[Identification system for Sildenafil in health foods]

A substantially available identification system for Sildenafil in health foods was established using 3 different analytical methods; i.e. TLC, preparative TLC/MS and HPLC/photo-diode array. Sildenafil in health foods was extracted with ethyl acetate under alkaline conditions as sample solutions for TLC and preparative TLC, and also extracted with 50% methanol and then diluted with solution of HPLC mobile phase for HPLC. The sample solution for TLC was applied to Silica gel 60 F254 plates with chloroform/methanol/28% ammonia (90:1:5, under layer) as mobile phase. Spots were located under UV radiation at 254 nm and 366 nm, and spraying dragendorff reagent. The conditions for preparative TLC were the same as these of TLC method, and samples abtained from preparative TLC were determined by MS with APCI interface, under both positive and negative modes. The HPLC analysis was carried out on a column of Cosmosil 5C18-AR (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microns) with 0.05 mol/l phosphate buffer pH 3.0/acetonitrile(73:27) as mobile phase and the eluate was monitored by a photo-diode array detector. The quantitative analysis was available, when the peak of this sample on HPLC was detected at 290 nm. When this system was applied to commercial health foods, Sildenafil was identified and their contents were 25 mg-45 mg/tablet or bottle. These contents nearly correspond to that in Viagra, 25 mg, 50 mg/tablet. Therefore, there is a fear of side effects for Sildenafil, when it is taken as health foods.

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung

A 67-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our department for treatment for a left lung tumor. The tumor was 40 mm in diameter and was present in the left lower lobe. A primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung was suspected after a trans-bronchial lung tissue biopsy. Systemic screening revealed no other organ involvement, and the tumor was considered to be a primary lung tumor. A left lower lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node sampling was performed. Pathological examination revealed centrocyte-like cells that expressed CD20. These cells had invaded the bronchiolar epithelium to form lymphoepithelial lesions. The pathological diagnosis was confirmed to be primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the lung. The origin of this tumor type in the lung is relatively rare.

Determination of traces of cadmium in natural water samples by flow injection on-line preconcentration-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A flow injection on-line preconcentration-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method was developed for the determination of traces of cadmium in natural water samples. Cadmium in samples was adsorbed on an iminodiacetate-type chelating resin, Muromac A-1 microcolumn (3 mm i.d. and 10 mm long), and then eluted with 2 mol l-1 HNO3. The eluate was introduced into the injection tip of an autosampler. The eluate zone with the highest analyte concentration was injected into the graphite furnace by cooperation of a peristaltic pump and a syringe pump of the autosampler, which were controlled by a programmable controller. The present system was successfully applied to the determination of cadmium in natural water samples. A detection limit of 0.2 ng l-1 was obtained with 12 ml sample loading. The recoveries were 99 and 108% for tap water (4 ml loading) and underground water (12 ml loading), respectively. Analytical results obtained for a river water reference material (JAC-0031, Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry) were close to the reference value.

[A case of primary lung adenocarcinoma with diffuse calcification in the tumor by psamoma bodies]

A 78-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our department for the treatment of a right lung tumor. The patient had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and followed up in outpatient clinic. On March 6, 1995, abnormal shadow in the right upper lobe was pointed out by routine chest X-ray. Chest CT revealed calcification in the shadow, and benign lesion, such as old pulmonary tuberculosis, was suspected. During follow-up, the size of the shadow and calcification area in the shadow gradually increased. Malignancy was suspected based on the increasing size of the tumor. On July 12, 2000, video-assisted right upper lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node sampling was performed. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor was primary lung adenocarcinoma containing psamoma bodies in the tumor.

Thoracoscopic surgery and conventional open thoracotomy in metastatic lung cancer

BACKGROUND

We performed a retrospective comparison of the oncological outcome of thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary metastasis with that of conventional open thoracotomy.

METHODS

The patient population for our retrospective comparison was comprised of 45 patients undergoing pulmonary resections via video-assisted thoracoscopy (thoracoscopy group) and 55 undergoing similar resections by open thoracotomy (open group) for pulmonary metastases between 1994 and 1999.

RESULTS

Solitary metastasis was resected more frequently with thoracoscopy than open thoracotomy. There were no significant intergroup differences in rates of local recurrence from the initial pulmonary resection site. The actuarial 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were, respectively, 82.8%, 70.0%, and 62.3% in the thoracoscopy group and 93.6%, 64.6%, and 52.7% in the open group. The rates of pulmonary recurrence and survival also did not differ significantly between the two groups with solitary metastases.

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopic surgery for metastatic lung disease appears to be feasible as long as the preoperative metastatic tumor evaluation using chest computed tomography (CT) is accurate.

Tonsillar metastasis from large cell carcinoma of the lung

A 52-year-old female was referred to our department for treatment of a left lung tumor, 80 mm in diameter, arising in the left S1 + 2. The patient's chief complaint was persistent dry cough and spiking fever. Left upper lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection (ND2a) was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was primary large cell carcinoma of the lung, p-T3N0M0. At one week after being discharged, the patient visited our outpatient clinic complaining of a sore throat. A tumor in the right tonsil was discovered, and excisional biopsy revealed it to be metastasis from the large cell carcinoma of the lung. Right cervical lymph node metastasis was also detected, and the patient was treated by combined chemo-radiotherapy, resulting in a complete remission.

Endoscopic subtotal thyroidectomy for patients with Graves' disease

Endoscopic thyroidectomy performed via the precordial approach leaves no scarring of the neck, and thus provided excellent results from a cosmetic viewpoint. We applied this technique to perform subtotal thyroidectomy in 12 patients with Graves' disease. Three trocars were inserted in the precordial region, and endoscopic surgery was performed with carbon dioxide insufflation. Vessel management and thyroidectomy were carried out using ultrasonic coagulation devices. The mean operative time was 259.8 min, and the mean blood loss was 90.2ml. There were no postoperative complications such as subcutaneous emphysema or hemorrhage, although hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis occurred in one patient. Cosmetically esthetic results were achieved in all patients. These findings indicate that this surgical technique represents an effective method of treating Graves' disease that provides excellent cosmetic results.

Effects of lung metastasectomy on respiratory function

OBJECTIVE

The effects of lung metastasectomy on respiration were evaluated.

SUBJECTS

From 1961 to 1999, 203 patients underwent lung metastasectomy. Of these, 102 patients who had undergone only partial lung resection, had undergone sufficient respiratory function testing, and had not suffered from other lung disease were included.

RESULTS

Unilateral thoracoscopic surgery caused less decrease in percent vital capacity than surgery through a posterolateral thoracotomy, in both the early (rate of decrease: 16.2 +/- 9.1 vs. 33.0 +/- 12.0%, p < 0.01), and the late postoperative period (2.0 +/- 4.5 vs. 17.8 +/- 6.0%, p < 0.0001). Two thoracoscopic operations caused less decrease in percent vital capacity than 2 operations through a posterolateral thoracotomy (21.3 +/- 13.8 vs. 61.1 +/- 8.1%, p = 0.02). Bilateral metastasectomy through a median sternotomy caused less decrease in percent vital capacity than that through posterolateral thoracotomies (45.5 +/- 13.7 vs. 60.8 +/- 8.8%, p < 0.05). Four (36%) of 11 patients who had undergone 3 or more metastasectomies exhibited dyspnea of degree 3 or higher on the Hugh-Jones classification.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopic metastasectomy and metastasectomy through a median sternotomy caused less restrictive respiratory dysfunction than metastasectomy through a posterolateral thoracotomy. Since metastatic lung disease often necessitates repeated metastasectomy, and repeated metastasectomy often causes severe restrictive respiratory dysfunction, metastasectomy should be performed with a less invasive procedure.

Costs of videothoracoscopic surgery versus open resection for patients with of lung carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The costs of videothoracoscopic procedures for patients with lung carcinoma were compared with those of patients who underwent open thoracotomy in Japan.

METHODS

The cost of surgical treatment in 1997 and 1998 for patients with resectable primary or metastatic lung carcinoma was analyzed from itemized statements of hospital charges. For patients with lung carcinoma who are in relatively poor health, the authors chose videothoracoscopic lobectomy or partial resection of the lung instead of an open thoracotomy. For patients with solitary pulmonary metastasis, the authors routinely performed thoracoscopic partial resection of the lung.

RESULTS

Among 102 patients who were selected for the analysis, 79 patients had primary lung carcinoma, and 23 had metastatic lung carcinoma. Sixty-six open thoracotomies and 36 thoracoscopic surgeries were performed. The mean hospital charge for the entire group of patients was $11,348 (U.S.). The total charges accrued in the operating room amounted to 63% of the hospital charges. Hospitalization was significantly shorter in the group of patients who underwent videothoracoscopy (17.3 days) compared with the group of patients who underwent open thoracotomy (23.8 days). The charges for laboratory examinations, anesthesia, disposable equipment, and hospitalization were significantly higher in patients who underwent open thoracotomy compared with the patients who underwent videothoracoscopy. There were no statistically significant differences in the charges for medication or surgical fees between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The hospital charges for patients undergoing videothoracoscopic surgery were lower than the charges for patients undergoing open thoracotomy at the authors' hospital. The lower cost was attributable mainly to the less invasive nature of thoracoscopic surgical procedures, which also may be beneficial for decreasing the risk of postsurgical complications in patients in who are in relatively poor health.

Body height is a determinant of seasonal blood pressure variation in patients with essential hypertension

To determine the factors that affect seasonal variation in blood pressure (BP) in a fairly large number of patients with essential hypertension who stayed almost entirely indoors in a stable environmental temperature and who took a calcium channel blocker during the study. This prospective study of hypertensive patients was conducted during the summer and winter. BP was measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; the indoor temperature was measured at the time of the BP measurement using an electrothermometer with the subject awake and indoors. Subjects comprised 38 men and 57 women. The subjects spent virtually the entire day indoors during both the summer (men, 22.1+/-1.6 h; women, 23.0+/-0.9 h) and winter (men, 23.0+/-0.9 h; women, 22.9+/-0.9 h). During the waking hours, the systolic/diastolic BPs were significantly higher during the winter than the summer. The differences were 8+/-9/4+/-5 mmHg in men and 5+/-11/2+/-6 mmHg in women; these values were not significantly different between men and women. No significant seasonal differences in BP during the sleeping hours were noted. There was a significant difference of approximately 6 degrees C in the environmental temperature during waking hours, but there was no significant difference in urinary excretion of sodium or in exercise activity between the seasons. Only body height was significantly correlated with the winter increase in waking BP in both men and women, even after adjustment for potential confounding variables. Body height was a determinant of the increase in waking BP during the winter in hypertensive patients who lived almost entirely indoors.

Thoracoscopic resection of the pulmonary aspergilloma: report of two cases

Pulmonary aspergillomas causing hemoptysis were successfully resected through videothoracoscopy in two cases. We removed an aspergilloma located in the right lower lobe of the lung in a 48-year-old woman with a bronchial cyst and rheumatoid arthritis. We also removed an aspergilloma located in the left upper lobe of the lung in a 59-year-old man with emphysematous bullae and diabetes mellitus. In both cases, the aspergillomas were removed by pulmonary wedge resection through scheduled thoracoscopy.

Allogenicity of cryopreserved human fibroblasts: cryopreservation does not downregulate the allogenicity of fibroblasts making up the matrices of allografts

BACKGROUND

Although cryopreserved tissue allografts are being widely used, long-term degeneration of implanted cryopreserved allografts has become a problem. Although immunologic rejection has been suggested to play a part in this degeneration, cryopreserved allografts are considered to be less immunogenic than fresh allografts.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effect of cryopreservation on the allogenicity of the fibroblasts that make up the matrices of allografts.

METHODS

Fibroblast cell strains obtained from surgically resected lung specimens were used. Allogenicity-related antigens expressed on the cell surface (human leukocyte antigen 1, human leukocyte antigen 2, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1), stimulation indices during 1-way mixed lymphocyte-fibroblast cell culture, and proliferation indices of freshly passaged fibroblasts and cryopreserved fibroblasts stored for 1, 4, and 24 weeks were examined. Flow cytometric analysis with monoclonal antibodies was used to test for cell surface antigens, and a colorimetric methyl-thiazol-diphenyl-tetrazolium assay was used to assess stimulation indices and fibroblast proliferation indices. The effect of exogenous interferon-gamma on the degree of expression of human leukocyte antigen 1, human leukocyte antigen 2, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 was examined simultaneously.

RESULTS

The proliferation indices of fibroblasts were well maintained by cryopreservation. Expression of human leukocyte antigen 1, human leukocyte antigen 2, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 by fibroblasts was significantly upregulated by interferon-gamma, and cryopreservation did not downregulate this expression.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that although the fibroblast cell component may be beneficial in restoring allograft function properties initially, it may render the implanted allograft more immunogenic, ultimately resulting in greater rejection and inflammatory responses by the host and, in turn, degeneration of the graft.

Minimally invasive limited pericardiectomy: the hybrid approach

This communication describes our clinical experience with the hybrid method, a video-assisted anterior minithoracotomy approach developed for minimally invasive limited pericardiectomy to treat 8 patients with massive pericardial effusion. The average operating time was 37.2 minutes, and there was no procedure-related morbidity or mortality. The mean follow-up period was 5.6 months, and there have been no recurrences. The hybrid approach can be accomplished irrespective of pleural adhesions. It eliminates the need for hemipulmonary collapse, making it more advantageous than the totally port-access thoracoscopic approach.

Flow cytometric analysis of lymphoid cells in thymic epithelial neoplasms

OBJECTIVE

There have been conflicts concerning the criteria for diagnosing malignant epithelial neoplasms of thymic origin. To differentiate thymic carcinomas from thymomas, the maturation stage of T-lineage lymphoid cells infiltrating thymomas and thymic carcinomas was examined by flow cytometry to associate it with the degree of tumor malignancy.

METHODS

Multidimensional flow cytometric analysis was performed on the lymphoid cells extracted from 27 thymic epithelial neoplasms (14 encapsulated thymomas, ten invasive thymomas, and three thymic carcinomas) by using anti-CD3, -CD4, -CD8, -CD10, -CD20, -CD38, -CD45RA, and -CD45RO monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

CD4 and CD8 were co-expressed on 76.8% of the lymphoid cells in encapsulated thymoma (N=14), 59.2% in invasive thymoma (N=10), and 6.7% in thymic cancer (N=3). The percentage of CD4- or CD8- single positive cells was 11.4% in encapsulated thymoma, 23.9% in invasive thymoma, and 77.7% in thymic cancer. The percentage of CD10-positive cells was 20.8% in encapsulated thymoma, 13.2% in invasive thymoma, and 6.0% in thymic cancer. The percentage of CD20-positive cell was 2.6% in encapsulated thymoma, 3.3% in invasive thymoma, and 31.6% in thymic cancer. There were significant statistical differences in the percentages of CD4/CD8 double positive cells, CD4- or CD8-single positive cells, CD10-positive cells and CD20-positive cells among the three groups. Two cases classified as invasive thymoma by pathohistological examination, however, showed the infiltration of mature lymphocytes like as thymic cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

CD4+CD8+ or CD10+ T-lineage cells were the most reliable markers of the benignancy of thymic epithelial tumors. CD4- or CD8-single positive cells or CD20-positive cells were characteristic in thymic carcinoma. Flow cytometry on the maturity of lymphoid cells infiltrating thymic epithelial tumors was feasible for determining their degree of malignancy. Some invasive thymomas showed the intermediate characteristics with thymomatous epithelia and mature lymphoid cells.

Ontogeny of antipig xenoantibody and hyperacute rejection

BACKGROUND

Neonatal primates have been reported to receive pig hearts without hyperacute rejection (HAR). We examined the ontogeny of the anti-pig xenoantibody (XenoAb) and HAR in the neonatal and infant monkeys.

METHODS

Twenty-six serum samples from 15 monkeys ages 14-192 days were subjected to hemagglutination titration against pig erythrocytes. Ten pig hearts were heterotopically transplanted into the monkeys.

RESULTS

Six monkeys, ages 52-114 days, received pig hearts without HAR, and those ages 129-191 days hyperacutely rejected them. XenoAb titers were increased according to the age (Spearman's rank correlation value=0.909 (P<0.01)). XenoAb titers in 16 monkeys <4 months were significantly (P<0.01) lower than those in 10 monkeys >4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-pig XenoAb titers increased with the age of the monkeys. XenoAb levels in monkeys >4 months are high enough to reject pig hearts hyperacutely.

[Pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma associated with recurrent pneumothorax: report of a case]

A 25-years-old male, current smoker, was referred to our department for treatment of the right pneumothorax due to pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma. He underwent thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lung. Immunostaining of the specimen revealed a lot of Langerhans cells positive for S 100 protein, suggesting active lesion. After cessation of smoking, no recurrence of pneumothorax or progression of disease have been observed for 13 months.

Pedunculated bronchogenic cyst mimicking pleural lesion

We report a rare case of a bronchogenic cyst presenting as a pleural nodule. CT and MRI demonstrated a well circumscribed, homogeneous lesion located on the pleural surface apart from the mediastinum. It was proven to be a bronchogenic cyst localized between the parietal and visceral pleurae and connected with the mediastinum only through fibrous tissue. Radiologists should be aware that a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst may be located apart from the mediastinum.

[Primary mediastinal germ cell tumor: report of a case]

Fourty-seven years old male was admitted to this hospital with the symptoms of worsening cough and chest pain. An anterior mediastinal tumor, 13 cm in diameter, was pointed out on chest X-ray. The tumor was diagnosed as primary mediastinal germ cell tumor with mixed seminomatous and non-seminomatous elements due to elevated serum AFP and beta HCG, and the pathological finding of needle biopsy specimen. He underwent 3 courses of chemotherapy with BEP regimen, and following surgical resection of the tumor, left upper lobectomy and partial resection of pericardium via median sternotomy. Pathological diagnosis of the resected tumor was mature cystic teratoma. For 9 months no recurrence of the tumor has been observed.

[Recent donation and clinical results of homograft tissue]

Between August 1995 and July 1999, we have experienced 14 donors for allografts (mean age: 39.8 +/- 15.8, M/F = 10/4, mean warm ischemic time: 359 minutes). Donated tissues were included 12 aortic valves and 12 pulmonary valves, respectively. Since February 1994, clinical diagnoses of 14 patients included 7 congenital heart disease, 5 infective heart disease, 1 artificial graft infection, and 1 thrombosed valve. There was no graft-transmitted disease. In congenital heart disease, 3 patients (HLHS: 1, Truncus: 1, TOF + PA: 1) died (early mortality, 42%) and 1 with TGA had residual conduit stenosis. However, in infective heart disease, all patients survived without recurrent infection and did not need reoperation (early mortality, 0%). Our clinical results of homograft implantation for infective heart disease were excellent, but more careful consideration will be needed for congenital heart disease in neonates and/or patients with poor preoperative condition.

Results from surgical treatment for thymoma. 43 years of experience

OBJECTIVE

The biological behavior of thymoma and its prognosis after surgical intervention remain still controversial. The efficacy of surgical treatment for thymoma was investigated by examining long-term follow-up data.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Follow-up data for patients undergoing surgical resection of histopathologically-confirmed thymoma between 1954 and 1997 were obtained and were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical staging was based on Masaoka's staging system, and histological classification on Rosai's proposed criteria.

RESULTS

Data for 140 patients were collected. Sixty-four patients had stage I, 32 had stage II, 28 had stage III, and 16 had stage IV thymoma. There were significant differences in survival between patients with stage I and stage III, stage I and stage IV and stage II and stage III disease, but not between those with stage I thymoma and stage II thymoma. No significant difference in survival was observed between the 56 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and the 84 without MG. The 38 patients classified as having a predominantly-epithelial thymoma had a poorer prognosis than the 41 with a predominantly-lymphocytic thymoma. Until 1975, there were four patients with stage I thymomas who later showed recurrence, compared with 21 among those with stage II, III and IV diseases. Since 1976, extended thymectomy with thymomectomy under median sternotomy has been adopted as the standard operation for a thymoma, and there has been no recurrence in stage I patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with stage III or IV invasive thymoma have a poorer prognosis and a higher recurrence rate than those with encapsulated thymoma, and patients with a predominantly-epithelial thymoma have a poorer prognosis than those with a predominantly-lymphocytic thymoma. Extended thymectomy with thymomectomy under median sternotomy can be considered as adequate treatment for a stage I thymoma. Myasthenia gravis does not appear to affect the prognosis of patients with a thymoma.

Purification and characterization of thyroid-hormone-binding protein from masu salmon serum. A homolog of higher-vertebrate transthyretin

We purified a thyroid-hormone-binding protein (THBP) from serum of masu salmon at the stage of smoltification when the concentrations of endogenous thyroid hormones in plasma reach the highest levels. All steps of sequential column chromatography suggest that this THBP is responsible for most L-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine-binding activity in serum at this stage. The molecular mass of this protein was estimated to be 60 kDa by gel filtration but only 15 kDa by SDS/PAGE, which suggests that it is comprised of four identical subunits. The amino acid sequence of its N-terminal portion was highly similar to those of vertebrate transthyretins. These molecular features indicate that masu salmon THBP is a homolog of transthyretins from tetrapods. However, in contrast with mammalian transthyretins, the affinity of masu salmon transthyretin for L-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine was three times greater than for L-thyroxine. This rank order affinity is similar to that of avian and frog transthyretins. Scatchard analysis revealed that masu salmon transthyretin possesses a single class of binding site for L-3,5,3'-triiodothyronine, with a Kd of 13.8 nM at 0 degrees C. Taken together with the data reported by Chang et al. [Eur. J. Biochem. (1999) 259, 534-542], these results suggest that transthyretin has changed from a L-3,5, 3'-triiodothyronine-carrier protein to a L-thyroxine-carrier protein during mammalian evolution.

[Intraperitoneal administration of a combined CDDP, 5-FU and MMC therapy for pseudomyxoma peritonei]

Pseudomyxoma peritonei, which is the seeding of the peritoneum by mucin-secreting metastatic deposits and the filling of the peritoneal cavity by these secretions, is a malignancy that even after excision of the metastatic areas has a poor prognosis, since no effective therapy has yet been established. Herein, we report five cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei that responded to a combined postsurgical therapy consisting of CDDP, 5-FU and MMC. A 59-year-old women had a complete response who underwent an appendectomy, a right ovariectomy, and an omentectomy due to pseudomyxoma peritonei, and was postoperatively given a 50 mg intraperitoneal administration of CDDP. Further, a subcutaneous implant-type reservoir was positioned intraperitoneally for postoperative chemotherapy. At 14 days after surgery, therapy was begun which consisted of CDDP (70 mg/m2/day 1), 5-FU (350 mg/m2/day 1) and MMC (6 mg/m2/day 1) administered intraperitoneally, and 5-FU (350 mg/m2/day 1-3) that was continuously infused by an intravenous drip. She received 4 courses of postoperative chemotherapy. As a result of this therapy, the serum CEA values, which had elevated postoperatively, fell to within their respective normal ranges, and at 44 months postoperatively, this patient remains alive. Given the results above, intraperitoneal administrations of this combined CDDP, 5-FU, MMC therapy may be effective for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Activation of cyclin D1-related kinase in human lung adenocarcinoma

Cyclin D1 gene amplification is an important event in many cancers, but it is rarely found in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was conducted in an attempt to clarify any other mechanisms related to cyclin D1 involvement in the malignant transformation of NSCLC, and we clearly showed for the first time that cyclin D1-related kinases are activated in NSCLC, especially in adenocarcinoma but not in squamous cell carcinoma. The results of this study strongly suggest that enhanced cyclin D1-related kinase activity could contribute to a progression of adenocarcinoma in NSCLC.