Prospective feasibility study of neoadjuvant dose-dense paclitaxel plus carboplatin with bevacizumab therapy followed by interval debulking surgery for advanced ovarian,fallopian tube,and primary peritoneal cancer patients

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefit of dose-dense paclitaxel plus carboplatin (TC) with bevacizumab therapy for advanced ovarian,...     

Neurally mediated syncope and arrhythmias: a study of syncopal patients using the head-up tilt test

Understanding the causes of syncope in patients with arrhythmia is important in determining the therapeutic interventions. Neurally mediated syncope (NMS) was evaluated in 55 patients with various arrhythmias. The head-up tilt test with or without isoproterenol infusion induced NMS in 41 (74%) patients. When these patients was categorized into 3 types, depending on the development of syncope, vasodilatation was significant in a majority of patients. In 46% of patients with tachyarrythmias, NMS was accompanied by an increase in extrasystole. It was concluded that the evaluation of vasodilatation is important for the preventive strategy of NMS in patients with arrhythmias and that NMS may induce arrhythmias.     

Temporary spontaneous remission in Ki-1 (CD30) lymphoma with gastric lesion]

A case of 56 year-old man with Ki-1 (CD30) lymphoma is reported. He noticed cervical lymph node swelling and was admitted with temporary diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma in February 1986. His physical examination showed several from 1 to 4 cm size enlarged cervical and axillary lymph nodes. His first lymph node biopsy demonstrated the histological picture of malignant lymphoma. After 20 days his second lymph node biopsy demonstrated the picture of necrosis. Second gastric biopsy showed the picture of neither gastric cancer nor malignant lymphoma, in spite of his first gastric biopsy finding with adenocarcinoma that turned out to be malignant lymphoma by later reinvestigation. After word those lymph nodes disappeared and have not been palpable for about ten months. In October 1987, elevated LDH value, lymph node swelling and gastric lesion were again observed and sixth gastric biopsy demonstrated the picture of malignant lymphoma. He was treated with anti-lymphoma drugs. After his partial remission, he died of gastrointestinal bleeding in April 1988. Specimens of both first lymph node biopsy and sixth gastric biopsy were examined with cell markers for infiltrated cells and were positive for Ki-1/Ber-2H. His final diagnosis was Ki-1 lymphoma.     

The cell cycle regulator Cdh1 controls the pool sizes of hematopoietic stem cells and mature lineage progenitors by protecting from genotoxic stress

Various key cell cycle components, especially G0/G1 regulators, have effects not only on cell proliferation but also on cell differentiation. Cdh1, one of the co-activators that maintain anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome activity, plays a crucial role in the mitotic phase, but has recently been identified as a G0/G1 regulator, suggesting that the role of Cdh1 in cell differentiation. Here, we generated Cdh1 conditional gene-trap mice to examine Cdh1 functions in adult tissues by overcoming the embryonic lethality of Cdh1 homozygous gene-trap mice. We focused on the hematopoietic system and found that Cdh1-deficient mice exhibited a general decrease in mature lineage progenitor cells and a significant increase in short-term hematopoietic stem cells. This phenomenon became conspicuous by irradiation shortly after Cdh1 downregulation, suggesting that Cdh1 regulates the pool sizes of the hematopoietic stem cells and mature lineage progenitor cells by protecting cells from genotoxic stress. We also found that the irradiation-induced G2/M checkpoint was defective in Cdh1-deficient BM cells, causing the loss of stem/progenitor cells. This is the first report revealing Cdh1 function in adult hematopoiesis and showing a role of Cdh1 in a G2/M checkpoint regulation in vivo.     

Reinfusion of autogenous ascitic fluid concentrated by freezing in patients with intractable ascites.

Eleven patients with intractable ascites were treated by intravenous reinfusion of concentrated autogenous ascitic fluid. The ascitic fluid was drained and centrifuged for removal of cells by a cell separator. Cell-free ascitic fluid was frozen in a medical freezer at -15 degrees C and thawed at room temperature. The fraction at the initial stage of melting contains a high concentration of protein and was thus collected and reinfused to the patient. In this initial fraction, the recovery rate of albumin was 42.0 +/- 9.0% and the concentration of protein was 7.1 +/- 2.4 g/dl. This frozen method is inexpensive and time saving, because it does not use a filter. Ascites was ameliorated in all patients with 1 to 19 times of reinfusion. Therefore, when renal function is not disturbed, the frozen method may be indicated for management of intractable ascites.     

Adult T-cell leukemia (chronic type) with unusual surface phenotype CD 4+5+8-, Leu 7+ at acute crisis

Chronic adult T-cell leukemia with surface phenotype CD 4+5+8-, Leu 7+ at acute crisis was presented. A 43-year-old female visited our hospital complaining of generalized lymphadenopathy and skin rash in December, 1973. Peripheral blood picture and histological findings of skin led to the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (leukemic type). Intermittent chemotherapy kept white blood cell count less than 25,000/microliters for more than 9 years. In January, 1983, abnormal lymphocytes began to increase and reached 100,000/microliters or over in a few months. Surface marker study showed their phenotype as CD 4+5+8-, Leu 7+ and anti-ATLA antibody was positive in the patient, her son and her daughter. Intensive chemotherapy was ineffective and she died in August, 1983. Histological diagnosis of lymph-nodes on autopsy was malignant lymphoma (diffuse, small cell type). This case is considered unusual in both clinical course and surface phenotype of its leukemic cells.