Risk factors for non-cancer death after surgery in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: With improvements in the outcome of treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), other diseases may account for a high death rate after surgery in patients with stage I NSCLC. In the present study, we analysed the associations between the clinical factors and non-cancer death after surgery in these patients.

Methods: The records of 514 patients with stage I NSCLC who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed; a proportional hazards model for the subdistribution of a competing risk was conducted to define the risk factors for non-cancer death.

Unusual reaction behavior of gem-difluorocyclopropane derivatives: stereoselective synthesis of β-monofluoroallylic alcohols, ethers, esters, and amide.

On treating gem-difluorocyclopropylstannanes, derived from the radical hydrostannation of gem-difluorocyclopropenes, with 1.5 equiv of MeLi in THF at -78 °C for 5 min, followed by quenching the reaction with various agents, such as H2O, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and tosylamide, the corresponding β-fluoroallylic alcohols, ethers, esters, and amide were obtained with exclusive Z-selectivity in acceptable yields.

Inhibitory activity of the flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb. against histamine production and L-histidine decarboxylase in human keratinocytes.

In previous studies we found that anionic surfactants such as sodium laurate (SL) and/or sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) exert actions on epidermal keratinocytes rather than mast cells to give rise of histamine production and skin itching through increasing the expression of the 53-kDa active form of L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC). In addition, with treatment of SL in a three-dimensional human keratinocyte culture, increases in both the 53-kDa HDC and histamine production are detected and thus this culture assay is applied to screen anti-itching materials from natural resources. In this study, the inhibitory activity of "Kin-gin-ka" (flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb.

Prominent expression of FRS2beta protein in neural cells and its association with intracellular vesicles.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate (FRS)-2 protein family comprises FRS2alpha, a well-known central mediator for fibroblast growth factor signaling, and FRS2beta, whose endogenous expression pattern and function are not yet defined. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression of FRS2beta was restricted to neural tissues and it colocalized with Tuj1, a neuronal marker. There are two distinct patterns of FRS2beta expression in neural cells: punctate and cup/ring-shaped; moreover, some particles colocalized with lysosomes.

The tau protein of oral epithelium increases in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important problem that should be solved in the 21st century. Prior to treatment, a simple and easy diagnostic method using biological markers should be available. As a method to attain this goal, we detected and determined tau protein in oral mucosal epithelium.

Gene dose effect of the APOE-epsilon4 allele on plasma HDL cholesterol level in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

It has been reported that decreased serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level is related with severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, 82 patients with AD and 40 non-demented individuals were examined to determine how the APOE-epsilon4 allele modifies plasma cholesterol fractions. In adjusting for age, sex and plasma albumin level, plasma HDL cholesterol level was inversely correlated with the APOE-epsilon4 dose only in the patients (P = 0.