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.

A spontaneously ruptured gastric stromal tumor presenting as generalized peritonitis: report of a case.

Abstract: Among the diverse clinical presentations of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), spontaneous rupture with peritonitis is extremely rare. We report herein the unusual case of a 75-year-old man found to have a spontaneously ruptured gastric stromal tumor after presenting with generalized peritonitis. The patient was brought to the emergency department of our hospital by ambulance, with generalized severe abdominal pain. On examination, his abdomen was extensively distended with generalized severe rebound tenderness. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a giant mass arising from the anterior gastric wall with an irregular internal low-density area and a small amount of ascites. An emergency laparotomy revealed a ruptured gastric tumor with dissemination of its necrotic tissue throughout the peritoneal cavity. The tumor was excised together with normal gastric tissue around its base. The tumor, which was 15 × 11 × 4.4 cm in size, had a coarse laceration over its well-capsulated smooth serosal surface with massive necrosis and clotted blood inside. Immunohistochemical examination revealed positive reactivity to C-kit protein, which was consistent with the newly introduced diagnostic criteria of GIST. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and remains well.

Metamorphosis of calcareous sponges I. Ultrastructure of free-swimming larvae

Abstract: Summary Free-swimming larvae of two calcareous sponges were studied by electron microscopy. The larvae are composed of four kinds of cells, namely flagellated cells, granular cells, four cruciform cells, and several yolk-containing cells. In the anterior hemisphere of the larvae, the columnar flagellated cells are arranged in a single layer. Their nucleus and Golgi apparatus are located in close proximity to the flagellar rootlets. There are granular cells in the posterior hemisphere of the larvae. They have a nucleus with a nucleolus, large phagosomes, well-developed Golgi apparatus, and numerous RER cisternae. There is a cruciform cell in each quadrant of the larvae. From its characteristic arrangement of organelles, it is suggested but not concluded that the cruciform cells participate in photoreception. The yolk-containing cells are, most probably, nutritive cells derived from the mother sponge. The roles of these four kinds of cells in habitat selection and metamorphosis are discussed.

MRI features of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.

Abstract: Objective To describe the MRI features of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma in comparison with clinicopathologic findings.

Arthroscopic eminoplasty for habitual dislocation of the temporomandibular joint: preliminary study.

Abstract: A unique surgical technique, arthroscopic eminoplasty was undertaken in 16 joints of 11 patients with habitual dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) There were 10 joints with subluxation and 6 joints with complete dislocation in 4 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 33 +/- 20 years The procedure consisted of conventional diagnostic arthroscopy, followed by shaving of approximately 3 to 5 mm in height of the articular eminence with an electric motorized shaver with bone files, depending on the bone thickness as detected by preoperative imaging The arthroscopic eminoplasty was accomplished without any peri- or postoperative complication During the postoperative follow-up period of 19 months on average (6-36 months), all patients were free of dislocation of the TMJ, except for one joint The patients could open their mouth 42 +/- 6 mm without arthralgia 2 weeks after surgery, and finally 47 +/- 7 mm without any subjective symptom but small joint noises (clicking or crepitus) in 10 joints On postoperative radiographs only minor changes of the mandibular condyle were apparent in four joints Arthroscopic eminoplasty might become a significant procedure for habitual dislocation of the TMJ and seems to produce results comparable to open arthrotomy Further study will be required to assess this method as an acceptable modality in the future

Tauopathy-associated PERK alleles are functional hypomorphs that increase neuronal vulnerability to ER stress.

Abstract: Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by tau protein pathology in the nervous system. EIF2AK3 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3), also known as PERK (protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase), was identified by genome-wide association study as a genetic risk factor in several tauopathies. PERK is a key regulator of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), an intracellular signal transduction mechanism that protects cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. PERK variants had previously been identified in Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, and these variants completely abrogated the function of PERK's kinase domain or prevented PERK expression. In contrast, the PERK tauopathy risk variants were distinct from the Wolcott-Rallison variants and introduced missense alterations throughout the PERK protein. The function of PERK tauopathy variants and their effects on neurodegeneration are unknown. Here, we discovered that tauopathy-associated PERK alleles showed reduced signaling activity and increased PERK protein turnover compared to protective PERK alleles. We found that iPSC-derived neurons carrying PERK risk alleles were highly vulnerable to ER stress-induced injury with increased tau pathology. We found that chemical inhibition of PERK in human iPSC-derived neurons also increased neuronal cell death in response to ER stress. Our results indicate that tauopathy-associated PERK alleles are functional hypomorphs during the UPR. We propose that reduced PERK function leads to neurodegeneration by increasing neuronal vulnerability to ER stress-associated damage. In this view, therapies to enhance PERK signaling would benefit at-risk carriers of hypomorphic alleles.