Osteological Development of the Larvae and Juvenile of Bullhead torrent catfish, Liobagrus obesus.

This study was conducted to investigate the skeletal development of bullhead torrent catfish, Liobagrus obesus larvae and to utilize them as basic data for the taxonomic study of Liobagrus larvae. Skeletal development was observed by being divided into cranium, visceral skeleton, shoulder girdle bone, pelvic girdle bone and vertebra. On the first day after hatching, the pre-larvae had an average total length of 7.92 mm, and a line-shaped parasphenoid ossified in the cranium. In the jaw bone, the dentary supporting the lower jaw and the maxillary supporting the upper jaw were ossified. In the anterior abdominal vertebrae of the vertebra, seven centrums began to ossify and five neural spines ossified simultaneously. On the 3 day after hatching, pre-larvae had an average total length of 8.95 mm, and the prefrontal ossified in cranium. The number of abdominal vertebrae was increased to 14, and three parapophysis developed from the front side. On the 24th day after hatching, post-larvae had an average total length of 15.2 mm and the epural bone ossified in coccyx. The parhypural bone was ossified, and ossification of coccyx and pelvic girdle bone was completed. On the 30th day after hatching, the average total length of the juvenile was 17.8 mm, and the ossification of cranium and visceral skeleton was all completed while the preorbital and three suborbitals were ossified in the orbital region of the cranium.

A phase II trial of docetaxel plus capecitabine in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: A combination of docetaxel (T) and capecitabine (X) showed synergistic effects in preclinical studies and phase III randomized trials of metastatic breast cancer. We conducted this phase II study to examine its efficacy in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: Patient eligibility required advanced NSCLC with measurable lesion(s), at least one prior regimen failure and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2. Treatment consisted of T 36 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8 plus X 1000 mg/m(2) p.o. b.i.d. on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle (level I) or T 30 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8 plus X 625 mg/m(2) p.o. b.i.d. on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle (level II). RESULTS: A total of 35 patients (M/F=24/11) were enrolled; 29 had received one prior regimen and 19 had received platinum-based regimens. Significant non-hematologic toxicities were observed after the treatment given at level I, including one treatment-related death. Subsequently 29 patients were treated at level II. The treatment at level II was well tolerated with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia only in 10%, grade 3 asthenia in 21% and stomatitis in 14% of patients. Four (15%) of 27 evaluable patients had partial response (PR) at level II and eight (30%) had stable disease (SD). CONCLUSIONS: The TX regimen showed modest antitumor effects in patients with previously treated NSCLC. For further studies, we recommend T 30 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8 plus X 625 mg/m(2) p.o. b.i.d. on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle.

A pilot trial of gemcitabine and vinorelbine plus capecitabine in locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a pilot study of gemcitabine, vinorelbine and capecitabine combination to evaluate its toxicity and efficacy in chemo-naive patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after a short phase IB trial. METHODS: Eligible chemo-naive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC received outpatient administration of gemcitabine 900 mg/m2 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks, concurrently with capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 given orally twice a day on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 (dose level I), or days 1 to 6 and 8 to 13 (dose level II). RESULTS: Between November 2002 and December 2003, 19 patients participated in the study at either dose level I (7 patients) or dose level II (12 patients). The maximum tolerated dose, defined as the dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients in a cohort experienced a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in the first cycle, was not established. However, 1 of 7 patients at dose level I, and 2 of 12 at dose level II experienced DLTs (ie, grade 3 hepatotoxicity in 2 patients, and grade 3 febrile neutropenia in 1 patient). In addition, 2 patients experienced treatment-related pneumonitis requiring mechanical ventilator support after the second course of therapy. Objective tumor response was observed in 5 (26.3%) of 19 patients. Further patient accrual was stopped according to the study design. CONCLUSIONS: This 3-drug combination showed disappointing antitumor activity against NSCLC with unexpected life-threatening pulmonary toxicity. No further investigation of this regimen is recommended for patients with NSCLC.