Synthesis and Properties of Rubicene-Based Aromatic π-Conjugated Compounds as Five-Membered Ring Embedded Planar Nanographenes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons consisting of two or three rubicene substructures were designed as π-conjugated compounds embedding five-membered rings. The target compounds with t-butyl groups were synthesized by the Scholl reaction of precursors consisting of 9,10-diphenylanthracene units, even though a partially precyclized precursor was required for the synthesis of the trimer. These compounds were isolated as stable and dark blue solids. Single-crystal X-ray analysis and DFT calculations revealed the planar aromatic framework of these compounds. In the electronic spectra, the absorption and emission bands were considerably red-shifted compared with those of the reference rubicene compound. In particular, the emission band of the trimer extended to the near-IR region while retaining the emissive property. The narrowed HOMO-LUMO gap with the extension of the π-conjugation was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations.

Hemodynamic Variability During Drainage of Large Volumes of Malignant Ascites in Patients With Cancer.

This study compared the variability in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during drainage of ascites in patients with cancer who underwent drainage of a large (5-10 L) or small (<5 L) volume of ascites. We prospectively enrolled 50 patients scheduled for cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy. Equivalence was considered to be established if the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the highest variability rate of MAP was within ±20%. The median volume of ascites removed was 3.30 L (95% CI [2.84, 4.40]) in the small-drainage-volume group (n = 15) and 6.75 L (95% CI [6.40, 7.30]) in the large-drainage-volume group (n = 34). The 95% CIs for the highest variability rates in MAP ranged from -19.60 to -6.23 and from -19.16 to -12.95 (p = .594), respectively, indicating equivalence. These findings indicate that variability in MAP during drainage of ascites is not dependent on drainage volume.

Endoscopic resection of a duodenal duplication cyst: A case report.

A duodenal duplication cyst (DDC) is a rare congenital anomaly. Gastrointestinal duplication cysts are traditionally treated by complete surgical resection due to the potential precancerous conditions. Here, we describe an asymptomatic DDC that was successfully treated using endoscopic resection. A submucosal tumor in the descending portion of the duodenum was detected in a 71-year-old female during a regular checkup at our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a 10-mm pedunculated submucosal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 10-mm cystic tumor of low echogenicity that included nodules and debris. Endoscopic resection with hot snare polypectomy was performed for diagnosis and treatment. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histologic examination revealed that the cystic tumor was a DDC. Endoscopic resection is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive alternative to surgical resection for small DDCs with malignant potential.

Gastric calcifying fibrous tumor suspected to be complicated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease treated by laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Calcifying fibrous tumor (CFT) is a rare benign soft tissue lesion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of epigastralgia. A 15-mm submucosal tumor was identified in the greater curvature of the superior body of the stomach by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic lesion with an acoustic shadow consistent with calcification. Computed tomography showed a gastric tumor with calcification. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor was diagnosed, and gastric wedge resection was performed by laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery. On pathological examination, the tumor was identified to be a CFT. Postoperative serum IgG4 levels were 26.0 mg/dl, which supported the diagnosis of probable immunoglobulin G (IgG) 4-related disease, according to the comprehensive diagnostic criteria of IgG4-related disease. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7 and remains well with no evidence of tumor recurrence for 2 years after resection. CONCLUSION: We herein reported a patient with a gastric CFT suspected to be complicated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease that was successfully treated by laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery.

Gastric Emptying Improved Significantly After PRG Compared to Billroth-I Reconstruction: Assessment of Gastric Emptying With a 13C-Breath Test.

BACKGROUND: We advocated the usefulness of pylorus-reconstruction gastrectomy (PRG) to improve quality of life following surgery for gastric cancer. The current study assessed gastric emptying following PRG in comparison with those who underwent conventional Billroth-I (B-I) reconstruction and in healthy controls using a 13C breath test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 24 patients who underwent PRG from September 20, 2007 to July 26, 2012 at the Department of Surgery at Daisan Hospital (affiliated with The Jikei University School of Medicine). These patients underwent the 'standard' version of a gastric-emptying study using a 13C breath test at 20.5±11.8 months after surgery. During the study, the half gastric-emptying time (T1/2) and gastric retention at 5 min after ingestion (RR5) were measured. The data of the PRG group were compared to those for 26 patients who underwent conventional B-I reconstruction and with a group consisting of 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: RR5 was 69.6±21.8% in the patients who underwent PRG, 45.3±28.6% in those who underwent B-I reconstruction, and 93.7±5.7% in healthy controls. T1/2 was 17.0±13.0 min in patients who underwent PRG, 5.9±4.0 min in those who underwent B-I reconstruction, and 23.3±4.9 min in healthy controls. Gastric emptying was delayed in patients who underwent PRG compared to those who underwent B-I reconstruction (RR5: p<0.0014, T1/2: p<0.0002), and was comparable to that of healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Gastric emptying improved significantly after PRG compared to B-I reconstruction, and approached that of healthy controls.

Impaired Gastrointestinal Function Affects Symptoms and Alimentary Status in Patients After Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postgastrectomy syndrome (PGS) remains a common complication after gastrectomy that affects patients' quality of life. Although impaired gastrointestinal (GI) function by gastrectomy procedures is thought to be the cause, the precise pathophysiology of PGS is yet to be clarified. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between GI function and various symptoms or alimentary status in patients after gastrectomy. METHODS: Fifty-one patients who underwent total or distal gastrectomy at least 1 year previously were studied. All patients replied to a questionnaire that asked presence of symptoms (esophageal reflux, nausea, abdominal pain, early satiation, diarrhea, early dumping general, early dumping abdominal, and late dumping symptoms) and alimentary status (change in body weight, food intake per meal, frequency of meals per day). They also underwent assessment of GI function consisting of gastric emptying study by 13C-acetate breath test to examine reservoir capacity and gastric emptying, and water load drink test to evaluate tolerance to volume loading (TVL). The relationships between GI function and each symptom or alimentary status were examined. RESULTS: The patients with nausea and early dumping general symptoms had significantly smaller reservoir capacity*, the patients with diarrhea and early dumping general symptoms had significantly faster gastric emptying*, and the patients with early satiation and early dumping abdominal symptoms had significantly impaired TVL*. Significant correlations were identified between TVL and body weight changes* or food intake per meal* (* p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Impaired postoperative GI function was closely related to symptoms or worse alimentary status.

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in patients with submucosa-invading early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early gastric cancer (EGC), with wall invasion limited to the submucosa, has approximately 15 to 20% chance of lymph node metastasis. The purpose of this study is to clarify the parameters which affect lymph node metastasis and survey whether lymph node metastasis can be predicted preoperatively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 145 consecutive patients with EGC using multivariate analysis and developed a formula which predicts lymph node metastasis by linear discriminant analysis. In addition, we prospectively validated this formula in another subset of 106 consecutive patients with EGC and compared the predicted with the actual pathological lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses revealed that independent factors, which affect lymph node metastasis for EGC, were lymphatic system invasion (p=0.00002, odds ratio 3.11) and venous system invasion (p=0.039, odds ratio 2.44). In addition, we developed the lymph node metastasis-predicting formula using these two factors by linear discriminant analysis. The formula is as follows: Y=0.12 × (venous system invasion: 0, 1, 2 or 3) + 0.19 × (lymphatic system invasion: 0, 1, 2, or 3) - 0.14. If Y>0, we judge that a patient with gastric cancer is susceptible lymph node metastasis. The result of this prospective study showed that the sensitivity and specificity rates were 70% and 61.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We developed a formula which can predict lymph node metastasis using linear discriminant analysis. This formula seems useful in predicting for lymph node metastasis in patients with EGC.

Sentinel lymph node navigation surgery for early stage gastric cancer.

We attempted to evaluate the history of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS), technical aspects, tracers, and clinical applications of SNNS using Infrared Ray Electronic Endoscopes (IREE) combined with Indocyanine Green (ICG). The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is defined as a first lymph node (LN) which receives cancer cells from a primary tumor. Reports on clinical application of SNNS for gastric cancers started to appear since early 2000s. Two prospective multicenter trials of SNNS for gastric cancer have also been accomplished in Japan. Kitagawa et al reported that the endoscopic dual (dye and radioisotope) tracer method for SN biopsy was confirmed acceptable and effective when applied to the early-stage gastric cancer (EGC). We have previously reported the usefulness of SNNS in gastrointestinal cancer using ICG as a tracer, combined with IREE (Olympus Optical, Tokyo, Japan) to detect SLN. LN metastasis rate of EGC is low. Hence, clinical application of SNNS for EGC might lead us to avoid unnecessary LN dissection, which could preserve the patient's quality of life after operation. The most ideal method of SNNS should allow secure and accurate detection of SLN, and real time observation of lymphatic flow during operation.

Assessment of motor function of the remnant stomach by ¹³C breath test with special reference to gastric local resection.

BACKGROUND: Indications for gastric local resection (LR) include gastrointestinal stromal tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, and early gastric cancer. LR is expected to preserve physiological function and ameliorate postgastrectomy syndrome. METHODS: Gastric emptying was assessed by the (13)C-acetate breath test in 20 healthy volunteers (HVs) and 60 gastrectomized patients [distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction (DGBI) in 26 patients, LR in 34 patients]. For the (13)C breath test, 100 mg of (13)C-acetate sodium salt was mixed in a test meal. Breath samples were collected before intake and during the next 3 h. We compared the gastric reservoir capacity using the gastric retention rate at 5 min (RR5) and gastric emptying by the half emptying time (T½). Patients completed a questionnaire survey about their symptoms, dietary intake, body weight, and restriction of activities of daily living [reflecting quality of life (QOL)]. RESULTS: The RR5 values for the HV, LR, and DGBI groups were 93.7, 90.0, and 45.3* %, respectively (*compared to HV and LR, p < 0.0001). The T½ values were 23.3, 20.2, and 5.9* min, respectively. Dietary intake and body weight change were significantly more reduced in the DGBI group than the LR group (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that the reservoir capacity in those with LR at the lesser curvature was more disturbed than that in patients with LR at the greater curvature. The questionnaire showed no differences in those patients' QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Because the reservoir capacity, the gastric emptying and QOL were maintained, LR is an option for selected patients with early gastric cancer.

[Administration of low-dose albumin-bound paclitaxel for the treatment of advanced and recurrent breast cancer patients].

A recent foreign clinical trial showed albumin-bound paclitaxel(260mg/m2 tri-weekly)to have a better response for metastatic breast cancer(MBC)than did treatment with paclitaxel alone(175mg/m2 tri-weekly). It was sometimes difficult to control the occurrence of side effects, such as neutropenia and neuropathy, especially after many treatments. The effect of low-dose albumin-bound paclitaxel(180-220mg/m2 tri-weekly)was evaluated in 8 patients with MBC. The overall response rate was 62. 5%(CR 1, PR 4), and 2 cases had Grade 3/4 toxicity(Grade 3 neutropenia); however, all patients were manageable. In addition, there was a good response rate(50%, PR 3)among the patients previously treated with paclitaxel. Because patient's "care" is as important as the "cure" in the treatment of MBC, an effective and well-tolerated regimen is recommended for patients with this disease. Low-dose albumin-bound paclitaxel was effective with reduced side effects, even after PTX treatment. Therefore, albumin-bound paclitaxel may be an optional treatment for MBC after any treatment.

[Improving the quality of life after gastrectomy is the next issue after saving the lives of patients with gastric cancer].

Gastrectomy saves the lives of many patients with gastric cancer. However, this surgical treatment is associated with clinical problems called postgastrectomy syndrome (PGS) which affect the quality of life (QOL) of such patients. For surgeons, improving the QOL after gastrectomy is an important goal after performing curative surgery. In the clinical setting, various surgical procedures such as limited resection, function-preserving procedures, and reconstruction using gastric substitutes have been advocated to reduce the severity of PGS. However, the actual conditions and pathophysiology of PGS have not been fully investigated. Various clinical studies and basic research have partially clarified the features and pathophysiology of PGS, although the strategies developed to treat PGS have been limited. The development of standardized, reliable instruments for understanding PGS and performing large-scale collaborative studies are required to improve the diagnosis and treatment of PGS. In Japan, such a project called the PGSAS has recently been completed. The results are being analyzed and will be reported in the near future.

Gingival metastasis from rectal cancer.

We report a 51-year-old woman who had undergone surgical resection of Dukes'B rectal cancer. On postoperative day 30, she noticed a dark red swelling in the right upper gingival, for which immunohistochemical study of the biopsy specimen revealed metastasis from the rectal cancer.