OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with an MR endoscope to evaluate the depth of invasion of rectal carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with rectal carcinomas were studied prior to surgery with MRI using a 3D-fast spoiled GRASS (SPGR) sequence, a nonmagnetic endoscope and an antenna probe. RESULTS: The MR images on 3D-fast SPGR sequence showed that the normal bowel mucosa had a high signal intensity, the submucosal layer had a low signal intensity, and the muscularis propria had moderate signal intensity. Small tumors had moderate signal intensity similar to the muscularis propria. Advanced tumors with considerable volume revealed heterogeneous findings with intermediate and low signal intensities. The depth of wall invasion by rectal carcinoma was correctly staged with endoscopic MRI in 16 of 22 patients. CONCLUSION: This technique may be useful for the accurate staging of the depth of invasion by rectal carcinomas.

Carcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reappraisal of OP-1206, a prostaglandin E1 derivative in combination with low-flow oxygen inhalation therapy in chronic lung disease.

For the purpose of alleviating pulmonary hypertension and maintaining cardiac output, which tended to be decreased to acute low-flow oxygen therapy in chronic lung diseases, we evaluated combined low-flow oxygen therapy and oral administration of OP-1206, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, in 7 patients with obstructive lung disease and 3 with restrictive one. Low flow oxygen inhalation (1 l/min. 30 minutes) increased PaO2 from 67.2 +/- 12.8 mmHg to 91.0 +/- 18.2 mmHg (p less than 0.001), PVO2 from 36.4 +/- 3.1 mmHg to 41.7 +/- 7.0 mmHg (p less than 0.01) and decreased cardiac index from 3.38 +/- 0.39 l/min/m2 to 3.07 +/- 0.32 l/min/m2 (p less than 0.01), RVSWI from 18.7 +/- 2.6 g.m/m2 to 6.1 +/- 2.0 g.m/m2 (p less than 0.01), transpulmonary driving pressure from 13.0 +/- 5.4 mmHg to 9.8 +/- 5.5 mmHg (p less than 0.01) and mean PA from 21.6 +/- 7.7 mmHg to 18.3 +/- 6.9 mmHg (p less than 0.05) with a trend of increase in COD and no change at oxygen delivery. OP-1206, on the contrary, decreased mPA from 21.6 +/- 7.7 to 18.2 +/- 5.6 mmHg (p less than 0.05), RVSWI from 8.7 +/- 2.6 g.m/m2 to 6.9 +/- 2.3 g.m/m2 (p less than 0.01) with trend of decrease in transpulmonary driving pressure, TPVR and PAR with no substantial changes in gasometric parameters. The decrease rates of PA by low-flow oxygen therapy and OP-1206 administration correlated significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined treatment with TNP-470 and 5-fluorouracil effectively inhibits growth of murine colon cancer cells in vitro and liver metastasis in vivo.

The combined effects of TNP-470 (TNP), a semisynthetic analogue of fumagillin, and 5-fluorouracil (5FU), a representative chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer, were investigated using murine colon 26 adenocarcinoma (CT 26) cells. In a cell-proliferation study in vitro, 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined to be 5.2 microg/ml and 240 ng/ml for TNP and 5FU, respectively. When CT 26 cells were treated with TNP and 5FU in combination, a remarkable cytotoxic effect was obtained. Isobologram analysis revealed synergism of these two agents in inhibition of the cell growth. In vivo, using a dorsal air sac assay, we found that TNP significantly inhibited the CT 26-induced angiogenesis. In addition, the combination of TNP and 5FU exerted a synergistic anti-tumor effect in a model of hepatic metastasis by portal injection of CT 26 cells. Since TNP is known to exert inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth through suppression of cell cycle progress from the G1 to S phases as well as neovascularization, it is speculated that the treatment with TNP enhanced the anti-tumor effect of 5FU through suppression of the cell cycle and tumor-derived angiogenesis. Taken together, these results suggest that combined treatment with TNP and 5FU is potentially useful for inhibition of tumor cell growth and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗