Advanced moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the rectum with favorable prognosis by postoperative chemoradiation

Rectal neuroendocrine carcinoma is rare with poor prognosis. We report herein a case of advanced moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the rectum with relatively favorable prognosis treated by postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. A 58-year-old Japanese female was referred and colonofiberscopy revealed an easy-bleeding irregular tumor in the lower rectum, which was pathologically diagnosed as a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Surgical treatment consisted of abdominoperineal resection and lymph node dissection. The tumor invaded deeply into perirectal tissues, and 9 of 11 lymph node metastases were observed. Immunohistochemically, chromogranin A showed diffuse and strong staining, and the MIB-1 labeling index was 18.3 ± 5.6, supporting the high proliferation of the tumor. Some nucleus of the tumor showed positive staining for p21/WAF1. A total dose of 46 Gy of radiotherapy was delivered with 800 mg of daily oral doxifluridine. At 5 years post-surgery, the patient demonstrated no clinical evidence of intrapelvic recurrence or distant metastases

Impact of improved bottom hypoxia on zooplankton community in shallow eutrophic lake

We followed changes in the abundance of meso- and microzooplankton after an existing bottom hypoxia improved by the introduction of water with high oxygen content into the bottom. Mesozooplankton, calanoid copepod Acartia hudsonica showed ten times higher abundance under high oxygen condition at the bottom than under control where there was less oxygen at the bottom. On the other hand, during summer when microzooplankton such as rotifers and small cyclopoid species Oithona spp. were dominant, no difference in their distribution pattern and abundance was observed. Results have suggested that oxygen concentration at the bottom is one important factor determining the abundance and distribution of mesozooplankton even in local-scale probably by providing bottom refuge, but not for microzoooplankton. Since spring season is important for recruitment of many commercial fish juveniles, the distribution of oxygen in the lake seems very important for the fish stock in the lake

Impact of improved bottom hypoxia on zooplankton community in shallow eutrophic lake

We followed changes in the abundance of meso- and microzooplankton after an existing bottom hypoxia improved by the introduction of water with high oxygen content into the bottom. Mesozooplankton, calanoid copepod Acartia hudsonica showed ten times higher abundance under high oxygen condition at the bottom than under control where there was less oxygen at the bottom. On the other hand, during summer when microzooplankton such as rotifers and small cyclopoid species Oithona spp. were dominant, no difference in their distribution pattern and abundance was observed. Results have suggested that oxygen concentration at the bottom is one important factor determining the abundance and distribution of mesozooplankton even in local-scale probably by providing bottom refuge, but not for microzoooplankton. Since spring season is important for recruitment of many commercial fish juveniles, the distribution of oxygen in the lake seems very important for the fish stock in the lake