Postoperative development of sarcopenia is a strong predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and upper gastric cancer

Background

There were few studies assessed the postoperative sarcopenia in patients with cancers. The objective of present study was to assess whether postoperative development of sarcopenia could predict a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, (AEG) and upper gastric cancer (UGC).

Population Pharmacokinetic and Exposure-Response Analyses of Baloxavir Marboxil in Adults and Adolescents Including Patients With Influenza

Baloxavir marboxil, a prodrug that is metabolized to baloxavir acid, suppresses viral replication by inhibiting cap-dependent endonuclease. Our aim is to characterize its pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationships. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of the baloxavir acid was performed using 8310 plasma concentration data points from 1109 subjects. Exposure-response analyses were performed regarding the time to alleviation of symptoms and the reduction in the influenza virus titer. A 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and lag time well described the plasma concentration data for baloxavir acid, and body weight and race were found to be the most important factors influencing the clearance and distribution volume. A dose regimen based on the body weight (40 mg for patients weighing <80 kg and 80 mg for patients weighing ≥80 kg) could provide sufficient exposures for expecting efficacy irrespective of body weight or race; however, the exposures were dependent on the body weight and race. Exposure-response analyses suggested that the reduction in the influenza virus titer was greater in any exposure-based groups in baloxavir marboxil treatment than in the oseltamivir phosphate treatment and placebo groups. In conclusion, the population pharmacokinetic model and exposure-response relationships would be useful for understanding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of baloxavir acid.     

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor exhibits hypocalcemic effects in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) is a novel secreted protein that inhibits osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of OCIF on serum calcium (Ca) concentrations in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In normal mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF reduced serum Ca levels in a dose-dependent manner. Significant decrease in serum Ca (by 1.6 ± 0.3 mg/dL, n = 5) was observed 2 h after the injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg and the hypocalcemic effect continued for up to 12 h. Serum phosphate (Pi) concentrations also decreased in response to OCIF. Urinary excretion of Ca, Pi, and creatinine did not change significantly after injection of OCIF or vehicle. In hypercalcemic, tumor-bearing nude mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg resulted in a dramatic decrease in serum Ca (maximal decrease 2.8 ± 0.37 mg/dL, n = 11), which continued for up to 24 h. The results suggest that OCIF decreased serum Ca through its inhibitory effect on bone resorption. Furthermore, it is suggested that OCIF has therapeutic potential for the treatment of hypercalcemic conditions such as malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.     

School-refusal and social-withdrawal in the clinical setting at a psychiatric medical institution]

Fifty two outpatients, who showed signs of school-refusal-withdrawal at the Shiga Prefectural Psychiatric Institution have been analyzed according to their age, gender, ICD-10 diagnosis, medical evolution, and total number of consultations. A total of 61.5% of the population were male, and they showed a higher average and a wider range of age than female patients. According to the ICD-10 diagnosis, 67.3% were in the group of F40-48 neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders, and 11.5% were in the group of F30-39 mood [affective] disorders. Twenty five % of the patients were assumed to have show medical improvement, and 42.3% of the patients continued to have further consultations. This article discusses the possible role of psychiatric medical institutions in supporting cases of school-refusal and social-withdrawal.     

Properties of membranes from polyelectrolyte complexes consisting of methyl glycol chitosan, [2-(diethylamino)ethyl]dextran,and poly(potassium vinyl sulfate)

Water-insoluble polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) were prepared by mixing methyl glycol chitosan (MGC, 1 ) and [2-(diethylamino)ethyl]dextran (EA, 2 ) with poly(potassium vinyl sulfate) (PVSK, 3 ) in aqueous solution at various hydrogen ion concentrations. Elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and solubilities of PEC reveal that PEC differ in molecular structure and properties according to pH. It seems that the degree of dissociation and the conformation of MGC, EA, and PVSK change with pH. PEC membranes were made by casting from solutions of all kinds of PEC, and transport phenomena through the membrane of PEC prepared in 4 wt.-% HCl solution were investigated under various conditions. The driving force of the transport depends on the membrance potential, Donnan potential, and diffusion potential, according to measurements of the transport ratio of Na⁺ and the electric potential difference between the left- and right-hand side of the membrane. Moreover, the permeability of K⁺ is higher than that of Na⁺.     

Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die entzündliche Reaktion der Subcutis in Beziehung zum individuellen Immunitätszustand

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 13 Textabbildungen.     

Treatment of a malignant esophageal fistula with a Gore-Tex-covered flexible nitinol stent

In order to treat fistulated esophageal cancer using a flexible stent, a covered flexible stent was constructed by wrapping a nitinol stent with a thin sheet of Gore-Tex, preserving the stents original advantages of flexibility and a low-profile introducer system. This stent was used to perform standard radiotherapy in a case of fistulated esophageal cancer.     

Effect of ceruletide on microvibration in schizophrenics

Ceruletide, a potent analogue of cholecystokinin, was administered by injection to eight schizophrenics treated with neuroleptics. We examined the dose–response effect on microvibration (MV) recorded from the chin of these patients. After 15 min of bed rest, MV was recorded for 5 min as a control recording. Subsequently, saline or ceruletide, at a dose of either 0.4 m?g/kg or at 0.8 m?g/kg, was injected according to a Latin square design with an interval of 4 weeks for washing out the drug effect and MV was recorded for 30 min. MV data obtained were subjected to the fast Fourier transform and an average power spectrum was computed. A three-way analysis of variance for these data was performed upon dose-effect, time-effect after treatment, and band-effect of the average power spectrum. The present results were similar to previous findings which had revealed effects of ceruletide on tardive dyskinesia symptoms, namely, the effects of ceruletide on MV were different according to the subjects (three cases: facilitation followed by inhibition, three cases: inhibition, two cases: no effects). The dose-response curve of ceruletide appears to be linear in some cases and an inverted U-shape in other cases. Present findings showed small doses of systemically administered ceruletide would modify muscle tonus of schizophrenics under chronic treatment of neuroleptics, and provided further reason for the therapeutic drug of tardive dyskinesia.