Histology of metastatic colorectal cancer in a lymph node.

BACKGROUND: A primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor can contain heterogeneous cancer cells. As clones of cells with different properties metastasize to lymph nodes (LNs), they could show different morphologies. Cancer histologies in LNs of CRC remains to be described. METHODS: Our study enrolled 318 consecutive patients with CRC who underwent primary tumor resection with lymph node dissection between January 2011 and June 2016. 119 (37.4%) patients who had metastatic LNs (mLNs) were finally included in this study. Cancer histologies in LNs were classified and compared with pathologically diagnosed differentiation in the primary lesion. The association between histologies in lymph node metastasis (LNM) and prognosis in patients with CRC was investigated. RESULTS: The histologies of the cancer cells in the mLNs were classified into four types: tubular, cribriform, poorly differentiated, and mucinous. Same degree of pathologically diagnosed differentiation in the primary tumor produced various histological types in LNM. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, prognosis was worse in CRC patients with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma who had at least some mLN also showing cribriform carcinoma than for those whose mLNs all showed tubular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Histology in LNM from CRC might indicate the heterogeneity and malignant phenotype of the disease.

Nanomechanical DNA origami pH sensors.

Single-molecule pH sensors have been developed by utilizing molecular imaging of pH-responsive shape transition of nanomechanical DNA origami devices with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Short DNA fragments that can form i-motifs were introduced to nanomechanical DNA origami devices with pliers-like shape (DNA Origami Pliers), which consist of two levers of 170-nm long and 20-nm wide connected at a Holliday-junction fulcrum. DNA Origami Pliers can be observed as in three distinct forms; cross, antiparallel and parallel forms, and cross form is the dominant species when no additional interaction is introduced to DNA Origami Pliers. Introduction of nine pairs of 12-mer sequence (5'-AACCCCAACCCC-3'), which dimerize into i-motif quadruplexes upon protonation of cytosine, drives transition of DNA Origami Pliers from open cross form into closed parallel form under acidic conditions. Such pH-dependent transition was clearly imaged on mica in molecular resolution by AFM, showing potential application of the system to single-molecular pH sensors.

Formation of 1D and 2D gold nanoparticle arrays by divalent DNA-gold nanoparticle conjugates.

Divalent DNA-AuNP (gold nanoparticle) conjugates comprising two DNA strands at diametrically opposed positions are prepared. Highly linear 1D and tetragonal lattice-like 2D AuNP arrays are constructed using the conjugates and DNA assemblies based on T- and double-crossover motifs and the Holliday junction.

[A case of gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases and spleen metastasis that responded to low-dose CDDP/TS-1 combination therapy].

Since the introduction of TS-1 for clinical treatment of the progression or recurrence of stomach cancer, the effectiveness of combination therapy incorporating other agents with CDDP has been reported. Low-dose CDDP/TS-1 combination treatment was carried out in a case of Stage IV progressive stomach cancer showing multiple liver metastases and spleen metastasis. Regression of the primary carcinoma and reduction in size of liver metastases and spleen metastasis were observed. Grade 2 leukocyte decrease and grade 1 stomatitis were noted as adverse reactions to the treatment. Low-dose CDDP/TS-1 combination therapy was useful in this case of advanced gastric cancer.

Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate inhibits excess activation of Kupffer cell function induced by endotoxin.

The effect and mechanism of action of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) on Kupffer cell activation were studied in vitro. Kupffer cell was activated by isolation procedure alone from the hepatic tissue. In cultured rat Kupffer cells stimulated by endotoxin, treatment with 5-20 mM FBP not only preserved phagocytic activity, but also inhibited secretion of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-1beta) and production of nitric oxide (NOx). Moreover, treatment with 10 mM FBP suppressed the elevation in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration on Kupffer cells stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which suggested that this effect may be one of the agents that limit the activation of Kupffer cells. The administration of FBP was effective in the prevention of endotoxin-induced hepatopathy, and we suggest that this may have useful clinical applications.