We induced percutaneous spinal cord injuries (SCI) using a balloon catheter in 45 rats and transplanted human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) at the injury site. Locomotor function was significantly improved in hUCB-MSCs transplanted groups. Quantitative ELISA of extract from entire injured spinal cord showed increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). Our results show that treatment of SCI with hUCB-MSCs can improve locomotor functions, and suggest that increased levels of BDNF, NGF and NT-3 in the injured spinal cord were the main therapeutic effect.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/*genetics ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Nerve Growth Factor/genetics ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*therapy

The use of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cell transplantation therapy holds great promise for repairing spinal cord injury. Here we report the first clinical trial transplantation of human umbilical cord (hUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the spinal cord of a dog suspected to have fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) and that experienced a loss of deep pain sensation. Locomotor functions improved following transplantation in a dog. Based on our findings, we suggest that transplantation of hUCB-derived MSCs will have beneficial therapeutic effects on FCEM patients lacking deep pain sensation.
Animals ; Cartilage Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; *Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/veterinary ; Dog Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Dogs ; Embolism/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology/therapy/*veterinary ; Treatment Outcome

Here, percutaneous spinal cord injury (SCI) methods using a balloon catheter in adult rats are described. A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space through the lumbosacral junction and then inflated between T9-T10 for 10min under fluoroscopic guidance. Animals were divided into three groups with respect to inflation volume: 20 microL (n = 18), 50 microL (n = 18) and control (Fogarty catheter inserted but not inflated; n = 10). Neurological assessments were then made based on BBB score, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Both inflation volumes produced complete paralysis. Gradual recovery of motor function occurred when 20 microL was used, but not after 50 microL was applied. In the 50 microL group, all gray and white matter was lost from the center of the lesion. In addition, supramaximal damage was noted, which likely prevented spontaneous recovery. This percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model is simple, rapid with high reproducibility and the potential to serve as a useful tool for investigation of pathophysiology and possible protective treatments of SCI in vivo.
Animals ; Balloon Embolectomy/*methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Compression/*therapy

A solitary fibrous tumor (STF) is a relatively unusual neoplasm first described as a distinctive tumor arising from pleura. Some reports have shown that STF also affect extrathoracic regions. A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of an incidentally discovered thigh mass. We performed complete removal of the tumor. It was a soft tissue tumor with muscle indentation but without invasion to the surrounding muscles. The resected specimen was 7.0x6.3x5.2 cm. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a haphazard proliferation of spindle cells and epitheloid cells with hypercellularity and high mitotic activity. Immunohistochemistry showed positive immunoreactivity for CD34, CD99, bcl-2 protein, CD117, vimentin, smooth muscle actin and epithelial membrane antigen. We report, herein, on a rare case of malignant SFT in the thigh region along with a review of the literature.
Actins ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucin-1 ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Pleura ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; Thigh ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: There has been much debate about the significance of the CA19-9 level for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the preoperative serum CA19-9 level and the CA19-9 expression in the tumor tissues of colorectal cancer patients METHODS: One hundred patients with colorectal cancer and who had been treated by resection were studied. We assessed the correlations of the preoperative serum CA19-9 level and the status of the CA19-9 immunohistochemical staining with the clinicopathologic features, including the prognosis of the patients. RESULTS: The preoperative serum CA19-9 level had significant correlation with the status of CA19-9 immunohistochemical staining. The presence of distant metastasis was significantly correlated with an elevated level of serum CA19-9. The depth of tumor, the presence of lymph node metastasis, the TNM stage and tumor cell differentiation were significantly correlated with the status of the CA19-9 immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the gross morphology, depth of tumor, the presence of lymph node metastasis, the TNM stage, the status of the CA19-9 immunohistochemical staining and the serum CEA level were correlated with survival on univariate analysis. However, multivariate analysis did not validate the status of CA19-9 immunohistochemical staining as a significantly independent predictor of the prognosis. CONCLUSION: The CA19-9 expression was frequently observed in advanced stage tumor tissue, yet its expression in tumor tissue or the preoperative CA19-9 serum level did not show independent prognostic value for colorectal cancer patients.
Cell Differentiation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis

Xanthogranuloma is a benign, fibrohistiocytic lesion that presents as a yellowish, cutaneous papule or nodule. Although the head, neck, and trunk are the most common sites for xanthogranuloma, it can appear at any site on the body. We report a rare solitary xanthogranuloma on the palm of 24-year-old man.
Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Young Adult

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a very rare, locally-aggressive, potentially fatal, malignant cutaneous neoplasm that arises from the intraepithelial ductal portion of the eccrine sweat gland. Eccrine porocarcinoma may develop either spontaneously or from a longstanding benign eccrine poroma. Herein, we describe two cases of eccrine porocarcinoma and review the related literature.
Eccrine Porocarcinoma* ; Poroma ; Sweat Glands

PURPOSE: Thrombocytosis is commonly associated with various tumors, including stomach, ovarian, lung, liver and pancreas cancers. Some clinical reports have shown thrombocytosis to be associated with the disease stage and prognosis. This study investigated the prevalence of the thromobocytosis in patients with colorectal cancer, and its association with the prognosis. METHODS: Two hundreds ninety-six patients with colorectal cancer who had been surgically treated at our hospital between 1997 and 2004 were enrolled in this study. The incidence, relationship with other clinicopathological factors, and the prognostic value of thrombocytosis were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of the 290 (12.8%) patients had thrombocytosis. The incidence of thrombocytosis was examined with regard to gender (P=0.018), tumor location (P=0.021), and T stage of tumor (P<0.000). Univariate analysis demonstrated thromobocytosis, T stage, N stage, M stage, venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, and elevated carcinoembryogenic antigen (> or =5 ng/ml) to be associated with both the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed thrombocytosis to be significantly associated with the disease-free survival (P=0.026). CONCLUSION: Preoperative thrombocytosis appears to be an independent prognostic indicator of the DFS in patients with colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lung ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Thrombocytosis*

Cutaneous metastasis from bladder cancer is very rare. A 48-year-old man presented with a 5 month history of a dome-shaped nodule on his scalp. Histopathologic examination of the skin lesion revealed the proliferation of atypical cells, which were similar to those of urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We herein report on a case of cutaneous metastasis from urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder with a review of the Korean literature.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: The adhesion of H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cells may be an essential step for the pathophysiology of various H. pylori-induced gastrointestinal diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural relation of H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells in their adhesion. METHODS: Endoscopic biopsy of gastric antrum and body was performed from 15 patients (9 men, 6 women) with chronic gastritis and H. pylori infection. The specimens were processed for electron microscopy and observed with a transmission electron microscope (Hitachi H-600). RESULTS: On the basis of morphological appearances, the adhesions of H. pylori to the gastric epithelial cells were categorized into three types; filamentous connection, adhesion pedestals and membrane fusion. Coccoid and undetermined forms adhered mainly by the filamentous connection, whereas the bacillary forms adhered primarily by the adhesion pedestals and membrane fusion. CONCLUSION: Various types of adhesion were associated with H. pylori and gastric epithelium. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence of different types of adhesion to the pathophysiology of H. pylori.
*Bacterial Adhesion ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Gastritis/*microbiology/pathology ; Helicobacter Infections/*microbiology/pathology/physiopathology ; Helicobacter pylori/classification/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Human ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Age ; Stomach/*microbiology/pathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't