Kanazawa Medical University

About: Kanazawa Medical University is a education organization based out in Kanazawa, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 3103 authors who have published 6322 publications receiving 144592 citations. The organization is also known as: Kanazawa ika daigaku.

Significance of molecular classification of ependymomas: C11orf95-RELA fusion-negative supratentorial ependymomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors

Abstract: Extensive molecular analyses of ependymal tumors have revealed that supratentorial and posterior fossa ependymomas have distinct molecular profiles and are likely to be different diseases. The presence of C11orf95-RELA fusion genes in a subset of supratentorial ependymomas (ST-EPN) indicated the existence of molecular subgroups. However, the pathogenesis of RELA fusion-negative ependymomas remains elusive. To investigate the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors and validate the molecular classification of ependymal tumors, we conducted thorough molecular analyses of 113 locally diagnosed ependymal tumors from 107 patients in the Japan Pediatric Molecular Neuro-Oncology Group. All tumors were histopathologically reviewed and 12 tumors were re-classified as non-ependymomas. A combination of RT-PCR, FISH, and RNA sequencing identified RELA fusion in 19 of 29 histologically verified ST-EPN cases, whereas another case was diagnosed as ependymoma RELA fusion-positive via the methylation classifier (68.9%). Among the 9 RELA fusion-negative ST-EPN cases, either the YAP1 fusion, BCOR tandem duplication, EP300-BCORL1 fusion, or FOXO1-STK24 fusion was detected in single cases. Methylation classification did not identify a consistent molecular class within this group. Genome-wide methylation profiling successfully sub-classified posterior fossa ependymoma (PF-EPN) into PF-EPN-A (PFA) and PF-EPN-B (PFB). A multivariate analysis using Cox regression confirmed that PFA was the sole molecular marker which was independently associated with patient survival. A clinically applicable pyrosequencing assay was developed to determine the PFB subgroup with 100% specificity using the methylation status of 3 genes, CRIP1, DRD4 and LBX2. Our results emphasized the significance of molecular classification in the diagnosis of ependymomas. RELA fusion-negative ST-EPN appear to be a heterogeneous group of tumors that do not fall into any of the existing molecular subgroups and are unlikely to form a single category.

Urinary β2-microglobulin Concentration and Mortality in a Cadmium-polluted Area

Abstract: A 9-y follow-up study of 3,178 persons who lived in a cadmium-polluted area was conducted to assess the influence of environmental cadmium exposure on long-term outcome. The standardized mortality ratios of the urinary beta 2-microglobulin-positive subjects (> 1,000 micrograms/g creatinine) of both sexes were higher than those of the general Japanese population, whereas the cumulative survival curves were lower than those of the urinary beta 2-microglobulin-negative group. A significant association was also found between urinary beta 2-microglobulin and mortality, using a Cox's proportional hazards model. Moreover, mortality rates increased in proportion to increases in the amount of urinary beta 2-microglobulin excreted. These results suggest that the prognosis for cadmium-exposed subjects with proximal tubular dysfunction is unfavorable. The mortality rate tended to become higher as the severity of renal dysfunction progressed.

Lactate, choline, and creatine levels measured by vitro 1H‐MRS as prognostic parameters in patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer

Abstract: Purpose To determine the biochemical characteristics of lung cancer tissue using in vitro 1H-MRS, and investigate the correlation between survival probabilities and lactate (Lac), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho) concentrations measured by in vitro 1H-MRS. Materials and Methods A total of 21 patients with lung cancer were included in this retrospective study. 1H-MRS spectra measurements were performed at 6.35T using a JNM-EX270, high-resolution FT-NMR spectrometer. Results When normal lung tissue was compared with lung cancer tissue, significant differences were noted most consistently in the levels of Lac and Cho, with lung cancer tissue showing higher values than normal lung tissue. Lac concentrations of lung cancer tissue were significantly higher in patients with recurrence compared to patients without recurrence (0.285 ± 0.096 μmol/g). The mean overall survival of patients in the low-Lac group was 50.28 ± 6.47 months, which is significantly higher compared to the high-Lac group, which had a mean survival time of only 30.49 ± 5.41 months. Conclusion Kaplan-Meier analysis of the data showed that the overall and disease-free survival probabilities were significantly higher in patients with low tumor Lac values than in those with high tumor Lac concentrations. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure in Normotensive NIDDM Subjects: Its Relationship to Microvascular Complications

Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between circadian rhythm of mean blood pressure (MBP) and microvascular complications in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects. Research Design and Methods Seventy-six normotensive NIDDM subjects without azotemia were studied under ordinary hospital conditions with a noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device. Time series data were analyzed by the cosinor method. Results Fifty-four subjects had a circadian MBP rhythm similar to that of 34 age-matched nondiabetic control subjects, with a peak value in the afternoon (group 1). In contrast, 22 had a reversed circadian MBP rhythm, with a peak value during the night (group 2). Obvious complications were found in 65% of group 1 and in all of group 2. The prevalence of retinopathy and somatic neuropathy and the degree of retinopathy were similar in the two groups. The prevalence and degree of autonomic neuropathy (postural hypotension and reduced beat-to-beat heart-rate variation) and nephropathy were greater in group 2 than group 1. Linear discriminant analysis revealed a correlation between the reversed circadian MBP rhythm and postural hypotension ( F = 32.2, P F = 5.1, P F = 0.17, NS). Conclusions These results suggest that in the hospitalized normotensive NIDDM subjects, there are normal and reversed circadian MBP rhythms and that the reversal of normal circadian MBP rhythm may be related to the degree of postural hypotension and/or nephropathy.

More than 10-year follow-up after total en bloc spondylectomy for spinal tumors.

Abstract: There are many reports of en bloc resection for spinal tumors. However, no studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes with follow-up exceeding 10 years after surgery. We reviewed 82 patients who had undergone total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) before January 2002 and identified 29 (19 with primary tumors and 10 with metastatic tumors) who had survived for more than 10 years after surgery. We evaluated the clinical outcomes including patient-based outcomes using questionnaire. The questionnaire included subjective assessment of the results of TES and SF-36. Overall, 33 % of patients with metastases from kidney cancer and 25 % of those with metastases from thyroid cancer survived for more than 10 years after TES for solitary spinal metastases. Four patients with metastatic tumors had no evidence of disease at the time of survey. There were no tumor recurrences in any of the 23 patients who underwent TES as the primary surgery. No revision surgeries have been required as a result of instrumentation failure in any of the 29 patients. About 90 % of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the results of TES. The SF-36 results demonstrated that the both physical and mental health of patients with primary tumors was equivalent to those of healthy individuals, and the mental health of patients with metastatic tumors was almost similar to them. This study showed the long-term clinical outcomes after TES to be favorable. TES played an important role in the treatment strategy for spinal tumors including metastases.