OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of telomerase in various lesions of adrenal cortex.

METHODSBy autoradiography-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol, telomerase expression was detected in 36 samples of adrenocortical lesions, including 29 cases adrenocortical adenoma (8 Cushing's syndrome, 17 aldosteronism and 4 nonfunctional adenomas), 5 cases of hyperplasia of adrenal cortex (presented with Chushing' syndrome), 2 cases adrenocortical carcinoma, and 4 samples of normal adrenal cortex.

RESULTSOf the 40 samples, 2 cases of adrenocortical carcinomas had telomerase expression, and the others had no telomerase expression detected.

CONCLUSIONSNo significant telomerase expression was found among different endocrine functional benign adrenocortical lesions. Telomerase expression may be used as an important marker of malignant adrenocortical tumor.

Adrenal Cortex ; enzymology ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; enzymology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cushing Syndrome ; enzymology ; Humans ; Telomerase ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 221 RCC patients who received nephron-sparing surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Open surgery was performed for 203 cases and laparoscopic surgery for 18 cases. The renal arteries were blocked and ice fragments were used for 115 patients. Biopsy was performed on renal tissue adjacent the tumor for 136 patients. After operation 156 patients were treated with interferon and interleukin II. Among these 221 patients, 132 patients (59.7%) were followed for 3-56 months (mean: 28 months).

RESULTSThe mean distance from the edge of normal tissue to the tumor was 0.4 cm (0.2-1.0 cm). The mean volume of blood loss was 180 ml (50-1 000 ml). Pathological examination showed clear cell carcinoma (n = 195), chromophobe renal carcinoma (n = 12), papillary renal carcinoma (n = 7), cystic renal carcinoma (n = 6), and sarcomatoid clear cell carcinoma (n = 1). Biopsies in 136 patients showed negative results. Post-operative complications included leakage of urine (n = 1), hemorrhage or hematuria (n = 5), and infarction of blood vessel of lower limbs (n = 2). During the follow-up, no patients died for this reason, although tumor recurrence (n = 4, 1.8%) and metastasis (n = 3, 1.4%) were noted.

CONCLUSIONNSS is a safe and effective method to treat carefully selected RCC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Nephrons ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a solitary kidney presents a unique clinical challenge to urological surgeons. Partial nephrectomy (PN) or nephron-sparing surgery in this condition provides good oncological and renal functional outcomes with an acceptable complication rate. Long-term renal function remains stable in most patients with solitary kidneys after a reduction of more than 50% in renal mass.PN is a surgical procedure reserved for patients with a tumor in a solitary kidney, bilateral renal tumors, or renal function impairment. The challenge of preserving renal parenchyma is significantly complicated with the discovery of multiple masses in a solitary kidney because any subsequent complications may result in a significant decline in quality of life. Particularly in the case of postoperative renal failure, dialysis becomes necessary.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; surgery ; Nephrectomy ; methods

Adult ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Ureter

OBJECTIVETo study the significance of the change of protamine content in the management of male infertility.

METHODSSperm nuclear proteins extracted from 199 infertile patients were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis and scanning microdensitometry.

RESULTSForty-two (21%) cases of the total number had normal sperm nuclear proteins and 157 (79%) had aberrant ones, which mainly presented the interruption of HPRR and abnormality of P2 protamine. Thirty patients were selected at random from 157 abnormal cases for clinical treatment. After the treatment, the sperm nuclear proteins were extracted and analyzed and the results demonstrated that 11 cases (36.6%) improved markedly, 5 (16.6%) restored to normal and the other 16 (46.6%) remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONThere is a reduced level or selective absence or even complete selective absence of protamines in infertile patients. Protamines may act as a parameter for evaluating the treatment effect of infertile males and protamine content can be influenced by a certain or several factors.

Adult ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; Male ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; Protamines ; analysis ; Spermatozoa ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the types and therapies of malignancies in renal allograft recipients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the occurrence, types, and therapies of malignancies in 498 renal allograft recipients who had received operations in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 1986 to October 2008.

RESULTSAmong 498 renal allograft recipients, 18 patients (3.6% ) were diagnosed with malignancies, which included bladder cancer (n = 5), renal pyloric cancer or ureteric cancer (n = 4), leukemia or lymphoma (n = 3), hepatic cancer (n = 2), skin cancer, rectum carcinoma, pulmonary carcinoma and thymoma (n = 1 each). Surgical operations were performed in 10 cases, 6 of whom survived with normal renal function and had no rejection of transplanted kidneys. Three patients with bladder cancer and one patient with ureteric cancer experienced recurrences 7 to 15 months after operations; among them one bladder cancer patient died. One hepatic carcinoma patient died of pulmonary metastasis 8 months after operation. One non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient died 11 months after chemotherapy. Five cases with advanced unresectable malignancies died 8 to 17 months after the diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidences of malignancies, especially urological epithelial carcinoma, are high in renal allograft recipients. Radical surgery of the solid malignancies is a preferred option.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to explore the optimal management option for cervical metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clinically N0 neck in order to avoid excessive or inadequate treatment in clinical practice.

METHODSClinical data of 327 cases of tongue SCC with cN0 neck were retrospectively analyzed. Neck control rates affected by different pathoclinical parameters were compared. Prognosis analysis and death analysis were also performed.

RESULTSOverall 3-year survival was 69.7% (228/327), 3-year survival of neck recurrent group and non-recurrent group was 39.1% (25/64) and 77.2% (203/263), and 51.5% (51/99) of the death related to neck failure. Overall neck control rate was 80.4% (263/327); neck control rate of wait and watch group, level I neck dissection, level I + II neck dissection, supraomohyoid neck dissection, radical neck dissection, functional neck dissection, was 67.5% (27/40), 72.7% (24/33), 60.0% (15/25), 84.9% (45/55), 86.8% (131/151), 84.0% (21/25), respectively. Treatment modality and cervical lymph node involvement were independent factors for neck control.

CONCLUSIONSNeck control is a key for prognosis of tongue SCC with cN0 neck. Supraomohyoid neck dissection is the first choice in management of cervical metastases in tongue SCC with cN0 neck, during which the suspected involved lymph nodes should be sent for frozen section to determine whether comprehensive neck dissection required. Multimodal metastasis and/or capsular spread are the indications for postoperative irradiation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to evaluate whether sentinel node (SN) biopsy can accurately assess the cervical lymph node status of oral tongue carcinoma, as well to research the best method and indications of SN biopsy.

METHODSPreoperative lymphoscintigraphy with (99m)Tc-SC and intraoperative sentinel node mapping with methylene blue dye were administered on 20 cases of oral tongue carcinoma with cN(0) neck and 5 cases with cN(+) neck; routine pathological examination was used to assess the status of SNs. The results of routine pathological examination of cervical specimen were set as golden standard to assess the efficacy of SN biopsy in evaluating the cervical lymph node status.

RESULTS53 SNs were detected in 24 cases out of the total 25 cases (96%), averaging 2.2 SNs per case. SNs were detected in all 20 cases with cN(0) neck, in which 4 cases with occult cervical metastasis were detected by SN diopsy, without false negative case found in the procedure. In 5 cases with cN(+) neck, SNs were detected in 4 cases. In 4 cases whose SNs were detected, there were 5 cN(+) necks, out of which SNs were detected in 4 cN(+) necks but failed to predicted the cervical lymph node status in 2 necks. However, SNs were detected in 2 out of the other 3 cN(0) necks, both of which were diagnosed as SN(+)pN(+).

CONCLUSIONSNuclear lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye mapping can be used to trace the SNs in cases with oral tongue carcinoma, with satisfactory detective rate. SN biopsy can accurately evaluate the cervical lymph node status in cases of oral tongue carcinoma with cN(0) neck. Whether it can be used to evaluate the lymph node status of the cN(0) neck in case with a contralateral cN(+) neck is worthy of further research.

Humans ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Tongue Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors that influence survival of the patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in young people and evaluate the efficiency of unilateral lobectomy plus isthmectomy with therapeutic cervical lymph node dissection and postoperative TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) suppressive therapy.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-one patients under 30 years old with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated in this hospital (14 cases no more than and 117 cases more than 16 years) from Jan. 1st, 1985 to Dec. 31st, 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred and twenty-eight patients were received only surgery and TSH suppressive therapy, and 3 patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of the progressive metastasis in necks or mediastina. A multivariate analysis was performed in these patients by the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTSThe mean follow-time (x +/- s) of all patients were (140.86 +/- 43.76) months, with range from 20 to 229 months; Ninety-eight patients followed more than 10 years. Ten patients died of thyroid cancer. The overall 10-year survival rate was 97.18%. The 10-year survival rate for patients < or = 16 years of age and > 16 years were 75.97% and 96.57% respectively (P = 0. 0006). The 10-year survival rate for women and men were 94.91% and 93.69% respectively (P = 0.5261). The 10-year survival rates of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma were 93.77% and 96. 55% respectively (P = 0.8137). For patients with tumor size of < or = 1 cm, 1-4 cm and >4 cm the survival rate was 100.0%, 96.40%, and 80.67% respectively (P = 0. 0589). The 10-year survival rates of patients with or without lymph node metastasis were 88.37% and 100. 0% respectively (P = 0.0313). For patients of with or without distant metastasis, The survival rate was 96.64% or 60.00% (P = 0.0000). The 10-year survival rates with or without recurrence were 86. 67% and 95.48% respectively (P = 0. 5681). Using multivariate analysis, risk factors that independently influence survival were distant metastasis, tumor size and age.

CONCLUSIONSThe distant metastasis, tumor size and age at diagnosis were the independent factors influencing survival significantly. The status of lymph node metastasis may have certain effect on the prognosis. Unilateral lobectomy plus isthmectomy with a therapeutic cervical lymph node dissection followed by postoperative TSH suppressive therapy is a favourable model to children and young adults with DTC without distant metastasis, but to the patients with distant metastasis, their prognosis of this therapy model is disappointing.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Papilloma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ACTH syndrome.

METHODSClinical data of 32 cases of ectopic ACTH syndrome, recruited from January 1990 to April 2003 in our hospital, was analyzed.

RESULTSAll of the 32 cases presented with clinical and biochemical evidences of Cushing's syndrome. Ten cases were definitively diagnosed as ectopic ACTH syndrome by finding ectopic tumors; 4 cases were highly suspected as ectopic ACTH by blood sampling from femoral vein and infra-petrosal vein and 18 cases were suspected as ectopic ACTH by imaging examinations. Fifteen cases (47%), without identified source of ectopic hormone, were treated with bilateral or unilateral total adrenalectomy, with 1-year survival rate of 60%. Seven cases (22%), with possible source of ectopic hormone, underwent no intervention, with 1-year survival rate of 0. Ten cases underwent radical resection of tumor, 6 of which were bronchial carcinoids and 4 of which were thymic carcinoids, with 1-year survival rate of 60%.

CONCLUSIONIt is very difficult to localize the tumor of ectopic ACTH syndrome patients. Bilateral adrenalectomy followed by hormonal replacement is effective for most of the patients without identifying source of ectopic hormone.

ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adrenalectomy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate