Lower body bone fractures have high mortality rates and poor prognosis in the patients with hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the current study was to investigate the association between lower body bone fractures occurring during maintenance hemodialysis and prognosis. METHODS: This study included 151 hemodialysis patients at the dialysis center of our hospital as of December 2017, and data were systematically gathered from medical records over a period of 5 years, concluding in December 2022. RESULTS: Fourteen patients, 3.0 per 100 person-years, in 151 hemodialysis patients suffered from lower body bone fractures. The ratio of males was significantly lower, and age was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Duration of hemodialysis prior to entry into this study was significantly shorter in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Serum albumin was significantly lower and alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group (85.7%) compared to no lower body bone fracture group (28.5%) (p = 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for mortality showed that lower body bone fracture group had poor prognosis compared to no lower body bone fracture group. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for mortality were significantly higher for cases with lower body bone fractures. CONCLUSION: Lower body bone fractures have high mortality rates and poor prognosis in the patients with hemodialysis.

Gastrointestinal bleeding among 151 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure: A 5-year follow-up study.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is one serious complication of patients undergoing hemodialysis with end-stage renal failure. The present study aimed to evaluate risks and clinical features of real-world clinical data on upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing hemodialysis during a 5-year longitudinal observation period. This study included 151 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Takagi Hospital between December 2017 and December 2022. Clinical data from December 2017 were recorded, and upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, mortality, prescribed medications, and bone fractures were examined during the five-year observation period. Of 151 patients, 32 (21.2%:4.2% per year) experienced bleeding, 24 had upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 7 had lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and one had an unknown origin of bleeding. Ulcers or erosions primarily cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding without Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas patients with H pylori eradication are more likely to experience bleeding caused by vascular lesions, often accompanied by underlying comorbidities. The prophylactic effects of proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers were limited in hemodialysis patients, as 15 out of 24 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (62.5%) were prescribed these medications. The mortality rate in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (71.4%) was higher than that in those without bleeding (33.6%) (P < .05). All patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding were prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin. In this study, endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved. The present study indicated that the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding during hemodialysis was relatively high. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may develop even with the prescription of proton pump inhibitors. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was a complication in hemodialysis patients under serious pathological condition with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and or aspirin.

A Retrospective Analysis of Risk Factors for Mortality during Hemodialysis at a General Hospital That Treats Comprehensive Diseases.

Objective We analyzed adverse events retrospectively during a three-year follow-up of patients undergoing hemodialysis at the dialysis center of our general hospital that can treat comprehensive diseases and conducted an exploratory study focusing on the risk factors that determine the prognosis of hemodialysis patients. Methods A total of 132 hemodialysis patients at our dialysis center as of June 2017 were included in the study. Data on event incidence, including death and various clinical indicators, were collected in the electronic medical record for three years until June 2020. Results Between June 2017 and June 2020, 33 of the 132 patients died. The mortality group had a lower body mass index (BMI) and a longer duration of hemodialysis already carried out with more preexisting upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, infections, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and malignancy than the survival group. Furthermore, the mortality group took more warfarin, aspirin, proton pump inhibitors and less H2 blockers than the survival group. Occurrence of upper or lower GI bleeding was similar between the mortality and survival groups. In a univariate analysis for mortality, the odds ratio was significantly higher for a low BMI (<18), long duration of hemodialysis, history of upper GI bleeding, and presence of IHD. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for mortality were significantly higher for cases with a history of upper GI bleeding and BMI <18. Conclusion A history of upper GI bleeding and low BMI may be poor prognostic factors of hemodialysis patients. Careful management of upper GI bleeding and a low BMI are required during the initiation of hemodialysis.

Low Body Mass Index without Malnutrition Is an Independent Risk Factor for Major Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Hemodialysis.

We retrospectively analyzed major cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, heart failure leading to hospitalization, and stroke during a 3-year follow-up of patients with hemodialysis at the dialysis center of our general hospital that can treat comprehensive diseases. Moreover, we conducted an exploratory study that focuses on the risk factor for MACE in patients with hemodialysis.A total of 132 patients with hemodialysis at our dialysis center as of June 2017 were included in the study. Data on event incidence, including death and various clinical indicators, were collected in the electronic medical record for three years until June 2020. Between June 2017 and June 2020, of the 132 patients with hemodialysis, 31 patients experienced MACE (10 cardiovascular deaths, 3 nonfatal myocardial infarction, 11 unplanned revascularizations, 5 heart failure leading to hospitalization, and 2 stroke). The patients with MACE had a lower body mass index (BMI), longer duration of dialysis with more preexisting gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and took more aspirin compared to the MACE-free patients. Malnutrition markers (serum total protein, serum albumin, and serum total cholesterol) were similar in both groups. In a univariate analysis for MACE, the odds ratio was significantly higher for BMI < 18.5, duration of hemodialysis, and history of GI bleeding. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for MACE were significantly higher for BMI < 18.5.In conclusion, BMI < 18.5 without malnutrition may be an independent risk factor for MACE in patients with hemodialysis.

Geographical distribution and adaptive variation of VRN-A3 alleles in worldwide polyploid wheat (Triticum spp.) species collection.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The distribution of early flowering alleles of VRN-A3 was found to be biased to low latitudes, and these alleles may contribute to environmental adaptability to low latitudes in cultivated emmer wheat. In wheat (Triticum spp.), the flowering time is an important trait for successful seed production and yield by adapting to the regional environment. An early flowering allele of VRN-A3 with 7- and 25-bp insertions in the promoter region (Vrn-A3a-h1) has recently been reported from the analysis of an emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccum) accession, TN26. This early flowering allele of VRN-A3 might be associated with the regional adaptation of wheat. In this study, we elucidated its geographic distribution to assess the importance of the early flowering allele of VRN-A3 in worldwide wheat collection. From sequence analysis, we identified six VRN-A3 alleles with the 7- and 25-bp insertions, namely, Vrn-A3a-h2, Vrn-A3a-h3, Vrn-A3a-h4, Vrn-A3a-h5, Vrn-A3a-h6, and Vrn-A3c-h2 from wild emmer wheat, while we identified two VRN-A3 alleles with these insertions, Vrn-A3a-h2 and Vrn-A3c-h1 from cultivated tetraploid and hexaploid wheat species in addition to Vrn-A3a-h1. Among VRN-A3 alleles distributed in cultivated wheat, we found that Vrn-A3a-h2 promoted early heading, whereas Vrn-A3c-h1 did not affect heading time. Our analysis showed that the distribution of early flowering alleles of VRN-A3 dominated in cultivated emmer wheat in Ethiopia and India, which actually showed an early flowering phenotype. This implied that the early flowering alleles of VRN-A3 contribute to adaptability to a low-latitude environment in cultivated emmer wheat. We could not find durum (T. turgidum L. ssp. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum L. ssp. aestivum) accessions with these early flowering alleles. Our findings indicated that Vrn-A3a-h1 and Vrn-A3a-h2 were useful for breeding of early flowering cultivars in durum and bread wheat varieties.

The early flowering trait of an emmer wheat accession (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccum) is associated with the cis-element of the Vrn-A3 locus.

KEY MESSAGE: We identified a novel allele of the Vrn-A3 gene that is associated with an early flowering trait in wheat. This trait is caused by a cis-element GATA box in Vrn-A3. To identify novel flowering genes in wheat, we investigated days from germination to heading (DGH) in tetraploid wheat accessions. We found that the tetraploid variety Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccum (TN26) harbors unknown genes that surpass the earliness effect of the early flowering allele Ppd-A1a harbored by TN28 (T. turgidum L. ssp. turgidum conv. pyramidale). Using recombinant inbred lines resulting from a cross between TN26 and TN28, we performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for DGH. We identified a QTL for earliness in TN26 on chromosome 7AS, the chromosome on which Vrn-A3 is located. By sequence analysis for the Vrn-A3 locus in both TN26 and TN28, we identified a 7-bp insertion that included a cis-element GATA box sequence at the promoter region of the Vrn-A3 locus of TN26. Based on an expression analysis using sister lines for Vrn-A3, we suggest that the early flowering trait of TN26 was caused by the GATA box in Vrn-A3. In addition, we identified tetraploid wheat as a useful genetic resource for wheat breeding.

The parthenocarpic gene Pat-k is generated by a natural mutation of SlAGL6 affecting fruit development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

BACKGROUND: Parthenocarpy is a desired trait in tomato because it can overcome problems with fruit setting under unfavorable environmental conditions. A parthenocarpic tomato cultivar, 'MPK-1', with a parthenocarpic gene, Pat-k, exhibits stable parthenocarpy that produces few seeds. Because 'MPK-1' produces few seeds, seedlings are propagated inefficiently via cuttings. It was reported that Pat-k is located on chromosome 1. However, the gene had not been isolated and the relationship between the parthenocarpy and low seed set in 'MPK-1' remained unclear. In this study, we isolated Pat-k to clarify the relationship between parthenocarpy and low seed set in 'MPK-1'. RESULTS: Using quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for parthenocarpy and seed production, we detected a major QTL for each trait on nearly the same region of the Pat-k locus on chromosome 1. To isolate Pat-k, we performed fine mapping using an F4 population following the cross between a non-parthenocarpic cultivar, 'Micro-Tom' and 'MPK-1'. The results showed that Pat-k was located in the 529 kb interval between two markers, where 60 genes exist. By using data from a whole genome re-sequencing and genome sequence analysis of 'MPK-1', we could identify that the SlAGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (SlAGL6) gene of 'MPK-1' was mutated by a retrotransposon insertion. The transcript level of SlAGL6 was significantly lower in ovaries of 'MPK-1' than a non-parthenocarpic cultivar. From these results, we could conclude that Pat-k is SlAGL6, and its down-regulation in 'MPK-1' causes parthenocarpy and low seed set. In addition, we observed abnormal micropyles only in plants homozygous for the 'MPK-1' allele at the Pat-k/SlAGL6 locus. This result suggests that Pat-k/SlAGL6 is also related to ovule formation and that the low seed set in 'MPK-1' is likely caused by abnormal ovule formation through down-regulation of Pat-k/SlAGL6. CONCLUSIONS: Pat-k is identical to SlAGL6, and its down-regulation causes parthenocarpy and low seed set in 'MPK-1'. Moreover, down-regulation of Pat-k/SlAGL6 could cause abnormal ovule formation, leading to a reduction in the number of seeds.

Hybrid Origins of Citrus Varieties Inferred from DNA Marker Analysis of Nuclear and Organelle Genomes.

Most indigenous citrus varieties are assumed to be natural hybrids, but their parentage has so far been determined in only a few cases because of their wide genetic diversity and the low transferability of DNA markers. Here we infer the parentage of indigenous citrus varieties using simple sequence repeat and indel markers developed from various citrus genome sequence resources. Parentage tests with 122 known hybrids using the selected DNA markers certify their transferability among those hybrids. Identity tests confirm that most variant strains are selected mutants, but we find four types of kunenbo (Citrus nobilis) and three types of tachibana (Citrus tachibana) for which we suggest different origins. Structure analysis with DNA markers that are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium deduce three basic taxa coinciding with the current understanding of citrus ancestors. Genotyping analysis of 101 indigenous citrus varieties with 123 selected DNA markers infers the parentages of 22 indigenous citrus varieties including Satsuma, Temple, and iyo, and single parents of 45 indigenous citrus varieties, including kunenbo, C. ichangensis, and Ichang lemon by allele-sharing and parentage tests. Genotyping analysis of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes using 11 DNA markers classifies their cytoplasmic genotypes into 18 categories and deduces the combination of seed and pollen parents. Likelihood ratio analysis verifies the inferred parentages with significant scores. The reconstructed genealogy identifies 12 types of varieties consisting of Kishu, kunenbo, yuzu, koji, sour orange, dancy, kobeni mikan, sweet orange, tachibana, Cleopatra, willowleaf mandarin, and pummelo, which have played pivotal roles in the occurrence of these indigenous varieties. The inferred parentage of the indigenous varieties confirms their hybrid origins, as found by recent studies.

Comparative Study of Hydrogen- and Deuterium-Induced Degradation of Ferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 Capacitors Using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Measurement.

Ferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 (PLZT) capacitors were fabricated with Pt, Al:ZnO (AZO), or Sn:In2O3 (ITO) top electrodes. Hydrogen- or deuterium-induced degradation was investigated for the three capacitors by annealing in a 3% H2/balance N2 or 3% D2/balance N2 ambient environment at 200 °C and 1 torr. The remnant polarization of all capacitors decreased after annealing in both H2 and D2 ambient after 45 min, and the remnant polarization of the Pt/PLZT/Pt capacitor significantly decreased after 45-min annealing compared with that of the AZO/PLZT/Pt and ITO/PLZT/Pt capacitors, even though the initial remnant polarization for the Pt/PLZT/Pt capacitor was larger. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry showed slight differences in hydrogen content for the three different capacitors after H2 annealing. In contrast, the deuterium content of the Pt/PLZT/Pt and AZO/PLZT/Pt or ITO/PLZT/PT capacitors was significantly different after deuterium annealing. Deuterium depth profiles for the Pt/PLZT/Pt capacitor after annealing showed that deuterium conformally exists in the PLZT layer of the Pt/PLZT/Pt capacitor, and deuterium accumulation under the Pt bottom electrode was also observed. This result suggests that diffusion of deuterium in Pt was much higher than that in PLZT. AZO and ITO top electrodes could act as a hydrogen barrier layer for ferroelectric films.

[Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer].

We evaluated the significance of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in recurrent breast cancer during chemotherapy. IDO activity can be measured by tryptophan (Trp)/kynurenine (Kyn) ratio. Trp and Kyn were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The correlations among age and Trp/Kyn ratio or immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) value in pre-chemotherapies or post-chemotherapies were studied. In under 35-year-old patients, there were no correlations between pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy in IAP values and Trp/Kyn ratio. But in over 36-year-old patients, both Trp/Kyn ratio and IAP value in post-chemotherapy were higher than in pre-chemotherapy. These results suggest that the immunological damages for the patients during chemotherapy may depend on the age of patients.

[Treatment strategy of breast carcinoma in the elderly patient-surgery, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy].

We report an elderly breast carcinoma patient with complication. The patient was a 91-year-old woman who had breast lump. The tumor was 3 cm in diameter. A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to a diagnosis of an invasive ductal carcinoma positive for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, and positive for HER2/neu protein expression. She received tumorectomy. After operation, she was administered aromatase inhibitor. After six months from operation, metastases of lymph nodes and lung were observed. Although she had administered another aromatase inhibitor, the metastases were rapidly growing. Eight months after operation, she died from carcinomatous lymphangitis. Even the less invasive operation by local anesthesia can progress metastases rapidly in elderly breast cancer patients. This case suggested that a treatment strategy for elderly breast cancer patients should have been determined carefully.

[A case of advanced breast cancer with skin ulceration successfully treated with paclitaxel and toremifene therapy].

We report a case of advanced breast cancer with skin ulceration and bleeding (T4bN3bM0, Stage IIIC) achieving a significant improvement of QOL by paclitaxel (PTX) and toremifene (TOR) therapy. The patient was a 31-year-old woman who had ulcerative breast lump with skin ulcer. A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to a diagnosis of an invasive ductal carcinoma positive for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, and negative for HER2/neu protein expression. She received 4 courses of tri-weekly CEF (C: 500 mg, E: 60 mg, F: 500 mg/m2/tri-weekly) and 4 courses of weekly PTX (80 mg/m2) with TOR (120 mg/day). The bleeding from the tumor disappeared after CEF chemotherapy. The response for breast tumor after PTX and TOR therapy was evaluated as partial response, and the infraclavicular, subpectoral, and interpectoral lymph nodes metastasis disappeared. Muscle-preserving radical mastectomy (Bt+Ax: Auchincloss) without skin transplantation were performed. She had no recurrence during one year after operation. PTX and TOR therapy were effective for advanced breast tumor, and can improve patient QOL and the clinical outcomes in Stage IIIC advanced breast cancer.

Molecular identification of 1-Cys peroxiredoxin and anthocyanidin/flavonol 3-O-galactosyltransferase from proanthocyanidin-rich young fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.).

Fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) accumulate large amounts of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in the early stages of development. Astringent (A)-type fruits remain rich in soluble PAs even after they reach full-mature stage, whereas non-astringent (NA)-type fruits lose these compounds before full maturation. As a first step to elucidate the mechanism of PA accumulation in this non-model species, we used suppression subtractive hybridization to identify transcripts accumulating differently in young fruits of A- and NA-type. Interestingly, only a few clones involved in PA biosynthesis were identified in A-NA libraries. Represented by multiple clones were those encoding a novel 1-Cys peroxiredoxin and a new member of family 1 glycosyltransferases. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses confirmed correlation of the amount of PAs and accumulation of transcripts encoding these proteins in young persimmon fruits. Furthermore, the new family 1 glycosyltransferase was produced in Escherichia coli and shown to efficiently catalyze galactosylation at 3-hydroxyl groups of several anthocyanidins and flavonols. These findings suggest a complex mechanism of PA accumulation in persimmon fruits.

[A case of advanced breast cancer successfully treated with paclitaxel and toremifene therapy].

We report a case of advanced breast cancer with skin ulceration and bleeding (T4bN3bM0: Stage IIIC) achieving a significant improvement of QOL by toremifene and paclitaxel therapy. The patient was a 38-year-old woman with slight anemia who had ulcerative breast lump with skin ulcer. A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to a diagnosis of an invasive ductal carcinoma positive for estrogen receptor and progesteron receptor, and negative for HER2/neu protein expression. She received 6 cycles of tri-weekly FEC (C: 500 mg, E: 60 mg, F: 500 mg/m2) and 16 cycles of weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) with toremifene (120 mg/day). The anemia and the bleeding from the tumor disappeared after FEC chemotherapy. The response for breast tumor after paclitaxel and toremifene therapy was evaluated as partial response, and the infraclavicular, subpectoral, and interpectoral lymph nodes metastasis disappeared. Muscle-preserving radical mastectomy (Bt + Ax: Auchincloss) with skin transplantation was performed. She had no recurrence during one year after the operation. Paclitaxel and Toremifene therapy was effective for advanced breast tumor, and can improve a patient QOL and the clinical outcomes in Stage IIIC advanced breast cancer.

[Recurrence of skin and lymph nodes from asynchronous breast cancer successfully treated with paclitaxel and toremifene therapy--a case report].

We report a case of recurrence of skin and lymph nodes from asynchronous breast cancer achieving a significant improvement of QOL by toremifene and paclitaxel therapy. The patient was a 49-year-old woman who received both sides of muscle-preserving radical mastectomy (Bt+Ax: Auchincloss) had a skin redness of her left breast. Aspiration biopsy cytology for the skin led to a diagnosis of Class V. Skin biopsy for the part of the redness was performed. The pathological diagnosis was an invasive ductal carcinoma, negative for estrogen receptor and positive for progesteron receptor, and negative for HER2/neu protein expression. Ultrasonography showed the subpectral and the inflaclavicular lymph nodes swelling and the skin metastasis. Enhancement CT showed no metastasis of brain, lung, liver, and other organs. Although she had already received 6 cycles of tri-weekly FEC (C: 500 mg, E 60 mg, F: 500 mg/m2) after previous operation, we performed 7 cycles of weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) with toremifene (120 mg/day). The response for the lesion of lymph nodes metastasis after paclitaxel and toremifene therapy was evaluated as a complete response. The subpectoral and the inflaclavicular lymph nodes metastasis disappeared. However, the skin redness of her left breast was still remained. She had received a radiation therapy (30 Gy) for skin metastasis. After radiation therapy, we performed a skin biopsy for the part of the redness. The pathological diagnosis was no carcinoma of skin. She had no recurrence during the two years after the treatment. Paclitaxel and toremifene therapy was effective for a recurrent breast tumor and could improve patient's QOL and the clinical outcomes.

[Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy].

We evaluated the significance of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in recurrent breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. IDO activity can be measured by tryptophan (Trp)/kynurenine (Kyn) ratio. Trp and Kyn were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The correlations among Trp/Kyn ratio and immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) value in pre-chemotherapies or post-chemotherapies were studied. There were no correlations between pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy in IAP values and Trp/Kyn ratio with weekly paclitaxel therapy. And there were no correlations between pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy in IAP values, but Trp/Kyn ratio in post-chemotherapy was higher than re-chemotherapy with tri-weekly docetaxel therapy. These results suggest that the weekly paclitaxel therapy may be less invasive for recurrent breast cancer patients than the tri-weekly docetaxel therapy.

Primary hyperparathyroidism with thyroid hemiagenesis.

Thyroid hemiagenesis is a very rare anomaly. We herein report a case with right thyroid lobe agenesis, which was incidentally found during the assessment of primary hyperparathyroidism. A 42-year-old male presenting with urinary lithiasis was suspected of having primary hyperparathyroidism, and had elevated levels of both serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone. Both computed tomography and ultrasonography demonstrated the absence of right thyroid lobe and a mass of 1 cm in diameter at the left lower pole of the thyroid. The patient underwent lower left parathyroidectomy, which confirmed the right thyroid hemiagenesis, as well as the absence of both upper and lower right parathyroid glands. The resected left lower parathyroid gland was pathologically diagnosed as adenoma. The postoperative course was favourable and he was discharged on the 2nd day after surgery, without complications.

[Efficacy of trastuzumab alone therapy was compared to trastuzumab plus taxane therapy in patients of advanced and metastatic breast cancers].

We compared trastuzumab alone therapy (A-group) (n=6) to trastuzumab plus taxane therapy (B-group) (n=12) in patients of advanced and metastatic breast cancers. The response rate of A-group was 33.3%. Six months after, A-group was switched to trastuzumab plus taxane therapy. The response rate of A-group after addition of taxane was improved to 83.3%. The mean duration of response was 6.8 months in A-group after addition of taxane. The response rate of B-group was 83.3%. The mean duration of response was 7.5 months in B-group. The combination therapy of trastuzumab and taxane therapy showed a high response rate. We think that it is possible to start trastuzumab alone therapy because A-group after addition of taxane showed a high response rate. There were no significant differences of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) from the course of chemotherapy in all cases.

[A case of advanced breast cancer successfully treated with multi-disciplinary therapy and S-1 administration].

We report a case of advanced breast cancer (T4b, N3c, M1) achieving a significant improvement on QOL by multi-disciplinary therapy and S-1 administration. The patient was a 59-year-old woman who had ulcerative breast lump with bleeding. A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to a diagnosis of an invasive ductal carcinoma negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/neu protein expression. The aspiration biopsy cytology was performed from skin lesion, the diagnosis was class V. She received 6 cycles of tri-weekly CEF (C: 500 mg, E: 60 mg, F: 500 mg/m2) therapy. The effect of the breast tumor was partial response, and the bleeding from the breast lump was improved. But the response from metastatic skin tumor was less satisfactory. We performed a radiation therapy (20 Gy) to metastatic skin tumor, and the lesion disappeared after the radiation therapy. Then, we tried docetaxel, but the side effect appeared. So, we started administering S-1 after docetaxel. One year later, she was estimated to be in the long stable disease. Multi-disciplinary therapy can improve a patient QOL and the clinical outcomes in Stage IV advanced breast cancer.

[Study of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in patients with breast cancer].

We evaluated the clinical significance of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in breast cancer. Operative specimens obtained from 30 patients with breast cancer were investigated by semiquantitative RT-PCR with specific primers against IDO. The correlations among IDO expression, clinicopathologic factors and prognosis were studied. The expression of IDO was observed in 100%, both of the cancer specimens and the non-cancer specimens. The IDO expression of the cancer specimens was higher than the non-cancer specimens. The expression of IDO did not correlate to histologic classification, tumor size, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion and lymph nodes metastasis, but correlated to clinical stage and the serum level of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP). There were no correlations for a survival rate after surgery between the high IDO level group and the one. The serum IDO levels of cancer patients were higher than that of a healthy volunteer measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR and HPLC. It is suggested that the expression of IDO in breast cancer patients may play a critical role for immunosuppression in those patients.