[A retrospective study of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To perform a retrospective analysis of carboplatin (CBDCA) and weekly paclitaxel (PTX) combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in order to evaluate both treatment efficacy and toxicity.

Subjects: 48 patients aged more than 70 years with non-resectable NSCLC who received CBDCA+weekly PTX from January 2001 to March 2008.

Results: The median age of the patients (32 male, 16 female) was 74 years.

[Retrospective analysis of amrubicin hydrochloride monotherapy in patients with previously treated small-cell lung cancer].

We retrospectively investigated amrubicin hydrochloride(AMR)monotherapy as second or thirdline chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer(SCLC)and assessed its efficacy and safety. AMR was intravenously administered at 25-45mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days every 3-4 weeks. Fifty-three patients were enrolled.

[Clinical investigation of weekly Carboplatin and Paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively chemotherapy of weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Between January 2000 and March 2008, 38 patients were treated by chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel once a week, repeated for 6 weeks, with thoracic radiation therapy of 1 or 2 times a day on weekdays. After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, we planned consolidation chemotherapy of carboplatin(AUC 5-6)and weekly paclitaxel(70- 80 mg/m(2)) on day 1, 8 and 15, when possible.

[Two cases of lung injury due to inhalation of waterproofing spray--with special reference to pulmonary function disorder].

CASE 1: A 57-year-old man experienced severe dyspnea 24 hours after inhalation of waterproofing spray. Computed tomography (CT) revealed diffuse ground glass opacities in bilateral lungs. Pulmonary function tests showed mixed ventilatory disturbance with a low expiratory flow rate near the end of forced expiration and a normal diffusing capacity with normal functional residual capasity.

Kinematic MRI of the normal ankle ligaments using a specially designed passive positioning device.

Background: Knowledge of the normal MRI appearances of the ankle ligaments and tendons is particularly important in the diagnosis of ankle sprains. In most clinical practices, the ankle is imaged in a neutral position with standard imaging planes and sequences. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether passive positioning influences the MRI appearances of the ligaments of the ankle.

Gene amplification and protein expression of EGFR and HER2 by chromogenic in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Aims: To investigate the importance of gene amplification and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and HER2 protein expression during the progression of adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Methods: EGFR and HER2 gene amplification was examined in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), and adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (MX) by chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH), and protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry using paraffin wax embedded tissues.

Results: EGFR and HER2 gene amplification was found in four and two of 86 cases, respectively, and was detected only in the invasive components of MX.

Aberrant methylation and loss of expression of O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair protein that protects cells against the carcinogenic effects of alkylating agents. The methylation status of the MGMT gene was investigated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and expression status was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 70 cases of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (pulmonary SqCC), including 23 cases of the central type and 47 cases of the peripheral type, and in 53 cases of the peripheral type of pulmonary adenocarcinoma (AC). The frequency of MGMT methylation was 36% in SqCC and 42% in AC.

Loss of expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin is associated with progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to determine the association of loss of membranous expression of epithelial (E)-cadherin and beta-catenin with the progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was examined in 154 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, including 49 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 40 cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), 42 cases of BAC-dominant type of adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (early MX) and 23 cases of BAC-recessive type of adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (overt MX), by immunohistochemistry. E-cadherin expression was positive in all cases of AAH, in 37 cases (92.

Aberrant methylation of p14(ARF), p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) genes and location of the primary site in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma.

Aberrant methylation of cytosines in CpG islands of the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes is found in human tumors as a common mechanism of gene silencing. We investigated the methylation status of the chromosome 9p21 gene cluster (p14(ARF), p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) genes) by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 20 central and 40 peripheral types of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) in order to determine the differences between the pathogeneses of the central and peripheral types of SqCC. The frequencies of methylation were 30% for the p14(ARF) gene, 20% for the p15(INK4b) gene and 40% for the p16(INK4a) gene in the central type and 25% for the p14(ARF) gene, 10% for the p15(INK4b) gene and 38% for the p16(INK4a) gene in the peripheral type.

Inactivation of the p16 gene by hypermethylation and loss of heterozygosity in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We investigated the aberrant promoter hypermethylation of p16, p15 and p14 genes and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 9p21-22 in 48 cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung. The frequencies of hypermethylation of genes were as follows: p16, 25.0%; p15, 22.

Expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes, and mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung.

We examined the expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 by immunohistochemical staining in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), and adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (MX) to study the association between the biologic features of adenocarcinoma of the lung and mucin expression. MUC1 expression was decreased significantly in the progression from AAH through BAC to MX, while the levels of expression of MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC6, and depolarized MUC1 were increased significantly. Alterations in the expression of depolarized MUC1, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were correlated significantly with p53 gene abnormalities.

Right posterior hepatic notch sign: a simple diagnostic MR finding of cirrhosis.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of occurrence of the right posterior hepatic notch sign at MR imaging in patients with cirrhosis, and to assess its diagnostic capability of this sign as a simple diagnostic MR finding of cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: This study population included 330 patients with pathologically proved cirrhosis (N = 202) or without clinical evidence of chronic liver diseases (N = 128, control group). MR images were qualitatively evaluated for the presence of the right posterior hepatic notch sign.

Myxopapillary ependymoma with anaplastic features.

A case of myxopapillary ependymoma with anaplastic features in 15-year-old boy is reported. The tumor was located in the intradural space extending to the 12th thoracic to 2nd lumbar vertebral level. It was excised with the accompanying spinal arch of the T12 to L2 vertebra.

Paraovarian cyst: MR imaging features.

Background: Paraovarian cysts are common intrapelvic neoplasms, but the magnetic resonance (MR) findings of paraovarian cyst have never been reported. We investigated the spectrum of MR imaging features of paraovarian cyst.

Methods: MR images of 18 paraovarian cysts in 16 patients were reviewed retrospectively.

Cirrhosis: modified caudate-right lobe ratio.

Purpose: To determine whether a modified caudate-right lobe ratio (C/RL) with use of the right portal vein to set the lateral boundary (C/RL-r) is more accurate for diagnosing cirrhosis and evaluating its clinical severity than is the previously described C/RL with use of the main portal vein to set the lateral boundary (C/RL-m).

Materials And Methods: Two hundred thirty-six patients (121 with pathologically proved cirrhosis and 115 without history of chronic hepatic diseases) underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Two independent observers measured C/RL-r and compared it with C/RL-m.

Does granulocyte colony-stimulating factor exacerbate radiation-induced acute lung injury in rats?

Radiation pneumonitis (RP) frequently occurs as a complication of thoracic irradiation. However, the mechanism of RP is not well known..

Utilization of "used" vials: cost-effective technique for MR arthrography.

Because full vials of commercially available MR arthrographic contrast are expensive, we hypothesized that the small residual contrast in a "used" vial would be adequate for MR arthrography. After sterility testing and quantity analysis of the residual contrast in 28 vials, this method was successfully used in 10 patients. J.

Interactions of regional respiratory mechanics and pulmonary ventilatory impairment in pulmonary emphysema: assessment with dynamic MRI and xenon-133 single-photon emission CT.

Study Objectives: Dynamic MRI and (133)Xe single-photon emission CT (SPECT) were used to directly evaluate the interaction of regional respiratory mechanics and lung ventilatory function in pulmonary emphysema.

Methods: Respiratory diaphragmatic and chest wall (D/CW) motions were analyzed by sequential MRI of fast-gradient echo pulse sequences during two to three respiratory cycles in 28 patients with pulmonary emphysema, including 9 patients undergoing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). The extent of air trapping in the regional lung was quantified by the (133)Xe retention index (RI) on three-dimensional (133)Xe SPECT displays.

A preliminary study of discrimination among the components of small pulmonary nodules by MR imaging: correlation between MR images and histologic appearance.

Purpose: To investigate whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging depicts the internal characteristics of small pulmonary nodules.

Methods: We reviewed MR images of 39 surgically resected pulmonary nodules 3 cm or less and compared the components within the nodules. In 22 malignant nodules, eight histologic components were characterized by signal and enhancement patterns on MR images.

Impaired respiratory mechanics in pulmonary emphysema: evaluation with dynamic breathing MRI.

To evaluate impaired respiratory mechanics in pulmonary emphysema, dynamic breathing magnetic resonance imaging (BMRI) was acquired with fast-gradient echo pulse sequences at fixed thoracic planes over two to three slow, deep respiratory cycles in 6 controls and 28 patients with pulmonary emphysema including 9 patients undergoing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Respiratory motions of the diaphragm and chest wall (D/CW) were assessed by a cine-loop view, a fusion display of maximal inspiratory and expiratory images, and the time-distance curves. By contrast with normal subjects with regular synchronous D/CW motions, the patients frequently showed reduced, irregular, or asynchronous motions, with significant decreases in the maximal amplitude of D/CW motions (MAD and MACW), and the length of apposition of the diaphragm (LAD) (P < 0.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: association with increased iron deposition in the cirrhotic liver at MR imaging.

Purpose: To determine whether the frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is affected by hepatic iron deposition as detected with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective search of MR imaging and histopathology records, 196 patients with histopathologically proved cirrhosis and with (n = 80) or without (n = 116) HCC who underwent T2-weighted conventional or fast spin-echo and gradient-echo (GRE) (echo time > or = 6.0 msec) imaging were identified.

High-resolution contrast-enhanced MRI of the uterus with a phased-array multicoil.

High-resolution contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI of the uterus can be performed with the combination of a phased-array multicoil and fast GE techniques. This technique can improve the ability to visualize normal anatomy of the uterus and periuterine tissues, including vascular structures and pelvic ligaments, and to detect pathologic processes of the uterus and determine their extent.