Antimicrobial constituents of Foeniculum vulgare

A phenyl propanoid derivative, dillapional(1) was found to be a antimicrobial principle of the stems of Foeniculum vulgare (Umbelliferae) with MIC values of 125, 250 and 125/ against Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides, respectively. A coumarin derivative, scopoletin(2) was also isolated as marginally antimicrobial agent along with inactive compounds, dillapiol(3), bergapten(4), imperatorin(5) and psolaren(6) from this plant. The isolates 1-6 were not active against the Escherichia coli.     

Prognostic factors of secondary cytoreductive surgery for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify the prognostic factors of secondary cytoreductive surgery on survival in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods

The medical records of all patients who underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery between May 2001 and October 2007 at the National Cancer Center, Korea were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were executed to evaluate the potential variables for overall survival.

Results

In total, 54 patients met the inclusion criteria. Optimal cytoreduction to <0.5 cm residual disease was achieved in 87% of patients who had received secondary cytoreductive surgery. Univariate analysis revealed that site of recurrence (median survival, 53 months for the largest tumors in the pelvis vs. 24 months for the largest tumors except for the pelvis; p=0.007), progression free survival (PFS) (median survival, 43 months for PFS≥12 months vs. 24 months for PFS<12 months; p=0.036), and number of recurrence sites (median survival, 49 months for single recurred tumor vs 29 months for multiple recurred tumors; p=0.036) were significantly associated with overall survival. On multivariate analysis, prognostic factors that correlated with improved survival were site of recurrence (p=0.013), and PFS (p=0.043).

Conclusion

In the author''s analysis, a significant survival benefit was identified for the recurred largest tumors within the pelvis and PFS≥12 months. Secondary cytoreductive surgery should be offered in selected patients and large prospective studies are needed to define the selection criteria for secondary cytoreductive surgery.     

TIME DISCOUNTING AND SMOKING BEHAVIOR: EVIDENCE FROM A PANEL SURVEY*

By using a panel survey of Japanese adults, we show that smoking behavior is associated with personal time discounting and its biases, such as hyperbolic discounting and the sign effect, in the way that theory predicts: smoking depends positively on the discount rate and the degree of hyperbolic discounting and negatively on the presence of the sign effect. Positive effects of hyperbolic discounting on smoking are salient for naïve people, who are not aware of their self‐control problem. By estimating smoking participation and smokers' cigarette consumption in Cragg's two‐part model, we find that the two smoking decisions depend on different sets of time‐discounting variables. Particularly, smoking participation is affected by being a naïve hyperbolic discounter, whereas the discount rate, the presence of the sign effect, and a hyperbolic discounting proxy constructed from procrastination behavior vis‐à‐vis doing homework assignments affect both types of decision making. The panel data enable us to analyze the over‐time instability of elicited discount rates. The instability is shown to come from measurement errors, rather than preference shocks on time preference. Several evidences indicate that the detected associations between time preferences and smoking behavior are interpersonal one, rather than within‐personal one. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Have an Increased Risk of Coexisting Colorectal Neoplasms

Background/Aims

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and colorectal neoplasms (CRNs) share risk factors. We aimed to investigate whether the CRN risk is increased in ESCC patients.

Methods

ESCC patients who underwent a colonoscopy within 1 year of diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were matched 1:3 by age, gender, and body mass index to asymptomatic controls. CRN was defined as the histological confirmation of adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Advanced CRN was defined as any of the following: ≥3 adenomas, high-grade dysplasia, villous features, tumor ≥1 cm, or adenocarcinoma. The risk factors for both CRN and advanced CRN were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Sixty ESCC patients were compared with 180 controls. The ESCC group had significantly higher numbers of CRNs (odds ratio [OR], 2.311; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.265 to 4.220; p=0.006) and advanced CRNs (OR, 2.317; 95% CI, 1.185 to 4.530; p=0.013). Significant risk factors for both CRN and advanced CRN by multivariate analysis included ESCC (OR, 2.157, 95% CI, 1.106 to 4.070, p=0.024; and OR, 2.157, 95% CI, 1.045 to 4.454, p=0.038, respectively) and older age (OR, 1.068, 95% CI, 1.032 to 1.106, p<0.001; and OR, 1.065, 95% CI, 1.024 to 1.109, p=0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

The rates of CRN and advanced CRN are significantly increased in ESCC. Colonos-copy should be considered at ESCC diagnosis.     

Sequential vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone (VAD) followed by bortezomib, thalidomide, dexamethasone (VTD) as induction, followed by high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplant and consolidation therapy with bortezomib for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: results of a phase II trial

Incorporation of novel agents has resulted in an improved response rate and reduced side effects in multiple myeloma. This has prompted combining novel agents in induction chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Our patients received 2 cycles of vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone (VAD) and then 2 cycles of bortezomib, thalidomide, dexamethasone (VTD) chemotherapy as an induction treatment. Subsequently, autologous stem cell transplantation was performed, and bortezomib was administered as a consolidation therapy. Seventy-one patients were enrolled, and 65 were evaluable for response. After 2 cycles of VAD, the overall response rate was 69%. After VTD, the response rate improved to 97% with a complete response (CR) and near CR rate of 27%. Importantly, patients with cytogenetics, having poor prognostic features, all responded after VTD. Autologous stem cells were successfully collected in all 58 patients with a median CD34+ cell count of 7.12?×?10(6)/kg (range, 1.94-44.7?×?10(6)/kg), except in 1 patient (2%). After ASCT, 36 patients completed bortezomib maintenance with a combined CR and near CR rate approaching 75%. Median time to response was rapid (1.6?months). With a median follow-up duration of 52.7?months, the median TTP was 29.4?months and median OS was not reached. Toxicities proved manageable. In conclusion, sequential VAD and VTD induction therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma was active with manageable toxicity and excellent stem cell yields. The incorporation of bortezomib as a consolidation therapy improved the clinical outcome with the expense of rather frequent development of peripheral neuropathy.     

Live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with H9N2 internal genes protects chickens from infections by both Highly Pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza Viruses

Please cite this paper as: Nang et al. (2013) Live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with H9N2 internal genes protects chickens from infections by both Highly Pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza Viruses. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(2) 120–131. Background The highly pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses are endemic in many countries around the world and have caused considerable economic loss to the poultry industry. Objectives We aimed to study whether a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine comprising internal genes from a cold‐adapted H9N2 influenza virus could protect chickens from infection by both H5N1 and H9N2 viruses. Methods We developed a cold‐adapted H9N2 vaccine virus expressing hemagglutinin and neuraminidase derived from the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus using reverse genetics. Results and Conclusions Chickens immunized with the vaccine were protected from lethal infections with homologous and heterologous H5N1 or H9N2 influenza viruses. Specific antibody against H5N1 virus was detected up to 11 weeks after vaccination (the endpoint of this study). In vaccinated chickens, IgA and IgG antibody subtypes were induced in lung and intestinal tissue, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing interferon‐gamma were induced in the splenocytes. These data suggest that a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with cold‐adapted H9N2 internal genes can protect chickens from infection with H5N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses by eliciting humoral and cellular immunity.     

Hematologic diseases: High risk of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea

AIM:To investigate the incidence and clinical outcome of Clostridium difficile(C.difficile)associated diarrhea(CDAD)in patients with hematologic disease.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent C.difficile testing in a tertiary hospital in 2011.The incidence and risk factors for CDAD and its clinical course including recurrence and mortality were assessed in patients with hematologic disease and compared with those in patients with nonhematologic disease.RESULTS:About 320 patients were diagnosed with CDAD(144 patients with hematologic disease;176with nonhematologic disease).The incidence of CDAD in patients with hematologic disease was estimated to be 36.7 cases/10000 patient hospital days,which was higher than the 5.4 cases/10000 patient hospital days in patients with nonhematologic disease.Recurrence of CDAD was more frequent in patients with hematologic disease compared to those with nonhematologic disease(18.8%vs 8.5%,P<0.01),which was associated with higher re-use of causative antibiotics for CDAD.Mortality due to CDAD did not differ between the two groups.Multivariate analysis showed that intravenous immunoglobulin was the only significant factor associated with a lower rate of recurrence of CDAD in patients with hematologic disease.CONCLUSION:The incidence and recurrence of CDAD was higher in patients with hematologic disease than in those with nonhematologic disease.