Evaluation of a Treatment Algorithm for Tsushima Mamushi (Gloydius tsushimaensis) Snakebites, after Its Introduction to Tsushima Island, Nagasaki, Japan.

Objective Tsushima mamushi (Gloydius tsushimaensis) is an endemic species of snake inhabiting only Tsushima Island, a remote Japanese island. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study of G. tsushimaensis bites for the first time and developed a treatment algorithm that unified treatment on the island and is still in use today.

Risk of myelodysplastic syndromes in people exposed to ionizing radiation: a retrospective cohort study of Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors.

Purpose: The risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has not been fully investigated among people exposed to ionizing radiation. We investigate MDS risk and radiation dose-response in Japanese atomic bomb survivors.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using two databases of Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors: 64,026 people with known exposure distance in the database of Nagasaki University Atomic-Bomb Disease Institute (ABDI) and 22,245 people with estimated radiation dose in the Radiation Effects Research Foundation Life Span Study (LSS).

Long-term study of indolent adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma.

The long-term prognosis of indolent adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is not clearly elucidated. From 1974 to 2003, newly diagnosed indolent ATL in 90 patients (65 chronic type and 25 smoldering type) was analyzed. The median survival time was 4.

Long-term efficacy of imatinib in a practical setting is correlated with imatinib trough concentration that is influenced by body size: a report by the Nagasaki CML Study Group.

Imatinib has dramatically improved long-term survival of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. To analyze its efficacy in a practical setting, we registered most of CML patients in Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan. Of these, 73 patients received imatinib as an initial therapy.

Fatal Cytomegalovirus Pneumonia and Associated Herpes Virus Infection in a Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patient Treated with Bortezomib plus Dexamethasone.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains a largely incurable disease in the long term despite positive responses to first-line chemotherapy. Herein we report the case of a 68-year-old woman who died following treatment with bortezomib plus dexamethasone for refractory MM. The combination was associated with significant antitumor activity, but bacterial pneumonia/sepsis was followed by bilateral cytomegalovirus pneumonia with herpes simplex co-infection, and this was almost certainly the cause of death.

Dorsal Column Degeneration after Bortezomib Therapy in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma.

We present here a case of dorsal column degeneration in a female patient with multiple myeloma following exposure to bortezomib. Two days after intravenous administration of a first course of bortezomib 1 mg/m(2), the patient developed rapidly-progressive numbness, pain and muscle weakness in the bilateral upper and lower limbs. Following gancyclovir treatment of subsequent cytomegalovirus viremia, the patient went on to receive a course of EPOCH (etoposide 50 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-4, vincristine 0.

Inactivation of p14ARF as a key event for the progression of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma.

The INK4a/ARF locus encodes two different proteins, p16INK4a and p14ARF, which are crucial for two tumor suppressor pathways. We found that p14ARF mRNA expression was suppressed in 13 of 37 cases, among which 9 cases showed the inactivation of both of p14ARF and p16INK4a, and 4 cases showed the inactivation of p14ARF alone. The inactivation of p14ARF and the mutation of p53 are mutually exclusive.

Imatinib provides durable molecular and cytogenetic responses in a practical setting for both newly diagnosed and previously treated chronic myelogenous leukemia: a study in nagasaki prefecture, Japan.

To evaluate the efficacy of imatinib in a practical setting, we registered 43 patients with newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (group I) and 56 patients with previously diagnosed CML (group II) at 11 hematology centers in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan, from December 2001 to July 2005 and analyzed the molecular responses. Cytopenia, fluid retention, and skin rash were major adverse events, along with elevation in creatine phosphokinase levels. With a follow-up of approximately 3.

Impact of p53 aberration on the progression of Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma.

Based on statistical analysis of its age-dependent occurrence, a multi-step carcinogenesis model has been proposed for Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL). We have previously reported that the deletion of the p16 gene is a key event in ATLL progression. In the current study, we report for the first time that the aberrations of p16 and p53 are mutually exclusive in ATLL and either of the two events is sufficient for the ATLL progression.

A case of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the ampulla of Vater: successful treatment with radiation therapy.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the papilla of Vater is rare, and little is known of either its association with Helicobacter pylori infection or the optimal treatment modalities. We describe the first case of MALT lymphoma involving the major papilla that remained unchanged despite eradication of H. pylori, but which regressed following radiotherapy.

Aberrant processing of Fas transcripts in adult T-cell leukemia: a possible role in tumor cell survival.

In adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), tumor cells commonly express abundant membrane-bound Fas antigen. We reported a significant correlation between Fas expression status of ATL patients and their clinical outcome. In the current study, we analyzed the Fas cDNA sequence of the distinctive ATL cases that barely expressed mFas identified during the previous study.

Multiple gammac-receptor expression in adult T-cell leukemia.

Constitutive expression of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) on adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells and the presence of permanent IL-2-dependent ATL cell lines indicate that the signal transduction system via IL-2R is a key element for the development of this disease. IL-2R is a member of the common gamma-chain (gammac)-receptor family and shares gamma with IL-4R, IL-7R, IL-9R, and IL-15R. In addition to IL-2R, ATL cells express IL-15R and respond to IL-15.

The conformational alteration of the mutated extracellular domain of Fas in an adult T cell leukemia cell line.

Fas (APO-1/CD95) is a cell surface receptor involved in apoptosis. Almost all adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells express abundant Fas antigen and show apoptosis induced by IgM anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb). We established the ATL cell line, RSO4, which was obtained from Fas-sensitive ATL cell line SO4 and showed resistance to apoptosis induced by the mAb.