Kumamoto University

About: Kumamoto University is a education organization based out in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 19602 authors who have published 35513 publications receiving 901260 citations. The organization is also known as: Kumamoto Daigaku.

Massive loss of Cajal-Retzius cells does not disrupt neocortical layer order

Abstract: Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells, the predominant source of reelin in developing neocortex, are thought to be essential for the inside out formation of neocortical layers. Fate mapping revealed that a large population of neocortical CR cells arises from the cortical hem. To investigate the function of CR cells, we therefore genetically ablated the hem. Neocortical CR cells were distributed beneath the pial surface in control mice, but were virtually absent in hem-ablated mice from embryonic day (E) 10.5 until birth. CR cells derived from other sources did not invade the neocortical primordium to compensate for hem loss. We predicted that neocortical layers would be inverted in hem-ablated animals, as in reeler mice, deficient in reelin signaling. Against expectation, layers showed the standard order. Low levels of reelin in the cortical primordium, or diffusion of reelin from other sites, may have allowed lamination to proceed. Our findings indicate, however, that the sheet of reelin-rich CR cells that covers the neocortical primordium is not required to direct layer order.

Down-regulation of HLA class I antigen-processing molecules in malignant melanoma: association with disease progression.

Abstract: Expression of the proteasome subunits LMP2 and LMP7, the MHC-encoded transporter subunits TAP1 and TAP2, and HLA Class I antigens was examined by immunoperoxidase staining in 10 nevi and 98 melanoma lesions (60 primary and 38 metastatic), because these molecules play an important role in the presentation of melanoma-associated peptide antigens to cytotoxic T cells. LMP2 was less frequently expressed than LMP7 in primary and metastatic melanoma lesions. TAP1, TAP2, and HLA Class I antigen expression was more frequently (P < 0.05) down-regulated in metastatic than in primary melanoma lesions and in nevi. A synchronous TAP1, TAP2, and HLA Class I antigen down-regulation was observed in 58% of primary and 52% of metastatic lesions. TAP and HLA Class I antigen down-regulation in primary lesions was significantly associated with lesion thickness, stage of disease, reduced time to disease progression, and reduced survival. These results suggest that TAP down-regulation plays a role in the clinical course of malignant melanoma, probably by providing melanoma cells with a mechanism to escape from cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition during disease progression.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes 2016

Abstract: This article is based on the "Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes 2016" (ISBN978-4-524-25857-4), which was published in Japanese by Nankodo Co., Ltd. (© The Japan Diabetes Society (JDS), 2016) and has been jointly published in Journal of Diabetes Investigation (the official journal of the Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes: https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.12810 ) and Diabetology International (the official English journal of JDS).

Novel combination of serum microRNA for detecting breast cancer in the early stage

Abstract: MicroRNA (miRNA), which are stably present in serum, have been reported to be potentially useful for detecting cancer. In the present study, we examined the expression profiles of serum miRNA in several large cohorts to identify novel miRNA that can be used to detect early stage breast cancer. We comprehensively evaluated the serum miRNA expression profiles using highly sensitive microarray analysis. A total of 1280 serum samples of breast cancer patients stored in the National Cancer Center Biobank were used. In addition, 2836 serum samples were obtained from non-cancer controls, 451 from patients with other types of cancers, and 63 from patients with non-breast benign diseases. The samples were divided into a training cohort including non-cancer controls, other cancers and breast cancer, and a test cohort including non-cancer controls and breast cancer. The training cohort was used to identify a combination of miRNA that could detect breast cancer, and the test cohort was used to validate that combination. miRNA expressions were compared between patients with breast cancer and non-breast cancer, and a combination of five miRNA (miR-1246, miR-1307-3p, miR-4634, miR-6861-5p and miR-6875-5p) was found to be able to detect breast cancer. This combination had a sensitivity of 97.3%, specificity of 82.9% and accuracy of 89.7% for breast cancer in the test cohort. In addition, this combination could detect early stage breast cancer (sensitivity of 98.0% for Tis).