Suguru Fukahori

Overexpression of the myc target gene Mina53 in advanced renal cell carcinoma

The myc target gene Mina53 was reported to be overexpressed in esophageal cancer with a poor prognosis. The purpose of the present study was to examined Mina53 expression and its relationship to clinicopathological parameters in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Mina53 and Ki‐67 expression was examined on immunohistochemistry for 64 surgically resected RCC and non‐cancerous tissue. In addition, the relationship between Mina53 expression and clinicopathological prognostic factors of RCC such as age, stage, microvenous invasion (MVI), histological subtype, Ki‐67 labeling index (LI), and prognosis, was examined. Mina53 was expressed in the nuclei of tumor cells and tubular nuclei of normal renal tissue. The expression level of Mina53 was significantly higher in patients with poor prognostic factors (stage IV, MVI‐positive, and sarcomatoid RCC, and high Ki‐67 LI). The prognosis of high Mina53‐expressing tumors was significantly poorer than that of non‐Mina53‐high tumors (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, Mina53 is overexpressed in RCC tissue from patients with poor prognostic factors, suggesting that Mina53 overexpression is one of the factors for poor prognosis in RCC.

Growth inhibitory effects of pegylated IFN α‐2b on human liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Abstract: Purpose: We investigated the effects of pegylated IFN‐α2b (PEG‐IFN‐α2b) on the growth of human liver cancer cells.

Growth inhibitory effects of interferon-α subtypes vary according to human liver cancer cell lines

Background:  Interferon (IFN)‐α preparations used in the treatment of viral and neoplastic disease consist of single or multiple IFN‐α subtypes that may possess different biological activity, but there are no data on liver cancer cells.

Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Liver Accompanied by a Daughter Nodule: Report of a Case

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver (MHL) is an uncommon benign tumor found primarily in children younger than 2 years of age. We report a rare case of MHL with a daughter nodule and atypical histological findings in a 14-month-old girl. On admission, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography showed a solid hypovascular mass with a central cystic area in the liver. Laparotomy revealed a tumor, 8 cm in size, occupying segment 5 and parts of segments 4 and 6 of the liver, and a small nodule, 10 mm in size, in segment 7. Thus, we performed a partial hepatic resection (S4–6) and tumor extirpation (S7). The histological findings of both tumors were the same, but atypical of MHL. Recent studies on the pathogenesis of this tumor have found neoplastic features such as genetic anomalies and malignant transformation. These findings suggest that the conventional approach of completely resecting the tumor whenever possible is the best treatment.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication mainly reduces the volume of acid reflux and potentially improves mucosal integrity up to the middle esophagus in neurologically impaired children detected by esophageal combined pH–multichannel intraluminal impedance measurements

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate detailed changes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children before and after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) utilizing esophageal combined pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH/MII) measurements. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirteen patients with neurological impairment, who received laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) owing to refractory pathological GERD, were enrolled in this study. 24h pH/MII was conducted in all patients before and one year after LNF. Each parameter of the pH/MII was evaluated and compared each other. RESULTS Both the mean pH index and bolus exposure index after LNF were significantly lower than those before LNF. The mean numbers of total and nonacid reflux episodes after LNF were significantly lower than those before LNF. The mean numbers of total, acid and nonacid proximal reflux episodes after LNF were significantly lower than those before LNF. The mean baseline impedance values from Z3 to Z6 after LNF were significantly higher than those before LNF. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides new insights into the effects of LNF in pediatric patients, which prevents mainly acid reflux episodes from rising to the proximal esophagus, and is expected to improve the mucosal integrity up to the middle esophagus.

Clinical Efficacy of Herbal Medicine for Pediatric Lymphatic Malformations: A Pilot Study

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that commonly affect the head and neck region and cause marked cosmetic and functional complications. In this pilot study, we present eight children with LMs treated using an herbal medicine for this indication.

Thoracic Lymphangiomatosis with Massive Chylothorax After a Tumor Biopsy and with Disseminated Intravenous Coagulation-Lymphoscintigraphy, an Alternative Minimally Invasive Imaging Technique : Report of a Case

Thoracic lymphangiomatosis in childhood is a rare disorder that frequently has poor response to medical therapy as well as a poor prognosis. This disease is often misdiagnosed, and a definitive diagnosis is usually delayed because of the rarity and slow course of the disease. No previous reports have so far described the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of lymphangiomatosis, although some authors have reported the efficacy of lymphoscintigraphy for evaluating chylothorax. A 6-year-old boy presented with a diffuse mediastinal mass and received an open mediastinal biopsy for a definitive diagnosis, which led to the occurrence of massive chylothorax postoperatively. A diagnosis of lymphangiomatosis was finally made based on the lymphoscintigraphic findings demonstrating an obstruction of the thoracic duct. This report describes a rare case of thoracic lymphangiomatosis diagnosed at autopsy, and suggests that the minimally invasive technique of lymphoscintigraphy should be employed to obtain a definitive diagnosis at an early stage.

A baseline impedance analysis in neurologically impaired children: A potent parameter for estimating the condition of the esophageal mucosa

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the baseline impedance (BI) value is a useful parameter to evaluate the condition of the esophageal mucosa in neurologically impaired (NI) children undergoing multichannel intraluminal impedance pH measurements (pH/MII).

The utility of a phase angle analysis in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities

PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether evaluating the phase angle (PhA), in a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is useful for estimating the nutritional status of severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 31 SMID patients (mean age: 33.9±13.5years, median age: 29years (range: 18-58years), male/female: 23/8). First, each of the parameters from the total study population and the male and female SMID patients were compared with those of healthy Asian subjects. Second, correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between the PhA and the other BIA parameters (appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), appendicular muscle mass (AMM), extracellular water (ECW)/total body water (TBW)) as well as subjective global assessment and serum nutritional markers. Finally, all patients were divided into 2 groups according to their albumin (Alb) (<3.5 or ≥3.5) values and PhA of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS The mean PhA and ASMI were a considerably low, whereas ECW/TBW was considerably high in comparison to the healthy Asian subjects. Significant negative correlations were observed between the PhA and ECW/TBW, whereas there were significant positive correlations between PhA and AMM, ASMI, total protein and albumin levels. Furthermore, PhA of Alb ≥3.5 group was significantly higher than that of Alb <3.5 group. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicated that SMID patients demonstrate the low PhA, which were similar to sarcopenia and a certain proportion of them also potentially have nutritional disturbances.

Fecoflowmetric analysis of anorectal motor function in postoperative anal-preserving surgery patients with low rectal cancer comparison with the wexner score and anorectal manometry.

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether fecoflowmetry (FFM) could evaluate more detailed evacuative function than anorectal manometry by comparing between FFM or anorectal manometric findings and the clinical questionnaires and the types of surgical procedure in the patients who received anal-preserving surgery. Fifty-three patients who underwent anal-preserving surgery for low rectal cancer were enrolled. The relationships between FFM or the manometric findings and the clinical questionnaires and the types of procedure of anal-preserving surgery were evaluated. There were significant differences between FFM markers and the clinical questionnaire and the types of the surgical procedure, whereas no significant relationship was observed between the manometric findings and the clinical questionnaire and the types of the surgical procedure. FFM might be feasible and useful for the objective assessment of evacuative function and may be superior to manometry for patients undergoing anal-preserving surgery.