A novel imaging system by dye-sensitized photooxidation of oxazole groups attached to a polymer backbone, 4. Effect of oxazole content and spacer length

Oxazole derivatives attached to a polymer backbone were transformed efficiently to the corresponding triacylamide compounds in a thin film by photooxidation using various dyes as photosensitizers. This photoinduced transformation proved to be applicable to a photoresist with positive tone and a holographic grating formation by development with an aqueous solution of amines to dissolve exposed areas of the film. In this system, the length of the methylene chain connecting the oxazole ring to the polymer backbone and the content of oxazole units in the polymer influence the efficiency of the image formation as well as development conditions.     

A Pediatric Case of Atypical Mycobacterium avium Infection of the Skin

We report a case of cutaneous atypical mycobacteriosis in a 12-year-old healthy girl due to Mycobacterium avium. The cutaneous symptoms were three well-defined subcutaneous nodules on both buttocks and on the posterior surface of the left thigh. One had a fistulous opening on the skin surface. Histopathological examination revealed epithelioid cell granulomas surrounded by dense lymphocytic infiltration and acid-fast bacteria were seen with modified periodic acid-carbol fuchsin staining. Using Ogawa's medium at 37°C, acid-fast bacteria were isolated from the biopsied specimen and identified by the DNA-DNA hybridization method as Mycobacterium avium. In drug susceptibility test, these were resistant to all antituberculous drugs. Oral administration of minocycline 100 mg/day for two months had little effect on the two remaining lesions, which were therefore excised. Based upon reported cases of Mycobacterium avium complex, we considered that our pediatric patient with multiple intradermal or subcutaneous nodules on the buttocks and the thigh exhibited the characteristic symptoms of M. avium infection.     

5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine sensitizes hepatoma and pancreatic cancer cell lines

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic cancer are at the forefront of chemotherapy-resistant tumors with poor prognosis. Even with innovative treatment regimens, response rates remain low and the duration of response is short. We examined whether the suppression of DNA methylation was capable of enhancing the sensitivity of hepatoma and pancreatic cancer cell lines to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) at 2 microM, a specific DNA methylation inhibitor, did not induce cell death in Huh-7 with or without HCV, HLE, HepG2 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. However, a combination of 5-aza-dC with 5-FU showed a reduction in cell viability and induction of apoptosis in these cell lines to a greater degree than with 5-FU only. These findings underline the fact that DNA methylation plays a key role in conferring chemoresistance to hepatoma and pancreatic cancer, and the combination of DNA methylation inhibitor with chemotherapy could be a novel and highly effective tool for future targeted therapy of chemoresistant tumors.     

Corymine potentiates NMDA-induced currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing NR1a/NR2B glutamate receptors

Previous studies demonstrated that corymine, an indole alkaloid isolated from the leaves of Hunter zeylanica, dose-dependently inhibited strychnine-sensitive glycine-induced currents. However, it is unclear whether this alkaloid can modulate the function of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor on which glycine acts as a co-agonist via strychnine-insensitive glycine binding sites. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of corymine on NR1a/NR2B NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Corymine significantly potentitated the NMDA-induced currents recorded from oocytes on days 3 and 4 after cRNA injection but it showed no effect when the current was recorded on days 5 and 6. The potentiating effect of corymine on NMDA-induced currents was induced in the presence of a low concentration of glycine (< or =0.1 microM). Spermine significantly enhanced the potentiating effect of corymine observed in the oocytes on days 3 and 4, while the NMDA-receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanone (AP5) and the NMDA-channel blocker 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801) reversed the effect of corymine. On the other hand, the nonspecific chloride channel blocker 4,4-di-isothiocyano stilbene-2,2-disulfonoc acid (DIDS) had no effect on the corymine potentiation of NMDA currents. There was no good correlation between corymine- and spermine-induced potentiation of the NMDA-current response in Xenopus oocytes. These results suggest that corymine potentiates the NMDA-induced currents by interacting with a site different from the spermine binding site.     

An anti-stray stylet for subclavian catheterization by the infraclavicular approach

OBJECTIVE: Misplacement of subclavian vein catheters has been reported. We assessed the rate of misplacement of a subclavian vein catheter with and without a novel stylet. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted between September 2001 and June 2003 in a university hospital. Two hundred sixteen adult patients were enrolled to receive subclavian vein catheterization under non-emergency conditions. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo right subclavian vein catheterization with the stylet (n = 109, stylet group) or without the stylet (n = 107, control group). The rate of subclavian vein catheter misplacement was determined and risk factors for failure and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no incidence of catheter misplacement in the stylet group, but this occurred in 12 patients in the control group in whom the catheter was misplaced into the ipsilateral internal jugular vein (0% versus 11.2%, P = 0.0003). In multivariate analyses, use of the stylet (odds ratio = 0.062, 95% confidence interval = 0.008 to 0.495, P = 0.009) and a close to average body mass index (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval = 0.54 to 0.98, P = 0.038) were associated with low risks of complications and failure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This stylet is useful for decreasing the incidence of misplacement of subclavian vein catheters. Body mass index is predictive of failed vein puncture.     

Comparative study on evaluation methods for serum testosterone level for PADAM diagnosis

The International Society for the Study of the Aging Male (ISSAM) recommends that a diagnosis be based on a patient's total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), or calculated bioavailable testosterone (cBT) for partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM). The purpose of this study was to confirm whether hypogonadism of patients with PADAM is related to symptoms and clarify which criteria of testosterone recommended by ISSAM is suitable for Japanese patients. A total of 90 patients with PADAM symptoms were included in this study. Endocrinologic profiles were reviewed as appropriate, and PADAM symptoms were judged by means of several questionnaires. Laboratory values and symptoms were compared between patients with and without hypogonadism. Even when any criterion of testosterone was used for diagnosis of hypogonadism, AMS (total and subscales), IIEF-5, or SDS scores of PADAM symptoms did not differ significantly between patients classified as having and not having hypogonadism. No other endocrinologic variables than testosterone differed significantly between them, either. PADAM symptoms are not related to testosterone level and it is still obscure whether ISSAM's criterion can be adopted for Japanese patients with PADAM. Other pathology needs to be addressed for evaluation and diagnosis of PADAM in Japan.     

Rapid superselective high-dose cisplatin infusion with concomitant radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rapid superselective high-dose cisplatin infusion with concomitant radiotherapy for previously untreated patients with advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: Forty-three patients for whom surgery was contraindicated or who rejected radical surgery were given superselective intra-arterial infusions of cisplatin (100-120 mg/m2/week) with simultaneous intravenous infusion of thiosulfate to neutralize cisplatin toxicity and conventional extra-beam radiotherapy (65 Gy/26 f/6.5 weeks). RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients had stage IV disease, and the remaining four had stage III disease. During the median follow-up period of 21 months, the 3-year locoregional progression-free rates of all patients (n = 43) and patients with unresectable disease (n = 24) were 68.9% and 56.4%, respectively. In addition, the 3-year overall survival of all patients and patients with unresectable disease was 54.0% and 39.6%, respectively. Thirty-five patients (81.4%) experienced nonhematologic grade III to IV toxicity, including mucositis (n = 16), nausea/vomiting (n = 8), and neurologic signs (n = 2). No patient died as a result of treatment toxicity. There are 29 surviving patients without evidence of disease, all of whom are able to have oral intake without feeding-tube support. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the efficacy of superselective arterial infusion and concomitant radiotherapy, which can concentrate the attack of supradose cisplatin on locoregional disease. Even patients with unresectable disease can be cured. Further studies are needed to establish the indications, long-term outcome, and possible late side effects of this treatment.