There have been very few studies on the expression of Centromere proteins in human salivary gland carcinomas. The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation between Centromere protein H (CENP-H) expression and clinicopathologic factors in salivary gland carcinomas. The expression of CENP-H mRNA was investigated in 28 human salivary gland tumors (7 pleomorphic adenomas, 3 Warthin tumors, 6 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 6 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 5 acinic cell carcinomas and 1 malignant myoepithelioma) and 8 normal submandibular glands using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The labeling index of PCNA and Ki-67 were also investigated immunohistochemically in 16 salivary gland carcinomas. The mean expression level of CENP-H mRNA was significantly higher in malignant tumors (0.55 ± 0.68) than normal submandibular glands (0.10 ± 0.029). A significant correlation between the PCNA labeling index and CENP-H mRNA expression was also found (Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank test, P=0.033). We also found a significant correlation between the Ki-67 labeling index and CENP-H mRNA expression in malignant tumors (Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank test, P=0.040). These results indicate that human CENP-H mRNA is closely linked to increased or abnormal cell proliferation in malignant salivary gland tumors.

Continuous duodenal levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel delivery by a gastrostomy infusion system improves control of Parkinson’s disease. The overall complication rates of percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy were reported to be 41% and 59% for immediate and delayed adverse events, respectively. A 72-year-old woman underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy using the delivery system noted above. Abdominal pain and vomiting occurred 3 months later. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a longitudinal ulcer extending from the lower gastric body to the ileum end, with small intestinal telescoping. Colonoscopy showed a large bezoar of food residue that was attached around the tip of the tube, reaching the ascending colon, which may have acted as an anchor. Thus, the gastric antrum and small intestine were shortened with telescoping. This complication was resolved by crushing the bezoar with forceps during colonoscopy and can be prevented by consuming a fiber-free diet and periodic exchanges of the tube using esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Bezoars ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonoscopy ; Diet ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small ; Pyloric Antrum ; Surgical Instruments ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although daclatasvir with asunaprevir was approved in Japan for interferon ineligible or intolerant patients, patients aged ≥75 years were excluded in the phase III trial. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this therapy for elderly patients aged ≥75 years and to clarify whether an extremely high sustained virological response (SVR) rate can be achieved, even in a real-world setting when patients with resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) to nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors or prior simeprevir failure are excluded. METHODS: Daclatasvir (60 mg) and asunaprevir (100 mg) were orally administered daily for 24 weeks. Patients without pre-existing NS5A RASs and simeprevir failure were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Overall, 110 patients were treated. The median age was 73 years old. The SVR rates of total patients, those aged ≥75 years, and those aged < 75 years were 97% (107/110), 98% (46/47), and 97% (61/63), respectively. The treatment of two patients (2%) was discontinued because of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Daclatasvir with asunaprevir was a safe treatment, even in patients aged ≥75 years. When patients without pre-existing NS5A RASs and prior simeprevir failure were selected, an extremely high SVR rate could be achieved irrespective of age.
Aged ; Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Interferons ; Japan ; Simeprevir