Post-treatment cell-free DNA as a predictive biomarker in molecular-targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Journal of Gastroenterology - Liquid biopsies, particularly those involving circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are rapidly emerging as a non-invasive alternative to tumor biopsies. However, clinical...     

Glioblastoma with sarcomatous component associated with myxoid change

Summary The case of a 22-year-old female suffering from glioblastoma with sarcomatous component (WHO; gliosarcoma) is presented. The tumor consisted of glioblastomatous and sarcomatouos components, and in part of the pleomorphic astrocytomatous region of the glioblastoma there was a prominent production of myxoid matrix. On the basis of its histochemical and immunohistochemical characteristics, the present case strongly suggested that glial cells of neuroectodermal origin assume part of the responsibility for production of myxoid material.     

The management of stage I lymphomas of the T-cell type

Between 1980 and 1988, we treated 68 patients with clinical stage I non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Fifteen patients had lesions classified as T-cell type lymphomas, and the remainder as B-cell type lymphomas. The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 42% for patients with T-cell type and 78% for patients with B-cell (p less than 0.03), and freedom from relapse was 25% and 67%, respectively (p less than 0.01). The main relapse sites for patients with T-cell type were extranodal (5 patients) and multiple sites (2 patients). These results suggest that patients with T-cell type lymphomas should be treated by aggressive combination chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy, even though their disease may appear to be limited to one region.     

Expression of presenilin 1 and synapse‐related proteins during postnatal development is not different between accelerated senescence‐prone and ‐resistant mice

SAMP1TA/Ngs is an inbred strain of senescence‐accelerated mice in which there is delayed development of cognitive functions and dendritic spine formation compared with normal control SAMR1TA//Ngs mice. It is hypothesized that abnormalities might be in the postnatal expression of synapse‐related proteins in SAMP1TA/Ngs mice. Quantitative western blot analyses showed that the postnatal developmental changes in the expression of synaptophysin, post‐synaptic density protein 95 and presenilin 1 in the cerebrum were similar between SAMP1TA/Ngs and SAMR1TA//Ngs mice. Therefore, the expression of synapse‐related proteins was not disturbed in SAMP1TA/Ngs mice regardless of reported abnormal numbers of dendritic spines during postnatal development. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the expression of synaptophysin in the neuropil increased postnatally with development in the same way in SAMP1TA/Ngs and SAMR1TA//Ngs mice. Presenilin 1 expression was relatively high at age 5 days in the neuropil of the cerebral cortex and decreased with postnatal development in the same way in SAMP1TA/Ngs and SAMR1TA//Ngs mice. At age 5 days the distribution of presenilin 1 was similar to the distribution of synaptophysin in that there were two separate immunoreactive patterns: a subpial band and patches in the middle layers reminiscent of barrels. These findings suggest that presenilin 1 is transiently expressed in the neuropil to induce synaptogenesis, and then its expression decreases overall.     

Intraventricular neuroblastoma. A light and electron microscopic study and review of the literature

The neuroblastoma can generally be diagnosed from the histologic findings, but electron microscopic evidence is often required. A neuroblastoma occurring in the lateral ventricle of a 17-year-old female is described in this report. The tumor cells, which were strongly stained with hematoxylin, contained a small round or oval nucleus with scant cytoplasm and an obscure cell border as observed by light microscopy. No calcification, mitoses and typical ganglion cells were detected. An electron microscopic examination disclosed dense-cored vesicles, cell processes, clear vesicles, dumbbell-shaped dense bodies, microtubules and zonulae adherentes in the tumor cells. These findings suggest differentiation of the tumor cells to neuronal cells.     

Acute interstitial pneumonia induced by ONO-1078 (pranlukast), a leukotriene receptor antagonist

A 62-year-old woman treated with pranlukast for 2 months developed interstitial pneumonitis with a high fever. A lymphocyte stimulation test was reactive to pranlukast. Her clinical symptoms improved with discontinuation of pranlukast and administration of systemic corticosteroid. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of drug-induced lung disease involving a leukotriene. The steps that can be taken to promptly reach a diagnosis and to successfully treat this life-threatening condition are described.     

Effects of pain-related catastrophic thinking,anxiety, and depression on pain intensity and quality of life in patients with knee and low back pain

[Purpose] We aimed to examine the effects of pain-related catastrophic thoughts and anxiety/depression on pain intensity and quality of life (QOL), and how these effects (relationships) vary with pain location, in outpatients with chronic pain. [Participants and Methods] We recruited 14 participants with low back pain (2 males and 12 females) and 14 with knee joint pain (3 males and 11 females). We used the following evaluation tools: the visual analog scale (to evaluate pain intensity), pain catastrophizing scale (in which scores are categorized into helplessness, rumination, and magnification), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (for psychodynamic evaluation), and a questionnaire for QOL evaluation. [Results] There was no difference in pain intensity between the groups. The “low back pain” group showed a positive correlation between pain intensity and anxiety, while the “knee pain” group showed a positive correlation between pain intensity and helplessness. The “low back pain” group showed a negative correlation between health in QOL assessment items and helplessness, and between health and magnification. However, in the “knee pain” group, there was a negative correlation between health and rumination, between health and anxiety, and between positive mental attitude and magnification. [Conclusion] Mental status varied depending on the pain location, regardless of the intensity of the pain. This suggests that a psychological approach dependent on pain location is needed during physical therapy.