Experimental probing of dynamic self-organized columnar assemblies in colloidal liquid crystals.

Self-organized supramolecular assemblies are widespread in nature and technology in the form of liquid crystals, colloids, and gels. The reversible nature of non-covalent bonding leads to dynamic functions such as stimuli-responsive switching and self-healing, which are unachievable from an isolated molecule. However, multiple intermolecular interactions generate diverse conformational and configurational molecular motions over various time scales in their self-assembled states, and their specific dynamics remains unclear. In the present study, we have experimentally unveiled the static structures and dynamical behaviors in columnar colloidal liquid crystals by a coherent X-ray scattering technique using refined model samples. We have found that controlling the size distribution of the colloidal nanoplates dramatically changed their static and dynamic properties. Furthermore, the resulting dynamical behaviors obtained by X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy have been successfully decomposed into multiple distinct modes, allowing us to explore the dynamical origin in the colloidal liquid-crystalline state. The present approaches using a columnar liquid crystal may contribute to a better understanding of the dynamic nature of molecular assemblies and dense colloidal systems and bring valuable insights into rational design of functional properties of self-assembled materials such as stimuli-responsive liquid crystals, self-healing gels, and colloidal crystals. For these materials, the motion of constituent particles and molecules in the self-assembled state is a key factor for structural formation and dynamically responsive performance.

Serum Epiplakin Might Be a Potential Serodiagnostic Biomarker for Bladder Cancer.

Tumor markers that can be detected at an early stage are needed. Here, we evaluated the epiplakin expression levels in sera from patients with bladder cancer (BC). Using a micro-dot blot array, we evaluated epiplakin expression levels in 60 patients with BC, 20 patients with stone disease, and 28 healthy volunteers. The area under the curve (AUC) and best cut-off point were calculated using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Serum epiplakin levels were significantly higher in patients with BC than in those with stone disease (p = 0.0013) and in healthy volunteers (p < 0.0001). The AUC-ROC level for BC was 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69-0.87). Using a cut-off point of 873, epiplakin expression levels exhibited 68.3% sensitivity and 79.2% specificity for BC. However, the serum epiplakin levels did not significantly differ by sex, age, pathological stage and grade, or urine cytology. We performed immunohistochemical staining using the same antibody on another cohort of 127 patients who underwent radical cystectomy. Univariate and multivariate analysis results showed no significant differences between epiplakin expression, clinicopathological findings, and patient prognoses. Our results showed that serum epiplakin might be a potential serodiagnostic biomarker in patients with BC.

[A Case of Retroperitoneal Mature Teratoma Successfully Treated by Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy].

We report a case of retroperitoneal mature teratoma which was successfully treated by laparoscopic adrenalectomy. A 37-year-old woman complaining of right abdominal discomfort was referred to our hospital because computed tomography showed an adrenal tumor at another hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 10 cm adrenal tumor that consisted of fat with calcification. Endocrine examination showed no abnormal findings. Under the suspicion of myelolipoma, we performed laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. Histological diagnosis was mature teratoma. The patient had no recurrence at 5 years after surgery.

Gemcitabine plus nedaplatin as salvage therapy is a favorable option for patients with progressive metastatic urothelial carcinoma after two lines of chemotherapy.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of gemcitabine and nedaplatin therapy among patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma previously treated with two lines of chemotherapy. Between February 2009 and August 2013, 30 patients were treated with gemcitabine and paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy. All had received a first-line chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin. Ten patients who had measurable histologically proven advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and upper urinary tract received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 and nedaplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2 as a third-line chemotherapy. Tumors were assessed by imaging every two cycles. The median number of treatment cycles was 3.5. One patient had partial response and three had stable disease. The disease-control rate was 40%, the median overall survival was 8.8 months and the median progression-free survival was 5.0 months. The median overall survival times for the first-line and second-line therapies were 29.1 and 13.9 months, respectively. Among disease-controlled patients (n=4), median overall survival was 14.2 months. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. There were no therapy-related deaths. Gemcitabine and nedaplatin chemotherapy is a favorable third-line chemotherapeutic option for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Given the safety and benefit profile seen in this study, further prospective trials are warranted given the implications of our results with regard to strategic chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Multidisciplinary treatment including systemic chemotherapy for a malignant phyllodes tumour of the prostate.

A 22-year-old man was referred to our hospital with macroscopic hematuria and consistent anal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlarged prostate tumour invading the bladder and rectum. A biopsy revealed an unclassified spindle cell sarcoma. Subsequently, radical cystoprostatectomy and resection of the rectum were performed. A histopathological examination revealed a prostatic malignant phyllodes tumour with a negative surgical margin. However, a local recurrence was identified 2 months after surgery. Induction therapy included 4 cycles of systemic chemotherapy comprising etoposide with ifosfamide and cisplatin. Although a partial response was observed at the local site, lung metastasis developed. Second-line chemotherapy with ifosfamide and doxorubicin with radiotherapy to the pelvis was administered and led to complete regression; however, its efficacy was transient. Although additional chemotherapy was administered, the patient eventually died due to the rapidly growing, recurrent tumour.