Novel virtual cytological analysis for the detection of endometrial cancer cells using autoscan fluoromicroscopy.

The current medical examinations for detecting endometrial cancer can sometimes be stressful and inconvenient for examinees and examiners. Therefore, we attempted to develop an autoscan-virtual cytology system for detecting endometrial cancer without relying on judgment by the human eye. Exfoliated cells from the uterus were retrieved using a tampon inserted for 3 h.

[Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma].

We examined the case of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (L-RFA) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and then the method of this treatment was considered in terms of selection and adjustment. Between January 2008 and May 2010, L-RFC was performed on 18 cases (27 tumors). A total operation time was 203 minutes (± 85.

Expression and localization of E-cadherin and β-catenin in uterine carcinosarcoma.

This study was designed to analyze the subcellular localization of E-cadherin and β-catenin both of which play a critical role in cell-cell adhesion in uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS). We performed an immunohistochemical reaction analysis of the subcellular localization of E-cadherin and β-catenin proteins in 46 cases of UCSs consisting of 28 UCSs with heterologous sarcoma and 18 UCSs with homologous sarcoma and compared their clinicopathological features. In most UCSs, membranous expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin was completely lost in sarcomatous components, but it was preserved in carcinomatous components.

Cytoplasmic and stromal expression of laminin γ 2 chain correlates with infiltrative invasion in ovarian mucinous neoplasms of gastro-intestinal type.

Ovarian mucinous neoplasms of gastro-intestinal type (GI-type) are known to be a heterogeneous tumor composed of benign, borderline and non-invasive and invasive malignant lesions. The presence of infiltrative invasion is also known to be an important prognostic factor of this neoplasm. Laminin γ 2 chain, known to stimulate tumor cell invasion and migration, has not been sufficiently investigated in ovarian mucinous neoplasms.

MicroRNA expression profiling of exfoliated colonocytes isolated from feces for colorectal cancer screening.

To reduce the colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rate, we have reported several CRC screening methods using colonocytes isolated from feces. Expression analysis of oncogenic microRNA (miRNA) in peripheral blood was recently reported for CRC detection. In the present study, we conducted miRNA expression analysis of exfoliated colonocytes isolated from feces for CRC screening.

Detailed distribution of NK012, an SN-38-incorporating micelle, in the liver and its potent antitumor effects in mice bearing liver metastases.

Purpose: To clarify and compare the antitumor effects and specific biodistribution of NK012, an SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelle, in mice bearing multiple liver metastases of human colon cancer HT-29 cells with irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11).

Experimental Design: The maximum tolerable dose of NK012 (30 mg/kg) or CPT-11 (66.7 mg/kg) was i.

Haemophilic pseudotumour of the mandible in a 5-year-old patient.

A haemophilic pseudotumour was identified in the mandible of a 5-year-old male with severe haemophilia A. The patient initially experienced painless swelling of the mandible. Computed tomography revealed a marked enlargement of the lower right mandibular border, which was associated with a low-density area, and irregular absorption of the lingual cortex bone.

Optimum conditions of ultrasound-mediated destruction of bubble liposome for siRNA transfer in bladder cancer.

Background: We investigated the effectiveness of ultrasound-mediated destruction of bubble liposome (UBL) for siRNA transfer by observing reduction in the luciferase activity of human bladder tumor RT-112 cells transfected with the luciferase gene (RT-112Luc) following luciferase siRNA transfer into the cells.

Results: siRNA was transferred to 26% of RT-112Luc cells by UBL and the luciferase activity of RT-112Luc cells was significantly suppressed by UBL using the luciferase siRNA, compared with that using nonspecific siRNA in vitro (p = 0.036).

The antitumor activity of NK012, an SN-38-incorporating micelle, in combination with bevacizumab against lung cancer xenografts.

Background: It has been demonstrated that NK012, a novel 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38)-incorporating polymeric micelle, exerts significantly more potent antitumor activity against various human tumor xenografts than irinotecan (CPT-11) (a water-soluble prodrug of SN-38). Combination therapy of anticancer agents with bevacizumab (Bv), an anti-vascualr endothelial growth factor humanized monoclonal antibody, has more potently inhibited tumor growth than either agent alone. In the current study, the authors examined the antitumor effect of NK012 in combination with Bv against human lung cancer.

Synergistic antitumor activity of the SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelles NK012 with S-1 in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer.

The combination therapy of CPT-11, a prodrug of SN-38, with S-1, a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase inhibitory fluoropyrimidine, shows a high clinical response rate in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, this combination causes severe toxicities such as diarrhea. Here, we investigated the advantages of treatment with the SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelles NK012 over CPT-11 in combination with S-1 in mice bearing a NSCLC xenograft in terms of antitumor activity and toxic effects, particularly intestinal toxicity.

Brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment in older Japanese: validation of the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Aim: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), developed by Dr Nasreddine (Nasreddine et al. 2005), is a brief cognitive screening tool for detecting older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We examined the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the MoCA (MoCA-J) in older Japanese subjects.

Antitumor effect of NK012, a 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin-incorporating polymeric micelle, on U87MG orthotopic glioblastoma in mice compared with irinotecan hydrochloride in combination with bevacizumab.

Purpose: To clarify the effect of bevacizumab on NK012 therapy in mice bearing U87MG glioblastoma orthotopic xenografts in comparison with the combination therapy of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) with bevacizumab.

Experimental Design: NK012 at 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) equivalent dose of 30 mg/kg was administered intravenously three times every 4 days with or without bevacizumab. CPT-11 at 66.

Antitumour activity of NK012, SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelles, in hypovascular orthotopic pancreatic tumour.

Human pancreatic cancer is refractory to chemotherapy partly because of blockage to penetration of anticancer agents. This issue must be taken into account particularly for the drug delivery system (DDS). The aim of the present study is to investigate how NK012 (SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelles) categorised as DDS exerts its antitumour effect in an orthotopic pancreatic tumour model compared with gemcitabine and irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11), a low-molecular-weight prodrug of a 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38).

Catechol type polyphenol is a potential modifier of protein sulfhydryls: development and application of a new probe for understanding the dietary polyphenol actions.

The oxidation of dietary polyphenols with a catechol structure leads to the formation of an o-quinone structure, which rapidly reacts with sulfhydryls such as glutathione and protein cysteine residues. This modification may be important for understanding the redox regulation of cell functions by polyphenols. In this study, to investigate the catechol modification of protein sulfhydryls, we used 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DPA) as a model catechol compound and developed a new probe to directly detect protein modification by catechol type polyphenols using a biotinylated DPA (Bio-DPA).

A preliminary study of in-house Monte Carlo simulations: an integrated Monte Carlo verification system.

Purpose: To develop an infrastructure for the integrated Monte Carlo verification system (MCVS) to verify the accuracy of conventional dose calculations, which often fail to accurately predict dose distributions, mainly due to inhomogeneities in the patient's anatomy, for example, in lung and bone.

Methods And Materials: The MCVS consists of the graphical user interface (GUI) based on a computational environment for radiotherapy research (CERR) with MATLAB language. The MCVS GUI acts as an interface between the MCVS and a commercial treatment planning system to import the treatment plan, create MC input files, and analyze MC output dose files.

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen caused by a Bacillus infection: report of a case.

We report a case of spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) caused by a Bacillus species (sp.) infection. A 36-year-old man on warfarin therapy since an aortic valve replacement at the age of 13 was admitted to our hospital with a 3-week history of a high fever.

Antitumor activity of NK012 combined with cisplatin against small cell lung cancer and intestinal mucosal changes in tumor-bearing mouse after treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the advantages of treatment with the SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelles NK012 over CPT-11 in combination with cisplatin [cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (CDDP)] in mice bearing a small cell lung cancer xenograft in terms of antitumor activity and toxicity, particularly intestinal toxicity.

Experimental Design: Cytotoxic effects were evaluated in human small cell lung cancer cell lines [H69, H82, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-secreting cells (SBC-3/VEGF and its mock transfectant SBC-3/Neo)]. In vivo antitumor effects were evaluated in SBC-3/Neo-bearing and SBC-3/VEGF-bearing mice after NK012/CDDP or CPT-11/CDDP administration on days 0, 7, and 14.

Hobnail-like cells in serous borderline tumor do not represent concomitant incipient clear cell neoplasms.

Hobnail-like cells, which suggest a diagnosis of clear cell carcinoma, are also focally observed in serous borderline tumor of the ovary, causing diagnostic confusion. However, the precise nature of hobnail-like cells in serous borderline tumor has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether or not hobnail-like cells in serous borderline tumor represent concomitant incipient clear cell neoplasms.

Immunohistochemical characterization of mullerian mucinous borderline tumors: possible histogenetic link with serous borderline tumors and low-grade endometrioid tumors.

Mullerian mucinous borderline tumor and gastrointestinal mucinous borderline tumor are considered mucinous tumor subtypes. However, it has been reported that mullerian mucinous borderline tumor shares many clinicopathologic features with serous borderline tumor. Furthermore, some investigators have explained the histogenesis of mullerian mucinous borderline tumor by metaplastic and hyperplastic transformation of endometriosis (Fukunaga M, Ushigome S.

Potent antitumor effect of SN-38-incorporating polymeric micelle, NK012, against malignant glioma.

Recent published reports on clinical trials of CPT-11 indicate the effectiveness of this compound, a prodrug of SN-38, against malignant glioma in combination with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody. Here, we determined if NK012, and SN-38 incorporating micelle, can be an appropriate formulation for glioblastoma treatment compared with CPT-11. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated against several glioma lines with NK012, CPT-11, SN-38, ACNU, CDDP and etoposide.

Improved recovery of exfoliated colonocytes from feces using newly developed immunomagnetic beads.

We demonstrated the feasibility of a new methodology for isolating colonocytes from feces. To reduce costs and improve the recovery rate of colonocytes from feces, we attempted to develop new immunomagnetic beads. Several sizes of magnetic beads were prepared and tagged with a monoclonal antibody against EpCAM.

Spin echo in spinor dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates.

We theoretically propose and numerically realize spin echo in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). We investigate the influence on the spin echo of phase separation of the condensate. The equation of motion of the spin density exhibits two relaxation times.

Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma to squamous cell carcinoma involves altered expression of p53- and p16/Rb-dependent cell cycle regulator proteins.

Ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCT) uncommonly undergo malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). While alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and protein have been shown, few studies have analyzed other molecular changes leading to this malignant conversion. The purpose of the present study was to investigate 21 samples of SCC arising in MCT for altered expression in known p53- and p16/Rb-dependent cell cycle regulatory proteins, and the association between their expression and cellular proliferation and histological features.

Blockade of constitutively activated ERK signaling enhances cytotoxicity of microtubule-destabilizing agents in tumor cells.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is constitutively activated in many human tumor cell types. Given the cytoprotective role of this pathway, we examined whether its specific blockade might sensitize human tumor cells to the induction of apoptosis by various anticancer drugs. Although blockade of ERK signaling alone did not induce substantial cell death, it resulted in marked and selective enhancement of the induction of apoptosis by microtubule-destabilizing agents in tumor cells in which the ERK pathway is constitutively activated.

Detection of the DNA point mutation of colorectal cancer cells isolated from feces stored under different conditions.

Background: We reported on a novel diagnostic method for colorectal cancer (CRC) using a DNA-based analysis of isolated colonocytes from feces. The aim of the present study was to investigate with real-time PCR and direct sequencing analysis whether the cancer cells could be detected in feces stored under different conditions after evacuation.

Methods: Feces were collected from patients with CRC.