Gemcitabine and cisplatin for advanced urothelial carcinomas: the Ehime University Hospital experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined chemotherapy regimen, gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC), in the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinomas.

Methods: Fifty-five patients with advanced urothelial cancer were treated with GC (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15; cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on day 2) every 28 days. The median follow-up was 30 months (range, 3 to 57 months).

[Gemcitabine and cisplatin therapy in advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: comparison of side effect with MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin)].

Objective: Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy has been considered as standard therapy for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. A recent study has, however, revealed that gemcitabine may have the potential to act synergistically with cisplatin. Therefore, the side effects of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) therapy were compared with those of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC) therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Application of cardiopulmonary bypass for resection of renal cell carcinoma and adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the right atrium.

Aim: The application of cardiopulmonary bypass to atrial involvement represents an important advance that has improved the safety and technical efficacy of a difficult surgical undertaking. Our experiences of the management of extended thrombi into the right atrium in patients with retroperitoneal malignancy using a cardiopulmonary bypass were discussed.

Methods: Data were reviewed for five patients (two men and three women; mean age, 60.

Corneal irregular astigmatism after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in irregular astigmatism after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: In a prospective case series, 15 eyes of 12 patients who had hyperopic LASIK were evaluated. Corneal topography was obtained before and after hyperopic LASIK.

Expression of keratinocyte transglutaminase in cornea of vitamin A-deficient rats.

Purpose: To determine the role played by keratinocyte transglutaminase (TG1, TG(K)) in the abnormal keratinization of the cornea.

Methods: Vitamin A-deficient rats were produced as a model of severe dry eyes, and the expression of the mRNA and the enzyme activity of TG1 were examined in the corneas. The envelope proteins and keratins of cornified cells were also examined immunohistochemically.