Long-term outcomes of patients with oral cavity cancer receiving postoperative radiotherapy after salvage neck dissection for cervical lymph node recurrence.

BACKGROUNDS: We aimed to clarify the outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) after salvage neck dissection for cervical lymph node (LN) recurrence in oral cavity cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), recurrence patterns, and adverse events of 51 patients with high-risk features receiving PORT after salvage neck dissection between 2009 and 2019. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 7.4 years from PORT initiation, the 7-year OS and RFS rates were 66.3% (95% CI: 54.0-81.3) and 54.6% (95% CI: 42.1-70.9), respectively. Age <70 years and isolated LN recurrence were significantly associated with longer OS and RFS. Among the 22 patients who experienced recurrence, 14 experienced recurrence within the radiation field. PORT-related grade 3 acute mucositis (35%) and late adverse events (osteoradionecrosis [4%] and laryngeal stenosis [2%]) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PORT after salvage neck dissection for cervical LN recurrence achieved good survival with acceptable toxicity.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus successful treatment by double balloon-assisted coil embolization for active bleeding from the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery.

We report a case of a 63-year-old man with hemosuccus pancreaticus due to large pseudoaneurysm originating from the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The patient was treated successfully with the double balloon-assisted coil embolization technique combined with proximal and distal balloon inflation in the short segment of the SMA. This technique preserved the pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade and the supply to the distal part of the SMA by embolizing SMA in a short segment.

Influence of low air humidity and low root temperature on water uptake, growth and aquaporin expression in rice plants.

The effects of low air humidity and low root temperature (LRT) on water uptake, growth and aquaporin gene expression were investigated in rice plants. The daily transpiration of the plants grown at low humidity was 1.5- to 2-fold higher than that at high humidity. LRT at 13°C reduced transpiration, and the extent was larger at lower humidity. LRT also reduced total dry matter production and leaf area expansion, and the extent was again larger at lower humidity. These observations suggest that the suppression of plant growth by LRT is associated with water stress due to decreased water uptake ability of the root. On the other hand, the net assimilation rate was not affected by low humidity and LRT, and water use efficiency was larger for LRT. We found that low humidity induced coordinated up-regulation of many PIP and TIP aquaporin genes in both the leaves and the roots. Expression levels of two root-specific aquaporin genes, OsPIP2;4 and OsPIP2;5, were increased significantly after 6 and 13 d of LRT exposure. Taken together, we discuss the possibility that aquaporins are part of an integrated response of this crop to low air humidity and LRT.

Transpiration from shoots triggers diurnal changes in root aquaporin expression.

Root hydraulic conductivity (Lp(r)) and aquaporin amounts change diurnally. Previously, these changes were considered to be spontaneously driven by a circadian rhythm. Here, we evaluated the new hypothesis that diurnal changes could be triggered and enhanced by transpirational demand from shoots. When rice plants were grown under a 12h light/12h dark regime, Lp(r) was low in the dark and high in the light period. Root aquaporin mRNA levels also changed diurnally, but the amplitudes differed among aquaporin isoforms. Aquaporins, such as OsPIP2;1, showed moderate changes, whereas root-specific aquaporins, such as OsPIP2;5, showed temporal and dramatic induction around 2h after light initiation. When darkness was extended for 12h after the usual dark period, no such induction was observed. Furthermore, plants under 100% relative humidity (RH) showed no induction even in the presence of light. These results suggest that transpirational demand triggers a dramatic increase in gene expressions such as OsPIP2;5. Immunocytochemistry showed that OsPIP2;5 accumulated on the proximal end of the endodermis and of the cell surface around xylem. The strong induction by transpirational demand and the polar localization suggest that OsPIP2;5 contributes to fine adjustment of radial water transport in roots to sustain high Lp(r) during the day.

Effect of low root temperature on hydraulic conductivity of rice plants and the possible role of aquaporins.

The role of root temperature T(R) in regulating the water-uptake capability of rice roots and the possible relationship with aquaporins were investigated. The root hydraulic conductivity Lp(r) decreased with decreasing T(R) in a measured temperature range between 10 degrees C and 35 degrees C. A single break point (T(RC) = 15 degrees C) was detected in the Arrhenius plot for steady-state Lp(r). The temperature dependency of Lp(r) represented by activation energy was low (28 kJ mol(-1)) above T(RC), but the value is slightly higher than that for the water viscosity. Addition of an aquaporin inhibitor, HgCl(2), into root medium reduced osmotic exudation by 97% at 25 degrees C, signifying that aquaporins play a major role in regulating water uptake. Below T(RC), Lp(r) declined precipitously with decreasing T(R) (E(a) = 204 kJ mol(-1)). When T(R) is higher than T(RC), the transient time for reaching the steady-state of Lp(r) after the immediate change in T(R) (from 25 degrees C) was estimated as 10 min, while it was prolonged up to 2-3 h when T(R) < T(RC). The Lp(r) was completely recovered to the initial levels when T(R) was returned back to 25 degrees C. Immunoblot analysis using specific antibodies for the major aquaporin members of PIPs and TIPs in rice roots revealed that there were no significant changes in the abundance of aquaporins during 5 h of low temperature treatment. Considering this result and the significant inhibition of water-uptake by the aquaporin inhibitor, we hypothesize that the decrease in Lp(r) when T(R) < T(RC) was regulated by the activity of aquaporins rather than their abundance.