No abstract available.
Administration, Oral* ; Animals ; Carbon Disulfide* ; Carbon* ; Rats*

Direct Black 38, a kind of benzidine-based azo dye, is widely used as a dye for fabric, leather, cotton, cellulosic material, paper, wool, silk, and so on. Benzidine-based azo dyes are proven as a mutagen and linked to bladder cancer. In 1978, Natonal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended that three widely used benzidine-based dyes (Direct Black 38, Direct Blue 6, and Direct Brown 95) should be treated as carcinogens. In this experiment, metabolism of the benzidine-based dye. Direct Black 38 was examined by using an isolated liver perfusion system. To measure the metbolites of Direct Black 38,/ 8.0 micrometer, 30.5 micrometer and 63,3 micrometer of Direct Black 38 was added into the recirculating perfusate of the isolated perfused rat liver. Samples were collected at 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90. 120 minute. They were treated with sep-pak and methanol, and the metabohtes were detected and quantified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Residual non-reactive dye in the perfusate and liver was reduced to benzidine and then analyzed by HPLC. Detected metabolites of ?Direct^-Black 38 were benzidine, N-acetylbenzidine, and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. The average conentration of benzidine was 0.1 micrometer and this concentration was maintained throughout the experimental period. The average concentration of N-acetylbenzidine was 0.22 micrometer and took the same pattern of benzidine. When 30.5 micrometer of Direct BIact 38 was added to the perfusate, only. N,N'-diacetylbenzidin.e increased slightly with time. From the above results we suggest that only small amount of Dirst Black 38 might be metabolized to benzidine regardless of the s, amount of the Direct Black 38. There are some possible explanations. The liver was damaged during the perparation. And the function of the perfused liver decreased rapidly because adsorbing of dye. The benzidine, acetylbenzidine and diacetylbenzidine metabolized to other metabolites were not detected in this experiment.
Animals ; Carcinogens ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Coloring Agents ; Liver* ; Metabolism* ; Methanol ; Occupational Health ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Silk ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Wool

PURPOSE: A carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater has more favorable prognosis than other malignant tumors of the periampullary region, because it is symptomatic at an early stage. However, local resection of an ampullary carcinoma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment results of ampulla of Vater carcinomas, according to operation type in low risk group patients. METHODS: The records of 17 low risk group patients, among 120 patients with ampulla of Vater cancer, who underwent curative surgery beyween 1992 and 2002, were reviewed. All specimens were critically reviewed by a single expert pathologist. The relationship between surgical outcomes and operation type were assessed. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 7 women, with a median age of 57.8 years. 13 of the 17 patients underwent the Whipples operation or a PPPD, and 4 underwent a transduodenal local resection (TDLR). The operation time was shorter in the TDLR group, and was statistically significant. Among the 17 patients, only one had a recurrence in the inguinal area 33 months after the PD. CONCLUSION: Transduodenal local resection is a recommendable operation for low risk Ampulla of Vater cancer patients. During the operation, it is essential to accurately evaluate the depth of invasion, cell differentiation and positivity of the resection margin using frozen sections.
Ampulla of Vater* ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

In the development of a cancer, unlimited cell proliferation has been believed to play an important role. In addition, a programmed cell death called apoptosis, which is regulated by several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, has been suggested to be another important different pathway of carcinogenesis. Recently, several reports on cell proliferation capacity and apoptosis in the development of human liver disease have been published, but the cell proliferation index and its relationship between the expression of the bcl-2 and p53 genes involving apoptosis has not yet been discussed in view of the clinical differences of primary and metastatic liver cancer. In this study, we investigated the cell proliferation index and expression of p53 and bcl-2 in the tumorous and non-tumorous portions of both hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer. The expression of p53 was observed in both hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer, but bcl-2 expression was observed neither in hepatocellular carcinoma nor in metastatic liver cancer. In hepatocellular carcinoma, the p53 positive group showed a higher Ki-67 score (cell proliferation index) and more tumor numbers than the p53 negative group (p<0.05). In metastatic liver cancer, the results were the same as in hepatocellular carcinoma (p<0.05). However, we could not correlate the p53 expression and its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Cell Division/physiology ; Female ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Protein p53/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism*

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with poor prognosis mainly due to low resection rates and late diagnosis. To increase resectability and improve survival rates, a better understanding of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and more effective screening techniques are required. New methods, such as genetic and molecular alterations, may suggest novel approaches for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment. We immunohistochemically investigated 44 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using monoclonal anti-p16 antibodies and monoclonal anti-p53 antibodies. The expressions of p16 and p53 proteins were compared using the Chi-square test with SPSS. Disease-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, verified by the Log- Rank test. Loss of p16 expression was noted in 20 (45.5%) cases and aberrant p53 protein expression was detected in 14 (31.8%) cases. Loss of p16 expression was associated with a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (p=0.040) and a more advanced stage (p=0.015), although there was no significant correlation between p16 expression and survival. Aberrant p53 protein expression correlated with histologic grade (p= 0.038). Disease-free survival rate was significantly lower in the aberrant p53 protein positive group compared to the negative group (p=0.029). From our results, we suggest that p53 is not a prognostic factor; however, p16 and p53 genes do play important roles in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*chemistry/genetics/mortality/pathology ; Protein p16/*analysis ; Protein p53/*analysis ; Sex Characteristics

In order to classify the hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) which had diverse clinicopathologic characteristics, we divided HCCs into two groups according to the expression of biliary antigen on the basis of the hypothesis that the hepatocyte and biliary epithelial cell originate from the same precursor cell, and then we investigated the clinical and pathologic characteristics in the two groups. Forty HCC cases with no preoperative treatment and at least two-year follow-up data were selected among 202 cases of HCC files from 1991 to 1995. Expression of biliary antigen (AE1, cytokeratin 19), p53, AFP, and Ki-67 in the tumor tissue were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Positive cytokeratin 19 was noted in one case (2.5%); AE1 was detected in 40% of patients; p53 was overexpressed in 20% of patients; and AFP was detected in 45% of patients. No statistical difference between the biliary antigen positive group (16 cases) and the negative group (24 cases) were noted in terms of mean age, sex, presurgical serum AFP level, Child class, and tumor size. HBsAg positive rate was 66.7% for the biliary antigen (-) group and 93.8% for the biliary antigen (+) group with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.048). The number of cases for Edmonson-Steiner grade I/II and III/IV were 15 and 9 in the biliary antigen (-) group, and 4 and 12 in the biliary antigen (+) group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.024). The 1, 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 69.7, 40.9 and 40.9% for the biliary antigen (-) group and 73.7, 39.1, 39.1% for the biliary antigen (+) group with no statistically significant difference. The 1, 3 and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.7, 73.8, 66.4% for the biliary antigen (-) group and 68.8, 34.4, 34.4% for the biliary antigen (+) group, with a significantly greater overall survival rate for the biliary antigen negative group (p = 0.045). Poor histopathological differentiation, a high HBsAg positive rate and poor overall survival rate were noted in the biliary antigen positive group and the differences were statistically significant. In conclusion, HCCs with positive biliary antigen, which originates from more primitive cells, is suggested to be more aggressive than HCCs with negative biliary antigen.
Adult ; Aged ; Bile Ducts/immunology* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/chemistry* ; Female ; Human ; Keratin/analysis* ; Ki-67 Antigen/analysis ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality ; Liver Neoplasms/chemistry* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Prognosis ; Protein p53/analysis ; Survival Rate ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis

PURPOSE: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare neoplasm and it has been found in only 1.8% of the surgically resected HCC patients, and in only 3.4~9.4% of the autopsied HCC cases. The pathogenesis of this tumor has't yet been thoroughly clarified, and such a tumor has been variously referred to as spindle cell carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcoma, or carcinosarcoma. There is only a little difference between the clinical characteristics of the sarcomatoid HCC and those of ordinary HCC. The diagnosis of the sarcomatoid HCC is made by pathological and immunohistochemical techniques after surgical resection, biopsy, or autopsy. METHODS: We reviewed the 10 cases of pathologically confirmed sarcomatoid HCC that were registered at the Yonsei University Medical Center from 1992 to 2004. RESULTS: Surgical operation was performed in seven cases, and curative resection was done only in five. Three patients were treated with chemotherapy or transarterial chemoem-bolization (TACE) with or without concurrent radiotherapy after the diagnosis of sarcomatoid HCC by liver biopsy. Six patients expired within 4 months after the diagnosis. The 6 month and 12 month survival rates for sarcomatoid HCC were 40% and 20%, respectively. The 6 month survival rates for radical resection and non-radical resection were 60% and 0%, respectively. The difference in cumulative survival according to the treatment of sarcomatoid HCC was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of sarcomatoid HCC is very poor; therefore, curative resection, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and close follow-up are necessary for patients suffering with sarcomatoid HCC.
Academic Medical Centers ; Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinosarcoma ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: X-rays are widely used in medical examinations. In particular, chest X-rays are the most frequent imaging test. However, observations are usually recorded in a free-text format. Therefore, it is difficult to standardize the information provided to construct a database for the sharing of clinical data. Here, we describe a simple X-ray observation entry system that can interlock with an electronic medical record system. METHODS: We investigated common diagnosis indices. Based on the indices, we have designed an entry system which consists of 5 parts: 1) patient lists, 2) image selection, 3) diagnosis result entry, 4) image view, and 5) main menu. The X-ray observation results can be extracted in an Excel format. RESULTS: The usefulness of the proposed system was assessed in a study using over 500 patients' chest X-ray images. The data was readily extracted in a format that allowed convenient assessment. CONCLUSIONS: We proposed the chest X-ray observation entry system. The proposed X-ray observation system, which can be linked with an electronic medical record system, allows easy extraction of standardized clinical information to construct a database. However, the proposed entry system is limited to chest X-rays and it is impossible to interpret the semantic information. Therefore, further research into domains using other interpretation methods is required.
Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Semantics ; Thorax

Papillary stenosis is characterized by fixed fibrosis leading to structural outflow obstruction and it is usually secondary to inflammation and fibrosis from the chronic passage of gallstones, episodes of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, peptic ulcer disease, and cholesterolosis. However, obstructive jaundice with or without acute cholangitis which leads the physician to suspect the presence of malignancy as a cause is a rare manifestation of papillary stenosis. We report here a case of papillary stenosis presenting with obstructive jaundice and acute cholangitis. The lesion was so difficult to exclude the presence of malignancy preoperatively and intraoperatively that a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the resected specimen revealed fibrosis, adenomatoid ductal hyperplasia, and mild chronic inflammation of the papilla of Vater and distal common bile duct.
Acute Disease ; Case Report ; Cholangitis/etiology* ; Cholestasis/etiology* ; Cholestasis/complications* ; Common Bile Duct Diseases/complications* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Vater's Ampulla*/radiography ; Vater's Ampulla*/pathology

PURPOSE: Carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater have a higher resection rate, lower recurrence rate and more favorable prognosis than other malignant tumors of the periampullary region. This is because they usually presents with symptoms at an early stage due to their special anatomic location. Because of their relative low incidence, there have been few reports on the patterns and risk factors of a recurrence after a curative resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns and risk factors of a recurrence after a curative resection of ampulla of Vater cancer. METHODS: The medical records of 87 regularly followed-up patients from a total of 102 patients with a carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, who had undergone a curative surgery between January 1992 and December 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 37 were diagnosed as recurrent, with the patterns and clinicopathological risk factors of the recurrence analyzed. RESULTS: The average time to recurrence after a curative resection was 29.3+/-35.3 months, with liver metastasis being the most frequent (40.5%). The mean age of the patients in which a recurrence occurred was 54.9+/-10.1 years. There were 18 male and 19 female patients. The average tumor size in the recurred group was 2.5+/-2.0 cm. The recurrences were classified as early and late if they occurred within 18 months and after 18 months, respectively. The risk factors affecting an early recurrence were the gross morphology of tumor(ulcer formation) and cell differentiation (poorly differentiated). A univariate analysis showed lymph node metastasis to be a statistically significant risk factor, but age, gender, degree of tumor invasion depth and cell differentiation were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastasis is the most important risk factor affecting a recurrence after a curative resection of ampulla of Vater cancer, with the tumor gross morphology and cell differentiation important factors in an early recurrence. Further study on postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy in patients with lymph node metastasis, an ulcerative tumor type or poorly differentiated cell type, with a long-term follow-up on many patients will be needed.
Ampulla of Vater* ; Cell Differentiation ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Ulcer