Molecular cloning and structural analyses of the pyrF gene for orotate monophosphate (OMP)decarboxylase from extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1

The orotate monophosphate decarboxylase gene (pyrF) in the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway have unique characteristics. In this study, the pyrF gene was found to encode a polypetide consisting of 277 amino acid residues, showing 96,0 ％ identity to that of H.marismortui. Southern hybridization of the pyfF gene region with partial sequence probe revealed that single copy number of the gene is distributed on the chromosome of H. japonica genome. By phylogenetic analyses of the H. japonica PyrF, the amino acid sequences of the enzyme is relatively conserved in other archaeal strains including methanogens and thermophiles. Alignments of several sequences containing pyrF gene showed that the genetic organization of pyrF gene was not conserved in several haloarchaeal strains expect for H.marismortui

Successful treatment of ruptured duodenal varices with dual balloon-occluded embolotherapy

Duodenal varices are ectopic portosystemic shunts that do not tend to result in gastrointestinal bleeding. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration is an established treatment for gastric varices. We report a 60-year-old man with melena due to ruptured duodenal varices originating at an inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein; drainage was into a gonadal vein. His ruptured duodenal varices were successfully treated by dual balloon-occluded embolotherapy

Gestational choriocarcinoma complicated by infective endocarditis during chemotherapy

• Little is known about the history of cancer patients complicated with IE. • It is very important to do the chemotherapy without delay for choriocarcinoma. • We report a case of choriocarcinoma complicated by IE during EMA-CO. • An accurate diagnosis/prompt treatment decisions are important for cancer with IE

Selective embolization of the splenic vein for shunt-preserving disconnection of the portal and systemic circulation: Report of two cases

In carefully selected patients with portosystemic encephalopathy, it is possible to safely disconnect the portal and systemic circulation while preserving the shunt. We report two patients with chronic hepatitis and recurrent episodes of hepatic encephalopathy due to a portosystemic shunt who underwent successful selective embolization of the splenic vein for a shunt-preserving disconnection of the portal and systemic circulation via the percutaneous transhepatic route

Concurrent weekly cisplatin versus triweekly cisplatin with radiotherapy for locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix : a retrospective analysis from a single institution

Objective:To compare patients with cervical cancer who were primarily treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using 20 mg m^ CDDP for 5 days every 3 weeks with weekly regimens of 40 mg m^. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 185 patients with Stage IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix who were treated with CCRT between 2005 and 2013 at our hospital. The CCRT regimen consisted of cisplatin (CDDP) at 20 mg m^ for 5 days every 3 weeks or 40 mg m^ weekly, administered concomitantly with RT. Results:The median age was 50 years (range: 22-70 years) in the triweekly group and was 50.5 years (range: 28-70 years) in the weekly group. The 5-year overall survival rate in the triweekly and weekly groups were 82.0% and 83.3%, respectively (p = 0.851); their disease-free survival rate was 79.6% and 78.1%, respectively (p = 0.672). In the triweekly group, 56 patients (50.9%) had grade 3/4 leukopenia, which was significantly higher than that of 11 patients (15%) in the weekly group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion:The weekly CDDP regimen for CCRT seems better in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stages IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix. Advances in knowledge: The weekly CDDP regimen for CCRT seems better in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stages IB-IVA squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix