Dual wavelength 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy using a novel flexible light-emitting diode unit

Background

Photosensitizers used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat dermatologic disease are metabolized into mainly protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which has five absorption wavelength peaks: 410?nm, 510?nm, 545?nm, 580?nm, and 630?nm. Although only red light around 635?nm and blue light around 400?nm are used as light sources for PDT, the efficiency of PDT might be improved by using multiple wavelengths, including those that correspond to the other absorption peaks of PpIX. Furthermore, because the target disease often occurs on the face, a flexible-type light-source unit that can be fitted to the lesion without unnecessarily exposing the mucous membranes, e.g., the eyes, nostrils, and mouth, is preferred.

LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). Methods: Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). Results: Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months. Conclusions: We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.     

Prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) among biopsied cases of a urban hospital in Japan: significance of measurement of serum ferritin in the detection of NASH]

From April 1989 to December 2004, we performed liver biopsy on 475 patients and obtained biopsy proven 35 cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver. Among them, 18 cases were diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). During the last three years, we have tried to detect NASH using ultrasonography and elevated value of serum ferritin (> 300 ng/ml). All of the eligible 7 cases biopsied during the course were diagnosed as NASH. In these 7 cases, ALT levels improved after the body weight loss accompanied by the parallel decrease of serum ferritin levels. Measurement of serum ferritin is useful in the detection of NASH but the normal value of ferritin cannot rule out the possibility of NASH.     

A case of recurrent biliary cystadenocarcinoma successfully treated with 5FU/CDDP systemic chemotherapy]

We report a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma which recurred 41 months postoperatively. A 60-year-old woman was admitted for further examination of multiple metastatic tumors and a large amount of ascites. Systemic administration of 5FU and CDDP caused her CEA level to decrease gradually and abdominal computed tomography revealed considerable reduction of the metastatic tumors and ascites. Since her general condition had improved, chemotherapy was continued in the outpatient clinic.     

Pharmacological studies of 6-amidino-2-naphthyl 4-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino]benzoate dimethanesulfonate. Effects on experimental pancreatitis

The effects of FUT-187 (6-amidino-2-naphthyl 4-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino]benzoate dimethanesulfonate, CAS 103926-82-5), a novel synthetic protease inhibitor, were examined in experimental rat and canine models of pancreatitis. 1. FUT-187 significantly increased the survival of rats with trypsin- and phospholipase A2-induced pancreatitis in a dose-dependent manner (10-100 mg/kg, p.o.). 2. FUT-187 decreased plasma enzymatic activity reflecting the degree of pancreatitis in rats with ethionine-induced pancreatitis, and showed a tendency to ameliorate histopathological changes in the pancreas (10-100 mg/kg p.o.). 3. FUT-187 (10 mg/kg) produced an obvious improvement of various biochemical parameters of pancreatitis and also reduced histopathological changes in the pancreas in animals with experimental pancreatitis produced by the closed duodenal loop method. In addition, FUT-187 significantly increased the survival of dogs when given by direct administration into the lumen of the closed duodenal loop. The therapeutic effects of FUT-187 in experimental pancreatitis were nearly equal in most instances to those of camostat mesilate. Thus, FUT-187 would appear to be an effective new agent for the treatment of pancreatitis.     

Functional and immunohistochemical studies of cultured rat microglia

We studied functional and immunohistochemical characteristics of cultured rat microglia. Unstimulated microglia did not proliferate. Microglia stimulated with LCM (L929 conditioned medium: colony stimulating factor-1) had proliferative activity and increased acid phosphatase activity. LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and IFN gamma (interferon-gamma) but did not affect proliferative activity. Immunohistochemically, RCA-1 lectin and GS-1 lectin, which react to beta-D-galactose and alpha-D-galactose respectively, strongly reacted to the cytoplasm and membrane of unstimulated microglia. After stimulation with LCM, microglia elongated processes and decreased response to these lectins. On the other hand, microglia stimulated with LCM showed increased reactivity to monoclonal antibody of vimentin. Microglia stimulated with LPS had round shape and had response to these lectins and vimentin. Microglia stimulated with IFN gamma had adhesive activity and weakly stained with these lectins but not with vimentin. ED-1 (monoclonal antibody of rat monocytes/macrophages) reacted to unstimulated and stimulated microglia. In flow cytometry, unstimulated microglia expressed OX-18 (MHC class I) and W3/25 (CD4) antigen. After stimulation with IFN gamma, microglia were induced to express these antigens. CD4 antigen is a marker of helper/inducer T cells and thought to be a receptor of HIV. The results that microglia had CD4 antigen which was further induced with IFN gamma are important to investigate infection of the CNS with HIV. OX-6 (Ia) antigen was induced with IFN gamma. This indicates that the microglia plays a central role in the CNS immune reaction. These characteristics of cultured rat microglia provide useful informations to investigate the pathogenesis of the CNS disorders.