Prompt resolution of hypoglycemia by hepatic transarterial embolization for malignant insulinoma with multiple liver metastases.

A 45-year-old female who presented with loss of consciousness and a cold sweat was found to have a pancreatic tumor and multiple liver metastases. Laboratory studies showed marked hypoglycemia and inappropriately elevated serum insulin, C-peptide, and serum tumor markers. Fine needle aspiration revealed Grade 3 small-cell type primary pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Crosslinking of the CD69 molecule enhances S100A9 production in activated neutrophils.

Expression of CD69 on neutrophils and generation of anti-CD69 autoantibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been reported. Thus natural ligands for CD69 not yet identified and/or the anti-CD69 autoantibodies possibly affect neutrophils by evoking CD69 signaling, which may further affect joint-composing cells in RA. However, the effect of the CD69 signaling in neutrophils remains largely unclear.

Life-style and environmental factors in the development of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: a case-control study in East Asia.

Cases of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) occur occasionally in Asian and Latin American countries but rarely in Western countries. The etiological role of life-style and environmental factors in nasal NKTCL was investigated. Five university hospitals in Japan and one each in Korea and China participated in this study; a total of 88 cases and 305 hospital controls were accrued during 2000-2005.

The management of possible fishbone ingestion.

Objective: We assessed the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in cases of suspected impaction of fish bones in the esophagus. The findings of this study were also compared with those of studies in which surgery was used to remove or confirm the presence of fish bones. We accordingly propose a management protocol to ensure optimum outcome for patients with a history of fish bone ingestion.

Identification of beta-tubulin isoform V as an autoantigen in allergic rhinitis by a proteomic approach.

Autoantibodies to IgE and beta2-adrenergic receptor have been reported in patients with allergic rhinitis. To investigate whether autoimmunity in allergic rhinitis is directed to such limited molecules or directed to a wide range of self proteins, we here attempted to survey autoantigens/autoantibodies comprehensively, using proteomics. Specifically, we separated proteins extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and then detected autoantigens by subsequent western blotting with sera from patients with allergic rhinitis.

A case of an inverted tooth in the nasal cavity.

We report a case of an inverted tooth in the nasal cavity. The patient was a 27-year-old man who attended our hospital in May 1998, complaining of left cheek-pain. There was nothing remarkable in his medical or family history.

A case of carcinoid tumor of the middle ear.

We report here a case of a carcinoid tumor observed in the middle ear (ME), which was initially diagnosed as ME adenoma. The patient was a 64-year-old woman who was first seen in our hospital in March 2001 for a 7-month hearing loss. On otoscopic examination, a whitish mass could be observed through the intact tympanic membrane.

Inhibition of caspase-9 activity and Apaf-1 expression in cisplatin-resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells.

We have previously reported that cisplatin induces caspase-9 (Casp9) activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro (HNSCCs). Our purpose here was to examine whether HNSCCs selected for resistance to cisplatin fail to exhibit Casp9 activation in response to cisplatin. The cisplatin-resistant HNSCCs (HSC-2CR) were selected from cisplatin-sensitive HNSCCs (HSC-2) for growth in the presence of cisplatin.

Sensitization of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis by the inhibition of Bcl-X(L) expression.

Background: Various types of malignant tumor cells are known to acquire resistance to Fas receptor (Fas)-mediated apoptosis. In Fas-sensitive cells, Fas-mediated apoptosis is observed when anti-Fas antibody is bound to Fas. Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) are representative anti-apoptosis proteins reported to be capable of suppressing Fas-mediated apoptosis.

End-to-end anastomosis in chronic tracheal stenosis.

Objective: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea following segmental resection in chronic tracheal stenosis.

Methods: End-to-end anastomoses of the trachea were performed in 35 patients with chronic tracheal stenosis; 18 patients with tracheal invasion of thyroid cancer and 17 patients with long-term intubation and blunt injuries of the trachea.

Results: All operations were successful, except one whose unilateral recurrent nerve had not been identified in the recurrent thyroid cancer invasion with trachea.

[Inhibition of caspase-9 activity in cisplatin-resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma].

We have previously reported that cisplatin induces caspase-9 activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells (HNSCCs) in vitro, and the use of a specific inhibitor of caspase-9 blocks cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HNSCCs. Our purpose here was to determine whether HNSCCs selected for resistance to cisplatin fail to exhibit caspase-9 activation in response to cisplatin. Cisplatin-resistant HNSCCs (CRHNSCCs) were selected for growth in the presence of cisplatin.