Resovist-Enhanced MRI for Preoperative Assessment of Colorectal Hepatic Metastases: A Case of Multiple Bile Duct Hamartomas Associated with Colon Cancer

Extensive preoperative assessment of hepatic metastases is required in colon cancer patients. We report a case in whom the preoperative investigation by ultrasound scan and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed numerous cystic lesions of the liver, suspicious of von Meyenburg complex. Magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance cholangiographic images demonstrated typical features of von Meyenburg complex. Further Resovist-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging detected two hemangiomas in addition to the multiple cystic lesions. So-called Kupffer cell imaging strongly helped the detection of these hemangiomas, and a combination of various magnetic resonance pulse sequences was of great value for the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions and hemangiomas. In cases in whom conventional imaging studies fail to give a definite diagnosis, such as in the present case, superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is meaningful for adequate preoperative staging

人と海 : 日生のアマモ場再生から見る海洋保全活動

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : （主査）東京大学准教授 関谷 雄一, 東京大学教授 森山 工, 東京大学准教授 永田 淳嗣, 東京大学名誉教授 木村 秀雄, 大阪樟蔭女子大学非常勤講師 關野 伸之, 中央水産研究所グループ長 牧野 光琢University of Tokyo(東京大学

Thermal behaviour of zircon/zirconia-added chemically durable borosilicate porous glass

Macroporous alkali resistant glass has been developed by making additions of zirconia (ZrO2) and zircon (ZrSiO4) to the sodium borosilicate glass system SiO2–B2O3 Na2O. The glass was made using a traditional high temperature fusion process. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was carried out to identify the glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallisation temperature (Tx). Based on these findings, controlled heat-treatments were implemented to separate the glass into two-phases; a silica-rich phase, and an alkali-rich borate phase. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify any crystal phases present in the asquenched and heat-treated glasses. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy also proved effective in investigating phase separation and crystallisation behaviour. After leaching, a silica-rich skeleton with an interconnected pore structure and a uniform pore distribution was observed. Pore characterisation was carried out using mercury porosimetry. The size and shape of the pores largely depended on the heattreatment temperature and time. ZrO2/ZrSiO4 additions increased the alkali resistance of the porous glass 3–4 times

Estimating spatial variation in the effects of climate change on the net primary production of Japanese cedar plantations based on modeled carbon dynamics

Spatiotemporal prediction of the response of planted forests to a changing climate is increasingly important for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. In this study, we present a methodology for estimating spatially varying productivity in a planted forest and changes in productivity with a changing climate in Japan, with a focus on Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) as a representative tree species of this region. The process-based model Biome-BGC was parameterized using a plant trait database for Japanese cedar and a Bayesian optimization scheme. To compare productivity under historical (1996–2000) and future (2096–2100) climatic conditions, the climate scenarios of two representative concentration pathways (i.e., RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) were used in five global climate models (GCMs) with approximately 1-km resolution. The seasonality of modeled fluxes, namely gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, net ecosystem exchange, and soil respiration, improved after two steps of parameterization. The estimated net primary production (NPP) of stands aged 36–40 years under the historical climatic conditions of the five GCMs was 0.77 ± 0.10 kgC m-2 year-1 (mean ± standard deviation), in accordance with the geographical distribution of forest NPP estimated in previous studies. Under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the mean NPP of the five GCMs increased by 0.04 ± 0.07 and 0.14 ± 0.11 kgC m-2 year-1, respectively. The increases in annual NPP were small in the southwestern region because of the decreases in summer NPP and the small increases in winter NPP under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. Under the RCP2.6 scenario, Japanese cedar was at risk in the southwestern region, in accordance with previous studies, and monitoring and silvicultural practices should be modified accordingly

Chloroquine potentiates the anti-cancer effect of 5-fluorouracil on colon cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chloroquine (CQ), the worldwide used anti-malarial drug, has recently being focused as a potential anti-cancer agent as well as a chemosensitizer when used in combination with anti-cancer drugs. It has been shown to inhibit cell growth and/or to induce cell death in various types of cancer. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the chemotherapeutic agent of first choice in colorectal cancer, but in most cases, resistance to 5-FU develops through various mechanisms. Here, we focused on the combination of CQ as a mechanism to potentiate the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on human colon cancer cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HT-29 cells were treated with CQ and/or 5-FU, and their proliferative ability, apoptosis and autophagy induction effects, and the affection of the cell cycle were evaluated. The proliferative ability of HT-29 was analyzed by the MTS assay. Apoptosis was quantified by flow-cytometry after double-staining of the cells with AnnexinV/PI. The cell cycle was evaluated by flow-cytometry after staining of cells with PI. Autophagy was quantified by flow-cytometry and Western blot analysis. Finally, to evaluate the fate of the cells treated with CQ and/or 5-FU, the colony formation assay was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>5-FU inhibited the proliferative activity of HT-29 cells, which was mostly dependent on the arrest of the cells to the G0/G1-phase but also partially on apoptosis induction, and the effect was potentiated by CQ pre-treatment. The potentiation of the inhibitory effect of 5-FU by CQ was dependent on the increase of p21^Cip1and p27^Kip1and the decrease of CDK2. Since CQ is reported to inhibit autophagy, the catabolic process necessary for cell survival under conditions of cell starvation or stress, which is induced by cancer cells as a protective mechanism against chemotherapeutic agents, we also analyzed the induction of autophagy in HT-29. HT-29 induced autophagy in response to 5-FU, and CQ inhibited this induction, a possible mechanism of the potentiation of the anti-cancer effect of 5-FU.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that the combination therapy with CQ should be a novel therapeutic modality to improve efficacy of 5-FU-based chemotherapy, possibly by inhibiting autophagy-dependent resistance to chemotherapy.</p

Immunohistological analysis of pancreatic carcinoma after vaccination with survivin 2B peptide: Analysis of an autopsy series.

当教室では本学消化器・総合，乳腺・内分泌外科および東京大学医科学研究所，神奈川県立がんセンターと共同で有効な治療法のない進行膵臓がん患者にサバイビン2Bペプチドワクチンを用いた無作為化二重盲検群間比較試験を行った．本研究では上記の臨床試験参加者に対して施行された病理解剖組織検体を用いて腫瘍微小環境における免疫学的効果の判定を目的として，対照群を含む13例（うち7例がワクチン投与群）の病理解剖検体組織を用いて腫瘍組織局所における各種の免疫細胞浸潤の評価した