Human chromosome 14q32.2 carries a cluster of imprinted genes including paternally expressed genes (PEGs) such as DLK1 and RTL1 and maternally expressed genes (MEGs) such as MEG3 (also known as GTL2), RTL1as (RTL1 antisense) and MEG8 (refs. 1,2), together with the intergenic differentially methylated region (IG-DMR) and the MEG3-DMR. Consistent with this, paternal and maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 14 (upd(14)pat and upd(14)mat) cause distinct phenotypes. We studied eight individuals (cases 1-8) with a upd(14)pat-like phenotype and three individuals (cases 9-11) with a upd(14)mat-like phenotype in the absence of upd(14) and identified various deletions and epimutations affecting the imprinted region. The results, together with recent mouse data, imply that the IG-DMR has an important cis-acting regulatory function on the maternally inherited chromosome and that excessive RTL1 expression and decreased DLK1 and RTL1 expression are relevant to upd(14)pat-like and upd(14)mat-like phenotypes, respectively.

Human chromosome 14q32.2 harbors the germline-derived primary DLK1-MEG3 intergenic differentially methylated region (IG-DMR) and the postfertilization-derived secondary MEG3-DMR, together with multiple imprinted genes. Although previous studies in cases with microdeletions and epimutations affecting both DMRs and paternal/maternal uniparental disomy 14-like phenotypes argue for a critical regulatory function of the two DMRs for the 14q32.2 imprinted region, the precise role of the individual DMR remains to be clarified. We studied an infant with upd(14)pat body and placental phenotypes and a heterozygous microdeletion involving the IG-DMR alone (patient 1) and a neonate with upd(14)pat body, but no placental phenotype and a heterozygous microdeletion involving the MEG3-DMR alone (patient 2). The results generated from the analysis of these two patients imply that the IG-DMR and the MEG3-DMR function as imprinting control centers in the placenta and the body, respectively, with a hierarchical interaction for the methylation pattern in the body governed by the IG-DMR. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an essential long-range imprinting regulatory function for the secondary DMR.

The role of diffusion weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient in intracranial germ cell tumors has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the ADC correlates with the histologic subtypes of germ cell tumors. We also aimed to investigate whether the ADC values can predict treatment response. The authors retrospectively analyzed the ADC values of the enhancing and solid regions of germ cell tumors. The absolute ADC values and the normalized ADC values were compared among different histologic diagnoses. The ADC values before and after the first course of chemotherapy were also compared between the different prognostic groups. Ten patients were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 9.3 years (range 5.3-13.8 years). There were four patients with germinoma and six patients with nongerminomatous germ cell tumor (NGGCT) including five mixed germ cell tumors and one immature teratoma. The mean absolute and normalized ADC values (×10(-3) mm(2)/s) were significantly lower in germinomas [0.835 ± 0.065 (standard deviation) and 1.11 ± 0.096, respectively] than in NGGCTs (1.271 ± 0.145 and 1.703 ± 0.223, respectively) (p = 0.01). The ADC values before and after the first course of chemotherapy were available in four patients. The ADC value after the first chemotherapy had a tendency to increase more in patients who eventually demonstrated complete response with chemotherapy than in patients who required second-look surgery. Assessment of the ADC values of germ cell tumors is considered to facilitate differentiation of histological subtypes of germ cell tumors. Evaluation of the ADC may also be useful for predicting treatment response.

A five-yr-old boy developed chronic liver failure and ESKD because of CHF and juvenile NPHP. He underwent sequential liver and kidney transplantation with a compatible blood type from his father, at five yr, seven months and five yr, 11 months old, respectively. Because the patient was not in ESKD, we initially performed LDLT because of significant portal hypertension. Even after LDLT, his ascites was not ameliorated, and he needed continuous drainage of ascites and daily albumin and gamma globulin infusion. Thereafter, he progressed to ESKD and needed hemodialysis for one month before LDKT. CDC crossmatch for donor B cells in the warm test, FCXM for B cell IgG, and flow PRA for donor class II were positive before LDKT. After pretreatment of three courses of plasma exchange and intravenous gamma globulin, LDKT was performed. Two weeks after LDKT, AIHA concomitant with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, also called Evans syndrome, occurred because of passenger lymphocytes from the donor; however, the patient was successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. Eighteen months have passed since LDKT, and liver and kidney function in both the recipient and donor are normal.

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