A 1-year-old infant with McArdle disease associated with hyper-creatine kinase-emia during febrile episodes

A 14-month-old girl was hospitalized due to repeated hyper-creatine kinase (CK)-emia during pyrexia. Mild hypotonia was observed, but other physical and neurological findings were unremarkable. The serum CK level was normal at rest or normothermia. Open muscle biopsy was performed on the rectus femoris, and showed glycogen storage and complete lack of phosphorylase activity histochemically and biochemically, establishing the diagnosis of McArdle disease. The diagnosis of McArdle disease in early infancy is uncommon. Until this study there have been no reports of clinical symptoms or muscle biopsy findings for McArdle disease in early childhood. This disease must be considered when transient hyper-CKemia is observed in infants, even if glycogen storage is unremarkable as compared with adult cases.     

Pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study with special emphasis on its distinction from ordinary leiomyosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma (PLMS) was recently described as a morphologic variant of leiomyosarcoma; however, its diagnostic criteria, as shown by morphologic features and biologic behavior, remain controversial. We describe 28 cases of pleomorphic sarcoma with pleomorphic areas in more than two thirds of the tumor and an ordinary leiomyosarcomatous fascicular area covering less than one third as PLMS. PLMS comprised 8.6% of all the leiomyosarcomas (322 cases) registered in our institute. Patients ranged in age from 31 to 89 years (average, 57.9 years). Seventeen patients (60.7%) were male and 11 were female. Tumor location was as follows: the extremities in 17 cases, the retroperitoneum or abdominal cavity in 7 cases, the chest/abdominal wall in 3 cases, and the scalp in 1 case. Histologically, all cases showed at least small foci of fascicles consisting of smooth muscle tumor cells, in addition to pleomorphic areas mimicking storiform-pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The border between pleomorphic and leiomyosarcomatous fascicular areas was sharp in 3 cases, gradual in 2 cases, and blending in 23 cases. Sixteen cases (57.1%) showed a typical storiform pattern, 6 cases revealed extensive stromal hyalinization, 6 cases showed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate, 2 cases had the foci of foamy xanthomatous cells, and 7 cases contained myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like areas covering less than 50% of the tumor. The tumors had a tendency to be of a morphologically higher grade (10 tumors were French Federation of Cancer Centers grade 2, 18 were grade 3). Five of 28 cases (18%) showed rhabdoid features. Immunohistochemically, all of the 28 tumors examined showed a positive reactivity for at least one smooth muscle marker (desmin, muscle-specific actin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin) in the leiomyosarcomatous fascicular areas. In the pleomorphic areas the expression of smooth muscle markers (desmin 10 of 28, muscle-specific actin 13 of 28, and alpha-smooth muscle actin 14 of 28) was significantly reduced, compared with that in leiomyosarcomatous fascicular area (desmin 18 of 28, muscle-specific actin 26 of 28, and alpha-smooth muscle actin 24 of 28). No significant difference was observed between the MIB-1 labeling index in the leiomyosarcomatous fascicular areas (26.10 on average) and that in the pleomorphic areas (26.17 on average). However, the MIB-1 labeling index in PLMS was significantly higher than that in ordinary leiomyosarcoma (n = 20, 12.86 on average) or storiform-pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 16, 16.63 on average). In 23 patients follow-up data were available with a duration of 1-239 months. Eleven patients developed metastases, and lung accounted for the most common site of metastasis (9 cases). Fifteen of 23 patients (65.2%) died of disease. Our results indicate that PLMS should be differentiated from ordinary leiomyosarcoma because of its high proliferative activities and rather aggressive biologic behavior.     

Antibacterial activity of oral Cephems against various clinically isolated strains

We determined the antibacterial activities of oral Cephems against isolated from the patients with the respiratory infections, the urinary tract infections, and infections in the obstetrics field of an adult and a child, during the period from 2002 to 2003; Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli of 40 strains of each, and Peptostreptococcus spp. 22 strains. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae strains that resistant is regarded were collected mainly, penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP), penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) and beta-lactamase negative ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae (BLNAR) strains. The MICs of Cephems except cefaclor (CCL) were < or = 0.03 microgram/mL against all strains of S. pyogenes. The MICs of cefteram (CFTM) and cefditoren (CDTR) were < or = 0.0125 microgram/mL activity against 7 strains penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae (PSSP). However the MIC90s of cefditoren (CDTR) was 1 microgram/mL, cefteram (CFTM), and cefcapene (CFPN) were 2 micrograms/mL against PISP and PRSP, were higher than those of other drugs, but showed slightly higher than PSSP. The MIC90s of Cephems. were 0.5-4 micrograms/mL against strains of E. coli. The MIC90s of CFTM was 0.5 microgram/mL, and CDTR, CFPN were 1 microgram/mL against E. coli were higher than those of other drugs. The four strains of E. coli however were highly-resistant which MIC90s of CCL were more than 32 micrograms/mL were obtains. Furthermore it is necessary to pay much attention to the trend of resistant such as E. coli of Cephems. Although all strains showed resistant to AMPC, MIC90 of Cephems were 0.25-1 microgram/mL, good activities against K. pneumoniae. Against beta-lactamase negative ampicillin-susceptible H. influenzae (BLNAS) 23 strains the MIC90s of CCL and other Cephems were 64 micrograms/mL and 0.25-8 micrograms/mL. The MIC90s of CDTR and CFTM were < or = 1 microgram/mL of BLNAR (15 strains). However there of CFDN and CPDX were 8 micrograms/mL and CCL were > or = 16 micrograms/mL. Two strains which were produced beta-lactamase were highly--ABPC resistant. Although B. catarrhalis all strains were produced beta-lactamase and Cephems except for CCL showed better susceptibility than AMPC. The MIC90s of Cephems were 0.25-2 micrograms/mL against Peptostreptococcus spp.     

The Relationship between Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels and Body Composition Changes after Sleeve Gastrectomy

IntroductionWe previously reported that preoperative serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a predictor of total weight loss percentage (%TWL) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). IGF-1 may suppress muscle loss after surgery. IGF-1 almost accurately reflects the growth hormone (GH) secretion status, and GH has lipolytic effects. Therefore, IGF-1 may influence both the maintenance of skeletal muscle and the reduction of adipose tissue after LSG. The identification of the relationship between preoperative serum IGF-1 and body composition changes after LSG can help in understanding the pathophysiology of obesity.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 72 patients with obesity who underwent LSG and were followed up for 12 months. We analyzed the relationship between preoperative serum IGF-1 levels and body composition changes after LSG. A multiple regression model was used.ResultsLSG led to a significant reduction in body weight. Both body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass decreased after LSG. Preoperative serum IGF-1 levels significantly correlated with %TWL, changes in skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass after LSG. The multiple regression model showed that preoperative serum IGF-1 levels were related to decreased body fat mass and maintaining skeletal muscle mass after LSG.Discussion/ConclusionPreoperative IGF-1 measurement helps predict not only successful weight loss but also decreases body fat mass and maintains skeletal muscle mass after LSG.     

Multicenter randomized phase II clinical trial of oxaliplatin reintroduction as a third- or later-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer—biweekly versus standard triweekly XELOX (The ORION Study)

Background

The aim of this multicenter, open-label, randomized phase II trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a dose-dense capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) for whom reintroduction of oxaliplatin had been planned as a third- or later-line regimen.

Methods

The patients with mCRC who had received prior chemotherapy including oxaliplatin and were scheduled for reintroduction of oxaliplatin were randomized to capecitabine (1,000 mg/m²) twice daily on days 1–14 and oxaliplatin (130 mg/m²) on day 1 every 21 days (Q3W group) or capecitabine (2,000 mg/m²) twice daily on days 1–7 and oxaliplatin (85 mg/m²) on day 1 every 14 days (Q2W group). The primary endpoint was the time-to-treatment failure (TTF). Other endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and other adverse events (AEs).

Results

A total of 46 patients were enrolled in the trial—22 patients were randomly assigned to the Q3W group and 23 to the Q2W group. The median TTF was 3.4 months in both groups (hazard ratio [HR] 1.053; p = 0.880). The median PFS and OS were 3.3 and 9.2 months in the Q2W group and 4.3 and 12.1 months in the Q3W group, respectively (HR 1.15; p = 0.153 and 0.672; p = 0.836). The most common grade 3?4 AEs in the Q3W and Q2W groups were fatigue (27.3 vs 21.7), neuropathy (9.1 vs 0 %) and diarrhea (9.1 vs 0 %), respectively.

Conclusion

There was no significant inter-group difference in any of the efficacy and safety endpoints, including TTF, OS, RFS and AEs. The results of this clinical trial were convincingly negative.

     

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...     

Clinicopathologic differences between 22 cases of CD56-negative and CD56-positive subcutaneous panniculitis-like lymphoma in Japan

CD56 is an important marker for prospecting clinicopathologic features of cytotoxic T-cell and natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas. We examined 22 cases of subcutaneous panniculitis-like lymphoma and classified these into CD56-positive and CD56-negative groups. The 11 CD56-negative cases were mainly in the younger age group and had systemic subcutaneous nodules without ulceration. They exhibited subcutaneous invasion by medium-sized lymphoma cells, scattered erythrophagocytosis, patchy necrosis, and little tumor invasion in the superficial dermis. Their lymphoma cells had characteristics of CD3 epsilon-, CD8-, TcR beta F1-, T-cell intracellular antigen (TIA)1-, and granenzyme B-positive cytotoxic T cells and were negative for apoptosis-promoting proteins CD95 (Fas), Bax, CPP32 (caspase 3), and p53 (DO7). Ten patients were alive despite clinical signs of hemophagocytic syndrome and relapses in 7 cases. The 11 CD56-positive cases had systemic ulcerative skin tumors composed of pleomorphic lymphoma cells with massive necrosis and little erythrophagocytosis involving the subcutis and also often the whole dermis. Their tumor cells were positive for CD3 epsilon, TIA1, granenzyme B, CD95, CD95L (Fas ligand), Bax, and CPP32. Three cases were of the TcR beta F1-positive phenotype, 1 was of the TcR gamma/delta-positive T-cell phenotype, and 6 were of the TcR beta F1- and TcR gamma/delta-negative NK/T-cell phenotype. Six cases were p53 (DO7) positive. Seven cases had complications of liver dysfunction and cytopenia, and 8 died of disease. One CD56-negative case and 3 CD56-positive cases had nuclear signals of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA in their lymphoma cells. The 2 groups had significantly (P <0.01) different prognoses by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. Patients with CD56-negative and CD56-positive groups had statistically different clinicopathologic, immunohistologic, and functional findings and prognoses.     

High-dose concurrent chemo–proton therapy for Stage III NSCLC: preliminary results of a Phase II study

The aim of this report is to present the preliminary results of a Phase II study of high-dose (74 Gy RBE) proton beam therapy (PBT) with concurrent chemotherapy for unresectable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients were treated with PBT and chemotherapy with monthly cisplatin (on Day 1) and vinorelbine (on Days 1 and 8). The treatment doses were 74 Gy RBE for the primary site and 66 Gy RBE for the lymph nodes without elective lymph nodes. Adapted planning was made during the treatment. A total of 15 patients with Stage III NSCLC (IIIA: 4, IIIB: 11) were evaluated in this study. The median follow-up period was 21.7 months. None of the patients experienced Grade 4 or 5 non-hematologic toxicities. Acute pneumonitis was observed in three patients (Grade 1 in one, and Grade 3 in two), but Grade 3 pneumonitis was considered to be non-proton-related. Grade 3 acute esophagitis and dermatitis were observed in one and two patients, respectively. Severe ( ≥ Grade 3) leukocytopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 10 patients, seven patients and one patient, respectively. Late radiation Grades 2 and 3 pneumonitis was observed in one patient each. Six patients (40%) experienced local recurrence at the primary site and were treated with 74 Gy RBE. Disease progression was observed in 11 patients. The mean survival time was 26.7 months. We concluded that high-dose PBT with concurrent chemotherapy is safe to use in the treatment of unresectable Stage III NSCLC.