We investigated whether there is differences in serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) between patients with colon and rectal cancer. Preoperative serum levels of CEA was determined in 65 patients with colon cancer and in 88 patients with rectal cancer. Cut-off value recommended by manufacturers is 5 ng/ml for CEA. At the recommended cut-off levels for CEA, overall sensitivity of CEA was 43.1 percent for colon and 42.0 percent for rectal cancer. In colon cancer CEA was elevated in 38.4, 46.2, 60 percent of patients with Dukes Stages B, C, and D, respectively. In rectal cancer CEA was elevated in 12.5, 31.6, 44.8, 84.6 percent of patients with Dukes Stages A, B, C, and D, respectively. In Stages B, and C, sensitivity of CEA was higher in colon than in rectal cancer, but the difference was not significant. In Stages D, sensitivity of CEA was higher in rectal cancer than in colon cancer, but the difference was not significant. In overall stages sensitivity of CEA was higher in colon than in rectal cancer, but the difference was not significant. The difference was not significant either in overall or in different stages of colon and rectal cancer.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and predictors of success of methotrexate (MTX) treatment in selected cases of unruptured tubal pregnancies. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed in 36 women who had diagnosed unruptured tubal pregnancies. Patients received intramuscular MTX. Serial beta-hCG measurement was performed weekly, and success was defined as the achievement to beta-hCG concentration of 10 mIU/mL without surgical intervention. Surgical intervention was performed for presumed tubal rupture. Pretreatment serum concentration of beta-hCG, the size of tubal mass and gestational sac by transvaginal ultrasonography were measured to evaluate the predictors of MTX therapy. RESULTS: 29 patients (81%) were successfully treated by MTX systematic treatment. There were not significant differences in the patient's age, parity, gestational age and the size of tubal ectopic mass, but significant differences in the gestational sac size and serum beta-hCG concentration between success group and failure group of MTX treatment. The mean time for achieving successful treatment was 33.8 days. The success rate of systemic MTX was significantly decreased and resolution time was prolonged if the initial pretreatment serum beta-hCG was 10,000 mIU/mL or gestational sac size was >or=1 cm. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment serum beta-hCG concentration and gestational sac size are important predictors of success of MTX treatment in women with unruptured tubal pregnancy.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Methotrexate* ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: In this study, We investigated the circulating level of leptin in the maternal and cord serum to estimate the effect of leptin on the fetal growth. METHODS: In full-term pregnancy, right after delivery, we calculated the concentration of leptin in the maternal and cord serum by using an immunoassay. we studied the relation between these value, the maternal BMI at the time of delivery, the neonatal body weight. RESULTS: At the time of delivery, mean concentration of maternal leptin and cord leptin showed 335.7 pg/ml and 118.3 pg/ml and there was no statistical significance between them. Mean concentration of matenal leptin has positive relation with maternal body weight. but not to neonatal weight. Mean concentration of cord serum leptin has a positive relation with neonatal weight. There was a correlation between the maternal BMI and the neonatal weight at the time of delivery. We evaluated the mean leptin level of neonates of two different sexes, that difference did not show a statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between concentration of maternal leptin and cord leptin. These data suggested that the cord serum leptin has a positive relation with fetal growth independantly, regardless of maternal leptin and maternal BMI.
Body Weight ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the correlation between p53, bcl-2 expression and pathologic factors stage, anatomic location, histologic grade, gross pattern, lymph node metastasis of the colorectal cancer. METHODS: Analysis were made on archival pathology tissue of 56 patients with colorectal cancer. The oncoproteins were localized using commerically available monoclonal antibodies : DO-7 for, p53 and clone 124 for bcl-2. RESULTS: P53 protein was detected in 53 out of 56(94.6%) adenocarcinomas of the colorectal cancer and the most frequently expressed patterns of immunoreactivity of p53 were strong in intensity in 40 cases(71.4%) and were diffuse in pattern in 39 cases(69.6%). Bcl-2 protein was detected in 34 out of 56(60.7%) adenocarcinomas of the colorectal cancer and the most frequently expressed patterns of immunoreactivity of bcl-2 were weak in intensity in 17 cases(30.3%) and were diffuse in pattern in 16 cases(28.6%). There was no correlation between p53, bcl-2 expression and Dukes' stage, anatomic location ,histologic grade, gross pattern of tumor, lymph node metastasis of the colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: 53 mutation and bcl-2 expression are frequent event in human colorectal carcinoma as shown in this study, but p53 and bcl-2 protein expression is not significant independent predicator of aggressiveness and progression of colorectal cancers.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Clone Cells ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogene Proteins ; Pathology

BACKGROUND: Large abdominal wall defect resulting from trauma, invasive infection, tumor resection, or other causes continue to be major problems for patients and surgeons. The lack of sufficient tissue may require the insertion of prosthetic materials. This study compares the results of PPM mesh and e-PTFE patch for repairs of abdominal wall defects. METHODS: The anterior abdominal walls of Sprague-Dawley rats, including fascia, muscle, and peritoneum were removed. The defects were repaired with a PPM mesh or an e-PTFE patch. Animals were killed at 1, 2, 6, and 12 weeks after the operation, and the implant were excised along their margins and evaluated for gross and microscopic differences. RESULTS: Histological examination showed that PPM was progressively infiltrated by whorled disorganized collagen fiber, which became densely adherent to the mesh. In contrast, the e-PTFE was infiltrated by fine fibrils of collagen, which progressively penetrated the interstices of the material, binding it firmly to the tissue. One of the most serious complications associated with fascial closure with PPM was the development of visceral adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: e-PTFE patch material has a lower foreign body reaction, a lower infectability, and a lower rate of adhesion formation than PPM mesh.
Abdominal Wall* ; Animals ; Collagen ; Fascia ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Peritoneum ; Polypropylenes* ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A barium granuloma of the colon and rectum is a rare complication of radiologic examination of the digestive tract using barium. This complication is exceptional. During the enema, the cannula may ulcerate the mucosa which is blown up secondarily by the barium. Clinically, the granuloma presents as a hard polyp like a malignant tumur. So, the recognition of this entity is important because it can mimic other lesions including a neoplastic process endoscopically. Moreover, hisological findings, though they may be characteristic, often go unnoticed with routine techniques only. The authors report a barium granuloma of the rectum which was diagnosed by endoscopic mucosal resection and radiographic study of the paraffin block.
Barium* ; Catheters ; Colon ; Enema ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granuloma* ; Mucous Membrane ; Paraffin ; Polyps ; Rectum* ; Ulcer

A squamous cell papilloma of esophagus is regarded as a rare tumor, and one of the distal esophagus is known to be not changed into a malignant neoplasm although squamous papilloma of the larynx, cervix and the upper esophagus may be associated with squamous cell carcinoma. We report the first case of a squamous papilloma associated with hig grade dysplasia at the lower esophagus. We think this case may have an important implication in the surveillance and management of esophageal papilloma found at endoscopy.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Larynx ; Papilloma*