Mitofusin-2 Promotes the EpithelialMesenchymal Transition-Induced Cervical Cancer Progression

High expression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, has been frequently associated with poor prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Here, we aimed to identify the function of MFN2 in cervical cancer to understand its influence on disease prognosis.To this end, from cervical adenocarcinoma, we performed an MTT assay and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis to assess the effects of MFN2 on the proliferation and of HeLa cells. Then, colony-formation ability and tumorigenesis were evaluated using a tumor xenograft mouse model. The migration ability related to MFN2 was also measured using a wound healing assay. Consequently, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of MFN2-knockdowned HeLa cells originating from adenocarcinoma. markers related to MFN2 were assessed by qRT-PCR. Clinical data were analyzed using cBioPortal and The Cancer Genome Atlas. We found that MFN2 knockdown reduced the proliferation, colony formation ability, migration, and in vivo tumorigenesis of HeLa cells. Primarily, migration of MFN2-knockdowned HeLa cells decreased through the suppression of EMT. Thus, we concluded that MFN2 facilitates cancer progression and in vivo tumorigenesis in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that MFN2 could be a novel target to regulate the EMT program and tumorigenic potential in HeLa cells and might serve as a therapeutic target for cervical cancer. Taken together, this study is expected to contribute to the treatment of patients with cervical cancer.

Sudden Unilateral Blindness and Ophthalmoplegia after Ruptured Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm Surgery: Report of 2 Cases / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

The incidence of unilateral blindness and ophthalmoplegia after aneurysm surgery is very rare, especially in an anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm, but if it occurs, it is mainly caused by intra-operative nerve injury or retinal ischemia. We experienced 2 cases of unilateral blindness immediately after surgery. Both patients were classified into Hunt-Hess grade 1 and Fisher grade 3. Angiographic findings of these patients revealed that the aneurysms were located at the left ACoA. The aneurysms were clipped easily with minimal brain retraction via standard pterional craniotomy. In both cases, injury of the optic nerve during surgery was unlikely. Both patients complained of visual loss with ophthalmoplegia ipsilateral to the site of surgery on the 1st postoperative day and showed evidence of retinal ischemia with central retinal artery occlusion on fundoscopic examination. In our patients, we hypothesize that the complications were most likely related to the intra-orbital ischemia initiated by the collapse of the arterial and venous channels in the orbit and/or to the direct or indirect contusion on the intra-orbital structures. These situations could be produced by inadvertent pressure placed on the eyeball with a bulky retracted frontal skin flap. Visual acuity in both patients ranged from no light perception to finger-counting. Their external ophthalmoplegia had completely disappeared 2 weeks after surgery and visual acuity in one patient began to improve. But in the other patient, the condition was irreversible. The degree of visual recovery seems to be dependent on the duration and severity of retinal ischemia by orbital compression. Unfortunately, there is no satisfactory treatment. We recommend careful surgical manipulation, including the use of an eye shield just before aneurysm surgery to protect the ipsilateral eyeball.

Clinical Analysis of Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage of Initial Negative Angiography / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to reveal the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of initial negative angiography and to find a useful method of follow up angiography through retrospective review. Additional objective was to determine the relationship between the hidden aneurysm and initial Computed Tomography (CT) pattern (i.e. amount and distribution of SAH). METHODS: Among 593 cases of spontaneous SAH performed initial cerebral angiography, 83 (12%) patients did not show any identifiable vascular lesions in initial angiographic studies. Repeated angiographic studies were performed in 67 patients by using transfemoral catheter angiography (TFCA) in 26 patients, CT angiography (CTA) in 39 and Magnetic Resornance (MR) angiography in 2. RESULTS: Ten (15%) out of 67 patients who underwent repeated angiography revealed aneurysms. At the comparison of initial CT scan and repeated angiography, 31 patients had thick layer of blood and 25% of these patients revealed aneurysms on repeated angiography (P=0.05). According to the initial CT pattern, 38 patients had diffuse blood distribution and 23% of these patients revealed aneurysms on repeated angiography (P=0.05). The timing of follow up angiography was 8.5 +/- 6.0 days (mean +/- SD) after ictus and CTA was applied in the earlier period than TFCA. CONCLUSIONS: If initial CT scans show thick layer of SAH or diffuse type of blood distribution in patients with initial negative angiography, repeated angiographic study should be performed to find hidden vascular lesions. CT angiography might be useful in the detection of hidden aneurysm early in the course.

Clinical Analysis of Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage of Initial Negative Angiography / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to reveal the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of initial negative angiography and to find a useful method of follow up angiography through retrospective review. Additional objective was to determine the relationship between the hidden aneurysm and initial Computed Tomography (CT) pattern (i.e. amount and distribution of SAH). METHODS: Among 593 cases of spontaneous SAH performed initial cerebral angiography, 83 (12%) patients did not show any identifiable vascular lesions in initial angiographic studies. Repeated angiographic studies were performed in 67 patients by using transfemoral catheter angiography (TFCA) in 26 patients, CT angiography (CTA) in 39 and Magnetic Resornance (MR) angiography in 2. RESULTS: Ten (15%) out of 67 patients who underwent repeated angiography revealed aneurysms. At the comparison of initial CT scan and repeated angiography, 31 patients had thick layer of blood and 25% of these patients revealed aneurysms on repeated angiography (P=0.05). According to the initial CT pattern, 38 patients had diffuse blood distribution and 23% of these patients revealed aneurysms on repeated angiography (P=0.05). The timing of follow up angiography was 8.5 +/- 6.0 days (mean +/- SD) after ictus and CTA was applied in the earlier period than TFCA. CONCLUSIONS: If initial CT scans show thick layer of SAH or diffuse type of blood distribution in patients with initial negative angiography, repeated angiographic study should be performed to find hidden vascular lesions. CT angiography might be useful in the detection of hidden aneurysm early in the course.