ABSTRACT
<b>Purpose</b>: It is critical to reduce complications associated with the central venous access port (CV-port) system for patients who were treated with chemotherapy or palliative care. <b>Methods</b>: From October 2006 to December 2011, 68 colon cancer patients who were treated with outpatient chemotherapy via a CV-port in the Center for Clinical Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. <b>Results</b>: CV-port related complications occurred in 20 (29.4%) patients. No blood could be aspirated in 15 patients when treated via a CV-port. Among the patients with no blood aspiration from their CV-port, ten cases had no complications other than failure of blood aspiration, and anticancer agents have been successfully administered. However, the other five patients had their CV-port system replaced due to complications. Subclavian and left side insertions were the risk factors for catheter occlusion or inability to aspirate blood. <b>Conclusion</b>: Medical staffs should be aware that approximately one-third of the cases with no blood aspiration potentially have troubles with their CV-ports that need to be replaced.
ABSTRACT
We investigated whether the expression levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) correlate with clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We immunohistochemically examined the expression levels of uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 in 160 biopsy specimens of oral SCC. Positive stainings for uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 were observed mainly in SCC cells, and their intensity and number of positive cells were related to lymph node involvement (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>p</i> < 0.001, and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). The expression levels of uPA and uPAR were also related to the pattern of invasion (<i>p</i> < 0.05 and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively), while both were associated with tumor size (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, a poor survival rate was related to the expression of uPAR (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and PAI-1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings suggest that the uPA system may regulate the invasion and metastasis of oral SCC cells.
ABSTRACT
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is characterized by frequent recurrence and distant metastasis. Although lung metastasis in AdCC is very common, the mechanism by which this occurs is uncertain. When five AdCC cell lines (ACCS, ACCT, ACCH, Acc-3, and Acc-M) were screened for metastatic ability by injecting tumor cells into nude mice via the tail vein, lung metastases were found in mice injected with Acc-M (15/16 mice) but not in mice injected with any of the other four cell lines (0/10 mice with each line). To determine why Acc-M metastasizes to the lung but the others do not, we examined the biological characteristics of Acc-M and compared them with those of the other lines.Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) may play a key role in malignant tumor behaviors such as invasion and metastasis. Thus, we examined these cell lines for response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), one of the typical stimulators of NF-κB. Although treatment with TNF-α stimulated matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) expression in all cell lines, the response to TNF-α varied between cell lines; the greatest stimulation was observed in Acc-M. Acc-M expressed higher levels of TNF receptors (both TNF-R1 and TNF-R2) than did the other AdCC lines. Judging from inhibitor-κBα degradation and nuclear translocation and DNA binding by NF-κB, the degree of activation of NF-κB in response to TNF-α in Acc-M cell lines was very high compared to the other lines. Moreover, the ability of Acc-M cells to adhere to endothelial cells, which was greater than that of the other cell lines, was further enhanced by pretreatment with TNF-α. Acc-M cells also expressed higher levels of sialyl Lewis<sup>x</sup> than did the other AdCC cell lines. These findings suggest that lung metastasis is mediated by tumor-endothelial cell interaction, which is probably associated with the NF-κB activation pathway. Further experiments are required to identify the molecules that mediate both lung metastasis and NF-κB activation.
ABSTRACT
Treating atopic dermatitis patients, who have used steroid, only through Chinese herb medication, it often happens that extract medicine doesn't work well and infusion one is needed.<br>We treat with Seiun-haidoku-in-kagen “Ekisin-ittoku” and its amount, to stop using steroid, often exceeds as twice or three times much as ordinary use. Especially Sekko needs large quantities, 40-100g a day for adults to get out of steroid.<br>In early treatments, some patients couldn't stop applying steroid because of insufficient increase of Sekko, but after increasing its amount until it have effects, they all have got out of steroid.<br>It is effective to take herb-medicated bath and some original ointment at the same time. We report on the case in which one can withdraw from steroid by these treatments.