[Clinicopathological Evaluation of Preoperative Chemotherapy Containing S-1 as a Treatment for Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma during Waiting Time for Surgery]

BACKGROUND

In our department, patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)received preoperative chemotherapy containing S-1 to prevent the growth and dissemination of tumors during the waiting time before definitive surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of this treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and five patients comprising stages T1(26), T2(64), T3(7), and T4(8 cases)were enrolled in this study from July 2001 to June 2013. In principle, patients were administered S-1(80mg/m / 2/day, days 1-14)and followed by a drug holiday(days 15-21), continuing until 1 week before surgery.

RESULTS

The median administration period was 14 days(256 days). Ninety-eight patients underwent definitive surgery, but 7 patients who revealed clinical CR underwent only biopsy and showed histological CR. The histological responses of all patients were CR(24), PR(22), and NC(59), and the response rate was 43.8%. Almost all adverse effects were Grade 1 or 2, except 1 case of neutropenia(Grade 3)and 1 case of urticaria(Grade 3). The 5-year overall survival rates were 86.7% in all cases, 95.3% in CR/PR cases, and 79.7% in NC cases.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative S-1 administration during the waiting time was a safe and very effective method and was considered beneficial for patients with OSCC.

Heterogeneity of Sugar Composition of Factor VIII/ von Willebrand Factor in von Willebrand's Disease: Analysis by Crossed Affinoimmunoelectrophoresis Using Lectin (Ricinus communis Agglutinin-120)

The nature of sugar chain of factor VTII/von Willebrand factor in plasma of normal subjects and patients with von Willebrand’s disease (vWd) was examined by crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis using anti-human factor VIII rabbit serum, with inserted Ricinus communis agglutinin-120 (RCA-120) agarose layer (RCA – CIE). Molecular weights of factor VlU-related antigen (VIIIR: Ag) were estimated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis — crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis (SDS PAGE – RCA – CIE).

VIIIR :Ag, in normal plasma and in classical form of vWd, showed two precipitin peaks on RCA – CIE. The slower moving component of VIIIR :Ag with molecular weights over 3×106 daltons from normal subjects and patients with classical form of vWd showed a high affinity for RCA-120. The faster moving component of VIIIR: Ag below 3×106 daltons from the abovementioned subjects and patients with a variant form (Type IIA) showed a very weak affinity for RCA-120.

These results suggested that all of VIIIR: Ag in these variant cases may have a deficiency of galactose residues reactive with RCA, in addition to an incomplete polymerization of VIIIR: Ag, similar to that of the faster moving component of normal subjects.

Information-to-work conversion by Maxwell's demon in a superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamical system

Information thermodynamics bridges information theory and statistical physics by connecting information content and entropy production through measurement and feedback control. Maxwell’s demon is a hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy. Here we realize a Maxwell’s demon acting on a superconducting quantum circuit. We implement quantum non-demolition projective measurement and feedback operation of a qubit and verify the generalized integral fluctuation theorem. We also evaluate the conversion efficiency from information gain to work in the feedback protocol. Our experiment constitutes a step toward experimental studies of quantum information thermodynamics in artificially made quantum machines.

Maxwell’s demon is a hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy, highlighting the link between information and thermodynamic entropies. Here the authors experimentally realise a Maxwell's demon controlling a quantum system and explore how it affects thermodynamic laws.

Quantum Szilard Engine with Attractively Interacting Bosons

We show that a quantum Szilard engine containing many bosons with attractive interactions enhances the conversion between information and work. Using an ab initio approach to the full quantum-mechanical many-body problem, we find that the average work output increases significantly for a larger number of bosons. The highest overshoot occurs at a finite temperature, demonstrating how thermal and quantum effects conspire to enhance the conversion between information and work. The predicted effects occur over a broad range of interaction strengths and temperatures.

Basic Studies of Various 99mTc-Labelled Renal Agents and Clinical Application of 99mTc-Malate

Various renal imaging agents that were reported in the past and a new agent, 99mTc-malate as well as 99mTc-cystein acetazolamide complex were prepared using electrolysis and electrochemical methods. These were studied for their labelling efficiency. After animal experiments with selected 99mTc-com- pounds, 99mTc-rnalate proved to be sufficient for renal imaging with adequate concentration. 99mTcmalate differs from other renal imaging agents in the utilization of endogeneous metabolic product.

The first half time of 99mTc-malate in humans is 17 minutes, on the average, and the urinary excretion rate of 99mTc-malate is 36±6.05% in 1 hour after intravenous administration, 44 ± 3.41% in 2 hours and 50 + 5.62% in 3 hours.

In our 40 clinical experiences of 99m-Tc-rnalate, most cases demonstrated quite clear renal images in the serial scintiphotos except cases whose serum creatinines were over 4.5 mg/dl.

Versatility of HDA19-deficiency in increasing the tolerance of Arabidopsis to different environmental stresses

Histone acetylation is controlled by HATs and HDACs, which are essential epigenetic elements that regulate plant response to environmental stresses. A previous study revealed that a deficiency in an HDAC isoform (HDA19) increases tolerance to high salinity stress in the Arabidopsis wild-type Col-0 background. Here, the increased tolerance of hda19 to drought and heat stresses is demonstrated. Results indicate that hda19 plants have greater tolerance than wild-type plants to stress conditions. The data indicate that the stress response pathway coordinated by HDA19 plays a pivotal role in increasing tolerance to a variety of different abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis, including salinity, drought, and heat. The greater level of tolerance of hda19 plants to several different environmental stresses suggests that HDA19 represents a promising target for pharmacological manipulation in order to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in plants.

ABBREVIATIONS

HAT, histone acetyltransferase; HDAC, histone deacetylase; HSF, heat shock transcription factor; RPD3, reduced potassium dependency 3; SIRT, Silent Information Regulator 2.

Subcultured Odontogenic Epithelial Cells in Combination with Dental Mesenchymal Cells Produce Enamel–Dentin-Like Complex Structures

We showed in a previous study that odontogenic epithelial cells can be selectively cultured from the enamel organ in serum-free medium and expanded using feeder layers of 3T3-J2 cells. The subcultured odontogenic epithelial cells retain the capacity for ameloblast-related gene expression, as shown by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential of subcultured odontogenic epithelial cells to form tooth structures in cell–polymer constructs maintained in vivo. Enamel organs from 6-month-old porcine third molars were dissociated into single odontogenic epithelial cells and subcultured on feeder layers of 3T3-J2 cells. Amelogenin expression was detected in the subcultured odontogenic epithelial cells by immunostaining and Western blotting. The subcultured odontogenic epithelial cells were seeded onto collagen sponge scaffolds in combination with fresh dental mesenchymal cells, and transplanted into athymic rats. After 4 weeks, enamel–dentin-like complex structures were present in the implanted constructs. These results show that our culture system produced differentiating ameloblast-like cells that were able to secrete amelogenin proteins and form enamel-like tissues in vivo. This application of the subculturing technique provides a foundation for further tooth-tissue engineering and for improving our understanding of ameloblast biology.

Effective Bone Engineering with Periosteum-derived Cells

Bone augmentation via tissue engineering has generated significant interest. We hypothesized that periosteum-derived cells could be used in place of bone marrow stromal cells (which are widely used) in bone engineering, but the differences in osteogenic potential between these 2 cell types are unclear. Here, we compared the osteogenic potential of these cells, and investigated the optimal osteoinductive conditions for periosteum-derived cells. Both cell types were induced, via bFGF and BMP-2, to differentiate into osteoblasts. Periosteal cells proliferated faster than marrow stromal cells, and osteogenic markers indicated that bone marrow stromal cells were more osteogenic than periosteal cells. However, pre-treatment with bFGF made periosteal cells more sensitive to BMP-2 and more osteogenic. Transplants of periosteal cells treated with BMP-2 after pre-treatment with bFGF formed more new bone than did marrow stromal cells. Analysis of these data suggests that combined treatment with bFGF and BMP-2 can make periosteum a highly useful source of bone regeneration.