Medical Molecular Morphology最新文献

We have previously isolated the epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) clone cells with strong Amelx expression, named as ERM-2, from the crude ERM cells. In the present study, we examined whether conditioned medium (CM) derived from cultured ERM-2 promotes the crystallization of immature enamel in tooth germs. Tooth germs from postnatal day 3 mice were incubated with ERM-2 conditional medium (CM). ERM-2 cells were transfected with si-RNA targeting specific enamel matrix proteins (EMPs). After 2 days of incubation, each CM was collected and employed to culture the tooth germs. The surface layers of the enamel structure were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tooth germs cultured with ERM-2 CM on days 3 and 7 showed elongation and densification of the columnar structures in SEM analysis. The columnar structures became denser and aggregated forming a HAP-like hexagonal columnar structure 14 days after culture in ERM-2 CM. In contrast, no clear columnar structures were observed in ERM-2 CM with si-RNA of each EMPs. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that CM derived from ERM-2 could form enamel-like structures on the surface of the tooth germ. ERM-2 may provide the possibility for the clinical use of enamel regeneration.

Global warming has increased summer temperatures, leading to a rise in heat stroke-related deaths in Japan. Heat stroke disrupts the body's adaptation to high temperatures, often resulting in severe complications, including liver damage and even death. However, despite the increasing incidence, pathological autopsies remain rare, and the histological changes associated with heat stroke are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the pathogenesis of heat stroke using a mouse model. Mice were exposed to 45 °C for 30 min and dissected immediately or 24, 48, and 72 h post-exposure. Histological analysis revealed significant lipid accumulation in hepatocytes surrounding the central vein at 24, 48, and 72 h. At 24 h, hepatocytes also exhibited features of early degeneration, including cytoplasmic lysis and chromatin condensation. Lipidomics analysis of liver tissue collected 24 h post-exposure demonstrated a marked increase in 27-hydroxycholesterol levels. These results indicate that heat stress rapidly disrupts hepatic lipid homeostasis, causing cellular damage and metabolic remodeling. The observed lipid accumulation, including elevated 27-hydroxycholesterol, may play dual roles in mediating inflammation and serving as a protective response. Our findings provide new insight into the pathogenesis of heat stroke-induced liver injury and suggest potential molecular targets for early diagnosis and intervention.

Soft tissue sarcomas are heterogenous groups of tumors that show variable morphology as well as clinical behavior. Morphological features do not always directly reflect clinical behavior. Certain mesenchymal tumors exhibit an indolent clinical course. Among them are superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumors characterized by PRDM10 fusion. In our study, we aimed to detect PRDM10 gene rearrangement in superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumors and other pleomorphic sarcomas included in its differential diagnosis by immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence in situ hybridization. Totally, 33 cases were enrolled into this study. The results showed that two cases diagnosed as superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor and two cases diagnosed as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma have PRDM10 gene rearrangement. Immunohistochemically, not all rearranged tumors showed PRDM10 staining that suggests a low sensitivity of PRDM10 antibody. In conclusion, we suggested that PRDM10 gene rearrangement is not limited to superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumors; undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas may exhibit this molecular alteration and immunohistochemistry has lower sensitivity than fluorescence in situ hybridization.

This study aimed to investigate carcinogenesis-related fibrosis patterns in liver biopsy tissues from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by comprehensively measuring and quantifying various fibrosis patterns using artificial intelligence. Liver biopsy tissues from 13 patients with advanced fibrosis at MASLD diagnosis were subjected to collagen quantification and morphological and structural fiber characteristic evaluation using FibroNest (PharmaNest, Princeton, NJ, USA), which was described using up to seven quantitative fibrosis parameters (qFPs). The collagen-fibrosis composite score (FCS), morphometric-FCS, architecture-FCS, and phenotypic-FCS (Ph-FCS) were compared between patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The collagen quantification alone could not discriminate between HCC and non-HCC cases. Regarding the individual qFPs of morphological fiber characteristics, the kurtosis and skewness of fiber twists were significantly lower in HCC cases than in non-HCC cases. In HCC cases, fiber width and density kurtosis tended to be larger, whereas fiber length kurtosis tended to be smaller than those in non-HCC cases. Ph-FCS could discriminate HCC from non-HCC at a threshold of 4.2, with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity. A combination of fiber morphology and structural characteristics predicted HCC development with higher accuracy and might help define carcinogenic risk groups among patients with MASLD.

Helicobacter pylori possesses an intrabacterial nanotransportation system (ibNoTS) for transporting VacA, CagA, and urease within the bacterial cytoplasm. This system is controlled by the extrabacterial environment. The transport routes of the system for VacA have not yet been studied in detail. In this study, we demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy that VacA localizes closely with the MreB filament in the bacterium, and the MreB polymerization inhibitor A22 obstructs the transport of VacA by ibNoTS. These findings indicate that the route of ibNoTS for VacA is closely associated with the MreB filament Additionally, it was confirmed that VacA does not closely associate with the bacterial filament FtsZ, which is involved in the transport of the virulence factor urease, as previously suggested. We propose that the route of ibNoTS for VacA is associated with the MreB filament in H. pylori.

Aim: The coenzyme sulfite oxidase (SUOX), located in mitochondria, plays a role in redox and metabolism. Its expression has been associated with cancer progression and prognosis. Lung cancer has a high incidence rate and poor prognosis. We aim to clarify its expression in lung adenocarcinomas and investigated the utility of SUOX expression as a recurrence factor in operable lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We used 60 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of operable primary lung adenocarcinoma between 2017 and 2018 to immunohistochemically assess SUOX expression levels. Patients were classified into a high or low SUOX expression group, and the associations of SUOX expression with clinicopathological findings and recurrence were analyzed.

Results: We revealed that high SUOX expression was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with sex, low Brinkman index, histological type, histological grade and positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. High SUOX expression (HR = 10.218, 95% CI 1.758‒59.376, p = 0.0096) and pathological Stage (HR = 7.538, 95% CI 1.95‒29.14, p = 0.0034) were independently associated with relapse free survival.

Conclusion: High SUOX expression may be a new indicator of recurrence risk in surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas.

Human endometrium is the major target tissue for sex steroid hormones. The circulating steroid hormones in normal ovulatory cycles accurately control the proliferation and differentiation of the endometrial cells. Androgens, such as testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone, are a type of sex steroid hormones that mainly function in the differentiation, development, and maintenance of male sexual characteristics. Although androgens are best known for their role in male reproduction, the androgen receptor is present in both male and female reproductive organs and is essential for normal reproductive function. Recently, a series of evidence suggests that androgens contribute to endometrial physiology and pathologies. However, the roles of androgens in the endometrium remain insufficiently understood, with contradictory findings being reported. This review summarizes the studies that show the role of androgens in regulating the physiological conditions of the endometrium and the implantation process, and endometrial pathology including endometriosis and others.

Mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) of the ovary comprise tissues from all three germ layers. The coexistence of the complete intestinal tract, prostatic tissue, and bladder component within the same ovarian MCT is unprecedented. Here, we report the diagnosis and management of such a rare case. A 26-year-old woman presented with a right ovarian mass, which was later confirmed as an MCT by histopathological examination. The patient underwent a successful laparoscopic cystectomy with no evidence of malignancy or postoperative complications. Histological examination revealed that this MCT contained the complete organ structures including a lower intestinal tract and male genital tract with prostate, urethra, and bladder components, which is unusual. This case underscores the importance of understanding the pathogenesis of extensive organogenesis in MCTs and raises questions about the differentiation processes leading to such unique presentations.

This study aimed to evaluate corneal findings of pterygium cases using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) which is a non-invasive and repeatable method. In this case-control study, 54 patients diagnosed with pterygium and 50 healthy controls were investigated, between 2020 and 2021. After a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, the central corneas of all participants were evaluated by corneal IVCM. Surface epithelial cell, wing cells, basal epithelial cells, nerve fiber density, nerve branch density, anterior and posterior stroma keratocyte densities were measured. Corneas from cases with and without pterygium were similar in terms of age (p = 0.306) and gender (p = 0.564). No statistically significant differences were found in the epithelium cell counts including surface, wing, and basal cells between the two groups (p = 0.950, p = 0.334, and p = 0.624, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed in subepithelial nerve fiber density (p = 0.849), nerve branch density (p = 0.752), and posterior stromal keratocyte density (p = 0.683) between corneas from cases with and without pterygium. However, corneas from cases with pterygium had significantly higher scores in anterior stromal keratocyte density than those from cases without pterygium (p = 0.045). Corneas from grades 1, 2, and 3 pterygium were similar in cell counts, anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte densities (p > 0.05). However, patients with grade 1 had significantly increased nerve fiber density (p = 0.015) and nerve branch density (p = 0.001) than those with grade 2 and grade 3 pterygium. Corneal IVCM may be useful to better understand the corneal microstructure in cases with pterygium. Comprehensive research on the subject is needed.

This study evaluates the effects of different high-intensity focused ultrasound irradiation (HIFU) methods on local tumor suppression and systemic antitumor effects, including the abscopal effect, in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. To ascertain the efficacy of the treatment, pancreatic cancer cells were injected into the thighs of mice and HIFU was applied on one side using continuous waves or trigger pulse waves. Then, tumor volume, tissue changes, and immune marker levels were analyzed. Both the irradiation methods suppressed tumor growth, with the trigger pulse wave showing stronger effects and the difference being significant. Tumor suppression was also observed on the non-irradiated side, suggesting an abscopal effect. These effects vary depending on the irradiation method used. We conclude that HIFU induces both local tumor suppression and a systemic immune response, suggesting its potential for combination with immunotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.