Alterations in Intratumoral Immune Response before and during Early-On Nivolumab Treatment for Unresectable Advanced or Recurrent Gastric Cancer.

We investigated the tumor immune response in gastric cancer patients receiving third-line nivolumab monotherapy to identify immune-related biomarkers for better patient selection. Nineteen patients (10 males, median age 67 years) who received nivolumab as a third- or later-line therapy were enrolled. We analyzed the tumor immune response in durable clinical benefit (DCB) and non-DCB patients.

Expression of moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase in a cell-free protein expression system.

Objective: To characterize Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) reverse transcriptases (RTs) expressed in a cell-free system and in Escherichia coli.

Results: We previously expressed MMLV RT using an E. coli expression system and generated a highly thermostable quadruple variant MM4 (E286R/E302K/L435R/D524A) by site-directed mutagenesis.

Preparation and characterization of the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase.

Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (MMLV RT) contains fingers, palm, thumb, and connection subdomains as well as an RNase H domain. The DNA polymerase active site resides in the palm subdomain, and the RNase H active site is located in the RNase H domain. The RNase H domain contains a positively charged α-helix called the C helix (H(594)GEIYRRR(601)), that is thought to be involved in substrate recognition.

Inhibition of the DNA polymerase and RNase H activities of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and HIV-1 replication by Brasenia schreberi (Junsai) and Petasites japonicus (Fuki) components.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) possesses two distinct enzymatic activities: those of RNA- and DNA-dependent DNA polymerases and RNase H. In the current HIV-1 therapy, all HIV-1 RT inhibitors inhibit the activity of DNA polymerase, but not that of RNase H. We previously reported that ethanol and water extracts of Brasenia schreberi (Junsai) inhibited the DNA polymerase activity of HIV-1 RT [Hisayoshi et al.

Amino acid substitutions away from the RNase H catalytic site increase the thermal stability of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase through RNase H inactivation.

We have previously used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce basic residues (i.e., Arg; Lys) in the nucleic acid binding cleft of the Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (MMLV RT) in order to increase its template-primer (T/P) binding affinity.

Diaphragmatic repair of two cases of hepatic hydrothorax using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as the presence of a significant pleural effusion that develops in a patient with cirrhosis of the liver who does not have underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. There are few published case reports dealing with hepatic hydrothorax treated surgically because patients with hepatic hydrothorax have end-stage liver disease. Recently, we treated two patients with refractory hepatic hydrothorax by directly suturing the diaphragmatic defects during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Hereditary factors in multiple primary malignancies associated with lung cancer.

Purpose: There are differences between lung cancer alone and multiple primary malignancies associated with lung cancer (MPMLC) in terms of clinical characteristics. However, the importance of these differences has not yet been clarified.

Methods: Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on 123 patients with MPMLC and 815 patients with lung cancer alone who underwent operative procedures for lung cancer from August 1982 to March 2004.

A case report on a full-thickness chest wall reconstruction with polypropylene mesh and stainless steel mesh concurrently using a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.

A full-thickness chest wall resection requires subsequent chest wall reconstruction. A chest wall resection and reconstruction was performed using a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, together with polypropylene mesh (Marlex mesh) and stainless steel mesh (SSM). A 71-year-old man was diagnosed as having recurrent lung cancer in the chest wall, and underwent surgical resection.

Enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma with azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava: report of a case.

We herein report a rare case of esophageal leiomyoma in an 18-year-old woman with azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava. A submucosal tumor was located in the left wall of the esophagus behind the carina. The enlarged azygos vein made video-assisted thoracic surgery so difficult that conversion to a minithoracotomy and transection of the right superior intercostal vein were necessary to fully visualize the tumor.

Characteristics of multiple primary malignancies associated with lung cancer by gender.

Background: There are gender differences in multiple primary malignancies associated with lung cancer (MPMLC) in terms of clinical characteristics. However, the importance of these differences in the management of patients has not been clarified.

Objective: Differences in characteristics affected by gender were investigated in MPMLC to identify factors important for the proper management of the patients.

Resection of sternal tumors and reconstruction of the thorax: a review of 15 patients.

Purpose: We report our experience of resecting sternal tumors, followed by reconstruction of the skeletal and soft-tissue defects, and discuss the usefulness of sandwiched Marlex and stainless-steel mesh.

Methods: Fifteen patients underwent resection of a sternal tumor and chest wall reconstruction with autologous bone grafts, sandwiched Marlex and stainless-steel mesh or a titanium plate, and musculocutaneous flaps. The sternal tumors were from locally recurrent breast carcinoma in ten patients, metastasis from other organs in three, and primary chondrosarcoma in two.

Resection of sternal metastasis from endometrial carcinoma followed by reconstruction with sandwiched marlex and stainless steel mesh: report of a case.

We report the successful resection of sternal metastasis from endometrial carcinoma, followed by reconstruction of the chest defect, in an 87-year-old woman. We performed subtotal sternectomy and concurrent resection of the ribs and overlying soft tissue. The skeletal defect was then reconstructed with sandwiched Marlex and stainless steel mesh, and soft tissue coverage was accomplished by using a pectoralis major advancement flap.

Determining the plasma concentration of ketamine that enhances epidural bupivacaine-and-morphine-induced analgesia.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists enhance opioid-induced analgesia. The plasma concentration of ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist that enhances epidural morphine-and-bupivacaine-induced analgesia, is not known. We examined 24 patients with lung carcinoma or metastatic lung tumor who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery in a placebo-controlled, double-blind manner 4 h after emergence from anesthesia.

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis in a patient whose clinical condition altered during follow-up.

Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare disease. We have experienced a case which developed pleural effusion while being followed, rendering it difficult to establish the diagnosis. The patient, a 53-year-old woman, had previously undergone two operations; one for uterine cancer and another for breast cancer.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with multiple pulmonary metastases associated with large bullae-like cyst formation.

We present a case of uterine intravenous leiomyomatosis associated with multiple pulmonary metastases with bullae-like cystic change. A 53-year-old woman who had undergone hysterectomy 5 years previously underwent an operation for multiple pulmonary nodules with bullae formation. After resection of several large bullae, a subsequent extirpation of the pulmonary nodules was performed, and a pathological examination showed multiple leiomyomatous nodules with occasional cystic change.

[CT-pathologic correlation for the alveolar extension of pulmonary adenocarcinoma].

Alveolar extension of pulmonary adenocarcinoma is characteristically demonstrated as an area of ground-glass attenuation (GGA). We correlated the CT attenuation value of GGA with the aeration rate of the pathologic specimen measured with a high-resolution image analyzer (OLYMPUS). The CT values of GGA seen in fourteen adeno-carcinomas were measured for helical (slice thickness 10mm) and thin slice CT (slice thickness 1 or 2mm).

Prevention of postoperative pericardial adhesions with a defibrinogenating agent.

Pericardial adhesions pose a major problem during re-operative cardiac surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Batroxobin, a fibrinogen depleting agent, on the incidence of experimental pericardial adhesions. Twenty-four rabbits were divided into 3 groups of 8 rabbits each and pericardial mesothelial injury was induced by abrasion.

[A case of far-advanced gastric cancer treated with neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy of UFT, low-dose CDDP and leucovorin, followed by subtotal gastrectomy with curative intent].

We herein present a case of a 70-year-old man with the tentative diagnosis of far-advanced gastric cancer supposed to be beyond surgical intervention. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy enabled us to perform subtotal gastrectomy with curative intent. The man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of poor appetite.

[Prognostic value of Ia-antigen, fibronectin, laminin and type IV collagen in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma].

Presence of absence of four immunohistological markers were investigated in fifty-four cases of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. Ia-antigen (HLA-DR), fibronectin (Fn), laminin (La), and type IV collagen were present in 9 cases (16.7%), 13 (24.