Shinsuke Okamura

Efficacy of ipriflavone and 1α vitamin D therapy for the cessation of vertebral bone loss

Objective: This study investigated whether a combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1α vitamin D is effective in stopping postmenopausal bone loss. Methods: Ninety‐eight postmenopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned to one of four groups: group 1, ipriflavone alone; group 2, 1α vitamin D alone; group 3, combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1α vitamin D; group 4, no treatment. Vertebral bone mineral density, measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry, serum alkaline phosphatase, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, urinary calcium and hydroxyproline were measured before and at the 6th, 12th and 18th month of the study. All comparisons were made using Students t‐test of means. Result: There was a significant reduction in vertebral bone loss in the patients receiving the combined therapy (mean loss after 18 months 0.33% in the combination group vs. 2.37%, 1.15% and 3.70% in the ipriflavone alone, 1α vitamin D alone, and control groups, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the combined regimen could prevent postmenopausal bone loss.

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF GASTRIC MUCOSAL CANCER INVADING LYMPH VESSELS OR THE VEINS OF THE STOMACH WALL

In total, 573 lesions were resected from 518 patients with primary gastric mucosal cancer in Hiroshima City Hospital over the last 20 years, and the patients with ly(+) or v(+) lesions were analyzed from the clinicopathological point of view. The results were as follows. 1) 17 patients (3.0%) had ly(+) lesions, 3 (0.6%) had v(+) lesions. 2) In all but one case the lesions were located in the M or A area. 3) In all cases except two the lesions were depressed or mixed type. 4) Although one lesion was pap, the others were sig or tub 1, 2. However, there were no significant differences between the differentiated and undifferentiated types. 5) The maximal tumor diameter ranged from 1.5cm in the n(+) cases, but in the ly(+) cases from 0.7cm less than those cases. 6) 12 patients had n(+). Although 7 of the latter had ly(+), there were 3 n(+) cases even among the ly(-) cases. Furthermore, the 10 cases had depressive compartment. 7) Two patients died of another disease and one died of bone metastasis. The other patients are all alive. These results indicate that gastrectomy with node dissection should be done for the depressed or mixed type of lesion which has the possibility of being not only n(+) but also ly(+), v(+) even in the case of mucosal cancer.

A Cytological Study on the Endocrinical Changes in Cervical Carcinoma

Many reports on hormonal activity and the effects on the epithelium have been presented, but careful study of the hormonal influences on the epithelium in the early stages of cervical carcinoma is important as it appears to present a possibility of preventation and hormonal therapy.Whether complete prevention of cervical carcinoma by sex steroid treatment is possible or not, it is of interest to know how much, and at which stages influence from cyclic hormonal changes is felt. And with this in mind, the cytological changes of the epithelium in cases of cervical carcinoma during the early stages were studied in relation to the menstrual cycle and the influences of hormone milieu. Irregularities in the menstrual cycle were also noted.It was found that:(1) In early cervical carcinoma the epithelium repeats its exfoliation and reproduction under the influence of ovarian hormones.(2) Patients with hyperestrogenic milieu tend to have much more histologic malignancy.(3) Menstrual irregularities tend to increase as the clinical stages of cervical carcinoma progress.(4) These irregularities have an influence on the epithelium encouraging the process of carcinoma.(5) The cycle date is necessary for a complete diagnosis of a smear and should always be noted.