Pulmonary endoplasmic reticulum stress-scars, smoke, and suffocation.

Protein misfolding within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress) can be a cause or consequence of pulmonary disease. Mutation of proteins restricted to the alveolar type II pneumocyte can lead to inherited forms of pulmonary fibrosis, but even sporadic cases of pulmonary fibrosis appear to be strongly associated with activation of the unfolded protein response and/or the integrated stress response. Inhalation of smoke can impair protein folding and may be an important cause of pulmonary ER stress. Similarly, tissue hypoxia can lead to impaired protein homeostasis (proteostasis). But the mechanisms linking smoke and hypoxia to ER stress are only partially understood. In this review, we will examine the role of ER stress in the pathogenesis of lung disease by focusing on fibrosis, smoke, and hypoxia

Retrospective Proteomic Analysis of a Novel, Cancer Metastasis-Promoting RGD-Containing Peptide

Patients who undergo surgical extirpation of a primary liver carcinoma followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy leading to complete remission are nevertheless known to develop cancerous metastases 3–10 years later. We retrospectively examined the blood sera collected over 8 years from 30 patients who developed bone metastases after the complete remission of liver cancer to identify serum proteins showing differential expression compared to patients without remission. We detected a novel RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-containing peptide derived from the C-terminal portion of fibrinogen in the sera of metastatic patients that appeared to control the EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) of cancer cells, in a process associated with miR-199a-3p. The RGD peptide enhanced new blood vessel growth and increased vascular endothelial growth factor levels when introduced into fertilized chicken eggs. The purpose of this study was to enable early detection of metastatic cancer cells using the novel RGD peptide as a biomarker, and thereby develop new drugs for the treatment of metastatic cancer

Glutathione peroxidase activity modulates recovery in the injured immature brain

viii, 381 hal; 22,6 c

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in General Hospitals and Clinics in Japan

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a serious public health problem worldwide. In general, healthcare workers are considered to be at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. However, the prevalence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Japan is not well characterized. In this study, we aimed to examine the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among 2160 healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics that are not designated to treat COVID-19 patients in Japan. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G was 1.2% in August and October 2020 (during and after the second wave of the pandemic in Japan), which is relatively higher than that in the general population in Japan (0.03–0.91%). Because of the higher risk of COVID-19 infection, healthcare workers should be the top priority for further social support and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

限局性前立腺癌に対する高密度焦点式超音波療法:多施設共同研究

限局性前立腺癌に対する高密度焦点式超音波療法の多施設共同研究の成績について報告した.対象は, stageT1-2N0M0の72例の限局性前立腺癌で, 症例の年齢中央値は72歳, 血清PSA中央値は8.10n/mlであった.その結果, 治療効果は全体では1年78%, 2年76%が非再発生存であった.浸潤度別に2年目の生化学的非再発生存率を集計したところ, stage T1cが89%, stage T2a 67%, stage T2bは40%(p=0.0817)であった.悪性度別では, Gleason 2～4群は88%, Gleason 5～7群は72%, Gleason 8～10群は80%(p=0.6539)であった.術前の血清PSA値別2年非再発生存率は, PSAが10ng/ml以下群は75%, 10～20ng/ml群は78%(p=0.6152)であった.術後6ヵ月目の前立腺生検では68%において癌細胞は認められなかった.前立腺体積は, 術前24.2mlから術後6ヵ月目14.0mlと縮小していた(p<0.01).IPSS, 最大尿流量率, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy(FACT)を用いた生活の質項目は術前後に有意な変化は認められなかった.以上, 高密度焦点式超音波療法は, 術前血清PSA値が20ng/ml以下の限局性前立腺癌に対して低侵襲性でかつ有用な治療法だと思われたWe report a multicenter trial with transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. A total of 72 consecutive patients with stage T1c-2NOM0 prostate cancer were treated using the Sonablate 500TM HIFU device (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, USA). Biochemical recurrence was defined according to the criteria recommended by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Consensus Panel. The median age and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level were 72 years and 8.10 ng/ml, respectively. The median follow-up period for all patients was 14.0 months. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in all patients at 1 and 2 years were 78% and 76%, respectively. Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with stage T1c, T2a and T2b groups at 2 years were 89, 67% and 40% (p = 0.0817). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with Gleason scores of 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 at 2 years were 88, 72% and 80% (p = 0.6539). Biochemical disease-free survival rates in patients with serum PSA of less than 10 ng/ml and 10-20 ng/ml were 75% and 78% (p = 0.6152). No viable tumor cells were noted in 68% of patients by postoperative prostate needle biopsy. Prostatic volume was decreased from 24.2 ml to 14.0 ml at 6 months after HIFU (p < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted in International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate and quality of life analysis with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. HIFU therapy appears to be minimally invasive, efficacious and safe for patients with localized prostate cancer with pretreatment PSA levels less than 20 ng/ml