Radiotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial infusion of cisplatin versus oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent for locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a prospective follow-up study.

We randomized patients with locally advanced cervical cancer to receive radiotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI) of cisplatin or oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agents, and compared the prognosis by a prospective follow-up study. Sixty patients were studied who completed their planned radiation therapy with chemotherapy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Hiroshima University Hospital between January 1991 and December 1998. Patients were randomly assigned to receive (A) radiotherapy with TAI of 120 mg/body cisplatin twice a month at the interval of 4 weeks or (B) radiotherapy with 200 mg/day oral 5-FU or UFT every day.

Possible contribution of central gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors to resting vascular tone in freely moving rats.

Previous studies have shown that central administration of GABA (gamma -aminobutyric acid), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, preferentially reduces hindquarters and carotid vascular resistances but not renal and coeliac vascular resistances in conscious rats. This study tested the hypothesis that these preferential actions of central GABA receptors are related to differences between vessels in resting autonomic vascular tone in freely moving rats. Rats were chronically implanted with intracisternal cannulas and/or electromagnetic probes to measure regional blood flows.

Telomerase activity as a marker of breast carcinoma in fine-needle aspirated samples.

Background: Telomerase activity in breast fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples may have diagnostic utility. The purpose of this study was to compare in FNA samples of breast tumor the diagnostic accuracy as correlated with histologic final diagnosis.

Methods: Fine-needle aspiration samples were obtained from 617 patients with palpable breast tumors.

Isolation of lignan glucosides and neolignan sulfate from the leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum (Gaertn) A. Juss.

Six lignan and neolignan derivatives (1-6) were isolated from the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of the leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum. On the basis of spectral data, their structures were elucidated to be (+)-isolarisiresinol 3a-O-beta-glucopyranoside (1), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-, 9- and 9'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosides (2-4, respectively), (+)-isolarisiresinol 2a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-O-sulfate (6), and 5 and 6 were new compounds.

[Pain management for patients with cancer--current problems in a pain clinic].

One hundred and twenty-three patients with early or advanced cancer who had been referred to our pain clinic were studied retrospectively to investigate current problems with pain management for cancer patients. Pain due to advanced cancer and prolonged post-thoracotomy pain were two major reasons for referral. It was found that 51.

Glutathione S-transferase-pi gene expression and platinum drug exposure in human lung cancer.

We examined the association between the gene expression levels of glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) and platinum drug exposure in human lung cancer. First we monitored GST-pi gene expression levels in two lung cancer cell lines and in peripheral mononuclear cells of ten previously untreated lung cancer patients after platinum drug exposure. Next we examined GST-pi gene expression levels in 40 lung cancer autopsy specimens.

Malignant paraganglioma arising from the posterior mediastinum: a case report and review of the literature.

An unusual case of paraganglioma of posterior mediastinum occurred in a young adult with local recurrence and multiple distant metastasis. Because of its rarity, the determinants of prognosis factor between benign and malignant paraganglioma are uncertain. In this case, we investigated abnormalities of the p53 gene and ras gene mutations in tissues of primary and metastatic lesions.

Glochidionolactones A-F: butenolide glucosides from leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum (GAERTN) A. JUSS.

From the leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum, six new butenolide glucoside, named glochidionolactones A-F, were isolated along with a known related compound, phyllanthurinolactone. The structures of glochidionolactones A-D and F were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic analyses. The absolute stereochemistry of glochidionolactone E was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Prospective analysis of DNA ploidy, proliferative index and epidermal growth factor receptor as prognostic factors for pretreated uterine cancer.

For the purpose of identifying prognostic factors for pretreated uterine cancer, DNA ploidy, proliferative index (P.I.) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression were analyzed in a large prospective series of 76 cervical cancer and 64 endometrial cancer patients observed for 5 years or more (median 76 months).

Expression of drug resistance-related genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and normal mucosa.

We examined the expression levels of mRNA for multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), human canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT), lung resistance-related protein (LRP), topoisomerase IIalpha, beta (Topo IIalpha, beta) and topoisomerase I (Topo I) genes in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) specimens and mucosa (HNM) specimens, to elucidate their roles in relation to the biological characteristics and drug resistance in vivo. Fifty-eight samples (45 head and neck carcinomas and 13 head and neck mucosa) obtained during surgical resection or biopsy from 38 patients were analyzed using the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. MDR1, MRP, LRP, Topo IIalpha, Topo IIbeta, and Topo I gene transcripts were detected in all the samples tested, but cMOAT mRNA was not detected in them.

Increased expression of the MRP5 gene is associated with exposure to platinum drugs in lung cancer.

To investigate the role of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) homologue MRP5 in relation to platinum drug resistance, we examined the steady-state levels of the mRNAs for MRP5 in both lung cancer cell lines and peripheral mononuclear cells (PMN) after exposure to platinum drug and in normal lung and lung cancer tissue specimens. Firstly, we examined MRP5 gene expression levels in 80 autopsy samples (40 primary tumors and 40 corresponding normal lung tissues) from 40 patients who had died from lung cancer. Next, we monitored MRP5 gene expression levels within 24 hr in both lung cancer cell lines incubated with cisplatin and in PMN from 10 previously untreated lung cancer patients after carboplatin administration alone.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression levels in normal lung tissues and non-small cell lung cancers.

One of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms, COX-2, is overexpressed in various human cancers. In this study, we examined the gene expression levels of COX-2 in primary non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), metastatic lymph nodes, and normal lung tissues. The expression levels of the COX-2 gene were assessed by means of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 76 autopsy samples (29 primary NSCLC, 29 corresponding normal lung tissues, and 9 metastatic lymph nodes).

Differential expression of facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) genes in primary lung cancers and their liver metastases.

Glucose uptake is mediated by members of the facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT) family. Malignant cells take up more glucose than their normal counterparts. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression levels of the GLUT family, especially GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT5 in primary lung cancer, metastatic liver tumors, and normal lung tissues, and to compare the expression levels of primary and metastatic tumors with those of normal tissues.

[A case of uterine cervical cancer in which UFT was an effective preoperative treatment].

We report a case in which UFT was effective as a preoperative treatment for stage II b cervical cancer. The patient was a 66-year-old female whose chief complaint was brown vaginal discharge. Following cytological, histological and CT examinations, a diagnosis was made of papillary squamous cell carcinoma invading the vagina and left parametrium.

Lack of CD44 variant 6 expression in advanced extrahepatic bile duct/ampullary carcinoma.

Background: Transmembrane proteins of the CD44 family play roles in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and their aberrant expression has been reported to be associated with the growth and metastasis of various tumors. The authors examined CD44 standard (CD44st) and CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6) expression in extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD)/ampullary carcinoma.

Methods: In 36 EHBD/ampullary carcinomas, immunohistochemical analyses with monoclonal antibodies against the human CD44st protein or CD44v6 protein were performed by the streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method.

Effect of renal denervation on the compensatory renal growth following nephrectomy in the cat.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of denervation on the mass of the remaining kidney with or without unilateral nephrectomy using adult cats. The animals were divided into 4 groups: (1) control group, the weights of the right and left kidneys were measured intact in 5 cats; (2) nephrectomy group (Nx, n = 5 cats), the right kidney was removed and the left kidney was weighed 3-5 d after nephrectomy; (3) nephrectomy and denervation group (Nx+Dx, n = 7 cats), the left kidney was weighed on the 7th day after surgery in which the left kidney was denervated and the right kidney was removed; and (4) denervation group (Dx+Dx, n = 5 cats), both kidneys were weighed on the 7th day after denervation of the kidneys. In the control group, the left and right kidney weights per body weight (LKW and RKW) were the same (LKW, 0.

A collagen network formation effector from leaves of Premna subscandens.

As a part of the search for biologically active plant products, M cells, which form a collagen fiber network in vitro after a prolonged culture period, were used. The n-BuOH-soluble fraction of a methanol extract of leaves of Premna subscandens exhibited promotion of collagen network formation by M cells. Extensive isolation work guided by a bioassay afforded a phenylethanoid, acteoside, as an active compound.

Effect of FC43se on endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats.

Perfluorotributylamine/Pluronic F68 Stem-Emulsion (FC43se), which is a blood substitute, was assessed for its effectiveness on disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the rat model. Rats were infused intravenously with 2.5 mg/kg of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli 055:B5 lipopolysaccharide B) for four hours.

Platanionosides A-C, megastigmane diglycosides from the leaves of Alangium platanifolium.

From the leaves of Alangium platanifolium var. platanifolium collected in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, three megastigmane diglycosides (1-3) were isolated, along with two known compounds, benzyl alcohol 7-O-beta-D-(6'-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)glucopyranoside and Z-hex-3-en-1-ol 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The structures of the new compounds, named platanionosides A (1), B (2), and C (3) were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence to be 3S,5R,6R,9R, 7E-megastigma-3,9-diol 3,9-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3R,9R, 7E-megastigma-5,7-diene-3,9-diol 3,9-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 5R,6S,7E-megastigma-3-on-7-en-9-ol 9-O-beta-D-(6'-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)glucopyranoside, respectively.

Regional hemodynamic responses to exogenous catecholamines and vasoactive peptides in conscious rats.

The vasoactive hormones vasopressin, angiotensin II, adrenaline, and noradrenaline may all be released after central neural stimulation, but our knowledge of their relative actions on regional vascular resistances is incomplete. A comprehensive account of these patterns will help our understanding of their contributions to centrally generated patterns of blood flow. In the present study, regional blood flows and resistances of five major arteries were measured during sequential intravenous infusions of a range of doses of each substance in conscious rats.