Impact of family history of gastric cancer on colorectal neoplasias in young Japanese.

AIM: The aim of this study was to elucidate risk factors for the development of colorectal neoplasia in the young population. In particular, we focused on the family history of gastric cancer. METHOD: Young Japanese subjects aged 30-49 years old who underwent colonoscopy for the first time from August 2007 to August 2008 were included in this study. A total of 300 unselected consecutive patients (mean age 40.5 years) were eligible for analysis, and family history of colorectal cancer and gastric cancer, sex, age, body mass index, positivity of faecal occult blood test and the presence of symptoms were evaluated. Risk factors for developing colorectal adenoma and/or carcinoma were assessed. RESULTS: Colorectal neoplasias were detected in 83 (27.7%) cases. Two were found to have invasive carcinoma. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that family history of gastric cancer (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.12-3.92, P = 0.02) was an independent risk factor for the development of colorectal neoplasia, as well as male sex (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.10-3.27, P = 0.02), older age (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.18-3.55, P = 0.01) and positive faecal occult blood test (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.14-3.48, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In the young population under 50 years of age, a family history of gastric cancer is an independent risk factor for the development of colorectal neoplasia.

Prediction of tumor radiosensitivity in rectal carcinoma based on p53 and Ku70 expression.

The identification of predictive indicators of radiosensitivity is extremely useful in selecting patients suited for preoperative radiotherapy and avoiding unnecessary preoperative treatment. In this study, we evaluated the possible role of the immunohistochemical expression pattern of p53 and Ku70 protein in determining tumor radiosensitivity in rectal cancer before preoperative irradiation. We examined pretreatment biopsy materials from 111 patients by immunohistochemistry. The expression pattern of p53 and Ku70 was evaluated for association with tumor radiosensitivity, which was defined according to the criteria of the Japanese Research Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. There was a significant correlation between the expression pattern of p53 and tumor radiosensitivity (P = 0.045); Ku70 and tumor radiosensitivity (P < 0.001); and the combination of p53 and Ku70, and tumor radiosensitivity (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in both p53 and Ku70-positive cases for radioresistance were all superior to those of the group positive for p53 alone. In conclusion the examination of the combination of p53 and Ku70 may predict the radiosensitivity of rectal cancer before preoperative irradiation.

Effects of exposure to repetitive pulsed magnetic stimulation on cell proliferation and expression of heat shock protein 70 in normal and malignant cells.

This study focused on the effects of repetitive pulsed magnetic stimulation (RPMS) on normal and malignant cells of humans. We used three human cell lines, HBL-100 (human normal breast epithelium), MCF-7 (human breast cancer), and HeLa (human cervical cancer). Cell proliferation at 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C and the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 at 37 degrees C, 40 degrees C, and 42 degrees C, before and after the exposure to RPMS, was investigated. Cell proliferation showed no effects of exposure to RPMS in both normal and malignant cells; however, HSP70 expression was increased by RPMS exposure under thermal stress at 40 degrees C and 42 degrees C in HBL-100 and HeLa. We concluded that RPMS exposure potentiates the effect of thermal stress on both normal and malignant cells, and malignant cells derived from different organs respond differently to RPMS exposure.

Randomized, controlled trial of lateral node dissection vs. nerve-preserving resection in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of preoperative radiation therapy for advanced lower rectal carcinoma to preserve the function of pelvic organs and reduce local recurrences was examined in a prospective, randomized, controlled study. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with a diagnosis of localized and resectable adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum undergoing 50 Gy of preoperative radiotherapy were recruited into the trial between April 1993 and March 1995. The patients were randomly allocated to complete autonomic nerve-preserving surgery without lateral node dissection (D1), or surgery with dissection of the lateral lymph nodes including autonomic nerves (D2) followed by oral administration of carmofur for one year. RESULTS: No difference was observed in either survival or disease-free survival between D1 and D2 groups. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of recurrence rate. A significant difference was observed in urinary and sexual function (P = 0.02 and 0.02, respectively) one year after surgery between D1 and D2 groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that lateral node dissection is not necessary in terms of curability for patients with advanced carcinoma of the lower rectum who undergo preoperative radiotherapy.

Biological and morphological effects on the brain after exposure of rats to a 1439 MHz TDMA field.

We investigated the effects of exposure to a 1439 MHz TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) field, as used in cellular phones, on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), on the morphological changes of the brain, and on body-mass fluctuations. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups of eight rats each. The rats in the EM(+) group, which had their heads arrayed in a circle near the central antenna of an exposure system, were exposed to a 1439 MHz field for one hour a day. The rats in EM(-) group were also in the exposure system, however, without high-frequency electromagnetic wave (HF-EMW) exposure. The animals in the control group were neither placed in the system nor exposed to HF-EMWs. The exposure period was two or four weeks. The energy dose rate peaked at 2 W/kg in the brain; the average over the whole body was 0.25 W/kg. The changes in the permeability of BBB were investigated by Evans blue injection method and by immunostaining of serum albumin. HF-EMWs had no effect on the permeability of BBB. The morphological changes in the cerebellum were investigated by assessing the degeneration of Purkinje cells and the cell concentration in the granular layer. No significant changes were observed in the groups of rats exposed to HF-EMWs for two or four weeks. Averaged body masses were not affected by HF-EMWs exposure. In conclusion, a 1439 MHz TDMA field did not induce observable changes in the permeability of the BBB, morphological changes in the cerebellums, or body mass changes in rats, as evaluated by the conventional methods.