A neuronal transmembrane protein LRFN4 induces monocyte/macrophage migration via actin cytoskeleton reorganization.

Leucine-rich repeat and fibronectin type III domain-containing (LRFN) family proteins are thought to be neuronal-specific proteins that play essential roles in neurite outgrowth and synapse formation. Here, we focused on expression and function of LRFN4, the fourth member of the LRFN family, in non-neural tissues. We found that LRFN4 was expressed in a wide variety of cancer and leukemia cell lines. We also found that expression of LRFN4 in the monocytic cell line THP-1 and in primary monocytes was upregulated following macrophage differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that LRFN4 signaling regulated both the transendothelial migration of THP-1 cells and the elongation of THP-1 cells via actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Our data indicate that LRFN4 signaling plays an important role in the migration of monocytes/macrophages.

[Experience of brachytherapy using I-125 seed permanent implants for localized prostate cancer].

PURPOSE: We report here our experience of brachytherapy using I-125 seeds for localized prostate cancer in 100 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out brachytherapy with I-125 seed permanent implants in 100 patients with localized prostate cancer between September 2003 and October 2004. Preplanning dosimetry was done using transrectal ultrasonic images obtained three or four weeks prior to treatment. Using transrectal ultrasound, we inserted I-125 seeds in the prostate through needles according to the preplanning diagram. We then examined the results on prostate CT performed one month later. RESULTS: It was necessary to describe transrectal ultrasonic image such as preplanning. There were several cases in which the source arrangement of the schedule was corrected immediately before the operation. In the examination after one month, the numerical value at the start of treatment initially was not satisfactory, but we eventually obtained a result that could to be evaluated. CONCLUSION: We carried out permanent implant brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer using I-125 seeds and reported our experience.

Afferent loop obstruction with pancreatitis after distal partial gastrectomy with B-II reconstruction added Braun anastomosis for cancer of the stomach.

Afferent loop obstruction after distal gastrectomy is rare. We present a case of a 59-year-old women who underwent distal partial gastrectomy with Billroth-II reconstruction added Braun anastomosis for cancer of the stomach. On the 10th postoperative day, she had high-grade fever and complained of abdominal pain. We diagnosed the afferent loop obstruction by computed tomography scan. Re-operation was performed to decompress the afferent loop. New Braun anastomosis was created, but because the decompression of the biliary tract was insufficient, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed on the 52nd post-operative day. Her clinical course subsequently improved and she was discharged on the 104th postoperative day. This paper describes the details of this unusual condition, and we discuss a review of the literature.

[Radiotherapy for metastatic bone tumor].

There is good evidence that radiotherapy is effective in relieving bone pain due to metastatic tumor. For localized bone pain, external beam treatment will be successful in reducing pain in some 80% of patients. Many prospected randomized trials show single fractions as effective as more prolonged regimens both in terms of incidence and duration of pain relief. For scattered painful metastases, wide-field hemibody irradiation or the systemic administration of radioisotopes is effective.