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Human adrenomedullin (AM), a hypotensive peptide, also has anti-colitis activity. We prepared a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ylated form of AM through the conjugation of PEG-AM (1&ndash, 15) and AM (15&ndash, 52). Highly pure monomeric 20 kDa PEG-AM (20kPEG-AM) stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in HEK-293 cells stably expressing the type 1 AM receptor in a dose-dependent manner. The half-life of 20kPEG-AM was 7.4 h following subcutaneous administration in mice. We assessed the anti-colitis effect of subcutaneous 20kPEG-AM administration in the dextran sodium sulfate murine colitis model. Single and double subcutaneous injection of 20kPEG-AM significantly reduced total inflammation scores. These results suggest that 20kPEG-AM is a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of human inflammatory bowel diseases.

Reinforcement learning is an area of machine learning that does not require detailed teaching signals by a human, which is expected to be applied to real robots. In its application to real robots, the learning processes are required to be finished in a short learning period of time. A reinforcement learning method of model-free type has fast convergence speeds in the tasks such as Sutton's maze problem that aims to reach the target state in a minimum time. However, these methods are difficult to learn task to keep a stable state as long as possible. In this study, we improve the reward allocation method for the stabilizing control tasks. In stabilizing control tasks, we use the Semi-Markov decision process as an environment model. The validity of our method is demonstrated through simulation for stabilizing control of an inverted pendulum.

Helium plasma irradiation to tungsten leads to the formation of nanostructures on the surface. On the other hand, when the surface temperature is raised without helium irradiation, the nanostructure is annealed out. In this study, the boundary between the formation and annealing of tungsten nanostructures are investigated in the divertor simulator NAGDIS-II. When the helium ion flux to the surface was gradually decreased at the surface temperature of 1300–1600 K, the nanostructure growth was terminated at some point, and the nanostructures started to be annealed out. The helium ion flux threshold that determines the boundary between the growth and the annealing was varied by the irradiation history, and the flux threshold was in the range of 10 21 –10 22 m −2 .

RATIONALE Oculofaciocardiodental syndrome (OFCD) patients who show radiculomegaly are very rare. We treated a new OFCD patient orthodontically, and performed longitudinal observation for 30 years. New findings, termed calcified-dental-papillae (CDPs) beneath open-apices (OAs) of developing radiculomegalies, pulp-stone-like-calcifications (PSLCs) and the process of radiculomegaly development were observed. A novel mutation of BCL-6 interacting corepressor (BCOR) was identified. Cone-beam-computed-tomography (CBCT) images of the radiculomegalies clarified their morphology. PATIENT CONCERNS A female patient and her parents were referred to orthodontic clinic for alignment of the teeth. DIAGNOSIS A CDP that harbored bulbous-round-calcified-tissue in the dental papilla beneath the OA of a developing radiculomegaly was found radiographically. PSLCs were observed in the dental pulp. Genetic analysis revealed a novel mutation c.265G>A on Exon 4 and diagnosed as OFCD. CBCT images confirmed round-calcified-tissue and PSLC and that the length of an affected canine was 38.0 mm and calculated as +14.8SD. These novel findings were not observed in lateral incisors and molars. INTERVENTIONS Observation was performed for 29 years and 3 months including orthodontic treatment for 2 years and 9 months. OUTCOME Longitudinal follow-up for 26 years and 7 months after the treatment revealed that the development of radiculomegaly every few months or years, CDPs beneath OAs and PSLCs were observed. CDPs, PSLCs, and OAs were associated with radiculomegaly. The patient and the affected teeth including aligned teeth showed no particular change after the completion of the radiculomegaly. CBCT images showed bulbous-calcified-tissue and PSLCs in the mature dental pulp associated with radiculomegaly. LESSONS The radiographical findings of CDP, OA and PSLC help early diagnose of OFCD and have importance for initiating orthodontic treatment until radiculomegaly completion.

Background and Objectives Although some investigators recently suggested that MMP-9 may play a critical role in invasion and metastasis, along with MMP-2, in esophageal carcinoma, there has been no direct evidence that MMPs play a critical role in the actual invasion of esophageal carcinoma cells. Here, we investigated the role of MMPs in the in vitro invasion of esophageal carcinoma cell lines (TE-series). Methods Our methods included in vitro invasion assay, gelatin zymography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Four cell lines (but not TE-5) secreted MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the culture medium. Using a quantitative in vitro invasion assay, we found a significant (P = 0.002) correlation between the extent of in vitro invasion and the amount of MMP-9, but not of MMP-2, secreted into the conditioned medium in the four cell lines. In these cell lines, R-94138, a specific MMP-9 inhibitor, inhibited in vitro invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Although TE-5 did not secrete MMP-2 or MMP-9, the cells showed a strong in vitro invasion. Conclusions Our data suggest that most of the esophageal carcinoma cell lines use MMP-9 for in vitro invasion, but others may use proteinase(s) other than MMP-9. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002;81:80–86. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background: Recently, a vertebrate securin [pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) in humans] has been identified that inhibits sister chromatid separation and is involved in malignant transformation and tumorigenesis. Abundance of this protein would disrupt cell division, generate chromosomal instability and thereby increase cell susceptibility to acquisition of further mutations during subsequent division. Esophageal cancer is a disease with poor prognosis with early local invasion and lymph node metastasis. It is important to identify factors that influence the aggressiveness of esophageal cancer. Methods: Expression of PTTG messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 48 esophageal cancer specimens and matched normal esophageal mucosa. The data were analyzed with reference to clinicopathological factors. Results: Tumor tissue expressed a significantly higher level of PTTG1 mRNA than the corresponding normal tissue (P < 0.0001). PTTG1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in tumors with higher pathological stage (IV vs 0-III, P = 0.0442) or more extensive lymph node metastasis (pathological N factor; N4 vs N0-3, P = 0.003). The median survival for patients with high PTTG1 expression (8.5 months) was less than that for patients with low PTTG1 expression (14.0 months, P = 0.039). PTTG1 expression was one of the significant predictors of survival on univariate analysis (hazard ratio 2.225; 95% confidence interval 1.007-4.915). Conclusions: Detection of high PTTG1 expression in surgically excised esophagus tumor tissues might help to identify patients with aggressive disease who require adjuvant therapy and provide prognostic information.

To examine the effects of removing the gastrointestinal signal in MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), investigations were carried out on the combined use of T(1)-shortening intestine-positive contrast medium, FerriSeltz with ferric ammonium citrate as the main component, and high-speed imaging using single-shot fast inversion recovery (SSFIR). The contrast effect was significantly elevated to 10.2 +/- 1.6 after administration, compared with 5.9 +/- 2.4 before administration (P < 0.001). The enhancement effect was also significantly elevated to 13.2 +/- 3.0 after administration, compared with 4.9 +/- 3.1 before administration (P < 0.001). These results were obtained because the null point of FerriSeltz aqueous solution (5.97 mmol/L) was in the range of approximately 180 msec. With the present method, adequate suppression of the signal intensity of the digestive tract was obtained relatively easily with MRCP, and the technique was found to be effective. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:738-743.

気管浸潤陽性の食道癌に対し, 広範囲気管合併切除を伴う喉頭食道全摘術, 後縦隔経路胃管再建術を施行したのち, 大網を用いて縦隔気管孔を造設した1例を経験した. 症例: 58歳の男性. 手術術式: 右第5肋間開胸にて, 胸腔内リンパ節郭清と胸部食道の遊離を行った後, 背臥位とし, 前頸部のU字皮膚切開と連続する第3肋間までの正中切開を行った. 広範囲に前胸部上部の骨性胸壁を除去し, 咽喉頭, 気管, 食道とともに腫瘍を一塊として摘出した. 腹部正中切開にて開腹し, 前大網が付属した胃管を作成して, 後縦隔経路で, 咽頭胃管吻合を行った. 大網にて気管周囲と露出した血管, 吻合部を被覆した. 皮膚は単純閉鎖し, 気管孔は正中皮膚切開部に作成した.この術式は簡便で, 術後の外観の変形も少なく, 優れた縦隔気管孔の再建方法の一つと考えられた.

Purpose: Skeletal scintigraphy, a sensitive diagnostic tool used to detect changes in bone, is helpful for evaluating bone invasion by oral cancer. However, the exact sites of accumulation of 99m Tc-phosphate compounds in the mandible have not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the localization of 99m Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) in the areas of mandible that have been invaded by cancer. Patients and Methods: Seven patients with oral cancer (lower gingiva, 4; tongue, 2; floor of the mouth, 1) who underwent surgical treatment with mandibular bone resection were included in the study. Autoradiography and contact macroradiography were used for evaluation of 99m Tc-MDP accumulation. Results: Radioactivity reflecting accumulation of 99m Tc-MDP was documented encircling the portion of the mandible with cancerous invasion, suggesting that 99m Tc-MDP accumulated in immature bone. High uptake also was found in the periosteal reactive bone around the cortical bone. Conclusions: The amount of increased 99m Tc-MDP circumscribing carcinoma invasion varies among cases. Additionally, uptake may not correspond directly with the amount of the carcinoma invasion; that seen in periosteal bone could be attributed mistakenly to bone invasion in planar scintigraphy.

Various cutaneous flaps have been used to reconstruct intraoral defects created by tumor resection. Transplanted cutaneous flaps clinically show changes such as color changes and scaling. To better understand the biological conditions of reconstructed flaps that survive in the intraoral environment, patients in whom various periods had passed since reconstruction operations were clinically observed, and biopsy specimens taken from their flaps were examined histologically, histochemically and immunohistochemically.Seventeen major flaps, including delto-pectoral flaps, pectoral major myocutaneous flaps and forearm flaps, were used to reconstruct intraoral defects remaining after the resection of oral cancer. Irradiated flaps were excluded. Biopsy specimens were taken from both the mid-portion of each flap and the junction between the flap and the surrounding oral mucosa. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical examinations were performed as follows. A formalin-fixed specimen was dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. Hematoxylineosin, periodic acid-Schiff with and without diastase digestion, and alcian-blue were used to stain the deparaffinized sections of the specimens. The deparaffinized sections also underwent N-(7-dimethylamine-4-methl-3-coumarinyl) maleimide (DACM) staining to examine the distribution patterns of SH groups and SS linkages of cellular proteins in the epidermis. Immunohistochemically, frozen sections were first cut in a cryostat and stained with monoclonal antibodies. Anti-hair keratin monoclonal antibodies (HKN-2, 4, 5, 6, 7), anti-basal cell epithelioma keratin monoclonal antibodies (BKN-1), K92, and RKSE60 were used.The clinical features of cutaneous flaps seemed to depend on their location in the oral cavity rather than the period since operation or the kind of flap. Although the horny layer of the epidermis of the flaps showed thinning histologically, the epidermis showed a normal pattern of SH to SS conversion by DACM staining histochemically, as well as normal keratin expression by keratin staining immunohistochemically. The tongue epithelium adjacent to the flaps often showed flattening. Some specific keratins of the tongue epithelium were still recognized but hard keratin was not. Although cutaneous flaps may be influenced by environmental factors in the oral cavity, the flap tissues seem to retain their original cell differentiation.

Eight strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans isolated from AIDS patients in the Infectious Disease Institute, University of Turin, Italy, were examined for growth and extracellular proteolytic activity in culture with solid and liquid media. All of the strains grew well on Yeast Carbon Base (YCB) agar medium supplemented with both 0.1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.01% (w/v) polypeptone (Pp), and produced a clear proteolytic zone around their colonies, whereas they exhibited less growth and proteolytic activity on YCB medium supplemented with BSA alone. Strain #8 with a strong proteolytic activity was cultured in three different liquid media. Its growth was limited in YCB medium supplemented with 0.1% BSA, but was moderate in that with 0.01% Pp. Enhanced growth was supported by the addition of both BSA and Pp to the YCB medium. The relative value of the final cellular yields obtained with the above YCB-0.1% BSA, YCB-0.01% Pp and YCB-0.1% BSA-0.01% Pp media was approximately 1:10:20. In the culture with YCB medium containing both BSA and Pp, a rapid decrease in the amount of BSA was demonstrated by a spectrophotometric assay and gel electrophoresis of the culture supernatant after the log-to-stationary phase. The proteolytic activity in the culture supernatant became detectable after the log phase when tested with skim milk agarose plates. These results allowed us to conclude that Cr. neoformans var. neoformans is able to secrete protease and to utilize protein as a source of nitrogen.

顎口腔領域における重複癌症例47名に対し Retrospective な検討を加えた。内訳は二重癌35名, 三重癌9名, 四重癌3名であった。重複癌発生部位としては, 62.4%がいわゆる Multicentric zone 内に発生した。顎口腔領域を先発癌とする25例に対し, 先発癌治療後の経過観察の在り方を再検討することを目的に臨床的検討を加えたところ, 経過観察中の自覚症状の発現を契機として後発他領域癌の発見がなされていたものが18例 (72.0%) で, stage III, IVが66.7%と進行癌である傾向が伺われた。顎口腔領域癌治療後の経過観察において長期にわたる高頻度発生領域の定期的精査の必要性を再認識させられた。

顎・口腔領域への転移腫瘍10例について検討し, 以下の結論を得た。転移腫瘍の部位としては下顎骨4例, 上顎骨歯槽部2例, 上顎歯肉1例, 耳下腺1例, 顎下腺1例, 顎下リンパ節1例であり, その組織型は, 腺癌が7例と最も多かった。原発腫瘍の部位としては肺4例, 乳房3例, 胃2例, 直腸1例であった。肺・乳房腫瘍は顎骨へ転移をきたしやすく, 特に肺腫瘍は全身他臓器へ転移を認める前に口腔転移をきたしやすいことが多いことが示唆された。また, 従来の口腔転移腫瘍診断基準に口腔腫瘍の好発部位ではないこと, 組織型が極めて稀であること, コントロール不良の原発腫瘍を有すること, 項目を追加し, 総合診断することが有用であることが示唆された。

Proximal gastrectomy is preferred for early gastric cancer in the upper part of the stomach to preserve the function of the stomach after surgery, 1,2 Gastroesophagostomy is one of the common reconstructional methods for proximal gastrectomy, but without using an antireflux procedure, this method results in a high incidence of reflux esophagitis, 3 Some modified techniques have been reported to avoid these problems. 4-6 We report a new method of gastroesophagostomy using a double stapling technique after proximal gastrectomy. This procedure is simple and safe, and seems to confer functional antireflux mechanism on the newly formed gastroesophageal junction.

The pallor of the skin and oral mucosa that is associated with anemia is thought to be due to a decrease in hemoglobin in the super ficial blood vessels. However, there has been little systematic research on this subject.The authors of this paper used a tissue spectrum analyzer to measure the Lib (indicating hemoglobin concentration) and the Iso2 (indicating saturation). Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between anemia and hemoglobin level in the oral mucosa, using the hemoglobin (Hb) value as the indicator.The following conclusions were reached.1. The areas of the oral mucosa which best correlate with the blood Hb level are the upper labial mucosa, lower labial mucosa, the back of the tongue, the sublingual surface, and the soft palate. The patients with secondary anemia showed reduced Lib levels (i. e. anemia) in all of these areas.2. Measurements of IHb were graded to appear in the following order, from highest to lowest: labial mucosa, tongue, and then soft palate.3. These measurements did not show a definite relationship between the IHb and the is in either patients with secondary anemia or in normal healthy people.4. It was conjectured that patients on dialysis would tend to show a somewhat higher IHb on the back of the tongue than in other areas.5. Sudden changes in blood volume, as in transfusions, surgery, etc., influence the oral mucosal hemodynamics. Reductions in the blood volume of thebody as a whole are accompanied by reductions in the blood volume of the oral mucosa. It was conjectured that the degree of this change in the oral mucosa would increase as the severity of anemia increased.6. Among the five parts of the oral mucosa which were investigated, the back of the tongue showed the lowest correlation with the true state of anemia.7. In order to determine the degree of anemia by hemodynamics of the oral mucosa, it is thought that the four parts (the upper and lower labial mucosas, the lower part of the tongue, and the soft palate) are the most reliable ones to observe.From the above, it was concluded that, in secondary anemia (patients on dialysis, those having blood dyscrasis, a malignant tumor of the oral cavity, etc.), there is a distinct correlation between the tissue hemoglobin concentration (IHb) in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and the true degree of anemia. This could be considered a useful method for clinical diagnosis.

As it is impossible to perform a longitudinal experiment of carcinogenesis of human samples, experimentally induced carcinoma has been used for this purpose. DMBA induced carcinoma on hamster buccal pouch mucosa has been frequently cited for its stability and high induction rate. We have been attending to this aspect of research. This article presents the findings from PAS stained sections on the process of DMBA induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.The PAS-positive granules in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, regarded as glycogen, were consumed by digestion of amylase. There was no difference between the experimental groups painted DMBA for no more than 6 weeks and the control groups which contained very little glycogen. But on the groups painted for more than 8 weeks, papillomas accumulated a large amount of glycogen in the cytoplasm of the spinous cell layer, and carcinomas did a little in the keratinized part. Epithelium with atypia revealed less glycogen than that of the other part of the epithelium. Carcinoma in situ contained extremely less.Concerning on the PAS-basement membrane, that is PAS positive membraneous structure at the epithelium-connective tissue junction, there was no distinct difference between the controls and the up to 6-week-painted groups. In the groups painted more than 8 weeks, papillomas occasionally had thin membranes, and carcinomas were absent or faint.Glycocalyx in the intercellular spaces was clearly observed in the controls and the up to 6-week-painted groups. Papillomas reduced the intercellular cohesion, and carcinomas showed wide intercellular spaces without any glycocalyx. The epithelium with atypia and carcinoma in situ also reduced intercellular cohesion.Although PAS staining on the DMBA induced carcinogenesis could not predict the malignant potentiality of the epithelium, it is clarified that the induced tumors and epithelia with atypia closely resembled human oral carcinomas and precancerous lesions.

It is supposed to be difficult to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in the temporomandibular joint due to the lack of diagnostic criteria for this region. Twenty-seven patients with rheumatoid arthritis accumulated in our department of out patients registration. These include seven initially involved cases on temporomandibular joint, six out of these seven suffered exclusively with the temporomandibular joint and the other is involved initially on the temporomandibular joint as well as the other joints, for example PIP, MCP, wrist joint, etc. Clinical research for rheumatoid arthritis in the temporomandibular joint was subjected to these twenty-seven patients, and the possibility of the diagnostic criteria was discussed.Clinical symptoms and radiographic findings are the most important aspects to diagnose this lesion. Crepitus, slight disturbance of mouth opening, pain on jaw functions, and temporomandibular joint stiffness are common clinical symptoms. Xerostomia and anemic complexion and/or color of gingiva are frequently found as the symptoms in the maxillofacial region except the temporomandibular joint area. On the radiographic findings of the temporomandibular joint, resorption on condylar head, fossa, and tubercle as well as faint and narrowed joint space are specific to this lesion. Heat accumulation on the temporomandibular joint area of bone scintigraphy are always recognized. As the referable items to this lesion, seropositive reaction of RF, high content of Gam.rnar Globulin, Ig-G, TTT, ZTT, CRP, and acceleration of BSG are generally found in rheumatoid arthritis. Swelling, pain, stiffness, deformity, and abnormalities on radiographic films of the other joints are also helpful to diagnose this lesion. Miscellaneously, predominanly adult women would visit our clinics with complaints related to the temporomandibular joint, i.e. pain in this region, and with xerostomia. The premonitory symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis could be also experienced with the initial involvement in the temporomandibular joint.This research succeeded to throw light upon the diagnostic items for rheumatoid arthritis in the temporomandibular joint. In the next step we are going to establish d. diagnostic criteria for this lesion, increasing the cases and calculating sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of these items.

We present a case of a relatively large epulis osteoplastica (epulis osteomatosa), suspected of being a malignant tumor on initial examination, in the mandibular molar region.The patient was a 26-year-old man with a painless mass in his left mandibular gingiva. He had first noticed the mass more than 10 years previously. On initial examination, an eggsized mass was found in the left lower molar region, and x-ray examination revealed calcification in the form of a radiopaque shadow. Various examinations, including biopsy, revealed no evidence of malignancy, and the mass was resected under general anesthesia. The lesion measured 65×50×45mm. Histopathologic examination revealed fairly calcified, chondroid tissue and irregular bone tissue in the mass, and lamination was found at its base. On the basis of these three findings, a diagnosis of epulis osteoplastica (epulis osteomatosa) was made.

In some patients who already have advanced esophageal cancer at the time of presentation, symptoms like the inability to eat, and complications such as bronchoesophageal fistula are so debilitating that palliative resection may be beneficial. However, resection of the esophagus is associated with significant risk, and whether this operation should be performed for palliation remains controversial. Because few reports have been published on this subject, we retrospectively analyzed 24 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent palliative resection.Esophageal resection was performed with palliative intent in 12 patients and with curative intent in another 12 who were left with residual cancer.There was no operative death. All of the ten patients who had been unable to eat preoperatively were able to eat after the operation, and four patients with a life-threatening bronchoesophageal fistula were free of symptoms after the operation. Two patients died in hospital during the postoperative chemotherapy but the other 22 were discharged. The mean survival period was 264 days.With improved postoperative care, the risk of palliative esophageal resection is no longer considered unacceptable.

Background and Objectives Telomerase has been suggested as being necessary for continued cell growth and progression of cancer. Esophageal cancer and matched normal esophageal tissue from 54 patients were analyzed for telomerase activity, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression, and their correlation with clinicopathological factors. Methods Telomeric repeat amplification protocol was used for detection of telomerase activity and real time quantitative RT-PCR was used for hTERT mRNA. An esophageal carcinoma cell line was used to study the effect of chemotherapeutic agent on telomerase. Results Telomerase activity was detectable in 79.6% of the tumor and 59.3% of the normal esophageal tissue. The level of telomerase activity in the tumor was significantly higher than that in the normal tissue. A significantly higher telomerase activity was observed in tumors with extensive blood vessel invasion. A significantly lower telomerase activity was observed in tumors that showed good response to preoperative chemotherapy than those with poor response. TE-9 cells exposed to 5-FU showed a diminished telomerase activity preceded by a time-dependent decrease in the mRNA expression of hTERT. Conclusions Telomerase activity was high in esophageal cancer tissue and showed positive correlation with blood vessel invasion. Chemotherapeutic agents may down-regulate telomerase activity. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002;79:37–45. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A case of bilateral condlar neck fractures caused by indirect impact from the mental region in a 4-year-old boy is reported. The patient was hospitalized immediately after sustaining injury. On the third hospital day, manipulative reduction and intermaxillary fixation were performed under general anesthesia. Postoperative radiography revealed poor reduction of the right condyle, although the left condyle was favorably positioned. Intermaxillary fixation was done for a days without any postoperative complications. Both occlusion and mandibular motility during mouth opening were good by the 13 th hospital day. The patient has been followed up by physical and radiographic examinations for more than 3 years. The deviated right condyle was found to be correctly positioned within the glenoid fossa 16 months postoperatively. The upright position of the condylar neck was enabled by repositioning and osteo-remodelling.

Survivin, a new member of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family, has been reported to be expressed in many cancers but not in differentiated normal tissue. Its expression in esophageal cancer, however, has not been reported. We investigated 51 esophageal cancers and their adjacent normal epithelial tissues for mRNA expression of survivin by RT-PCR. The survivin expression in esophageal cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissue (0.211 ± 0.226 vs. 0.057 ± 0.135, p < 0.0001). pN4 tumors had significantly higher survivin expression than the pN0-3 tumors (p = 0.0093). Fourteen patients with advanced esophageal cancer had received chemotherapy prior to surgery. The survivin expression in the cancer tissue in patients who achieved a partial response (PR) was significantly lower than that in patients with no change (NC) and in patients with progressive disease (PD; 0.099 ± 0.134 vs. 0.320 ± 0.222, p = 0.0434). The median survival for patients with high survivin expression (9.0 months) was less than that for patients with low survivin group expression (30.0 months, p = 0.0023). Survivin expression was one of the significant predictors of survival on univariate analysis (hazard ratio 2.471; 95% confidence interval 1.104-5.533). The results suggest that survivin expression may provide prognostic information in patients with esophageal cancer. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The transition of concentrations of FT-207 and 5-FU in the tumors as well as blood, along the process of time after administration of UFT, was studied from 32 cases of head and neck cancer patients. Comparing the initial administered group to the continual administered group on the blood concentration, and comparing also the irradiated group to the non-irradiated group on the tumoral concentration, the following conclusions are drawn.1. On the blood concentrations, FT-207 showed the highest at 2-hours' measure and gradual decline, however, 5-FU reached its peak within 1 hour and then fell rapidly.2. Concentrations of the continually administered group were higher than those of the initially administered group.3. On the tumoral concentrations, measurement at 6-hours was the highest not only FT-207, but 5-FU, and remains high for at least 10-hours.4. Concentrations of the irradiated group were higher than those of the non-irradiated group.5. On the comparison between the blood and the tumoral concentration, FT-207 of the former was almost half that of the latter upon measurement, i.e. at 6-hours, between the irradiated group and the continually administered group. On the other hand, the T/B value of 5-FU was almost 26 between the same groups.6. From the cases which both the concentrations of the blood and the tumors were simultaneously counted, these conclusions were confirmed. Moreover, the same tendencies were shown in the tumor of the neck lymphnode metastasis, and there were slight differences among the locations in one tumor.Thereafter, UFT provided good safety and left a high tumoral concentration, especially 5-FU, over a long period of time. As the continual administration of 400 mg/day of UFT, divided into two a day, associated with radiation therapy should be a most valuable therapy, the good clinical results may be expected.

Clinical course of a case of malignant melanoma of the uvula is presented. The tumor was classified as stage 11 (UICC, 1978).The primary tumor was treated with intra-tumoral BCG vaccine which was effective on the injected area. On the other hand, this local BCG immunotherapy could not prevent systemic metastases retrospectively. Granulomatous hepatitis was complicated by this BCG therapy.

To introduce radiofrequency hyperthermia delivered through HEH 500 C (13.56 MHz) on head and neck tumors, especially on oral cancer, an experimental study has been made as to the effect of RF waves on metals and mandibular bone in the phantom circumference. As a result, it was found that heated hot spots around both distal edges of metal were recognized in thermal video image when any metal was placed in a vertical situation, but there was only a little effect when the metal is placed in parallel between applicators.When dry mandibular bone was placed between applicators, almost same temperatures were measured at both internal and external sites of the bone in phantom.These, results show that radiofrequency hyperthermia will be able to make suitable heat even metals and bone exist between applicators.On a clinical trial, a case of non-measurable residual carcinoma of the floor of the mouth underwent 6 sessions of hyperthermia combined with irradiation as 4 preoperative treatment. The mandible which had been reconstructed by A-O plate at previous surgery revealed a partial response after treatment.The interruption by both metal and mandibular bone to gain 4 suitable intratumoral temperature higher than 42.5 degree C was fortunately small.

Concentration and term of chemical carcinogens must be the most important variants for their effectiveness. A two-phase carcinogenesis experiment induced by a chemical carcinogen (DMBA) was conducted. The purpose of this experiment was set on the verification of the most suitable concentration and term for the two-phase carcinogenesis that is induced by identical on hamster's buccal pouches.A 10-week application of 0.1% DMBA acted as an initiator and a 6-week application of 0.5% DMBA did as a promoter. The reverse order of those two did not induce tumors.A 6-week interval (intermission) between those two was the most suitable for this carcinogenesis model. Those results were unexpectedly similar to Odukoya and Shklar's work (1982).Only a 10-week application of 0.1% DMBA or a 6-week application of 0.5% DMBA caused no tumors at all. The effect of the 10-week application of 0.1% DMBA for an initiator was not reversible for at least 8 weeks.Although the method of this experiment is not along with that of Berenblum's two-phase carcinogenesis, this experiment shows clearly that there are two or more phases in the process of the DMBA induced carcinogenesis.