Hyponatraemia induced by low-dose intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide.

Background: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent and was traditionally known to potentiate the renal action of vasopressin. Although low-dose intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide therapy is being used extensively in the treatment of malignant and rheumatological diseases, there have been only a few case reports of cyclophosphamide-induced hyponatraemia.

Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively analysed from 84 patients (42 lupus nephritis; 42 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; a total of 112 treatment episodes) admitted for intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (500-750 mg/m(2)) therapy.

Loss of the plant DEAD-box protein ISE1 leads to defective mitochondria and increased cell-to-cell transport via plasmodesmata.

Plants have intercellular channels, plasmodesmata (PD), that span the cell wall to enable cell-to-cell transport of micro- and macromolecules. We identified an Arabidopsis thaliana embryo lethal mutant increased size exclusion limit 1 (ise1) that results in increased PD-mediated transport of fluorescent tracers. The ise1 mutants have a higher frequency of branched and twinned PD than wild-type embryos.

Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor-D expression and VEGFR-3-positive vessel density with lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) is a lymphangiogenic growth factor that activates VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor expressed in the lymphatic endothelium. We investigated the clinical value of VEGF-D expression and VEGFR-3 positive vessel density in gastric carcinoma with regard to lymphangiogenesis.

Intercellular trafficking of macromolecules during embryogenesis.

Plasmodesmata provide routes for communication and nutrient transfer between plant cells by interconnecting the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. A simple fluorescent tracer-loading assay was developed to monitor patterns of cell to cell transport via plasmodesmata specifically during embryogenesis. A developmental transition in plasmodesmatal size exclusion limit was found to occur at the torpedo stage of embryogenesis in Arabidopsis; at this time, plasmodesmata are downregulated, allowing transport of small (approximately 0.

Phase II study of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer as second line therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of biweekly oxaliplatin in combination with leucovorin (LV)-modulated bolus plus infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) as a second line therapy.

Materials And Methods: Between November 2002 and October 2005, 26 patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or metastatic CRC were enrolled. All patients were previously treated with irinotecan-based combination chemotherapy.

Phospho-Stat3 expression and correlation with VEGF, p53, and Bcl-2 in gastric carcinoma using tissue microarray.

The signal transducer and activator of the transcription (Stat)-family of proteins are latent cytoplasmic transcription factors that transmit signals from cytokines and growth-factor receptors to the nucleus. Stat proteins, especially Stat3 and Stat5, are constitutively activated in various solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the role of Stat3 signaling in gastric carcinoma has not yet been fully determined.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin's disease following renal transplantation.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) have been recognized as a complication of immunosuppression and occur with a reported incidence of 1 to 8% of recipients receiving solid organ transplantation. PTLD are classified into two major categories, polymorphic and monomorphic PTLD. The majority of the monomorphic PTLD cases are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell origin.

Cell-to-cell communication via plasmodesmata during Arabidopsis embryogenesis.

In Arabidopsis embryogenesis, positional information establishes the overall body plan and lineage-dependent cell fate specifies local patterning. Position-dependent gene expression and responses to the plant hormone auxin are also crucial. Recently, another mechanism that delivers positional information has been uncovered.

Comparison of WHO and RECIST criteria for response in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: This study compared the WHO criteria with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) in the same patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in order to determine the significance of the RECIST. In addition, this study compared the estimations of medical oncologists with those of a radiologist.

Materials And Methods: Between 2002 and 2005, a total of 48 patients (male: female ratio, 29:19; median age, 58 years) with measurable lesions receiving chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma were enrolled in this study.

A case of erythema nodosum and serositis associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogenous group of stem cell disorders usually characterized by progressive refractory cytopenias, which could progress to acute myeloid leukemia. MDS may be associated with a wide spectrum of skin lesions, including neoplastic cell infiltration, Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema elevatum diutinum, vasculitis, and panniculitis. However, erythema nodosum is rarely associated with MDS.

Clinical aspects of pregnancy and delivery in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Background: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a condition that often develops in young women and, consequently, physicians should frequently manage and monitor pregnant patients with this disorder.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 30 women with chronic ITP delivered in 31 pregnancies from January 1995 to December 2003.

Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with ITP before pregnancy and sixteen patients were diagnosed during pregnancy.

Subdomains for transport via plasmodesmata corresponding to the apical-basal axis are established during Arabidopsis embryogenesis.

The axial body pattern of Arabidopsis is determined during embryogenesis by auxin signaling and differential gene expression. Here we demonstrate that another pathway, cell-to-cell communication through plasmodesmata (PD), is regulated during apical-basal pattern formation. The SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) promoter was used to drive expression in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and a subset of cells at the base of the hypocotyl of 1x,2x, and 3x soluble green fluorescent proteins (sGFPs), and the P30 movement protein of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) translationally fused to 1x and 2x sGFP.

Thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase, VEGF and p53 protein expression in primary colorectal cancer for predicting response to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: In the treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, several new agents, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin, have been developed, which have improved both disease free and overall survivals. Among these agents, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) still remains one of the most active agents, and the selection of patients who can benefit from 5-FU-based chemotherapy is still important, as those unlikely to benefit could be spared the harmful side effects. The expression levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and p53 have been known to be associated with the clinical response to 5-FU-based therapy as well as the prognosis, and that of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with poor survival.

Cell-to-cell movement of GFP during embryogenesis and early seedling development in Arabidopsis.

There is increasing evidence for intercellular trafficking of macromolecules through plasmodesmata (PD) during plant development. Here we study the ability of PD to traffic proteins during embryogenesis and early seedling development in Arabidopsis. Transgenic lines that induce GFP expression only in meristems, MSG (meristem-specific GFP), were used to monitor GFP movement.

Phase II study of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer as first-line therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of biweekly irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2002 and May 2004, 24 patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. One chemotherapy cycle consisted of irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 15; 5-FU 400 mg/m(2) bolus IV with 600 mg/m(2) by a 22 hour intravenous infusion on days 1, 2, 15 and 16; and leucovorin 20 mg/m(2) on days 1, 2, 15 and 16, every 4 weeks.

Combination chemotherapy of heptaplatin, paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of heptaplatin, paclitaxel, and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2002 and September 2003, nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Paclitaxel 135 mg/m(2) iv on day 1, heptaplatin 400 mg/m(2) iv on day 2 and 5-fluorouracil 800 mg/m(2) on day 2 approximately 4 were administered and the regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.

Radiofrequency ablation for metastatic hepatic tumor in colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat hepatic metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between May 1999 and July 2002, a total of 45 tumors in 24 patients with colorectal cancer were treated with RFA. Thirteen patients received systemic chemotherapy after the RFA procedure.

Outcome of adult severe or very severe aplastic anemia treated with immunosuppressive therapy compared with bone marrow transplantation: multicenter trial.

To compare survival rates and long-term complications after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or treatment with immunosuppressive agents (ISA) in the management of adult aplastic anemia (AA) and to identify prognostic factors associated with improved survival, we evaluated 229 adult AA patients treated with ISA from 1990 to 2001 and compared the results with those for 64 BMT recipients. Of 156 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) or very severe AA treated with ISA (antithymocyte globulin [ATG] or ATG plus cyclosporine), 46.8% showed complete or partial response and 7.

Absence of clinical prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density in multiple myeloma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered a potent stimulator of angiogenesis. In multiple myeloma (MM), it has been reported that bone marrow angiogenesis parallels tumor progression and correlates with a poor prognosis. To investigate the role of angiogenesis in MM, we investigated VEGF expression and microvessel density (MVD) in the bone marrow of 75 MM patients by immunohistochemical methods.

Identification of a developmental transition in plasmodesmatal function during embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plasmodesmata provide routes for communication and nutrient transfer between plant cells by interconnecting the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. A simple fluorescent tracer loading assay was developed to monitor patterns of cell-to-cell transport via plasmodesmata specifically during embryogenesis. A developmental transition in plasmodesmatal size exclusion limit was found to occur at the torpedo stage of embryogenesis in Arabidopsis; at this time, plasmodesmata are down-regulated, allowing transport of small (approx.