A phase II trial of stereotactic body radiotherapy in 4 fractions for patients with localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): To report results from our phase II study of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) delivering 36 Gy in 4 fractions for patients with localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS: We enrolled 55 patients treated with SBRT delivering 36 Gy in 4 fractions between 2015 to 2018. All patients were categorized as low-risk (n = 4), intermediate-risk (n = 31) or high-risk (n = 20) according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria. Median age was 73 years (range 54-86 years). Two-thirds of patients (n = 37) had received androgen-deprivation therapy for 3-46 months (median, 31 months). Median duration of follow-up was 36 months (range 1-54 months). We used Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria version 4 for toxicity assessments. Quality of life (QOL) outcomes were also evaluated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC). RESULTS: Protocol treatments were completed for all patients. Six patients experienced biochemical failures. Among these six patients, three patients experienced clinical failure. One patient showed bone metastasis before biochemical failure. One patient died of gastric cancer. The 3-year biochemical control rate was 89.8%. Acute grade 2 genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were observed in 5 patients (9%) and 6 patients (11%), respectively. No grade 3 or higher acute toxicities were observed. Late grade 2 GU and GI toxicities were observed in 7 patients (13%) and 4 patients (7%), respectively. Late grade 3 GU and GI toxicities were observed in 1 patient (1.8%) each. EPIC scores decreased slightly during the acute phase and recovered within 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Our phase II study showed that SBRT delivering 36 Gy in 4 fractions was safe and effective with favorable QOL outcomes, although this regimen showed slightly more severe toxicities compared to current standards.

Diethyldithiocarbamate enhances production of nitric oxide and TNF-alpha by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat Kupffer cells.

Previous studies have shown that large doses of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) cause liver injury in rats and the pathogenesis of this injury involves, in part, release of superoxide anion by Kupffer cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if DDC was able to stimulate other potentially toxic mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) using isolated rat Kupffer cells. DDC alone did not stimulate the release of NO and TNF-alpha by Kupffer cells. Interestingly, when Kupffer cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), DDC (0-30 microM) enhanced the production of both NO and TNF-alpha in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, we further studied how DDC modulated the response of Kupffer cells to LPS. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that DDC increased the amount of inducible NO synthase and TNF-alpha protein in Kupffer cells after their exposure to LPS. The enhanced effects of DDC on the release of NO and TNF-alpha from Kupffer cells was inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (an inhibitor of transcription factor NF-kappaB activation). By using a specific antibody for NF-kappaBp65, it was found that DDC enhanced the LPS-activated nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. There was no evidence of intracellular oxidative stress following either LPS alone or DDC + LPS exposure. The stimulatory effect of DDC on both NO and TNF-alpha release was inhibited by H-7 (an inhibitor of protein kinase C) but not H-8 (an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase). These findings demonstrate that DDC enhances the production of NO and TNF-alpha by LPS-stimulated Kupffer cells and suggest that protein kinase C plays a critical role in mediating these effects of DDC.

Visualization and quantitative analysis of pulse diagnosis in ayurveda - iind report.

The findings of Nadi Vijnana of 53 asymptomatic adult males were compared with the results of the blood examinations and the radial pulse pressure wave analysis conducted concomitantly. K pulse had elongated fatty pulse wave contour which is opposite to the slime V one, on the other hand, P pulse had the vibratory contour as the basic principles of Ayurveda. K pulse or K/P pulse had the largest inertia resistance. All these results were characterstic circulatory conditions and sympathetic tones for each pulse.

VISUALIZATION AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PULSE DIAGNOSIS IN AYURVEDA - IIIrd REPORT.

The findings of the Nadi Vijnana of 53 asymptotic adult males were compared with the results of the radial pulse pressure wave analysis by Fourier analysis and 1(st) differentiation of the original waves. There are significant differences of height and latency of peaks among some pulse diagnosis findings. The possibility to calculate the Dosa balance and the conditions of Subdosa Dhatu of the body with the analysis of radial pulse waves by machine was suspected.

[Pharmacological properties of buprenorphine, a new analgesic agent. Part II. (author's transl)].

Pharmacological properties of buprenorphine were compared with those of morphine and pentazocine. Buprenorphine scarcely showed any effects on spontaneous EEGs and sleep-wakefulness cycles. Buprenorphine tended to depress the recruiting and augmenting responses and the spindle burst, and it also inhibited the hypothalamic arousal response. Buprenorphine had weaker emetic action than morphine and protected against apomorphine-induced emesis in the same manner as morphine. Buprenorphine scarcely affected respirations, blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow, ECG, cardiac contractile force, cornary flow, and intracranial pressure. However, morphine and pentazocine caused depressed respiration, decreased blood pressure, increased blood flow and cardiac contractile force, and elevated intracranial pressure. Buprenorphine, morphine, and pentazocine did not affect bile secretion, but produced contraction of the sphincter of Oddi. Buprenorphine had very little effect on renal function, but morphine and pentazocine reduced this function to depress urine flow. Buprenorphine and morphine inhibited carrageenin-induced edema. Buprenorphine had no effect on blood histamine level, but morphine increased the concentration of histamine. These results indicate that buprenorphine has little effect on the central nervous system, respiratory and cardiovascular system, and renal function.