Design and Evaluation of a Bayesian-filter-based Image Spam Filtering Method

In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, the number of spam e-mail has become one of the most serious problems. A recent report reveals that 91% of all e-mail exchanged in 2006 was spam. Using the Bayesian filter is a popular approach to distinguish between spam and legitimate e-mails. It applies the Bayes theory to identify spam. This filter proffers high filtering precision and is capable of detecting spam as per personal preferences. However, the number of image spam, which contains the spam message as an image, has been increasing rapidly. The Bayesian filter is not capable of distinguishing between image spam and legitimate e-mails since it learns from and examines only text data. Therefore, in this study, we propose an anti- image spam technique that uses image information such as file size. This technique can be easily implemented on the existing Bayesian filter. In addition, we report the results of the evaluations of this technique

Triplet Chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Docetaxel, and Irinotecan for Patients with Recurrent or Refractory Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

We examined the feasibility of triplet chemotherapy using cisplatin, docetaxel, and irinotecan for patients with recurrent or refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), retrospectively. Twenty-five patients (21 men and 4 women) with NSCLC and good performance status who were &#60;70 years old were analyzed. The median age was 58 years. Most patients had performance status 1 (16/25), stage IV disease (18/25) and adenocarcinoma-histology (16/25). Cisplatin and docetaxel were given on day 1 and irinotecan on day 2;the cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. The objective response rate was 39.1% (95% confidence interval:18.7-59.5%). The median survival time and actual 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 14.3 months, 32%, 20%, and 8%, respectively. Of note, only 6 patients were treated with gefitinib at the recurrence after triplet chemotherapy;of these, 4 (67%) achieved a partial response, which might result in favorable survival. Grade 3/4 toxicities consisted of neutropenia (100%), neutropenic fever (56%), nausea/vomiting (40%), and diarrhea (16%);no cases of treatment-related death occurred. Triplet chemotherapy showed impressive survival data in our clinical trial, but proved too toxic for use in treating patients with NSCLC in the clinical practice.</p

Demand for weekend outpatient chemotherapy among patients with cancer in Japan

Background Advanced cancer therapeutics have improved patient survival, leading to an increase in the number of patients who require long-term outpatient chemotherapy. However, the available schedule options for chemotherapy are generally limited to traditional business hours. Method In 2017, we surveyed 721 patients with cancer in Okayama, Japan, regarding their preferences for evening and weekend (Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday) chemotherapy appointments. Results A preference for evening and weekend appointment options was indicated by 37% of the respondents. Patients who requested weekend chemotherapy were younger, female, with no spouse or partner, living alone, employed, and currently receiving treatment. Among these factors, age and employment status were significantly associated with a preference for weekend chemotherapy, according to multivariate analysis. Conclusion Our findings reveal a demand for evening and weekend outpatient chemotherapy, especially among young, employed patients

Comparison of chemosensitivity tests: clonogenic assay versus MTT assay.

When the development of chemotherapeutic agents reaches the clinical trial stage, it is necessary to perform drug sensitivity tests quickly in order to select the most promising agents for the treatment of cancer. In order to assess the possibility of using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as a substitute for the human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA), we evaluated the correlation between the results obtained by these 2 assays in 5 human lung cancer cell lines. The correlation coefficient between the results of the HTCA and the MTT assay was 0.673, indicating a relatively good correlation. The correlation was most prominent in platinum analogues (r = 0.939) and good in anthracyclines/anthracenedione (r = 0.611). However, no significant correlation was observed in vinca alkaloids, etoposide, irinotecan, SN-38 (an active metabolite of irinotecan), and rhizoxin. The results of the MTT assay showed a high degree of correlation with those of the HTCA in predicting the sensitivity of cancer cell lines to platinum analogues, and anthracyclines/anthracenedione. These results suggest that the MTT assay may be more convenient and quickly performed than the HTCA and can replace HTCA in evaluating the effects of anticancer agents, especially the platinum analogues and anthracyclines/anthracenedione.</p

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with chronic thyroiditis in an advanced-age adult

AbstractIdiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is one of the rare causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), and usually occurs in children. The mechanism underlying this disease development has not been defined. During the acute phase, death due to massive alveolar hemorrhage and subsequent severe respiratory failure with multiple organ failure often occurs. We report a case of IPH which occurred in an advanced-aged adult during following thyroidectomy for chronic thyroiditis. Following surgery this 83-year-old male developed acute onset dyspnea and pulmonary hemorrhage. In a search for underlying causes, no disorders were found and the only finding was the presence of anti-thyroid antibody. Systemic corticosteroid therapy was effective and he fully recovered. To our knowledge, this is the second documentation of IPH in association with chronic thyroiditis

Establishment of an Adriamycin-Resistant Subline of Human Small Cell Lung Cancer Showing Multifactorial Mechanisms of Resistance

A subline highly resistant to Adriamycin (SBC-3/ADM100) was isolated in vitro from the human small cell lung cancer cell line, SBC-3, by culturing in progressively higher concentrations of Adriamycin. The SBC-3/ADM100 cells were 106-fold more resistant to the drug than the parent cells in an inhibitory concentration of 50% determined by the MTT assay. The population-doubling time was much longer in SBC-3/ADM100 than in the parent cells. Northern blot hybridization revealed marked overexpression of the MDR1 mRNA in the resistant cells. P-glycoprotein overexpression and a decrease in intracellular accumulation of Adriamycin were demonstrated in SBC-3/ADM100, indicating that outward drug transport was the major mechanism of resistance in this subline. Additionally, a significant elevation of the intracellular glutathione content coupled with the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pi level and a decrease in DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) activity were noted in this resistant subline. These results indicate that the mechanism of resistance to Adriamycin is multifactorial; involving altered growth characteristics, an enhanced outward transport, enhanced drug detoxification process, and decreased target enzyme activity. The resistant subline will serve as a useful tool in the search for ways to overcome drug resistance

MDR1 gene expression and treatment outcome in small cell lung cancer: MDR1 gene expression as an independent prognostic factor.

We report a preliminary study to determine whether MDR1 gene expression level in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors is a useful predictor of tumor response to chemotherapy and patient survival in association with myc amplification in the tumor. We analyzed 18 patients with SCLC receiving adriamycin and etoposide combination chemotherapy between August 1989 and November 1991; 16 males and 2 females, median age of 68 years, and 7 with limited disease and 11 with extensive disease. MDR1 mRNA expression level and myc family gene amplification were simultaneously determined by polymerase chain reaction using transbronchial biopsy specimens which were obtained at diagnosis. Patients with tumors expressing low MDR1 mRNA responded more favorably to chemotherapy than those with tumors expressing high MDRI mRNA, however, the difference in tumor response was statistically not significant (84.6% versus 40%). The overall survival was significantly shorter in the latter than in the former (7.2 months versus 11.7 months; p = 0.023). The survival of the 4 patients with tumor showing myc family gene amplification was almost identical to that of patients with tumors showing no amplification of the gene (8.2 months versus 8.8 months; p = 0.73). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis supports the notion that MDR1 may be a useful independent prognostic factor.</p