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Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are expressed in normal germ line tissues and various cancers. They are considered promising target molecules for immunotherapy for patients with various cancers. To identify CT antigens, we performed serological identification of antigens by recombinant expression cloning. The humoral immune response of cancer patients against a newly defined antigen was analyzed. A testicular cDNA library was immunoscreened with serum obtained from a gastric adenocarcinoma patient whose primary cancer had regressed once and most liver metastasies had disappeared transiently. We isolated 55 positive cDNA clones comprising 23 different genes. They included 4 genes with testis-specific expression profiles in the Unigene database, including coiled-coil domain containing 62 (CCDC62). RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of 2 splice variants of CCDC62 was restricted to the testis in normal adult tissues. In malignant tissues, CCDC62 variant 2 (CCDC62-2) was aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers, including stomach cancer. A serological survey of 191 cancer patients with a range of different cancers by ELISA revealed antibodies to CCDC62-2 in 13 patients, including stomach cancer. None of the 41 healthy donor serum samples were reactive in the same test. The serum reaction against CCDC62-2 was confirmed by western blot. CCDC62-2 is a CT antigen that is immunogenic in cancer patients. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We evaluated long-term dynorphin A-immunoreactivity in the rat area postrema (AP) after the administration of cisplatin. First, rats were given 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight cisplatin (i.p.) and their behavior was monitored for 72 h. We observed a delayed increase in pica 24 - 72 h after injection, compared to the 24 h before injection. We attributed this to the cisplatin injection. Pica was defined as an increase in the intake of non-nutritional matter such as kaolin. Administration of 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg cisplatin led to an increase in kaolin intake on day 1. Administration of 5 and 10 mg/kg of cisplatin led to decreased intake of laboratory chow (MF) on days 1–3, but 10 mg/kg cisplatin causes an excessive aggravation of their condition. Following this behavioral experiment, we immunohistochemically examined the induction of dynorphin A in the AP at 24, 48 and 72 h post-administration of 1 and 5 mg/kg cisplatin. Administration of 5 mg/kg cisplatin caused dynorphin A to accumulate gradually in the neurosoma of the AP neurons, and the numbers of positive AP neurosomata at 48 and 72 h post-administration were higher than following an equal dosage of 0.9% NaCl. These findings suggest that dynorphin A increases in the central nervous system for a long time following administration, and causes certain behavioral and clinical changes, including those related to appetite and nausea.

The present study examined histological difference between ossifying fibromas (OF, n=5) and peripheral cemento-ossifying fibromas (PCOF, n=7). Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 and -4, osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used for the immunohistochemical examinations. Oxytalan fibers present at the periodontal tissue were stained to determine the tumor cell origin. Many OFs showed high immunohistochemical reactions for BMP-2, -4 and OPN compared to those of PCOFs. PCNA index (IP) of OFs was significantly higher than that of PCOFs. All the PCOFs showed a high expression of oxytalan fibers. Only two OFs exhibited a small number of oxytalan fibers. These results suggest that PCOF has only little ability to form hard tissue and seems to be a reactive lesion. The expression of oxytalan fibers reveals that OF does not only originate from periodontal tissue.

We report the case of a 6-year-old boy with a nasopalatine duct cyst. He consulted a dental clinicbecause of median diastema in the upper medial incisors. Radiographic examinations revealed a radiolucent areain the maxilla, extending from the nasal floor to the alveolar ridge between the medial incisors, which inclinedmedially. The upper lateral incisors were still impacted far from the normal position. We performed marsupializationto prevent damaging the incisor pulp. After that the lateral incisors erupted and malalignment of both incisorsimproved; however, the cystic cavity did not disappear completely. Extirpation of the remaining cyst followed bywound closure was performed at a secondary operation 9 months later. This case was considered to be rarebecause it occurred in childhood and affected the dental alignment at the time of teeth eruption.

This report is of a patient with unusual multiple simple bone cysts. A 17-year-old Japanese man presented with 3 cystic lesions, 2 in the mandible and 1 in the left maxillary sinus. Biopsies from the mandible revealed fibrous tissue, bone, and red blood cells, which did not suggest any specific lesion. A diagnosis of multiple simple bone cysts was made. After treatment of surgical exploration, curettage, and packing, computed tomography scan showed bone regeneration. However, the lesions repeatedly recurred in the mandible. It is generally thought that the prognosis of this lesion is good. Therefore the cause of this recurrence is examined.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) with regional lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The expression of VEGF-C in biopsy specimens obtained from 62 patients with OSCC was examined by immunohistochemistry. In the early stages of T1 and T2 (38 cases), VEGF-C expression strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P

The effects of apomorphine administration on the autonomic responses were investigated in rats. Distinctive gastric motor responses were observed after the intravenous administration of apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg body weight). Gastric motor responses in the distal stomach induced by apomorphine administration were classified into two types. One type involved inhibition of phasic contractions which appeared just after the administration of apomorphine. The other involved an increase in the frequency of small phasic contractions accompanied by increased gastric tone appearing with a relatively longer delay. No relaxation was observed in either the proximal or distal stomach. These gastric motor responses showed a dose–response effect to the amount of apomorphine administered (0.002–0.1 mg/kg body weight). In addition, submandibular salivary secretion was observed in response to the intravenous administration of apomorphine at a dose of 3 or 10 mg/kg body weight. Pretreatment with domperidone (1 or 2 mg/kg body weight) or the ablation of the area postrema (AP) abolished the gastric motor response and salivary secretion induced by the administration of apomorphine. In conclusion, rats showed definitive autonomic phenomena in response to the administration of apomorphine. Dopamine 2-like receptors situated in the AP mediate apomorphine-induced autonomic phenomena in rats.

岡山大学歯学部附属病院第二口腔外科にて加療した口腔悪性黒色腫4例について臨床的検討を行った。対象症例の性別は男性2例, 女性2例, 年齢は57歳から75歳までであった。原発部位は下顎歯肉1例, 口蓋3例で初診時のUICC (1997) 分類はstage Ia期: 1例, stage II期: 1例, stage III: 2例であった。治療法は全例外科療法を施行し, 化学療法及び免疫療法またはホルモン療法を併用した。局所再発及び頸部リンパ節転移または遠隔転移をきたした2例が死亡例であった。他の2例は, 局所再発及び転移はなく, 経過観察期間は14年11ケ月と3年8ケ月であった。

1982年4月より1999年3月までに岡山大学歯学部附属病院第二口腔外科を受診し, 病理組織学的に粘表皮癌と診断された27例について臨床統計的検討を行ったので報告する。 (1) 性別発生頻度は, 男性16例, 女性11例。 (2) 年齢別発生頻度は平均63.0歳であった。 (3) 部位別発生頻度をみると大唾液腺2例, 小唾液腺25例。 (4) TNM分類ではT1が7例, T2が7例, T4が13例であり, Stage別では, Stage Iが7例, Stage IIが7例, Stage IVが13例であった。 (5) 治療法については, 24例に対して外科療法を施行し, そのうち外科療法の単独施行は13例, 化学療法および放射線療法の併用療法を施行したものは11例であった。 (6) 全体の5年累積生存率は69.4%で, Stage I, II症例が90.9%, Stage IV症例が46.4%であった。

Objective. The purpose of this study was to discriminate radiographically between dentigerous cysts (DCs) and odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) associated with a mandibular third molar. Study design. The material consisted of panoramic radiographs of dentigerous cysts (44 patients, 45 cysts) and odontogenic keratocysts (15 patients, 16 cysts), all of which were related to a mandibular third molar. The radiographic images were analyzed with reference to the patients’ ages and symptoms. Results. The mean age of patients in the OKC group was less than that of patients in the DC group. The mean area of the cysts in the OKC group was larger than that of those in the DC group. The mean distance from the second to the third molar in the DC group was greater than that in the OKC group. Although there was a significant correlation between the area and distance in the DC and OKC groups, the patients’ ages did not significantly correlate to the area and distance of either cyst. Conclusions. The OKCs had a tendency toward rapid growth in the patient’s youth but short movement of a third molar compared with the DCs. The DCs and OKCs do not appear to develop gradually from the period when follicles or dental lamina were formed but arise at various periods randomly. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001;91:743-7)

The effects of altering the timing of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) administration on neutropenia induced by cyclophosphamide (CPA) were studied experimentally in a mouse model. Experimental mice were divided into three groups: (a) treatment with rhG-CSF after CPA administration (post-treatment group); (b) treatment with rhG-CSF both before and after CPA administration (pre- and post-treatment group); and (c) treatment with saline after CPA administration (control group). The results were as follows. Mice receiving rhG-CSF on the 2 days preceding CPA treatment, in which progenitor cell counts outside the S-phase when CPA was administered were the lowest of all the groups, showed accelerated neutrophil recovery but decreased neutrophil nadirs compared with the control group despite rhG-CSF treatment. The pre- and post-treatment group, consisting of mice who received rhG-CSF treatment on days -4 and -3 before CPA treatment, and in which progenitor cell counts when CPA was administered were increased to greater levels than in the other groups, showed remarkably accelerated neutrophil recovery and the greatest increase in the neutrophil nadirs of all the groups. These results suggested that the kinetics of progenitor cell populations when chemotherapeutic agents were administered seemed to play an important role in neutropenia after chemotherapy, and that not only peripheral neutrophil cell and total progenitor cell counts but also progenitor cell kinetics should be taken into consideration when administering rhG-CSF treatment against the effects of chemotherapy.

Aims Cisplatin (CDDP) is a potent anticancer agent, but severe renal toxicity can limit its use. We investigated the protective effect of cepharanthin (CE), a biscoclaurin alkaloid, on the renal toxicity of CDDP. Main methods Mice were given CDDP along with CE. Effects of CE on CDDP toxicity were investigated by assaying markers of renal toxicity together with MT expression, and by histopathological examination of the kidney. MT-null mice were also examined. Key findings CE induced expression of metallothionein (MT). Pre-administration of CE attenuated an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations after the CDDP injection. A histochemical analysis demonstrated protection against CDDP-induced necrocytosis of kidney tissues by CE. The protective effect of CE did not occur in the MT-null mice. Significance Pretreatment with CE may reduce the renal toxicity of CDDP through expression of MT.

Background Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) is a rare, high malignant variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which shows biphasic proliferation of conventional SCC component and malignant spindle shape cells with sarcomatous appearance. Methods A case of Spindle cell carcinoma with bone-like calcified materials, occurring at the mandibular molar region of 71-years-old Japanese male patient was presented with gross finding, histological findings and MRI image. To identify the characteristics of the bone-like materials, immunohistochemistry were performed. Results Histologically, the cancer cells were composed of spindle cells and epithelial cells which form nests with prominent keratinization. Histological findings showed typical histology of the SpCC, however, as an uncommon finding, spatters of calcified, bone-like materials were observed in between the cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that cancer cells were positive for cytokeratins and vimentin to a varying degree and negative for Desmin, S-100, Osteopontin, BMP-2 or BMP-4. These findings implied that the calcified materials were formed by metaplasia of the stromal cells. Discussion Bone-like materials formation by osseous and/or cartilaginous metaplasia of the stroma in the carcinoma has been reported. However, the detailed mechanism of these metaplasia and affection on the clinical feature, prognosis and therapies are not well established. In summary, we presented an unique case of SpCC, which has not been described in the literature.

We report a successful case with pulmonary metastases from lower gingival cancer by a surgical procedure and four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy including paclitaxel (PTX), cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A 47-year-old woman underwent chemotherapy with CDDP and 5-FU after an operation for lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma and its neck lymph node metastases. At 4 months from the initial treatment, pulmonary metastatic lesion was resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Fourteen months later, pulmonary metastatic lesion was found and dissected again using VATS. Furthermore, the patient was treated by adjuvant chemotherapy with PTX 135 mg/m(2) over 3 hours on day 1, CDDP 75 mg/m(2)on day 2 and 5-FU 350 mg/m(2)/day by continuous intravenous infusion on day 2 through 5. After that, there is no evidence of pulmonary recurrence for more than six years.

An analysis of 47 third molars in the line of mandibular fractures was undertaken. The results were as follows:1) There were 31 impacted teeth and 16 erupted teeth among the total of 47 third molars. Thirteen of these third molars were extracted; 11 teeth were impacted, and 2 teeth had erupted. Subluxation had occurred in 2 almost all extracted third molars.2) Five of the 47 third molars had postoperative complications; postoperative infection occurred in 3 cases and malocclusion in 2 cases. These third molars in the line of mandibular fractures were retained when the mandibular fractures were treated.Our results suggest that it is not necessary to retain third molars in the line of mandibular fractures unless they are impacted and show no signs of luxation, as they do not participate in occlusion and because this region is prone to infection due to debris.

We report a case of intra-osseous carcinoma arising from a mandibular cyst. An 81-year-old woman visited our hospital because of a right mandibular swelling. Radiographic examination showed a multilocular radiolucent lesion and bone expansion, extending from the midline to the right mandibular angle. The clinical diagnosis was a mandibular cyst and marsupialization was performed. The histopathological specimen showed a cyst wall with an epithelial layer and connective tissue. After marsupialization, the swelling and the radiolucent area of the mandible decreased. However, about 7 months later, the mesial region of the lesion became swollen again, and it was biopsied. At that time, we obtained a pathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma.Marsupialization does not permit histopathological examination of all sites of the lesion. Therefore, when it is performed for large mandibular cysts such as in our case, we should consider the posibility of an intra-osseous carcinoma arising from the lesion.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare odontogenic keratocysts associated with and not associated with an impacted mandibular third molar. Study Design. Panoramic radiographs of odontogenic keratocysts associated with impacted mandibular third molars (15 cysts, associated group) were compared with radiographs of odontogenic keratocysts not associated with impacted mandibular third molars (25 cysts, nonassociated group). The radiographic images were analyzed with reference to the patients' age and sex. Results. The mean age of patients in the associated group was lower than that of patients in the nonassociated group. The mean area of the cysts in the associated group was larger than that of those in the nonassociated group. The patients' ages did not significantly correlate to the areas of either kind of cyst. Conclusions. The odontogenic keratocysts in the associated group had a tendency toward rapid growth in the patients' youth. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;94:272-5)

The mechanism of induction of emesis by X-ray irradiation remains largely unknown. The purpose of the present research was to clarify the neuronal basis of the induction of nausea induced by X-ray irradiation analyzing c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) as a marker of cellular excitation. We confirmed that the dose of X-ray irradiation (4 Gy) used for the present research could actually induce nausea by preliminary measurement of kaolin intake. Induction of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the NTS was observed in the animals that received X-ray irradiation of the whole body. The mean number of c-Fos positive cells in the animals that received irradiation was significantly larger than that in the non-irradiated animals. Partial exposure of the abdomen to X-rays showed significantly greater c-Fos expression than that of the head. These results indicated the presence of a certain route for transmitting information from the periphery toward the central nervous system by X-ray irradiation. The number of c-Fos positive cells induced by X-ray irradiation in animals vagotomized at the subdiaphragmatic level was lower than that in sham-operated animals. Animals receiving a serotonin subtype three (5-HT3, 5-hydroxytryptamine) receptor antagonist (tropisetron, ICS 205-930, 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate) showed a significant reduction in c-Fos protein expression compared to animals receiving a vehicle. These results strongly suggested that X-ray irradiation activates 5-HT3 receptors on the terminals of the abdominal vagal nerves to excite the afferent pathway, thereby inducing emesis.

There are still no objective diagnostic criteria for macroglossia. The aims of this study were to examine the effect of reduction of the tongue on its position, and to suggest a standard measurement point for the objective diagnosis of macroglossia. Twenty-four patients were studied. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken with the tongue in the rest position, and preoperative and postoperative measurements were made on cephalometric lateral roentgenograms from all 14 patients with macroglossia and the 10 control subjects. The results suggested that measurement of length of the tongue, and the tongue area: oral cavity ratio on lateral cephalometric radiographs are useful in the more accurate diagnosis of macroglossia.