Search

Background and Aim: Based on past diagnostic classifications of gastritis, the Kyoto classification of gastritis adopts simpler, more objective gastritis findings according to Helicobacter pylori infection status and evaluates the risk of gastric cancer. To clarify whether this score can predict future gastric cancer, we retrospectively examined risk scores obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis a few years prior to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer., Methods: We reviewed data from 50 individuals who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy 2-3 years prior to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer in our hospital. Two expert endoscopists evaluated and compared risk scores obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis between cancer and control groups., Results: With regard to the risk score obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis in all cases, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, diffuse redness, and total score were significantly higher among gastric cancer cases. Among H. pylori -eradicated cases, atrophy score was higher in the gastric cancer group. Among patients for whom H. pylori had been eradicated for >3 years at first endoscopy, atrophy score was still higher in the gastric cancer group., Conclusion: This retrospective study suggested that the risk score obtained using the Kyoto classification of gastritis was useful for predicting the onset of gastric cancer. In particular, patients with a high atrophy score even after H. pylori eradication may be at high risk of developing gastric cancer., (© 2020 The Authors. JGH Open: An open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Purpose: Pancreatic/gastrointestinal tract neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) is divided into neuroendocrine tumor (NET) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) according to the grade of malignancy, and differences are seen in clinical prognosis. NET, and rectal NET in particular, is often treated endoscopically. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) was previously the main intervention for rectal NET, but EMR with a ligation device (EMR-L) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are now also used. However, complete resection with these therapies is not always achieved. The pocket creation method (PCM) is a safe ESD method for colon tumors that offers a high en bloc resection rate compared with conventional colonic ESD. We performed ESD using the PCM for rectal NET and evaluated the complete resection rate., Methods: We performed ESD using the PCM in 4 patients. This procedure was technically feasible in all patients., Results: Endoscopically, all cases were resected en bloc, and pathological complete resection was achieved in all cases. No complications such as perforation or delayed postoperative bleeding were encountered., Conclusions: PCM should be considered when treating NET of appropriate size.

Background: Although autoimmunity in MRL/lpr mice occurs due to a defect in Fas-mediated cell death of T cells, the role of Fas-independent apoptosis in pathogenesis has rarely been investigated. We have recently reported that receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL)-activated dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in MRL/lpr mice. We here attempted to establish a new therapeutic strategy with RANKL-activated DCs in RA by controlling apoptosis of peripheral T cells. Repeated transfer of RANKL-activated DCs into MRL/lpr mice was tested to determine whether this had a therapeutic effect on autoimmunity., Methods and Finding: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of Fas-independent apoptosis of T cells induced by the DCs were investigated by in vitro and in vivo analyses. We demonstrated that repeated transfers of RANKL-activated DCs into MRL/lpr mice resulted in therapeutic effects on RA lesions and lymphoproliferation due to declines of CD4(+) T, B, and CD4(-)CD8(-) double negative (DN) T cells. We also found that the Fas-independent T-cell apoptosis was induced by a direct interaction between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) on T cells and TRAIL on Fas-deficient DCs in MRL/lpr mice., Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that a novel Fas-independent apoptosis pathway in T cells maintains peripheral tolerance and thus controls autoimmunity in MRL/lpr mice.

We reported here that polyethylene glycol (PEG)-linked manganese pyrochlorophyllide a (PEG-MnPChlide a) possesses remarkable catalytic activity comparable to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The PEG-MnPChlide a catalyzed the oxidation decoloration reaction of C.I. Acid Orange 7 by hydrogen peroxide under a mild aqueous condition, pH 8.0 at 25 degrees C. The manganese pyrochlorophyride a methylester (MnPChlide a ME) dissolved in a Triton X-100 micellar solution also exhibited the catalytic activity, indicating the micellar environment plays an important role in the catalytic reaction. The reaction rate was accelerated by addition of imidazole. The catalytic reactions were analyzed by Michaelis-Menten kinetics, revealing that the higher reactivity of catalyst-substrate complex is responsible for the present catalytic reaction system.

The bone marrow is commonly present in the medullary cavity of long bones in most mammals at birth. In the present study, the persistence of the osseous tissue was examined in the medullary cavities of piglet bones at and after birth. Immediately after birth, medullary cavities of long bones were almost completely filled with the spongy bone. The persisted spongy bone, i.e., medullary bone was prominent in younger pigs but decreased with advance in age. By 90 days of age, the medullary bone almost disappeared to form the extended medullary cavity. During the disappearing process of the medullary bone, osteoclasts showed significant increase in size and number (p less than 0.05). In irregular and flat bones, osseous trabeculae of the medullary bone became slender with age. The extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen was very active till 30 days of age. This may suggest that the persistence of the medullary bone narrows the medullary cavity to cause poor medullary hematopoiesis and is compensated by extramedullary hematopoiesis. The relationship among the medullary bone, extramedullary hematopoiesis and piglet anemia was discussed.