Recovery of Phosphate Rock Equivalents from Incineration Ash of Chicken Manure by Elution-Precipitation Treatment

In order to obtain calcium phosphates - a phosphate rock equivalent - from the incineration ash of chicken manure, which is obtained from power generation systems that use the manure for fuel, incineration ash was treated with an aqueous solution of nitric acid to elute phosphorus. By using 0.3 M of HNO3, most of the phosphorus could be eluted from 1.0 g of ash within 0.1 h. Compared with the composted chicken manure that was previously examined in our laboratory, the concentration of HNO3 was increased for this session of elution. Using the incineration ash of chicken manure made it possible to remove inorganic species at a lower boiling or sublimation temperature, and organic species by calcination in the power generation system. Compared with composted chicken manure, the concentrations of phosphorus contained in the incineration ash and the nitric acid extract were higher in the incineration ash. XRD analysis showed that the obtained nitric acid extract could be treated with aqueous NH3 to form a precipitation of poorly-crystallized calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), which is one of main components in phosphate rock. In order to confirm the formation and purity of calcium phosphate species, the precipitation calcination was conducted at 1,078 K for 5 h. XRD revealed that the calcined solid was tricalcium phosphate, and no contamination was evident. These results reveal that a phosphate rock equivalent could be easily obtained from the incineration ash of chicken manure, which means that approximately 14% of the phosphate rock that is currently being imported into Japan could be replaced by this product

Post-operative pharyngocutaneous fistula after laryngectomy

金沢大学附属病院耳鼻咽喉科Objectives: Although organ-preserving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy has offered good locoregional control, many patients still experience recurrent disease requiring salvage laryngectomy. The pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a common and troublesome complication in the early post-operative period after laryngectomy. Here, we evaluated the cause of PCF after laryngectomy, with special emphasis on radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Patients and methods: A total of 63 consecutive patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx at Kanazawa University Hospital from 1990 to 2005 were reviewed. Forty of the 63 had received primary total laryngectomy (PL). Ten patients underwent radiotherapy alone (SL-RT) and 13 patients underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (SL-CRT) followed by salvage laryngectomy. Results: Overall, 17 of the 63 patients (27.0%) developed PCF after laryngectomy. Fisher\u27s exact test showed a significant increase of PCF formation in SL-CRT (7/13, 53.8%) compared with PL (7/40, 17.5%) (p = 0.0252). There were non-significant increases of PCF formation both in SL-CRT (7/13, 53.8%) compared with SL-RT (3/10, 30.0%) (p = 0.4015), and also in SL-RT (3/10, 30.0%) compared with PL (7/40, 17.5%) (p = 0.3969). The Mann-Whitney U-test showed that the duration of PCF was significantly longer for SL-CRT PCF (121.2 ± 95.0 days) compared with those for PL (39.0 ± 55.3 days) (p = 0.0298) or SL-RT (28.0 ± 16.2 days) (p = 0.0325). However, we did not find a significant difference in the duration of PCF with respect to PL (39.0 ± 55.3 days) and SL-RT (28.0 ± 16.2 days) (p = 0.4367). Conclusions: Although radiotherapy or chemotherapy has only a limited impact on PCF formation, concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly increases PCF formation. The addition of chemotherapy to irradiation delays PCF closure. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Current understanding and management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a kind of rare head and neck cancer in Japan. However, NPC has some unique features. It is one of the most popular cancers in southern China, Southeast Asia, the Arctic, and the middle East/north Africa. This distinctive racial, ethnical, and geographic predisposition to NPC implies that both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors contribute to the development of this tumor. NPC is an Epstein-Barr virus - associated tumor. Consistent elevation of EBV antibody titers is a well-established risk factor of development of NPC. Not only pathophysiological relationship, but also molecular mechanism of EBV-mediated carcinogenesis has been enthusiastically investigated. LMP1, an EBV primary oncogene, upregulates each step of metastasis, and contribute to highly metastatic feature of NPC. A tumor suppressor gene p53 is mostly intact and overexpressed in NPC whereas expression of p16, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory protein, is downregulated in 2/3 of NPC. Intention modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is now getting prevalent for the treatment of NPC because of complicated structure and location of nasopharynx. A good therapeutic result can be achieved by distributing a high dose to the tumor while keeping down normal tissue complications by reducing radiation dose to normal tissues. Chemotherapy is important to control distant metastasis of chemoradiosensitive NPC, and thus, should play an important role. However, most effective combination of anti-tumor drugs, protocol of chemoradiotherapy has not well-established. Finally, molecular targeting therapy, including targeting EBV gene product, has been developing and on the way to the clinical use. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Induction of receptor for advanced glycation end products by EBV latent membrane protein 1 and its correlation with angiogenesis and cervical lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系PURPOSE: The EBV oncoprotein, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), contributes to the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by inducing factors to promote tumor invasion and angiogenesis. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is associated with abnormal angiogenesis in diabetic microangiopathies. Moreover, some papers have suggested the association of RAGE overexpression with tumor metastasis; thus, the associations of RAGE with LMP1 and angiogenesis in NPC were examined. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Forty-two patients with NPC were evaluated for expressions of LMP1, RAGE, and S100 proteins and for microvessel counts by immunohistochemistry. Then, the RAGE induction by LMP1 was examined with Western blotting and luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The microvessel counts were significantly higher in patients with high LMP1 expression or high RAGE expression compared with cases with low expressions (P=0.0049 and P<0.0001), respectively. Patients with advanced N classification were also significantly increased in these groups (P=0.0484 and P=0.0005). The expressions of LMP1 and RAGE proteins were clearly correlated in NPC tissues (P=0.0093). Transient transfection with LMP1 expression plasmid induced RAGE protein in Ad-AH cells. The expression of LMP1 transactivated the RAGE promoter as shown by luciferase reporter assay. Mutation of the reporter at nuclear factor-kappaB binding site (-671 to -663) abolished transactivation of the RAGE promoter by LMP1. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LMP1-induced RAGE enhances lymph node metastasis through the induction of angiogenesis in NPC. Nuclear factor-kappaB binding site (-671 to -663) is essential for transactivation of the RAGE promoter by LMP1.全文公開20090

Closure of tracheoesophageal fistula with prefabricated deltopectoral flap

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a serious complication associated with impaired quality of life. However, a successful TEF closure is difficult owing to the high incidence of recurrence. We utilized a prefabricated deltopectoral (DP) flap for closure of a TEF that occurred after an extended total thyroidectomy. Prefabrication of the inner soft tissue lining the DP flap with a split skin graft was performed prior to surgical closure of a TEF. Esophageal and tracheal mucosa were sutured to the split thickness side and full thickness side of the prefabricated DP flap, respectively. A successful closure of the fistula was achieved with this procedure. Prefabricated DP flap is a useful procedure for the surgical treatment of TEF. © 2014.Embargo Period 12 month

Treatment of locally recurrent Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma using the anti-viral agent cidofovir

金沢大学附属病院耳鼻咽喉科Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated malignant tumor. Recently, cidofovir, an anti-viral drug which is an acyclic nucleoside analogue, has been reported to have an anti-tumor potential. Two patients with NPC, who had previously received multi-round therapy, were treated with cidofovir. Cidofovir was topically injected in and around the tumor once every 3 weeks (originally 75 mg/ml sulution, diluted to 15 mg/ml just before injection, 37.5 mg of cidofoviratatime).Tumorgrowth was suppressed for several months around the injection site in each patient. EBV-encoded RNAs in situ hybridization revealed the reduction of the tumor cell population; however, the EBER expression was still maintained in the NPC tumor cells. Although the anti-tumor mechanism remains unclear, these results suggest that cidofovir is actually an effective and safe agent for the treatment of NPC. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Lymphangiogenesis in regional lymph nodes predicts nodal recurrence in pathological N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Aims: Cancer cells induce de-novo lymphatic vessel growth within draining lymph nodes before they metastasize. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate lymph node lymphangiogenesis before the establishment of nodal recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue. Methods and results: Surgical specimens from 28 patients with pT2-T3N0M0 SCC of the tongue after local excision with supraomohyoid neck dissection were studied by immunohistochemistry. Intranodal lymphatic endothelium was highlighted by podoplanin staining to evaluate lymphatic vessel counts (LVCs). Primary tumour sections were examined for the expression of lymphangiogenic factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D. LVCs in regional lymph nodes were significantly increased in the cases with nodal recurrence (P=0.0013). Simultaneous increases in VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression were significantly associated with both an increase in LVC in regional lymph nodes (P=0.0001) and a decrease in the rate of survival without nodal recurrence (P=0.016). Conclusions: Knowing the status of lymphangiogenesis in the regional pN0 lymph nodes in tongue cancer would help in predicting which patients will develop nodal recurrence. The use of a therapeutic approach which blocks lymphangiogenic factors, such as VEGF-C and VEGF-D, may be beneficial in suppressing the lymphatic spread of tongue cancer with intense intranodal lymphangiogenesis. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.発行後1年より全文公開