In this prospective study, we determined the diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) using the LOGIQ E9 (GE Healthcare) for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis in 193 chronic hepatitis C patients, and compared the findings with the accuracy achieved with serum liver fibrosis markers and the fibrosis score (hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen 7S, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index and FIB-4). The success rate of 2D-SWE was 98.9%. The median shear wave velocities (SWVs) in patients with stage F0, F1, F2, F3, and F4 were 1.35 m⁄s, 1.45 m⁄s, 1.63 m⁄s, 1.88 m⁄s, and 2.12 m/s, respectively, demonstrating a stepwise increase with increasing severity of fibrosis (p‹0.0001). The accuracy of 2D-SWE in the prediction of ≥F1, ≥F2,≥F3, and F4 was 0.848 (95% CI: 0.787-0.909）, 0.899 〔95% confidence interval (CI): 0.828-0931〕, 0.945 （95% CI: 0.909-0.98), and 0.952 (95% CI: 0.920-0.984）, respectively. Regarding the diagnostic performance of all fibrosis stages, 2D-SWE was significantly superior to serum liver fibrosis biomarkers. In conclusion, 2D-SWE was significantly correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis and was more useful than liver fibrosis biomarkers for predicting all liver fibrosis grades.

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Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death for gynecological cancers. In particular, high-grade serous adenocarcinoma (HGSA) is the most common and aggressive type of OC. Although HGSA exhibits complex genetic alterations, including copy number alterations (CNAs), the molecular mechanisms of HGSA pathogenesis are not fully understood. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used to examine genome-wide alterations in ovarian HGSAs. In addition, mutations in TP53, KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA were examined. The highest frequencies of gains in HGSA were found at 8q21-24.3, 3q25.2-27.2, 1q43, and 20q13.33. The most frequent LOHs in HGSA were at 5q12.1-13.3, 4q22.2 -24, 8p21.3-22, 16q22.2-23.1, and 22q13.31. In addition, regions of copy-neutral (CN)-LOHs (CN-LOH) in HGSA were detected at 17q21-25 and 17q11-13. The total lengths of the CN-LOHs were significantly greater in HGSA with lymph node metastasis than in that without lymph node metastasis. Although mutations in TP53 were frequent, mutations in KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA were rarely found in the HGSA specimens examined. The total lengths of the gains were significantly greater in HGSA with TP53 mutation than in that without TP53 mutation. Additionally, concurrent TP53 mutation and CN-LOH at 17p13.1 were frequently found in HGSA. Significant differences in gains between lymph node-positive and -negative samples were observed at 6q16.2-16.3, 6q22.31, and 16q13.2. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the regions of CN-LOH at 9p21-23. These findings suggest the usefulness of genome-wide alterations for the detection of novel frequent genetic alterations that may contribute to HGSA onset or progression.

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Vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase) located in osteoclast plasma membrane transports protons, and forms an acidic environment essential for bone resorption. During differentiation to osteoclasts, expression of V-ATPase subunits increases. In this study, we investigated ATPase activity and subunit association of this enzyme, using osteoclasts differentiated in vitro, in order to understand the role and regulation of the enzymatic activity during differentiation. Unexpectedly, the specific activity decreased in osteoclasts, compared to that in progenitor cells. Furthermore, V-ATPase subunits dissociated each other in osteoclasts. These results indicate that the subunits do not function as proton pumps even though they increase in osteoclasts. It is likely that osteoclasts need to attach to bone to receive a signal to form functional V-ATPase on the plasma membrane.

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