Gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor antagonist, SKL-14959, suppressed body weight gain on diet-induced obesity mice

Objective

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism and is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. The objective of this study is to confirm the anti-obesity effects of the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor antagonist, SKL-14959, on diet-induced obesity mice.

Method

Diet-induced obesity mice at 20 weeks of age were administered with or without SKL-14959 for 96 d. Body weight and food intake were monitored throughout the experiment. Mice were sacrificed, and physiological and biochemical markers were measured, and then histochemical and gene expression analyses were also performed. In further studies, mice were orally gavaged with [14C]-oleic acid to investigate the excursion of digested lipids.

Results

SKL-14959 significantly suppressed weight gain without affecting food intake, decreased triacylglycerol contents in the liver and the muscle and the intensity stained with oil-red in the liver. It also improved plasma glutamic pyruvic transaminase and 3-hydroxybutyrate levels in addition to notably down-regulated relative gene expression of srebf1 and dgat1 in the liver despite not altering in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, SKL-14959 showed remarkable inhibition of lipid uptake in the adipose tissue after the oil challenge.

Conclusion

SKL-14959 inhibited lipids uptake and improved lipids metabolism, results in suppression of body-weight gain.

Reinforcement in removable prosthodontics: a literature review

Removable prosthodontics are often associated with mechanical troubles in daily use, such as fracture or deformation. These troubles render prostheses unusable and reduce wearers' QOL. Various reinforcements are used to prevent such problems, but consensus on reinforcement has not been reached. This review aimed to summarise the effects of reinforcement and to propose favourable reinforcement based on material, design and position in the prostheses. Initially, 139 articles were selected by electronic and manual searches. After exclusion of 99 articles based on the exclusion criteria, 40 articles were finally included in the review. Electronic searches were performed for articles published from 2005 to 2015 in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, and manual searches were performed in 10 journals relevant to the topic of removable prosthodontics. For in vitro studies, certain dental alloys and fibres were mainly used. Their forms were different, including complicated forms in dental alloys and various forms in fibres. The materials were examined for mechanical properties like fracture strength, flexural strength and elastic modulus and compared with one another or without reinforcement. There were a few clinical studies and one longitudinal study. Cast metal reinforcement seemed to be most favourable in terms of fracture toughness and stiffness. The most favourable forms differed depending on the prostheses, but placement around thin and deformable areas was effective. However, randomised or longitudinal clinical reports and comparative clinical studies on the use of reinforcement were still lacking and such studies are necessary in the future.

Quality of life in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: The impact of symptomatic remission and resilience

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is significantly affected in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BD-I). The current study investigated whether symptomatic remission and resilience might differently impact HRQOL in these patients.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients with schizophrenia and 60 patients suffering from BD-I from outpatient mental health services as well as 77 healthy control subjects from the general community were included into a cross-sectional study. HRQOL and resilience were assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF and the Resilience Scale. In patients, psychopathology was quantified by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale or the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale, respectively.

RESULTS

Notably, both patient groups showed lower HRQOL and resilience compared to control subjects, non-remitted patients indicated lower HRQOL than remitted ones. The effect of remission on HRQOL was significantly larger in patients with BD-I than in those with schizophrenia but did not explain the difference in HRQOL between groups. Resilience predicted HRQOL in all three groups. When accounting for the effect of resilience among remitted patients, only the difference in HRQOL between schizophrenia patients and control subjects was significant.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate the impact of symptomatic remission and resilience on HRQOL of both patients suffering from schizophrenia and BD-I and indicate that these factors are especially relevant for HRQOL of patients with BD-I.

Differentiation between Treatment-Induced Necrosis and Recurrent Tumors in Patients with Metastatic Brain Tumors: Comparison among 11C-Methionine-PET, FDG-PET, MR Permeability Imaging, and MRI-ADC-Preliminary Results

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In patients with metastatic brain tumors after gamma knife radiosurgery, the superiority of PET using ¹¹C-methionine for differentiating radiation necrosis and recurrent tumors has been accepted. To evaluate the feasibility of MR permeability imaging, it was compared with PET using ¹¹C-methionine, FDG-PET, and DWI for differentiating radiation necrosis from recurrent tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study analyzed 18 lesions from 15 patients with metastatic brain tumors who underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. Ten lesions were identified as recurrent tumors by an operation. In MR permeability imaging, the transfer constant between intra- and extravascular extracellular spaces (/minute), extravascular extracellular space, the transfer constant from the extravascular extracellular space to plasma (/minute), the initial area under the signal intensity-time curve, contrast-enhancement ratio, bolus arrival time (seconds), maximum slope of increase (millimole/second), and fractional plasma volume were calculated. ADC was also acquired. On both PET using ¹¹C-methionine and FDG-PET, the ratio of the maximum standard uptake value of the lesion divided by the maximum standard uptake value of the symmetric site in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere was measured (¹¹C-methionine ratio and FDG ratio, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for differentiating radiation necrosis from recurrent tumors was the best for the ¹¹C-methionine ratio (0.90) followed by the contrast-enhancement ratio (0.81), maximum slope of increase (millimole/second) (0.80), the initial area under the signal intensity-time curve (0.78), fractional plasma volume (0.76), bolus arrival time (seconds) (0.76), the transfer constant between intra- and extravascular extracellular spaces (/minute) (0.74), extravascular extracellular space (0.68), minimum ADC (0.60), the transfer constant from the extravascular extracellular space to plasma (/minute) (0.55), and the FDG-ratio (0.53). A significant difference in the ¹¹C-methionine ratio (P < .01), contrast-enhancement ratio (P < .01), maximum slope of increase (millimole/second) (P < .05), and the initial area under the signal intensity-time curve (P < .05) was evident between radiation necrosis and recurrent tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that PET using ¹¹C-methionine may be superior to MR permeability imaging, ADC, and FDG-PET for differentiating radiation necrosis from recurrent tumors after gamma knife radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors.

Changes in Muscle Strength and Six-Minute Walk Distance Before and After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Impaired exercise capacity and muscle weakness are important characteristics of liver transplantation recipients. Perioperative rehabilitation has been introduced to promote early mobilization of patients and to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. However, it is unknown how physical status recovers during the hospital stay after a liver transplant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in clinical indicators that represent the functional exercise capacity and muscle strength before and after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 21 consecutive patients who underwent LDLT with perioperative rehabilitation from April 2014 to December 2015. Twelve patients who were tested for 6-minute walk distance, hand-grip strength, and isometric knee extensor muscle strength before and 4 weeks after LDLT were enrolled.

RESULTS

At the preoperative baseline, the 6-minute walk distance significantly correlated with the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score and pulmonary functions (vital capacity, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second of predictive values). Comparisons between the preoperative and postoperative values revealed significant decreases in weight, Barthel Index, hand-grip strength, and isometric knee extensor muscle strength. Changes in hand-grip strength and isometric knee extensor muscle strength after LDLT correlated with the preoperative Model for End-stage Liver Disease score.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical functional status had not been fully recovered 4 weeks after LDLT. Further investigation regarding developing a strategy for prevention of muscle atrophy before LDLT and recovery of physical fitness after LDLT would be helpful.

Abstract P1-11-12: Re-evaluating outcomes of partial-breast irradiation using multicatheter brachytherapy for Japanese patients with breast cancer by European brachytherapy phase 3 trial

[Purpose] The Groupe European de Curietherapie-European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) has reported the equivalent outcomes of partial-breast irradiation (PBI) using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MCB) to whole-breast irradiation (WBI) in breast-conserving therapy, showing that the incidence of local recurrence was 1.44% with MCB-PBI and 0.92% with WBI. Based on the trial, MCB-PBI could be considered as an alternative method to WBI for low-risk breast cancer patients. However, it would be difficult to translate it directly into Japanese community practice. After categorization of Japanese patients using the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this trial, our databases were re-evaluated to validate the data for Japanese patients, and the possibility to extend the candidate for MCB-PBI was also investigated.

[Methods] Patients undergoing BCT were retrospectively examined between November 2007 and December 2015. The technique involved an open-cavity implant with a dose of 32 Gy in eight fractions. WBI was performed with a total dose of 50 Gy in fractions of 2 Gy. The 4-year clinical outcomes of MCB-PBI were evaluated in the two distinct categories, and comparisons of outcomes between MCB-PBI and WBI were performed in patients with unfavorable features.

[Results] Of a total of 501 lesions undergoing BCT, 301 lesions were treated with MCB-PBI and 200 lesions with WBI. At a median follow-up time of 52 months, the 4-year rate of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR)-free, disease-free, and overall survival in patients with MCB-PBI and WBI were 98.9% vs. 98.0% (p = 0.56), 97.0% vs. 95.3% (p = 0.78), and 99.6% vs. 98.2% (p = 0.38), respectively. In the exclusion cohort treated with MCB-PBI, IBTR-free and disease-free survival were significantly poorer than in the inclusion cohort.However, no significant differences in the outcomes between the two radiotherapy techniques were demonstrated with respect to either IBTR-FS (95.0% vs. 97.2%, p = 0.24), DFS (95.0% vs. 95.8%, p = 0.31), or OS (100% vs. 99.0%, p = 0.80) in patients with exclusion criteria

Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for IBTR and breast cancer eventVariablesIBTR  Locoregional and distant recurrences   P-value  P-value   UnivariateMultivariateHR (95% CI)UnivariateMultivariateHR (95% CI)Age ≥ 40 vs &lt; 40years.25—2.49 (0.53–11.72) —0.90 (0.21–3.85)Axillary node negative vs. positive&lt;.05&lt;.054.09 (1.18–14.12)&lt;.05&lt;.052.75 (1.19–6.36)Margin negative vs. positive&lt;.01&lt;.015.58 (1.54–20.29).075.0682.55 (0.93–6.97)WBI vs. MCB-PBI.56—0.69 (0.20–2.39).78—0.89 (0.39–2.03).

ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study includes the largest cohort of Asian patients undergoing MCB-PBI. Although the retrospective chart review with relatively short follow-up time and small number of patients does not allow reaching any definite conclusion, we could expect the same outcomes by MCB-PBI as those in the GEC-ESTRO trial with respect to the tumor control only for Japanese but for Asian patients with breast cancer. Moreover, no negative impact on the outcomes of MCB-PBI as compared to WBI was not found in patients with exclusion criteria.

Citation Format: Sato K, Mizuno Y, Fuchikami H, Takeda N, Kato M. Re-evaluating outcomes of partial-breast irradiation using multicatheter brachytherapy for Japanese patients with breast cancer by European brachytherapy phase 3 trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-12.

Enhanced sealing strength of a hydrophobically-modified Alaska pollock gelatin-based sealant

A novel tissue sealant composed of hydrophobically-modified Alaska pollock gelatin and polyethylene glycol-based crosslinker showed higher sealing effect than commercially available tissue sealant.

Disseminated Histiocytic Sarcoma in an African Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Disseminated histiocytic sarcoma (HS) was diagnosed on post-mortem examination of a 1.5-year-old African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) that was presented in poor physical condition and with diarrhoea. Leucocytosis and a hypoechoic abdominal mass were noted on haematological and ultrasonographical examinations. Gross pathological, histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of the mass supported a diagnosis of disseminated HS. To our knowledge, this report represents the first documentation of disseminated HS in this species.

Quality of life in stabilized patients with schizophrenia is mainly associated with resilience and self-esteem

OBJECTIVE

Improving quality of life (QoL) is an important objective in the treatment of schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to examine to what extent resilience, self-esteem, hopelessness, and psychopathology are correlated with QoL.

METHOD

We recruited 52 out-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria and 77 healthy control subjects from the general community. In patients, psychopathology was quantified by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. The following scales were used in both patients and control subjects: the Berliner Lebensqualitätsprofil, the Resilience Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale to assess QoL, resilience, self-esteem, and hopelessness respectively.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia presented with significantly less QoL, resilience, self-esteem, and hope compared to healthy control subjects. In patients, QoL correlated moderately with resilience, self-esteem, and hopelessness and weakly with symptoms. With respect to the latter, particularly depression and positive symptoms were negatively correlated with QoL.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight the complex nature of QoL in patients suffering from schizophrenia. They underscore that significant efforts are necessary to enhance resilience and self-esteem and to diminish hopelessness as well as affective and positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract P3-12-19: Impact of young age on local control after partial-breast irradiation in early-stage breast cancer

Background: Although the rate of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) increased, the receipt of adjuvant radiotherapy after BCS decreased especially for young patients. The long-term daily visit to radiation facilities must be the most relevant barriers to receiving radiation therapy. The use of partial-breast irradiation (PBI) is considered an alternative option. However, there are limited data to be seen how safe PBI is as an option of adjuvant radiation therapy in young patients compared with whole-breast irradiation (WBI). In this report, we reviewed our single-institution experience with PBI compared with WBI in young breast cancer patients.

Methods: We evaluated 443 consecutive patients with T≤3-cm N0–1 breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving therapy (BCT) between November 2007 and May 2015. 268 patients received PBI using interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy. The interstitial brachytherapy was performed in an accelerated fashion with a dose of 32 Gy in eight fractions over 5-6 days. 185 patients received WBI with a dose of 50 Gy in fractions of 2 Gy. Patients with risk factors such as positive margins and young age received a subsequent 10 Gy boost to the tumor bed, and the regional nodal irradiation was added in patients with ≥ 4 positive nodes. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded from the analysis. Our primary objective was to assess outcome rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), and compare the patterns of treatment failures between the cohorts.

Results: Patients aged &lt;50 years with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were selected for the analysis. Of those patients who could be completely followed, there were 95 women receiving PBI and 81 women receiving WBI. In PBI cohort, 4 patients also received WBI because of adverse histological features with positive nodes or positive margins by final pathology. Median follow-up was 4.0 years for PBI patients and 3.9 years for WBI patients. Median age was 43.9 years old for PBI and 42.1 years old for WBI cohort. Mean tumor size was equivalent for the cohorts (12 mm). Positive lymph nodes were seen more frequently in WBI cohort (9.5% and 29.6%, p &lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the 3-year probability of disease-free survival (97.4% and 98.1% for PBI and WBI, respectively; p = 0.95). No breast cancer related death was observed. With our follow-up period, there were 5 IBTR (2.8%). Of these IBTRs, 4 were true recurrences (2 were in PBI and 2 were in WBI). There was 1 elsewhere recurrence in PBI cohort. The actual rate of IBTR was 3.2% and 2.5% in PBI and WBI, respectively (p = 0.64).

Conclusions: We observed equivalent IBTR rates between PBI and WBI cohorts in young breast cancer patients. If there are no differences in survival between the two radiotherapy regimens, PBI may be a better option than WBI after BCS in such a population. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing that the efficacy of PBI after BCS is comparable with WBI in young breast cancer patients in Asia. However, our data are limited by our short median follow-up with small number of patients. The application of PBI should still be carefully considered until mature Phase III trial data are available.

Citation Format: Sato K, Mizuno Y, Fuchikami H, Takeda N, Kato M. Impact of young age on local control after partial-breast irradiation in early-stage breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-19.

Evaluation of contraceptive methods in women with congenital heart disease in Germany, Hungary and Japan

AIMS

For women with congenital heart defects (CHD), pregnancy may pose a health risk. Sexually active women with CHD without the desire for own children or for whom pregnancy would imply considerable health risks require adequate counselling regarding appropriate contraception. This study gathers data on the contraceptive behaviour of women with CHD from three different cultural regions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

634 women with CHD from Germany, Hungary and Japan were surveyed regarding contraception and contraceptive methods (CM) used. The patients were divided into groups according to different criteria such as pregnancy associated cardiovascular risk or "safety" of the contraceptive methods used. 59% of the study participants had already gained experience with CM. The average age at the first time of use was 18.4 years; the German patients were significantly younger at the first time of using a CM than those from Hungary and Japan. Overall the condom was the method used the most (38%), followed by oral contraceptives (30%) and coitus interruptus (11%). The range of CM used in Japan was much smaller than that in Germany or Hungary. Unsafe contraceptives were currently, or had previously been used, by 29% of the surveyed patients (Germany: 25%, Hungary: 37%, Japan: 32%).

CONCLUSION

Most women with CHD use CM. There are differences between the participating countries. Adequate contraceptive counselling of women with CHD requires considering the individual characteristics of each patient, including potential contraindications. For choosing an appropriate CM, both the methods' "safety", as well as the maternal cardiovascular risk, are important.