical resection; however, detailed treatment protocols vary by institution. Our treatment protocol consists of endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) for endoscopically resectable cases and induction chemotherapy followed by craniotomy combined with ESBS for locally advanced cases, with postoperative radiotherapy performed for all cases. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is performed in unresectable cases. In this study, we evaluate our treatment protocol and outcomes for ONB.MethodsA retrospective review of patients with ONB was conducted. Outcomes included survival outcomes and perioperative data.ResultsFifteen patients (53.6%) underwent ESBS, 12 (42.9%) underwent craniotomy combined with ESBS, and 1 (3.6%) received CRT. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates for all patients were 92.9% and 82.5%, respectively, with a median follow-up period of 81 months. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 77.3% and 70.3%, respectively, and the 5- and 10-year local control rates were 88.2% and 80.2%, respectively. Patients undergoing ESBS demonstrated a significantly shorter operating time, period from operation to ambulation, hospitalization period, and less blood loss than those undergoing craniotomy combined with ESBS.ConclusionOur treatment protocol was found to afford favorable outcomes. Patients who underwent endoscopic resection showed lower complication rates and better perioperative data than those who underwent craniotomy combined with ESBS. With appropriate case selection, ESBS is considered a useful approach for ONB