Neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and surgery in patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer.

Purpose: The optimal treatment of advanced maxillary sinus cancer has been challenging for several decades. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for head and neck cancer has been controversial. We have analyzed the long-term outcome of neoadjuvant IAC followed by radiation therapy (RT) and surgery.

Radioembolization With Yttrium-90 Resin Microspheres in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to reveal the efficacy and safety of Yttrium-90 (Y) radioembolization in Korean patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 40 HCC patients were prospectively recruited from 7 centers. The response to treatment was assessed on the basis of the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria.

Transcriptional Upregulation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in Rat Primary Astrocytes by a Proteasomal Inhibitor MG132.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a member of serine protease inhibitor family, which regulates the activity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In CNS, tPA/PAI-1 activity is involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes such as neuronal development, synaptic plasticity and cell survival. To gain a more insights into the regulatory mechanism modulating tPA/PAI-1 activity in brain, we investigated the effects of proteasome inhibitors on tPA/PAI-1 expression and activity in rat primary astrocytes, the major cell type expressing both tPA and PAI-1.

Predicting residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis patients using an estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine levels.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate regression equations correcting estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the clinical significance of the corrected eGFRs calculated using these equations.

Patients And Methods: The authors determined how well corrected eGFR values calculated using regression equations predict residual renal function (RRF).

Results: RRF values were correlated with all eGFR values of nonanuric patients of both genders.

The glucose signaling network in yeast.

Background: Most cells possess a sophisticated mechanism for sensing glucose and responding to it appropriately. Glucose sensing and signaling in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represent an important paradigm for understanding how extracellular signals lead to changes in the gene expression program in eukaryotes.

Scope Of Review: This review focuses on the yeast glucose sensing and signaling pathways that operate in a highly regulated and cooperative manner to bring about glucose-induction of HXT gene expression.

Streptococcus pyogenes c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase, GdpP, influences SpeB processing and virulence.

Small cyclic nucleotide derivatives are employed as second messengers by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes to regulate diverse cellular processes responding to various signals. In bacteria, c-di-AMP has been discovered most recently, and some Gram-positive pathogens including S. pyogenes use this cyclic nucleotide derivative as a second messenger instead of c-di-GMP, a well-studied important bacterial second messenger.

Change in body composition in accordance with residual renal function in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in body composition in accordance with residual renal function (RRF).

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred forty-four patients with more than 1 year of follow-up were enrolled. The mean value of RRF at peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation and 1 year after PD initiation was used as an indicator of the time-averaged RRF (TA-RRF).

Novel regulatory small RNAs in Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus or GAS) is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that has shown complex modes of regulation of its virulence factors to cause diverse diseases. Bacterial small RNAs are regarded as novel widespread regulators of gene expression in response to environmental signals. Recent studies have revealed that several small RNAs (sRNAs) have an important role in S.

Proteinase 3 induces oxidative stress-mediated neuronal death in rat primary cortical neuron.

The recruitment of neutrophils into the cerebral microcirculation occurs, especially, in acute brain diseases like a focal cerebral ischemia and plays important role in pathological processes. Proteinase 3 is one of the three major proteinases expressed in neutrophils but no reports are available whether proteinase 3 can modulate neuronal survival. In this study, treatment of cultured rat primary cortical neuron with proteinase 3 induced overt reactive oxygen species production and decreased total glutathione contents as well as disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

Proteinuria as a risk factor for decline in residual renal function in non-diabetic peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Preservation of residual renal function (RRF) is a major issue for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Whether proteinuria is associated with a decline in RRF in patients on PD remains unclear.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the medical records at the Yeungnam University Hospital in Korea and identified patients who started PD between June 1995 and August 2011.

The sonographic "coffee bean" sign helps distinguish an axillary neurofibroma from a lymphadenopathy.

Axillary masses may represent various soft tissue tumors or lymphadenopathy. Neurofibromas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors and, while they are very uncommon, it is important to remember that neurogenic tumors arising from brachial plexus can develop in the axilla. We describe an axillary neurofibroma arising from the brachial plexus that presented with a "coffee bean sign" on sonography that distinguished it from axillary lymphadenopathy.

Glucose deprivation reversibly down-regulates tissue plasminogen activator via proteasomal degradation in rat primary astrocytes.

Aims: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an essential neuromodulator whose involvement in multiple functions such as synaptic plasticity, cytokine-like immune function and regulation of cell survival mandates rapid and tight tPA regulation in the brain. We investigated the possibility that a transient metabolic challenge induced by glucose deprivation may affect tPA activity in rat primary astrocytes, the main cell type responsible for metabolic regulation in the CNS.

Main Methods: Rat primary astrocytes were incubated in serum-free DMEM without glucose.

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by oncocytic carcinoma.

Here, we report an extremely rare case of acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction caused by oncocytic carcinoma. A 64-year-old man presented to the hospital complaining of epiphora and left-side nasal obstruction. Ophthalmic and otolaryngology examination revealed a left lacrimal duct obstruction caused by a mass in the left nasal cavity and lacrimal drainage system.

Mth1 regulates the interaction between the Rgt1 repressor and the Ssn6-Tup1 corepressor complex by modulating PKA-dependent phosphorylation of Rgt1.

Glucose uptake, the first, rate-limiting step of its utilization, is facilitated by glucose transporters. Expression of several glucose transporter (HXT) genes in yeast is repressed by the Rgt1 repressor, which recruits the glucose-responsive transcription factor Mth1 and the general corepressor complex Ssn6-Tup1 in the absence of glucose; however, it is derepressed when Mth1 is inactivated by glucose. Here we show that Ssn6-Tup1 interferes with the DNA-binding ability of Rgt1 in the absence of Mth1 and that the Rgt1 function abrogated by Ssn6 overexpression is restored by co-overexpression of Mth1.

Mitiglinide/voglibose fixed-dose combination improves postprandial glycemic excursions in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: We examined the effects of a fixed-dose combination of 10 mg mitiglinide and 0.2 mg voglibose on postprandial glycemic excursions in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Research Design And Methods: After a 2-week baseline period, 11 T2DM patients were treated with mitiglinide alone for 2 weeks and with the mitiglinide/voglibose combination for 6 weeks.

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a prognostic factor in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) might be a useful screening tool for malnutrition in dialysis patients. However, data concerning the GNRI as a prognostic factor in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are scarce.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records at Yeungnam University Hospital in Korea to identify all adults (>18 years) who received PD; 486 patients were enrolled in the study.

Valproic acid induces astrocyte-dependent neurite outgrowth from cultured rat primary cortical neuron via modulation of tPA/PAI-1 activity.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is expressed in several regions of brain and plays regulatory roles such as neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity and long term potentiation. The activity of tPA is regulated by an endogenous inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is expressed mainly in astrocytes. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor that is used for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorders, promotes neurite extension, neuronal growth and has neuroprotective effect in neurodegenerative diseases.

Intraspinal ganglion cyst.

The pathogenesis of juxtafacet cysts is closely related to degenerative instability of the lumbar spine and degenerative changes in the ligamentum flavum and the facet joint. A 56-year-old man presented with severe right thigh pain and numbness for 1 month after a laminar fracture of the L4 spine. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogenous cystic mass surrounding the facet joint between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae on the right side.

Neuroprotective effects of valproic acid against hemin toxicity: possible involvement of the down-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 by regulating ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway.

During hemorrhagic stroke induced by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), brain injury occurs from the deleterious actions of hemoglobin byproducts; induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) also plays a critical role in the neurotoxicity in ICH. Valproic acid (VPA), which is a commonly used drug in the treatment of epilepsy, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects against various neuronal insults including ischemic stroke. We investigated the effect of VPA on HO-1-mediated neurotoxicity in an experimental model of ICH.

The phenotype of infiltrating macrophages influences arteriosclerotic plaque vulnerability in the carotid artery.

Background: Proinflammatory (M1) macrophages and anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages have been identified in atherosclerotic plaques. While these macrophages have been speculated to be related to plaque vulnerability, there are limited studies investigating this relationship. Therefore, we examined the association between macrophage phenotype (M1 versus M2) and plaque vulnerability and clinical events.

Impact of heavy proteinuria on clinical outcomes in patients on incident peritoneal dialysis.

Background: There are few reports on the nutritional status changes and residual renal function (RRF) according to proteinuria levels in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: A total of 388 patients on PD were enrolled. The patients were divided into 3 groups with respect to initial proteinuria: the A (n = 119; <500 mg/day), B (n = 218; 500-3,500 mg/day), and C groups (n = 51; >3,500 mg/day).

Comparison of bioimpedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition measurements in peritoneal dialysis patients according to edema.

Background: Changes in the difference between bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition measurements according to edema is an important issue for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients to identify all adults who had undergone PD and composition measurements by both BIA and DXA techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate any change in the difference between BIA and DXA body composition measurements according to edema.

Characteristics and clinical outcomes of hyponatraemia in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Aim: There are few reports on the incidence, aetiology, and mortality of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with hyponatraemia.

Methods: We identified all adults (>18-years-of-age) who received PD between May 2001 and March 2010. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of hyponatraemia (<135 mmol/L) during follow-up.

Onodera's prognostic nutritional index as a risk factor for mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance and usefulness of the Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) as a prognostic and nutritional indicator in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the initial OPNI score: group A (n = 186, < 40), group B (n = 150, 40-45), and group C (n = 186, > 45). Group A was associated with a higher grade according to the Davies risk index than the other groups.