ObjectiveThe authors documented the localization and frequency of lymphatic spread in squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus and evaluated the influence of radical systematic lymph node dissection on patient survival. Summary Background Data ResultsComparative study revealed that 5-year survival rate for TNM RO patients after three-field dissection (55.0%) was significantly better (log rank test, p = 0.0013) than the rate after two-field dissection (38.3%). The results were particularly significant in subgroups with stage I l I l and IV (because of nodal factor). Overall 5-year survival rate after all resections was 42.4%. ConclusionsThe role of radical lymph node dissection in cancer of the thoracic esophagus was evaluated. Long-term survival was compared between two groups with two-and three-field dissection. It was concluded that survival rate was significantly better in patients with extensive three-field dissection.The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pro-study of depth of tumor and the status of each dissected phylactic radical systematic lymph node dissection on node. the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of Our previous routine procedure was to dissect only the the thoracic esophagus. The deta are based on accurate mediastinal and abdominal nodes. During this period, we documentation of tumor spread with histopathologic noted that some cases with tumor recurrence in the cervical 364

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, and mutations in genes encoding ion channels or neurotransmitter receptors are frequent causes of monogenic forms of epilepsy. Here we show that abnormal expansions of TTTCA and TTTTA repeats in intron 4 of SAMD12 cause benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy (BAFME). Single-molecule, real-time sequencing of BAC clones and nanopore sequencing of genomic DNA identified two repeat configurations in SAMD12. Intriguingly, in two families with a clinical diagnosis of BAFME in which no repeat expansions in SAMD12 were observed, we identified similar expansions of TTTCA and TTTTA repeats in introns of TNRC6A and RAPGEF2, indicating that expansions of the same repeat motifs are involved in the pathogenesis of BAFME regardless of the genes in which the expanded repeats are located. This discovery that expansions of noncoding repeats lead to neuronal dysfunction responsible for myoclonic tremor and epilepsy extends the understanding of diseases with such repeat expansion.

New quantitation methods based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique were developed for 5 lines of genetically modified (GM) maize, including MON810, Event176, Bt11, T25, and GA21, and a GM soy, Roundup Ready. Oligonucleotide DNA, including specific primers and fluorescent dye, labeled probes, were designed for PCRs. Two plasmids were constructed as reference molecules (RMs) for the detection of GM maize and GM soy. The molecules contain the DNA sequences of a specific region found in each GM line, universal sequences used in various GM lines, such as cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and nopaline synthase terminator, and the endogenous DNA sequences of maize or soy. By using these plasmids, no GM maize and GM soy were required as reference materials for the qualitative and quantitative PCR technique. Test samples containing 0, 0.10, 0.50, 1.0, 5.0, and 10% GM maize or GM soy were quantitated. At the 5.0%level, the bias (mean–true value) ranged from 2.8 to 19.4% and the relative standard deviation was <5.2%. These results show that our method involving the use of these plasmids as RMs is reliable and practical for quantitation of GM maize and GM soy.

In this study, we investigated the absorption of apple procyanidins, namely, apple condensed tannins (ACTs), in rats using the Porter method and high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The apple procyanidin concentrations in the rat plasma reached a maximum 2 h after administration and decreased thereafter. To investigate the limits of the absorption of apple procyanidins in the polymerization degree, we administered the procyanidin oligomer fraction, which was separated from ACT using normal-phase chromatography according to the degree of polymerization. Procyanidins from each dimer to pentamer group were detected in the plasma by the Porter method. Moreover, by the study using reconstituted procyanidins, polymeric procyanidins influenced the absorption of procyanidin oligomers. These results suggest that ACTs are absorbed and directly involved in physiological functions in the rats.

As with most projects for which a considerable amount of new technology is developed and which have duration spanning several years, at project completion it was determined that several upgrades would improve the overall system performance. Some possible upgrades are discussed. Overall, the system has been very robust, accurate, reproducible, and reliable. The authors found the pencil beam scanning system to be particularly satisfactory; prostate treatments can be delivered on the scanning nozzle in less time than is required on the passive scattering nozzle.

Extensive lymph node dissections in the posterior mediastinum and abdomen were performed during resections of esophageal carcinomas. Analysis of lymph nodes demonstrated a widespread distribution of positive lymph nodes regardless of the location of the tumor. The distribution of positive lymph nodes was noticed in the area between the superior mediastinum and the celiac region. The studies were also made on the distribution of positive lymph nodes in the superior gastric region, particularly in the region of the lesser curvature of the stomach. The following principles should be followed when carcinoma of the esophagus is surgically treated. 1) Lymph node dissection of the whole length of the posterior mediastinum, superior gastric region, and celiac region must be performed. 2) Total thoracic and abdominal esophagectomy with resection of the proximal lesser curvature and cardia, including the first to fourth branches, and preferably the fifth branch of the left gastric artery, is mandatory in order to remove possible lymphatic and intramural spread of tumors. 3) Satisfactory esophageal replacement in one stage must follow. Of the Toranomon Hospital, 210 underwent resections and reconstructions, for a resectability rate of 59.3%. The operative mortality rate was 1.4% and the overall five-year survival rate was 34.6%.

Procyanidin fractions from apple were separated according to the degree of polymerization using normal phase chromatography. Evaluation of physiological functionalities of procyanidins requires individual structural determination. However, it is difficult to elucidate the structure of procyanidins, in particular those with (+)-epicatechin (1) or (-)-catechin (2) units, and determine whether the interflavanoid bonds are 4beta-->8 or 4beta-->6 without cleavage and acetylation. Structural determination used LC-MS and low-temperature NMR. Nine procyanidins were separated by preparative HPLC consisting of three well-known procyanidins [procyanidin B1 (3), procyanidin B2 (4), and procyanidin C1 (5)] and six new procyanidins [epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin (6); epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin (7); epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin (8); epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-catechin (9); epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->6)-epicatechin (10); and epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin (11)]. Compounds 6-11 were detected for the first time as apple constituents.

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