{"title":"Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gallbladder Cancer Modify the Migration and Invasion of Gallbladder Cancer Cells.","authors":"Kazuhiko Tsukuda, Masaharu Ishida, Takayuki Miura, Shimpei Maeda, Hideo Ohtsuka, Masamichi Mizuma, Kei Nakagawa, Michiaki Unno","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J126","DOIUrl":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The importance of the microenvironment in cancer progression is widely recognized, and interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells play an important role in the progression of the disease. A major component of stromal cells are fibroblasts, known as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are thought to enhance the malignant properties of cancer cells through various secreted proteins. It is also known that CAFs function as a leading cell in cancer invasion, and their migratory ability is involved in local cancer invasion. The aim of this study was to elucidate the function of CAF in gallbladder cancer, which is one of the gastrointestinal malignancies with the worst prognosis.CAFs were primarily cultured from surgical specimens of gallbladder cancer patients. We investigated the migration ability of established CAFs and the effects of conditioned medium obtained from CAFs on the growth and invasion ability of gallbladder cancer cell lines. Functional analysis showed that the migration ability of certain CAFs was enhanced compared to control, and that conditioned medium enhanced the migration and invasion of gallbladder cancer cell lines. Gene expression analysis of CAFs revealed that tenascin-C (TNC) and podoplanin (PDPN) were highly expressed in CAFs with the enhancing functions. Immunohistochemical staining of TNC and PDPN on surgical specimens was performed to investigate the relationship with the prognosis. Disease-free survival and overall survival were found to be reduced in patients with high expression of those genes. The results of this study indicate that CAFs expressing TNC and PDPN promote cancer progression in gallbladder cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"279-293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142591465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Endoscopic Surgery for Facial Subcutaneous and Nasal Submucosal Abscesses in a Child.","authors":"Tomotaka Hemmi, Shuji Chiba, Kazuhiro Nomura","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2025.J016","DOIUrl":"10.1620/tjem.2025.J016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We herein report a case of abscess formation from the subcutaneous area of the face to the submucosa of the nasal cavity. To our knowledge, this case was unprecedented, but we were able to cure the patient by applying endoscopic sinus surgery techniques. A 13-year-old boy visited a local clinic because of right facial swelling. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed abscess formation from the subcutaneous region of the face to the submucosa of the nasal cavity, and endoscopic surgery was performed. In surgery, endoscopic modified medial maxillectomy (EMMM) and a direct approach to the anterior and lateral parts of the maxillary sinus with an endoscope (DALMA) were applied to perform radical drainage. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 7 after completion of antimicrobial therapy because of good progress. Two months postoperatively, healing of the incision and maintenance of openness of the maxillary sinus were confirmed, and the follow-up was terminated. Endoscopic surgery is the first-choice treatment because of its superior therapeutic efficacy and functional preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"273-277"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143410858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a Temporary Custody Re-Entry Risk Prediction Model using Longitudinal Cohort Data in Japan.","authors":"Sotaro Tanaka, Inoue Mariko, Yamaoka Kazue","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J144","DOIUrl":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The number of temporary custody cases due to child maltreatment and other reasons at child guidance centers in Japan is increasing, prompting imperative scrutiny of re-entry risk assessment. We aimed to derive and internally validate a risk prediction model for re-entry into temporary custody. The risk prediction model was developed from an analysis of data from 725 children recruited in this retrospective single-center longitudinal cohort study conducted in Japan. The anticipated outcome was re-entry into temporary custody. Predictor variables were selected from 15 prospective variables concerning information on children and their familial contexts. A risk prediction model was developed using stepwise logistic regression. The final risk model was validated via C-statistic using cross-validation and bootstrap resampling methods. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Of 725 children under temporary custody, 178 (24.6%) experienced re-entry into temporary custody. The predictors in the conclusive risk model were a history of temporary custody (p < 0.001), age at first birth of < 25 years (p < 0.002), single mother or stepfamily (p < 0.001), reasons for temporary custody including child abuse (p = 0.076) and child sex (p = 0.152), and child disability certificate (p = 0.252). Calibration scrutiny via the Hosmer-Lemeshow test revealed no discernible irregularities (p = 0.320). The naïve C-statistic of the model was 0.70, whereas the optimism-corrected C-statistics was 0.67-0.69. The presented risk prediction model showed acceptable calibration and discriminatory capability. The model can optimize limited human resources by providing valid risk estimates of the likelihood of re-entry to temporary custody within one year.</p>","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"295-303"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142814204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wei Yang, Rong Zeng, Jianlin Song, Ning Ma, Wenchuan Zhu, Tianyan Fu, Tingting Zhang, Fabi Li, Bian Wu
{"title":"Drp1-Dependent Mitochondrial Fission is Involved in Adriamycin Resistance in Gastric Cancer Cells: A Perspective from the BATF2/p53/ERK Regulatory Axis.","authors":"Wei Yang, Rong Zeng, Jianlin Song, Ning Ma, Wenchuan Zhu, Tianyan Fu, Tingting Zhang, Fabi Li, Bian Wu","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2025.J091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.2025.J091","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144650628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lingfang Liu, Yan Gao, Li Ao, Chao Yang, Wanyu Zhao, Chunmei Deng, Qian Zhu, Yan Chen, Qiuli Lan, Qian Hao, Yang Wang
{"title":"SPARCL1 Regulates Proliferation and Angiogenesis of HUVECs Through the DLL4/NOTCH1 Pathway in Preeclampsia.","authors":"Lingfang Liu, Yan Gao, Li Ao, Chao Yang, Wanyu Zhao, Chunmei Deng, Qian Zhu, Yan Chen, Qiuli Lan, Qian Hao, Yang Wang","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2025.J092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.2025.J092","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144650630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hoon Jo, Joo Ho Cheong, Mun Sik Chung, Dong Yu Kim, Ju In Kim, Sung-Kyung Kim
{"title":"Association Between Weekend Catch-Up Sleep and Perceived Stress Among Adolescents in the Republic of Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Hoon Jo, Joo Ho Cheong, Mun Sik Chung, Dong Yu Kim, Ju In Kim, Sung-Kyung Kim","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J097","DOIUrl":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insufficient sleep is common among adolescents in the Republic of Korea because of competitive academic environments. Many students compensate for lack of sleep through weekend catch-up sleep (CUS), however the degree of effectiveness is unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between weekend CUS and perceived stress in a large, school-based Korean adolescent sample. Data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2020 (KYRBWS) was used. The participants included 46,187 middle and high school students in the Republic of Korea who participated in self-administered questionnaire surveys. Weekend CUS was divided into four categories: 0 h, 0-1 h, 1-2 h, and ≥ 2 h. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using logistic regression analyses. We found that the risk of perceived stress decreased significantly in weekend CUS groups (0 < CUS < 1 [OR]: 0.879, [95% CI: 0.808-0.957]; 1 ≤ CUS < 2 [OR]: 0.852, [95% CI: 0.785-0.924]; 2 ≥ CUS [OR]: 0.836, [95% CI: 0.775-0.902]) compared to the non-CUS group after adjusting for several confounding variables. Furthermore, the higher CUS group tended to have a lower risk of perceived stress. However, in the Grade 12 participants, in both the unadjusted and adjusted models, the weekend CUS groups did not show a significant association with the risk of perceived stress. Our study showed that weekend CUS is associated with a low risk of perceived stress among Korean adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"265-272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142296187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The ZIC2-Claudin-18.2 Axis Stimulates Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Metastasis via Activation of the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Xiaoping Zhou, Lanying Zou, Jun Xu, Huichuan Zhao","doi":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J114","DOIUrl":"10.1620/tjem.2024.J114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Claudin-18.2 is considered a promising target in cancer treatment. However, studies on the role of Claudin-18.2 in pancreatic cancer are scarce, and a systematic exploration of its mechanisms of action in disease progression is missing. This research sought to reveal the detailed mechanisms by Claudin-18.2 impacts pancreatic cancer development and metastasis. Claudin-18.2 expression levels in pancreatic cancer were investigated through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, with subsequent validation by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. The potential regulatory transcription factors (TFs) for Claudin-18 were forecasted by the KnockTF database. Pearson's correlation was applied to ascertain the correlation between Claudin-18 and ZIC2, and the Molotool was utilized to analyze their potential binding sites. The TCGA database facilitated our analysis of ZIC2 expression levels within pancreatic cancer. Activation of the ERK signaling pathway was validated by western blot (WB). The colony formation assay evaluated cell proliferation, while the cell scratch and Transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion abilities. WB was used to detect the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The ZIC2-Claudin-18.2 regulatory axis, via ERK1/2 signaling pathway activation, enhanced the malignant behaviors of pancreatic cancer. Claudin-18.2, when highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, facilitated tumor malignancy, primarily through activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Additionally, ZIC2 was identified as an upstream regulatory molecule for Claudin-18.2. Our findings reveal that ZIC2, a TF, can upregulate Claudin-18.2, and initiate the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, eventually facilitating the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":23187,"journal":{"name":"Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"247-256"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142547647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}