Immunotherapy of disseminated fibrosarcoma in mice using IL-2-producing tumor cells: studies on its mechanism and specificity

Genetically modified, IL-2-producing tumor cells have been shown to regress in vivo and immunize mice against subsequent challenge with parental tumor. We investigated whether IL-2-producing tumor cells may serve as immunotherapy of established tumors in mice. MCA 205 and MCA 203, weakly immunogenic murine sarcomas of B6 origin, were transfected with the pBMGNeo-mIL-2 vector containing the murine IL-2 cDNA. Mice receiving intraperitoneal injections of the parental sarcoma cells developed ascites and died within 4 weeks. The intraperitoneal injection of IL-2-producing tumor cells significantly prolonged survival and, moreover, significantly reduced the number of established pulmonary metastases. The specificity of this effect was indicated by the unaltered course of disease in mice that were injected with unrelated IL-2-producing tumor cells. FACS analysis of peritoneal cells obtained from treated mice showed a predominance of Vbeta3-positive cells. In a 4 h 51Cr release assay, these Vbeta3-positive cells exhibited tumor-specific cytotoxicity and also nonspecific effector cells are shown to be involved in tumor rejection.     

Role of pharmacists in the medical team--attempting palliative care

The Pharmacy Department at our hospital is attempting to develop methods for palliative care, for example of cancer pain or smelly tumors. The participation of pharmacists on the medical team for home care is necessary, because the supply of proper drugs for patients' individual conditions is indispensable in palliative care. Communication between not only patients, but also between their families and us, as well as the maintenance of close contact with the medical team, are important in home care.     

Spontaneous rupture of splenic hamartoma: a case report

Splenic hamartomas are rare. The authors report a case of spontaneously ruptured splenic hamartoma in a 5-month-old boy. This rupture led to the death of the child. If abdominal pain is present and a mass is palpated, the splenic hamartoma should be managed surgically in an expeditious manner. There have been only two known previous reports of spontaneous rupture of splenic hamartoma in adults, but none in children.     

Clinical guides for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in Japan

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. In 2013, we developed diagnostic criteria to enable early diagnosis and timely initiation of appropriate treatment for aHUS. Recent clinical and molecular findings have resulted in several proposed classifications and definitions of thrombotic microangiopathy and aHUS. Based on recent advances in this field and the emerging international consensus to exclude secondary TMAs from the definition of aHUS, we have redefined aHUS and proposed diagnostic algorithms, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies for aHUS.     

Changes in cross-sectional measurements of masseter,medial pterygoid muscles,ramus, condyle and occlusal force after bi-maxillary surgery

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in masseter and medial pterygoid muscles, ramus, condyle and occlusal force after bi-maxillary surgery in class II and III patients.

Influenza‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy with unbalanced von Willebrand factor and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif,member 13 levels in a heterozygous protein S‐deficient boy

Influenza infections often cause pneumonia, but there is limited information on thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in these circumstances. We report the case of an 11‐year‐old boy who developed TMA during the acute phase of H1N1 influenza. Plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) was elevated, whereas a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) activity was mildly reduced in the absence of ADAMTS13‐neutralizing autoantibody, resulting in low ratio of ADAMTS13 to VWF. The patient was treated intensively, including plasma exchange, and he recovered from the TMA. He developed pulmonary embolism (PE), however, after removal of the central venous catheter. The findings suggested that influenza‐associated cytokines enhanced the release of unusually large VWF multimers from vascular endothelial cells and promoted the formation of platelet thrombi and TMA. Subsequent analysis further indicated the presence of familial protein S deficiency, and it seemed likely that the PE was more related to this heterozygous protein S defect.     

Prognostic factors for local control in patients receiving radiation therapy for early glottic cancer: anterior commissure involvement and effect of chemoradiotherapy

To assess the prognostic factors for local control in patients with early glottic cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 130 consecutive patients who were treated by definitive radiation therapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for early glottic squamous cell carcinoma (UICC sixth edition T1N0M0 and T2N0M0) at Kanagawa cancer center between 1999 and 2011. There were 63 patients with T1 cancer and 67 patients with T2 cancer. Twenty-one patients with T2 tumors were treated by chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The median follow-up period was 73 months (range, 22–165 months). The 5-year local control (LC) rate in all patients was 81 %. The 5-year LC rates in the patients with T1 and T2 cancer were 89 and 74 %, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that a higher T stage (T2) (p = 0.0301), anterior commissure involvement (p < 0.000001), and habitual drinking (p = 0.054) were correlated with decreased local control rate. Multivariate analysis identified only anterior commissure involvement as a significant prognostic factor for local control (LC rate 91 vs. 51 %, risk ratio 5.3, 95 % CI 2.3–12, p < 0.001). In the patients with T2 cancer, there was no statistically significant difference in the LC rate between patients who received RT alone and those who received CRT (RT alone 76 % vs. CRT 67 %; p = 0.832). The findings of this study suggest that anterior commissure involvement is a significant factor influencing the prospect of local control. CRT was not found to be effective for T2 patients in this study.