Objective: To enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of fAdMSCs. Methods: fAdMSCs were treated with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand poly (I:C) and aggregated. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) expression and kynurenine production were measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by culturing fAdMSCs with rat macrophages and transplanting them into the kidney capsules of rats. Results: IDO-1 expression and kynurenine production in fAdMSCs were increased significantly by a poly (I:C) treatment and enhanced using a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment.The level of fAdMSC aggregation increased IDO-1 expression significantly compared to the monolayer. These effects were enhanced by pretreatment with bFGF and poly (I:C). The bFGF and poly (I:C)-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rat macrophages. During transplantation, the pretreated fAdMSC aggregates avoided leakage, survived in aggregate form, and induced anti-inflammatory macrophages. Conclusions and Relevance: TLR3-stimulated, bFGF-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates increase the anti-inflammatory activity significantly, providing a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases in felines.

Objective: To enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of fAdMSCs. Methods: fAdMSCs were treated with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand poly (I:C) and aggregated. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) expression and kynurenine production were measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by culturing fAdMSCs with rat macrophages and transplanting them into the kidney capsules of rats. Results: IDO-1 expression and kynurenine production in fAdMSCs were increased significantly by a poly (I:C) treatment and enhanced using a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment.The level of fAdMSC aggregation increased IDO-1 expression significantly compared to the monolayer. These effects were enhanced by pretreatment with bFGF and poly (I:C). The bFGF and poly (I:C)-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rat macrophages. During transplantation, the pretreated fAdMSC aggregates avoided leakage, survived in aggregate form, and induced anti-inflammatory macrophages. Conclusions and Relevance: TLR3-stimulated, bFGF-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates increase the anti-inflammatory activity significantly, providing a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases in felines.

Objective: To enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of fAdMSCs. Methods: fAdMSCs were treated with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand poly (I:C) and aggregated. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) expression and kynurenine production were measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by culturing fAdMSCs with rat macrophages and transplanting them into the kidney capsules of rats. Results: IDO-1 expression and kynurenine production in fAdMSCs were increased significantly by a poly (I:C) treatment and enhanced using a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment.The level of fAdMSC aggregation increased IDO-1 expression significantly compared to the monolayer. These effects were enhanced by pretreatment with bFGF and poly (I:C). The bFGF and poly (I:C)-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rat macrophages. During transplantation, the pretreated fAdMSC aggregates avoided leakage, survived in aggregate form, and induced anti-inflammatory macrophages. Conclusions and Relevance: TLR3-stimulated, bFGF-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates increase the anti-inflammatory activity significantly, providing a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases in felines.

Objective: To enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of fAdMSCs. Methods: fAdMSCs were treated with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand poly (I:C) and aggregated. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) expression and kynurenine production were measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by culturing fAdMSCs with rat macrophages and transplanting them into the kidney capsules of rats. Results: IDO-1 expression and kynurenine production in fAdMSCs were increased significantly by a poly (I:C) treatment and enhanced using a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment.The level of fAdMSC aggregation increased IDO-1 expression significantly compared to the monolayer. These effects were enhanced by pretreatment with bFGF and poly (I:C). The bFGF and poly (I:C)-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rat macrophages. During transplantation, the pretreated fAdMSC aggregates avoided leakage, survived in aggregate form, and induced anti-inflammatory macrophages. Conclusions and Relevance: TLR3-stimulated, bFGF-pretreated fAdMSC aggregates increase the anti-inflammatory activity significantly, providing a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases in felines.

Objective: The aim of this study was to review the clinicopathological characteristics of small cell neuroendocrine cervical cancer (SCNEC) and to identify the optimal treatment. Methods: The Japanese Society of Gynecologic Oncology conducted a retrospective cohort study of SCNECs enrolled in the Gynecological Tumor Registry of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology between 2004 and 2015. All cases were modified and unified by International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2008 (Union for International Cancer Control 7th edition). Results: There were 822 registered patients diagnosed with SCNEC from 2004 to 2015 which comprised 1.1% (822/73,698) of all uterine cervical cancer cases. Rates of lymph-node and distant metastasis were significantly higher in T1b2 (38.9% and 13.7%, respectively) than T1b1 (14.2% and 4.4%, respectively) (p<0.01). In IB2 and T1bN1M0 SCNEC, the 5-year survival rate with surgery followed by chemotherapy was significantly higher than that with surgery followed by radiation therapy/concurrent chemoradiation therapy (p<0.01). Conclusion SNCEC tumors >4 cm in size had greater rates of lymph-node and distant metastasis when compared with tumors ≤4 cm. Adjuvant chemotherapy, rather than radiotherapy, may improve prognosis after surgery in T1bN1M0 SCNEC.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of the FIGO 2018 classification system for nodal-specific classifications for early-stage cervical cancer; specifically, to examine the impact of nodal metastasis on survival and the effect of postoperative treatments, according to histological subtypes. Methods: This society-based retrospective observational study in Japan examined 16,539 women with the 2009 FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer who underwent primary surgical treatment from 2004 to 2015. Associations of cause-specific survival (CSS) with nodal metastasis and postoperative adjuvant therapy were examined according to histology type (squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], n=10,315; and non-SCC, n=6,224). Results: The nodal metastasis rate for SCC was higher than that for non-SCC (10.7% vs. 8.3%, p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, the impact of nodal metastasis on CSS was greater for non-SCC tumors (adjusted-hazard ratio [HR], 3.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.40–4.02) than for SCC tumors (adjusted-HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.70–2.84; p<0.001). Propensity score matching analysis showed significantly lower CSS rates for women with pelvic nodal metastasis from non-SCC tumors than from SCC tumors (5-year CSS rate, 75.4% vs. 90.3%, p<0.001). The CSS rates for women with nodal metastasis in SCC histology were similar between the postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy and chemotherapy groups (89.2% vs. 86.1%, p=0.42), whereas those in non-SCC histology who received postoperative chemotherapy improved the CSS (74.1% vs. 67.7%, p=0.043). Conclusion The node-specific staging system in the 2018 FIGO cervical cancer classification is applicable to both non-SCC tumors and SCC tumors; however, the prognostic significance of nodal metastases and efficacy of postoperative therapies vary according to histology.

Objective: The study compared the treatment outcomes of surgery versus radiotherapy, including concurrent chemoradiotherapy, in stage Ib2–IIb cervical adenocarcinoma patients in Japan. Methods: Of 57,470 patients diagnosed with stage I–IV cervical cancer from January 2001–December 2011, 1,932 patients with stage Ib2–IIb cervical adenocarcinoma were initially treated by surgery or radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival (OS) in all and 614 propensity score-matched (PSM) patients (307 per group). We compared OS and prognosis factors based on age, primary stage, and treatment arm. Results: In Japan, >80% (n=1,573) of stage Ib2–IIb cervical adenocarcinoma patients underwent surgery. The 5-year OS of surgery vs. radiotherapy groups were 82.1% (n=704) vs. 79.7% (n=59) (hazard ratio [HR]=1.494; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.826–2.702; p=0.181) for stage Ib2, 76.6% (n=239) vs. 66.7% (n=54) (HR=1.679; 95% CI=0.986–2.858; p=0.053) for stage IIa, and 71.1% (n=630) vs. 58.9% (n=246) (HR=1.711; 95% CI=1.341–2.184; p<0.001) for stage IIb. In 614 PSM patients balanced for age and carcinoma stage Ib2–IIb, the 5-year OS of surgery vs. radiation groups was 73.0% (n=307) vs. 65.5% (n=307) (HR=1.394; 95% CI=1.044–1.860; p=0.023). In multivariable analysis, age (HR=1.293; 95% CI=1.045–1.601; p=0.018), treatment arm, radiotherapy (HR=1.556; 95% CI=1.253–1.933; p<0.001), and stage IIb (HR=1.783; 95% CI=1.443–2.203; p=0.018) were independent prognosis factors for 5-year OS in stage Ib2–IIb adenocarcinoma patients. Conclusion Age (>65 years), treatment arm (radiotherapy), and stage IIb significantly affect OS in cervical adenocarcinoma patients. Surgery may be considered for <65-year-old patients with stage IIb adenocarcinoma.

Objective: Regional lymph node (LN) dissection is a standard surgical procedure for endometrial cancer, but there is currently no clear consensus on its therapeutic significance. We aimed to determine the impact of regional LN dissection on the outcome of endometrial cancer. Methods: Study subjects comprised 36,813 patients who were registered in the gynecological tumor registry of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, had undergone initial surgery for endometrial cancer between 2004 and 2011, and whose clinicopathological factors and prognosis were appropriate for our investigation. The following clinicopathological factors were obtained from the registry: age, surgical stage classification, Union for International Cancer Control tumor, node, metastasis classification, histological type, histological differentiation, presence or absence of LN dissection, and postoperative treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological factors and therapeutic outcomes for patients with endometrial cancer. Results: Analysis of all subjects showed that the group that underwent LN dissection had a significantly better overall survival than the group that did not undergo dissection. Analysis based on stage showed similar results across groups, except for stage Ia. Analysis based on stage and histological type showed similar results across groups, except for stage Ia endometrial carcinoma G1 or Ia G2. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors indicated that LN dissection is an independent prognostic factor and that it has a greater impact on prognosis than adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion Despite the limitations of a retrospective study with some biases, the results suggest that LN dissection in endometrial cancer has a prognostic effect.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the basic characteristics of degradable gelatin microspheres (GMSs), including their embolic behavior and degradation periods when they are used as embolic materials in the renal arteries of rabbit models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the GMS particle size, 24 kidneys were divided into 3 groups of eight kidneys, and each group was embolized with a different GMS particle size (group 1: 35-100 micrometer, group 2: 100-200 micrometer, and group 3: 200-300 micrometer). From each group, two rabbits were sacrificed immediately after embolization (day 0), and a pair of rabbits from each group underwent an angiogram and were sacrificed on days 3, 7, and 14, respectively, after embolization. The level of arterial occlusion, the pathological changes in the renal parenchyma, and the degradation of the GMSs were evaluated angiographically and histologically. RESULTS: A follow-up angiogram on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 revealed the presence of wedge-shaped poorly-enhanced areas in the parenchymal phase as seen in all groups. The size of these areas tended to increase with the particle diameter, and persisted up to day 14. On days 3, 7, and 14, parenchymal infarctions were observed histologically in all cases, and this observation corresponded with the parenchyma being supplied by the embolized arteries. GMSs of group 1 mainly reached the interlobular arteries, while those of group 3 mainly reached the interlobar arteries. In all but two cases, the GMSs were identified histologically even on day 14, and sequential degradation was histologically identified in all GMS groups. CONCLUSION: GMSs can be used as degradable embolic materials which can control the level of embolization.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Disease Models, Animal ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; *Gelatin ; Kidney/blood supply ; *Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Rabbits ; Renal Artery/drug effects/pathology/radiography ; Renal Artery Obstruction/*chemically induced ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors

We encountered an unusual disruption of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) axillofemoral bypass graft apart from that anastomoses. We suspected the possible robe of the physical effects of body movement provoking the disruption of the axillofemoral bypass graft and therefore examined the physical effect of body movement on the axillary-to-femoral artery graft in 15 healthy men. At the lower part of the graft, the physical effect was significantly stronger. The disruption of this axillary-to-femoral artery graft was associated with the physical effect of body movement.