Influence of using history of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for neutropenia caused by combination therapy of ramucirumab and docetaxel.

Recently, pretreatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been shown to enhance the therapeutic effects of the combination therapy of ramucirumab (RAM) and docetaxel (DTX); however, its influence on the drug's side effects remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of pretreatment with ICIs on the incidence of neutropenia caused by RAM + DTX therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC who received RAM + DTX therapy at Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center between April 2016 and December 2020 were enrolled. Retrospective data regarding age, sex, performance status and detailed treatment history, among others, at treatment initiation were collected from the patients' electronic medical records. Additionally, data on the course number of RAM + DTX therapy, supportive therapy and blood biochemical parameters, including leukocyte and neutrocyte counts, during the treatment period were collected. We identified 41 patients receiving RAM + DTX therapy. Among the more than grade 3 adverse events caused by this therapy, neutropenia was the most common (78.1%). Despite the fact that all previous risk factors influencing this incidence rate had corresponded, the only factor influencing the incidence rate of neutropenia more than grade 3 was ICI treatment history. A difference in the incidence of neutropenia more than grade 3 in the Kaplan-Meier curve was observed between patients with and without ICI pretreatment history (p = 0.037). The pretreatment history of ICI therapy affects the incidence of neutropenia caused by RAM + DTX therapy in patients with NSCLC.

Simultaneous assessment of coronary flow reserve and left ventricular function during vasodilator stress evaluated by 13N-ammonia hybrid PET/MRI.

AIM: To explore changes in left ventricular (LV) function and the relationship of these changes with myocardial blood flow (MBF) evaluated by 13N-ammonia hybrid positron-emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during vasodilator stress in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with suspected CAD, who underwent 13N-ammonia PET/MRI, were enrolled. Vasodilator stress was induced by intravenous injection of adenosine. MBF and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were calculated from dynamic acquisition of 13N-ammonia PET. LV function was evaluated by MRI both at rest and during vasodilator stress. An abnormal perfusion on myocardial images was defined as a summed difference score of ≥4. RESULTS: MRI showed that the LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) remained unchanged during vasodilator stress in all patients (n=52) as well as in the patients with CFR of <2 (n=27), stress MBF of <1.3 ml/g/min (n=28), abnormal myocardial perfusion (n=30), and more than one diseased vessel (n=46). In only four patients, the LVEF measured by MRI decreased by >5% during vasodilator stress. In these four patients, CFR was lower (1.57 ± 0.12 versus 2.18 ± 0.86, p<0.01) and the number of diseased vessels was higher (2.75 ± 0.50 versus 1.48 ± 0.92, p<0.01) than in patients without post-stress LV dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The LV volume and systolic function evaluated by cardiac MRI remained unchanged during vasodilator stress; however, LV dysfunction during vasodilator stress may occur in patients with severe CAD.

Retraction notice to "Effect of tetanic stimulation on subsequent train-of-four responses at various levels of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block" [Br J Anaesth 1994; 73: 416-417].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief of British Journal of Anaesthesia. The study is retracted for the following reasons: Y Saitoh provided a statement in a personal communication to a member of the editorial board of British Journal of Anaesthesia that the study was not approved by the Institutional Review Board and that no evidence exists to support the study findings.

Vitamin K3 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation.

Vitamin K is a family of fat-soluble compounds including phylloquinone (vitamin K1), menaquinone (vitamin K2) and menadione (vitamin K3). Recently, it was reported that vitamin K, especially vitamins K1 and K2, exerts a variety of biological effects, and these compounds are expected to be candidates for therapeutic agents against various diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin K3 in in vitro cultured cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments. In human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells, vitamin K3 inhibited the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-evoked translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB into the nucleus, although vitamins K1 and K2 did not. Vitamin K3 also suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and production of TNF-alpha in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the addition of vitamin K3 before and after LPS administration attenuated the severity of lung injury in an animal model of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which occurs in the setting of acute severe illness complicated by systemic inflammation. In the ARDS model, vitamin K3 also suppressed the LPS-induced increase in the serum TNF-alpha level and inhibited the LPS-evoked nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in lung tissue. Despite marked efforts, little therapeutic progress has been made, and the mortality rate of ARDS remains high. Vitamin K3 may be an effective therapeutic strategy against acute lung injury including ARDS.

The inhibitory effects of intravenous administration of rabbit immunoglobulin G on airway inflammation are dependent upon Fcγ receptor IIb on CD11c(+) dendritic cells in a murine model.

Immunoglobulins (Igs) play important immunomodulatory effects on allergic asthma. Among these, IgG has been reported to regulate allergic inflammation in previous studies about immunotherapy and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. In this study, to examine the immunomodulatory mechanisms of IgG and FcRs we evaluated the effects of intravenous (i.v.) rabbit IgG administration (IVIgG) on allergic airway inflammation and lung antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. In OVA-challenged mice, IVIgG attenuated airway eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness and goblet cell hyperplasia and also inhibited the local T helper type (Th) 2 cytokine levels. Additionally, IVIgG attenuated the proliferation of OVA-specific CD4(+) T cells transplanted into OVA-challenged mice. Ex vivo co-culture with OVA-specific CD4(+) cells and lung CD11c(+) APCs from mice with IVIgG revealed the attenuated transcription level of Th2 cytokines, suggesting an inhibitory effect of IVIgG on CD11c(+) APCs to induce Th2 response. Next, to analyse the effects on Fcγ receptor IIb and dendritic cells (DCs), asthmatic features in Fcγ receptor IIb-deficient mice were analysed. IVIgG failed to attenuate airway eosinophilia, airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia. However, the lacking effects of IVIgG on airway eosinophilia in Fcγ receptor IIb deficiency were restored by i.v. transplantation of wild-type bone marrow-derived CD11c(+) DCs. These results demonstrate that IVIgG attenuates asthmatic features and the function of lung CD11c(+) DCs via Fcγ receptor IIb in allergic airway inflammation. Targeting Fc portions of IgG and Fcγ receptor IIb on CD11c(+) DCs in allergic asthma is a promising therapeutic strategy.

Insulin-induced formation of ruffling membranes of KB cells and its correlation with enhancement of amino acid transport.

Insulin induced the formation of ruffling membranes in cultured KB cells (a cell strain derived from human epidermoid carcinoma) within 1-2 min after its addition. The ruffled regions were stained strongly with antibody to actin but not that to tubulin. Pretreatment of KB cells with agents disrupting microfilaments (cytochalasins), but not with those disrupting microtubules (colcemid, nocodazole, and colchicine) completely inhibited the formation of ruffling membranes. Pretreatment of KB cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, but not with dibutyryl cyclic GMP, also inhibited the formation of ruffling membranes. Addition of insulin enhanced Na+-dependent uptake of a system A amino acid (alpha-amino isobutyric acid; AIB) by the cells within 5 min after the addition, and decreased the cyclic AMP content of the cells. Treatments that inhibited insulin-induced formation of ruffling membranes of KB cells also inhibited insulin-induced enhancement of their AIB uptake. From these observations, the mechanism of insulin-induced formation of ruffling membranes and its close correlation with AIB transport are discussed.

DNA cloning of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite gene: amino acid sequence of repetitive epitope.

A clone of complementary DNA encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been isolated by screening an Escherichia coli complementary DNA library with a monoclonal antibody to the CS protein. The DNA sequence of the complementary DNA insert encodes a four-amino acid sequence: proline-asparagine-alanine-asparagine, tandemly repeated 23 times. The CS beta-lactamase fusion protein specifically binds monoclonal antibodies to the CS protein and inhibits the binding of these antibodies to native Plasmodium falciparum CS protein. These findings provide a basis for the development of a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Central nervous system is a sanctuary site for chronic myelogenous leukaemia treated with imatinib mesylate.

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is currently used as the first therapeutic choice against chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). Because IM poorly penetrates the blood-brain barrier, IM-treated CML patients may have a potential risk of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Here we report a case with lymphoid blast crisis isolated only in CNS after bacterial meningitis, although the patient achieved and maintained complete cytogenetic response by IM therapy. It is important to consider isolated CNS blast crisis as a possible event in IM-treated CML patients.

Comparative IgG recognition of tick extracts by sera of experimentally infested bovines.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot were used to investigate the pattern of antibody responses of six bovines infested twelve times with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) (six heavy infestations followed by six light infestations) against salivary gland, gut and larvae extracts. During heavy infestations, bovine IgG levels were shown to be higher, and a decrease in the number and weight of ticks that completed the parasitic cycle was observed. The pattern changed starting from the seventh infestation, showing a decrease in IgG levels. An initial increase followed by a significant decrease in the proportion of ticks that completed the parasitic cycle was also observed from the seventh infestation. The number of molecules recognized by Western blot was higher from sera collected following heavy infestations than after light infestations, although a great variation in the profiles detected could be seen when the bovines were compared. These results indicate that IgG responses to different tick antigens may not be generally associated with bovine resistance, and that infestation levels modulate the magnitude of humoral responses and possibly the immune mechanisms in the natural acquisition of tick resistance.

Altered regulation of c-jun and its involvement in anchorage-independent growth of human lung cancers.

The c-jun oncogene is frequently overexpressed in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), but its functional involvement in lung cancer development has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we found that among the immediate-early serum responsible genes, exemplified by c-jun, c-fos and c-myc, induction of c-jun in a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B, was dependent on anchorage, in contrast to clear induction of c-fos and c-myc under both anchorage-dependent and -independent conditions. In fact, forced expression of c-jun in BEAS-2B cells significantly increased cell viability and colony formation in soft agar. Furthermore, we also found that such anchorage-dependent regulation of c-jun was lost in a significant fraction of human lung cancer cell lines. Interestingly, suppressed anchorage-independent but not anchorage-dependent growth was noted by constitutive expression of a dominant-negative c-jun mutant in a lung cancer cell line showing dysregulated and sustained c-jun expression in the absence of anchorage. These findings suggest that dysregulated c-jun expression may be involved in the acquisition of anchorage independence in the process of human lung carcinogenesis.

Chinese hamster cell mutant resistant to ML236B (Compactin) is defective in endocytosis of low-density lipo-protein.

A fungal metabolite, ML236B (Compactin), isolated from Penicillium citrinum, is a specific inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-coenzyme A reductase (EC 1.1.1.34). Three ML236B-resistant (ML236Br) mutants, MF-1, MF-2, and MF-3, were isolated from V79 after N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. The fluctuation test showed 2.2 X 10(-6) mutants per cell per generation of a spontaneous mutation frequency of ML236Br clones. These ML236Br clones showed a four- to fivefold-higher resistance to the drug than did their parental V79. Radioactive acetate, but not mevalonate, incorporation into the sterol fraction increased about 10-fold in ML236Br clones in comparison with that in V79. The cellular level of HMG-coenzyme A reductase in three ML236Br mutants was found to be a few-fold higher than that of V79 when cultured in the presence of lipoproteins. The 125I-labeled low-density lipoprotein-binding assay showed binding activity in three ML236Br clones comparable to that of the parental V79 cells. By contrast, an internalization assay of 125I-labeled low-density lipoprotein into the cells showed significantly reduced activity in three ML236Br clones in comparison with V79.

Cell death during preoviposition period in Boophilus microplus tick.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is present during the development of multicellular organisms and occurs from embryogenesis to death. In females of Boophilus microplus, the mass of several organs is reduced after the detachment from the host. In order to better characterize the cell death process that eliminates unnecessary tissues, the degeneration of salivary glands, ovaries and synganglia was investigated using DNA fragmentation in agarose gel, comet and TUNEL assays, and apoptosis activation pathway by the caspase assay. DNA fragmentation and enzymatic activity of caspase-3 were observed in salivary glands and ovaries at 48 and 72h after tick removal from the host; in synganglia these parameters were maintained at low levels upon 48h. The results obtained suggest that there is a refined control of tissue maintenance through apoptosis.

NK026680, a novel compound suppressive of dendritic cell function, ameliorates mortality in acute lethal graft-versus-host reaction in mice.

A role for dendritic cells (DCs) has been emphasized in the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We have made efforts to develop a new strategy for suppression of DC functions with a chemical compound in the treatment of acute GVHD. We here describe the immunological characterization of the new chemical compound NK026680. It was found that NK026680 significantly suppressed (1) expression of CD83, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigens on human monocyte-derived DCs, (2) excretion of interleukin-12p40 on activation of monocyte-derived DCs, (3) allogeneic responses of human and mouse T cells and (4) mortality in mice with acute GVHD evoked across MHC class I or II. The beneficial effect of NK026680 administered orally was without any recognizable adverse effects. Early intervention in acute GVHD was required for this effect, indicating that an early event in acute GVHD is a critical target of NK026680. We propose the use of NK026680 as a prophylactic for acute GVHD.

Promotion of 2-(ethylnitrosamino)ethanol-induced renal carcinogenesis in rats by nephrotoxic compounds: positive responses with folic acid, basic lead acetate, and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide but not with 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol phosphate.

The promoting effects of nephrotoxic chemicals, folic acid (FA), N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS), 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol phosphate (Tris-BP), and basic lead acetate (LAB), on 2-(ethylnitrosamino)ethanol (EHEN)-induced renal carcinogenesis were examined in F344 rats. The rats were treated with 0.1% EHEN in their drinking water for 1 week and then given one of the nephrotoxic chemicals for 35 weeks. FA was injected sc once a week at a dose of 300 mg/kg for the first 8 weeks and thereafter at 100 mg/kg. NDPS, Tris-BP, and LAB were mixed in the diet at concentrations of 0.5, 0.01, and 0.1%, respectively. At week 3 the right kidney was removed to enhance renal neoplasia. Renal cell tumor incidence was significantly increased by both FA and LAB and was slightly increased by NDPS, whereas Tris-BP had no effect. The data show that FA, LAB, and NDPS are promoters of EHEN-induced renal carcinogenesis.

Effects of butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and NaCl on gastric carcinogenesis initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in F344 rats.

Promoting activities of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and NaCl and of combinations of these antioxidants with NaCl on gastric carcinogenesis initiated by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine [(MNNG) (CAS: 70-25-7; 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine] were investigated in male inbred F344 rats. Animals, 6-week old, were given an intragastric administration of MNNG at 150 mg/kg body weight by gastric tube and 1 week later were placed on a diet containing BHA (0.5%), BHT (1.0%), NaCl (5.0%), BHA (0.5%) plus NaCl (5%), or BHT (1.0%) plus NaCl (5.0%) for 51 weeks. Control rats received no further treatment after MNNG administration. A single intragastric application of MNNG to rats induced multiple epithelial tumors of the forestomach and a few epithelial tumors of the glandular stomach after 52 weeks. Squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach were seen in 2 of 18 effective rats (11.1%) in the control groups, and the incidences in the groups receiving the subsequent treatment were 45.0% with BHA, 15.8% with BHT, 30% with NaCl, 70% with BHA plus NaCl, and 52.9% with BHT plus NaCl. Differences in the incidences of squamous cell carcinoma between the controls and groups given BHA, BHA plus NaCl, and BHT plus NaCl were statistically significant. NaCl given alone after MNNG administration also significantly increased the incidence of papillomas in the forestomach. Incidences of glandular stomach tumors, adenomas and carcinomas were not affected by any of the subsequent treatments. No tumors of the stomach developed in the groups given BHA, BHT, and NaCl without MNNG pretreatment. Thus the present experiment revealed that BHA and NaCl but not BHT exert promoting activity on MNNG-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in rats and that, when BHA and BHT were given with NaCl, promotion was more marked, suggesting a synergistic effect on tumor promotion.

Histologic and autoradiographic studies on the forestomach of hamsters treated with 2-tert-butylated hydroxyanisole, 3-tert-butylated hydroxyanisole, crude butylated hydroxyanisole, or butylated hydroxytoluene.

The inductions of hyperplasia and neoplastic lesions in the forestomach of Syrian golden hamsters by 2-tert-butylated hydroxyanisole [(2-tert-BHA) CAS: 121-00-6], 3-tert-butylated hydroxyanisole [(3-tert-BHA) CAS: 88-32-4], crude butylated hydroxyanisole [(BHA) CAS: 25013-16-5], and butylated hydroxytoluene [(BHT) CAS: 128-37-0] were compared histopathologically and autoradiographically. In hamsters fed the 2-tert-BHA diet, severe hyperplasia developed from week 4, reaching a maximum level in week 16 of 0.56 cm/10 cm basement membrane (bm), and papillomatous lesions appeared in week 16 (0.13 cm/10 cm bm). In hamsters fed 3-tert-BHA or crude BHA, severe hyperplasia developed from week 1, which reached a maximum level in week 4 of 3.63 cm/10 cm bm with 3-tert-BHA and 5.10 cm/10 with crude BHA; it then decreased. Papillomatous lesions were found in week 3 in hamsters fed 3-tert-BHA and in week 4 in hamsters fed crude BHA; they increased to maximum levels in week 16 of 0.50 cm/10 cm bm with 3-tert-BHA and 0.29 cm/10 cm bm with crude BHA. Mild hyperplasia occurred slightly more often in hamsters fed the BHT diet than in the control group. BHT induced no severe hyperplasia and papillomatous lesions. Changes in the labeling index of the forestomach epithelium paralleled the histologic changes, except in hamsters fed the BHT diet in which no significant increase in the labeling index was observed throughout the experiment. These data suggest that the tumorigenic action of crude BHA on hamster forestomach is largely due to 3-tert-BHA and that BHT does not induce forestomach tumors in hamsters.

Reversibility of catechol-induced rat glandular stomach lesions.

The potential reversibility of glandular stomach lesions induced by the clastogen, catechol, was examined in groups of male F344 rats treated continuously with 0.8% catechol in the diet for 12, 24, 48, 72, or 96 weeks. After a return to basal diet for 84, 72, 48, 24, and 0 weeks, respectively, the animals were killed for histopathological examination. Incidences of submucosal hyperplasia, adenomas and adenocarcinomas, average number of tumors per rat, and the size of tumors in rats treated with catechol for 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 weeks increased time dependently. After cessation of catechol treatment, although average number of tumors per rat slightly decreased, the size of tumors tended to increase. Labeling indices in both tumorous and nontumorous areas decreased after cessation of catechol treatment. The results thus indicate that whereas some submucosal hyperplasias or adenomas may regress, others have the potential to develop into adenomas or adenocarcinomas. However, tumor growth does depend to a certain extent on continued catechol treatment.