No abstract available.
Iron*

Endobronchial metastasis from extrapulmonary carcinoma, both clinically and radiologically similar in appearance to a primary lung cancer, is rare. We present a case of endobronchial metastasis from parosteal osteosarcoma. The first abnormality noted on the chest radiography was tramline calcification with branching pattern along the right upper lobe bronchus and intermediate bronchus. This lesion progressed into a solid calcified nodule which increased in size. Another lesion with same pattern was also observed in the left lower lung zone.
Bronchi ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Radiography ; Thorax

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Compared to other target cells examined for gene therapy, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have the unique advantages including proximity to blood stream and relative abundance in vasculature. With an ultimate goal of developing VSMC-based therapies for cardiovascular disorders, we explored the utility of VSMC as a target cell for ex vivo gene therapy using a set of retroviral vectors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured VSMCs were transduced with replication-defective recombinant retroviruses harboring LacZ, nlsLacZ, mVEGF, mGM-CSF or bacterial CAT reporter. The VSMCs were examined for G418-selection, transduction efficiency, the level of transgene expression, and longevity of gene expression. ResultsVSMCs were readily transduced with different kinds of retroviral vectors. The bacterial neo r gene-transduced VSMCs were successfully selected with G418. The G418-selected VSMCs could express the transduced genes at a level comparable to NIH3T3. The level of transgene expression did not appear to be affected by the increasing number of passages. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate an efficient transduction of VSMCs by retroviral vectors in vitro and an sustained expression of retrovirally transduced genes in VSMCs. VSMCs could be one of the ideal target cells for ex vivo cardiovascular gene therapy employing retroviral vector.
Animals ; Cats ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Therapy* ; Longevity ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Retroviridae ; Rivers ; Transgenes ; Zidovudine

In recent studies there have been various attempts at replacing a damaged retina with an artificial one. This paper outlines the assembly of an artificial retina membrane by incorporating a photorective protein bacteriorhodopsin into an electrochemically syntheszed conducting polymer polypyrrole. An electrophysiologic test was conducted to evaluate the photoresponsiveness of the bacteriorhodopsin and rabbit eyes were used to examine the biocompatibility of the artificial retina. The electrophysiologic test analyzed both wave forms and amplitudes obtained by photostimulating the artificial retina membrane with various light intensites(0.2, 2, 20J). In the biocompatibility test, the artificial membrane was inserted into the anterior chambers(4 eyes) and vitreous cavities(8 eyes) of rabbits. The condition of the eyes was then observed for one month. At the end of the first moonth, the eyes were enucleated and a histological examination was carried out. The electrophysiologic study displayed negative reflection waves, which are characteristic in rhodpsin, and their amplitudes showed a correspondign increase with stronger light intensities. The results of the biocompatibility test demonstrated that inflammatory reactions were not prominent in either the anterior chambers or the vitreous cavities during the first month and the histological examinations revealed no specific findings. In conclusion, a membrane assembled utilizing an electroactive polymer and a phocial retina.
Anterior Chamber ; Bacteriorhodopsins ; Membranes ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Retina*

Pancreatoblastoma is uncommon in children and is exceedingly rare in adults. Prognosis is known to be good if the tumor is discovered prior to metastasis. Complete tumor resection is the most important factor for long survival. We report two cases of pancreatoblastoma in a 4 year and 7 year- old females. Palpable abdominal mass was accidentally discovered by their parents. Abdominal CT scan showed huge retroperitoneal mass of unknown origin in one case and of the pancres in the other case. At laparotomy, well encapsulated tumor mass (10x10 cm in diameter) was noted in the body of pancreas in one case, and well encapsulated tumor mass ( 8x7 cm in diameter) in the tail of pancreas in the other case. We resected the tumor and saved spleen in both ases. Histologic examination revealed that the tumors were pancreatoblastoma. Patients received postoperative chemotherapy with 6 cycles of cisplatinum, adriamycin, ifosfamide and etoposide and are alive in good condition 19 months and 17 months after operation.
Adult ; Child ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; Laparotomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Parents ; Prognosis ; Spleen ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Humans ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests* ; Tuberculosis*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal mucinous carcinomas. METHODS: 1, 809 patients who underwent curative resection, between January 1989 and December 1999, for colorectal carcinomas, were enrolled in this study. Of these, 128 patients had more than 50% mucin secreting acini that could be classified as the mucinous type. These mucinous carcinoma patients were compared with 1, 681 non-mucinous carcinoma patients, in order to evaluate differences in their clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence pattern and prognosis. RESULTS: The incidence of mucinous carcinomas was 7.1%. The mean age of the mucinous carcinoma patients was younger than the non-mucinous carcinoma patients (P=0.001). The mucinous carcinomas occurred in the right colon more frequently than non-mucinous carcinoma, and the size of the tumor was larger (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in the loco-regional and systemic recurrence rates, but the systemic recurrence pattern of the mucinous carcinomas was different from those of the non-mucinous carcinomas. With a mucinous carcinoma, the most common site for systemic recurrence was the peritoneal metastasis, whereas in a non-mucinous carcinoma, was the liver. There was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In a mucinous carcinoma, the most common pattern of treatment failure was a peritoneal recurrence. The hepatic recurrence rate of the mucinous carcinomas was less than that of the non-mucinous carcinoma. Therefore, more aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, under the consideration of peritoneal recurrence in mucinous carcinomas, will be required.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is demonstrated to mediate the fibrotic effect of TGF-beta1 and to stimulate cell proliferation and matrix production. In the present study, we examined the effect of hypoxia on CTGF gene expression in cultured mouse tubular cell (MTC). METHODS: Quiescent cultures of MTC were exposed to hypoxia (1% O2) or normoxia in serum-free medium. The effects on hypoxia-induced CTGF expression were evaluated by Northern blot and real- time PCR. The role of MAP kinase was assessed using specific biochemical inhibitors. RESULTS: ELISA revealed that TGF-beta in conditioned medium by MTC exposed to hypoxia was maximally greater at 24 hours (41.16+/-6.31 ng/mL) than medium from normoxic cultures (15.742.92 ng/mL). Hypoxia caused a significant increase in CTGF mRNA expression in MTC (p<0.05). The steady-state level of CTGF mRNA was maximally up regulated by 3-fold within 4 hours as compared with the cells cultured under the normoxic condition. The induction of CTGF was not blocked by either JNK or ERK inhibitor, whereas an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase reduced the hypoxia-induced stimulation of CTGF (p<0.05). Although hypoxia stimulated TGF-beta production, neutralizing anti-TGF-beta1 antibody did not abolish the hypoxia-induced CTGF mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that hypoxia up-regulates CTGF gene expression, and that p38 MAP kinase plays a role in hypoxic-stimulation of CTGF in cultured renal tubular cells. In addition, hypoxia induces CTGF mRNA expression via a TGF-beta1-independent mechanism.
Animals ; Anoxia* ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor* ; Connective Tissue* ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Hyponatremia associated with the use of both a sodium phosphate (NaP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution for colonoscopy preparation has been reported in patients with impaired renal handling of water. A PEG solution is believed to affect serum electrolytes less than NaP, but the use of a PEG solution can lead to nausea, vomiting, intestinal hyperactivity and dehydration, often resulting in a raised plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentration. Non-osmolar stimuli such as pain, stress, nausea, and vomiting can stimulate ADH release. We report a case of severe hyponatremic encephalopathy after sulfate-free PEG ingestion for a colonoscopy in a healthy middle-aged woman. We think that physicians should be familiar with the medical history and current medication schedule of patients prior to bowel preparation. The levels of serum electrolytes should be checked in patients with impaired ability to excrete free water and any mental aberrations before undertaking colonoscopy procedures.
Appointments and Schedules ; Colonoscopy ; Dehydration ; Eating ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Handling (Psychology) ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Mortuary Practice ; Nausea ; Phosphates ; Plasma ; Polyethylene ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Sodium ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. Histological examination and culture are considered to be the most specific tests, and rapid urease test and serological test are rapid but less specific tests. 'I he aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as a procedure for the diagnosis of H, pylori infection in gastric biopsy specimens. METHODS: Biopsy specimens were obtained from the gastric antrum within 2cm from the pyloric channel of 42 patients during endoscopy and submitted for the histological examination, CLO test, and PCR assay. At the same time, another biopsy specimens were obtained from the lesion for the diagnosis of the diseases. Also, blood was sampled for the measure of the value of IgM and IgG. RESULTS: As the result of the histopathological examination, chronic gastritis was diagnosed in 13 patients, gastric ulcer in 11, duodenal ulcer in H, and gastric cancer in 10. By the histological examination of the antrum, H, pylori were found in 77% of chronic gastritis, 55% of gastric ulcer, 75% of duodenal ulcer, and 40% of gastric cancer. As a whole, the bacteria was identified in 62%, 60%, 88%, 90%, 69% of patients by histological test, CLD test, IgM, IgG, and P(;R respectively. The gold standard we used for the presence of bacteria was histological examination. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, ancl negative predictive value for PCR assay were 92%, 69%, 83% and 85% respectively. The results of other test were as follows. CLO test: 89%, 88%, 92%, 82%, IgM:92%, 19%, 65%, 60%, IgG:100%, 25%, 68%, 100%. CONCLUSION: CR is a very sensitive but some- what less specific test for the detection of H. pylori. This is mainly due to the contamination of H. pylori during endoscopy and biopsy. So, minimization of the contamination would make PCR clinically useful test.
Bacteria ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Endoscopy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pyloric Antrum ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urease