Chie Takasu

Homing effect of adipose-derived stem cells to the injured liver: the shift of stromal cell-derived factor 1 expressions

Whether systemically transplanted human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) homed to the injured liver in nude mice under stress with subsequent hepatectomy (Hx) and ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) was investigated in the present study. The types of cells in the liver that were involved in the homing of ADSCs were clarified, with focus on the stromal‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1)/C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR‐4) axis.

Specific miRNA expression profiles of non‐tumor liver tissue predict a risk for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma

It is reasonable to investigate non‐tumor liver tissues to predict a risk for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A molecular analysis of chronically damaged liver tissues may identify specific miRNA expression profiles associated with a risk for multicentric (MC) HCC.

Senescence-related genes possibly responsible for poor liver regeneration after hepatectomy in elderly patients.

Liver regeneration likely decreases with age by an, as yet, incompletely understood mechanism, restricting the extent of hepatectomy. We therefore analyzed the effect of aging on liver regeneration and investigated mechanisms associate with poor regeneration of human liver.

Characteristics of internal hernia after gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer.

BackgroundAlthough the internal hernias have been a huge topic in the field of bariatric surgery, there were a few reports in gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence, clinical features, and prevention of internal hernia after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.MethodsTwelve patients who underwent surgical treatment for internal hernia in our hospital after gastrectomy were analyzed. Features, including incidence, symptoms, and signs, were investigated in detail.ResultsThe operative procedures for preceding gastrectomies were open distal gastrectomy in three patients, open total gastrectomy in three patients, laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy in two patients, and laparoscopic total gastrectomy in four patients. The most frequent sites of internal hernias were jejunojejunostomy mesenteric defects (five patients) and Petersen’s defect (five patients), mesenterium of transverse colon (one patient), and esophagus hiatus (one patient). There was no significant difference between open and laparoscopic preceding gastrectomies. After closure of the mesenteric defect was introduced, no further internal hernias occurred. On CT examination, the whirl sign was present in ten patients on 3D images.ConclusionsThe present data suggest the importance of early recognition and treatment of internal hernia, as well as its prevention by closure of mesenteric defects.

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor augments radiotherapeutic efficacy in experimental colorectal cancer

PURPOSES A lot of radiosensitizers have been developed. However, there are few to be available in the clinical setting. Thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (TPI) regulates the phosphorolysis of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxy-d-ribose-1-phosphate which is essential for tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether TPI augments the radiotherapy for colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cytotoxicity of TPI with irradiation on HT29 and HCT116 cells was examined using MTT- and colony formation assay. At 10days post-inoculation, HT29 bearing orthotopic model mice (n=28) were divided into four groups and orally treated with TPI- (50mg/kg/day for 2weeks), radiation (RT, 2Gy×4: Total 8Gy), their combination or the vehicle. The mechanisms underlying the efficacy were assessed genomically and immunohistochemically. RESULTS Compared to each single treatment, the combination of TPI and RT synergistically inhibited the cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In the HT-29 bearing mice, the combination of TPI and RT reduced the tumor growth compared with RT alone. Notably, the mRNA levels of VEGF, TGF-β and, Rad51 and the protein expressions of VEGF and CD34 were significantly lower in the combination than the others. Furthermore, the combination markedly increased the TUNEL-positive cells, suggesting that TPI augments the cancer cell death through inhibition of angiogenesis and DNA repair system in the radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our study first demonstrated that the combination of TPI and irradiation was effective in colon cancer. TPI would provide a promising therapeutic strategy as a radiosensitizer.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related genes are linked to aggressive local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation

We reported that poor prognoses of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are owing to up-regulation of expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule. We investigated aggressive progression in residual liver tumors (RLTs) after RFA to focus on expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and miRNAs. Ten patients with recurrent HCC post-RFA who underwent hepatectomy (RFA group) and 78 patients with HCC without prior RFA (non-RFA group) were enrolled. We examined expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, Twist, vimentin, and Snail-1 mRNAs in tumor tissues, and expression of miR-34a and miR-200c. Expression of TGF-β, Twist and Snail-1 in the RFA group was significantly higher than that in the non-RFA group (P < 0.05); vimentin expression in the RFA group was higher than that in the non-RFA group (P = 0.07). Expression of miR-200c and miR-34a in the RFA group was significantly lower than that in the non-RFA group (miR-200c: P = 0.04; miR-34a: P < 0.01). Increased expression of EMT markers through down-regulation of miRNA expression in RLTs after RFA may be related to poor prognoses of HCC patients with aggressive local recurrence after RFA.

The role of Fbxw7 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent non‐tumor liver tissue

Fbxw7 is a tumor suppressor gene through ubiquitination and degradation of multiple oncoproteins. Loss of Fbxw7 expression is frequently observed in various human cancers. In the present study, we examined the role of Fbxw7 expression in both non‐tumor liver tissues and tumor tissues on clinicopathological significance.

Visualization and hypervascularization of the haemorrhoidal plexus in vivo using power Doppler imaging transanal ultrasonography and three-dimensional power Doppler angiography

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the distribution of haemorrhoidal arteries and the relationship between vascularity and growth of haemorrhoids.

Duodenal–jejunal bypass improves diabetes and liver steatosis via enhanced glucagon‐like peptide‐1 elicited by bile acids

Bariatric surgery not only elicits weight loss but also rapidly resolves diabetes. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. The present study investigates how diabetes and liver steatosis are improved after duodenal–jejunal bypass (DJB) compared with a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analog and correlations between bile acids and GLP‐1 secretion.

Benefits of simultaneous laparoscopic resection of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Recently, consensus on the optimal strategy for resectable synchronous colorectal liver metastases (LM) seems to have shifted toward simultaneous resection. However, there are still relatively few reports about simultaneous laparoscopic resection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic resection.