Successful treatment of unresectable gallbladder cancer with low-dose paclitaxel as palliative chemotherapy after failure of gemcitabine and oral S-1: A case report.

A 56-year-old female with metastatic gallbladder cancer involving the liver and stenosis of the hilar bile duct was treated with gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) plus S-1 (60 mg/m(2)). After 9 cycles of therapy, CT showed evidence of stable disease; however, the serum CEA level was increased. Therefore, the chemotherapy regimen was changed to weekly low-dose paclitaxel (60 mg/m(2)).

Laminin isoforms and laminin-producing cells in rat anterior pituitary.

Laminin is a key component of the basement membrane and is involved in the structural scaffold and in cell proliferation and differentiation. Research has identified 19 laminin isoforms, which are assemblies of α, β, and γ chains (eg, the α1, β1, and γ1 chains form the laminin 111 isoform). Although laminin is known to be present in the anterior pituitary, the specific laminin isoforms have not been identified.

Expression of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in rat anterior pituitary gland.

Proteoglycans are components of the extracellular matrix and comprise a specific core protein substituted with covalently linked glycosaminoglycan chains. Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are a major family of proteoglycans and have key roles as potent effectors in cellular signaling pathways. Research during the last two decades has shown that SLRPs regulate biological functions in many tissues such as skin, tendon, kidney, liver, and heart.

Locally advanced breast cancer made amenable to radical surgery after a combination of systemic therapy and Mohs paste: two case reports.

Introduction: Chemotherapy and other systemic therapies are the primary treatments for patients with unresectable, locally advanced breast cancer. The clinical application of supportive care using Mohs paste has become widespread for the purpose of improving patients' quality of life. Here, we report two cases of locally advanced breast cancer, for which the patients underwent radical surgery after a combination of systemic therapy and Mohs chemosurgery.

Simultaneous assessment of T-wave alternans and heart rate turbulence on holter electrocardiograms as predictors for serious cardiac events in patients after myocardial infarction.

Background: T-wave alternans based on the modified moving average method (MMA-TWA) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) have been introduced as predictors for cardiac mortality. In this study, we simultaneously recorded MMA-TWA and HRT in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) and designed a prospective observational study.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 313 consecutive post-MI patients (age 70 ± 12 years, 232 men).

Analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations and survival outcomes in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism caused by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: the experience at a single institution.

Purpose: To examine the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) in relation to the MEN1 gene mutation.

Methods: The study population included the patients, positive for the MEN1 gene mutation, who underwent parathyroidectomy between 1983 and 2009 at a single tertiary referral center. Manifestations of the syndrome, other tumors and causes of death were retrospectively correlated with the specific types and locations of MEN1 gene mutations.

Cholecystomucoclasis: revaluation of safety and validity in aged populations.

Background: We evaluated the safety and validity of cholecystomucoclasis (CM) and compared its intraoperative characteristics with those of standard cholecystectomy (SC).

Methods: We enrolled 174 patients who underwent cholecystectomy and retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of patients in the SC and CM groups.

Results: Significant differences in age (71.

Acute pulmonary dose-responses to inhaled multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

This study investigated the in vivo pulmonary toxicity of inhaled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Mice-inhaled aerosolized MWCNT (10 mg/m³, 5 h/day) for 2, 4, 8 or 12 days. MWCNT lung burden was linearly related to exposure duration.

Application of an intracellular stability test of a novel missense menin mutant to the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Germline MEN1 mutation analysis is a powerful tool for an early diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), an autosomal dominant familial cancer syndrome characterized by the parathyroid, pituitary and gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors. However, the clinical significance of MEN1 gene variants, especially missense and in-frame mutations as well as some splicing mutations, is not always obvious. We have previously shown that mutant menin proteins associated with MEN1 are rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Risk stratification for serious arrhythmic events using nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and heart rate turbulence detected by 24-hour holter electrocardiograms in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Previous studies have described the clinical usefulness of the presence of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) and defined heart rate turbulence (HRT) in stratifying patients at risk. We prospectively assessed whether HRT can facilitate the predictive accuracy of NSVT for identifying patients at risk for serious arrhythmic events in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

Methods: We enrolled 299 consecutive patients with LV dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 40%) including ischemic (n = 184) and nonischemic causes (n = 115).

Xanthogranulomatous gastritis mimicking malignant GIST on F-18 FDG PET.

Xanthogranulomatous gastritis (XGG) is a rare inflammatory lesion of the stomach, with only 11 reported cases worldwide. Furthermore, reports on the use of detailed diagnostic imaging in XGG are not available. Herein, we describe a case of XGG with detailed diagnostic imaging mimicking malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in light of the current literature.

Selective site pacing from the right ventricular mid-septum. Follow-up of lead performance and procedure technique.

Pacing from the right ventricular (RV) apex is associated with adverse effects such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. We attempted pacing from the RV mid-septum, which is theoretically a more physiological pacing site. A total of 172 consecutive patients with indications for permanent pacemaker implantation were studied.

Expression of the proteoglycan syndecan-4 and the mechanism by which it mediates stress fiber formation in folliculostellate cells in the rat anterior pituitary gland.

Folliculostellate (FS) cells in the anterior pituitary gland appear to have multifunctional properties. FS cells connect to each other at gap junctions and thereby form a histological and functional network. We have performed a series of studies on network formation in FS cells and recently reported that FS cells markedly prolong their cytoplasmic processes and form numerous interconnections with neighboring FS cells in the presence of laminin, an extracellular matrix (ECM) component of the basement membrane.

The role of human peritoneal mesothelial cells in the fibrosis and progression of gastric cancer.

Peritoneal dissemination is the most frequent metastatic pattern of scirrhous gastric cancer. However, despite extensive research effort, disease outcomes have not improved sufficiently. Tumor progression and metastasis result from interactions between cancer and various cells in the stroma, including endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts.

A novel splice site mutation of the MEN1 gene identified in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Heterozygous germline mutation of the tumor suppressor gene MEN1 is responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), a familial cancer syndrome characterized by pituitary, parathyroid and enteropancreatic tumors. Various mutations have been identified throughout the entire gene region in patients with MEN1 and its incomplete forms often manifested as familial isolated hyperparathyroidism and apparently sporadic parathyroid tumor. Mutation analysis of the MEN1 gene is a powerful tool for the early diagnosis of MEN1; however, the clinical significance of the identified mutations is not always obvious.

Expression of chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in folliculostellate (FS) cells of the rat anterior pituitary gland: the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis induces interconnection of FS cells.

The anterior pituitary gland is composed of five types of hormone-producing cells plus folliculostellate (FS) cells, which do not produce classical anterior pituitary hormones. FS cells are interconnected by cytoplasmic processes and encircle hormone-producing cells or aggregate homophilically. Using living-cell imaging of primary culture, we recently reported that some FS cells precisely extend their cytoplasmic processes toward other FS cells and form interconnections with them.

A case of IgG4-related pulmonary disease with rapid improvement.

We report a 72-year-old man with respiratory involvement of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease, who developed dry cough and shortness of breath on effort. The chest computed tomography scan image showed massive and diffuse ground-glass opacity, interlobular thickening, and bronchial wall thickening. The infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in the transbronchial lung biopsy and high serum IgG4 concentrations were found.

False-Positive Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy on 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography after Rectal Cancer Resection: A Case Report of Thoracoscopic Surgery in the Prone Position.

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (integrated FDG PET/CT) has been used to diagnose recurrence and differentiate postoperative changes from lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer, although its accuracy is questionable. We report a prone thoracoscopic surgery for a rectal cancer patient in which false-positive mediastinal lymph nodes were found on FDG-PET/CT. A 60-year-old man underwent a laparoscopic high anterior resection and D3 lymph node dissection for rectal cancer.

Resistance to dopamine agonists in prolactinoma is correlated with reduction of dopamine D2 receptor long isoform mRNA levels.

Objective: Dopamine agonists normalize prolactin (PRL) levels and reduce tumour size in responsive prolactinoma. However, several cases have shown resistance to dopamine agonists upon initial treatment. Infrequently, prolactinoma initially responds, but then becomes refractory to prolonged treatment (secondary resistance).

High serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 is characteristic of patients with paraneoplastic remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema syndrome.

Recently, it was reported that remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome could be complicated with solid tumors. In a retrospective, multicenter study between October, 2003 and September, 2010, we investigated the characteristics of patients with paraneoplastic RS3PE syndrome who fulfilled following criteria: (1) bilateral pitting edema of hands or feet or both, (2) sudden onset of polyarthritis, and (3) age >50 years, (4) seronegativity for rheumatoid factor (RF). A total of 33 cases fulfilled the above criteria.

Adiponectin receptor-1 expression is associated with good prognosis in gastric cancer.

Background: Adiponectin is inversely related to BMI, positively correlates with insulin sensitivity, and has anti-atherogenic effects. In recent years, adiponectin has been well studied in the field of oncology. Adiponectin has been shown to have antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer, and adiponectin expression is inversely correlated with clinical staging of the disease.

Delayed treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in incomplete responders to synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs shows an excellent effect in patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis with poor prognosis factors.

We aimed to investigate whether delayed treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in incomplete responders to synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) was effective among patients with very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with poor prognosis factors. We examined 22 patients with very early RA who were positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or IgM-rheumatoid factor. The mean disease duration at entry was 14.

[Pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebrum presenting in an elderly patient: a case report].

We report a case of pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebrum presenting in an elderly patient. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our department due to the development of dysarthria. MRI showed a cystic mass with an enhanced small mural nodule in the left frontal lobe.