The survival and prognosticators of peritoneal cytology-positive gastric cancer patients who received upfront gastrectomy and subsequent S-1 chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Upfront surgery and subsequent S-1 chemotherapy is frequently selected for peritoneal cytology-positive (CY1) gastric cancer patients without other distant metastases (CY1-only). The objective of this study was to confirm the efficacy of this strategy in clinical practice and to identify the risk factors associated with survival. METHODS: Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were examined in 36 CY1-only patients who underwent macroscopic curative resection followed by postoperative S-1 chemotherapy between January 2000 and June 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The median OS was 22.3 months (95% confidence interval 18.7-31.0). When the OS was compared by a log-rank test, significant differences were observed in the status of lymph node metastasis of pathological N3b (pN3b). Moreover, the univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the status of pN3b was a significant independent risk factor for OS and RFS. The median OS in patients with pathological N0-N3a (pN0-N3a) was 31.0 months, while that in patients with pN3b was 18.2 months (P = 0.002). The median RFS in patients with pN0-N3a was 16.4 months, while that in patients with pN3b was 7.9 months (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the efficacy of postoperative S-1 chemotherapy for CY1-only gastric cancer patients who received upfront surgery. This strategy might be recommended as clinical practice for patients with CY1 disease but a more effective treatment should be established for CY1-positive patients, especially for those who are diagnosed with CY1 and pN3b disease.

[Case of Colon Metastasis from Early Gastric Cancer 4 Years after Laparoscopic Assisted Distal Gastrectomy].

A 69-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer(pathological T1bN1M0)in June 2011was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain in May 2015.A n abdominal CT scan showed ileus caused by a transverse colon tumor and ascending colon perforation.We performed emergency right hemicolectomy and diverting ileostomy.The postoperative pathological findings revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signetring cell carcinoma similar to the gastric cancer resected 4 years ago.Immunohistochemical findings showed that the colon tumor was positive for CK7, but negative for CK20 and expressed a gastric mucin phenotype.From these findings, the colon tumor was diagnosed as a metastasis from early gastric cancer.Colon metastasis from early gastric cancer is rare and the diagnosis is difficult in some cases.We herein report this case and discuss the clinical and pathologic features of colon metastasis from gastric cancer.

Trial using pig cells with the H-D antigen knocked down.

PURPOSE: This report describes an attempt to reduce the expression level of Hanganutziu-Deicher (H-D) antigens by small interfering RNA (siRNA) for pig cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (pCMAH). METHODS: A pig endothelial cell (PEC) line, and PEC and fibroblasts from an α1,3galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT-KO) piglet were used. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the degradation of mRNA by siRNA. The H-D antigen was stained, and then the cells were incubated with human serum for the FACS analysis. The extent of lysis in human serum was next calculated using an LDH assay. RESULTS: Suppression of the mRNA of pCMAH by each siRNA was first determined. The mixture of siRNAs for pCMAH reduced the expressions of the H-D antigen on the PEC and fibroblasts to a considerable extent. The further reduction in the xenoantigenicity for human serum of the GalT-KO cells was then confirmed. In addition, the PEC line showed a significant downregulation in complement-dependent cytotoxicity by the siRNAs, thus indicating that the anti-H-D antigen in human serum is capable of causing lysis of the pig cells. CONCLUSION: pCMAH silencing by siRNA reduced the expression of the H-D antigen and its antigenicity, thus confirming that the H-D antigen is one of the major non-Gal antigens in this situation.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and fused isoxazoline-N-oxides from primary nitro compounds.

The one-step preparation of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicycloisoxazoline-N-oxide was readily achieved from conjugate adducts of nitro alkenes and allylmalonates by treatment with Ag(2)O and iodine under basic conditions. We observed that when a primary alkyl group was present at the ß-position of the nitro group, bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane was preferentially formed, whereas if a secondary alkyl group occupied that position, isoxazoline-N-oxide was predominantly produced. High cis-selectivity was observed for the formation of cyclopentane units for both reactions. An iodomethyl adduct, considered an intermediate of the cyclization, was isolated, and its conversion to isoxazoline-N-oxide was successfully achieved. The isoxazoline-N-oxide underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with alkenes to yield tricycloheterocyclic compounds, which were readily converted to spirolactam in good yield by reductive cleavage of N-O bonds using Raney-Ni. On the other hand, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the isoxazoline-N-oxide to terminal alkynes yielded tricyclic aziridines stereoselectively.

Influence of Cooling Rate on Crystallization Behavior of Semi-Crystalline Polypropylene: Experiments and Mathematical Modeling.

As crystallization behavior has a great effect on the injection molding process, the flash differential scanning calorimetry (FSC) method was employed to study the influence of cooling rate on the crystallization behavior of a semi-crystalline polypropylene (PP). As the experimental results show, crystallization temperatures (onset crystallization temperature and maximum crystallization temperature) and crystallinity decrease as the cooling rate increases. In addition, the corresponding mathematical models were established to describe the relationship between the crystallization temperatures/crystallinity and the cooling rate. A revised Tait equation was also carried out based on the mathematical models.

Survey of glycoantigens in cells from alpha1-3galactosyltransferase knockout pig using a lectin microarray.

BACKGROUND: Glycoantigens represent major obstacles to successful xenotransplantation. Even after the alpha1-3galactosyltransferase (GalT) gene knockout (GalT-KO) pigs were produced, non-Gal antigens continue to be present. This study reports on lectin blot analyses for endothelial cells (EC) and fibroblasts from GalT-KO pigs. METHODS: Differences in glycoantigens that are produced on cell surfaces in humans and pigs were surveyed. Differences between ECs and fibroblasts from wild-type and GalT-KO pigs were also examined. EC and fibroblasts from GalT-KO pigs (heterozygous and homozygous) with N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-III (GnT-III), a wild-type EC from the sibling, human EC lines, HUVEC (human EC from umbilical veins), & HAOEC (human EC from aortas), and human fibroblast line were used. EC and fibroblasts were cultured in gelatin-coated dishes for several days. After sonication and centrifugation, the supernatant protein from each cell was labeled with Cy3, applied to a lectin array and scanned with an SC Profiler, and analyzed using an Array Pro Analyzer. RESULTS: The pig EC showed higher signals in Euonymus Europaeus (EEL) & Griffonia simplicifolia I-B(4) (GSI-B4), binds alpha-Gal, and in Wisteria Floribunda (WFA), Helix pomatia (HPA), Glycine max (SBA), & Griffonia simplicifolia I-A(4) (GSI-A4), binds GalNAc including the Thomsen-Friedenreich precursor (Tn)-antigen, while the human EC showed strong signals in Ulex europaeus I (UEA-I), Maackia amurensis (MAL), Erythrina cristagalli (ECA), & Trichosanthes japonica I (TJA-I) instead. The EC from the GalT-KO pig signals for EEL & GSI-B4 disappeared and those for Bauhinia purpurea alba (BPL), HPA, SBA, & GSI-A4 were greatly diminished as well, while it up-regulated signals for Sambucus Nigra (SNA), Sambucus sieboldiana (SSA), & TJA-I, bind alpha2-6 sialic acid, compared to the wild-type pig EC. Concerning fibroblasts, the signals for HPA, SBA, & GSI-A4 were the most intense in the wild-type, and the intensities for homozygous-KO were less, approaching those of humans. In addition, the order of the intensities, as detected by Arachis hypogaea (PNA) & Maclura pomifera (MPA), binding Galbeta1-2GalNAc, indicates that the Thomsen-Friedenreich (T)-antigen is likely present on pig fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: It is possible that the T-antigen and Tn-antigen related to GalNAc are non-Gal antigens, but, fortunately, not only alpha-Gal but also GalNAc were found to be decreased in the KO-pig.

1/f2 spectra of decoherence noise on 75As nuclear spins in bulk GaAs.

To identify the decoherence origin, frequency spectra using multiple π-pulses have been extensively studied. However, little has been discussed on how to define the spectral intensities from multiple-echo decays and how to incorporate the Hahn-echo T2 in the noise spectra. Here, we show that experiments based on two theories solve these issues. As proved in the previous theory, the spectral intensity is given as the decay in the long-time limit. Unlike the initial process of decays, this definition is not only theoretically proven but also validated experimentally, since long-time behaviors are generally free from experimental artifacts. The other is the fluctuation-dissipation theory, with which the Hahn-echo T2 is utilized as the zero-frequency limit of the noise spectrum and as an answer to the divergent issue on the 1/fn noises. As a result, arsenic nuclear spins are found to exhibit 1/f2 dependences over two orders of magnitude in all the substrates of un-doped, Cr-doped semi-insulating and Si-doped metallic GaAs at 297 K. The 1/f2 dependence indicates that the noise is dominated by a single source with characteristic frequency fcun = 170 ± 10 Hz, fcCr = 210 ± 10 Hz and fcSi = 460 ± 30 Hz. These fc values are explained by a model that the decoherence is caused by the fluctuations of next-nearest-neighboring nuclear spins.

Machine learning-based histological classification that predicts recurrence of peripheral lung squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cancer tissue is composed of both a cancer cell component and a stromal component. The aim of this study was to investigate if the component ratio predicts a prognosis for lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) patients by using a machine learning method. METHODS: A total of 135 peripheral SqCC cases (tumor size: 3-5 cm) were enrolled in this study. The areas of the cancer cell component, the necrotic component, and the stromal component were accurately measured via a machine learning method. Each case was divided into the following three subtypes: 1) predominant cancer cell, 2) predominant necrosis, and 3) predominant stroma. The study examined if a particular subtype had prognostic significance. RESULTS: The number of cases per subtype of predominant cancer cell, predominant necrosis, and predominant stroma was 59, 6, and 70, respectively. Patients with the predominant stroma subtype had a significantly shorter recurrence free survival (RFS) than did those with the predominant cancer cell subtype (5-yr RFS: 42.3 % vs. 84.3 %,p < 0.01). Also, in pathological stage I patients, the 5-year RFS rate for the predominant stroma subtype was significantly shorter (5-yr RFS: 64.3 % vs. 88.4 %, p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis of p-stage I patients, the predominant stroma subtype was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor for RFS (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Using machine learning, the study confirmed that the predominant stroma subtype was an independent factor for RFS, suggesting that the ratio of the stromal component correlates with the malignant potential of SqCC.

Risk factors for severe weight loss at 1 month after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Body weight loss (BWL) is frequently observed in gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The risk factors for severe BWL after gastrectomy remain unclear. METHODS: The present study retrospectively examined patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 2012 and June 2014 at Kanagawa Cancer Center. All patients received perioperative care based on the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. The %BWL value was calculated based on the percentage of body weight at 1 month after surgery in comparison to the preoperative body weight. Severe BWL was defined as %BWL > 10%. The risk factors for severe BWL were determined by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: There were 278 patients examined. The median age of the patients was 68 years. The operative procedures included total gastrectomy [n=97; open (n=61) and laparoscopic {n=36)] and distal gastrectomy (n=181). Surgical complications of grade ≥ 2 (as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification) were observed in 37 patients, these included: pancreatic fistula (n=9), anastomotic leakage (n=5), and abdominal abscess (n=3). There were no cases of surgery-associated mortality. Both univariate and multivariate logistic analyses demonstrated that surgical complications, and total gastrectomy were significant risk factors for severe BWL. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical complications and total gastrectomy were identified as being significant risk factors for severe BWL in the 1st month after gastrectomy. To maintain body weight after gastrectomy, physicians should pay careful attention to patients who undergo total gastrectomy and those who develop surgical complications.

Efficient conversion of polyamides to ω-hydroxyalkanoic acids: a new method for chemical recycling of waste plastics.

An efficient transformation of polyamides to ω-hydroxy alkanoic acids was achieved. Treatment of nylon-12 with supercritical MeOH in the presence of glycolic acid gave methyl ω-hydroxydodecanoate in 85% yield and the alcohol/alkene selectivity in the product was enhanced to up to 9.5:1. The use of (18)O-enriched acetic acid for the reaction successfully introduced an (18)O atom at the alcoholic OH group in the product. This strategy may provide a new and economical solution for the chemical recycling of waste plastics.