Functional roles of CSPG4/NG2 in chondrosarcoma

CSPG4/NG2 is a multifunctional transmembrane protein with limited distribution in adult tissues including articular cartilage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible roles of CSPG4/NG2 in chondrosarcomas and to establish whether this molecule may have potential for targeted therapy. Stable knock‐down of CSPG4/NG2 in the JJ012 chondrosarcoma cell line by shRNA resulted in decreased cell proliferation and migration as well as a decrease in gene expression of the MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) 3 protease and ADAMTS4 (aggrecanase). Chondrosarcoma cells in which CSPG4/NG2 was knocked down were more sensitive to doxorubicin than wild‐type cells. The results indicate that CSPG4/NG2 has roles in regulating chondrosarcoma cell function in relation to growth, spread and resistance to chemotherapy and that anti‐CSPG4/NG2 therapies may have potential in the treatment of surgically unresectable chondrosarcoma.     

Eye closure sensitivity in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and its effect on prognosis

PurposeTo investigate eye closure sensitivity (ECS) in the EEGs of patients diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and its relationship to prognosis.MethodsWe included 76 JME patients with a minimum follow-up of one year and evaluated a total of 254 EEGs to obtain evidence of ECS. The patients were grouped according to their response to treatment, and these subgroups were compared in relation to ECS and other clinical and EEG features.ResultsThere were 12 patients (15.8%) with poor prognosis who showed resistance to appropriate anti-epileptic drug treatment, 15 (19.7%) patients with pseudo-resistance, and 49 (64.5%) patients with good prognosis. The EEGs of only four of the patients displayed pure ECS (5.3%), and only one of these exhibited poor prognosis. Furthermore, 11 patients (14.5%) had both ECS and photosensitivity, and two of these patients exhibited poor prognosis. Thus, neither pure ECS nor ECS with photosensitivity correlated with poor prognosis. A family history of epilepsy and focal findings on the EEG was correlated with poorer prognosis.ConclusionsECS is a rare EEG finding in JME and does not appear to be a marker for poor prognosis.     

Review of techniques for the removal of trapped rings on fingers with a proposed new algorithm

Various removal techniques for rings trapped on the finger have been described in the current literature. However, despite this being a frequently encountered situation in emergency departments, there is no comprehensive algorithm to manage and follow these patients in the current literature. The purposes of this study were to describe the most commonly used ring removal techniques and to establish an algorithm for the removal of rings trapped on fingers. We performed a comprehensive literature search in several databases to identify all articles, case reports, letters, and book chapters that focus on ring removal techniques in English language from 1960 to the present. There are 2 methods of removal: (1) noncutting techniques in which the rings can be removed without breaking the integrity of the ring and (2) various ring-cutting equipments and tools. All these techniques are classified into distinct groups and described in detail with illustrations. Furthermore, an algorithm for handling such patients is established according to case-based patient care. Following an algorithm for the removal of trapped rings on the finger will be useful for patients and emergency physicians. It will also prevent possible complications and will save time.     

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal disease: experience from Singapore and Japan

Among advanced gastric cancer cases, peritoneal dissemination is a life-threatening mode of metastasis, and any strategy to control peritoneal metastasis will significantly improve treatment outcomes. Since intraperitoneal administration of anticancer drugs can induce an extremely high concentration of drugs in the peritoneal cavity, intraperitoneal chemotherapy would appear to be a reasonable and promising strategy to control the peritoneal dissemination. However, it has been reported in the past that intraperitoneal administration of mitomycin C or cisplatin resulted in no significant clinical effects against peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. In contrast, intraperitoneal paclitaxel is expected to remain inside the peritoneal cavity due to its large molecular weight and fat solubility, leading to a high concentration of the drug in the peritoneal cavity. In fact, promising results in several phase II clinical trials using intraperitoneal paclitaxel have been reported, including a median survival time of 16.2–24.6 months and a 1-year overall survival rate of 69–78 %. Thereafter, a phase III randomized control study (PHOENIX-GC trial) with intraperitoneal paclitaxel plus systemic S-1 and intravenous paclitaxel in comparison to systemic S-1 plus cisplatin was conducted in Japan. Moreover, a phase II clinical trial of combination chemotherapy of intraperitoneal paclitaxel with systemic capecitabine plus oxaliplatin is currently ongoing in Singapore. In this review, based on clinical experience from Singapore and Japan, the clinical significance of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal disease is discussed.     

An intraneural ganglion cyst causing unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy

Intracranial ganglion cysts are rare. We report a patient with a rare unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy caused by an intraneural ganglion cyst. To our knowledge, there are only four reports of ganglion/synovial cysts causing unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. Our aim is to present the fifth report, and to compare our findings with the others.     

Investigation of Non-linear Chirp Coding for Improved Second Harmonic Pulse Compression

Non-linear frequency-modulated (NLFM) chirp coding was investigated to improve the pulse compression of the second harmonic chirp signal by reducing the range side lobe level. The problem of spectral overlap between the fundamental component and second harmonic component (SHC) was also investigated. Therefore, two methods were proposed: method I for the non-overlap condition and method II with the pulse inversion technique for the overlap harmonic condition. In both methods, the performance of the NLFM chirp was compared with that of the reference LFM chirp signals. Experiments were performed using a 2.25 MHz transducer mounted coaxially at a distance of 5 cm with a 1 mm hydrophone in a water tank, and the peak negative pressure of 300 kPa was set at the receiver. Both simulations and experimental results revealed that the peak side lobe level (PSL) of the compressed SHC of the NLFM chirp was improved by at least 13 dB in method I and 5 dB in method II when compared with the PSL of LFM chirps. Similarly, the integrated side lobe level (ISL) of the compressed SHC of the NLFM chirp was improved by at least 8 dB when compared with the ISL of LFM chirps. In both methods, the axial main lobe width of the compressed NLFM chirp was comparable to that of the LFM signals. The signal-to-noise ratio of the SHC of NLFM was improved by as much as 0.8 dB, when compared with the SHC of the LFM signal having the same energy level. The results also revealed the robustness of the NLFM chirp under a frequency-dependent attenuation of 0.5 dB/cm·MHz up to a penetration depth of 5 cm and a Doppler shift up to 12 kHz.