Prognostic factors for survival in cervical cancer patients with bone metastasis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic factors for survival in uterine cervical cancer patients who developed bone metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical cancer patients with bone metastasis who were treated at the present institute from April 1996 to September 2010 were identified from the authors' institutional tumor registries. Primary disease, follow-up, and recurrence data were collected and retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors for survival were performed. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients that developed cervical cancer bone metastasis were included in the authors' database. The median survival time after recurrence was 12 months. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with a disease-free interval (DFI) of ten months or less achieved significantly shorter survival after bone metastasis detection than those with a DFI of 11 months or more (median: 8.5 months versus 17 months, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis also showed that DFI of ten months or less was a significant predictor of short survival (p = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS: The DFI was found to be independent prognostic factors for survival in cervical cancer patients who developed bone metastasis.

Imbalance of angiogenic factors and avascular edematous cystic villi in a trisomy 13 pregnancy: a case report.

The incidence of pre-eclampsia is significantly higher in trisomy 13 pregnancies than in normal pregnancies. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), located on chromosome 13, is an anti-angiogenic molecule derived from the placenta and contributes to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Elevated sFlt-1 and reduced placental growth factor (PlGF) are associated with trisomy 13 pregnancies and may play a pathogenic role in the subsequent development of pre-eclampsia. Here we present a case of a trisomy 13 pregnancy without any signs of pre-eclampsia that showed alterations in circulating angiogenic factors and abnormal placental appearance. The placenta developed edematous changes and contained multiple small cysts. Histology of the placenta confirmed avascular edematous cystic villi and did not show the typical appearance of a partial mole or mesenchymal dysplasia. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in maternal serum (134) was much higher than that in gestational age-matched women who were normotensive (2.9-7.2; mean, 5.0). Immunostaining for Flt-1 and endoglin was more intense in our case compared with gestational age-matched controls, and at a similar level to a case of pre-eclampsia. Placental findings that showed avascular edematous cystic villi in our case may be associated with angiogenic imbalance involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia in trisomy 13 pregnancies.

Maternal arterial stiffness in normotensive pregnant women who subsequently deliver babies that are small for gestational age.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between maternal arterial stiffness and delivery of a baby that is small for gestational age (SGA) in normotensive pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: Pulse wave analyses were performed to assess maternal arterial stiffness at 26-33 weeks of gestation in 40 normotensive women who subsequently delivered SGA babies (SGA group) and 111 normotensive women who delivered babies with normal growth (control group). RESULTS: Central systolic pressure (CSP), augmentation index (AIx) and AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats/min (AIx-75) were significantly higher in the SGA group compared with the control group, but this was not the case for brachial systolic pressure, brachial diastolic pressure or brachial pulse pressure. Birth weight was significantly correlated with CSP (r=-0.26, p<0.01), AIx (r=-0.33, p<0.01) and AIx-75 (r=-0.27, p<0.01), but not with brachial systolic pressure, brachial diastolic pressure or brachial pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: Increased arterial stiffness may be involved, in part, in the pathogenesis of SGA in normotensive women, suggesting an association between fetal growth and maternal endothelial function. Pulse wave analysis may be a clinically applicable method for assessment of maternal arterial stiffness, and may be more relevant to intrauterine fetal growth than conventional brachial blood pressure.

Calcaneal metastasis in uterine cervical cancer: a case report and a review of the literature.

A 64-year-old woman with FIGO Stage IB2 cervical cancer was treated with radical surgery. Six months after her initial surgery, the patient developed calcaneal metastasis. Significant relief in bone pain was achieved with palliative radiotherapy followed by platinum-based combination chemotherapy, and the patient is currently alive with disease at eight months after the development of recurrence. Bone metastasis from uterine cervical cancer is uncommon, especially in the distal appendicular skeleton. Currently, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, calcaneal metastasis derived from cervical cancer has never been reported in English literature. As the prognosis of patients with bone metastasis is dismal and most patients die within a year, treatment should be directed towards improving the patient's quality of life and palliating their symptoms.

Epidemiology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle in Hokkaido, Japan, between September 2001 and December 2006.

Between October 2001 and December 2006 an estimated total of 6 million cattle in Japan were tested for BSE, with 31 returning a positive result. Exploratory mapping, the space-time scan statistic, and ordinal logistic regression have been used to describe the epidemiology of the 24 cases identified in the prefecture of Hokkaido, and to quantify the risk factors for the disease. Two birth cohort groups were affected: cattle born during a period of seven months in 1996, and cattle born between 1999 and 2001. The descriptive spatial analyses showed that eight of the 10 cases born in 1996 were born in areas with a relatively high density of dairy farms in the east of Hokkaido, but that the 14 later cases were more widely distributed throughout the prefecture, with equal numbers of cases in the east and the west. These findings provide indirect evidence of a single localised contamination of the cattle feed supply in 1996, and recycling of the infection after 1999.

Time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconductivity in heavy-fermion PrOs4Sb12 detected by muon-spin relaxation.

We report on muon-spin relaxation measurements of the 4f(2)-based heavy-fermion superconductor filled-skutterudite Pr(Os4Sb12. The results reveal the spontaneous appearance of static internal magnetic fields below the superconducting transition temperature, providing unambiguous evidence for the breaking of time-reversal symmetry in the superconducting state. A discussion is made on which of the spin or orbital component of Cooper pairs carries a nonzero momentum.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human jaw movements.

This study used functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) to examine brain activity during clenching, gum chewing, and tapping tasks. It has been considered difficult to obtain sufficient fMRI data during jaw movement because the head motion associated with the jaw movements creates artifacts on the images. To avoid these artifacts, larger pixels were used, thus allowing some head motion of the subjects, and data from subjects where the heads were evaluated to have moved more than 0.5 mm were discarded. Further, all pixels obtained by fMRI were evaluated and pixels positively synchronized with the task, which were considered to show brain activity, were selected. Sufficient fMRI data was obtained from 30 experiments, 10 sets for each task. During the clenching and tapping tasks, the activated pixels were in the sensory, motor and pre-motor cortexes, and in the sensory and motor cortexes but not in the pre-motor cortex during the gum chewing task. There appears to be no significant differences between right- and left-hemispheres. It is conceivable that there are differences between voluntary jaw movements (clenching and tapping tasks) and mastication (gum chewing task) concerning the control of jaw movements.

Analysis of brain activity during clenching by fMRI.

It has been considered difficult to obtain satisfactory functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) during jaw movements because the head motion during jaw movements makes artefacts on the images. To avoid these artefacts, we chose clenching task and larger pixels to allow some head motion of the subjects. Further the study discarded all data from subjects whom the head was evaluated to move more than 0.3 mm. The study examined 10 healthy right-handed volunteers with echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and functional MR signal intensity changes could be obtained in all subjects. However, in the analysis of each pixel of individuals, three different types of pixels were established. It was determined that the pixels that synchronized positively with the task on/off and where signal intensity increase was below 10% expressed the real brain activity. Pixels showing the real brain activity were found in the sensory, motor and pre-motor cortexes in both hemispheres in all subjects, and also in the insula region of two subjects. No pixels were found in the striatum and supplementary motor areas. From the above careful consideration and individual analysis of each pixel, it was concluded that brain activity during the clenching task could be obtained by fMRI.

Spaciostructural analyses of mandibular and perioral soft tissue movements during mastication.

We considered that elucidation of the movements of perioral soft tissues during mastication would be useful in evaluating masticatory movements. However, evaluation of movements specific to soft tissues is difficult because movements of the surface of the lower face during mastication include movements of the muscles of facial expression and mandibular movements. The aims of this study were to elucidate the influence of mandibular movements on perioral soft tissue movements during mastication using principal component analysis (PCA) and to abstract the component of movement specific to soft tissues in order to evaluate masticatory movements from the movements of perioral soft tissues. The subjects were 10 healthy persons with complete natural dentition. The experimental food used in this study was sufficiently softened chewing gum. The results of this study showed that the movements of mandibular and perioral soft tissue were closely related in the first and third PCs; in other words, the second PC was the component of movement specific to soft tissues. Thus, elucidation of the second PC is useful for evaluation of masticatory movements from movements of perioral soft tissues.

Analyses of muscular activity, energy metabolism, and muscle fiber type composition in a patient with bilateral masseteric hypertrophy.

Hyperwork of the masseter muscles due to habitual parafunction is thought to induce masseteric hypertrophy (so called work hypertrophy). However, the causes underlying this disease are not yet fully understood. Recently, we had a patient with bilateral masseteric hypertrophy, and we performed a partial excision of the masseter muscles. In this patient's case, we examined muscular activity, energy metabolism, and fiber type composition of the masseter muscles using electromyograms (EMG), 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and enzyme-histochemistry. The EMG showed no hyperactivity, and the 31P-MRS showed normal energy spectral patterns and PCr contents of the masseter muscles. The fiber type composition, however, in the muscles in this case was very different from that in muscles with "work hypertrophy" and also that in normal masseter muscles: 1. Loss of type IIB fibers; 2. Increases in type IIA and in type IM & IIC fibers; and 3. Decrease in type I fibers. The findings suggest that this is not a case of work hypertrophy but a case of compensatory hypertrophy possibly due to a lack of high-tetanus-tension type IIB fibers.

Comparison of phosphocreatine concentration in the human masseter and medial pterygoid muscles by 31P-CSI.

The aim of this study is to compare phosphocreatine (PCr) concentrations of human masseter and medial pterygoid muscles by a recently developed localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) method, chemical shift imaging (CSI). The characteristic spectra of phosphorous metabolites including PCr and beta-ATP from the superficial part of the masseter (SM) and the deep part of the masseter (DM) and the medial pterygoid muscles (MPt) from 11 volunteers, 20-27-year-old were obtained. The study clearly demonstrated higher PCr/beta-ATP in the SM and MPt than in the DM both in mean values (P < 0.01) and in individual subjects. The results indicate that SM and MPt are power producers. There were no significant differences in the mean values of the PCr/beta-ATP ratios in SM and MPt, however, the PCr/beta-ATP ratios varied individually and the subjects could be divided into three distinct groups: values of MPt higher than SM (group A, 4 subjects); values of MPt almost equal to SM (group B, 3 subjects); and values of MPt lower than SM (group C, 4 subjects). There appears to be a close relationship between the PCr content as determined in the groups here and occlusal guidance.

Chiral phosphine-free Pd-mediated asymmetric allylation of prochiral enolate with a chiral phase-transfer catalyst.

[reaction: see text]. A chiral phase-transfer catalyst has been applied to the asymmetric allylation of the tert-butyl glycinate-benzophenone Schiff base with various allylic acetates for the first time to give the allylated products in good yields and with comparable to higher enantioselectivity than for asymmetric alkylation at the same temperature (91-96% ee) without any chiral ligands for coordinating to the palladium.

Controlling the direction of kinesin-driven microtubule movements along microlithographic tracks.

Motor proteins are able to move protein filaments in vitro. However, useful work cannot be extracted from the existing in vitro systems because filament motions are in random directions on two-dimensional surfaces. We succeeded in restricting kinesin-driven movements of microtubules along linear tracks by using micrometer-scaled grooves lithographically fabricated on glass surfaces. We also accomplished the extraction of unidirectional movement from the bidirectional movements along the linear tracks by adding arrowhead patterns on the tracks. These "rectifiers" enabled us to construct microminiturized circulators in which populations of microtubules rotated in one direction, and to actively transport microtubules between two pools connected by arrowheaded tracks in the fields of micrometer scales.

Action of the novel antioxidants 4GBE43 and 2BBE43 against lipid peroxidation.

The action and the effect of the newly synthesized compounds 4GBE43 [N-(1,2-diethyltetrahydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-[(2E)-3,7-diethyl-2,6-octadienyl] oxybenzamide] and 2BBE43 [2-(benzyloxy)-N-(1,2-diethyltetrahydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzamide] against lipid peroxidation were studied. 4GBE43 and 2BBE43 quenched the ESR signal of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), suggesting that 4GBE43 and 2BBE43 act as scavengers of free radicals and that each compound quenched 6 free radical molecules. These compounds suppressed the oxidation of methyl linoleate emulsions and soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes by a free radical initiator, suggesting that these compounds quench the lipid peroxyl radical. 4GBE43 and 2BBE43 also suppressed the spontaneous oxidation of rat brain homogenates. The inhibitory effect of 2BBE43 was of the same order of magnitude (IC50) as that of probucol. The IC50 of 4GBE43 was on the same order of magnitude as that of alpha-tocopherol. However, 4GBE43 at 10(-4)-10(-5) M completely inhibited peroxidation, showing it to be more effective than alpha-tocopherol. These results suggest that 4GBE43 and 2BBE43 act as antioxidants by quenching the lipid peroxyl radical.

Formation of metal-encapsulating Si cage clusters.

We report the formation of a series of metal-containing hydrogenated silicon clusters using an ion trap. Mass analyses reveal that many types of transition metal ions M(+) ( M = Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, etc.) react with silane (SiH4) to form dehydrogenated MSi( +)(n) cluster ions ( n = 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, respectively) as an end product, indicating that the metal atom is endohedral and stabilizes the Si polyhedral cage. This finding is confirmed by our ab initio calculation that WSi12 is a W-encapsulating Si12 cage cluster, and is very stable owing to both the electronic and the geometrical shell closures.

Regional differences of metabolism in human masseter muscle by two-dimensional 31P-chemical shift imaging.

Many reports have demonstrated significant region-dependent differences in the fiber-type composition of the human masseter muscle. Therefore, it is considered that there is intramuscular heterogeneity of metabolic activity in the muscle. The present study was carried out, with two-dimensional Chemical Shift Imaging, to detect differences between the deep and superficial parts of the human masseter muscle at rest. Masseter muscle from 11 volunteers, from 20 to 27 years old, was examined, and characteristic spectra of the inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from each part of the muscles were obtained. In this study, the deep and superficial parts of the masseter muscle were distinguished by the existence of aponeurosis. The Pi/PCr, PCr/beta-ATP, and Pi/beta-ATP ratios as well as the pH in the deep and superficial parts were calculated from the peak spectra. Compared with the deep part, the Pi/PCr of the superficial part was lower (p < 0.05) and the PCr/beta-ATP was higher (p < 0.01). The Pi/beta-ATP and pH showed no significant differences between the two parts. The results indicate that the superficial part of the masseter muscle contains more PCr than the deep part, and this may be related to functional differences between these two parts. In future examinations of the metabolic activity of the human masseter muscle, the deep and superficial parts must be measured separately.

Molecular weight independence of the effect of additive hyaluronic acid on the lubricating characteristics in synovial joints with experimental deterioration.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the molecular weight dependence of the lubricating characteristics of additive hyaluronic acid in animal joints with experimental deterioration. DESIGN: An experimental study in rabbits stifles in vitro. BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid is used as a drug for osteoarthritis. However, the molecular weight dependence of the effect of hyaluronic acid has been unclear. METHODS: Using a robotic arm under force-control, frictional coefficients were measured in fourteen rabbit stifles. The experimental conditions examined were: (1) intact joint surfaces; (2) after the joint surfaces were washed with physiological saline; (3) after the addition of 1% hyaluronic acid solution with a molecular weight of one million daltons and two million daltons, respectively. RESULTS: The increased frictional coefficient produced by washing with saline was decreased significantly by the addition of hyaluronic acid to the joint surfaces. This effect was observed regardless of the molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid. CONCLUSION: The lubricating characteristics of hyaluronic acid in synovial joints do not change with molecular weight. RELEVANCE: Hyaluronic acid solution is used clinically for the treatment of osteoarthritis. In the present study, the molecular weight dependency of the lubricating characteristics of hyaluronic acid was tested using the friction in synovial joints.

Analysis of glycosaminoglycans in rabbit cornea after excimer laser keratectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The biochemical basis for the development of subepithelial opacity of the cornea after excimer laser keratectomy has yet to be fully defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) after excimer laser keratectomy. METHODS: Rabbit corneas were harvested on days 5, 10, 20, and 30 after excimer laser photoablation. The amount of main disaccharide units was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, immunohistochemical studies were performed on corneal sections 20 days after the ablation. RESULTS: The concentrations of DeltaDi-0S at 5 and 10 days were significantly lower than before the ablation. DeltaDi-6S showed a significant increase 5 days after the ablation but DeltaDi-4S did not show any significant change. There was a significant increase in DeltaDi-HA at 20 and 30 days after ablation. In immunohistochemistry, the positive staining for DeltaDi-6S and hyaluronic acid was observed in the subepithelial region. These immunohistochemical results were well correlated with the HPLC findings. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in chondroitin-6 sulphate and hyaluronic acid may be related to corneal subepithelial opacity after excimer laser keratectomy.

[Long-term complete response in two cases of liver metastases from rectal and gastric cancer treated with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy of leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil].

Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was performed in two patients with multiple metastases from rectal and gastric cancer. In each patient LV 45 mg was infused as a bolus just before and after 5-FU 1,000 mg/4 hrs administration. Thereafter 5-FU dose was decreased gradually. This regimen was principally repeated weekly on an outpatient basis. In both patients PR was detectable 3 and 4 months after the beginning of chemotherapy, and CR was obtained in 21 and 6 months, respectively. Neither patient showed any signs of recurrence and are in good health 35 and 30 months after initiation of chemotherapy. These findings suggest that our protocol has an excellent anti-tumor effect and improves the QOL in some patients for a long time.

Fluoride profiles in the cementum and root dentine of human permanent anterior teeth extracted from adult residents in a naturally fluoridated and a non-fluoridated area.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of water fluoride concentration on the fluoride profile across the entire thickness of the cementum and root dentine of human permanent anterior teeth in adults. SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight human permanent anterior teeth from individuals aged from 30 to over 60 years were studied. SETTING: Teeth were obtained from a natural high-fluoride area (West Hartle-pool, UK; 1.0-1.3 ppm F in drinking water, WHP) and the other from a non-fluoridated naturally low fluoride area (Leeds, UK; 0.1 ppm F in drinking water, LDS). DESIGN: Cementum and root dentine were sampled using an abrasive micro-sampling technique from the cementum surface to the pulpal surface of root dentine. RESULTS: Fluoride concentration was higher in tooth roots (the cementum and dentine) taken from the naturally fluoridated area (WHP) than from the non-fluoridated area (LDS). Age and average fluoride concentration showed a positive correlation in WHP dentine, middle region of the root (r = 0.78, P < 0.001) and in the apical region of the root (r = 0.61, P < 0.05). WHP cementum had the strongest fluoride concentration correlation with age in the cervical region of the root (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the area (water fluoride content), age and number of years lived in the area combined with total age were significant. CONCLUSIONS: The fluoride content of cementum and root dentine in adult residents is related to fluoride content in drinking water.