Differential diagnosis and strategy for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is most aggressive and poor prognosis among solid neoplasmas. Unfortunately, effective treatment for ATC is not established until now. We recommend new strategy for the treatment of ATC based on new UICC staging. Stage IV is recommended the surgical treatment, and Stage IVB, IVC are recommended systemic chemotherapy like as doxorubicin and cisplatin and external radiotherapy. If tumor become decreasing by these chemoradiation, salvage surgery will be preformed for complete resection. But survival period is not longer over 20 years, so the establishment of new treatment is desired.     

Cross-sectional analysis of the implant-abutment interface

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to evaluate the implant-abutment gap of an external hexagon implant system as a function of radius. Six implants of 3.75 mm in diameter (Conexao Sistema de Protese Ltda, Sao Paulo, Brazil) and their respective abutments were screw connected and torqued to 20 N cm(-1). The implants were mounted in epoxy assuring an implant long-axis position perpendicular to the vertical axis. Each implant was grounded through its thickness parallel to implant long-axis at six different distance interval. Implant-abutment gap distances were recorded along the implant-abutment region for each section. Individual measurements were related to their radial position through trigonometric inferences. A sixth degree polynomial line fit approach determined radial adaptation patterns for each implant. Micrographs along implant sections showed a approximately 300 mum length implant-abutment engagement region. All implants presented communication between external and internal regions through connection gaps and inaccurate implant-abutment alignment. Average gap distances were not significantly different between implants (P > 0.086). Polynomial lines showed implant-abutment gap values below 10 mum from 0 mum to approximately 250 mum of the implant-abutment engagement region. Gap distances significantly increased from approximately 250 mum to the outer radius of the implant-abutment engagement region. The technique described provided a broader scenario of the implant-abutment gap adaptation compared with previous work concerning implant-abutment gap determination, and should be considered for better understanding mechanical aspects or biological effects of implant-abutment adaptation on peri-implant tissues.     

Clinical and histological evaluation of immediate-loaded posterior implants in nonhuman primates

PURPOSE: To evaluate a square-thread design implant and compare the bone-implant contact percentage between immediate-loaded and nonloaded implants (controls) in nonhuman primates. MATERIALS: Five nonhuman primates each received 3 implants, with a total of 5 control implants and 10 immediate-loaded implants in posterior regions of the mouth. Ninety days after surgery (and function was appropriate), block sections of the implants were removed and sectioned in 200-mum thick pieces. The block sections were stained with modified Masson for evaluation of the bone-implant contact percentage. RESULTS: One of the immediate-loaded implants failed. The bone-implant contact percentage of control implants ranged from 50.34% to 64.13% and averaged 56.3%. The bone-implant contact percentage of immediate-loaded implants ranged from 43.23% to 75.72%, with an average of 62.4%. Two implants had lower bone-implant contact percentage than the others, and when these are not included in the evaluation, the bone-implant contact percentage average increased to 67.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate-loaded implants in the nonhuman primates often have a higher bone-implant contact percentage at 90 days than unloaded implants. The bone remodeling is different for loaded implant-bone interfaces than for unloaded conditions. However, 1 immediate-loaded implant failed, and 2 implants had lower bone-implant contact percentage than controls. Therefore, although there are benefits of immediate loading, there appear to also be some risks.     

Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 overexpression facilitates ezetimibe-sensitive cholesterol and beta-sitosterol uptake in CaCo-2 cells

Previous in vivo studies including those with knockout mice suggested that Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) plays an essential role in the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. To characterize the mechanism of cholesterol uptake mediated by NPC1L1, an in vitro system reflecting the function of this transporter needs to be established. In the present study, we constructed NPC1L1 overexpressing CaCo-2 cells as an in vitro model and characterized the transport properties of NPC1L1. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that CaCo-2 cells express NPC1L1 on the apical membrane. It was also demonstrated that the uptakes of both cholesterol and beta-sitosterol are increased by NPC1L1 overexpression. In addition, the uptake of cholesterol was increased in a dose-dependent manner by an increase in the content of taurocholate in micelles, whereas micellar phosphatidylcholine showed a negative correlation with cholesterol uptake. Furthermore, it was confirmed that sterol uptake increased by NPC1L1 overexpression was inhibited by ezetimibe. We could thus establish an in vitro intestinal model to study the mechanism of NPC1L1-dependent sterol uptake and to screen drug candidates whose target is NPC1L1.     

Immune Evasion of Hepatoma Cancer Stem-Like Cells from Natural Killer Cells

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Poor prognosis in liver cancer is due to its high frequency of intrahepatic metastasis. Cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs), which possess the properties of stemness, tumor...     

Electron microscopic and functional studies on platelets in gray platelet syndrome

The ultrastructure and functions of platelets and megakaryocytes in 8 patients of a family with gray platelet syndrome were investigated. Hemostatic examinations on these patients revealed prolonged bleeding time, decreased platelet retention rates and decreased platelet aggregation rates induced by ADP, collagen, Ristocetin and epinephrine. Marked decreases in ATP and ADP release in response to these agents were also noted. Clinical and coagulation studies on this family suggested that the hereditary nature of the syndrome is autosomal dominant. Platelets and megakaryocytes in the peripheral and bone marrow blood smear from the patients showed peculiar gray color by May-Giemsa stain due to a deficiency of alpha-granules. Electron microscopic examinations revealed slightly enlarged platelets containing a deficient amount of alpha-granules, whereas dense bodies and mitochondria appeared normal. Several morphological abnormalities of patient's platelets, such as aggregates of dense tubular systems, circular arrays of dense tubular systems, an area of cytoplasmic sequestration with an enclosing membrane, clumps of dense material and remnants of Golgi apparatuses were recognized. Megakaryocytes showed normally developed Golgi zones, defective alpha-granule synthesis and liberation of abnormal platelets as shown in the peripheral blood smear.     

Morphologic study of cytoskeletal systems of mouse hepatocytes using polyethylene glycol-embedding method

SM mouse livers extracted by immersion in 1% Triton X-100, or in 1% Triton X-100 followed by 0.3 M KI were studied electron microscopically using the polyethylene glycol-embedding method. After extraction with 1% Triton X-100, almost all the structural components of hepatocytes remained intact and cytoplasmic filaments could be seen three-dimensionally by using stereopairs of micrographs. It was difficult, however, to discriminate microfilaments, intermediate-sized filaments and microtubules from one anoter in these specimes . By immersion in 1% Triton X-100 followed by 0.3 M KI, hepatocytes were extracted remaining only plasma membranes, vesicles and filaments. These filaments were approximately 10 nm in diameter, that is intermediate in size. They were branched and were connected with plasma membranes, especilly at desmosomes. The combination method of immersion extraction and PEG-embedding seems to be suitable for the electron microscopic observation of the cytoskeleton of cells in situ.