Search

A simple theoretic approach for determining the best main serial chain in a nonserial network structure is presented. The best main serial chain is that portion of the network which minimizes storage demands and the effectivity of dynamic programming algorithms are highly dependent on the identification of these main chains. Nonserial network structure problems can be applied in production line, processing systems and other multi-stage decision systems.

Because of the poor prognosis and of oral mucosal melanoma, and patients' short survival, large, randomised, clinical studies are difficult. We have investigated its demographic characteristics and analysed the effect of treatment, resection margins, and metastases on survival. We recorded age, sex, site of primary tumour, and types of treatment, survival, and metastases in 74 patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Survival was analysed based on bony invasion, depth of invasion, and resection margins, and we found that it varied depending on the primary site (p = 0.002), and declined with liver (p = 0.001) or brain (p = 0.033) metastases. The two-year survival according to the primary site was as follows: palate 85% (n = 32), anterior maxillary gingiva 53% (n = 13), mandible 58% (n = 13), and posterior maxillary gingival 74% (n = 10) and buccal mucosa 50% (n = 4). The two-year survival was 34% (n = 8) in patients with liver metastases and 23% (n = 7) in patients with brain metastases. In cases of bony invasion (p = 0.005), depth of invasion (p = 0.042), unclear resection margin (p = 0.023), or higher T stages (p = 0.009), the survival declined considerably. Neck dissection did not affect survival (p = 0.343). Survival of the patients given chemotherapy was significantly lower (p = 0.013) and the two-year survival was 54.0%. The patients given radiotherapy showed no significant difference in survival compared with those not given radiotherapy (p = 0.107). In conclusion, primary site, bony invasion, resection margins, depth of invasion and systemic metastases were critical to predict prognosis and selection of treatment of oral mucosal melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may contribute to a variation in the DNA repair capacity, thereby affecting the risk of carcinogenesis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Accordingly, the present study analyzed 14 polymorphisms in DNA repair genes and their impact on the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background In contrast to its well-known endocrine function, the role of inhibin in cancer development and therapeutic response is unclear. Salmonella, particularly less toxic attenuated Salmonella strains, are used to treat cancer in two ways. First, Salmonella accumulate around tumors, penetrate the cell barrier, and replicate inside the tumors. Second, Salmonella can act as a vehicle for delivering anticancer agents or proapoptotic genes to attack tumors. In this study, we aimed to develop a suitable cancer therapeutic strategy by genetically modifying attenuated Salmonella typhimurium to harbor short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmids targeting alpha subunit of inhibin (sh-INHA). Methods We analyzed the expression of human INHA in normal and cancer cells and tissues. We developed genetically engineered attenuated S. typhimurium harboring sh-INHA (S. typhimurium /sh-INHA) and assessed its cancer therapeutic effects by using cell culture models and syngeneic mouse tumor models. Results INHA expression levels were markedly higher in colon cancer and melanoma cells and tissues than in their normal counterparts. Suppression of INHA expression mildly reduced cancer cell survival and induced caspase activation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions. Although the genetically engineered S. typhimurium mildly interfered with the invasion of S. typhimurium into host colon cancer and melanoma cells, S. typhimurium /sh-INHA caused remarkable cytotoxicity in cancer compared with unmodified S. typhimurium or S. typhimurium expressing a control scrambled shRNA (S. typhimurium /sh-Cont). Salmonella typhimurium /sh-INHA-treated mice also showed a significantly inhibited growth of colon cancers and melanomas, with a survival advantage. Conclusion Our results suggest that tumor-targeted therapy using S. typhimurium /sh-INHA may provide a novel cancer treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gene encoding human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) is involved in DNA base excision repair from oxidatively damaged DNA. A case–control study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the susceptibility and clinicopathological outcomes of prostate cancer (CaP) and hOGG1 genotype. Patients and methods: Subjects were recruited from 266 CaP patients and 266 age-matched benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. The hOGG1 codon 326 genotype was determined by peptide nucleic acid-mediated PCR clamping and compared with Gleason score and tumor stage. Results: The Cys allele at codon 326 of hOGG1 was associated with an increased risk of CaP in comparison with the Ser allele (P = 0.005). Gleason scores of 8 or higher were observed more often in patients with the mutant genotypes Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys than in those with a wild-type genotype (P = 0.045), and the Cys/Cys homozygous genotype was associated with a significantly higher risk of metastatic disease in comparison with the Ser/Ser genotype (P = 0.017). Conclusions: These results suggest that hOGG1 is associated with the susceptibility to CaP and its aggressive clinicopathological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: We compared the performances of the paediatric blade of a Pentax Airway Scope and an Ovassapian airway in fibreoptic tracheal intubation in patients whose necks were stabilized by semi-rigid neck collars.Methods: Ninety patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups (Group OVA-FOB and Group AWS-FOB). The time to tracheal intubation, success rate of tracheal intubation, number of optimization manoeuvres (jaw thrust), and difficulty of manipulation of the fibreoptic bronchoscope were compared between the groups.Results: The time to tracheal intubation was significantly shorter (32 vs 50 s; median difference 19 s; 95% confidence interval 14-25 s; P<0.001) and manipulation of the fibreoptic bronchoscope was significantly easier for Group AWS-FOB. Optimization manoeuvres were rarely required to facilitate fibreoptic tracheal intubation in Group AWS-FOB [jaw thrust, 0 (0%); jaw thrust with anterior neck collar removal, 1 (2%)] compared with that required in Group OVA-FOB [jaw thrust, 39 (87%); jaw thrust with anterior neck collar removal, 2 (4%)]. There was no significant difference in the success rate of tracheal intubation on the first attempt between groups [Group AWS-FOB, 45 (100%); Group OVA-FOB, 44 (98%)].Conclusions: Combined use of the paediatric blade of a Pentax Airway Scope and a fibreoptic bronchoscope enabled rapid tracheal intubation, minimizing the use of external manoeuvres of the airway, in patients with limited mouth opening and cervical spine immobilization by semi-rigid neck collars, compared with use of the Ovassapian airway and the fibreoptic bronchoscope.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02827110. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of metastatic disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent advances in the biological understanding of breast cancer have facilitated an unprecedented increase of survival in a subset of patients presenting with metastatic breast cancer. Patients with HER2 positive (HER2+) or triple negative breast cancer are at highest risk of developing CNS metastasis, and typically experience a poor prognosis despite treatment with local and systemic therapies. Among the obstacles ahead in the realm of developmental therapeutics for breast cancer CNS metastasis is the improvement of our knowledge on its biological nuances and on the interaction of the blood-brain barrier with new compounds. This article reviews recent discoveries related to the underlying biology of breast cancer brain metastases, clinical progress to date and suggests rational approaches for investigational therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy is the primary treatment modality for patients with metastatic and locally recurrent MIBC. Yet, despite the initial high response rates, chemotherapy is usually not curative and the overall 5 year survival is only 5–15%. Thus far, clinicopathological markers have been identified as survival indicators, but they are inadequate to predict either the chemoresponse rate or the survival rate of an individual patient. Accordingly, there is growing interest in determining whether either of these parameters is genetically influenced. In the present work, S100A9 and EGFR were found to predict disease progression after chemotherapy in patients who developed locally recurrent or metastatic MIBC. We also performed functional analysis to confirm our findings. As very few studies have analyzed disease progression and molecular markers in this group of patients, our findings will help to better identify those in whom a chemoresponse is likely.Background In our previous gene expression profile analysis, IL1B, S100A8, S100A9, and EGFR were shown to be important mediators of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of these gene signatures to predict disease progression after chemotherapy in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic MIBC. Patients and methods Patients with locally advanced MIBC who received chemotherapy were enrolled. The expression signatures of four genes were measured and carried out further functional analysis to confirm our findings. Results Two of the four genes, S100A9 and EGFR, were determined to significantly influence disease progression (P = 0.023, 0.045, respectively). Based on a receiver operating characteristic curve, a cut-off value for disease progression was determined. Patients with the good-prognostic signature group had a significantly longer time to progression and cancer-specific survival time than those with the poor-prognostic signature group (P < 0.001, 0.042, respectively). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, gene signature was the only factor that significantly influenced disease progression [hazard ratio: 4.726, confidence interval: 1.623–13.763, P = 0.004]. In immunohistochemical analysis, S100A9 and EGFR positivity were associated with disease progression after chemotherapy. Protein expression of S100A9/EGFR showed modest correlation with gene expression of S100A9/EGFR (r = 0.395, P = 0.014 and r = 0.453, P = 0.004). Our functional analysis provided the evidence demonstrating that expression of S100A9 and EGFR closely associated chemoresistance, and that inhibition of S100A9 and EGFR may sensitize bladder tumor cells to the cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Conclusions The S100A9/EGFR level is a novel prognostic marker to predict the chemoresponsiveness of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic MIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]