Comparative survey on current status and the differences of treatment using modified FOLFOX6 regimen in patients with colorectal cancer in two general hospitals

We surveyed the current status and the differences of treatment of colorectal cancer using modified FOLFOX6 regimen, in two general hospitals, Sakai City Hospital (A hospital) and Takarazuka Municipal Hospital (B hospital) between April 2005 and November 2006, retrospectively. The numbers of examined patients were 33 and 17 in A and B hospitals, respectively. The grade of myelosuppression and peripheral neuropathy were evaluated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 3.0(CTCAE v 3.0)and Neurotoxicity Criteria of DEBIOPHARM(DEB-NTC). The setting of dosage was differed in two hospitals. In A hospital, the dosages of oxaliplatin, 5-FU bolus and 5-FU continuous infusion were more than 90% of the standard one at first time, and were reduced with almost same degree in the appearance of adverse effects. On the other hand, in B hospital, the dosages of these drugs were reduced about 20% even at first administration and, especially, the dose of 5-FU bolus tended to be remarkable reduction. Of adverse events, the rates of the appearance of neutropenia more than grade 3 was 21.2% and 47.1%, in A and B hospitals, respectively. No difference in peripheral neuropathy was detected at both hospitals. In conclusion, the differences in these two hospitals were detected in the dosage setting and myelosuppression, not in non-hematological adverse effects.     

Equalization of spread of breast cancer chemotherapy regimen at general hospitals--with EC and FEC regimens

We investigated the differences in safety and management of adverse events of chemotherapy among three hospitals, Sakai Municipal Hospital, Takarazuka Municipal Hospital and National Hospital Organization Osaka-minami Medical Center. The main purpose of this study was to equalize the spread of breast cancer chemotherapy regimen. The following three regimens were evaluated; epirubicin (75 mg/m(2)) /cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2)) (EC75), epirubicin (75 mg/m(2)) /cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2)) /5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)) (FEC75) and epirubicin (100 mg/m(2)) / cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2)) /5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)) (FEC100). Sixty-three patients were evaluated. We studied the level of myelosuppression after each regimen. As a result, there was no significant difference in neutrocyte counts at nadir after chemotherapy among hospitals and regimens. However, the values tended to be ranked EC75>FEC75>FEC100. In addition, we examined the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) according to the multi- national association for supportive care in cancer (MASCC) scoring system. Almost all patients (61/63) were in the low risk group of FN, and only two patients had developed FN. At one hospital, patients receiving chemotherapy were prescribed ciprofloxacin tablets prophylactically for prexia over 38 deg C, and the patients learned from it. Thus, no marked difference in the safety (side effects such as myelosuppression) was recognized. However, management of side effects was different among these hospitals. In conclusion, it is very important to provide patients with adequate information on side effects.     

Effect of IL-17 on ICAM-1 expression of human bronchial epithelial cells, NCI-H 292]

Bronchial asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammation of the airway infiltrated by eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. ICAM-1 expression on airway epithelium facilitates adhesion between these inflammatory cells and bronchial epithelial cells, and induces the activation of inflammatory cells. ICAM-1 expression was affected by various cytokines, such as IL-17. IL-17 is a novel cytokine released by CD4+ activated memory T cells. In this study, we examined the effect of IL-17 on ICAM-1 expression by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Human bronchial epithelial cells, NCI-H 292 cells, were stimulated with IL-17 (100 ng/ml) and/or IFN-gamma (100 U/ml). ICAM-1 was expressed constitutively. IL-17 alone did not enhance ICAM-1 expression on NCI-H 292 cells. However, IL-17 synergistically enhanced ICAM-1 expression induced by IFN-gamma. These results suggest that IL-17 has an effect on ICAM-1 expression of bronchial epithelial cells in airway inflammation.     

HuR expression in the nucleus correlates with high histological grade and poor disease-free survival in ovarian cancer

Background: HuR, a nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling protein, plays an important role in mRNA stability as well as cellular differentiation. Recently, HuR expression, particularly in the cytoplasm, was thought to be associated with the prognosis of several cancers including ovarian cancer.
Aims: To study the clinical significance of nuclear HuR expression in ovarian cancer.
Methods: Primary epithelial ovarian carcinomas (102) and ovarian low malignant potential tumours (11) were assessed for HuR protein expression by immunohistochemistry. HuR scoring accounted for both intensity and percentage of cells stained, and ranged from 0 to 300.
Results: HuR was found to be present predominantly in the nucleus, where it was expressed in 85.8% of cases. Nuclear HuR was associated with the invasive cancers ( P  = 0.004), high grade ( P  < 0.0001), large residual disease ( P  = 0.045) and poor disease-free survival ( P  = 0.0009). Among those 91 specimens with high grade, 76.9% had a high nuclear HuR score, while in those 22 cases with low grade, only 31.8% had a high HuR score ( P  < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear HuR intensity was an independent prognostic factor for poor disease-free survival ( P  = 0.0484). When the invasive cancers were analysed separately, only the association between nuclear HuR and high grade remained ( P  = 0.0089).
Conclusions: Our results support the clinical significance of nuclear HuR in ovarian carcinoma and suggest that nuclear HuR may also play a role in the biology of ovarian cancer. These data suggest a more complex model for HuR in ovarian cancer than one limited to cytoplasmic localisation.     

Case of acne conglobata successfully treated by CO(2) laser combined with topical tretinoin therapy

Acne conglobata is an uncommon disorder characterized by the presence of nodulocystic lesions. Conservative therapy with oral and topical antibiotics is of limited efficacy in many cases, and surgical excision is often needed for removal of the cystic lesions. Treatment is particularly difficult in cases with lesions located in aesthetically sensitive areas, such as the face. We successfully treated a case of acne conglobata by CO(2) laser ablation to remove the top of the sinuses and their tracts. In addition, topical tretinoin therapy was also initiated simultaneously to prevent the appearance of new acne lesions. Based on the results, we propose that the use of CO(2) laser for opening the cysts, combined with topical tretinoin therapy to prevent the appearance of new lesions, is a powerful treatment option for acne conglobata.     

Ultrasensitive and rapid enzyme immunoassay (thin aqueous layer immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay) for antibody IgG to HIV-1 p17 antigen

The immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay for antibody IgG to HIV-1 p17 antigen was performed in two different ways (the present immunoassays I and II) within shorter periods of time than previously reported. In the present (simultaneous) immunoassay I, antibody IgG to HIV-1 p17 antigen in 10 μL of serum samples was incubated simultaneously with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-maltose binding protein-recombinant p17(rp17) fusion protein and rp17-β-D -galactosidase conjugate in a total volume of 22 μL for 10 min to form the immune complex comprising the three components. The reaction mixture was incubated with a polystyrene bead of 6.35 mm in diameter coated with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG for 5 min in a styrol test tube (13.3 × 54 mm and 2.1 g) to trap the immune complex. After washing, the polystyrene bead was incubated with 30 μL of ϵN-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L -lysine solution in a polystyrene tube (12 × 75 mm) coated with affinity-purified (antihuman IgG γ-chain) IgG for 10 min to transfer the immune complex. In the present (sequential) immunoassay II, a polystyrene bead of 6.35 mm in diameter coated successively with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG and 2,4-dinitrophenyl-maltose binding protein-rp17 fusion protein was incubated in a styrol test tube (13.3 × 54 mm and 2.1 g) sequentially with antibody IgG to HIV-1 p17 antigen in 10 μL of serum samples in a total volume of 16 μL for 5 min and subsequently with rp17-β-D -galactosidase conjugate in a volume of 10 μL for 5 and 10 min. The immune complex formed on the polystyrene bead was transferred to a polystyrene tube coated with affinity-purified (antihuman IgG γ-chain) IgG for 5 and 10 min in the same way as in the present immunoassay I. During the incubations, the styrol test tubes containing the polystyrene beads and reaction mixtures were shaken, and the polystyrene test tubes were rotated with shaking, so that the polystyrene beads were rotated randomly, and small drops (16 to 30 μL) of the reaction mixtures evenly contacted all parts of the solid phase surfaces during the incubations, though only small parts of the solid phase surfaces were contacted at one time. The intent was to continuously mix thin aqueous layers of the reaction mixtures covering the solid phase surfaces with the rest of the reaction mixtures. (Therefore, these immunoassays were called thin aqueous layer immunoassays.) β-D -Galactosidase activity bound to the polystyrene tubes was assayed by fluorometry for 30 and 60 min. The present immunoassays I and II, in which only 15 to 25 min were used for the immunoreactions, were as sensitive if not more so than the previous immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay requiring 150 min for the immunoreactions. In these earlier immunoreactions, the immune complex comprising the three components formed by 30 min incubation was trapped onto two polystyrene beads (3.2 mm in diameter) coated with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG for 60 min, and was then transferred to two polystyrene beads (3.2 mm in diameter) coated with affinity-purified (antihuman IgG γ-chain) IgG for 60 min in a total volume of 150 μL. Furthermore, the present (sequential) immunoassay II (and probably I) could become approximately 10 times more sensitive by assaying bound β-D -galactosidase activity for a longer period of time (10 h), since β-D -galactosidase activity, bound nonspecifically in the presence of serum samples from HIV-1 seronegative subjects, was considerably low. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 12:179–189, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. No abstract.