Development of a novel telomerase assay using the PPDK-luciferin-luciferase detection system.

Telomerase participates in malignant transformation or immortalization of cells, and has attracted attention as an anticancer drug screening and diagnostic tumor marker. We developed a novel telomerase assay called the PPDK-luciferin-luciferase system bioluminescence assay (PLLBA) using pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK). In this assay, pyrophosphate produced by the telomerase reaction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is converted to ATP by PPDK, and ATP is detected by the firefly luciferin-luciferase reaction.

Patterns of radiotherapy practice for biliary tract cancer in Japan: results of the Japanese radiation oncology study group (JROSG) survey.

Background: The patterns of radiotherapy (RT) practice for biliary tract cancer (BTC) in Japan are not clearly established.

Methods: A questionnaire-based national survey of RT used for BTC treatment between 2000 and 2011 was conducted by the Japanese Radiation Oncology Study Group. Detailed information was collected for 555 patients from 31 radiation oncology institutions.

Radiotherapy with fraction size of 2.25 Gy in T1-2 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of fraction size 2.25 Gy on local control of T1 and T2 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Between August 2002 and December 2010, 80 patients with T1 and T2 laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancers were treated with definitive radiotherapy with a fraction size of 2.

Retinal drug delivery using eyedrop preparations of poly-L-lysine-modified liposomes.

The purpose of this study was to develop surface-modified liposomes that enhance the efficiency of eye drop drug delivery to the retina. Various molecular weights and concentrations of the water-soluble cationic polymer poly-L-lysine (PLL) were used to modify the surface of submicronized (100 nm) liposomes. Physicochemical properties of surface-modified liposomes were determined in vitro, and the efficiency of drug delivery to the retina was investigated in vivo.

Anti-allergic properties of a matured fruit extract of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in mite-sensitized mice.

The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of matured fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized mice. Sneezing and nose rubbing events in mice given a date extract-added diet were significantly lower than in those given an extract-free (control) diet.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent docetaxel for advanced head and neck cancer: a phase II study.

Aim: To evaluate the value of hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent use of low-dose docetaxel in locally-advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

Patients And Methods: Patients eligible for this study had confirmed diagnosis of HNSCC stages II (>10 cm(3)) to IVB. Radiotherapy was delivered twice daily at 1.

Comparison of hypofractionated and conventionally fractionated whole-breast irradiation for early breast cancer patients: a single-institute study of 1,098 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (HF-WBI) compared with conventionally fractionated (CF) WBI.

Materials And Methods: Patients with early breast cancer (stages 0-II and <3 positive lymph nodes) who had undergone breast-conserving surgery were eligible for the HF-WBI study. HF-WBI was administered at 43.

Evaluation of beam hardening and photon scatter by brass compensator for IMRT.

When a brass compensator is set in a treatment beam, beam hardening may take place. This variation of the energy spectrum may affect the accuracy of dose calculation by a treatment planning system and the results of dose measurement of brass compensator intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In addition, when X-rays pass the compensator, scattered photons are generated within the compensator.

Isolated shoulder palsy due to infarction of the cortical branch of the middle cerebral artery.

A 71-year-old man with hyperlipidemia abruptly developed left-sided isolated shoulder palsy. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated infarction of the cortical branch of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). In the primary motor cortex, there is broad somatotopic representation of various body parts in a particular arrangement, and the area corresponding to the shoulder is very small.

The dosimetric impact of respiratory breast movement and daily setup error on tangential whole breast irradiation using conventional wedge, field-in-field and irregular surface compensator techniques.

To evaluate the dosimetric impact of respiratory breast motion and daily setup error on whole breast irradiation (WBI) using three irradiation techniques; conventional wedge (CW), field-in-field (FIF) and irregular surface compensator (ISC). WBI was planned for 16 breast cancer patients. The dose indices for evaluated clinical target volume (CTV(evl)), lung, and body were evaluated.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation cystitis in patients with prostate cancer: a long-term follow-up study.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) for treating radiation cystitis a long-term follow-up study was done in patients with prostate cancer, the second most common malignancy in Japan.

Patients And Methods: A total of 38 patients at an age of 68 ± 8 years with radiation cystitis following irradiation of prostate cancer were treated with HBO at 2 absolute atmospheric pressures for 90 min daily. The average number of HBO treatment sessions in each patient was 62 ± 12.

Comparison of total MU and segment areas in VMAT and step-and-shoot IMRT plans.

We compared treatment plans for volumetric intensity-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in terms of their monitor unit (MU) and segment area at each control point to investigate the difference between the two methods. We investigated three sites: prostate (three cases), head and neck (three cases), and pleura (two cases). We used the total MU and the MU weighted average of segment area (MWSA) in each plan to compare VMAT and IMRT plans.

[Trigger point therapy for myofascial pain in cancer patients (second report) analysis results of special use-results surveillance by neovitacain® injection].

Our first report mentioned the analysis results of the safety and efficacy of trigger point (TP) therapy by Neovitacain® injection (NV) in the daily clinical treatment of myofascial pain in cancer patients. This time, we report additional considerations regarding the following points; (1) Injection sites: they were concentrated on both sides of the spine, indicating that TPs could be easily formed on the points and near them to support the body's weight when patients were supine. (2) Correlation between VAS and FS: VAS and FS were positively correlated in every measurement period.

Characteristics of earlier atherosclerotic involvement in adolescent patients with Kawasaki disease and coronary artery lesions: significance of gray scale median on B-mode ultrasound.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that textural changes in the carotid intima-media complex (IMC) detected by B-mode ultrasound are associated with the difference of remodeling process in earlier atherosclerotic involvement in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery lesions (CALs).

Methods: Eighteen patients with KD and CALs (mean age 17.2 years), 17 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) (mean age 16.

[Valences of self-evaluation and approach-avoidance tendencies: research based on regulatory focus theory].

Four studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between valences of self-evaluation and approach-avoidance tendencies. Based on regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997, 1998), we predicted that positivity of self-evaluation is related to the tendency to approach gains, while negativity of self-evaluation is related to the tendency to avoid losses. In Study 1, a self-report measure of behavioral tendencies for approaching gains and avoiding losses was developed.

The role of chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable T4 breast tumors.

Purpose: Unresectable T4 tumors of the breast are usually treated with systemic therapies, while the role of local therapies remains debatable. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy as a part of T4 breast cancer treatment, and to assess the role of local radiotherapies in patients with unresectable T4 breast tumors.

Materials/methods: Between February 1998 and June 2010, 39 unresectable T4 breast tumors were treated with chemoradiotherapy at our institutes.

[Effect of the active adult learning/patient oriented clerkship on affective reaction of students ∼ from the results of student survey].

We have previously reported the efficacy of the Patient Oriented Clerkship (POC) in the clinical clerkship in Showa University Hospitals, by a trial with old four-year pharmacy program students. In the unique clerkship, each student has a patient in charge, and follows his/her clinical conditions throughout the rotation. The aim of the POC is that having the students learn spontaneously (Active Learning) and actively (Adult Learning) promoted by student's commitment and responsibility by communicating with patients and health professionals in a team.

Concurrent radiotherapy and gemcitabine for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze results of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using gemcitabine (GEM) for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods And Materials: Records of 108 patients treated with concurrent external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and GEM were reviewed. The median dose of EBRT in all 108 patients was 50.

[Trigger point therapy for myofascial pain in cancer patients (first report)-analysis results of special use-results surveillance by Neovitacain® injection-].

Special use-results surveillance was conducted to examine the safety and efficacy of trigger point (TP) therapy by Neovitacain ®injection (NV) in the daily clinical treatment of myofascial pain in cancer patients. The case report forms of 175 patients were collected from 43 nationwide facilities and all of them were analyzed in terms of safety and efficacy. This treatment deeply impressed both patients and physicians; 75.

A matured fruit extract of date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) stimulates the cellular immune system in mice.

The immunomodulatory effects of a hot water extract from matured fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were investigated in comparison to those of prune and fig fruit in mice. The number of spleen IFN-γ(+)CD4(+), IFN-γ(+)CD49b(+) and IL-12(+)CD11b(+) cells was highest in mice given the date extract-added diet.

Glucocorticoid sensitivity depends on expression levels of glucocorticoid receptors in canine neoplastic mast cells.

Glucocorticoid (GC) administration with or without other chemotherapeutic reagents is a commonly used option in the treatment of mast cell malignancies. However, the responsiveness of mast cell tumors to GC treatment varies in individuals, and the regulatory mechanisms determining the GC sensitivity of malignant mast cells remain unclear. Since the expression of the GC receptor (GR) has been reported to be associated with GC sensitivity in human neoplastic lymphocytes, we attempted to investigate the relationship between GR levels and GC sensitivity by using neoplastic mast cells derived from canine mast cell tumors (MCTs).

Easy fabrication of a new type of mouthguard incorporating a hard insert and space and offering improved shock absorption ability.

The positive effects of wearing a mouthguard have been indicated in various epidemiological surveys and experiments, and their usage appears to be increasing in many sports. However, many preventable sports-related dental injuries still occur even with the use of a conventional mouthguard. We have developed a mouthguard (the Hard & Space mouthguard) with sufficient injury prevention ability (more than 95% shock absorption ability against impact with a steel ball carrying 15.