WRKY transcription factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have been shown to play pivotal roles in the regulation of plant defense responses. We previously reported that OsWRKY53-overexpressing rice plants showed enhanced resistance to the rice blast fungus. In this study, we identified OsWRKY53 as a substrate of OsMPK3/OsMPK6, components of a fungal PAMP-responsive MAPK cascade in rice, and analyzed the effect of OsWRKY53 phosphorylation on the regulation of basal defense responses to a virulence race of rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae strain Ina86-137. An in vitro phosphorylation assay revealed that the OsMPK3/OsMPK6 activated by OsMKK4 phosphorylated OsWRKY53 recombinant protein at its multiple clustered serine-proline residues (SP cluster). When OsWRKY53 was coexpressed with a constitutively active mutant of OsMKK4 in a transient reporter gene assay, the enhanced transactivation activity of OsWRKY53 was found to be dependent on phosphorylation of the SP cluster. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing a phospho-mimic mutant of OsWRKY53 (OsWRKY53SD) showed further-enhanced disease resistance to the blast fungus compared to native OsWRKY53-overexpressing rice plants, and a substantial number of defense-related genes, including pathogenesis-related protein genes, were more upregulated in the OsWRKY53SD-overexpressing plants compared to the OsWRKY53-overexpressing plants. These results strongly suggest that the OsMKK4-OsMPK3/OsMPK6 cascade regulates transactivation activity of OsWRKY53, and overexpression of the phospho-mimic mutant of OsWRKY53 results in a major change to the rice transcriptome at steady state that leads to activation of a defense response against the blast fungus in rice plants.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and surgical treatment remains the first-line treatment to provide a cure. In addition to the aging population, obesity, low physical activity, and smoking habits increase CRC risk. Despite advances in surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. For early-stage CRC, endoscopic treatment, including endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, has been performed. However, lymph node dissection is an integral part of surgical treatment for advanced-stage cancer because of the high incidence of lymph node metastasis. Conventional open surgery has evolved into laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Although prospective studies have confirmed the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for CRC, relevant treatment models of transverse colon cancer and rectal cancer still need to be further explored and validated. Furthermore, multidisciplinary treatment is needed to cure CRC completely. This review aimed to provide an update on recent advances in the surgical treatment of CRC.

Stretchable and highly conductive films made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) were prepared by casting the PEDOT/PSS aqueous dispersion as colloidal gel particles containing xylitol and subsequent heating. The electrical conductivity and elongation at break of the PEDOT/PSS film containing 50 wt% of xylitol significantly increased from 0.46 S/cm to 114 S/cm and from 4% to 33%, respectively, by heating at 140 °C in air for 1 h. It was found that the xylitol had two functions as (i) plasticizer preventing hydrogen bonding and (ii) secondary dopant increasing the mobility of charge carriers between the colloidal particles.

No abstract

Although the incidence of stomach cancer in Japan has decreased only slightly, the mortality has decreased markedly. The main reason for this success is the early diagnosis of cancer, to which mass survey has contributed. From 1964 to 1985, 290,914 screening examinations were done at the Mass Survey Center of the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo. In 474 people (0.16%) cancer was detected, and of those, 52% were in an early stage of disease. For the mass survey group, the 5-year survival rate was 80%, and the 10-year survival rate 78.5%. The outpatient group rates were 56.2% and 55.1% for 5 and 10 years, respectively. This difference could be explained by the higher percentage of early gastric cancer and less extensive lymph node metastasis in patients with serosal involvement, in the outpatient group. The 10-year survival results show that early treatment results in an absolute better long-term survival. This refutes the hypothesis that 5-year survival rates of early gastric cancer patients are biased because of lead time of early diagnosis. Mass survey, even for a small district, provides an excellent opportunity to detect gastric cancer in people without symptoms. The high percentage of cases detected with cancer in an early stage reduces stomach cancer mortality.

The preoperative diagnosis of cecal volvulus (CV) is rare and difficult and emergent laparotomy is frequently performed. Here, we report a case of CV that was diagnosed by preoperative computed tomography in a patient with an intellectual disability. In addition, we demonstrate that elective laparoscopic cecopexy can be performed following conservative treatment, such as the use of an ileus tube per anus.

No abstract

Limy bile syndrome extending to the common bile duct (CBD) is a rare condition that lacks a standardized treatment. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with laparoscopic choledocholithotomy by CBD exploration is preferred because it preserves the function of the sphincter of the Vater's papilla and allows treatment of both lesions. A 37-year-old man who was receiving entecavir for chronic hepatitis B developed right upper quadrant pain. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a calcified shadow in the gallbladder and CBD. Abdominal imaging revealed a liquid-like material identified by a calcified shadow in two phases separated by a fluid-fluid level. Abdominal and 3-D drip infusion cholangiography CT showed stones in the gallbladder and CBD with limy bile. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy. Intraoperatively, white-yellow-colored bile and stones were drained from the CBD. A C-tube was placed. Postoperatively, remnant stones and radiopaque materials were absent. The stones comprised of >95% calcium carbonate.