Improving the Stability of Protein-Protein Interaction Assay FlimPIA Using a Thermostabilized Firefly Luciferase.

The protein-protein interaction assay is a key technology in various fields, being applicable in drug screening as well as in diagnosis and inspection, wherein the stability of assays is important. In a previous study, we developed a unique protein-protein interaction assay "FlimPIA" based on the functional complementation of mutant firefly luciferases (Fluc). The catalytic step of Fluc was divided into two half steps: D-luciferin was adenylated in the first step, while adenylated luciferin was oxidized in the second step.

Th17 cells reflect colon submucosal pathologic changes in active eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Background: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) or eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG), or both, with asthma precede the onset of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in half of all EGPA patients. It is not known what determines whether patients with CEP or with EG following asthma will develop EGPA.

Methods: We studied 17 EGPA patients and 12 patients with CEP but without EGPA.

Advanced gastric cancer showing long-term complete remission in response to S-1 monotherapy: two case reports.

We herein report two cases showing long-term complete remission (CR) in response to S-1 monotherapy. Case 1 was a 65-year-old male diagnosed with an advanced poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach with paraaortic lymph node metastases, which disappeared after S-1 monotherapy. Subsequently a total gastrectomy was performed, and histological CR was evident.

[A case of long-term survival of 3-years 4 months after combination chemotherapy of MTX, 5-FU and low-dose CDDP (MFP) for type 4 gastric cancer with pleuritis, peritoneal dissemination and Krukenberg tumor].

A 41-year-old woman presented to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of our hospital because of abdominal distension and irregular genital bleeding. Computed tomography and ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed bilateral ovarian tumors, massive ascites, and bilateral pleural effusion. Type IV advanced gastric cancer was diagnosed on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Optimal dose-finding study of bi-weekly paclitaxel in unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

Background: Tri-weekly and weekly regimens of paclitaxel have been reported to be effective in unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. The present study was conducted to determine the optimal dose of bi-weekly paclitaxel and evaluate safety and antitumor effect.

Patients And Methods: The study included patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

[Clinical development of S-1 (TS-1) for advanced gastric cancer].

The 5-FU plus cisplatin containing regimen like FP, ECF and DCF, is considered to be the most effective treatment for advanced gastric cancer in the United States, Europe, and Korea. In Japan, oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 (TS-1) is currently considered to be the first candidate as the standard drug for advanced gastric cancer. S-1 based combination therapies with other promising drugs like cisplatin, irinotecan and taxanes, are expected to yield good results.

[A gastric stromal tumor (GIST) with a prolonged partial response to a reduced dose of imatinib mesilate].

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stools. A gastric stromal tumor with liver metastasis was diagnosed. Treatment with imatinib mesilate was begun in a dose of 400 mg daily.

Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus associated with a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome: a case report documenting a complete response.

We describe a case of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus associated with a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. Sensorimotor neuropathy had developed 3 years earlier, and neurological symptoms had slowly worsened. Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus was incidentally diagnosed while investigating the cause of the neurological symptoms.

[Combination chemotherapy of TS-1 +cisplatin for inoperable gastric cancer].

There is no chemotherapy considered to be standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer worldwide, and there is no consensus as to whether combination or single agent therapy is preferred. In the phase I portion, a dose-escalation study of cisplatin (CDDP) combined with TS-1, new oral dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase inhibitory fluoropyrimidine, was performed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and objective response rate (RR) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). TS-1 was given orally at 40 mg/m2 bid for 21 consecutive days following a 2-week rest.