Hair shaft miRNA‐221 levels as a new tumor marker of malignant melanoma

miRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is known to be abnormally expressed in many human cancers. The serum levels of miR‐221 have been reported as a tumor marker for malignant melanoma (MM). We hypothesized that the hair shaft miR‐221 levels may be increased in patients with MM. We therefore assessed the possibility that hair shaft miR‐221 levels could be a marker for MM. The hair shaft miR‐221 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM than controls. The rates of increased hair shaft miR‐221 levels above the cut‐off value were comparable to those of serum 5‐S‐CD, which is a tumor marker commonly used for MM. Measurements of the hair shaft miR‐221 levels could have potential clinical value in the detection of MM. This is the first report investigating the hair shaft levels of an miRNA in patients with MM. Our investigations offer new insight into the relationship between miR‐221 and MM, and may provide a new, non‐invasive way to screen for melanoma.     

Micro-shear bond strength of dual-cured resin cement to glass ceramics.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sandblasting, etching, and a silane coupling agent on the ability of dual-cured resin cement to bond to glass ceramics designed for in indirect adhesive restoration. METHODS: A cast glass ceramic (Olympus Castable Ceramics) with a crystalline phase consisting of mica and beta-spondumene was selected as the substrate material. The glass surfaces, which were sandblasted, polished, or etched with phosphoric acid or hydrofluoric acid (HF), were bonded with a dual-cured resin cement (Panavia Fluoro Cement) using a dentin adhesive system (Clearfil SE Bond), both with and without a silane coupling agent. A micro-shear bond test was carried out to measure the bond strength of the resin cement to the glass surface. Each glass surface was bonded and tested using the shear test. In addition, surfaces with the bonding removed after the shear bond test, the adhesive interface between the glass and cement, and an etched glass surface without any bonding, were studied morphologically using scanning electron microscopy or field emission scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Usage of a silane coupling agent effectively raised the bond-strength values of resin cement (Fisher's PLSD, P<0.01). The effectiveness of using phosphoric acid etching to improve bonding was not clear (Fisher's PLSD, P>0.01). HF-etching for 30s seemed to over-etch the glass surface, resulting in adverse effects on bonding (Fisher's PLSD, P<0.01). SIGNIFICANCE: The micro-shear bond strength between Olympus Castable Ceramics and resin cement can be increased by the silane coupling agent used along with an acidic primer.     

Obstinate cough as a sole presenting symptom of non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) causes many kinds of symptoms such as hypercalcemia, hypertension, polycythemia and fever. Here we describe a rare case of RCC presenting with a persistent cough. After radical nephrectomy, the obstinate cough disappeared. When the tumor recurred locally, the cough also recurred. Furthermore, the cough disappeared completely again after the removal of the recurrent tumor. Although all the clinical findings suggested that the RCC caused the cough, we could not identify a specific humoral substance responsible for the cough.     

A case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with internal pancreatic fistula causing left ureteral obstruction]

A 75-year-old man had been admitted to another hospital because of left abdominal pain, and was given a diagnosis of left hydronephrosis and acute pancreatitis. After a JJ stent insertion and medication, he was transferred to our hospital for further examinations. US and EUS revealed a chronic pancreatitis-like pattern and multicystic lesion in the pancreas head and body. At that time enhanced CT findings showed an extrapancreatic low density area to be inflammatory change, extending from the pancreas body to the left crus of the diaphragm and posteriorly the spreading from the left crus of the diaphragm via the left urinary duct into the left iliopsoas muscle, in which MRI revealed partial high intensity. ERCP and MRCP showed focal irregular narrowing of the pancreatic duct of unknown cause, and we decided that an internal pancreatic fistula due to pancreatitis had induced left ureteral obstruction, caused by a protein plug or alcohol. Follow-up 6 months later showed that extrapancreatic spreading of the low density area had markedly regressed without any change in the ureteral obstruction.     

Elevation of plasma thioredoxin levels in HIV-infected individuals

Thioredoxin (Trx), a ubiquitous protein intimately involvedin redox and protein disulfide reductions, has been shown tobe released from cells and to have cytokine-like activities.In addition, Trx has been implicated in the redox regulationof immunological responses and shown to be deficient in tissuesfrom AIDS patients. In studies presented here, plasma Trx levelswere measured by ELISA in plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals(n = 136) and HIV-negative controls (n = 47). To account forthe release of Trx into plasma due to hemolysis, the Trx measurementswere corrected according to the level of hemoglobin in the plasmasample. Data presented show that, in contrast to tissue Trxlevels, corrected plasma Trx levels are significantly higherin HIV-infected individuals than in controls (P < 0.0001).Furthermore, {small tilde}25% of the HIV-infected individualsstudied have plasma Trx levels greater than the highest levelfound in controls (37 ng/ml). Detailed multiparameter FACS analysisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the infectedindividuals demonstrates that those with higher plasma Trx levels(37 ng/ml or greater) tend to have lower overall CD4 counts.In addition, increases in plasma Trx levels correlate with decreasesin monochlorobimane staining (indicative of lower intracellularglutathione levels in PBMC) and with changes in surface antigenexpression (CD62L, CD38 and CD20) that occur in the later stagesof HIV infection. These correlations suggest that elevationof plasma Trx levels may be an important component of advancedHIV disease, perhaps related to the oxidative stress that oftenoccurs at this stage.     

Two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease: improved clinical outcome with restoration of lumbar lordosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar diseases is routine, there are few reports on double-level PLIF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of double-level PLIF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective study of operated cases in Gifu, Japan. PATIENT SAMPLE: Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, 59.5+/-10.2 years) who underwent double-level PLIF between 1996 and 2001. OUTCOME MEASURES: Operation time, blood loss, complications, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for back pain and lumbar sagittal alignment were evaluated. METHODS: Patients were examined retrospectively at follow-ups of 3.6+/-1.7 years. Primary diseases were spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis and herniated intervertebral disc. Fusion areas were L3 to L5 in 15 cases and L4 to S1 in 4 cases. RESULTS: The mean JOA score increased from an initial score of 12.9+/-3.5 to 21.3+/-4.9 at the final follow-up. There was a positive correlation (R=0.718, p<.001) between the increase in lordotic angle and the increase in the JOA score. Several parameters suggested that the surgical invasiveness was not minimal. CONCLUSION: Double-level PLIF provided satisfactory results and preserved lumbar spine lordosis.     

Pharmacokinetics of fluorinated 2-nitroimidazole hypoxic cell radiosensitizers in murine peripheral nervous tissue.

We have previously reported that KU-2285, a 2-nitroimidazole with a fluorinated N1-substituent (-CH2-CF2CONH(CH2)nOH, n = 2), was a promising hypoxic cell radiosensitizer. In this study the pharmacokinetics of KU-2285 and its related compounds (n = 3 and n = 4) were compared with those of etanidazole (a 2-nitroimidazole with an N1-substituent of -CH2CONH(CH2)nOH, n = 2) and its related compounds (n = 3 and n = 4) to assess the effects of incorporation of a CF2 group. The lipophilicity of the fluorinated compounds was higher than that of etanidazole, as measured by the octanol/water partition coefficient. As the number of CH2 groups increased, the lipophilicity of the compounds in both the KU-2285 and etanidazole series increased. The brain tissue levels of the fluorinated compounds were as low as those of the etanidazole derivatives, while the biological half-lives of the fluorinated compounds in peripheral nervous tissues were shorter than those of related non-fluorinated compounds.     

Differential mechanism of retention of Cu-pyruvaldehyde-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (Cu-PTSM) by brain and tumor: A novel radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography imaging

The reductive retention of⁶²Cu-PTSM was comparatively studied in the brain and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by electron spin resonance spectrometry and nonradioactive Cu-PTSM. In the brain, only the mitochondrial fraction showed the ability to reduce Cu-PTSM, and the other subcellular fractions did not. In contrast, the cytosolic fraction of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was the specific site of Cu-PTSM reduction. It was therefore considered that the retention of Cu-PTSM in the brain is closely related to mitochondrial reduction, most probably involving the mitochondrial electron transport system.