Synergistic VSV Virotherapy and Carbon Nanotube Photothermal Therapy for Osteosarcoma in Murine Models.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Wide resection is usually performed for malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, but there is often functional impairment of the affected limb. In this study, we performed virotherapy with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and photothermal therapy using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in combination for osteosarcoma, followed by marginal excision. The possibility of local treatment of the primary tumor was then assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LM-8 cells (1×107) were subcutaneously implanted into 5-week-old mice to generate an in vivo osteosarcoma mouse model. Marginectomy was performed. Four groups with six mice each were created: VSV+SWCNTs group, VSV group, SWCNTs group, and an untreated group. Tumor margin resection was performed 2 weeks after tumor cell transplantation. The primary tumor volume, local recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: The combination of VSV virotherapy and CNTs photothermal therapy resulted in shrinkage of the primary tumor and reduced local recurrence after marginectomy. There was no significant difference in distant metastasis or survival rate for all groups. CONCLUSION: Combining virotherapy with VSV and CNTs photothermal therapy is useful for local treatment of osteosarcoma in murine models, possibly allowing for smaller tumor resection margins.

Pyometra and Pyogenic Spondylitis with Suspected Involvement of Diverticulitis of the Sigmoid Colon.

Pyometra is a rare disease in which pus accumulates in the uterus and is typically caused by stenosis of the cervix. Only a few case reports have indicated that diverticular disease causes pyometra. We herein report an 83-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a fever, loss of appetite, general fatigue and back pain. After some inspections, she was diagnosed with pyometra and lumbar pyogenic spondylitis secondary to diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. We performed transvaginal drainage and continued antibiotic administration for about three months. The pyometra and pyogenic spondylitis successfully resolved, and she did not experience any recurrence.

Feasibility study of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the safety, efficacy, and compliance of 1-year treatment with S-1 in patients with stage II/III resectable colorectal cancer. METHODS: S-1 was administered orally in two divided doses daily. The dose was assigned according to body surface area (BSA) as follows: BSA <1.25 m(2), 80 mg/day; BSA ≥1.25 to <1.5 m(2), 100 mg/day; and BSA ≥1.5 m(2), 120 mg/day. S-1 was given for 28 consecutive days, followed by a 14-day rest. The study objects were the rate of completion of treatment as planned at 1 year, the ratio of the actually administered dose to the planned dose at 1 year, and the total number of days of treatment. RESULTS: At 1 year, the rate of completion of treatment as planned was 77.7 % (42/54 patients), and the ratio of the actually administered dose to the planned dose was 82.9 %. The mean and median total numbers of days of treatment were 209 and 252, respectively. Grade 3 or higher toxicity (watery eyes) occurred in only 1 patient. CONCLUSION: S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy had acceptable compliance, safety, and efficacy in patients with colorectal cancer. S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy is considered a possible standard treatment regimen for colorectal cancer.

Effects of tumor necrosis factor α and Interferon γ on the viability and mRNA expression of TNF receptor type I in endothelial cells from the bovine corpus luteum.

The corpus luteum (CL) is mainly composed of luteal steroidogenic cells (LSCs) and luteal endothelial cells (LECs). Cell death of LSCs and LECs is essential for structural luteolysis. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms regulating cell death in both types of luteal cells. We previously reported that a treatment combining tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) and interferon γ (IFNG) induced cell death in LSCs and that LECs express TNF receptor type I (TNFRI). To investigate the mechanism of cell death in LECs, in the present study we determined the effects of the same cytokines on cell viability and TNFRI mRNA expression in cultured LECs. To induce cell death in LECs, LECs were treated with TNF or IFNG (0, 0.05, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 nM) and a combination of TNF (0.5 nM) and IFNG (0.5 nM) for 24 h. The viability of LECs was reduced by a single treatment with TNF or IFNG dose-dependently (P<0.05). Cell viability was further decreased by treatment with a combination of TNF and IFNG (P<0.05). Cells with DNA fragmentation (TUNEL-positive cells) were observed after the treatment with TNF and IFNG. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that treatment with IFNG alone or in combination with TNF increased the expression of TNFRI mRNA compared with the control (P<0.05). In summary, TNF and IFNG increased cell death in cultured bovine LECs. The upregulation of TNFRI mRNA expression by IFNG suggests that TNF and IFNG synergistically affect the death of LECs resulting in acute luteolysis.

Palladium-catalyzed dimerization disilylation of 1,3-butadiene with chlorosilanes.

[reaction: see text] 1,3-Butadiene reacted with chlorosilanes and Grignard reagents at 20 degrees C in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(acac)(2) to give disilylated dimers 2 regioselectively, which have two silyl groups (R(3)Si) at the 3- and 8-positions of a 1,6-octadiene skeleton. When phenyl- or allyl-substituted chlorosilanes were used, coupling product was obtained stereo- as well as regioselectively, giving rise to only (E)-olefins. It is proposed that Pd-ate complexes play important roles in both C-Si bond-forming processes.