Effect of a Device-Free Compressed Shell Fixation Method on Hepatic Respiratory Movement: Analysis for Respiratory Amplitude of the Liver and Internal Motions of a Fiducial Marker

Purpose

Suppression of respiratory movement of the liver would be desirable for high-precision radiation therapy for liver tumors. We aimed to investigate the effect of our original device-free compressed shell fixation method and breathing instruction on suppression of respiratory movement. The characteristics of liver motion based on the movement of a fiducial marker were also analyzed.

Synthesis of antimicrobial agents. 3. Syntheses and antibacterial activities of 7-(4-hydroxypiperazin-1-yl)quinolones

A series of novel pyridone carboxylic acids having a 4-hydroxypiperazinyl group at the 7-position of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were prepared. The in vivo antibacterial efficacies of these compounds were superior to those of corresponding piperazinyl derivatives. From the results of the studies on the pharmacokinetic profile and toxicity, the 4-hydroxypiperazinyl derivatives were confirmed to be pharmacologically superior to corresponding piperazinyl derivatives. Thus, a 4-hydroxypiperazinyl group was revealed to be a beneficial substituent for potential use in future quinolone antibacterials.     

Synthesis of antimicrobial agents. 1. Syntheses and antibacterial activities of 7-(azole substituted)quinolones

A series of 6-fluoro- and 6,8-difluoro-7-(azole substituted)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids were prepared. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the antibacterial potency was better when the 6,8-substituents were fluorine atoms and the 7-substituent was either 1-imidazolyl, 20, or 4-methyl-1-imidazolyl, 25. From the results of studies on pharmacokinetic profile and toxicity, 20 and 25 were found to possess excellent antibacterial activities and to show high blood levels after oral administration to mice with low toxicity.     

Observations in simultaneous microencapsulation of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for combined pH-dependent release.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with leucovorin (LV) is nowadays the standard treatment in colon cancer and would be a candidate to be delivered orally to the colon. Eudragit P-4135F or Eudragit RS100 were used separately to prepare microspheres by an oil/oil emulsification process trapping 5-FU and LV simultaneously. Scanning electron microscopy permitted a structural analysis, process parameters were analyzed and drug loading and release profiles were recorded. Particle size varied between 123 (RS100) and 146 microm (P-4135F). Generally, higher encapsulation rates were found with RS100 (5-FU, 60.3+/-9.7%; LV, 81.4+/-8.6%) compared to P-4135F (5-FU, 48.3+/-2.0%; LV, 55.4+/-2.7%). Microparticles made from Eudragit RS100 released the incorporated drug combination within 8 h not exhibiting general differences between the kinetics of both drugs. P-4135F was found to maintain the undesired 5-FU release at pH 6.8 lower than 25% within 4 h while at pH 7.4, a nearly immediate release (within 15 min) was observed. Although the release was similar at pH 7.4, at pH 6.8 LV showed a distinct initial drug loss of about 60% and a complete release within 2 h. SEM analyses revealed a substantial presence of LV crystals on the particle surface provoking a distinct burst effect of LV. These observations were concluded to be related to the high lipophilicity of P-4135F provoking a separation between P-4135F and LV during the preparation process.     

Characterization of peptide components in the venom of the scorpion Liocheles australasiae (Hemiscorpiidae).

Scorpion venoms are composed of a number of neurotoxic peptides. A variety of toxins have been isolated from the venoms of scorpions of the family Buthidae, however, little interest has been paid to non-Buthidae scorpions. In this study, we examined the toxicity of the venom of Liocheles australasiae (Hemiscorpiidae) to mice and crickets, and characterized the peptide components by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Over 200 components were detected in the L. australasiae venom by LC/MS analysis, with components of molecular masses ranging from 500 to 5000 Da being particularly abundant. A number of peptides contained two to four disulfide bridges, which was estimated based on the mass difference after derivatization of Cys residues. A peptide having a monoisotopic molecular mass of 7781.6 Da and four disulfide bridges was isolated from the venom. The peptide has a primary structure similar in terms of the position of eight Cys residues to those observed in several peptides found from scorpions, ticks and insects, although biological roles of these peptides are unknown.     

Testicular cancer with tumor thrombus extending to the inferior vena cava successfully removed using veno-venous bypass: A case report

A 33-year-old man with a left testicular tumor was referred to Shinshu University Hospital for advanced therapy. Radiographic imaging revealed multiple metastases in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (RPLN) and bilateral lungs, as well as tumor thrombus that extended from the left renal vein to the inferior vena cava (IVC) adjacent to the right atrium. After orchidectomy, a diagnosis of embryonal carcinoma was made with a clinical stage of T1N2M1bS3, which has a poor prognosis, based on the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group consensus. After eight courses of chemotherapy, the patient's tumor markers normalized and the lung metastases disappeared, but the RPLN and tumor thrombus remained. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and thrombectomy were performed using a veno-venous bypass (VVB). The pathological examination of the thrombus revealed a mature teratoma. The patient has been disease-free since surgery.     

Long-term results of first-line sequential high-dose carboplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support for patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumor

OBJECTIVE: Standard chemotherapy shows relatively low long-term survival in patients with poor-risk testicular germ cell tumor (GCT). First-line high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) may improve the result. High-dose carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) was investigated as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced testicular GCT. METHODS: Fifty-five previously untreated testicular GCT patients with Indiana 'advanced disease' criteria received three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) followed by one cycle of HD-CT plus PBSCT, if elevated serum tumor markers were observed after three cycles of the BEP regimen. RESULTS: Thirty patients were treated with BEP alone, because the tumor marker(s) declined to normal range. Twenty-five patients received BEP and HD-CT. One patient died of rhabdomyolysis due to HD-CT. Three and six (13% and 25%) out of 24 patients treated with BEP and HD-CT achieved marker-negative and marker-positive partial responses, respectively. The other patients achieved no change. Fifteen (63%) are alive and 14 (58%) are free of disease at a median follow-up time of 54 months. Severe toxicity included treatment-related death (4%). CONCLUSIONS: HD-CT with peripheral stem cell support can be successfully applied in a multicenter setting. HD-CT demonstrated modest anticancer activity for Japanese patients with advanced testicular GCT and was well tolerated. This regimen might be examined for further investigation in randomized trials in first-line chemotherapy for patients with poor-risk testicular GCT.     

Solitary fibrous tumor of the inguinal region

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) have recently been established to be of mesenchymal origin. Although there are numerous reports of SFTs arising from the pleura, reports of the tumor arising from extrapleural sites are comparatively rare [Fletcher CDM, Unni K, Mertens F (eds) World Health Organization classification of tumors, pathology & genetics, tumors of soft tissue and bone. IARC Press, Lyon, pp 86–901, 2002]. We report a case of SFT arising in the inguinal region.