Serum c-erbB-2 protein is a useful marker for monitoring tumor recurrence of the breast.

C-erbB-2 oncogene protein (ErbB-2/HER-2) overexpression is a prognostic marker of breast carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum ErbB-2 for monitoring tumor recurrence of operable breast carcinoma patients. The subjects were 86 breast carcinoma patients with stage I-IIIB.

[Basic characteristics of a novel diagnostic method (QuantiFERON TB-2G) for latent tuberculosis infection with the use of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens, ESAT-6 and CFP-10].

Purposes: To determine the optimum cut-off level of a newly developed method for diagnosing tuberculosis infection based on whole-blood interferon-gamma measurement, and to study the basic characteristics of the method.

Study Subjects: 1) A total of 220 young, healthy individuals having no apparent exposure to tuberculosis infection, most of whom have had a vaccination with BCG vaccine. 2) One hundred eighteen tuberculosis patients who were diagnosed by positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture.

Abundant retention and release of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) by platelets.

Wound healing and tissue regeneration are usually initiated by coagulation followed by fibrous tissue formation. In the present study, we discovered an abundance of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) in human platelets, which was released along with the coagulation process. The CTGF/CCN2 content in platelets was 10-fold higher than that in arterial tissue.