Low-concentration Lidocaine Rapidly Inhibits Axonal Transport in Cultured Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Background: Axonal transport plays a critical role in supplying materials for a variety of neuronal functions such as morphogenetic plasticity, synaptic transmission, and cell survival. In the current study, the authors investigated the effects of the analgesic agent lidocaine on axonal transport in neurites of cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons. In relation to their effects, the effects of lidocaine on the growth rate of the neurite were also examined.

Methods: Isolated mouse dorsal root ganglion cells were cultured for 48 h until full growth of neurites. Video-enhanced microscopy was used to observe particles transported within neurites and to measure the neurite growth during control conditions and in the presence of lidocaine.

Results: Application of 30 [mu]m lidocaine immediately reduced the number of particles transported in anterograde and retrograde axonal directions. These effects were persistently observed during the application (26 min) and were reversed by lidocaine washout. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent at concentrations from 0.1 to 1,000 [mu]m (IC50= 10 [mu]m). In Ca2+-free extracellular medium, lidocaine failed to inhibit axonal transport. Calcium ionophore A23187 (0.1 [mu]m) reduced axonal transport in both directions. The inhibitory effects of lidocaine and A23187 were abrogated by 10 [mu]m KN-62, a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor. Application of such low-concentration lidocaine (30 [mu]m) for 30 min reduced the growth rate of neurites, and this effect was also blocked by KN-62.     

The cytotoxicity of cyclophosphamide is enhanced in combination with monascus pigment

Monascus pigment is derived from red-mold rice fermented by monascus purpureus and utilized as a natural coloring agent and natural food additive in East Asia. Monascus pigment works as a radical scavenger. Some antioxidant combine cancer chemo­therapy to protect normal tissue because chemotherapy induce side effect for normal tissue. This combination therapy can attenuate the cytotoxicity of anti­cancer drugs by antioxidants effects. However, the effect of this combination therapy for cancer cells dose not investigate enough. In this study, we investigated the combination effect of anti­oxidants and anti­cancer drugs. We selected an anti­oxidant as monascus pigment and following four anti­cancer drugs: doxorubicin, tamoxifen, paclitaxicel, and cyclophosphamide. Combination treatment with monascus pigment and cyclophosphamide enhanced the cytotoxicity of cyclophosphamide. Moreover, this combination treatment accelerated apoptosis. The spot on TLC assay board of the monascus pigment and cyclophosphamide mixture is different from the spot of monascus pigment alone and cyclophosphamide alone. The interaction between monascus pigment and cyclo­phosphamide can produce some cytotoxicity compounds or accelerate intracellular cyclophosphamide accumulation. Hence, we concluded that the interaction of both cyclophosphamide and monascus pigment involved enhancement of cyclophosphamide cytotoxicity.     

Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease in elderly Japanese patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in elderly (age > or =65 years) Japanese patients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with VKH disease at the Department of Ophthalmology, Oita University Hospital between October 1982 and March 2005. Data extracted included age, gender, prodromal symptoms, visual acuity, ocular manifestations, extraocular findings, human leukocyte antigen (HLA), ocular complications, treatment, and smoldering inflammation. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients with VKH disease, seven (10%) were classified as elderly at onset. The incidence of optic disk hyperemia, choroidal detachment, and cataract was significantly higher in the elderly patients than the non-elderly patients (<65 years). The total dose of corticosteroid used was higher in the elderly. The incidence of smoldering inflammation was more frequent in the elderly. Final visual acuity was preserved relatively well in the elderly. CONCLUSION: The significantly higher incidence of optic disk hyperemia, choroidal detachment, and cataract, and the more frequent smoldering inflammation in elderly VKH patients indicate that special attention should be paid to these parameters in elderly patients.     

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome

We report a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A 54-year-old woman, diagnosed as MDS the prior year after evaluation of anemia, visited our hospital with the chief complaint of epigastric discomfort. She also had dysgeusia, alopecia, atrophic nail change, and pigmentation of the palm, all of which began several months ago. Blood tests revealed severe hypoalbuminemia. Colonoscopy (CS) showed numerous, dense, red polyps throughout the colon and rectum. Biopsy specimens showed stromal edema, infiltration of lymphocytes, and cystic dilatation of the crypt. Her clinical manifestations and histology were consistent with CCS. We prescribed corticosteroids, which dramatically improved her physical findings, laboratory data, and endoscopic findings. This is the first report of CCS in a patient with MDS.     

Time dependence of changes of two cartilage layers in anterior cruciate ligament insertion after resection on chondrocyte apoptosis and decrease in glycosaminoglycan

Stress fracture of the patella is rare. In this report, a case of patellar stress fracture occurring in an amateur athlete is presented, and an operative adjunct to the surgical management of this condition is proposed. A review of the English literature identified 21 previous cases of stress fracture of the patella, the majority in young athletes. None of these reports discussed treatment addressing the pathological process contributing to patellar stress fracture. The subject of this case report is a young male netballer who presented with a transverse stress fracture in the inferior third of his patella, on a background of patellofemoral overload. The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation of his patella, combined with release of the iliotibial band. He returned to training after 6 weeks. The previous literature suggests that operative fixation is indicated for the treatment of displaced patellar stress fractures. Iliotibial band release, as a surgical adjunct to this treatment, may address the pathology of these fractures, and facilitate a return to sport at the highest level.     

A follow-up report on a new method of segmental resection for small-sized early lung cancer

We previously reported a new method of segmentectomy, pulmonary artery-guided segmentectomy as a surgical alternative for small-sized early lung cancer with favorable results, but the follow-up time was too short for definitive conclusion. To examine the efficacy of the segmentectomy, and to determine the appropriate surgical procedure for early lung cancer, we conducted a retrospective follow-up study, and examined the influences of tumor size and preoperative serum tumor marker levels on the prognosis. We reviewed the records of 91 patients who underwent the segmentectomy for pathological T1N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer from 1993 to 2002. In 85 patients, carcinoembryonic antigen, squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen, and a fragment of cytokeratin were measured preoperatively. The overall 5-year survival rate was 83%. Indication (intentional, n=47; compromised, n=44) and tumor size (20mm or less, n=68; 21 to 30 mm, n=23) had no significant impact on survival. The 5-year survival rate for 49 patients with normal tumor marker levels was 93%, and significantly higher than 36 patients with at least one elevated tumor marker level (68%, p<0.01). Median follow-up time of 72.0 months revealed 11 locoregional recurrences. The incidence of locoregional recurrence was significantly higher in the patients with tumors of 21-30 mm, and elevated tumor marker (p<0.01). The follow-up study demonstrated that the segmentectomy could be an acceptable surgical treatment for early lung cancer patients with tumors of 20mm or smaller and normal tumor marker levels.     

Partial cancer prevalence in Japan up to 2020: estimates based on incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries

Measuring cancer prevalence in Japan has been difficult becausepopulation-based cancer registries have been conducted in limitedareas. The purpose of this study was to estimate cancer prevalencein Japan from 1995 to 2020 for 5-year periods based on selectedpopulation-based cancer registry data. 1-, 2–3-, 4–5-and 5-year partial prevalence were estimated using incidenceand survival data. Incidence and survival were calculated usingdata from selected cancer registries. We estimated the cancersurvival by age group, primary site, and sex using the mixturecure fraction model. Kaplan–Meier estimates were appliedto subgroups for which the survival did not converge to theestimated model. We projected that 1-year cancer prevalencefor all sites would increase from 209 971 to 367 354 for menand from 164 622 to 275 776 for women, that 2–3-year prevalencewould increase from 288 284 to 508 731 for men and from 255684 to 418 630 for women, that 4–5-year prevalence wouldincrease from 216 834 to 379 461 in men and from 211 764 to342 031 in women, and that 5-year prevalence would increasefrom 715 089 to 1 255 546 in men and from 632 070 to 1 036 437in women. This study is the first estimate of cancer prevalencein the future in Japan.     

Variation of clinical target volume definition among Japanese radiation oncologists in external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer

Background: We investigated the interobserver variation in the prostatetarget volume and the trend toward the use of diagnostic computedtomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) images for treatmentplanning. Methods: Twenty-five radiation oncologists were asked to draw the externalcontour of the prostate on CT images (0.3 cm spacing) of a patientwith localized prostate cancer. They also answered a questionnaireregarding the use of diagnostic CT or MR images for the contouring. Results: Of the 25 physicians, 28% rarely or never referred to the diagnosticCT images. In contrast, the physicians tended to refer to theMR images more frequently. Approximately 50% of the physiciansbelieved in the usefulness of contrast-enhanced images for thedelineation of the prostate. As for the variation of the prostatecontouring, the median craniocaudal prostate length was 36 mm(range, 21–54 mm), and the median prostate volume was43.5 cm³ (range, 23.8–98.3 cm³). The interobserver variabilitywas not significant in the duration as a radiation oncologist,the board certification status as radiation oncologists, andthe number of treatment plans developed for prostate cancerduring the last 1 year. Conclusion: A wide variety of the definitions of the prostate was foundamong Japanese radiation oncologists.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer successfully treated by combination therapy of S-1 and docetaxel

A 70-year-old man with gastric cancer of Borrmann type 3, liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination was treated by combination therapy of S-1 and docetaxel (DOC). He received DOC intravenously at 40 mg/m(2) on day 1 and S-1 orally at 100 mg/body on day 1 to 14, repeated every 28 days. After 2 courses of treatment, a CT scan revealed improvement of the gastric wall thickness, the eminent decrease of the peritoneal fluid and the reduction of the liver metastasis. After 3 courses of treatment, the primary lesion was remarkably improved on endoscopic examination, and the tumor marker normalized after 4 courses of treatment. Toxicities included leukocytopenia (WHO grade 3), neutropenia ( grade 3), anorexia (grade 2), and nausea (grade 2). Outpatient chemotherapy was possible by reduction of dose (S-1 100--> 80 mg/body, DOC 40--> 32 mg/m2). The response was maintained on CT and endoscopic examination after 21 courses of treatment. A case of an advanced gastric cancer patient successfully treated by combination therapy of S-1 and DOC was reported.