A case of locally advanced rectal carcinoma with liver metastasis treated with a combination of CRT, HAI, and systemic chemotherapy

A 55-year-old man with locally advanced rectal carcinoma and liver metastasis was treated with a combination of chemo-radiotherapy (5-FU suppository 100 mg/day and 63 Gy of RT), hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (5-FU 1,000 mg/3 h, biweekly), and systemic chemotherapy (5'-DFUR 800 mg/day + cimetidine 800 mg/day). His rectal tumor was reduced and his symptoms such as pain and bleeding had markedly decreased. The river metastasis did not change during the entire course. HAI and administration of 5-FU suppository, 5'-DFUR, and cimetidine were continued. As of 18 months after the onset of the combination therapy, NC has been maintained, and the general condition of the patient is favorable.     

Discrimination between two types of P2 purinoceptors by suramin in rat hepatocytes.

Suramin, currently reported as a P2 purinoceptor antagonist, competitively inhibited P2 purinoceptor agonist-induced phospholipase C (PLC) stimulation, but not P2 purinoceptor agonist-induced adenylate cyclase (AC) inhibition in rat hepatocytes. Suramin did not inhibit vasopressin-induced PLC activity. We conclude that there are two types of P2 purinoceptors; one is suramin-sensitive and coupled to PLC in a stimulatory manner, and the other is suramin-insensitive and coupled to AC in an inhibitory manner.     

Subclinical impairment in the median nerve across the carpal tunnel among female VDT operators

Sensory nerve conduction velocities in the palm-to-finger (SCV-pf), wrist-to-finger (SCV-wf), wrist-to-palm (SCV-wp), and wrist-to-elbow (SCV-we) segments and the distribution of nerve conduction velocities in the right median nerve were determined among 27 female operators aged 19–37 and 19 healthy women (controls) aged 19-31 to estimate the prevalence of subclinical carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Also, the WF/PF ratio, dividing the SCV-wf by the SCV-pf, was calculated to assess abnormalities of nerve conduction within the carpal tunnel. The operators were engaged in data entry in front of a visual display terminal (VDT) for about 6 h/day, and their working duration was between 1 and 17 (mean 6) years. The SCV-wf, SCV-wp, and WF/PF ratio in the operators were significantly lower than those in the controls. The rate of persons with the WF/PF ratio of less than 90%, i.e., below normal limits in the 19 controls, was significantly higher in the operator group (37%) than in the control group (0%). The operators complained of more symptoms related to CTS than did the controls, but any symptoms were not associated with slowing of nerve conduction velocities in the operators. In the controls, the WF/PF ratio was not closely correlated with skin temperature or age despite the presence of significant relations between skin temperature and the SCV-wf, SCV-pf, and SCV-wp; the interpersonal variability of the WF/PF ratio was much smaller than that of all SCVs. In the light of the present and previous studies, the rate of VDT operators with subclinical CTS seems to be high, independent of its symptoms. Also, the WF/PF ratio will be a useful and reliable screening method for the early detection of CTS due to repetitive wrist and finger movements involved in work.     

Bilateral ectopic ureteroceles: report of a case

A case of bilateral ectopic ureteroceles with complete duplicated pelves and ureters occurring in a 9-year-old girl is reported. She complained of cloudy urine and urinary incontinence. IVU revealed bilateral complete duplicated collecting systems and hydronephrosis of upper poles of the kidney. Bilateral ureterovesiconeostomy by modified Politano-Leadbetter method was carried out. Her postoperative course was uneventful and hydronephrosis of upper poles on IVU at 1 year after discharge and urinary incontinence improved. The 11 reported cases with bilateral ectopic ureteroceles including our case are reviewed and some characteristics of this entry are discussed.     

Efficacy of tegafur/uracil plus oral leucovorin therapy for advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tegafur/uracil (UFT) and oral Leucovorin(UZEL) in patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer. Eight patients were treated with UFT/UZEL therapy as a first-line chemotherapy. UFT(300 mg/m(2)/day) and UZEL (75 mg/body/day) were administered orally for 28 consecutive days followed by a 7-day rest period, and this schedule was repeated every 5 weeks. The mean of treatment courses given to the patients was 7.6. Tumor response was evaluated in 7 patients who had assessable lesions, and the response rate was 86% (6 PR and 1 NC). Adverse reactions of grade 3 were observed in 2 patients (25%), but toxicity did not cause a discontinuance of treatment in any case. The UFT/UZEL therapy was considered to be a promising regimen for advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer from a standpoint of effect, safety and QOL of patients.     

Effect of sex hormones on development of urinary bladder tumours in rats induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine

Male and female Wistar strain rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water for 6 weeks and then water without BBN for 18 weeks. Diethylstilbestrol and testosterone were implanted subcutaneously into both intact and gonadectomised animals before or after treatment with BBN to evaluate their effects on the development of bladder tumours. Diethylstilboestrol reduced the incidence of bladder tumours significantly in male rats. The incidence was higher in female rats after spaying and administration of testosterone after BBN treatment, than in the intact female. These results suggest that diethylstilboestrol inhibits carcinogenesis of the urinary bladder induced by BBN and growth of bladder tumours induced by BBN, in male rats. On the other hand, testosterone seems to stimulate the growth of bladder tumours induced by BBN in female rats.     

Uniparental disomy and imprinting defects in Japanese patients with Angelman syndrome

We examined 54 patients with deletion-negative Angelman syndrome (AS) using DNA methylation testing and microsatellite polymorphism analysis, and identified three patients with paternal uniparental disomy (UPD) and seven patients with imprinting defects (ID). The three patients with UPD were shown to have paternal isodisomy 15, which we hypothesized to have arisen from duplication of chromosome 15. Two of the patients with ID were siblings and carried microdeletions of the imprinting center (IC), while the remaining five patients had no evidence of deletions and represented sporadic cases. Two of the three patients with UPD and two of the seven patients with ID had not developed seizures. The only patients displaying microcephaly were those with ID who had microdeletions at the IC. These data support the previous findings that indicate that patients with UPD and ID may have a milder phenotype of AS.