Near-infrared optical imaging of cancer vascular remodeling after antiangiogenic therapy.

Background: Near-infrared diffuse optical imaging (DOSI) has been recently accepted as a method to assess tumor vascularity and oxygenation by measuring tissue hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. It is expected that DOSI could be used to monitor changes in vascularity after antiangiogenic therapy.

Methods: A patient with advanced breast cancer was treated with single-agent bevacizumab followed by addition of weekly paclitaxel to it.

A case of antiglomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis complicated by membranous nephropathy.

The sequential or simultaneous presentation of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis with membranous nephropathy (MN) has been infrequently reported. Although the mechanism underlying MN superimposed on anti-GBM glomerulonephritis is unknown, the two entities are believed to be interrelated. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Clinicopathological and prognostic impact of imaging of breast cancer angiogenesis and hypoxia using diffuse optical spectroscopy.

Near-infrared diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) imaging can non-invasively measure tumor hemoglobin concentration using high contrast to normal tissue, thus providing vascularity and oxygenation status. We assessed the clinical usefulness of DOS imaging in primary breast cancer. In all, 118 women with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of primary malignant tumor were enrolled.

Pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer according to hormonal receptor status.

Objective: For patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, the prognostic impact of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is unclear when stratified by hormonal receptor (HR) status; however, the impact of pCR on survival when stratified by hormonal receptor (HR) status is uncertain.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study investigated the predictors of pCR and its prognostic value in Japanese patients 366 HER2-positive breast cancer who received NAC. pCR was defined as no invasive residual tumor in the breast or axilla.

Digital cell counting device integrated with a single-cell array.

In this paper, we present a novel cell counting method accomplished using a single-cell array fabricated on an image sensor, complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor. The single-cell array was constructed using a microcavity array, which can trap up to 7,500 single cells on microcavities periodically arranged on a plane metallic substrate via the application of a negative pressure. The proposed method for cell counting is based on shadow imaging, which uses a light diffraction pattern generated by the microcavity array and trapped cells.

The multiple expression of Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ channels via homo- and hetero-dimer formation of TMEM16A splicing variants in murine portal vein.

Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel (CaCC) often plays substantial roles in the regulation of membrane excitability in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). TMEM16A, a member of the TMEM16 family, has been suggested as the molecular entity responsible for CaCC in several types of SMCs. In this study, the expression of TMEM16A splicing variants and their contribution to CaCC activity were examined in murine portal vein SMCs (mPVSMCs).

Optical imaging of tumor vascularity associated with proliferation and glucose metabolism in early breast cancer: clinical application of total hemoglobin measurements in the breast.

Background: Near-infrared optical imaging targeting the intrinsic contrast of tissue hemoglobin has emerged as a promising approach for visualization of vascularity in cancer research. We evaluated the usefulness of diffuse optical spectroscopy using time-resolved spectroscopic (TRS) measurements for functional imaging of primary breast cancer.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive TNM stage I/II patients with histologically proven invasive ductal carcinoma and operable breast tumors (<5 cm) who underwent TRS measurements were enrolled.

A novel mutation in the uromodulin gene in a Japanese family with a mild phenotype of familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy.

Familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy (FJHN) is an autosomal-dominant disorder that is characterized by hyperuricemia and chronic renal failure and results in end-stage renal failure. FJHN is caused by mutations in the UMOD gene, which encodes uromodulin. Uromodulin contains three epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains, a domain of eight cysteine residues (D8C), and a zona pellucid-like domain.

Genomic profiling shows increased glucose metabolism in luminal B breast cancer.

We had previously reported a close association between pathological response and the maximum tumor standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography prior to chemotherapy in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. We hypothesized that glucose hypermetabolism by luminal B tumors may result in chemotherapy responsiveness. Using a single-gene expression assay, TargetPrint® (Agendia) and a 70-gene expression classifier, MammaPrint® (Agendia), we divided 20 patients with ER-positive primary breast cancer into luminal A and luminal B subtypes and compared the tumor SUVmax value between the two groups.

Association of positive EBAG9 immunoreactivity with unfavorable prognosis in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen.

Introduction: Breast cancer is primarily a hormone-dependent tumor that is regulated by the status of the estrogen and progesterone receptors. We previously identified EBAG9 as an estrogen-responsive gene in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Upregulation of EBAG9 expression has been observed in several malignant tumors such as advanced breast cancers, indicating that EBAG9 might contribute to tumor progression.

IgG4-related kidney disease.

IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) is a comprehensive term for renal lesions associated with IgG4-related disease, which is a recently recognized clinical entity characterized by a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive plasma cells with fibrosis affecting several organs. Tubulointerstitial nephritis with increased IgG4-positive plasma cells and fibrosis is the most dominant feature of IgG4-RKD and may cause acute or chronic renal dysfunction, although some glomerular lesions such as membranous nephropathy are sometimes evident. Radiologically, several characteristic abnormalities are often demonstrated, sometimes mimicking malignancies.

The prevalence of medical/clinical technology over psychosocial care actions in outpatient mental health services.

The scope of this study was to evaluate how aspects of mental health policy in Brazil have been conceived and implemented in outpatient services, such as the Regional Outpatient Mental Health Clinic and the Psychosocial Care Center II, both in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Semi-direct interviews and focus groups were conducted with 22 health professionals. The theoretical method and data analysis were supported by the dialectical hermeneutic framework of Jürgen Habermas.

Development of IgG4-related disease in a patient diagnosed with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

We report a case of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) diagnosed after 3 years of follow-up for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). MN has been considered as glomerular lesion of IgG4-related kidney diseases in recent years and was diagnosed simultaneously with or after a diagnosis of IgG4-RD in previously reported cases. In the present case, IgG4-RD developed 3 years after the diagnosis of idiopathic MN, indicating a possible relationship between idiopathic MN and IgG4-RD through common underlying mechanisms of development.

A case of podocytic infolding glomerulopathy with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Podocytic infolding glomerulopathy (PIG) has been proposed as a new disease entity. A 14-year-old girl underwent renal biopsy at our institution because of a chance finding of proteinuria. Light microscopic findings revealed a minor glomerular abnormality, but under a higher magnification, after periodic acid methenamine silver staining, a bubbling appearance in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was observed.

Ring-shaped Re(I) multinuclear complexes with unique photofunctional properties.

We synthesized for the first time a series of emissive ring-shaped Re(I) complexes (Re-rings) with various numbers of Re(I) units and various lengths of bridge ligands. The photophysical properties of the Re-rings could be varied widely through changes in the size of the central cavity. A smaller central cavity of the Re-rings induced intramolecular π-π interactions between the ligands and consequently caused a stronger emission and a longer lifetime of the excited state.

The efficacy and safety of FSK0808, filgrastim biosimilar: a multicenter, non-randomized study in Japanese patients with breast cancer.

Objective: FSK0808 is a filgrastim biosimilar. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of FSK0808 in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: One hundred and four breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled in the study.

Potentiation of quantitative electroencephalograms following prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with major depression.

The long-lasting effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on electroencephalogram (EEG) activity are not clear. We aimed to investigate the cumulative rTMS effects on EEG and clinical outcomes in patients with major depression. Twenty-five patients with medication-resistant depression underwent 10 daily rTMS sessions over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Thrombocytopenia with reticulin fibrosis accompanied by fever, anasarca and hepatosplenomegaly : a clinical report of five cases.

We report five cases that presented with high fever, anasarca, hepatosplenomegaly and severe thrombocytopenia with reticulin fibrosis of the bone marrow. The constellation of symptoms is not compatible with any known disease, and we had difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. The age distribution was from 47 to 56 years, and two men and three women were affected.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled study of exemestane versus anastrozole for the first-line treatment of postmenopausal Japanese women with hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer.

The aromatase inhibitors exemestane and anastrozole are approved in Japan for first-line treatment of postmenopausal patients with advanced, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. This phase 3, randomized, double-blind study directly compared time to progression (TTP) for exemestane and anastrozole therapy in this patient population. Eligible patients were randomized to receive exemestane 25 mg or anastrozole 1 mg, each once daily.

The clinical course of patients with IgG4-related kidney disease.

Long-term follow-up for IgG4-related kidney disease, including relapse information, is sparse. To gather data on this we retrospectively examined the clinical course of 43 patients with IgG4-related kidney disease, in which most patients were treated with, and maintained on, corticosteroids. One month after the start of treatment, most of the abnormal serology and radiology parameters had improved.

Risk factors of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: index for personalized antiemetic prophylaxis.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most problematic adverse events that affects the well-being of cancer patients. Risk factors for CINV and its elimination are necessary to increase the indications for and effectiveness of chemotherapy. We enrolled 1549 chemotherapy-naïve patients in two phase II trials and one phase III trial of palonosetron between 2005 and 2007.