Takeshi Yanagishita

CD109 expression levels in malignant melanoma.

Yoshiki Tokura Department of Dermatology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan *Corresponding author at: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawara, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. Tel.: +81 75 7513310/93 6917445; fax: +81 75 7613002/93 6910907 E-mail address: kaba@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Kenji Kabashima).

Treatment of patients with acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis.

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Barium Promotes Anchorage-Independent Growth and Invasion of Human HaCaT Keratinocytes via Activation of c-SRC Kinase

Explosive increases in skin cancers have been reported in more than 36 million patients with arsenicosis caused by drinking arsenic-polluted well water. This study and previous studies showed high levels of barium as well as arsenic in the well water. However, there have been no reports showing a correlation between barium and cancer. In this study, we examined whether barium (BaCl2) may independently have cancer-related effects on human precancerous keratinocytes (HaCaT). Barium (5–50 µM) biologically promoted anchorage-independent growth and invasion of HaCaT cells in vitro. Barium (5 µM) biochemically enhanced activities of c-SRC, FAK, ERK and MT1-MMP molecules, which regulate anchorage-independent growth and/or invasion. A SRC kinase specific inhibitor, protein phosphatase 2 (PP2), blocked barium-mediated promotion of anchorage-independent growth and invasion with decreased c-SRC kinase activity. Barium (2.5–5 µM) also promoted anchorage-independent growth and invasion of fibroblasts (NIH3T3) and immortalized nontumorigenic melanocytes (melan-a), but not transformed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (HSC5 and A431) and malignant melanoma (Mel-ret) cells, with activation of c-SRC kinase. Taken together, our biological and biochemical findings newly suggest that the levels of barium shown in drinking well water independently has the cancer-promoting effects on precancerous keratinocytes, fibroblast and melanocytes in vitro.

A pilot study to assess the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for Japanese patients with actinic keratosis in relation to lesion size and histological severity

Background/purpose: Topical 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐based photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective for actinic keratosis (AK); few studies have examined Oriental patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of PDT for the treatment of Japanese AK patients classified by lesion size and histological severity.

Local injection of botulinum toxin A for palmar hyperhidrosis: Usefulness and efficacy in relation to severity

Botulinum toxin A is widely used in Europe and the USA for the treatment of localized hyperhidrosis, and its efficacy has been recognized. In this study, botulinum toxin A (Botox) was locally injected at 30 sites (2 U/injection) on the right palm in 27 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis (14 severe patients, 13 mild patients), and the results confirmed the efficacy of injection. The amount of sweat was then quantified for the left and right hands every month after local injection. The quantity of sweat on the treated hand was approximately one‐fifth that on the untreated hand. In addition, the quantity of sweat on the untreated hand decreased slightly. Over time, the quantity of sweat on the treated hand increased slightly, but the quantity of sweat on the treated hand at 6 months after injection was less than half that before injection, and there were significant differences before and after injection. In the present study, severe sweating was defined as 1 mg/cm2/min or more and mild sweating as less than 1 mg/cm2/min, and the therapeutic effects of botulinum toxin A were analyzed in relation to severity. When compared to the mild cases, the quantity of sweat remained higher in the severe cases after botulinum toxin A therapy. Therefore, to achieve satisfactory effects in severe cases, it would be necessary to increase the number of injection sites, as well as injection dose.

Zinc finger protein 28 as a novel melanoma-related molecule

Since melanoma is an aggressive cancer with highly metastatic ability, the increase in its incidence is a threat to public health. Therefore, it is important to find new biomarkers and effective therapies. The c-RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor-tyrosine kinase, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)related ligands, including GDNF, neurturin, artemin and persephin, have been reported to be ligands of RET [1]. RFP-RET is a hybrid oncogene between c-RET and RFP, and its kinase activity is highly up-regulated compared with the activity of c-RET tyrosine kinase [2]. Previously, we established a metallothionein-I/RFP-RETtransgenic mouse of line 304/B6 (RET-mice) [3], in which systemic skin melanosis, benign melanocytic tumor(s) and malignant melanoma stepwise develop [4]. The transgenic mouse line is a powerful tool for analyzing the effects of molecules on melanomagenesis. In fact, we performed DNA microarray analysis for

Therapeutic effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A based on severity of palmar hyperhidrosis

A dose of 60 units (U) of botulinum toxin type A (BT‐A) has been confirmed to have efficacy for patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. However, the effectiveness of this dose is limited in severe cases defined as sweat production of 2 mg/cm2 per min or more (measured by the ventilated capsule method) and a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) grade of 3 or 4. An increased dose of 90 U of BT‐A was found to reduce sweating for approximately 7 months. In a comparison of patients with sweat production of more than 2.5 mg/cm2 per min and an HDSS grade of 4 and patients with sweat production of 2.5 mg/cm2 per min or less and an HDSS grade of 3, there was no difference in the reduction of sweat production at 5 months, but the duration of the reduced sweating was shorter for the former group. This suggests that there are limits to the efficacy of BT‐A for severe forms of the disease with sweat production of more than 2.5 mg/cm2 per mL.

Histological localization of aluminum in topical aluminum chloride treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis

Primary or secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond that required for returning body temperature to normal. It can be focal or generalized and commonly affects the underarms, Al specific binding fluorescence reagent and we investigated the mechanism of the antiperspirant action of AC. Palmar hyperhidorosis patients (n = 127) were topically treated with 20% AC solution without occlusion once a day for 1 month. Collection of subjects from patients was based on informed consent and declaration of Helsinki principles received approval of the ethical committee in Aichi Medical University School of Medicine (No. 11-014). First, sweat production was measured by palms, soles or face [1]. The disease often significantly affects the patient’s quality of life. Treatment options include topical aluminum chloride (AC), iontophoresis, botulinum toxin A, oral anticholinergics, and endoscopic sympathectomy. Topical AC is a well-established therapy for hyperhidrosis and is the first-line therapy for mild to moderate disease [2]. The mechanism of the action of aluminum (Al) salt in the forearm or axilla has been investigated in a few studies [3,4]. However, there has been no report on the mechanism of the antiperspirant action of AC for treatment of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. In this study, we investigated the histological localization of Al for palmar hyperhidorosis by using an

A case of Björnstad syndrome caused by novel compound heterozygous mutations in the BCS1L gene

DEAR EDITOR, Bj€ ornstad syndrome (OMIM 262000) is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by sensorineural deafness and pili torti. Only 39 cases of Bj€ ornstad syndrome have been reported in the English literature and only two cases have been reported in Japan. Thus, the syndrome is an extremely rare inherited disorder. Herein we present a case of Bj€ ornstad syndrome in which novel mutations in the BCS1L gene were identified. A Japanese female aged 2 years and 3 months with no family history of hair and auditory symptoms (Fig. 1a) presented with a 2-year history of sparse hair on the head. Retarded speech development was revealed by medical examination, and a diagnosis of severe sensorineural deafness by auditory brainstem response (ABR) was made by otolaryngology. Physical examination revealed that her scalp hairs were thin and sparse with differing lengths (Fig. 1b, c). Clinical examinations of the skin, mucosae, nails, eyes and teeth revealed no abnormalities. Routine laboratory data

Etretinate enhances the susceptibility of human skin squamous cell carcinoma cells to 5-aminolaevulic acid-based photodynamic therapy

Background.  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (5‐ALA) is a noninvasive and effective treatment for superficial skin cancers. Etretinate, a derivate of vitamin A, with the chemical formula ethyl(2E,4E,6E,8E)‐9‐(4‐methoxy‐2,3,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3,7‐dimethyl‐2,4,6,8‐nona‐tetraenoate, has been reported to have antitumour effects and to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of skin cancers.