Effect of serial extraction alone on crowding: relationship between closure of residual extraction space and changes in dentition

Mandibular dentitions from 33 subjects who had undergone serial extraction without appliances were analyzed at three stages: before extraction of deciduous canines (T1), after extraction of first premolars (T2), and at the end of the observation (T3). It was suggest that the mesial movement or tipping of the second premolars was associated with most of the space closure from T2 to T3, although the distal movement or tipping of canines might also contribute space closure.     

Diagnostic implications of circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein levels as a biochemical risk marker of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: To examine the diagnostic performance of circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein levels as a biochemical risk marker of coronary heart disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: 361 patients with coronary artery disease and 710 healthy volunteers as normal controls were examined. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis in addition to statistical analysis (univariate, multivariate) were done to determine the usefulness of the assay. RESULTS: Patients with coronary artery disease showed significantly elevated circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein levels. Males less than 70 years of age showed a significant association between oxidized low density lipoprotein levels and coronary artery disease. Receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis showed superior performance (e.g., sensitivity, specificity) of oxidized low density lipoprotein as a diagnostic marker of coronary artery disease as compared against other lipid markers (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, lipoprotein (a), and total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein ratio) with optimal performance in younger males. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidized low density lipoprotein levels may be a promising biochemical risk marker of atherosclerotic disease, especially in young males.     

Multiple supra-aortic stenting for Takayasu arteritis: extensive revascularization and two-year follow-up

A patient with Takayasu arteritis with multiple supra-aortic lesions underwent successful treatment with two-staged stent implantation. Stenotic bilateral common carotid, innominate, and left subclavian arteries were dilated, and no restenosis was observed during the follow-up period of 2 years despite recurrent inflammation. Stenting for supra-aortic vessels in cases of Takayasu arteritis has rarely been reported, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple stent placement for all the supra-aortic branches involved.     

Prediction of nodal metastasis by comparative genomic hybridization in biopsy specimens from patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Selection of appropriate protocols for treatment of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) is dependent on lymph node metastasis status. Therefore, it is important to know whether lymph node metastasis is present before treatment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we examined the relation between DNA sequence copy number aberrations detected by comparative genomic hybridization and lymph node metastasis in 26 surgically resected SESCCs (training samples). We then assessed whether the genetic information is predictive for nodal status in biopsy specimens from eight newly enrolled patients with SESCC (blinded samples). RESULTS: Pathological examination revealed that 17 of 26 training samples (65.4%) did not have associated lymph node metastasis. Gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter were observed in 12, including all (nine of nine) with nodal metastasis. Fourteen training samples did not have gain of either 8q24 or 20q12-qter. Of the blinded samples, two showed no gain of 8q24 or 20q12-qter, and as anticipated the postoperative pathological examination revealed no nodal metastasis. The remaining six blinded samples had gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter, and lymph node metastasis was detected by postoperative examination in four of these tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter appears to be associated with absence of lymph node metastasis in patients with SESCC; therefore, less invasive surgery can be chosen.     

Fatal hemorrhage after radiochemotherapy for leptomeningeal dissemination of glioma: report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Dissemination of malignant gliomas is often observed, but the treatment of choice for leptomeningeal dissemination has not been established. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: A 55-year-old man suffered fatal hemorrhage 1 day after whole brain irradiation (2 Gy) along with intravenous administration of 150 mg of nitrosourea (ACNU) for leptomeningeal dissemination of glioblastoma. A 14-year-old boy suffered hemorrhage after intrathecal administration of 10 mg of methotrexate for recurrence of leptomeningeal dissemination of anaplastic astrocytoma 4 months after local brain irradiation and ACNU administration, and died 19 days later. CONCLUSION: Massive fatal hemorrhage is an unusual but possible acute complication after radiochemotherapy for leptomeningeal dissemination of gliomas.     

Subsequent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase after adhesion of transitional cell cancer cells to fibronectin

INTRODUCTION: In the process of tumor invasion and metastasis, interactions between tumor cells and extracellular matrix play a crucial role. Recently, it was shown that fibronectin binding to fibronectin receptor promotes mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation after tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We investigated these signal transduction events in transitional cell cancer (TCC) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: (1) The adhesion of T24 cells, a fibronectin-receptor-positive TCC cell line, to fibronectin was investigated; (2) the MAPK activation after fibronectin stimulation in bladder cancer cell lines was examined by Western blotting using an antiactive MAPK antibody, and (3) FAK, Sos, and Grb-2 were also examined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: T24 cells adhered to fibronectin-coated dishes more quickly than to the noncoated dishes. Fibronectin stimulation induced activation of MAPK in T24, SCaBER, and HT1376 cells. However, activated MAPK was not detected in RT4 cells which do not express alpha(5)beta(1) integrin (major fibronectin receptor) after fibronectin stimulation. T24, SCaBER, and HT1376 expressed FAK and Sos. RT4 showed little FAK and Sos expression. Grb-2 was expressed in all cell lines. Adhesion of fibronectin-receptor-positive TCC cells to fibronectin activates the MAPK cascade, possibly resulting in activation of tumor cells.     

Role of hypomagnesemia in chronic cyclosporine nephropathy

BACKGROUND: Hypomagnesemia is a common finding of cyclosporine (CsA)-treated patients and has been proposed as both a cause and a consequence of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity. This experiment was conducted to elucidate the role of hypomagnesemia in the pathogenesis of chronic CsA nephropathy. METHODS: CsA (15 mg/kg/day subcutaneously) was administered to rats maintained on a low-sodium diet for 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and the effects of magnesium (Mg) supplementation on renal function, renal histology, and renal gene expression profile of fibrogenic molecules and vasoconstrictors was examined. RESULTS: CsA elicited hypomagnesemia and induced a progressive decline in glomerular filtration. At 28 day, renal tubular atrophy and cortical striped interstitial fibrosis were evident with CsA treatment. Dietary supplementation of Mg ameliorated CsA-induced hypomagnesemia and almost completely abolished CsA-induced chronic fibrotic lesions. Neither CsA nor Mg supplementation affected blood pressure. Renal cortical mRNA of transforming growth factor beta, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and extracellular matrix started to increase at 14 days and elevated further at 28 days. In contrast, the increase in mRNA of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and renin was evident early at 7 days and reached peak at 14 days. These mRNA increases, except that of renin, were almost abolished when hypomagnesemia was corrected. Magnesium supplementation also improved glomerular dysfunction, at least in part, through inhibition of up-regulated mRNA of endothelin-1. CONCLUSION: CsA-induced hypomagnesemia contributes to chronic renal fibrotic lesions seen during CsA treatment through up-regulation of fibrogenic molecules, most notably early activation of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression.     

Retropericardial hematoma complicating off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

We report the case of a retropericardial hematoma after triple-vessel off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a retropericardial hematoma that compressed the left atrium anteriorly and suppressed cardiac function. Injury to the pulmonary vein during placement of deep pericardial sutures and postoperative infusion of heparin were the likely causes of this rare but potentially fatal complication of an off-pump bypass operation.     

Epididymis Metastasis from Colon Carcinoma: A Case Report and a Review of the Japanese Literature

A 56-year-old Japanese man in whom a descending colon carcinomahad been resected underwent a high orchitectomy for metastaticepididymis from the colon. Metastatic carcinoma from the digestiveorgans to the spermatic cord (SC) and/or the intrascrotal contents(ISC) is rare. Fifty-four Japanese patients with metastasisfrom the digestive organs to the SC and/or the ISC were analyzed.The most frequent primary site was the stomach and the mostfrequent metastatic site was the spermatic cord. Our patientwas the first to exhibit metastasis from the colon to the epididymis.A primary site was identified in 24 patients subsequent to themetastatic tumor. Twenty patients had other organ metastatis.The prognosis for SC and/or ISC metastasis patients is poor.Our patients has survived for 18 months following his orchitectomywith no other organ metastasis (31 months after the primaryoperation). In our patient, monoclonal estrogen receptor stainingwas negative; however, further study must be undertaken.     

Interaction of Interleukin-1 and Interferon-γ on Fibroblast Growth Factor-induced Angiogenesis

The interaction of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) actions on several aspects of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo was studied. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were synergistically inhibited by cotreatment with IL-1 and IFN-γ. Endothelial cell adhesion to collagen was suppressed by IL-1 and the effect was slightly enhanced by the combination of IL-1 and IFN-γ. Local administration of IL-1 (10,000 U) and IFN-γ (1,000 U) inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the skin of mice, and synergistic inhibitory activity of the combination was demonstrated. Expression of FGF receptors was strongly downregulated by the combination, whereas expressions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, integrin β₁ and integrin β₃ were not. EGF partially abrogated the growth-inhibitory effects of IL-1 and IFN-γ. These findings indicate that IL-1 and IFN-γ are each able to act an angiogenesis inhibitor in a situation where FGF plays a major role in angiogenesis, and the activity is synergistically enhanced when they are used in combination.