The combination of oral-recombinant methioninase and azacitidine arrests a chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Cancers are methionine (MET) and methylation addicted, causing them to be highly sensitive to MET restriction. The present study determined the efficacy of...     

Fork injuries with the tines inserted bilaterally between the mandibular interdental spaces

In this paper, we report two rare cases of foreign body oral injuries caused by forks inserted tightly into both sides of the lingual interdental spaces between the mandibular deciduous canines and first deciduous molars (FDMs). These pediatric cases of foreign body insertion caused not only soft tissue injuries but also the potential luxation of affected deciduous teeth, i.e., the FDMs in the present cases, during the removal of the object by force.     

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Kinetics and Responses in Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a Monotherapy for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective Pegylated-interferon monotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B; however, the factors associated with its therapeutic effects remain unclear. Methods Patients with chronic hepatitis B were treated with pegylated interferon α-2a for 48 weeks. We evaluated the kinetics of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during treatment and follow-up periods and the factors associated with an HBsAg response (defined as a change in HBsAg of ≥-1 log IU/mL from baseline). Results The study population comprised 50 patients. The median baseline levels of hepatitis B virus DNA and HBsAg were 5.00 and 3.40 log IU/mL. The median values of HBsAg reduction from baseline were -0.44 (n=48), -0.41 (n=40), and -0.68 (n=11) log IU/mL at the end of treatment and at 48 and 144 weeks post-treatment, respectively. The rates of HBsAg response were 24.0% and 22.5% at the end of treatment and at 48 weeks post-treatment, respectively. A multivariate analysis identified HBsAg <3.00 log IU/mL as an independent baseline factor contributing to the HBsAg response at the end of treatment and 48 weeks post-treatment (p=1.07×10^-2 and 4.42×10^-2, respectively). There were significant differences in the reduction of the HBsAg levels at 12 weeks of treatment and in the incidence of serum ALT increase during treatment between patients with and without an HBsAg response. Conclusion These findings suggest that the baseline HBsAg level, HBsAg kinetics at 12 weeks of treatment, and ALT increase during treatment are important factors contributing to the HBsAg response in pegylated interferon α-2a monotherapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

The utility of longitudinal slicing method for rectal specimen: pathological analysis of circumferential resection margin of intersphincteric resection for low‐lying rectal cancer

The pathological assessment of the resection margin of rectal cancer is important to predict clinical outcome. The transverse slicing method of rectal specimens is recommended in Western countries. However, in Japan the longitudinal slicing method is traditionally advocated. The aim of this study was to assess the advantages of the longitudinal slicing method. The subjects were 197 consecutive patients with primary rectal cancer who underwent curative intersphincteric resection from 2000 to 2013. The resected rectal specimens were cut into 12 slices in the direction of the long axis. Resection margin was considered positive when it was less than or equal to 1 mm. Resection margin was positive in 23 patients (12%). They were classified into two groups, namely the DEEP group (n = 16, 70%), when the resection margin corresponded to the deepest tumor invasion area, and the ENTRY group (n = 7, 30%), when resection margin was around the initial cutting point of the anal canal. It was shown that resection margin tends to be positive not only in the deepest tumor invasion area but also in the entry area of the anal canal. The longitudinal slicing method may have some advantages for accurate assessment of resection margin especially in low‐lying rectal cancer.