Tadao Nakashima

PREPARATION AND STABILIZATION OF SIMPLE AND MULTIPLE EMULSIONS USING A MICROPOROUS GLASS MEMBRANE

Abstract A microporous glass membrane with a narrow range of pore sizes was used for the preparation of simple and water-oil-water (W/O/W) type emulsions using egg yolk phospholipids and soybean oil. Simple oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions and a W/O/W type emulsion were successfully prepared using the membranes without any coalescence of oil drops or breakdown of the emulsions. The simple and W/O/W emulsions were stable for at least 6 weeks when stored at 5°C. The particle size distribution of the emulsion depended on the pore size of the membrane. These results indicate that the technique would be valuable for the production of stable simple and multiple emulsions for food uses as well as for intravenous fat and/or drug carriers.

Arterial‐injection chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using monodispersed poppy‐seed oil microdroplets containing fine aqueous vesicles of epirubicin. Initial medical application of a membrane‐emulsification technique

Background. Iodized poppy‐seed oil (IPSO) has a property of depositing itself selectively in the cells of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A mixture of anticancer agents and IPSO has been used widely because IPSO accumulates in tumors, but its usefulness appears limited because the anticancer agents become separated easily from IPSO and do not remain in the tumor. The authors prepared a long term inseparable, water‐in‐oil‐in‐water emulsion (W/O/W) for use in arterial‐injection therapy for patients with HCC and evaluated its clinical usefulness.

Enhanced efficacy of bleomycin adsorbed on silica particles against lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer: A pilot study

BACKGROUND Lymph node metastases occur very frequently and extensively in patients with esophageal cancer. The aim of this pilot study was to try the targeting chemotherapy for lymph node metastases by use of bleomycin adsorbed on silica particles (BLM-SI). METHODS BLM-SI or bleomycin solution (BLM-SOL) was injected into the submucosa of the esophageal wall by means of endoscopy 3 days before operation in 16 patients with middle thoracic esophageal cancer. The distribution of bleomycin in the regional lymph nodes and surrounding connective tissues was studied. RESULTS When BLM-SI was administered, bleomycin activity was found in both the regional lymph nodes and connective tissues, not only in the mediastinal region but also in the cervical and abdominal region. Bleomycin activity was significantly higher in all regions after BLM-SI administration than after BLM-SOL administration. Degenerative or necrotic changes were microscopically observed in 11 of 36 lymph nodes with metastatic foci. Bleomycin activity in the blood was significantly lower after BLM-SI was administered than after BLM-SOL. Serious systemic side effects except for fever were not observed in any patients. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that BLM-SI could be a useful treatment modality for targeting lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer without serious side effects.