Differences in perception of breast cancer treatment between patients, physicians, and nurses and unmet information needs in Japan.

PURPOSE: Discrepancies exist between healthcare provider and patient perceptions surrounding breast cancer treatment. Significant treatment changes in the last 10 years have made re-evaluation of these perceptions necessary. METHODS: Physicians and nurses involved in breast cancer treatment, and patients who had received breast cancer chemotherapy (past 5 years), were questioned using an Internet survey. Participants ranked physical concerns (treatment side effects), psychological concerns, priorities for treatment selection, and side effects to be avoided during treatment. Patients were asked about desired treatment information/information sources. Rankings were calculated using the mean value of scores. Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine the concordance of rankings among groups. RESULTS: Survey respondents included 207 patients, 185 physicians, and 150 nurses. Patients and nurses similarly ranked distressing physical concerns; physician rankings differed. Quality of life (QoL) and treatment response ranked high with physicians and patients when considering future treatment; nurses prioritized QoL. All three groups generally agreed on ranking of psychological concerns experienced during chemotherapy, explanation of treatment options, and how treatment decisions were made, although more patients thought treatment decisions should be made independently. Healthcare providers reported providing explanations of treatment side effects and information on physical/psychological support options while patients felt both were lacking. Concordance was calculated as 0.47 (patient-physician), 0.83 (patient-nurse), and 0.76 (physician-nurse). Patients desired additional information, preferring healthcare providers as the source. CONCLUSIONS: Specific areas for improvement in breast cancer patient care were identified; programs should be implemented to address unmet needs and improve treatment in these areas.

Digital volumetric measurement of mammographic density and the risk of overlooking cancer in Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: Breast density often affects cancer detection via mammography (MMG). Because of this, additional tests are recommended for women with dense breasts. This study aimed to reveal trends in breast density among Japanese women and determine whether differences in breast density differentially affected the detection of abnormalities via MMG. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 397 control women who underwent MMG screening as well as 269 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer for whom preoperative MMG data were available. VolparaDensity™ (Volpara), a three-dimensional image analysis software with high reproducibility, was used to calculate breast density. Breasts were categorized according to the volumetric density grade (VDG), a measure of the percentage of dense tissue. The associations between age, VDG, and MMG density categories were analyzed. RESULTS: In the control group, 78% of women had dense breasts, while in the breast cancer group, 87% of patients had dense breasts. One of 36 patients with non-dense breasts (2.7%) was classified as category 1 or 2 (C-1 or C-2), indicating that abnormal findings could not be detected by MMG. The proportion of patients with breast cancer who had dense breasts and were classified as C-1 or C-2 was as high as 22.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The proportions of Japanese women with dense breasts were high. In addition, the false-negative rate for women with dense breasts was also high. Owing to this, Japanese women with dense breasts may need to commonly undergo additional tests to ensure detection of breast cancer in the screening MMG.

Environmental chlamydiae alter the growth speed and motility of host acanthamoebae.

Symbiosis between living beings is an important driver of evolutionary novelty and ecological diversity; however, understanding the mechanisms underlying obligate mutualism remains a significant challenge. Regarding this, we have previously isolated two different Acanthamoeba strains harboring endosymbiotic bacteria, Protochlamydia (R18 symbiotic amoebae: R18WT) or Neochlamydia (S13 symbiotic amoebae; S13WT). In this study, we treated the symbiotic amoebae R18WT and S13WT with doxycycline (DOX) and rifampicin (RFP), respectively, to establish the aposymbiotic amoebae R18DOX and S13RFP, respectively. Subsequently, we compared the growth speed, motility, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and morphology of the symbiotic and aposymbiotic amoebae. The growth speed of R18DOX was decreased, although that of S13RFP was increased. A marked change in motility was observed only for R18DOX amoebae. There was no difference in phagocytic and pinocytic activities between the symbiotic and aposymbiotic amoebae. Meanwhile, we observed a significant change in the phalloidin staining pattern and morphological changes in R18DOX (but not S13RFP) aposymbiotic amoebae, indicating a change in actin accumulation upon removal of the Protochlamydia. Infection of C3 (a reference strain) or S13RFP amoebae with Protochlamydia had a harmful effect on the host amoebae, but R18DOX amoebae re-infected with Protochlamydia showed recovery in both growth speed and motility. Taken together, we conclude that endosymbiont environmental chlamydiae alter the growth speed and/or motility of their host Acanthamoeba, possibly implying an close mutual relationship between amoebae and environmental chlamydiae.

Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 infection model using human lymphoid Jurkat cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis L2 invasively attacks lymphatic and subepithelial tissues of the genital tract during the formation of primary lesions. This subsequently results in lymphadenopathy, and suggests a greater propensity for systemic dissemination. However, whether lymphocytes are a potential vehicle cell for the dissemination of this infection remains unknown. We therefore assessed the growth properties of C. trachomatis L2 in lymphoid Jurkat cells compared with those observed in epithelial HeLa cells. Both cells supported the growth of C. trachomatis with a similar increase in infective progenies. Enriched human-blood lymphocytes also supported the C. trachomatis growth as well as Jurkat cells. Bacteria infecting the Jurkat cells were more susceptible to antibiotics (doxycycline, azithromycin, ofloxacin) than those in HeLa cells. Of the sphingomyelin biosynthesis inhibitors tested, both myriocin and fumonisin B1 significantly inhibited bacterial growth in both cells types. A Jurkat cell mutant that impaired bacterial growth was established using ethylmethanesulfonate treatment. DNA microarray analysis with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the mutant cells over-expressed granzyme K gene. Immunofluorescence staining also indicated that granzyme K irregularly over-expressed among the mutant cells as compared with that of the wild cells, suggesting a possible mechanism refractory to C. trachomatis infection. Thus, we concluded that C. trachomatis L2 could infect Jurkat cells with lymphoid properties, providing a new tool for studying C. trachomatis dissemination to tissues via lymphocyte movement.

Amoebal endosymbiont Protochlamydia induces apoptosis to human immortal HEp-2 cells.

Protochlamydia, an environmental chlamydia and obligate amoebal endosymbiotic bacterium, evolved to survive within protist hosts, such as Acanthamobae, 700 million years ago. However, these bacteria do not live in vertebrates, including humans. This raises the possibility that interactions between Protochlamydia and human cells could induce a novel cytopathic effect, leading to new insights into host-parasite relationships. Therefore, we studied the effect of Protochlamydia on the survival of human immortal cell line, HEp-2 cells and primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Using mainly 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, fluorescent in situ hybridization, transmission electron microscopy, and also TUNEL and Transwell assays, we demonstrated that the Protochlamydia induced apoptosis in HEp-2 cells. The attachment of viable bacterial cells, but not an increase of bacterial infectious progenies within the cells, was required for the apoptosis. Other chlamydiae [Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and Chlamydia trachomatis (serovars D and L2)] did not induce the same phenomena, indicating that the observed apoptosis may be specific to the Protochlamydia. Furthermore, the bacteria had no effect on the survival of primary PBMCs collected from five volunteers, regardless of activation. We concluded that Protochlamydia induces apoptosis in human-immortal HEp-2 cells and that this endosymbiont could potentially be used as a biological tool for the elucidation of novel host-parasite relationships.

Improvement of endothelial dysfunction in acromegaly after transsphenoidal surgery.

Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) is a vascular functional test to detect endothelial dysfunction at the early stage of cardiovascular diseases. Patients with active acromegaly have higher morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular events. To determine whether active acromegaly is associated with endothelial dysfunction, we studied 17 patients with active acromegaly for measurements of FMD, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and other biochemical parameters before and 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Baseline %FMD in patients with active acromegaly was significantly lower than that in age- and sex-matched control subjects. After TSS, the mean %FMD in acromegaly significantly increased from 5.3% to 7.4%; 12 patients had increased %FMD (responders), whereas 5 patients had decreased or unchanged %FMD (non-responders). However, neither carotid IMT nor baPWV changed after TSS. Serum levels of GH, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hemoglobin HA(1C), fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-R significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased. Responders had significantly lower baseline %FMD than did non-responders and both insulin levels and HOMA-R significantly decreased in responders, but not in non-responders after TSS. Simple regression analysis revealed that the change of %FMD showed a significant negative correlation with that of LDL-C, but not of IGF-1 or GH, in responders. In conclusion, it is suggested that endothelial dysfunction associated with active acromegaly improves soon after TSS, which is related to LDL-C and/or insulin resistance, but not to excess GH and/or IGF-1 itself.

Chronic blockade of nitric oxide synthesis reduces adiposity and improves insulin resistance in high fat-induced obese mice.

Genetic deletion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in mice has been shown to improve high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance. However, a pathophysiological role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in obesity-related insulin resistance remains controversial. To address this issue, we examined the metabolic phenotypes in HFD-induced obese mice with chronic blockade of NO synthesis by a NOS inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Six-week-old male C57BL/6j mice were provided free access to either a standard diet (SD) or a HFD and tap water with or without L-NAME (100 mg/kg.d) for 12 wk. L-NAME treatment significantly attenuated body weight gain of mice fed either SD or HFD without affecting calorie intake. L-NAME treatment in HFD-fed mice improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. HFD feeding induced inducible NOS mRNA expression, but not the other two NOS isoforms, in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle. L-NAME treatment up-regulated uncoupling protein-1 in brown adipose tissue of HFD-fed mice but down-regulated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and CD68 mRNAs levels in WAT. HFD feeding up-regulated leptin mRNA levels but conversely down-regulated adiponectin mRNA levels in WAT, but these effects were unaffected by L-NAME treatment. Moreover, L-NAME treatment also increased peroxisome proliferator-uncoupling protein-3 mRNA levels in skeletal muscles of HFD-fed mice. Increased urinary excretion of norepinephrine after HFD feeding was augmented in L-NAME-treated mice. Insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and serine phosphorylation of Akt/Akt2 in soleus muscle was markedly impaired in HFD-fed mice but reversed by L-NAME treatment. In conclusion, chronic NOS blockade by L-NAME in mice ameliorates HFD-induced adiposity and glucose intolerance, accompanied by reduced adipose inflammation and improved insulin signaling in skeletal muscle, suggesting that endogenous NO plays a modulatory role in the development of obesity-related insulin resistance.

Advanced endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients with multiple risk factors; importance of insulin resistance.

AIM: Endothelial dysfunction is considered an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance are associated with endothelial function in diabetic patients. METHODS: 101 patients with type 2 diabetes without macroangiopathy stratified by the number of cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity) and 9 normal control subjects were studied for vascular endothelial functions by measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) using a high-resolution ultrasound method, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and the ankle-brachial index (ABI). RESULTS: FMD negatively correlated with baPWV and carotid IMT, and positively correlated with ABI. FMD was significantly lower in diabetic patients associated with 3 other risk factors than in those with diabetes alone. In subjects with fasting plasma glucose < or = 140mg/dL, FMD showed significant negative correlations with fasting insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-R. Multivariate analysis revealed that insulin resistance as represented by HOMA-R and systolic blood pressure showed a significant association with impaired FMD. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors is associated with endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients, and that insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure could play a pathogenic role in the development of endothelial dysfunction.

A case of factitious adrenal insufficiency after vascular graft surgery caused by spurious immunometric assays.

A 70-year-old man with abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent surgical repair with Hemashield vascular graft. Postoperatively, he was found to have very low plasma cortisol levels, which failed to increase after stimulation with ACTH. A tentative diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency was made despite the lack of its clinical manifestations and a replacement therapy with hydrocortisone was started. He had also elevated plasma levels of TSH, thyroid hormones and estrogen without any clinical manifestations. Such abnormal hormone levels were spontaneously normalized three months after operation, which was later proven to be factitious by different immunometric assays (IMA). Since the vascular graft coated with bovine type I collagen has been reported to induce a transient immune response in some patients after surgery, we speculated that certain antibodies generated against heterologous collagen and/or yet-unknown components derived from the graft may have caused such factitious data; exogenous addition of bovine type I collagen and albumin to patient's serum, however, failed to affect the assay results. Whatever the cause, caution must be paid that some patients with surgical repair using heterologous materials may have such factitious hormone data by IMAs.

Aldosterone increases osteopontin gene expression in rat endothelial cells.

Aldosterone is currently recognized as one of the important risk hormones for cardiovascular disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which aldosterone affects the process of cardiovascular injury has not been well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether aldosterone induces pro-inflammatory genes expression in rat aortic endothelial cells. Aldosterone significantly increased steady-state osteopontin mRNA and protein levels, but not those of adhesion molecules or chemokine. The stimulatory effect of aldosterone on osteopontin expression was time-dependent (3-24h) and dose-dependent (10(-10)-10(-6)M), and abolished by a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist spironolactone, but not by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486. The aldosterone-induced osteopontin mRNA expression was completely blocked by a transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D, and a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Thus, the present study demonstrated for the first time that aldosterone directly acts on endothelial cells to induce osteopontin gene expression via MR-mediated genomic action, which may be responsible for the initiation of inflammation and fibrosis in cardiovascular tissue induced by aldosterone.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus due to hydronephrosis in a patient with a solitary kidney.

A 68-year-old man with a history of nephrectomy of the right kidney was admitted to our hospital with a 1-month history of polyuria (> 41 per day). He also exhibited hyposthenuria, which was unresponsive to treatment with exogenous vasopressin. Radiographic examination revealed partial obstruction of the left ureter and moderate hydronephrosis. The cause of the obstruction was cancer of the ureter. After drainage using a nephrostomy tube, the polyuria and hyposthenuria were gradually resolved. This is the first known case of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus due to hydronephrosis in a patient with a solitary kidney.

Treatment of lymphocytic hypophysitis by high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

A 26-year-old woman 3 months post-partum was admitted to our hospital suffering from gross visual disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a pituitary mass, extending into the suprasellar cistern, with intense gadolinium enhancement. Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) was suspected, and the patient received high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT). Her visual disturbance was dramatically ameliorated on the first day following initiation of HDMPT, and MRI revealed marked mass reduction. Her pituitary function recovered 6 months after therapy. This case report suggests that HDMPT proved effective for mass reduction of severe LHy and could obviate the need for a useless surgery.

Complete adrenocorticotropin deficiency after radiation therapy for brain tumor with a normal growth hormone reserve.

A 34-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type 1, who had received radiation therapy after the excision of a brain tumor 5 years earlier, was admitted to our hospital with vomiting and weight loss. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) were undetectable before and after administration of 100 microg corticotropin releasing hormone. The level of growth hormone without stimulation was 24.7 ng/ml. We diagnosed him to have complete ACTH deficiency attributable to radiation therapy. This is the first known case of a patient with complete ACTH deficiency after radiation therapy and a growth hormone reserve that remained normal.