Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation examination is now performed in most medical institutions in order to select the molecular targeted medicine for lung cancer. It became clear that the positive rate of the biopsy material was lower than that of the surgical sample in this hospital. The cause was attributed to false negatives due to low tumor cell content in biopsy specimens. We investigated the presence of the mutation using surgical samples and preoperative biopsy specimens from the same patients in 13 cases. Furthermore, we investigated the tumor cell content of the biopsy specimens by cell counting. Results showed that 3 of 6 biopsy specimens that were associated with positive surgical samples were judged to be negative. The tumor cell content was less than 5% in all negative cases. Regarding EGFR gene mutation examination, we should carefully determine tumor cell content when using biopsy specimens.

　　We investigated the detection situation of the HER-2 examination that was performed to investigate the adaptation of the molecular targeted medicine trastuzumab for mammary and gastric cancers. The HER-2 positive rate was higher in biopsy specimens than in surgical specimen. In gastric cancer, the positive rate was significantly high when it was of the papillary type, histologically. In comparison with mammary cancer, the percentage of FISH positive was high in 2＋ cases. In addition, as the results of trial investigation showed, HER-2 positive cases ware few in colon cancer.

　　In breast cancer cases, intra-operative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis has been performed widely. It is diagnosed at present by HE staining, but more objective methods are needed. In this study using 166 examples, we compared the methods using rapid immunostaining with the genetic examination. In rapid immunostaining, we recognized metastasis using cytokeratin which was an epithelial cell marker used in the serial sections for frozen histological diagnosis. In conclusion, because metastasis could be diagnosed accurately and pathologist&rsqup;s stress would be reduced, rapid immunostaining is useful for intraoperative diagnosis.

　　We report a case of spindle cell type medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in a 77-year-old man. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed numerous spindle cells without inflammation and hemorrhage. The spindle cells were uniform and exhibited no malignant features. Immunocytochemistry was positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin, and the tumor was diagnosed as spindle cell type medullary carcinoma. There are various histological subtypes of medullary carcinoma, and diagnosis by cytomorphology alone is difficult. Preservation with LBC fixative was helpful for diagnosis by immunocytochemistry in this case.

　　It is known that uterine cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with high-risk type of HPV (human papilloma virus). We have run HPV genotyping tests on patients since November, 2011. In 111 cases so far examined, HPV types 16, 52 and 58 were detected with high frequency, but type 18 was with low frequency. This trend was comparable to nationwide tendency. Type 52, 56 and 58 were detected from the patients of advanced age frequently. There weredifferences in HPV infection rate between cytology-negative cases and positive cases, but there was not the difference in HPV typing by cytology-negative and positive patients. Furthermore, it was made clear that the superinfection of HPV who significantly related to the development of tumor. In the cytology negative patients who were followed up because of dysplasia, there are many who are negative for high risk HPV. Therefore, HPV genotyping examination may help physicians determine the relative priority for treatment.

The most common form of malignant transformation developing from a mature cystic teratoma is squamous cell carcinoma, representing 80% of malignant transformations, while adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 5%. Because of this rarity, few reports exist of preoperative diagnosis of this tumor by magnetic resonance imaging, in particular with fat suppression techniques. Here, we report magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical features of a 79-year-old woman with mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma (measuring 5x6 cm), classified as surgical stage IA. Because of the poor prognosis of malignant transformation, when mature cystic teratomas are detected (even smaller than 5 cm tumor size) in postmenopausal women, serum tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen levels and fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging may be potential indicators of malignant transformation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Teratoma

We have checked into the function of konjak, or the devil's-tongue (Hydrosme vivieri) to reduce cholesterol in order to cast light on its significance as a health food. We processed chipped glucomannan into crackers (hereinafter referred to as “mannan crackers”) and examined its impacts on lipid metabolism. Enrolled for this study were hospital staff members whose total cholesterol exceeded 200mg/dl and students boarding in the hospital's nursing college.
The findings attested to the fact that the intake of mannan crackers may serve to reduce the values of total cholesterol. The higher the value of total cholesterol before this study, the greater the drop. Since we could not detect any effect on either HDLcholesterol or triglyceride, the mannan crackers were considered capable of specifically reducing LDL-cholesterol. We observed no numerical changes in the complete blood cell count (CBCC) and blood chemistry, either. Some of the subjects had abdominal swelling, diarrhea and other digestive problems but theirs were not serious cases. Yet in another aspect, there was no difference in body weight between before and after this study, but the intake of energy and lipid dropped during the period, suggesting that the intake of mannan crackers would produce an effect on the dietary pattern. Having said that, konjak (mannan crackers) may be considered capable of directly or indirectly reducing cholesterol, particularly LDL-cholesterol, suggesting that mannan crackers are of significance as a health food.
The significance of this study for agriculture and rural community must not go unmarked. This study will contribute to the development of agriculture as an industry, while the farm product by the name of konjak has something to do for health, and will be instrumental in protecting the rural environment, not to mention the lives of farm workers engaged in its production. It is a task for us to grapple with by associating itself with farm work and rural villages with the close collaboration of those farm producers.