Cooling-induced brushite crystallization in urine as a predictive risk marker for calcium kidney stone recurrence.

Kidney stones have a high recurrence rate-10% within 5 years and 50% within 10. Crystalluria reflects the urinary physicochemical environment and may serve as a recurrence marker, but key crystals like brushite are rarely detected under ambient conditions. This study aimed to identify novel recurrence markers by inducing crystallization through urine cooling and analyzing crystal composition.

Tuberculosis Relapse in the Epididymis After the Completion of Nine Months of Anti-Tuberculosis Chemotherapy in a Patient with Poorly Controlled Diabetes Mellitus.

The standard six-month tuberculosis (TB) treatment comprises an intensive phase lasting two months, followed by a continuation phase lasting four months. Meanwhile, the nine-month regimen, which has a prolonged continuation phase, is indicated for patients with complicated diabetes mellitus (DM) because of their poor response to treatment. A 61-year-old Japanese man with poorly controlled DM for five years presented with bilateral scrotal swelling noticed two weeks ago.

Isolated ACTH deficiency during single-agent pembrolizumab for squamous cell lung carcinoma: a case report.

Background: The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab is a promising agent for treatment of several different malignancies, but as with all immunotherapy there is a potential risk of immune-related adverse events. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency and hypophysitis have been reported in patients treated with a different PD-1 inhibitor, nivolumab. However, clinical characteristics of these side effects associated with pembrolizumab have yet to be described in detail.

Pulmonary activation of vitamin D and preventive effect against interstitial pneumonia.

Calcitriol [1,25(OH)D] is usually investigated in studies on the preventive effect of activated vitamin D against interstitial pneumonia. Although cholecalciferol (vitamin D) can be easily obtained in the diet and has a longer half-life than calcitriol, there have been few investigations of its effect on interstitial pneumonia. We used human pulmonary fibroblast cell lines (HPFCs) and a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis to evaluate whether vitamin D was activated in the lungs and had a preventive effect against interstitial pneumonia.

Palatal Polymorphous Adenocarcinoma with High-Grade Transformation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is the second most common intraoral malignant neoplasm of the minor salivary glands. However, it is very rare for PAC to show high-grade transformation (HGT) and to our knowledge, the English literature only seven reported cases. HGT tends to be observed when PAC recurs, and it is extremely rare to be seen at initial presentation.

A case of miriplatin-induced lung injury.

A 69-year-old man with an 8-year history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was hospitalized for treatment of recurrent tumour. In 2010, the first transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using miriplatin with agents (Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid) was performed and did not occur any adverse events. In 2014, since his HCC recurred, the TACE using miriplatin with agents was performed.

Increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 is associated with worse chemotherapeutic outcome and a poor prognosis in advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Constitutive activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathway, that is activated by various stimuli including growth factors and oncogenic driver mutations, is observed in various cancers. However, the difference of the activated levels of the pathway is still unclear in clinical significances. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different ERK1/2 pathway activation, assessed by the expression levels of phosphorylated (p) ERK1/2, on the prognosis of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Effect of ionomycin on interaction of calnexin with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is cell type-specific.

Ionomycin is a calcium ionophore that induces release of calcium ions (Ca(2+)) from cellular storage to cytoplasm and Ca(2+) influx from the outside of the cell. We investigated the effect of ionomycin on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi transport in the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) system. Ionomycin inhibited transport of VSV-G in a concentration-dependent manner in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells and HeLa cells.

Nicotine-Mediated Ca(2+)-Influx Induces IL-8 Secretion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell.

Cigarette smoking is one of the most important risk factors for the development of various diseases. Nicotine is the most extensively investigated component of cigarette smoke, and a comprehensive analysis of the genes induced by nicotine stimulation revealed that interleukin-8 (IL-8) was induced in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell (OSCC). Based on this background, the signaling mechanisms of nicotine-mediated IL-8 induction in OSCC was investigated.

Association between expression of thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and efficacy of pemetrexed in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Pemetrexed inhibits three key folate enzymes: thymidylate synthetase (TYMS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT). The relationship between the clinical efficacy of pemetrexed and the expression of folate enzymes in lung cancer cells is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TYMS, DHFR, and GARFT expression affect the therapeutic efficacy of pemetrexed.

Photochemically generated elemental selenium forms conjugates with serum proteins that are preferentially cytotoxic to leukemia and selected solid tumor cells.

The objective of this study was to determine if and how photoproducts contribute to the antitumor effect of merocyanine-mediated PDT. A panel of barbituric, thiobarbituric and selenobarbituric acid analogues of Merocyanine 540 was photobleached, and the resulting photoproducts were characterized by absorption, fluorescence emission, mass, energy dispersive X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and tested for cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines and freshly explanted bone marrow cells. While all dyes were readily photobleached, only photoproducts of selone dyes showed cytotoxic activity.

Cyclosporine A induces apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma cells via caspase-dependent pathway.

Background: Aerosolized cyclosporine A (CsA) increases the local concentration of CsA in lung tissue and has proven to be an effective therapy for refractory rejection in lung transplant patients. However, the safety of high concentrations of CsA on tumour progression remains controversial.

Materials And Methods: Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were cultured with or without 1-3 μg/ml of CsA.

[A pulmonary tumor embolism which mimicked pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy caused by uterine cervical cancer].

A 58-year-old woman presented with cough and dyspnea on exertion. A chest CT scan showed infiltrative cuneiform shadows in the peripheral lung fields. Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy showed multiple nonsegmental defects.

Activation of Valpha24NKT cells in malignant pleural effusion in patients with lung cancer.

Valpha24NKT cells are lymphocytes expressing both T-cell antigen receptors and NK-cell antigen receptors on their cell surface and are involved in tumor immunity. They exert their antitumor effects after being activated by a specific ligand, alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alpha-GalCer). Malignant pleural effusion, a frequently occurring complication in patients with lung cancer, contains numerous lymphocytes.

Influence of lymphocytes in malignant pleural effusion on the therapeutic efficacy of intrapleural OK-432 in lung cancer patients.

Objectives: Malignant pleural effusion, a common complication seen in advanced lung cancer patients, is often treated with intrapleural administration of chemical agents. In Japan, OK-432, a biological response modifiers, which activates the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes and boosts antitumor immunity, is among the most frequently used chemical agents. The purpose of this study was to determine, in a case-control study, whether or not the rate of lymphocytes in malignant pleural effusion (lymphocyte rate) influences the therapeutic efficacy of intrapleural OK-432.

Potentiation of the antitumor effect of Merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic therapy by amifostine and amphotericin B.

Leukemia and lymphoma cells are much more sensitive to Merocyanine 540 (MC540)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) than normal pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and normal colony forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM). By contrast, most solid tumor cells are only moderately sensitive to MC540-PDT. The limited activity against solid tumor cells has detracted from MC540's appeal as a broad-spectrum purging agent.

ELEMENTAL SELENIUM GENERATED BY THE PHOTOBLEACHING OF SELENOMEROCYANINE PHOTOSENSITIZERS FORMS CONJUGATES WITH SERUM MACROMOLECULES THAT ARE TOXIC TO TUMOR CELLS.

Elemental selenium generated by the photobleaching of selenomerocyanine dyes forms conjugates with serum albumin and serum lipoproteins that are toxic to leukemia and selected solid tumor cells but well tolerated by normal CD34-positive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Serum albumin and lipoproteins act as Trojan horses that deliver the cytotoxic entity (elemental selenium) to tumor cells as part of a physiological process. They exploit the fact that many tumors have an increased demand for albumin and/or low-density lipoprotein.

[Comparison of intrapleural OK-432 and cisplatin for malignant pleural effusion in lung cancer patients].

Malignant pleural effusion is typical of complications in advanced lung cancer patients, most of whom complain of dyspnea. The standard treatment for symptomatic pleural effusion is intrapleural administration of a chemical agent. In Japan, OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, and cisplatin (CDDP) have been among the most frequently used chemical agents.

Examination of expandable metallic stent removed at autopsy.

Objective: We evaluated the damage to expandable metallic stents (EMS) based upon analysis of EMS removed at autopsy.

Methodology: Seventeen EMS were obtained during autopsy from the main bronchi of nine patients with lung cancer. Each EMS was categorized into one of the following three groups, according to the degree of EMS damage: no damage at all (ND), damage to part of the EMS (PD), and marked damage (MD) that caused loss of function of the airway stent.

Preferential inactivation of paediatric solid tumour cells by sequential exposure to Merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic therapy and Edelfosine: implications for the ex vivo purging of autologous haematopoietic stem cell grafts.

Paediatric solid tumours exhibit steep dose-response curves to alkylating agents and are therefore considered candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support. There is growing evidence that autologous stem cell grafts from patients with solid tumours are frequently contaminated with live tumour cells. The objective of this study was to perform, in a preclinical purging model, an initial assessment of the safety and efficacy of a two-step purging procedure that combined Merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic therapy (MC540-PDT) with a brief exposure to the alkyl-lysophospholipid, Edelfosine.