Search

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of pretreatment [18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with nodal metastasis treated with chemoradiotherapy. Methods and Materials: Between March 2002 and December 2006, 178 patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma and nodal metastasis underwent fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography before chemoradiotherapy. Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake by both the primary lesion and the neck node was measured using the standard uptake value (SUV). The overall survival, disease-free survival, local control, nodal progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were calculated, and several prognostic factors were evaluated. Results: The patients with a nodal SUV≥6.00 had a significantly lower 3-year disease-free survival rate than those with a lower SUV (44% vs. 69%, p=.004). On multivariate analysis, a high SUV of nodal disease also proved to be a significantly unfavorable factor for disease-free survival (p=.04, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-3.23), nodal progression-free survival (p=.05; 95% CI, 1.00-4.15), and distant metastasis-free survival (p=.016; 95% CI, 1.25-8.92). Among the patients with a greater nodal SUV (≥6.00), those treated with planned neck dissection had better nodal progression-free survival than those in the observation group (p=.04, hazard ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.00-5.85). Conclusion: Among head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with chemoradiotherapy, the pretreatment SUV of nodal disease was one of the strongest prognostic factors and also provided important information for the selection of patients suitable for planned neck dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of angiogenesis is now a recognized strategy for the prevention of various angiogenesis-mediated disorders. We investigated, using well-characterized in vitro systems, the anti-angiogenic property of vitamin E compounds, with particular emphasis on tocotrienol, a natural analog of tocopherol. Tocotrienol, but not tocopherol, inhibited the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells in dose dependent manner at half-maximal concentrations in the low micromolar range. Tocotrienol also significantly inhibited the formation of networks of elongated endothelial cells within 3D collagen gels. From these results, we suggest that tocotrienol is a potential candidate for the development of useful therapeutic agents or preventive food factors for tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) has been applied to the investigation of the electronic structure of oligothiophenes with 4–8 thiophene rings. In a series of α-linked oligomers (αn with n being the number of rings), a systematic evolution of the π band is observed. Several peaks which correspond to the π band are observed in the region of 0.7–3 eV below the Fermi level (EF), and the bandwidth becomes broader with increasing n. The nonbonding π band is observed at 3.5 eV below EF and its energy is almost independent of the number of thiophene units. UPS spectra of α7 and α8 are fairly similar to the spectra of polythiophene, showing that these oligomers are good model compounds of the polymer. The ionization threshold energy of α7 and polythiophene was observed to be 5.3 eV. The effect of irregularity on the π-electron system was also studied by using oligomers which contain a β linkage or a vinylene group at the middle of the molecule. The UPS spectra showed that the β linkages significantly affect the electronic structure of polythiophene, while the vinylene group does not. In order to analyze the UPS spectra and to investigate the electronic structures of oligomers, the orbital energies and the geometries of these oligomers are calculated by the semiempirical MNDO-SCF-MO (modified neglect of diatomic overlap self-consistent-field molecular orbital) method. Theoretically simulated spectra of these oligothiophenes derived from the obtained orbital energies by Gaussian broadening are compared with the observed ones. The agreement between the observed and calculated spectra is very good, particularly in the π region. It is shown from the optimized geometry that (1) αn ’s have planar structure and π electrons are delocalized, (2) the oligomer with β linkages has nonplanar structure leading to limited delocalization of π electrons, and (3) the oligomers... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which investigated the effect of irregularity on the π-electron systems by the ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) for several oligothiophenes. Information on UPS system; Methodology of the study; Results and discussion.

No study has systematically reviewed the evidence on presentation of oropharyngeal dysphagia and swallowing rehabilitation following esophagectomy. The purposes of this systematic review are to 1) qualitatively synthesize the current findings on oropharyngeal swallowing abnormalities identified by instrumental swallowing evaluations, 2) describe the reported health-related outcomes in relation to swallowing abnormality following esophagectomy, and 3) examine the efficacy of reported rehabilitative interventions for oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients who underwent esophagectomy. Publications were searched using five electronic databases. No language or publication date restrictions were imposed. Two authors performed a blind review for published or unpublished studies that reported swallowing biomechanics and dysphagic symptoms using instrumental evaluation of swallowing, specifically the videofluoroscopic swallowing study and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, and/or health-related outcomes in relation to swallowing abnormalities, and/or therapeutic interventions for oropharyngeal dysphagia following esophagectomy. Twelve studies out of 2,193 studies including 458 patients met the inclusion criteria. Reported abnormal swallowing biomechanics included vocal fold immobility, delayed onset of swallowing, reduced hyolaryngeal elevation, and reduced opening of the upper esophageal sphincter. Aspiration (0–81%) and pharyngeal residue (22–100%) were prevalent. Those abnormal swallowing biomechanics and swallowing symptoms were commonly reported following both transhiatal and transthoracic esophagectomy. Pneumonia presented in 5–25% of the study patients. One quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of swallowing exercises for postoperative oropharyngeal dysphagia; three case series reported a benefit of the chin-tuck maneuver in reducing aspiration and residue. This review revealed distinct swallowing impairments and increased pneumonia risks following esophagectomy. This review also found that evidence on the efficacy of therapeutic interventions was limited. Future studies are warranted to develop effective rehabilitative interventions for postesophagectomy patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 908–915 Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using short needle knives is safe and effective, but bleeding is a problem due to low haemostatic capability. Aim To assess the performance of a novel ball-tipped needle knife (Flush knife-BT) for ESD with particular emphasis on haemostasis. Methods A case–control study to compare the performance for ESD of 30 pairs of consecutive early gastrointestinal lesions (oesophagus: 12, stomach: 32, colorectum: 16) with standard Flush knife (F) vs. Flush knife-BT (BT). Primary outcome was efficacy of intraprocedure haemostasis. Secondary outcomes included procedure time, procedure speed (dividing procedure time into the area of resected specimen), en bloc resection rate and recurrence rate. Results Median intraoperative bleeding points and bleeding points requiring haemostatic forceps were smaller in the BT group than in the F group (4 vs. 8, P < 0.0001, 0 vs. 3, P < 0.0001). There was no difference between groups for procedure time; however, procedure speed was shorter in the BT group ( P = 0.0078). En bloc and en bloc R0 resection rates were 100%, with no perforation or post-operative bleeding. No recurrence was observed in either group at follow-up 1 year postprocedure. Conclusions Ball-tipped Flush knife (Flush knife-BT) appears to improve haemostatic efficacy and dissection speed compared with standard Flush knife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare radiation treatment plans (RTPs) that used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with helical tomotherapy (HT) or three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for nasal natural killer/Tcell lymphoma (NNKTL). We created RTPs that used IMRT with HT or 3D-CRT for eight NNKTL patients previously treated at our institution and conducted a pilot comparison between the two modalities using the parameters of the target coverage and homogeneity for the planning target volume (PTV) and the maximum and mean doses for organs at risk (OARs). The clinical target volume (CTV) included the gross tumour volume with an additional margin of 1.5 cm and the nasopharynx, palates and nasal cavity; the PTV with the CTV plus a 2 mm margin received a total dose of 50 Gy. IMRT achieved significantly better PTV coverage, with more than 99% of the PTV receiving 90% and 95% of the prescribed dose, whereas 3D-CRT could not provide adequate coverage of the PTV, with 89.1±2.6% and 84.5±2.7% of the PTV receiving 90% and 95% of the prescribed dose, respectively (both p ,0.0001). The homogeneity index was 0.29±0.06 for IMRT and 0.046±0.022 for 3D-CRT, which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). IMRT tended to provide equivalent or slightly better OAR avoidance than 3DCRT. In conclusion, 3D-CRT could not provide adequate coverage of the PTV because the PTV was close to many OARs. IMRT should be used for NNKTL because a lack of optimal RTPs could cause local failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic results of arterial injection therapy via the superficial temporal artery for 134 cases of stages III and IV (M0) oral cavity cancer retrospectively, and to clarify the prognostic factors. We administered intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy by continuous infusion of carboplatin in 65 cases from January 1993 to July 2002. Systemic chemotherapy was performed on 26 cases at the same time. We administered intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy by cisplatin with sodium thiosulphate in 69 cases from October 2002 to December 2006. Systemic chemotherapy was performed on 48 cases at the same time. The 3-year local control rate was 68.6% (T2-3: 77.9%; T4: 51.3%), and the 3-year survival rate was 53.9% (stage III: 62.9%; stage IV: 45.3%). Regarding the results of multivariate analysis of survival rates, age (<65), selective intra-arterial infusion, and the use of cisplatin as an agent for intra-arterial infusion were significant factors. The therapeutic results of intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy via the superficial temporal artery were not inferior to the results of surgery. In particular, the results of arterial injection therapy by cisplatin with sodium thiosulphate were excellent, so we believe that it will be a new therapy for advanced oral cavity cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption spectra in an oriented film of pentacene have been studied up to 10 GPa under hydrostatic conditions. The absorption bands of this hydrocarbon rapidly shifted to a longer wavelength region. The Davydov splitting of the 0-0 band in the oriented film abruptly increased with increasing pressure up to 1.2 GPa. However, this splitting disappeared at around 1.5 GPa. The absorption spectrum at this pressure is similar to that of the amorphous film. The molecular arrangements in the oriented film of pentacene changed to the amorphous state at around 1.5 GPa. When the pressure was increased further, the absorption peaks disappeared at pressures greater than 6.6 GPa. When the pressure is reduced from 10 GPa to the ambient pressures, we cannot find the original absorption spectra of the oriented film of pentacene. The irreversible optical property arises from the solid-phase reaction at higher pressures.We have observed in situ shear stress effects on the oriented film of pentacene in the sapphire-anvil cell under the microscope. After the pressure is increased up to 2 GPa, one sapphire-anvil is rotated by applied force to generate shear stress at this pressure. The color of the thin film changed remarkably from blue to yellow at the outer part on the anvil, but the color at the center was blue, insensitive to shear stress. The absorption intensity of the visible bands sharply decreased, and the width vastly broadened in the outer part. The amorphization of the oriented film is accelerated under shear deformation. On the other hand, the intensity of the absorption band below 400 nm increased in the outer part. After shear stress was reduced, the original spectrum of pentacene did not recover completely. The conjugated system in pentacene is partly broken by shear stress. Thus, the solid-phase reaction is also induced by shear stress for the thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of shear stress on the absorption spectra of a thin film of one-dimensional bis(diphenylglyoximato)platinum(II), Pt(dpg) 2 have been studied under high pressure. The color of the thin film turns from red-brown at ambient pressure to green at 0.4 GPa. Then, one sapphire anvil is rotated by applied force in order to generate shear stress at 0.4 GPa. The color of the thin film at the outer part on the anvil changes remarkably from green to yellow, but the color at the center is green. The absorption spectra of Pt(dpg) 2 have simultaneously been measured under shear deformation and non-hydrostatic conditions. The absorption intensity of the visible band decreases sharply at outer part, and this absorption peak abruptly shifts to the near-infrared region. The powder x-ray diffraction profiles of the thin film of Pt(dpg) 2 at center and outer parts have been studied under shear deformation. The 110 and 200 lines at outer part markedly shift to the lower d-value region. In contrast, both diffraction lines at the center part are insensitive to shear stress. This behavior corresponds to the shift of the absorption band at outer part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have studied the effect of shear stress by using the sapphire-anvil cell, which was developed to generate shear stress on a thin film under high pressure. We have tried to synthesize the charge-transfer (CT) salt of TMPD (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) and TCNQ (7,7,8,8,-tetracyanoquinodimethane) by the shear stress effect. The shear deformation caused a change of the color of the thin film to blue-black at the outer part on the sapphire culet, while the color at the center part remained as orange of neutral TCNQ. The thin film on the anvils was examined by Raman spectroscopy under a microscope. The Raman bands attributed to C were observed at 1386cm−1 and 1452cm−1 for the CT salt and neutral TCNQ, respectively. For the blue-black thin film at the outer part, the Raman band appeared at 1386cm−1, while at the center part, it was observed at 1452cm−1. From the Raman spectra, the formation of the CT salt from TMPD and TCNQ by the shear stress effect was confirmed. In addition, the estimation of the shear stress effect on Pt(dpg)2, bis(diphenylglyoximato)-platinum(II), was performed by comparing the Raman band under the shear stress with one under hydrostatic pressure. It was noted that the shear stress with the sapphire anvil cell was applied more strongly at the outer part on the culet than at the center part. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MesV) contains the somata of primary afferent neurons innervating masticatory muscle spindles and the periodontal membrane. MesV afferent somata are unique in receiving synaptic inputs. Intracellular recordings in coronal pontine slices from adult rats were made from MesV neurons identified by having Cs-sensitive inward rectification and pseudounipolar morphology. Stimuli near the MesV evoked either a cluster of action potentials superimposed on a postsynaptic potential (PSP) or an antidromic spike at resting membrane potential (RMP). Membrane hyperpolarization revealed that each cluster of action potentials consisted of an antidromic spike and a subsequent PSP. Evoked PSPs in slices and miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) recorded using whole-cell patch in dissociated MesV neurons were resistant to glutamate antagonists and strychnine but were reversibly abolished by 40μM bicuculline. Superfusion of 1–10mM GABA decreased input resistance and depolarized the membrane. Reversal potentials for evoked PSPs and GABA-induced depolarizations were similar and close to that for mPSCs which matched the Cl− equilibrium potential. Thus activation of synapses on MesV somata evokes GABAergic PSPs that generate action potentials at RMP in the adult. These data also indicate that primary afferent MesV neurons can act as interneurons in the central control of mastication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary Aim : To investigate the effect of different proton pump inhibitors, S-mephenytoin 4′-hydroxylase (CYP2C19) genotype and antibiotic susceptibility on the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori . Methods : One hundred and eighty-seven H. pylori- infected peptic ulcer patients were randomly treated with either rabeprazole (10 mg b.d.) or lansoprazole (30 mg b.d.) plus amoxicillin (750 mg b.d.) and clarithromycin (400 mg b.d.) for 1 week. The antibiotic susceptibility and CYP2C19 genotype (extensive or poor metabolizer) were investigated. Results : The eradication rates in the rabeprazole–amoxicillin–clarithromycin (RAC) and lansoprazole–amoxicillin–clarithromycin (LAC) groups were 75% and 69%, respectively, on an intention-to-treat basis, and 80% and 75%, respectively, on a per protocol basis. The eradication rate for clarithromycin-resistant strains was significantly lower than that for clarithromycin-sensitive strains (24% vs. 86%, P < 0.05). For clarithromycin-sensitive strains in the LAC group, there was a tendency for a lower eradication rate in extensive than poor metabolizers. The eradication rate in extensive metabolizers in the RAC group tended to be higher than that in extensive metabolizers in the LAC group (89% vs. 78%, P = 0.079726). Conclusions : The success of the 1-week proton pump inhibitor–amoxicillin–clarithromycin regimen depends on the susceptibility of H. pylori to clarithromycin. Moreover, differences in CYP2C19 genotype influence the eradication rates of lansoprazole-based therapy, and the rabeprazole-based regimen has an advantage especially in extensive metabolizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyromonas gingivalis , a bacterium implicated in periodontal pathogenesis, has a growth requirement for iron protoporphyrin IX. By complementation with a P. gingivalis 381 chromosomal DNA library, we were able to isolate a clone that enhanced the poor growth of a hemG mutant of Escherichia coli . The DNA sequence analysis of this clone revealed three open reading frames (ORFs). ORF3 encoded a protein of 466 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 51 695 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF3 gene had significant similarity to sequences of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) from Myxococcus xanthus (30% identical residues). When the ORF3 gene was overexpressed in E. coli , the extract had much higher PPO activity than a control extract, and this activity was inhibited by acifluorfen, a specific inhibitor of PPO. Thus, ORF3 was named PgHemG. Furthermore, several porphyrin-related genes, including hemD , hemN and hemH , were identified in the data bases on the websites available on-line. We postulated that a porphyrin biosynthetic pathway to heme from preuroporphyrin may be conserved in P. gingivalis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many colorectal cancer cells are resistant to the anti-proliferative effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). TGF-β also acts as paracrine factor from cancer cells on their mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of TGF-β and its receptors in human colorectal cancer tissue and determine any relationship with cancer growth. In situ hybridization and Northern blot hybridization detection of TGF-β[SUB1], type I and type II receptor mRNA and immunohistochemical staining of TGF-β[SUB1] were performed using 11 human colorectal adenomas, 22 colorectal cancers and ten normal colorectal mucosas as control. TGF-β receptor mRNAs were expressed mainly by normal colorectal epithelial cells and adenoma. However, mRNAs for TGF-β receptors were only faintly, if at all, expressed in eight of 22 human colorectal cancers. In addition, intense signals of TGF-β[SUB1] mRNA and the protein were detected in all colorectal cancers. TGF-β receptor mRNAs and TGF-β[SUB1] protein were also distributed in fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the interstitium. Moreover, Smad 4 protein was translocated to nucleus in primarily cultured adenoma cells, but not in cancer cells after TGF-β stimulation. The escape of human colon cancer from TGF-β -mediated growth inhibition by down-regulation of TGF-β receptors as well as the effects of TGF-β on stroma formation and angiogenesis indicate a possible role for TGF-β in the progression of colon cancer in an intact host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Background It is important to assess the fracture risk associated with metastasis in the proximal femur. The study aimed to assess the effect of tumor location on the risk of pathological fracture of the proximal femur and investigate the fracture risk not only in the stance-loading configuration (SC), but also in the fall-loading configuration (FC) using a computed tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) method based on a simulated metastatic model. Material and method The axial CT scans of the proximal femora of healthy men ( n = 4; age range, 42–48 years) and post-menopausal women ( n = 4; age range, 69–78 years) were obtained with a calibration phantom, from which the three-dimensional FE models were constructed. A single 15-mm-diameter spherical void simulating a tumor was created at various locations from the neck to subtrochanter level. Nonlinear FE analyses were performed. Results The mean predicted fracture loads without spherical voids in the SC were 7700 N in men and 4370 N in women. With the void at the medial femoral neck and in the region anteromedial to lesser trochanter, the mean predicted load significantly reduced to 51.3% and 59.4% in men and 34.1% and 64.5% in women, respectively. The mean predicted fracture loads without a spherical void in the FC were 2500 N in men and 1862 N in women. With the void at the medial and posterior femoral neck, the predicted fracture load was significantly reduced to 65.7% and 79.7% in men and 48.3% and 65.4% in women, respectively. Conclusion These results showed that the risk of pathologic fracture was quite high in both the SC and FC when the lytic lesion existed along the principal compressive trabecular trajectory or posterior neck. Prophylactic intervention should be considered for metastases at these locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about the management of acute gastric variceal bleeding published in the December 2003 issue of the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics."