Phase I-II study of biweekly paclitaxel administration with fixed-dose-rate cisplatin in advanced gastric cancer

Background Both paclitaxel (TXL) and cisplatin (CDDP) show efficacy against gastric cancer. The aim of this phase I-II study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of combination chemotherapy with these two agents. Methods Nineteen patients entered the phase I part of the study, and 21 patients entered the phase II part. TXL infusions were administered on days 1 and 15, with a fixed 3mg/m² dose of CDDP. Results In the phase I part of the study, we determined dose level 5, which represented a TXL dose of 18mg/m², with CDDP 3mg/m², to be the MTD. The recommended dose (RD) was level 4, with a TXL dose of 16mg/m² with CDDP, 3mg/m². In the phase II part of the study, the response rate was 25.0%; five patients had a partial response, seven had stable disease, 6 had progressive disease, and 2 were not evaluable. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was the most common adverse event and occurred in 65% of the patients. During treatment, 25% of the patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, but febrile neutropenia was not shown in any of the patients. Major nonhematological toxicities were nausea/vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, alopecia, and sensory neuropathy. Adverse reactions of grade 3 or 4 were shown by two patients, one with anorexia (5%) and the other with sensory neuropathy (5%). Conclusion The RD was determined to be TXL 14mg/m², with CDDP 3mg/m².     

Key factors influencing bowel function after ileal W-pouch anal anastomosis: A spectral analysis of W-pouch motor activity

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the standard surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis (UC). The purpose of this study was to determine which factors are important to achieve good anal continence after IPAA in terms of the motor activity and pressure–volume relationship. A total of 17 patients with UC who underwent IPAA were evaluated. The internal ileal pouch pressure was transanally measured with and without volume-loading of the pouch which induces the urge to evacuate. The maximum tolerable volume (MTV), first urge volume (FUV), and ileal pouch compliance were calculated and the internal ileal pouch pressure records were subjected to spectral analysis for intensive evaluation of the intraluminal pressure waves. The FUV, correlation of the compliance of the FUV with MTV, and the remaining volume up to the MTV (RVMTV) were analyzed. Compliance of the FUV was significantly correlated with the RVMTV (r = 0.736, P < 0.01). The frequency of the phasic waves in the pouch decreased with length of follow up, reflecting improved function (r = −0.588, P < 0.05). The findings of this intensive analysis of manometric measurement indicate that the key factors in postoperative pouch function are RVMTV and the frequency of phasic waves in the W-pouch. Received: May 6, 1999 / Accepted: May 30, 2000     

Early Diagnosis of Postoperative Infection: Assessment of Whole Blood Chemiluminescence

(Received for publication on Oct. 19, 1998; accepted on Nov. 11, 1999)     

Endoscopic prediction of tumor depth of gastric carcinoma for assessing the indication of its limited resection

Limited surgery for an early gastric carcinoma is advocated, since certain carcinomas have no nodal involvement. However, the endoscopic accuracy of distinguishing each cancer-depth has not been detailed from the standpoint of limited surgery. We retrospectively reviewed a total of 2,628 patients to assess the diagnostic accuracy of their endoscopic infiltration-depth with the nature of the tumors. Endoscopic distinction of early from advanced carcinomas was satisfactory with a reliability of 86.5%, sensitivity of 87.1%, and specificity of 85.9%. In the 1,354 early gastric carcinomas the microscopic infiltration-depth was significantly related to macroscopic appearance, histologic differentiation and tumor size. Accompanying ulcer or scar significantly suggested that the carcinoma had spread vertically and horizontally. Macroscopically elevated and differentiated carcinomas without ulcer are usually limited to the mucosa, and undifferentiated and/or ulcer-positive carcinomas are more invasive than predicted by most present clinical standards. Endoscopically differential diagnosis of the infiltration-depth of gastric carcinomas is reliable, and the indication for limited surgery can be endoscopically determined in many individual patients.     

Malignant histiocytosis with marked cellular atypia--an autopsy case with an immunohistochemical study on neoplastic histiocytes

A 71-year-old male presenting high fever, pancytopenia, liver dysfunction and jaundice died without a confirmed diagnosis. Microscopically, histiocytes with marked atypia and erythrophagocytosis had infiltrated the spleen, enlarged lymph nodes, liver, and bone marrow. From the above features this case was diagnosed as malignant histiocytosis. The infiltrating histiocytes were classified into three categories: 1) phagocytic cells, 2) atypical, mostly non-phagocytic cells, and 3) bizarre cells including multinucleated giant cells. An immunohistochemical study of histiocyte markers demonstrated that lysozyme was positive in the atypical cells and some phagocytic cells, whereas alpha-l-antitrypsin tended to be localized in the phagocytic cells. Bizarre cells were negative for both markers. No S-100 protein was demonstrated in the neoplastic cells. These immunohistochemical features suggested monocyte-phagocytic origin of the tumor in this case.     

Infarct exclusion for postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture with severe congestive heart failure

A 70-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with severe congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia due to acute myocardial infarction. He had experienced chest pain 3 weeks previously and was admitted to another hospital for dyspnea, where he required assist ventilation, 1 week prior to the transfer. An echocardiogram revealed a broad anteroseptal infarction and very poor left ventricular function with an ejection fraction (EF) of 22%. He remained in a severe congestive heart failure condition despite a full administration of catecholamines. Coronary angiogram findings revealed an occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and 1 week later severe hypotension was suddenly presented. An echocardiogram showed pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade. A pericardiocentesis was performed and hemodynamic improvement was obtained for a short time, after which the patient underwent urgent open heart surgery. During the operation, exclusion of the anteroseptal akinetic area using an oval patch was performed under a cardiopulmonary bypass and ventricular fibrillation. Severe cardiac failure remained postoperatively and the patient could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, therefore, we implanted a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) and started intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP). The patient was weaned from PCPS at 26 days after surgery and from IABP at 30 days. Following hospital release, he has continued to do well without heart failure for 39 months after the operation.