Masaharu Takeuchi

Are human herpes viruses or measles virus associated with esophageal achalasia

In order to test the hypothesis that esophageal achalasia may be due to neurotropic viral damage to the esophageal myenteric plexus, esophageal tissue with or without achalasia was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of human herpes virus DNA or measles virus RNA. The DNA and RNA were extracted from the esophageal muscle of 12 patients with achalasia and six patients with upper esophageal carcinoma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from eight adult volunteers and two samples of umbilical blood mononuclear cells were also used as controls. PCR amplification with a pair of primers specific for herpes simplex type 1 and 2 viruses identified 92-bp fragments in nearly all specimens, including those without achalasia. Each 92-bp fragment was confirmed to be identical to a single herpes simplex virus sequence by automated DNA sequence analysis. No amplification for five other herpes viruses or measles virus was detected. Therefore, a specific viral etiology for achalasia was not identified in this study.

Telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent liver tissues

Activation of telomerase and stabilization of telomeres are considered necessary for immortalization of tumor cells. Telomerase activity was analyzed in 69 hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent chronic liver disease tissues. The telomerase activity level was examined in relation to clinicopathologic features.

Frequent Detection of Hepatitis B Virus X-Gene DNA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Adjacent Liver Tissue in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Negative Patients

Hepatitis B virus is associated with humanhepatocellular carcinoma. We performed polymerase chainreaction for the X, C, S, and preS2/S regions of theviral genome in 23 hepatitis B surface antigen-negative hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver.Hepatitis B viral genomes were detected in 17 of 23tumors and adjacent tissues (73.9%). Among recognizedtransactivators, the X gene was present in 16 (69.6%) cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, but preS2/Swas detected in only 7 (30.4%). Hepatitis B virus C andS regions were detected in 3 (13.0%) and 9 (39.1%)hepatocellular carcinomas, respectively. Serologic study revealed antibodies to hepatitis Bsurface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, and hepatitisB e antigen in 14 patients; among these, X-gene DNA wasdetected in 12 of 14 tumors (85.7%). The X gene was also detected in 4 of 9 tumors ofseronegative patients. The X gene, present in manyhepatocellular carcinomas, may promote hepatocellularcarcinoma in hepatitis B surface antigen-negativepatients.

Hepatocyte growth factor gene transfer with naked plasmid DNA ameliorates dimethylnitrosamine‐induced liver fibrosis in rats

Aim:  Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has various biological properties, including antifibrogenic activity. In the present study, we tested the efficacy of HGF gene therapy using naked plasmid DNA in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)‐induced liver fibrosis in a rat model.

Synovial Sarcoma of the Esophagus : Report of a Case

Synovial sarcomas are exceedingly rare neoplasms of the digestive tract. We herein report a case of a synovial sarcoma occurring in the esophagus of a 20-year-old man. He had a history of acute lymphocytic leukemia and had undergone aggressive chemotherapy between the ages of 4 and 8 years. The tumor, which was large and extended into the upper mediastinum, was successfully resected without an esophagectomy via the cervical approach. After postoperative radiation and chemotherapy, the patient remained healthy, without any evidence of disease 20 months after the operation.

HVJ-liposome mediated gene transfer into hepatocytes in vivo

BACKGROUND/AIMS The efficient transduction of appropriate target cells will be critical for gene therapy. We evaluated the suitability of hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome-mediated gene transfer for gene therapy of liver diseases. METHODS The Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene was introduced into rat liver by HVJ-liposome to examine gene transfer efficacy and persistence of expression with or without partial hepatectomy prior to transfection. RESULTS About 30% of hepatocytes were transduced after portal vein injection. Gene expression was transient, with only 2% of hepatocytes expressing beta-gal after 4 weeks. However, partial hepatectomy performed 24 h prior to injection resulted in persistently high levels of beta-gal for 4 weeks after injection. A 247-bp beta-gal polymerase chain reaction fragment transcript was detected in livers of transfected rats, but not in livers of control rats. The rat livers following gene transfer were histologically normal, and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase was not found to be elevated in rats. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that HVJ-liposome-mediated gene transfer produced high gene transduction and persistent gene expression in the liver.