An analysis of the relationship between metastases and cachexia in lung cancer patients.

Weight loss and hematogenous metastases are poor prognosis factors in lung cancer patients that can but do not necessarily co-occur. We retrospectively investigated the clinical association between cachexia, tumor characteristics (such as metastatic burden and mutational status), and treatment in lung cancer patients. The medical records of 394 lung cancer patients from two institutions (Columbia University, USA and Tohoku University, Japan) were reviewed.

Current situation regarding central venous port implantation procedures and complications: a questionnaire-based survey of 11,693 implantations in Japan.

Background: We conducted a nationwide questionnaire-based survey to understand the current situation regarding central venous port implantation in order to identify the ideal procedure.

Methods: Questionnaire sheets concerning the number of implantation procedures and the incidence of complications for all procedures completed in 2012 were sent to 397 nationwide designated cancer care hospitals in Japan in June 2013. Venipuncture sites were categorized as chest, neck, upper arm, forearm, and others.

Transgenic expression of the N525S-tuberin variant in Tsc2 mutant (Eker) rats causes dominant embryonic lethality.

The Tsc2 product, tuberin, negatively regulates the mTOR pathway. We have exploited the Eker (Tsc2-mutant) rat system to analyse various Tsc2 mutations. Here, we focus on the N525S-Tsc2 variant (NSM), which is known to cause distinct symptoms in patients even though normal suppression of mTOR is observed.

Upper arm central venous port implantation: a 6-year single institutional retrospective analysis and pictorial essay of procedures for insertion.

Background: The requirement of central venous (CV) port implantation is increasing with the increase in the number of cancer patients and advancement in chemotherapy. In our division, medical oncologists have implanted all CV ports to save time and consultation costs to other departments. Recently, upper arm implantation has become the first choice as a safe and comfortable method in our unit.

[Infusion reaction and anaphylaxis].

Infusion reactions and allergic reactions are common side effects of anti-cancer drugs, and are known as hypersensitivity reactions. Patients with these severe reactions require close attention because these reactions sometimes lead to critical conditions. Infusion reactions are caused by cytokine release, although the precise mechanisms involved are still obscure.

Serine 62 is a phosphorylation site in folliculin, the Birt-Hogg-Dubé gene product.

Recently, it was reported that the product of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome gene (folliculin, FLCN) is directly phosphorylated by 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In this study, we identified serine 62 (Ser62) as a phosphorylation site in FLCN and generated an anti-phospho-Ser62-FLCN antibody. Our analysis suggests that Ser62 phosphorylation is indirectly up-regulated by AMPK and that another residue is directly phosphorylated by AMPK.

Regulation of folliculin (the BHD gene product) phosphorylation by Tsc2-mTOR pathway.

The Birt-Hogg-Dubé gene (BHD) encodes the tumor suppressor protein folliculin (FLCN). The function of FLCN has recently been implicated in the regulation of rapamycin-sensitive mTOR complex (mTORC1). Reciprocally, the mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation of FLCN was reported.