Positive expressions of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V (GnT-V) and beta1-6 branching N-linked oligosaccharides in human testicular germ cells diminish during malignant transformation and progression

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V (GnT-V) is an enzyme that catalyzes beta1-6 branching of N-acetylglucosamine on asparagines (N)-linked oligosaccharides of cell proteins. We examined the implication of GnT-V and beta1-6 branching N-linked oligosaccharide expression in human testicular germ cells during malignant transformation and cancer progression. We analyzed immuhistochemically orchiectomy specimens of 130 patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) using anti-GnT-V monoclonal antibody, and compared GnT-V expression with clinicopathological features. N-linked oligosaccharide structural analysis was also performed to confirm the oligosaccharide profile produced by GnT-V. GnT-V was positive in all normal testis samples. This positive incidence declined in TGCT according to clinical stage; 16/71 (22.5%) in stage I, and 3/59 (5.1%) in stage II/III (p=0.015, chi(2) test). When divided into pathological subtypes, GnT-V positive incidences in stage I seminoma, stage II/III seminoma, stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT), and stage II/III NSGCT were 3/43 (7%), 0/22 (0%), 13/28 (46.4%), and 3/37 (8.1%), respectively. In stage I NSGCT, patients with GnT-V-negative tumor samples were at a significantly higher risk of recurrence than those with GnT-V-positive tumors (p=0.015, log-rank test). N-linked oligosaccharide structural analysis revealed that a normal testis has three kinds of beta1-6 branching N-linked oligosaccharides, all of which are downregulated in TGCT tissues. These results suggest that GnT-V and beta1-6 branching N-linked oligosaccharide expressions are downregulated during carcinogenesis and progression of human TGCT. GnT-V may be a promising recurrence predictor for stage I NSGCT.     

Up-regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha and its receptor CXCR4 expression accompanied with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha) and its receptor CXCR4 have been implicated in the tumorigenesis, proliferation, and lymph node metastasis of cancer. Here, we report that highly invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells with a spindle cell morphology show a strong expression of both SDF-1alpha and CXCR4. CXCR4 expression and cell migratory activity were further up-regulated by treatment with SDF-1alpha or TGF-beta1 in these cells. When epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was induced by Snail over-expression in SCC cells with an epithelial phenotype, an increased expression of SDF-1alpha was observed. Furthermore, SDF-1alpha and TGF-beta1 up-regulated the expression of CXCR4 and cell migratory activity in these cells. These results indicate that SDF-1alpha and CXCR4 expressions are possible markers of highly-invasive SCC and regulated by EMT.     

Six cases showing radial scar/complex sclerosing lesions of the breast detected by breast cancer screening

Recently, the number of radial scars (RS)/complex sclerosing lesions (CSL) of the breast has been increasingly detected by mammography screening. Six RS/CSL cases encountered clinicopathologically in the last 2 years are presented. All patients were pre-menopausal. Three cases were detected by ultrasonography (US) screening, and the others were detected by mammography (MG) screening. Partial mastectomy was carried out for both diagnosis and treatment, since it was difficult to discriminate whether RS/CSL accompanied breast cancer even by US, MG, MRI, aspiration cytology, and spring-loaded core needle biopsy (CNB). RS/CSL was histologically confirmed in all cases, and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accompanied RS/CSL in each case. At present, the clinical diagnosis of complicated breast cancer is difficult. Therefore, we selected partial mastectomy that resects a wider area than surgical biopsy to adequately diagnose breast cancer and to achieve a resected margin that is free from breast cancer. But it may be that partial resection should be performed in case of older age with larger RS/CSL, since it is over-surgery for RS/CSL without breast cancer. Further studies where complicated breast cancer is certainly identified are necessary.     

Ixabepilone: a new microtubule-targeting agent for breast cancer

Results of clinical trials over the past 15 years demonstrate that the taxanes are among the most effective new class of cytotoxic drugs to treat breast cancer and other solid tumors. Moreover, the efficacy of the taxanes added further credence to the relevance of the microtubule as a tumor target. In spite of the significant benefits observed in early and advanced breast cancer, a number of factors contribute to disease relapse and, perhaps more discouragingly, disease refractoriness. After exhausting cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and other molecular-based-therapies, patients whose tumors exhibit taxane resistance had virtually no additional options. This paper, a product of the ongoing advances in the treatment of breast cancer, reviews two important areas: first, molecular concepts and relevance of the microtubule in breast cancer and second, clinical implications of ixabepilone, a novel, nontaxane tubulin-stabilizing agent in patients with taxane-resistant breast cancer.     

Long-term outcome of esophageal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma without lymphovascular involvement after endoscopic resection

BACKGROUND.

Esophageal cancer is an aggressive cancer with a reported 3‐year survival of 20%. However, early‐stage esophageal cancer can be cured by endoscopic resection (ER). The long‐term survival of esophageal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma after ER was investigated by calculating the standard mortality rate (SMR).

METHODS.

From January 1995 to December 2004, 110 patients with 138 esophageal mucosal squamous cell carcinomas without lymphovascular involvement were treated by ER. Long‐term survival after ER was compared with that in the general population by calculating SMR. Subgroup analysis of patients without second primary cancer diagnosed within 1 year before ER (subgroup A) was also performed.

RESULTS.

A total of 108 patients (98.2%) were followed‐up completely, with a mean observation period of 4.7 (0.4–11.3) years. The cumulative 5‐year survival rate of all patients and subgroup A was 79.5% and 86.6%, respectively. Overall mortality (SMR, 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.55) and mortality from malignant tumor (SMR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.79–5.09) was significantly higher than that in the general population. SMR of esophageal cancer was high, although it was not significantly different from that in the general population (SMR, 4.82; 95% CI, 0.06–26.81). In subgroup A overall mortality (SMR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.41–1.57) was similar to that in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS.

High overall mortality in patients with esophageal mucosal cancer after ER was mainly due to elevated mortality from second primary cancer. Favorable mortality in subgroup A indicates the efficiency of ER as a curative treatment for esophageal mucosal cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.     

Clinical efficacy of oral administration of 200 mg gatifloxacin once daily for 3 days for the treatment of patients with uncomplicated cystitis

To assess the clinical efficacy of oral antibiotic administration for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection (UTI), 102 female patients were given gatifloxacin (200 mg once daily for 3 days). Five to nine days after treatment, drug safety and clinical efficacy were assessed by evaluation of urinalysis and symptoms. Further, the patients were asked to report by mail whether they had persistent or recurrent symptoms at 4–6 weeks after treatment. The overall clinical cure rate was 93.1% (95/102). Of 94 patients with susceptible pathogens and 8 with resistant pathogens, 89 (94.7%) and 6 (75.0%), respectively, were judged as clinically cured. Four to 6 weeks after treatment, 57 (55.9%) of the 102 patients reported their micturition status by mail, and 6 (10.5%) of them claimed that they had some symptoms. The outcomes of this study suggest that a therapeutic regimen such as administration of fluoroquinolones once daily for 3 days can be recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis.     

Sex Differences in Visual Attention to Sexually Explicit Videos: A Preliminary Study

IntroductionAlthough men appear to be more interested in sexual stimuli than women, this difference is not completely understood. Eye-tracking technology has been used to investigate visual attention to still sexual images; however, it has not been applied to moving sexual images.AimTo investigate whether sex difference exists in visual attention to sexual videos.MethodsEleven male and 11 female healthy volunteers were studied by our new methodology.Main Outcome MeasuresThe subjects viewed two sexual videos (one depicting sexual intercourse and one not) in which several regions were designated for eye-gaze analysis in each frame. Visual attention was measured across each designated region according to gaze duration. Sex differences, the region attracting the most attention, and visually favored sex were evaluated.ResultsIn the nonintercourse clip, gaze time for the face and body of the actress was significantly shorter among women than among men. Gaze time for the face and body of the actor and nonhuman regions was significantly longer for women than men. The region attracting the most attention was the face of the actress for both men and women. Men viewed the opposite sex for a significantly longer period than did women, and women viewed their own sex for a significantly longer period than did men. However, gaze times for the clip showing intercourse were not significantly different between sexes.ConclusionsA sex difference existed in visual attention to a sexual video without heterosexual intercourse; men viewed the opposite sex for longer periods than did women, and women viewed the same sex for longer periods than did men. There was no statistically significant sex difference in viewing patterns in a sexual video showing heterosexual intercourse, and we speculate that men and women may have similar visual attention patterns if the sexual stimuli are sufficiently explicit. Tsujimura A, Miyagawa Y, Takada S, Matsuoka Y, Takao T, Hirai T, Matsushita M, Nonomura N, and Okuyama A. Sex differences in visual attention to sexually explicit videos: A preliminary study. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.     

Thermie and friction therapy performed using a special instrument

"Thermie" therapy is one of the folk remedies in Japan and is mainly done by rubbing the skin with special instruments. The therapy is believed to relieve several symptoms which include pain, common cold and ileus. We report here the first two cases of thermie dermatosis in the English published work. The first patient had suffered from poikiloderma-like eruptions for 30 years after the initiation of a thermie therapy. The eruptions were on both the upper back and the abdomen. The second patient presented with a hyperpigmented plaque on the right femoral region, and excoriated papules and a hyperpigmented plaque on the left lower leg. The patient had received thermie therapy for 3 years. The histopathology of the first case revealed features of cutaneous amyloidosis, and, of the second case, superficial dermatitis and hypermelanosis in the epidermal basal layer. A common cause of both cases was regarded as the thermie therapy. This report suggests the importance of getting a thorough history including folk remedies in patients presenting such pigmented lesions.