Intraoperative Open-Cavity Implant for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Using High-Dose Rate Multicatheter Brachytherapy in Japanese Breast Cancer Patients: A Single-Institution Registry Study

Background: Previous research has compared the efficacies of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and wholebreast irradiation (WBI). APBI immediately after surgery may provide more benefit after intraoperative insertion of catheters. Although balloon catheter-based APBI is available in the US, it is difficult in Japanese women, who have relatively small breasts. With the applicators being implanted during tumor removal, APBI can be started immediately after surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of APBI using the intraoperative open-cavity implant technique. Method: Patients (age≥40 years) with invasive breast cancer (diameter≤3 cm) were enrolled. Before lumpectomy, the insertion of applicators and delivery doses were simulated by computed tomography (CT). After confirmation of free margins and negative sentinel nodes (SNs) using frozen section analysis, applicators were inserted. Postoperative CT-based dose distribution analysis was performed using dose-volume histograms. APBI was started on the day of surgery, delivering 32 Gy in 8 fractions over the following 5-6 days, and it covered a distance of 2 cm from tumor margins. This observational study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital. Results: From October 2008 to July 2012, 157 women (160 lesions) were enrolled (age 55.0 years, <40:9, SN+: 25, for patients’ request). The mean number of applicators used was 6.4 (2-15) and mean planning target volume was 35.8 cm3 (6.5-137.1 cm3). All radiotherapy-related toxicities were mild. However, 12 patients (7.5%) experienced wound breakdown because of surgical site infection. Two patients developed ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (1 marginal, 1 at a distant site). Conclusions: Despite the small number of participants and a short follow-up period, our results suggest that this technique could be helpful in establishing clinical safety and efficacy.

Sentinel-Node-Driven Personalized Radiation Techniques Ranging from Partial Breast Irradiation to Regional Nodal Radiation after Breast-Conserving Surgery

Background: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by whole breast irradiation (WBI) has become the standard of care for treating patients with early-stage breast cancer. Recently, various radiation techniques followed by BCS have been reported. We have been investigating “personalized radiotherapy after BCS” ranging from accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) to WBI with regional nodal irradiation (RNI) based on the axillary node status. In this study, we compared different cohorts that received personalized radiotherapy. Method: Of 317 consecutive patients who underwent BCS followed by radiotherapy since November 2007, 187 who received APBI and 122 who received WBI were analyzed. Results: The local-only recurrence rate was 1.1% in the APBI group and 3.3% in the WBI group, and the regional-only recurrence rate was 1.1% for APBI and 0.8% for WBI. Conclusions: The clinical efficacy of APBI for local control after BCS was comparable to that of WBI ± RNI. Although this study was based on a small number of patients with a short follow-up period, the feasibility of breast-conserving therapy using multicatheter brachytherapy to achieve acceptable clinical outcomes was demonstrated.

Reduced endogenous insulin secretion in diabetic patients with low-titer positive antibodies against GAD

Aim: To investigate the clinical characteristics of diabetic patients with a low-titer positive for the anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibody (GAD antibody). Methods: The subjects were 420 diabetic inpatients. The endogenous insulin secretion was estimated on the basis of the C-peptide immunoreactivity from a 24 h urine collection (uCPR). Clinical variables were compared between patients negative for the GAD antibody (GAD antibody titer < 1.5 U/mL), a low-titer positive GAD antibody (1.5 U/mL ≤ GAD antibody titer < 10 U/mL) and a high-titer positive GAD antibody (10 U/mL ≤ GAD antibody titer). Results: The low and high-titer positive GAD antibodies were found in 25 and 10 patients, respectively. The uCPR was significantly lower in both the patients with a low (37 ± 33 ug/24h) and high-titer (39 ± 27 ug/24h) positive GAD antibodies than in those negative for GAD antibodies (71 ± 52 ug/24h). The uCPR level was significantly lower in the low-titer positive GAD antibody group (29 ± 22 ug/24h) than in the negative group (67 ± 55 ug/24h) among the patients not taking insulin secretagogues. The difference disappeared in the subjects taking insulin secreagogues. In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, a low-titer positive GAD antibody was independently associated with the uCPR level. Conclusions: Endogenous insulin secretion is reduced in diabetic patients positive for GAD antibodies, even if the titer is low. Earlier initiation of insulin therapy might therefore protect the pancreatic β-cell function in diabetic patients with a low-titer positive GAD antibody.

Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Complicated with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome under Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Tubulointerstitial nephritis complicated by primary Sj?gren’s syndrome in a patient under treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in the early stage of the disease by renal biopsy. The symptoms of primary Sj?gren’s syndrome, such as thirst and polydipsia, were masked by the characteristic symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus. An association between sicca symptoms and diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2) has been previously reported. Hence, it is possible that there are common underlying immunological mechanisms between primary Sj?gren’s syndrome and diabetes mellitus of both types. Intervention with steroids in a timely manner appears to have prevented or slowed the progression of re- nal impairment.

Female mice exhibit both sexual and social partner preferences for vocalizing males

Acoustic signals are widely used as courtship signals in the animal kingdom.It has long been known that male mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations(USVs)in the presence of female mice or in response to female secretions.This observation led to the hypothesis that male USVs play a role in courtship behavior.Although previous studies showed that female mice have a social partner preference for vocalizing males,it is not known if they exhibit a sexual partner preference when given a choice.To address this issue,we examined the copulatory behaviors of female mice with either devocalized males(with or without the playback of the USVs)or sham-operated males in 2 different behavioral paradigms:the no-choice paradigm in the home cage of a male mouse(without choice of mating partners)or the mate-choice paradigm in a 3-chambered apparatus(with choice of mating partners).In the no-choice paradigm,female mice exhibited comparable sexual receptivity with sham-operated and devocalized males.In addition,we found that female mice showed more approach behavior to-wards devocalized males when male USVs were played back.In the mate-choice paradigm,female mice visited more frequently and stayed longer with sham-operated than devocalized males.Furthermore,we showed that female mice received more intromissions from sham-operated males than devocalized males.In summary,our results suggested that,although female mice can copulate equally with both devocalized and vocalizing males when given no choice of mating partner,female mice exhibit both sexual and social partner preferences for vocalizing males in the mate-choice paradigm.