[Successful Treatment of Spontaneous Esophageal Rupture with Empyema by the Open Drainage and Application of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor].

A 77-year-old man vomited after alcohol drinking and was sent to our hospital by an ambulance due to sustained chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed pneumothorax and pleural effusion, and thoracic drainage was performed. Since food residue was found from chest drainage and esophagoscopy and esophagography showed injured potion on the left wall of the lower thoracic esophagus perforating to the left thoracic cavity, a spontaneous esophageal rupture was diagnosed. Establishment of fenestration for open drainage and gastrostomy were performed. After 49 days, the fistula was successfully closed by cleaning of the left thoracic cavity, with application of basic fibroblast growth factor and enteral nutrition through gastrostomy. The fenestration was closed after 53 days and the patient was discharged after 78 days.

[Right Upper Lobectomy for Lung Cancer with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection;Report of a Case].

A 75-year-old woman was pointed out a mass shadow in the right upper lobe by chest computed tomography (CT) 3 month ago. Bronchoscopic examination revealed adenocarcinoma, and right upper lobectomy was performed. Preoperatively, it was revealed that V1+2 returned to the superior vena cava while V3 returned to the normal position. Postoperative course was uneventful and there has been no recurrence 6 months post-surgery.

[Intraphrenic Bronchogenic Cyst;Report of a Case].

Bronchogenic cyst is not a rare disease, but cases of bronchogenic cyst in the diaphragm are rare. We report a case of intraphrenic bronchogenic cyst. A 68-year-old woman was pointed out a 30 mm tumor on the left diaphragm by chest computed tomography (CT) 12 years ago. Because the size of the tumor had been increasing for 12 years, she was hospitalized for surgery. The tumor in the left diaphragm was removed by thoracotomy. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a intraphrenic bronchogenic cyst.

[Multiple Pulmonary Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor].

A 67-year-old man visited hospital because of prolonged cough. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple tumors in bilateral lungs. Transbronchial lung biopsy did not reveal malignancy. Because antibiotic treatment was ineffective, partial resection of the right lung was performed for establishing the diagnosis. The pathological diagnosis was inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. The postoperative course was uneventful. After 6 months postsurgery, he complained of breathing difficulty and exacerbation of the lesions was found by chest CT. By methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the symptom was improved, and the size of lesions reduced. Since this event, he has been administered oral prednisolone (PSL) 10 mg/day, and the exacerbation of the disease has not been noted.

[Anormalous Systemic Arterial Supply to the Basal Segments of the Lung Presented with Chest Back Pain;Report of a Case].

A 58-year-old woman visited our hospital due to left chest back pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed 19 mm nodule in the left lower lobe with the abnormal artery supply from the descending aorta and it was diagnosed as the anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments of the lung. She had undergone partial resection of the left lower lobe by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathology showed the inflammatory change with fibrosis and lymphocites in the nodule, and fungus-like bacterial masses with macrophages and neutrophils. At 7 days after the operation, the patient discharged without any problems. In order to perform less invasive treatment, early surgical intervention should be considered to prevent the spread of inflammation in the thoracic cavity.

[Tracheal Injury Successfully Treated without Surgery;Report of a Case].

A 73-year-old man was injured after crashing his automobile into a concrete wall, and was admitted to our hospital with breathing difficulties. Chest computed tomography showed extensive mediastinal emphysema, right traumatic pneumothorax, and a suspected tracheal injury at the membranous region. Because of the associated tracheomalacia, the site of the tracheal injury was difficult to find by bronchoscopy. In addition, as the patient's respiratory condition was stable, surgical treatment was not chosen. Due to the continuous air leakage from the right lung, the patient underwent surgery after mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema improved. The postoperative course was uneventful.

[Pulmonary Chondroma; Report of a Case].

A 66-year-old man was pointed out a nodular shadow in the right lower lobe by chest computed tomography (CT) 4 years ago. Since the size of the shadow has been increasing for 4 years, he hospitalized for surgery. Partial resection of the right lower lobe was performed. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of cartilage tissue without epithelial components, and was diagnosed as a chondroma. Postoperative course was uneventful and there has been no recurrence at 1 years and 8 months after surgery.

[Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteriosis Appeared at the Surgical Margin of the Lung Cancer Surgery;Report of a Case].

A 70-year-old woman had undergone right S8+9 segmentectomy for stage I A lung cancer. Surgical staplers were used for an intersegmental line. Two years after surgery, routine chest computed tomography(CT) showed a 40-mm mass around the staple line in the right lower lobe, and positron emission tomography (PET) was positive. The mass was suspected to be local recurrence of lung cancer, and she was done additional surgery for resection of the remaining right lower lobe. The pathologic diagnosis was lung nontuberculous mycobacteriosis. It was suggested that nontuberculous mycobacteriosis developed at the atelectasis around the staple line. In addition to local recurrence, the possibility of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis should be considered in cases of pulmonary nodules appearing at the staple line after pulmonary resection.

[Pulmonary Fetal Adenocarcinoma Requiring Differential Diagnosis of Metastatic Lung Tumor;Report of a Case].

Fetal adenocarcinoma is a rare disease. We report a case of fetal adenocarcinoma requiring differential diagnosis of metastatic lung tumor. A 75- year-old woman was pointed out a 8 mm tumor in the right lower lobe by chest computed tomography(CT) 6 month ago. Because the size of the tumor had been increasing for 6 months, she was hospitalized for surgery. Because of the tumor shape, we suspected that the tumor was metastatic lung tumor of hepatocellular carcinoma for which she had undergone hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation. A right lower lobectomy with lymph node dissection was performed and pathological diagnosis was high-grade fetal adenocarcinoma, stage IV.

[Mediastinal Hemangioma Mimicking a Mature Cystic Teratoma;Report of a Case].

A 16-year old young man was referred to our hospital due to abnormal mass of mediastinum on chest radiography. Chest computed tomography scan revealed 45 mm mass in diameter with low density areas and ring shaped calcification at right upper mediastinum. However, chest magnetic resonance imaging showed no existence of fat nor calcification. Although no typical findings was observed, surgical resection was performed because mature cystic teratoma was undeniable. At complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, tumor was found to be in the upper mediastinum covered with mediastinal pleura and with dense fibrous structures around it, and was resected with surrounding fat tissue. Histological diagnosis was hemangioma associated with lymphangiogenesis and arteriovenous malformation-like region in the surrounding fat tissue.

[Perioperative Management of Lung Cancer Patients with atrial fibrillation being treated by antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy].

In an aging society, the high incidence of surgery for the patients with ischemic heart disease(IHD)or atrial fibrillation(Af) under antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy is a great problem. Interruption of antiplatelet or anticoagulant oral agents in the perioperative period may increase the risk of coronary or cerebral events. We retrospectively reviewed the surgical outcomes for lung cancer patients with IHD or Af. We reviewed 135 patients with lung cancer(41~88 years;97 men) who had preoperative oral administration of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs for IHD or Af between 2005 and 2012 at 2 centers, and analyzed retrospectively the perioperative medications and complications. IHD, Af and vasospastic angina(VSA) were complicated in 94, 33 and 8 patients, respectively. Drugeluted and bare-metal stents had been placed in 18 and 19 patients. Oral agents were aspirin in 68 patients, ticlopidine in 10 patients, clopidogrel in 15 patients and warfarin in 25 patients. These agents were stopped 2 to 60 days before surgery. Perioperative heparinization was performed in 22 patients. Oral agents were restarted after confirmation of hemostasis and no need for further invasive treatment. The surgical procedures were lobectomy in 88 patients, segmentectomy in 19 and partial resection in 25. There were no hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications in a perioperative period except 1 case of pulmonary hemorrhage and 1 case of cerebral infarction. No perioperative hospital death was documented. Short-term interruption of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs before lung cancer surgery and heparinization was acceptable from the view of perioperative outcomes.

Mechanism study of copper-mediated one-pot reductive amination of aryl halides using trimethylsilyl azide.

Reaction mechanisms of the copper-mediated amination of aryl halides with trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN3) were analyzed on the basis of the time-course study using reaction monitoring FT-IR, trapping an intermediary aryl azide by the Huisgen reaction, and the analysis of the generated N2 gas during the reaction. This amination would proceed through multiple pathways via aryl radicals and copper(I) azide.

[Plication of diaphragm for eventration of diaphragm caused by megacolon; report of a case].

A 70-year-old woman with severe respiratory distress was admitted to our hospital by ambulance. Chest X-ray revealed marked elevation of left diaphragm and invagination of megacolon. Colectomy was performed to improve the respiratory distress, but continuous mechanical ventilation was necessary after operation due to hypoxia and hypercapnea. Therefore, plication of diaphragm was additionally performed. With 10 rows of nonabsorbable sutures, 6 to 8 pleats were formed. The following day of operation, she was successfully relieved from the ventilator.

Wnt1 overexpression associated with tumor proliferation and a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

The Wnt family genes encode multifunctional signaling glycoproteins that are involved in the regulation of a wide variety of normal and pathological processes including tumorigenesis. In order to clarify the clinical significance of the intratumoral Wnt1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we performed an immunohistochemical study on the Wnt1 expression in NSCLCs in relation to the tumor proliferation. The intratumoral Wnt1 protein expression appeared in a cytoplasmic staining pattern. Of the 151 NSCLCs studied, 61 carcinomas (40.4%) were Wnt1-positive. Regarding the tumor biology of the intratumoral Wnt1 expression, the Ki-67 proliferation index was significantly higher in Wnt1-positive than in Wnt1-negative tumors (P=0.0062). Furthermore, regarding the expression of c-Myc, one of the proliferation-regulating Wnt targets, the percentage of c-Myc-positive tumor cells was significantly higher in Wnt1-positive than in Wnt1-negative tumors (P=0.0019). The Ki-67 proliferation index was significantly higher in c-Myc-positive than in c-Myc-negative tumors (P=0.0239). The overall survival was significantly lower in patients with Wnt1-positive NSCLCs than in patients with Wnt1-negative NSCLCs (P=0.0003). A Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the Wnt1 status was a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC patients (hazard ratio 1.983; P=0.0061). Our results revealed that the Wnt1 overexpression affects the tumor proliferation in NSCLCs, partly via the upregulation of c-Myc.

E2F1 overexpression correlates with thymidylate synthase and survivin gene expressions and tumor proliferation in non small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated the clinical significance of E2F1 gene expression in relation to its target genes, thymidylate synthase (TS) and Survivin, in case of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: One hundred twenty-seven cases of resected NSCLC were analyzed. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR was done to evaluate the gene expression of E2F1, TS, and Survivin. Immunohistochemistry was done to investigate the protein expression of E2F1, TS, and Survivin. The Ki-67 proliferation index and the apoptotic index using the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling method were also evaluated. RESULTS: E2F1 gene expression significantly correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index (r = 0.487; P < 0.0001), although no correlation was observed between E2F1 gene expression and the apoptotic index. With regard to E2F1 target genes, E2F1 gene expression significantly correlated with TS gene expression (r = 0.709; P < 0.0001) and Survivin gene expression (r = 0.403; P < 0.0001). The overall survival rate was significantly lower in patients with high-E2F1 tumors than in those with low-E2F1 tumors (P = 0.0027), especially among patients with stage II to III NSCLCs (P = 0.0188). A Cox regression analysis showed that the E2F1 status was a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC patients (hazard ratio, 2.052; P = 0.0261). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that E2F1 gene expression correlates with TS and Survivin gene expressions and tumor proliferation. During the progression of NSCLC, E2F1 overexpression could produce more aggressive tumors with a high proliferation rate and chemoresistance.

Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy in a patient with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer due to cervical lymph node metastases.

In the American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline, it is mentioned that systemic therapy is a standard treatment, but there is no cure for patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recent technical advances have facilitated the delivery of curative-intent radiation doses to some stage IV patients. In this report, we introduce a long-term disease-free survivor after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and discuss considerations for this treatment. The patient was a 61-year-old woman diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung classified as cT4N3M1c; the M1c classification was because of multiple synchronous pathologically proven cervical lymph node metastases (CLNM). We administered concurrent CRT to all lesions with a dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of carboplatin and pemetrexed. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed with five cycles of carboplatin and pemetrexed followed by three cycles of pemetrexed alone. As of 43 months after CRT, the patient was still alive without disease. In conclusion, our patient with stage IV NSCLC due to CLNM achieved long-term disease-free survival by concurrent CRT as with patients with locally advanced NSCLC. Patient subgroups should be explored to achieve long-term disease-free survival after definitive CRT in patients with stage IV NSCLC due to CLNM.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) correlates with tumor proliferation, and a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloporteinase-7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP family, and it has been reported to play an important role in tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis. We performed a retrospective study on the MMP-7 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) according to the clinical characteristics, biological markers and the Wnt1 expression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-seven postsurgical NSCLC patients were investigated. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the MMP-7 expression, the Ki-67 proliferation index, tumor angiogenesis and the Wnt1 expression. The TUNEL method was performed to investigate tumor apoptosis. RESULTS: Seventy-six carcinomas (51.7%) were MMP-7-positive. The MMP-7 expression was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (P<0.0001). The Ki-67 proliferation index was significantly higher in MMP-7-positvie tumors than in MMP-7-negative tumors (P=0.0003). However, there was no difference in the MMP-7 expression in relation to apoptosis or angiogenesis. Regarding its regulation, the MMP-7 expression significantly correlated with the Wnt1 expression (r=0.426, P<0.0001). The overall survival was significantly lower in patients with MMP-7-positive NSCLCs than in those with MMP-7-negative NSCLCs (P=0.0018). A Cox regression analyses also demonstrated MMP-7 status to be a significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 2.187; P=0.0023). CONCLUSIONS: The overexpression of MMP-7 was associated with tumor proliferation, and a poor prognosis in NSCLCs. In addition, Wnt1 may play a critical role in regulating the intratumoral MMP-7 expression.

Synthesis of complex-type glycans derived from parasitic helminths.

Chemical syntheses of complex-type glycans derived from the eggs of parasitic helminths, Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum were achieved. In addition, their analogs, which lack xylose and/or fucose residue(s), are described. These branched sugar chains were synthesized regio- and stereoselectively by using beta-mannosylation, desilylation under high-pressure and glycosylation in frozen solvent as key transformations.

Customized Adjuvant Chemotherapy Based on Biomarker Examination May Improve Survival of Patients Completely Resected for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer.

AIM: Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is recommended for patients with completely resected stage II (N1) or III (N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal chemotherapy regimen is difficult to predict for individual patients. Our previous prospective study on individualized treatment according to biomarker status, such as excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1), class III ß-tubulin (tubulin), thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1), achieved encouraging results in patients with advanced NSCLC. The present study further examined the effect of biomarker-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2014, 66 patients with localized (stage I-IIIA) NSCLC who underwent R0 operation received 2-4 cycles of platinum doublet adjuvant chemotherapy: Platinum plus docetaxel, platinum plus pemetrexed for adenocarcinoma, and platinum plus tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil combination (TS-1) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were selected according to the registered protocol at each period. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the biomarkers: ERCC1 status for platinum, tubulin for docetaxel, and TYMS for pemetrexed and TS-1. A matched chemotherapy regimen meant that platinum plus docetaxel was administered in patients negative for ERCC1 and negative for tubulin, platinum plus pemetrexed in patients with adenocarcinoma positive for tubulin, negative for ERCC1 and negative for TYMS, and platinum plus TS-1 in those with SCC positive for tubulin, negative for ERCC1 and negative for TYMS. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate was 77.5% considering all 66 patients, and 85.7%, 71.8%, and 78.8% for those with p-stage I, II, and III, respectively. Patients who received a matched chemotherapy regimen (n=13; platinum plus docetaxel in eight, platinum plus pemetrexed in five) had significantly better 5-year survival than patients with unmatched biomarker status (n=53) (100% vs. 71.0%, p=0.0011). CONCLUSION: Customized adjuvant chemotherapy based on biomarker examination significantly improved the survival of patients with NSCLC, regardless of p-stage.

Wnt5a expression is associated with the tumor proliferation and the stromal vascular endothelial growth factor--an expression in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The Wnt gene family encodes the multifunctional signaling glycoproteins. We performed the present study to investigate the clinical significance of Wnt5a expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients with NSCLC who had undergone resection were investigated. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the Wnt5a gene expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the Wnt5a protein expression, the Ki-67 proliferation index, tumor angiogenesis, and the expression of beta-catenin and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). RESULTS: Wnt5a gene expression in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma (P < .0001). There was a significant correlation between the normalized Wnt5a gene expression ratio and the intratumoral Wnt5a protein expression (r = 0.729; P < .0001). The intratumoral Wnt5a expression was significantly correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index (r = 0.708; P < .0001). In contrast, no correlation was observed between the intratumoral Wnt5a expression and tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, the intratumoral Wnt5a expression was significantly correlated with the stromal expression of beta-catenin (r = 0.729; P < .0001) and VEGF-A (r = 0.661; P < .0001). In addition, the stromal VEGF-A expression was also correlated with Ki-67 proliferation (r = 0.627; P < .0001). Cox regression analyses demonstrated Wnt5a status to be a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC patients (P = .0193), especially for patients with squamous cell carcinomas (P = .0491). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that an overexpression of Wnt5a could produce more aggressive NSCLC, especially in squamous cell carcinomas, during tumor progression.