Development of large deformation in 62Cr

The structure of neutron-rich isotopes 60Cr and 62Cr was studied via proton inelastic scattering in inverse kinematics. The deformation lengths (delta) for 60Cr and 62Cr were extracted as 1.12(16) and 1.36(14) fm, respectively, providing evidence for enhanced collectivity in these nuclei. An excited state at 1180(10) keV in 62Cr was identified for the first time. We adopted 4;{+} as its spin and parity, leading to the rapid increase of the Ex(4;{+})/E_{x}(2;{+}) ratio, which indicates the development of large deformation in 62Cr near N=40. Importance of the admixture of the gd-shell component above N=40 is also discussed by comparing with a modern shell model calculation.

Decay pattern of pygmy states observed in neutron-rich 26Ne

Coulomb excitation of the exotic neutron-rich nucleus (26)Ne on a (208)Pb target was measured at 58 MeV/u in order to search for low-lying E1 strength above the neutron emission threshold. This radioactive beam experiment was carried out at the RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. Using the invariant mass method in the 25Ne+n channel, we observe a sizable amount of E1 strength between 6 and 10 MeV excitation energy. By performing a multipole decomposition of the differential cross section, a reduced dipole transition probability of B(E1)=0.49+/-0.16e(2) fm(2) is deduced, corresponding to 4.9+/-1.6% of the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. For the first time, the decay pattern of low-lying strength in a neutron-rich nucleus is measured. The extracted decay pattern is not consistent with several mean-field theory descriptions of the pygmy states.

Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway in epidermal tumours and its correlation with cyclin-dependent kinase 2

BACKGROUND

The enzyme mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates many different cellular signals to control cell growth and proliferation, protein synthesis and breakdown, and other processes. Dysregulation of mTOR is implicated in a range of human diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular disorders. To date, there has been no report on the expression of protein kinase B (AKT)/mTOR cell signalling in epidermal tumours.

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to investigate the activation of the mTOR signalling pathway in epidermal tumours and to correlate this with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) expression.

METHODS

Immunohistological staining was performed with phosphorylated (p-) AKT, p-mTOR, p-4E-binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1), p-ribosomal protein S6 (p-S6), p-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p-p70S6K1) and CDK2 in 15 cases each of seborrhoeic keratosis, actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma and Bowen's disease (BD), and 25 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifteen normal skin (NS) samples served as control.

RESULTS

Among 85 tumours, 40 (47%) were positive for p-AKT, 31 (36%) for p-mTOR, 44 (52%) for p-4EBP1, 38 (45%) for p-S6, and 39 (46%) for p-p70S6K1. CDK2 immunostaining was positive in all cases of SCC and BD, and in 67% of benign tumours. All of these markers were stained much more frequently in malignant tumours than in benign tumours or NS. p-AKT, p-mTOR, p-4EBP1, p-p70S6K1 and p-S6 each showed high correlation with CDK2.

CONCLUSIONS

Constitutive activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway was frequent in epidermal tumours, especially in malignant tumours. Activation was highly correlated with CDK2 expression, suggesting that the AKT/mTOR pathway may induce the malignant transition through CDK2 in epidermal tumours.

Increased expression of an epidermal stem cell marker, cytokeratin 19, in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) has been considered to be a putative marker for epidermal stem cells in the hair follicle bulge. Cumulative reports have shown that epidermal stem cells play an important role in skin carcinogenesis. However, to date there has been no report on the clinical alteration of the stem cells in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate alteration of the stem cells and proliferating cells and to assess their relationship and potential contribution to SCC.

METHODS

Thirty paraffin-embedded neoplastic skin lesions, consisting of 10 cases each of actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen disease (BD) and SCC, were examined immunohistologically for CK19 and Ki-67.

RESULTS

Positive reactivity for CK19 was seen in 30% of AK, 50% of BD and 80% of SCC lesions. There was significantly higher expression levels of CK19 in SCC than in AK and BD (P < 0.05). In addition, BD lesions harboured a significantly higher number of CK19-positive cells than did AK lesions (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in Ki-67 labelling indices between AK and BD and between AK and SCC (P < 0.001), but not between BD and SCC (P > 0.05). Furthermore, a serial section comparison study showed that there was a minor population of cells co-expressing CK19 and Ki-67 in a subset of the tumour cells of SCC samples. The percentage of CK19+ cells significantly correlated with that of Ki67+ cells in all examined neoplastic skin lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that CK19 expression may be associated with the retention of stem cell characteristics or a state that is uncommitted to terminal squamous differentiation.

Differential expression of two new members of the p53 family, p63 and p73, in extramammary Paget's disease

BACKGROUND

The proteins p53, p63 and p73 are known to be overexpressed and to play important roles in the pathogenesis of many tumours, but the expression of p63 and p73 has not previously been investigated in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD).

AIM

To investigate the potential contribution of p53, p63 and p73 in the pathogenesis of EMPD.

METHODS

In total, 35 paraffin wax-embedded tissue samples from patients with EMPD were examined using immunohistochemical staining for p53, p63 and p73.

RESULTS

All of the 35 EMPD specimens, including all 6 invasive EMPD and 2 metastatic lymph-node specimens, showed nuclear overexpression of both p53 and p73. The expression levels (percentage of positive cells) of p53 and p73 (90.66 +/- 12.53% and 80.20 +/- 13.07%) in EMPD were significantly higher than those of normal skin. There was a significant correlation between the expression levels of p53 and p73 in EMPD. In 29 of 35 EMPD specimens, there was no nuclear expression of p63, and weak or moderate staining was found in only 6 specimens. The expression level of p63 in EMPD was significantly less than that in normal skin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the concordant overexpression of p53 and p73 and the decreased expression of p63 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of EMPD. The decreased expression of p63 may play a more important role in the pathogenesis of EMPD than the overexpression of p53 and p73.

[Aortic valve replacement through right anterolateral thoracotomy for aortic stenosis after mediastinal radiation therapy]

A 76-year-old woman had severe aortic stenosis on transthoracic echocardiography [aortic valve area (AVA): 0.7 cm2, max pressure gradient (PG): 108 mmHg]. Since she was on radiation therapy for breast cancer, we considered that median sternotomy was a risk factor for mediastinitis, and right thoracotomy was chosen for aortic valve replacement. The operation was performed through a right anterolateral thoracotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established with right femoral artery cannulation, right atrial cannulation, and right superior pulmonary vein cannulation for venting. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. This method appears to be an alternative approach for aortic valve replacement in patients that are not suitable candidates for median sternotomy.

Diagnostics of a He(+) beam extracted from a compact magnetic bucket-type ion source

Performance of a compact He(+) ion source was investigated before installing it to the experiment system developed for studying the efficiency of autodetachment neutralization from He(-) to He(0). Dependence of the extracted ion current upon the plasma parameters and that upon the extraction voltage indicated that the source performance was limited by space charge effect. The beam emittance was measured with a multislit system for various operation conditions. The experimentally determined emittance agreed well with the emittance obtained from ion trajectories calculated with input plasma parameters measured by a Langmuir probe. The beam current density of 60 mA/cm(2) and the emittance of less than 25pi mm mrad are expected to deliver enough current to the downstream of the He(-) neutralizer system to clarify factors affecting the final He(0) intensity.

Energy straggling of low-energy ion beam in a charge exchange cell for negative ion production

Energy straggling in a charge exchange cell, which is frequently used for negative ion production, was studied experimentally and compared with the results of theoretical evaluation. The change of the energy spectrum of a He(+) beam due to charge exchange processes in argon gas was measured in the energy range of 2-6 keV. Energy straggling by multiple collisions is expressed by the energy loss formula due to inelastic and elastic processes. The impact parameter is related to the elastic scattering angle, and the geometry of the charge exchange cell and other components of the beam transportation system determines the maximum acceptable scattering angle. The energy spread was evaluated taking the integral limit over the impact parameter into consideration. The theoretical results showed good agreement with those of actual measurement.

A beam transport system for an intense He(-) beam source

We have been developing a test stand for fast He(0) beam production. One of the major issues is how to transport effectively the He(+) and He(-) beams from which the He(0) beam is produced. The beam should be focused in two transverse focal points, the center of the charge exchange cell and the electrostatic accelerator. We studied the beam transport system and effect of space charge neutralization in the test stand by experiments and calculation.

Flexible neural probes with micro-fluidic channels for stable interface with the nervous system

A flexible neural probe with micro-fluidic channels has been developed. The probe is sufficiently flexible to enable minimally invasive recording. The fluidic channel integrated on the probe is capable of injecting chemicals into neural tissues. In addition, it permits a stable interface with the nervous system. We focus on issues concerning: 1) stable recording with electrodes placed in fluidic channels, 2) improved mechanical stiffness by filling channels with a solid that dissolves in neural tissues, and 3) the probe's application to a nerve regeneration electrode.

Assessment of abnormal blood flow and efficacy of treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis using a newly developed microwireless laser Doppler flowmeter and arm-raising test

Background Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently suffer from recalcitrant digital ulceration because of impaired cutaneous blood flow (CBF). A simple and accurate CBF measurement would be helpful to evaluate the disease status and efficacy of treatment in such patients. Objectives To examine the feasibility of a newly developed, micromachined integrated laser blood flowmeter (MILBF) for evaluation of abnormal CBF responses in patients with SSc. Methods CBF of finger pulp was measured in eight patients with SSc and in six healthy controls using MILBF. CBF in the steady state and the responses to the arm-raising test and cold provocation were assessed. The therapeutic efficacy of a single and an intensive prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) infusion treatment was also evaluated in some of the SSc patients. Results The patients with SSc showed significantly lower steady-state CBF than controls. The rate of blood flow with cold provocation and the velocity of blood flow recovery after cold provocation (VR-CP) tended to be lower in patients with SSc. Augmentation of amplitude of the digital pulse wave by arm raising (AA-AR) was observed in controls, but not in patients with SSc. We also found that VR-CP and AA-AR may be good markers for evaluating the efficacy of vasodilatory treatment. It should be noted that the examined patients did not complain of any pain and/or distress during the arm-raising test, as opposed to during cold provocation. Conclusions CBF assessment using MILBF and an arm-raising test is accurate, noninvasive and well tolerated and thus the combination may be a better alternative method to evaluate abnormal CBF and efficacy of treatment in patients with SSc.

Phase I trial of chemotherapy combination with docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 (TPS) in patients with locally advanced or recurrent/ metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC)

6064

Background: An oral fluoropyrimidine, S-1, has shown high efficacy against head and neck cancer (HNC) with a response rate of 34% and preclinical data has demonstrated a possible synergy with platinums and taxanes. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a combination therapy with TPS in patients (pts) with locally advanced or recurrent/ metastatic HNC. Methods: The eligibility criteria were: histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with recurrent/metastatic and locally advanced lesions, PS 0–1, age =75 years, adequate organ function, and no prior chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of 1-hour infusion of docetaxel at escalating doses of 50 and 60 mg/m2, 2-hour infusions of cisplatin at 70 mg/m2/day on day 1 and S-1 twice daily on days 1–14 at escalating doses of 40, 60, and 80 mg/m2/day. The treatment was repeated every 4-weeks. Results: Twenty two pts were enrolled. These were 17 males and 5 females with a median age of 50 years (22–74). There were 11 locally advanced and 11 metastatic cases. Median of 3 cycles were administrated (range 1–6; total 77 cycles). Anorexia, nausea, neutropenia and anemia were the most frequently observed adverse events. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were neutropenia (59%), febrile neutropenia (0%), anemia (14%) and thrombocytopenia (0%). Although a total of 12 pts were treated with TPS at doses of 60/70/80 mg/m2/day, one-dose limiting toxicity (grade3 infection) was observed at these doses, but MTD was not reached. As the approved dose of S-1 is 80 mg/m2, further dose escalation was not conducted. In a total of 22 pts treated with the TPS, 3 (1 locally advanced, 2 metastatic cases) achieved complete response and 11 (7 locally advanced, 4 metastatic cases) achieved partial response according to RECIST with an overall response rate of 64%. Conclusions: The TPS combination was well tolerated in pts with locally advanced or recurrent/ metastatic HNC. Although MTD was not reached and the data were preliminary, the antitumor activity was very promising, and this warrants further investigation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Intraperitoneal therapy for ovarian cancer: Impact on survival and recurrence—The result of multi-institutional studies

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Background: For optimal debulked mullerian cancer (MC), the Intraperitoneal (IP) therapy has become the effective modality of chemotherapy to obtain better prognosis. We have reported KCOG9811study: IP CDDP + Paclitaxel (PTX) intravenous (IV) 2 cycles followed by 3 cycles of usual PTX-Carboplatin (abstr.1970, ASCO2002). And we have also reported the feasibility study and satisfactory response rate of the weekly IP-PTX with IV Carboplatin therapy (IP-PIVC, abstr. 5120, ASCO2005). Objectives: We have conducted two types of IP therapy for optimal debulked MC to improve the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Here are the prognosis and recurrent fashion after these IP therapies. Methods: Twenty patients (pts) with optimal debulked ovarian cancer were enrolled for KCOG9811, and eleven pts with optimal debulked MC newly/recurrent diagnosed disease were enrolled for IP-PIVC. The regimen of each therapy consisted of as follows: KCOG9811:50mg/ m2 of CDDP was administered via IP port at operation, after 2 weeks (wks) of operation, PTX was administered at a dose of 175mg/ m2IV for 3hrs on day 1, CDDP was administered at 75mg/ m2IP on day 2, every 3wks for 2 cycles, followed by PTX 175mg/ m2 IV and Carboplatin AUC5 IV on day1 every 3wks for 3 cycles. The IP-PIVC therapy consisted of IP-PTX, on days 1, 8, 15 at a dose of 45 mg/m2 (3pts) and 60 mg/m2(8pts). Carboplatin was administered monthly at a dose of AUC 5 on day 1 only. 2–6 cycles were performed. Results: The mean observation time was 72.6 months (m) and 32.6m for KCOG9811 and IP-PIVC, respectively. As for the median PFS was 1308+ days and 678+ days, and the median OS was 2180+ days and 978+ days, respectively. The five years survival rate showed 59.3% on KCOG9811, and the three years survival rate showed 75.8% on IP-PIVC. As for recurrent fashion, liver metastases and proximal lymphnodes metastases, and retroperitoneal metastases were detected. Few cases recurred Intraperitoneal lesion with small ascites Conclusions: There are some differences in the recurrent fashion of IP treatment from that of IV treatment. IP treatment prevented ascitic recurrence. Further improvement of chemotherapy is necessary for liver metastasis and proximal lymphnodes.

[Table: see text]

Nestin expression in the kidney with an obstructed ureter

Nestin is an intermediate filament protein originally identified in neuroepithelial stem cells. This cytoskeletal-associated protein is also expressed in some non-neuronal organs including renal tubular cells and glomerular endothelial cells during kidney development. Little is known, however, about nestin expression in the kidney during injury. In this study, we find nestin expression induced in renal tubular and interstitial myofibroblasts in the adult rat kidney following unilateral ureteral obstruction. The degree of nestin expression was well correlated with the degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Immunohistochemical identification of specific nephron segments showed that nestin was primarily expressed by proximal tubules, partially by distal tubules and thick ascending limbs of Henle but not by collecting ducts. The nestin-positive tubular cells also expressed vimentin and heat-shock protein 47 (HSP47) suggesting these cells reverted to a mesenchymal phenotype. Not all vimentin- or HSP-expressing cells expressed nestin; however, suggesting that nestin is distinct from these conventional mesenchymal markers. Nestin expression was also found associated with phenotypical changes in cultured renal cells induced by hypoxia or transforming growth factor-beta. Nestin expression was located in hypoxic regions of the kidney with an obstructed ureter. Our results indicate that nestin could be a novel marker for tubulointerstitial injury.

Spectroscopic study of neutron shell closures via nucleon transfer in the near-dripline nucleus 23O

Neutron single particle energies have been measured in 23O using the 22O(d,p)23O*-->22O+n process. The energies of the resonant states have been deduced to be 4.00(2) MeV and 5.30(4) MeV. The first excited state can be assigned to the nu d3/2 single particle state from a comparison with shell model calculations. The measured 4.0 MeV energy difference between the nu s1/2 and nu d3/2 states gives the size of the N=16 shell gap which is in agreement with the recent USD05 ("universal" sd from 2005) shell model calculation, and is large enough to explain the unbound nature of the oxygen isotopes heavier than A=24. The resonance detected at 5.3 MeV can be assigned to a state out of the sd shell model space. Its energy corresponds to a approximately 1.3 MeV sized N=20 shell gap, therefore, the N=20 shell closure disappears at Z=8 in agreement with Monte Carlo shell model calculations using SDPF-M interaction.

NFV, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, induces growth arrest, reduced Akt signalling, apoptosis and docetaxel sensitisation in NSCLC cell lines

HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI), nelfinavir (NFV) induced growth arrest and apoptosis of NCI-H460 and -H520, A549, EBC-1 and ABC-1 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in association with upregulation of p21^waf1, p27 ^kip1 and p53, and downregulation of Bcl-2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 proteins. We found that NFV blocked Akt signalling in these cells as measured by Akt kinase assay with glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β (GSK-3α/β) as a substrate. To explore the role of Akt signalling in NFV-mediated growth inhibition of NSCLC cells, we blocked this signal pathway by transfection of Akt small interfering RNA (siRNA) in these cells; transient transfection of Akt siRNA in NCI-H460 cells decreased the level of Bcl-2 protein and slowed their proliferation compared to the nonspecific siRNA-transfected cells. Conversely, forced-expression of Akt partially reversed NFV-mediated growth inhibition of these cells, suggesting that Akt may be a molecular target of NFV in NSCLC cells. Also, we found that inhibition of Akt signalling by NFV enhanced the ability of docetaxel to inhibit the growth of NCI-H460 and -H520 cells, as measured by MTT assay. Importantly, NFV slowed the proliferation and induced apoptosis of NCI-H460 cells present as tumour xenografts in nude mice without adverse systemic effects. Taken together, this family of compounds might be useful for the treatment of individuals with NSCLC.