Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil Improves Survival of Patients with Advanced Esophageal Cancer Compared with Conventional Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.

To compare treatment outcomes and adverse events between concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF-RT) and conventional concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (CF-RT). We retrospectively investigated treatment outcomes and adverse events in 121 patients with advanced esophageal cancer who underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy with CF-RT (n = 83) or DCF-RT (n = 38). In the CF-RT group, patients were administered cisplatin (70 mg/m) and 5-fluorouracil (700 mg/m) for 5 days; in the DCF-RT group, patients were administered docetaxel (50 mg/m), cisplatin (50 mg/m), and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m) for 5 days.

Comparison of gadoxetic acid-enhanced dynamic MR imaging and contrast-enhanced computed tomography for preoperative evaluation of colorectal liver metastases.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) vs. contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) in the detection of liver metastasis in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Materials And Methods: One-hundred fifty-eight consecutive patients with histopathologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma underwent EOB-MRI and CE-CT; 68 patients had 105 surgically confirmed liver metastases.

Short treatment time and excellent treatment outcome in accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for T1 glottic cancer.

Accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy was performed as treatment for patients with T1 glottic cancer, and its utility was evaluated based on treatment outcomes and adverse effects. Fifty-eight men who had undergone radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor classification was Tis in 4 patients, T1a in 38, and T1b in 16.

Comparative study on toxic effects induced by oral or intravascular administration of commonly used disinfectants and surfactants in rats.

Accidental ingestion or injection of household products sometimes occurs due to their accessibility, but the toxic manifestations have not been well characterized when they are internally administered. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects induced by ingestion or injection of different ionic surfactants and disinfectants in rats. The test drugs involved benzalkonium and benzethonium (BZK and BZT, both cationic surfactants used as disinfectants), alkyldiaminoethylglycine (AEG, an amphoteric surfactant used as a disinfectant), linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS, an anionic surfactant), polyoxyethylene cetylether (PEC, a nonionic surfactant), chlorhexidine (CHX, not a surfactant but a disinfectant) and saline (control).

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of chlorhexidine in whole blood by solid-phase extraction and kinetics following an intravenous infusion in rats.

This paper presents the extraction and analysis of chlorhexidine (CHX) from whole blood using solid-phase extraction (SPE) together with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blood samples, spiked with chlorpromazine used as an internal standard, were fortified with sodium acetate buffer and purified with Bakerbond C(18) SPE columns. The columns were washed, dried, and eluted with experimental optimized solvent systems.

Specific determination of linear Alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) in commercial detergents and whole blood by high-performance liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.

This paper presents the extraction and analysis of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) from whole blood using solid-phase extraction (SPE) together with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sample was buffered with extraction solution and purified with Bakerbond C(18) SPE columns. The columns were washed, dried, and eluted with experimental optimized solvent systems.

CYP1A2 polymorphism (C > A at position -163) in Ovambos, Koreans and Mongolians.

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) plays an important role in metabolizing drugs and xenobiotics, and is a possible participant in the development of several human diseases. Recent studies have shown that genetic polymorphism of -163 C > A single nucleotide mutation of CYP1A2 increases the risk of myocardial infarction and modulates CYP1A2 activity. In this study, we investigated the frequency of the -163 C > A mutation in Ovambos (n = 177), Koreans (n = 250) and Mongolians (n = 153) and compared our results with other studies.

Single-step purification by lectin affinity and deglycosylation analysis of recombinant human and porcine deoxyribonucleases I expressed in COS-7 cells.

Human and porcine recombinant deoxyribonucleases I (DNases I) were expressed in COS-7 cells, and purified by a single-step procedure. Since affinities for concanavalin A (Con A) and wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA) were strong in these recombinant DNases I, purification using Con A-WGA mixture-agarose column was performed. By this method, the enzymes in culture medium could quickly be isolated to apparent homogeneity in approx.

Analysis of genetic polymorphism of deoxyribonuclease I in Ovambo and Turk populations using a genotyping method.

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) polymorphism has been used as a valuable marker in genetic and clinical investigations. Six codominant alleles are known for DNase I, DNASE1*1, *2, *3, *4, and the recently discovered alleles *5 and *6. To detect these two new alleles, we added a new DNase I genotyping method based on both an allele-specific amplification and mismatched polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Actin-inhibition and folding of vertebrate deoxyribonuclease I are affected by mutations at residues 67 and 114.

Amino acid (aa) residues (Val-67 and Ala-114) have been suggested as being mainly responsible for actin-binding in human and bovine deoxyribonucleases I (DNase I). This study presents evidence of these two aa mutational mechanisms, not only for actin-binding but also for folding of DNase I in mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Human and viper snake (Agkistrodon blomhoffii) enzymes are inhibited by actin, whereas porcine, rat snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata), and African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) enzymes are not.

Effects of a nicotine conjugate vaccine on the acquisition and maintenance of nicotine self-administration in rats.

Rationale: Immunization of rats against nicotine using a nicotine conjugate vaccine reduces the distribution of nicotine to brain in rats and attenuates some of nicotine's physiological and behavioral effects. It is not known whether such a vaccine can attenuate nicotine's reinforcing effects.

Objective: The present experiment was conducted to determine whether a nicotine conjugate vaccine could interfere with the acquisition and maintenance of nicotine self-administration (NSA) in rats given 23 h day(-1) access to nicotine.

A rapid and definitive diagnosis of kerosene dermatitis by an analysis of detached lesional epidermis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A 73-year-old woman, who suffered from erythema with bullae and pustules on her abdomen and anterior right thigh, visited our hospital without an awareness of the causative agents. The lesions appeared like first and second degree burns. The small amount of detached roof of bulla was sampled without skin biopsy before the ointment treatment.

Skin analysis to determine causative agent in dermal exposure to petroleum products.

This study evaluates the usefulness of skin analysis to determine the causative agent in cases of dermal exposure. The study consists of an animal experiment and two human cases. The petroleum components detected at high concentrations in skin samples resembled the composition of those in the corresponding petroleum products.

A fatal case of pure ethanol ingestion.

An adult male was found dead in a car with two empty bottles (500 ml x 2) labeled dehydrated ethanol (>99.5%, v/v). At autopsy, extensive pancreatic necrosis with severe hemorrhage was observed.

Kinetic characteristics and toxic effects of benzalkonium chloride following intravascular and oral administration in rats.

Kinetic characteristics and toxic effects of benzalkonium chloride (BZK) following injection via jugular vein (JV), femoral artery (FA) and oral administration (PO) were experimentally investigated using rats. The BZK concentrations in blood and tissues (lung, liver and kidney) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with solid phase extraction. Toxic doses of 15 and 250 mg/kg of BZK were used for intravascular (JV and FA) and PO administration, respectively.

The levels of kerosene components in biological samples after repeated dermal exposure to kerosene in rats.

The current study was experimentally investigated using rats whether or not kerosene components are accumulated from daily repeated dermal exposure. Rats received daily 1h-exposure to kerosene for 5 days (5K), daily 1h-exposure for 4 days and left for 1 day (4KL), a single 1h-exposure (1K), a single 1h-exposure and left for 1 day (1KL), or a single 1h-exposure, sacrificed and left dead for 1 day (1KLD). Kerosene components, trimethylbenzenes (TMBs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) in blood and tissues were determined by GC-MS.

Distribution and disposition of benzalkonium chloride following various routes of administration in rats.

Benzalkonium chloride (BZK) is a cationic surfactant used widely as a disinfectant, preservative and sanitizer in hospitals, at home and many public places. The toxicity of BZK is not well established although several human fatalities have been reported over the years. In this study, distribution and disposition of BZK following oral administration (PO) and intravascular (jugular vein (JV), femoral artery (FA), femoral vein (FV) and jugular artery (JA)) administration in rats were investigated along with pathological examinations.

Skin analysis following dermal exposure to kerosene in rats: the effects of postmortem exposure and fire.

To evaluate the usefulness of skin analysis for the forensic examination of cases involving postmortem dermal exposure to kerosene and/or fire, an experimental study using rats was performed. Rats received dermal exposure to kerosene before or after death, and the effect of fire was determined by burning an area of exposed skin after death. Kerosene concentrations in skin and blood were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and microscopic observation was performed for skin samples.

Sensitive determination of benzalkonium chloride in blood and tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.

A sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatography assay for benzalkonium chloride (BZK) in biological samples was developed. The biological samples, spiked with domiphen used as an internal standard, were purified by solid-phase extraction. The major homologues of BZK in pharmaceutical products (C(12) and C(14)) were eluted at 24 and 36 min using a YMC-Pack CN column (4.

Dermal absorption of kerosene components in rats and the influence of its amount and area of exposure.

The influences of amount and area of dermal exposure to kerosene upon the levels of kerosene components in biological samples were examined in vivo and in vitro. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to kerosene through the abdominal skin for 2h. The amounts (soaked in cotton) and area of kerosene exposed were 1 ml/4 cm(2) in Group I, 4 ml/4 cm(2) in Group II, 4 ml/16 cm(2) in Group III and 16 ml/64 cm(2) in Group IV.