Hypercalcemia is one of the most common paraneoplastic syndromes and believed to occur through two general mechanisms, one humoral and the other local. The former mechanism has been termed humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) and has been associated with the secretion of various cytokines, including parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). PTHrP beats sttuctural and functional similarities to PTH and seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of HHM. We experienced the case of HHM associated with hepatoma, a rare cause of HHM, in 48 year-old male. We found no evidence of bone metastasis. In this case, contrary to our general acknowledgment, serum 1,25 (OH)D concentration was elevated. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein*

PURPOSE: Titanium silicate (TS)-1 chemotherapy has been widely used against gastric cancer in Japan. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and hematological safety of TS-1 as treatment for advanced and recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS: From September 2006 to February 2011, 51 advanced or recurrent gastric cancers were treated with TS-1. One course of treatment consisted of 40, 50, or 60 mg/m2 of TS-1 twice a day for 28 days, followed by withdrawal for two weeks. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary end point was overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The disease control rate was 39.2% (complete response, 0/51; partial response, 6/51; stable disease, 14/51; progressive disease, 23/51; not evaluable, 8/51). The median PFS was 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 5.7); the median PFS of the advanced group was 6.0 months (95% CI, 2.8 to 9.1), and the median PFS of the recurrent group was 3.0 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 4.1). The median OS was 11.0 months (95% CI, 6.3 to 15.6); the median OS of the advanced group was 10.0 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 15.0), and the median OS of the recurrent group was 14.0 months (95% CI, 4.1 to 23.8). Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity occurred in three patients (5.9%), anemia occurred in two patients (3.9%), and thrombocytopenia occurred in one patient (2%). CONCLUSION: TS-1 chemotherapy was safe and effective, with relatively long PFS and OS in patients with advanced and recurrent gastric cancers.
Anemia ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Japan ; Silicates ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thrombocytopenia ; Titanium

PURPOSE: Although the incidence of gastric cancer has declined in the general population, it is the second most frequent cause of death due to malignancy in the world with its incidence in the elderly increasing as a result of increased life expectancy. This present study tried to find the optimal treatment for patients aged 75 years or older with gastric cancer through comparison of the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and identifying prognostic factors of survival. METHODS: Elderly patients who underwent gastric resection for gastric cancer from January, 1999 to February, 2009 (n = 470) were divided into two groups: very elderly patients, 75 years or older (n = 95), and younger elderly patients, between 65 and 74 years old (n = 365). RESULTS: Distinct characteristics of very elderly patients included more frequent underlying disease, deeper invasion, and more frequent lymph node metastasis. There were significant differences in overall survival between the two groups at stages III-B and IV. However, postoperative hospital stays, postoperative morbidity, mortality and early stage did not differ between curatively resected patients in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Due to improved postoperative care, gastrectomy of gastric cancer is the treatment of choice in very elderly patients. Therefore, early diagnosis through regular medical screening and curative gastrectomy with lymph node dissection should be performed in very elderly gastric cancer patients.
Aged ; Cause of Death ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Life Expectancy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Care ; Stomach Neoplasms

Hypercalcemia due to hyperparathyroidism is rarely associated with acute pancreatitis. But, the relationship between hypercalcemia and pancreatitis still remains controvesial. Ectopic parathyroid adenoma with cystic change is one of the rare causes of hyperparathyroidism, and is usually located in neck and mediastinum. We report a case of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma with cystic change associated with acute pancreatitis. A 54-year-old male presented with epigastric pain for 3 days. The serum calcium, phosphate, elastase were 16.8mg/dL, 1.1 mg/dL, 2772.0 ng/mL respectively and his parathyroid hormone level in serum was 651.84 pg/mL. Chest CT showed a mediastinal mass with well defined inhomogenously enhanced density located between SVC and aorta. The patient was diagnosed to hyperparathyroidism with acute pancreatitis due to mediastinal parathyroid adenoma with cystic change, and was surgically removed. The surgical biopsy showed parathyroid adenoma with cystic change. After operation his general condition was improved and serum calcium, phosphate, amylase, lipase level were normalized.
Amylases ; Aorta ; Biopsy ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Lipase ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst* ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Pancreatitis* ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Exposure to early stressful adverse life events such as maternal and social separation plays an essential role in the development of the nervous system. Adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats that were separated on postnatal day 14 from their dam and litters (maternal social separation, MSS) showed hyperactivity and anxiolytic behavior in the open field test, elevated plus-maze test, and forced-swim test. Biologically, the number of astrocytes was significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex of MSS adolescent rats. The hyperactive and anxiolytic phenotype and biological alteration produced by this MSS protocol may provide a useful animal model for investigating the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders of childhood-onset diseases, such as attention deficient hyperactive disorder.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Nervous System ; Neurobiology ; Phenotype ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVES: Alteration of hippocampus was demonstrated in the maternal social separation(MSS) pups, separated from dams on postnatal day(pnd) 14 and placed alone. Therefore, to understand the molecular events involved in the MSS, we have initiated a search for gene profiles that are up or down-regulated in the hippocampus of MSS pups. METHODS: Analysis of cDNA microarray was performed by using total RNA extracted from the hippocampus of control and MSS pups on pnd 17. Also, passive-avoidance test was demonstrated on pnd 35. RESULTS: Up-regulation of Nedd4a was observed in the hippocampus of MSS pups. Also, MSS rats showed less elongation of latency in passive avoidance test. CONCLUSION: We suggest that environmental effects of MSS may be altered the neural and/or glial differentiation and synapse formation-related genes which may lead cognitive alterations in MSS rats.
Animals ; Gene Expression* ; Hippocampus* ; Memory ; Microarray Analysis* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats* ; RNA ; Synapses ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: Conventional laparoscopic appendectomy is performed using three ports, and single-port appendectomy is an attractive alternative in order to improve cosmesis. The aim of this study was to compare pain after transumbilical single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SA) with pain after conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TA). METHODS: From April to September 2011, 50 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for simple appendicitis without gangrene or perforation. Patients who had undergone appendectomy with a drainage procedure were excluded. The type of surgery was chosen based on patient preference after written informed consent was obtained. The primary endpoint was postoperative pain evaluated by the visual analogue scale score and postoperative analgesic use. Operative time, recovery of bowel function, and length of hospital stay were secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: SA using a SILS port (Covidien) was performed in 17 patients. The other 33 patients underwent TA. Pain scores in the 24 hours after surgery were higher in patients who underwent SA (P = 0.009). The change in postoperative pain score over time was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.021). SA patients received more total doses of analgesics (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in the 24 hours following surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant. The median operative time was longer for SA (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgeons should be concerned about longer operation times and higher immediate postoperative pain scores in patients who undergo SA.
Analgesics ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Drainage ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Preference

Biliary bezoar is a rare event that can cause cholangitis and pancreatitis. Biliary bezoar occurs infrequently by food material reflux and bile stasis following choledochoenterostomy, choledochoduodenal fistula, endoscopic sphincterotomy, duodenal diverticula, and because of suture remnants. We describe a phytobezoar in the common bile duct following percutaneous transhepatic large balloon papillary dilatation, which was successfully removed using an endoscopic procedure.
Bezoars ; Bile ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Diverticulum ; Fistula ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Sutures