Polysaccharide-K (PSK) may suppress surgical stress-induced metastasis in rat colon cancer

Purpose  

We previously demonstrated that hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury increased liver metastasis and cancer growth of RCN-H4 cells. Using a rat model of hepatic I/R-induced liver metastasis, we investigated the metastasis-suppressing effect of polysaccharide-K (PSK), a biological response modifier composed of protein-bound polysaccharide.     

Successful pregnancy after limb-sparing hemipelvectomy for Ewing sarcoma: Case report and literature review

ObjectiveWe present a case of successful pregnancy in a patient who underwent limb-sparing hemipelvectomy combined with multi-agent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Ewing sarcoma.Case reportA 17-year-old girl was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma of the left pelvis at the age of 17 and received limb-sparing hemipelvectomy combined with multi-agent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient received oral contraceptives as hormone replacement therapy after completion of treatment. A normal menstruation cycle restored after the withdrawal of oral contraceptives. The patient spontaneously conceived at the age of 25. The patient complained of difficulty walking due to pelvic distortion during pregnancy and delivered a healthy neonate at term by cesarean section.ConclusionSuccessful pregnancy and delivery can be achieved after limb-sparing hemipelvectomy combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Ewing sarcoma. Our report provides important information on perinatal management, given the low incidence of pregnancy following treatment of Ewing sarcoma in the pelvis.     

Determination of the optimal ROI setting position of the input function for the ⁹⁹mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimmer brain uptake ratio method

Determination of the input function for the (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimmer brain uptake ratio ((99m)Tc-ECD BUR) method as a non-invasive quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow measurement is of critical importance in order to improve the accuracy of this method. The input functions were experimentally obtained by setting the regions of interest (ROIs) in the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta on the 49 chest RI-angio images. rCBFs by the BUR method with 3 input functions of the 6 cases were compared with those by the (123)I-iodoamphetamine (IMP) continuous arterial blood sampling method in order to determine the best location for the ROI of the input function. The input function of the ascending aorta was higher than those of the aortic arch and the descending aorta. The input functions of the aortic arch and the descending aorta decreased due to the origin of the three branches of the right brachiocephalic artery, left subclavian artery, and left common carotid artery. A good correlation was found in the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values between the (123)I-IMP continuous arterial blood sampling method and the (99m)Tc-ECD BUR method with the input function of the ascending aorta. Therefore, the ascending aorta is the best location for the ROI of the input function for the (99m)Tc-ECD BUR method.     

Measurements of transmission spectrums and estimation of retinal blue-light irradiance values of currently available clear and yellow-tinted intraocular lenses

Purpose  

To compare the spectral transmission characteristics of currently available, foldable, clear and yellow-tinted intraocular lenses (IOLs), and evaluate the protective effects they provide against retinal damage by sunlight.     

Serum hepatocyte growth factor and cancer mortality in an apparently healthy Japanese population

Background: In patients with cancer, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is elevated and is a predictor of prognosis. We investigated whether serum HGF was a predictive marker for cancer death in a population of community-dwelling Japanese.Methods: We studied 1492 apparently healthy Japanese adults who underwent health examinations in 1999. Those who reported a history of liver disease or malignancy on a baseline questionnaire were excluded, and plasma HGF was measured in the remaining 1470 participants, who were followed periodically for 10 years. Multivariate proportional hazards regression was used to estimate cancer mortality.Results: A total of 169 participants died during follow-up (61 from cancer, 32 from cerebrocardiovascular disease, and 76 from other diseases). Mean HGF at baseline was significantly higher among decedents than among survivors (0.26 ± 0.11 vs 0.23 ± 0.09 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.01). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that age, systolic blood pressure, HGF (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.52; P = 0.009), albumin level, smoking status, and creatinine were independent predictors of all-cause death. Age, HGF (hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.04-1.65; P = 0.02), and total cholesterol were independent predictive markers for cancer death.Conclusions: Serum HGF was a predictor of cancer death in an apparently healthy population of community-dwelling Japanese.     

Adrenocorticotropin-mediated effect of metoclopramide on plasma aldosterone in man

Five healthy adult men were given metoclopramide (10 and 20 mg) iv and the effects of L-dopa and dexamethasone on metoclopramide-induced increases in plasma aldosterone concentration were determined. Plasma PRL, ACTH, and cortisol levels were also measured and the results reported in a previous study. After an injection of 10 mg metoclopramide, aldosterone levels increased significantly. The aldosterone rise was inhibited by L-dopa, but not by dexamethasone. After injecting 20 mg metoclopramide, aldosterone levels increased significantly vs. both the control and the basal level. The aldosterone increase was not inhibited by L-dopa pretreatment, whereas pretreatment with dexamethasone did suppress it. The data suggest that metoclopramide increased aldosterone secretion through an ACTH-dependent (stress mediated) effect in addition to its antidopaminergic adrenal action, simultaneously. There were no significant differences between the ACTH-dependent and dopamine antagonist-mediated aldosterone increases in either the 10- or 20-mg tests. However, the ACTH-dependent aldosterone increase was statistically greater in the 20-mg test than in the 10-mg test, whereas there was only a slight and not statistically significant difference in the dopamine antagonist-mediated aldosterone increase between the tests. This means that the ACTH-dependent component of the aldosterone secretion is affected by the doubling of the metoclopramide dose, whereas the dopamine antagonist-mediated component is not.