A nomogram to predict the pathological complete response in patients with breast cancer based on the TILs-US score.

BACKGROUND: The tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography score is a calculation system for predicting lymphocyte-predominant breast cancers in surgical specimens. A nomogram based on the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography score was developed to predict the pathological complete response in breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on 118 patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Hiroshima University Hospital. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography scores ≥4 were classified as high. A nomogram was developed using a stepwise logistic regression model for pathological complete response (ypT0 ypN0), based on the smallest Akaike information criterion. The predictive ability and clinical usefulness of the nomogram were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among 118 patients, 34 (28.8%) achieved a pathological complete response, and 52 (44.1%) exhibited high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography (odds ratio, 6.01; P < 0.001), clinical complete response (odds ratio, 4.83; P = 0.004) and hormone receptor (odds ratio, 3.48; P = 0.038) were independent predictors of pathological complete response. A nomogram based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography score, clinical complete response, hormone receptor and clinical N status was developed. The nomogram showed an area under the curve of 0.831 and a bias-corrected area under the curve of 0.809. The calibration plot showed a good fit between the expected and actual pathological complete response values. Decision curve analysis also showed the clinical utility of the nomogram for predicting pathological complete responses. CONCLUSIONS: A nomogram based on the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-ultrasonography score exhibited a favorable predictive ability for pathological complete response in patients with breast cancer, which can be useful in predicting the residual disease status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Follicular lymphoma without lymphadenopathy incidentally diagnosed by sentinel lymph node biopsy during breast cancer surgery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent breast cancer and malignant lymphoma is a rare phenomenon. This report describes malignant lymphoma that was incidentally diagnosed from a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) during breast cancer surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old woman with a history of ovarian cancer and diabetes presented with right focal asymmetric density on a mammogram acquired during routine breast cancer screening. Ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 13.5-mm tumor in the upper lateral region of the right breast. A US-guided Mammotome biopsy revealed invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. Preoperative assessments including positron emission tomography-computerized tomography, found no evidence of axillary lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis. Because the breast cancer was stage I, the patient underwent a right mastectomy and a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at our hospital. Pathological assessment of the biopsy revealed follicular lymphoma (FL), but no metastatic breast cancer. The patient was referred to hematology to stage the FL. Bone marrow findings were negative and stage I FL was diagnosed. After the mastectomy, she was monitored and given adjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Follicular lymphoma was incidentally diagnosed from an SLNB obtained to determine the dissemination of early-stage breast cancer. Collaboration with hematologists is important to determine optimal treatment plans for such patients regardless of the rarity of such events.

Satellite Tracking of Migration Routes of the Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus) in Japan through Sakhalin.

We satellite-tracked the eastern buzzard (Buteo japonicus) wintering in Japan to delineate both northward and southward migration routes, destinations, and stopover behavior. Twenty-two buzzards were captured and fitted with functional platform transmitter terminals. For these buzzards that departed from the capture sites, we observed a total of 65 northward migrations during 2008-2016 and a total of 55 southward migrations during 2008-2015. In spring, the eastern buzzards migrated eastward along the Seto Inland Sea in the Chugoku region or further inland. In eastern Honshu, they followed two different routes. One was to Hokkaido via the Tsugaru Peninsula from central or northern central Honshu northward along the side of the Sea of Japan in northern Honshu. The other was to Hokkaido via the Shimokita Peninsula, mainly from the Pacific Ocean side of northern Honshu, moving eastward through central Honshu. Of the 17 birds tracked, 10 summered in Sakhalin, three in Hokkaido, three in northern Honshu, and one unknown. In autumn, the buzzards retraced their northward migration routes. Of the 14 birds that were tracked the entire southward migration, 13 (92%) returned to their respective capture sites. One juvenile wintered in an area different from the capture site. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the distribution of breeding and wintering grounds and the migration routes of B. japonicus. In addition, the information on migration obtained in this study can contribute toward appropriate environmental impact assessment for wind power facilities in Japan.

Migration Patterns and Characteristics of Eurasian Wigeons (Mareca penelope) Wintering in Southwestern Japan Based on Satellite Tracking.

Understanding migration ecology of Eurasian wigeons (Mareca penelope) is crucial for effective population management, mitigating conflicts with human, and habitat conservation. The objectives of the present study were 1) to determine their migration patterns of Eurasian wigeons in the East Asian flyway, and 2) to identify the key breeding and stopover sites. From 2007 to 2016, a total of the 64 wigeons, which wintered in Japan, were equipped with satellite transmitters. Most Eurasian wigeons migrated to breeding sites in Russia either (a) via a continental route through China, (b) via the Kamchatka Peninsula, or (c) via Sakhalin Island. In spring, many of the Eurasian wigeons (60.98%) migrated via the continental route. In autumn, most Eurasian wigeons (57.14%) migrated through Kamchatka. These differences may be attributable to the influence of Okhotsk Sea air mass on migration decisions due to loop migration. Similarly to the migration of Mallards, Eurasian wigeons employed a "long-stay and short-travel" migration strategy. Eurasian wigeons mainly nested between latitude between 43° to 75°N. From the present findings and the published literature, Eurasian wigeons that winter in Japan are considered to migrate to Russia, China, and the United States during the breeding season, although the main breeding area is in northeastern Russia. A total of 296 important sites to Eurasian wigeons were mapped, and 118 location names with geographic coordinates, and the top five most frequently used sites were identified in each season.

Breast cancer cell motility is promoted by 14-3-3γ.

PURPOSE: Pseudopodia are actin-rich ventral protrusions associated with cell motility and cancer cell invasion. We previously applied our established method of using excimer laser cell etching to isolate pseudopodial proteins from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We later identified 14-3-3γ as an oncogenic molecule among 46 candidate proteins that are specific to pseudopodia. The present study aimed to determine the function of 14-3-3γ in the motility of breast cancer cells. METHODS: MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured on 3-µm porous membranes and double stained to localize 14-3-3γ and phalloidin in pseudopodia using confocal imaging. We assessed pseudopodia numbers and length, as well as migration and wound healing in MDA-MB-231 cells with knockdown and forced expression of 14-3-3γ to determine 14-3-3γ involvement in cell motility. We also immunohistochemically analyzed 14-3-3γ in human breast cancer tissues with high-grade lymphatic invasion. RESULTS: We specifically located 14-3-3γ in pseudopodia of MDA-MB-231 cells. Knockdown and forced expression of 14-3-3γ, respectively, decreased and increased pseudopodial formation and elongation. Migration and wound healing assays also showed that 14-3-3γ knockdown and forced expression, respectively, decreased and increased the number of underside cells and acellular areas in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. More 14-3-3γ was expressed in sites of lymphatic invasion, than in the center and periphery of human breast cancer tissues. CONCLUSION: The role of 14-3-3γ in breast cancer invasiveness might be to promote cell motility. Inhibition of 14-3-3γ could, therefore, become a novel target of therapy to prevent invasion and metastasis in patients with breast cancers expressing 14-3-3γ.

Correction to: Breast cancer cell motility is promoted by 14-3-3γ.

The correct name of the corresponding author should be ''Takahiro Mimae'', and not ''Emiko Hiraoka'' as given in the original publication of the article.

Migration of Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) Wintering in Japan Using Satellite Tracking: Identification of the Eastern Palearctic Flyway.

Migration through the Eastern Palearctic (EP) flyway by tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) has not been thoroughly documented. We satellite-tracked the migration of 16 tundra swans that winter in Japan. The objectives of this study were 1) to show the migration pattern of the EP flyway of tundra swans; 2) to compare this pattern with the migration pattern of whooper swans; and 3) to identify stopover sites that are important for these swans' conservation. Tundra swans were captured at Kutcharo Lake, Hokkaido, in 2009-2012 and satellite-tracked. A new method called the "MATCHED (Migratory Analytical Time Change Easy Detection) method" was developed. Based on median, the spring migration began on 18 April and ended on 27 May. Autumn migration began on 9 September and ended on 2 November. The median duration of the spring and autumn migrations were 48 and 50 days, respectively. The mean duration at one stopover site was 5.5 days and 6.8 days for the spring and autumn migrations, respectively. The number of stopover sites was 3.0 and 2.5 for the spring and autumn migrations, respectively. The mean travel distances for the spring and autumn migrations were 6471 and 6331 km, respectively. Seven migration routes passing Sakhalin, the Amur River, and/or Kamchatka were identified. There were 15, 32, and eight wintering, stopover, and breeding sites, respectively. The migration routes and staging areas of tundra swans partially overlap with those of whooper swans, whose migration patterns have been previously documented. The migration patterns of these two swan species that winter in Japan confirm the importance of the Amur River, Udyl' Lake, Shchastya Bay, Aniva Bay, zaliv Chayvo Lake, zal Piltun Lake, zaliv Baykal Lake, Kolyma River, Buyunda River, Sen-kyuyel' Lake, and northern coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Spring migration routes of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) that winter in Japan, determined from satellite telemetry.

Wild birds, in particular waterfowl, are common reservoirs of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses, and infected individuals could spread the viruses during migrations. We used satellite telemetry to track the spring migration of the mallard ducks ( Anas platyrhynchos ) that winter in Japan. We studied their migration routes, distribution of stopover and breeding sites, and timing of migration movements. We tracked 23 mallards from four different wintering sites. Nine of the 23 mallards reached presumable breeding sites, where migration terminated. The migration routes of the birds greatly differed not only among the wintering sites but also within the same wintering site, although the general feature of the routes was shared among birds within the same wintering site. The mallards used several stopover sites, and they typically stayed for a long period (about one to four weeks) at a site between migration intervals of two to three days. Stopover sites were located in northeast Japan, the eastern coastline of South Korea and North Korea, and the interior of Far Eastern Russia. Mallards from three different wintering sites used a stopover area near the middle part of the Ussuri river in Russia. The terminal sites, which were presumably also breeding sites, were distributed widely over northeast Asia and Far Eastern Russia. These results suggest that mallards that winter in Japan originate from breeding areas widely distributed across eastern Asia. Mallards could potentially transmit avian influenza viruses between Japan and a broad region of northeastern Asia.