PURPOSE: We assessed the impact of using a porcine model on the training of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy(LPN) and compared the training effectiveness between surgeons with and without previous laparoscopic experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgeon A had previous laparoscopic experience, with the exception of LPN, while surgeon B had no prior laparoscopic experience. A tumor model was created by subcapsular injection of liquid plastic(Smooth-Cast 320) in the kidney. We recorded the total operation time, the bowel dissection time, the renal pedicle dissection time, the warm ischemic time, the mass resection time, the suture time, and the presence of major complications for each surgeon. RESULTS: The mean operation time was significantly shorter for surgeon A compared to surgeon B(49.1+/-4.5 and 63.6+/-8.4 minutes, respectively, p<0.001). Although the mass resection time was significantly shorter for surgeon A as well, there were no significant differences between the two surgeons in terms of warm ischemia time and suture time. As the training progressed, surgeon B improved in all surgical steps and surgeon A showed improvement in time for warm ischemia and suturing the defect. Five complications occurred(two cases by surgeon A and three cases by surgeon B). CONCLUSIONS: A porcine model improved the skills needed for LPN, including shortening the warm ischemia and suture times. LPN is a procedure requiring technically-demanding skills that can be improved by training using a animal model, regardless of the previous laparoscopic experiences.
Animals

The apoptosis, a distinctive type of individual cell necrosis, has been considered to play a complementary but opposite role to mitosis in the regulation of animal cell populations. It can be initiated or inhibited by a variety of environmental stimuli, physiologically and pathologically. Apoptosis seems to appear in either non-neoplastic or neoplastic tissues, even malignant tumors in the state of untreatment or irradiation. This study was carried out to investigate the spontaneous occurrence of apoptosis in squamous carcinomas of the uterine cervix and its mechanisms. Light microscopically, noted were the condensation and fragmentation of individual tumor cells with formation of apoptotic bodies that were frequently phagocytosed by nearby intact tumor cells. They were commonly seen in the neighbourhood of coagulative necrosis. Electron microscopically (TEM and SEM), noted were nuclear condensation, margination toward the nuclear membrane and fragmentation of membrane-bounded apoptotic bodies that were well preserved. The intracellular apoptotic bodies were phagosomes and reduced to electron-dense lysosomal residual bodies. The conclusion obtained was as follow: Apoptosis was found in all cases of squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, of which the frequency was higher in tumors of poor differentiation than those of well to moderate differentiation. The process of the apoptosis is considered to pass through the step of formation of the apoptotic bodies, phagocytosis by adjoining tumor cells or histiocytes, and then degradation as lysosmal residual bodies.
Animals

The aim of the present investigation has been to evaluate the depletion pattern of the supercompensated glycogen of hindlimb muscles during strenous exercise in rats. The plan of the maximizing muscle glycogen stores is based on the fact that a glycogen-depleted muscle by exercise will have an increased avidity for glycogen when exposed to a high carbohydrate diet. The glycogen concentration of soleus, red gastrocnemius and plantaris muscle, and liver was measured at 0, 30 and 60 minutes during treadmill exercise. The experimental animals were divided into 5 group - Normal(N), Control(C), 1Hour(1HR:after 1hour of glucose ingestion), 2Hour(2HR:after 2hour of glucose ingestion) and Exercise-1Hour(EX-1HR:glucose ingestion after 1 hour of preloading treadmill exercise)group - for glycogen storage study. The glycogen concentration of soleus, red gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles in N group was 4.57+/-0.34, 5.11+/-0.24 and 6.55+/-0.20 mg/gm wet wt., respectively. The glycogen concentration of soleus and red gastrocnemius in EX-1HR group were about 1.9 and 1.8 times than that of N group, respectively, but the concentration of plantaris was not higher than that of N group. The glycogen concentration of liver in N group was 41.0+/-1.47mg/gm wet wt. and the concentration of the overnight fasted C group wad only 2.9% of the value of N group. The level of glycogen concentration of liver in the other glucose ingested groups(1HR, 2HR, including EX-1HR) was within 19 - 32% of that of N group. The blood glucose concentration of EX-1HR group was higher than that of N group, the plasma free fatty acid concentration of C and 2HR group was higher than that of N group, and the plasma insulin concentration of EX-1HR group was higher than that of N group. The concentration of supercompensated glycogen of soleus and red gastrocnemius were rapidly decreased during 30 minutes of exercise but there was almost no changes of the concentration during the other 30 minutes of continuing exercise. The concentration of N group during 30 minutes of exercise was decreased but more slowly than those of EX-1HR group. The remaining level of glycogen after 60 minutes of exercise in EX-1HR group was higher than that of N group. Taken together, the mobilization of endogenous muscle glycogen at the first stage of exercise was proportioned to the intial level of glycogen concentration, and later on, when exercise continued, the muscle glycogen level was stabilized. And the remaining level of supercompensated muscle glycogen after 60 minutes of exercise was higher than that of normally stored glycogen level. The mobilization of the glycogen stroed in slow and fast oxidative muscle fibers is faster than in the fast glycolytic muscle fibers during strenous exercise.
Animals

Insulin resistance is a prominent feature of diabetic state and has heterogeneous nature. However, the pathogenetic sequence of events leading to the emergence of the defect in insulin action remains controversial. It is well-known that prolonged hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are one of the causes of development of insulin resistance, but both hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissue. Therefore, it is hypothesized that insulin resistance may be generated by a kind of protective mechanism preventing cellular hypertrophy. In this study, to evaluate whether the acutely increased glucose uptake inhibits further glucose transport stimulated by insulin, insulin sensitivity was measured after preloaded glucose infusion for 2 hours at various conditions in rats. And also, to evaluate the mechanism of decreased insulin sensitivity, insulin receptor binding affinity and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein of plasma membrane of gastrocnemius muscle were assayed after hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies. Experimental animals were divided into five groups according to conditions of preloaded glucose infusion: group I, basal insulin (14+/-1.9 micronU/ml) and basal glucose (75+/-0.7 mg/dl), by normal saline infusion; group II, normal insulin (33+/-3.8 micronU/ml) and hyperglycemia (207+/-6.3 mg/dl), by somatostatin and glucose infusion; group III, hyperinsulinemia (134+/-34.8 micronU/ml) and hyperglycemia (204+/-4.6 mg/dl), by glucose infusion; IV, supramaximal insulin (100+/-2.2 mg/dl), by insulin and glucose infusion; group V, supramaximal insulin(4813+/-687.9 micronU/ml) and hyperglycemia (233+/-3.1 mg/dl), by insulin and glucose infusion. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. The amounts of preloaded glucose infusion(gm/kg) were 1.88+/-0.151 in group II, 2.69+/-0.239 in group III, 3.54+/-0.198 in groupIV, and 4.32+/-0.621 in group V. Disappearance rates of glucose (Rd, mg/kg/min) at steady state of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies were 16.9+/-3.88 in group I, 13.5+/-1.05 in group II, 11.2+/-1.17 in group III, 13.2+/-2.05 in group IV, and 10.4+/-1.01 in group V. A negative correlation was observed between amount of preloaded glucose and Rd )r=-0.701, p<0.001) when all studies were combined. Insulin receptor binding affinity and content of GLUT4 were not significantly different in all experimental groups. These results suggest that increased glucose uptake may inhibit further glucose transport and lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.
Animals

The histogenesis of the myofibroblast continues to be a controversial issue. The most popular view is that the myofibroblast is derived directly from the fibroblast. The important role of myofibroblasts in the synthesis of collagen and in wound contraction was demonstrated initially in granulation tissue in experimental animals. Four settings are recognized in which myofibroblasts are the principal proliferative cells: reparative responses, pseudoneoplastic disorders, stromal response to neoplasia, and true neoplasms, both benign and malignant. To identify of fibroblastic cells with smooth muscle differentiation features in the nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, we examined a variety of histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of 7 cases of granulation tissue, 7 of hypertrophic scar, 10 of chronic persistent hepatitis, 10 of chronic active hepatitis, 7 of liver cirrhosis, 7 of fibromatosis, 42 of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 14 of microinvasive carcinoma, 14 of invasive carcinoma, 7 of fibroma, 20 of fibrosarcoma and 72 of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were used in a biotin-streptavidin procedures. The results of immunohistochemical and electron microscopical examinations yielded virtually identical findings. The identification of fibroblastic cells with smooth muscle cell differentiation features in the desmoplastic reactions of carcinomas, fibroma, fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma offers also novel diagnostic and prognostic perspectives, that might help in evaluating preneoplastic lesions and malignant lesions. So degree of proliferative myofibroblasts was helpful diagnostic aid in differentiation of chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Animals

The purpose of this study is to evaluate histologic result of bone substituting material on defects followed tooth extraction. We compare the histologic findings control, DFDBA, Bio-Oss(R), and Regenafil(TM), Briefly, mandibular premolar teeth were extracted available for bone filling. All alveolar sites were checked after extraction and thoroughly debrided with a dental curet to remove the periodontal ligament. Extraction sites were prepared dehiscence on buccal side 7mm height from alveolar crest. The graft materials were filled into the extraction socket and dehiscenc defects. The animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after implantation. Both treated and control mandibular sites were histologically evaluated with light microscopy. Histologic observation at 12 weeks revealed that control and experimental sites were healed uneventfully and directly apposed to new bone without any adverse tissue reaction. DFDBA and Bio-Oss(R) sites maintain width of alveolar crest but were not fully resorbed. Regenafil(TM) sites also maintain width and particles were resorbed more than other graft materials. From this results, it was suggested that Regenafil(TM) is promising boen substituting materials maintaining the width of alveolar crest and height follewed tooth extraction.
Animals

Ion irradiation is a very promising tool to modify the chemical structure and physical properities of polymers. This study was aimed to evaluate the cellular adhesion to ion beam-irradiated surface of biodegradable poly-llactide(PLLA) membrane. The PLLA membrane samples were irradiated by using 35 KeV Ar+ to fluence of 5x10(13), 5x10(14) and 5x10(15)ion/cm2. Water contact angles to control and each dose of ion beam-irradiated PLLA membranes were measured. Cultured fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts were seeded onto control and each dose of ion beam-irradiated PLLA membranes and cultured. After 24 hours, each PLLA membranes onto which osteoblasts attached were examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Osteoblasts were removed from each PLLA membrane and then, the vitality and the number of cells were calibrated. Alkaline phosphatase of detached cells from each PLLA membranes were measured. Ion beam-irradiated PLLA membranes showed no significantly morphological change from control PLLA membranes. In the measurement of water contact angle to each membrane, the dose range of ion beam employed in this study reduced significantly contact angles. Among them, 5x10(14) ion/cm2 showed the least contact angle. The vitalities of osteoblastes detached from each membranes were confirmed by flow cytometer and well attached cells with their own morphology onto each membranes were observed by SEM. A very strong improvement of the cell adhesion and proliferation was observed for ion beam-irradiated surfaces of PLLA membranes. 5x10(14)ions/cm2 exhibited the most strong effect also in cellular adherence. ALPase activities also tended to increase in ion beam-irradiated membranes but statistical differences were not found. These results suggested that ion beam irradiation is an effective tool to improve the adhesion and spreading behaviour of the cells onto the biodegradable PLLA membranes for the promotion of membrane-tissue integration.
Rats ; Animals

While calcium phosphate ceramics meet some of the needs for bone replacement, they have some limitation of unresorbability and fibrous encapsulation without direct bone apposition during bone remodelling. To address these problem, we developed a new ceramic, calcium metaphosphate(CMP), and report herein the biologic response to CMP in subcutaneous tissue, muscle and bone. Porous CMP blocks were prepared by condensation of anhydrous Ca(H2PO4)2 to form non-crystalline Ca(PO3)2. Macroporous scaffolds were made using a polyurethane sponge method. CMP block possesses a macroporous structure with approximate pore size range of 0.3-1mm. CMP blocks were implanted in 8 mm sized calvarial defect, subcutaneous tissue and muscle of 6 Newzealand White rabbits and histologic observation were performed at 4 and 6 weeks later. CMP blocks in subcutaneous tissue and muscle were well adapted without any adverse tissue reaction and resorbed slowly and spontaneously. Histologic observation of calvarial defect at 4 and 6 weeks revealed that CMP matrix were mingled with and directly apposed to new bone without any intervention of fibrous connective tissue. CMP blocks didn't show any adverse tissue reaction and resorbed spontaneously also in calvarial defect. This result revealed that CMP had a high affinity for bone and was very biocompatible. From this preliminary result, it was suggested that CMP was a promising ceramic as a bone substitute and tissue engineering scaffold for bone formation.
Rabbits ; Animals

No abstract available.
Rabbits ; Animals

The enhancing potential of anatoxin a (AFB1) and D-galactosamine (DGA) on development of preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form positive (GST-P+) hepatic foci was examined using an in vivo mid-term assay system based on two-stage concept of hepatocarci-nogenesis. Rats were initially given a single dose (200 mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) intraperi-toneally, and thereafter. with an interval of 2 weeks, AFBl at a graded concentration (0.06, 0.012, 0.0024, 0.00048, and 0.000096 mg/kg i.g.) and DGA (100 mg/kg i.p.) were administered for 6 weeks and then sacrificed. All rats were subjected to a two-thirds partial hepatectomy to induce a potent growth stimulus to DEN-altered hepatocytes at the week 3. The modifying potential was scored by comparing the number and the area (mm2) per cm2 of GST-P+ foci in the liver with those of the corresponding control group given DEN alone. AFBl (at a graded concentration between 96 ng/kg and 60 microgram/kg) exerted a strong promoting effect oil induction of GST-P+ foci with both the number and the area. The logarithmic dose of AFBl and the potency to promote hepatocarcinogenesis were in dose-dependent relationship. DGA, a known necrogenic chemical to cause periportal necrosis and stimulate hepatocellular proliferation. also revealed the increase in the area of GST-P+ foci. although its enhancing potentia1 was 1ess profound than that of AFBl. The results suggest that DGA is also a useful proliferative stimulus m improve the medium-termdetection of unknown carcinogens.
Rats ; Animals