Report of a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the upper lip and review of Japanese cases of acinic cell carcinoma of the minor salivary glands

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumor of the salivary glands. The majority of ACCs occur in the parotid gland, and ACCs of the minor salivary glands (MSGs) are relatively infrequent. We describe here a patient with ACC of the upper lip. The patient was a 31-year-old male who presented with a nodular mass on the left upper lip. The preoperative diagnosis was benign tumor or cyst, and the lesion was surgically excised. The histological diagnosis was ACC. The postoperative course was uneventful. No recurrence or metastasis was detected at 13 months postoperatively. In addition, we retrospectively reviewed 21 reported Japanese patients with ACC of the MSGs. In 7 of the 21 patients, the preoperative diagnosis was benign tumor, and the tumors were resected without preoperative biopsy. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that disease-free survival was worse in patients who underwent resection with a preoperative diagnosis of benign tumor than in patients who underwent resection with a preoperative diagnosis of malignant tumor. The rate of recurrence was higher for ACCs assumed to be benign lesions on a purely clinical basis, or without an accurate preoperative biopsy. ACCs of the MSGs are easy to be misdiagnosed for benign lesions such as mucous cysts or hemangiomas. Correct preoperative diagnosis and initial therapy may therefore be the most important prognostic factors

Molecular Mechanisms of the Whole DNA Repair System: A Comparison of Bacterial and Eukaryotic Systems

DNA is subjected to many endogenous and exogenous damages. All organisms have developed a complex network of DNA repair mechanisms. A variety of different DNA repair pathways have been reported: direct reversal, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, and recombination repair pathways. Recent studies of the fundamental mechanisms for DNA repair processes have revealed a complexity beyond that initially expected, with inter- and intrapathway complementation as well as functional interactions between proteins involved in repair pathways. In this paper we give a broad overview of the whole DNA repair system and focus on the molecular basis of the repair machineries, particularly in Thermus thermophilus HB8

Protocol for a multicentre, prospective observational study of elective neck dissection for clinically node-negative oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (END-TC study)

Introduction: In early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), elective neck dissection (END) is recommended when occult lymph node metastasis is suspected; however, there is no unanimous consensus on the risks and benefits of END in such cases. The management of clinically node-negative (cN0) OTSCC remains controversial. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the efficacy of END and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cN0 OTSCC. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective, multicentre, nonrandomised observational study. The choice of whether to perform END at the same time as resection of the primary tumour is based on institutional policy and patient preference. The primary endpoint of this study is 3-year overall survival. The secondary endpoint are 3-year disease-specific survival, 3-year relapse-free survival and the impact on patient QoL. Propensity score-matching analysis will be performed to reduce selection bias. Ethics and dissemination: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of the Nagasaki University. The protocol of this study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. The datasets generated during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The results will be disseminated internationally, through scientific and professional conferences and in peer-reviewed medical journals

Protocol for a multicentre, prospective observational study of elective neck dissection for clinically node-negative oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (END-TC study)

Introduction In early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), elective neck dissection (END) is recommended when occult lymph node metastasis issuspected; however, there is no unanimous consensus on the risks and benefits of END in such cases. The management of clinically node-negative (cN0) OTSCCremains controversial. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the efficacy of END and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cN0 OTSCC.Methods and analysis This is a prospective, multicentre, nonrandomised observational study. The choice of whether to perform END at the same time as resection of the primary tumour is based on institutional policy and patient preference. The primary endpoint of this study is 3-year overall survival. The secondary endpoints are3-year disease-specific survival, 3-year relapse-free survival and the impact on patient QoL. Propensity score-matching analysis will be performed to reduce selection bias.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board of the Nagasaki University. The protocol of this study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. The datasets generated during the current study will be available from the correspondingauthor on reasonable request. The results will be disseminated internationally, through scientific and professional conferences and in peer-reviewed medical journals

Acid formation in polymer solids by radiation-induced chain reactions of diphenyliodonium salts

In order to develop chemically amplified radiation resist having ability of acid multiplication, acid formation in γ-irradiated polymer films and solutions of acetal compounds containing diphenyliodonium salt has been studied. Acids were generated in the films and solutions by chain reactions of large G-value. The G-value depends on the chemical structure of the polymers and acetal compounds. Compounds containing cyclic acetal structure give large G-values. This dependence can be explained by difference in the possibility of the electron transfer from radicals of the polymers and acetal compounds to diphenyliodonium salt. Polyvinyl acetals will be a candidate for the dually amplified resist

DIRECT EFFECT OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY ON THE HEART IN PATIENT WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Background and Purpose : The patient with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is known to have a poor prognosis for life. Recently, it has been reported that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for PAD improves the prognosis. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear.Augmentation index (AIx) or central aortic pressure (CAP) is shown to increase myocardial mechanical stress and facilitate myocardial hypertrophy. The aim of this study is to clarify the direct cardioprotective effects of PTA mediated by decreasing CAP and AIx.Methods : 28 patients with PAD were enrolled. They were divided into two groups ; control group (n=12) and PTA group (n=16). Both radial AIx and CAP were measured by using pulse waveform analysis of arterial waveform recorded non-invasively by applanation tonometry in radial artery. We used a plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level as a marker of myocardial mechanical stress. Plasma BNP levels, radial AIx and CAP which were measured after PTA or angiography, were compared with the data on admission.Result : Although plasma BNP levels in the control group were not changed, those in the PTA group were significantly decreased from 68.44 to 42.08 pg/ml (p<0.05). Pulse waveform analysis demonstrated that radial AIx and CAP in the control group remain unchanged. On the other hand, radial AIx and CAP were significantly reduced in the PTA group. The reduction rates of radial AIx, CAP and plasma BNP levels were −11.3%, −8.9% and −34% respectively.Conclusion : These results suggest that PTA can decrease myocardial mechanical stress in patients with PAD. The mechanisms may be mediated in part by reduction of radial AIx and CAP