Formation of 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-6-methyl-1H-azepino[5,4,3-cd]indole in the reaction of serotonin with acetaldehyde in water in the presence of either L-amino acid, nicotine or fluoride

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生理活性物質科学Possible formation of a new compound, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-6-methyl-1H-azepino[5,4,3-cd]indole (4a), in serotonergic neuron after drinking ethanol is chemically suggested by reacting serotonin with acetaldehyde in water in the presence of either L-amino acid, nicotine or fluoride

Evaluation of both perfusion and atrophy in multiple system atrophy of the cerebellar type using brain SPECT alone

BACKGROUND: Partial volume effects in atrophied areas should be taken into account when interpreting brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images of neurodegenerative diseases. To evaluate both perfusion and atrophy using brain SPECT alone, we developed a new technique applying tensor-based morphometry (TBM) to SPECT. METHODS: After linear spatial normalization of brain perfusion SPECT using (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer ((99m)Tc-ECD) to a Talairach space, high-dimension-warping was done using an original (99m)Tc-ECD template. Contraction map images calculated from Jacobian determinants and spatially normalized SPECT images using this high-dimension-warping were compared using statistical parametric mapping (SPM2) between two groups of 16 multiple system atrophy of the cerebellar type (MSA-C) patients and 73 age-matched normal controls. This comparison was also performed in conventionally warped SPECT images. RESULTS: SPM2 demonstrated statistically significant contraction indicating local atrophy and decreased perfusion in the whole cerebellum and pons of MSA-C patients as compared to normal controls. Higher significance for decreased perfusion in these areas was obtained in high-dimension-warping than in conventional warping, possibly due to sufficient spatial normalization to a (99m)Tc-ECD template in high-dimensional warping of severely atrophied cerebellum and pons. In the present high-dimension-warping, modification of tracer activity remained within 3% of the original tracer distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The present new technique applying TBM to brain SPECT provides information on both perfusion and atrophy at the same time thereby enhancing the role of brain perfusion SPEC

Randomized phase II study of pemetrexed or pemetrexed plus bevacizumab for elderly patients with previously untreated non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results of the Lung Oncology Group in Kyushu (LOGIK1201)

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety, we conducted a randomized phase II study of pemetrexed (Pem) versus Pem + bevacizumab (Bev) for elderly patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSqNSCLC). Patients and methods: The eligibility criteria were as follows: NSqNSCLC, no prior therapy,stage IIIB/IV disease or postoperative recurrence, age: ?75 years, performance status (PS): 0?1, and adequate bone marrow function. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio)to receive Pem or Pem + Bev. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).The secondary endpoints were the response rate, OS, toxicities, and cost-effectiveness. Results: Forty-one patients were enrolled and 40 (20 from each group) were assessable. Their characteristics were as follows: male/female = 23/17; median age (range) = 78 (75?83); stage IIIB/IV/postoperative recurrence = 1/30/9; PS 0/1 = 11/29. All cases involved adenocarcinoma.There was no significant intergroup difference in PFS and the median PFS (95% confidence interval) values of the Pem and Pem + Bev groups were 5.4 (3.0?7.4) and 5.5 (3.6?9.9) months, respectively (p = 0.66). The response rate was significantly higher in the Pem + Bev group(15% vs. 55%, p = 0.0146), and there was no significant difference in OS (median: 16.0 vs. 16.4 months, p = 0.58). Grade 3 and 4 leukopenia, neutropenia,and thrombocytopenia were seen in 10 and 30, 20 and 55, and 5 and 5 cases, respectively. Drug costs were higher in the Pem + Bev group (median: 1,522,008 vs. 3,368,428 JPY, p = 0.01). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Adding Bev to Pem did not result in improved survival in the elderly NSqNSCLC patients. Compared with Pem + Bev, Pem monotherapy had similar effects on survival, a more favorable toxicity profile, and was more cost-effective in elderly NSqNSCLC patients. Pem monotherapy might be one of the optional regimen for NSqNSCLC patients aged ?75 years

The variations in the East Asian summer monsoon over the past 3 kyrs and the controlling factors

Abstract The mechanisms driving the variations in the centennial-scale East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) remain unclear. Here, we use the δ18O records from adult ostracode shells to reconstruct the EASM variations over the last 3 kyrs in southwestern Japan. A common variation with a 200 yr periodicity among the Asian monsoonal regions was recognized between BC 800 and BC 100. Since then, neither a correlation between the EASM variation and solar activity or a common EASM variation through EASM regions has been identified. The evidence reveals that solar activity dominantly affected the centennial-scale EASM variations throughout Asian monsoonal regions until BC 100. Furthermore, factors other than solar activity that varied and differed in specific regions controlled the EASM intensity due to decreasing summer solar insolation in the Northern Hemisphere after BC 100. These relations indicate that the dominant factor that affects the EASM variations shifts according to the solar insolation intensity

Two Cases of Legionella pneumophila Pneumonia with Prolonged Neurologic Symptoms and Brain Hypoperfusion on Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Cerebral and cerebellar symptoms are frequently associated with Legionnaires’ disease. However, corresponding brain lesions are difficult to demonstrate using either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report here two patients with Legionella pneumophila pneumonia accompanied by prolonged neurologic symptoms. In contrast to brain CT and MRI, which failed to detect any abnormalities, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed multiple sites of hypoperfusion within the brains of both patients. These cases suggest that vasculopathy, which is detectable by SPECT, might be one of the causes of neurologic symptoms in patients with Legionnaires’ disease