To investigate the effect of tumor removal and administration of OK432 on the splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats, NK cell activity assay using a 4-hour 51Cr release assay and flow cytometric analysis for NK cell population were performed. The results were as follows: 1. Splenic NK cell activity and population in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats decreased along with the growth of the tumor. 2. The rats with subcutaneous tumor removal showed decrease of splenic NK cell activity, but splenic NK cell population was not decreased. 3. In the rats with subcutaneous tumor removal and OK432 administration, splenic NK cell activity was significantly increased 1 week after administration of OK432 and then gradually returned to normal, whereas increase of NK cell population was not significant. In the present study, splenic NK cell activity was significantly decreased despite removal of subcutaneous tumor. But with the administration of OK432, splenic NK cell activity returned to normal. Considering the role of NK cells on the first line of defense against the metastatic implantation of circulating tumor emboli, we suggest that perioperative administration of immunopotentiator such as OK432 may improve the patient's outcome after surgery of human neoplasm.
Animals ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Picibanil* ; Rats* ; Spleen

No abstract available.
Osteoporosis* ; Spondylolisthesis*

Most cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary are associated with mature teratoma or Brenner tumor, and a few cases are related to endometriosis of the ovary. But a few cases of ovarian primary squamous cell carcinoma have occurred without clear associated etiology. Although some of them are concurred with cervical carcinoma in situ, they have not shown clear associations with the ovarian primary squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary appearing in pure form. A left ovarian mass was detected in a 43-year-old woman. A total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy with regional lymph node dissection were performed. Histologically, the tumor was predominantly composed of polygonal tumor cells with keratinization and intercellular bridge, dyskeratotic cells, necrotic cell debris, and inflammatory cells. Also, metastasis to paraaortic lymph node was detected.
Adult ; Brenner Tumor ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary* ; Teratoma

No abstract available.
Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable* ; Hemorrhage* ; Thrombin*

PURPOSE: The optimal surgical technique for inguinal hernia repair continues to be debated. This study was designed to investigate optimal surgical procedures in inguinal or femoral hernia. METHOD: We analyzed 153 cases of herniorrhaphy on inguinal or femoral hernias between August 1996 and November 2000. We divided patient into four groups according to the methods of hernia repair, i.e., 1) 78 cases of laparoscopic herniorrhaphy, 2) 42 cases of Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy, 3) 24 cases of Bassini herniorrhaphy and 4) 9 cases of McVay herniorrhaphy. RESULTS: The patient in the laparoscopic and Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy groups needed shorter hospital stays than those in the Bassini or McVay herniorrhaphy groups. The severity of pain was assessed by the total amount and duration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug injections, which was minimal in the laparoscopic group. There were no differences in complications between the groups. One patient in the laparoscopy group had a hernia recurrence and was reoperated with Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy. We compared two tension-free herniorrhaphies with each other. The numbers of patients not needing analgesic injections were more in the laparoscopic than the Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy group, reflecting less pain in the former group. Hospital stays were also shorter in the laparoscopic than the Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that tension-free herniorrhaphy is superior to tension herniorrhaphy in terms of postoperative pain & recovery. Of the tension-free herniorrhaphies, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is associated with less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays than Lichtenstein herniorrhpahy.
Hernia ; Hernia, Femoral ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Length of Stay ; Pain, Postoperative ; Recurrence

In recent years, percutaneous vertebroplasty has frequently been used to treat osteoporotic compression fractures. This procedure is generally known to be safe because of the rare occurrence of complications. However, it is accompanied by the risk of cement leakage, and the cement can be easily removed using a surgical technique. Most neurological complications occurred due to extravasation of cement into the spinal canal. Comparatively, there were no reports of neurological complications due to the extravasation of cement into the paravertebral area. Here, we report a case of right-exiting L1 spinal root compression after percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). We proceeded to cement removal and nerve root decompression by a paraspinal open microsurgical technique in the event of neurological complication.
Decompression ; Fractures, Compression ; Polymethyl Methacrylate* ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Vertebroplasty*

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been suggested to participate in tumor progression and it can interact with its receptor p75NGFR. In the present study, we investigated the expressions of NGF and p75NGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry for NGF, p75NGFR and PCNA in 45 cases of HCCs, and examined the relationships between the clinicopathologic factors and the immunohistochemical results. RESULTS: NGF was detected in 84.4% (38/45) of the tumor cells and in 64.4% (29/45) of the non-tumorous hepatocytes. Furthermore, a NGF expression was present in 28.9% (13/45) of the endothelial cells in the HCCs, but in 80% (36/45) of the endothelial cells in the non-tumor liver tissue. The tumor cells were negative for p75NGFR in all the HCCs. Although a p75NGFR expression was present in all the nerve fibers in the non-tumor liver tissues, it was markedly reduced (42.2%; 19/45) in the HCCs and a p75NGFR expression was observed at the sinusoids or around the large vessels. The HCCs expressing NGF, either in the tumor cells or the endothelial cells, showed a larger size than those HCCs that didn't express NGF. The NGF positive tumors showed a tendency toward a higher PCNA-labeling index than did the negative tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The changed localization of the NGF expression and the decreased expression of p75NGFR are associated with hepatic carcinogenesis. We suggest that a NGF expression may contribute to the progression of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Endothelial Cells ; Hepatocytes ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen

Histologic alterations of lymph nodes following fine-needle aspiration have not been well described. Only two cases of lymph node infarction following fine-needle aspiration have currently been reported. We report here on a case of near total infarction of a lymph node that was detected 16 days after fine-needle aspiration in a 74-year old man. A fine-needle aspiration smear of the right inguinal lymph node showed scattered and clustered cells including lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils that were seen as a reactive nodal hyperplasia in the clean background. There were no malignant cells, granulomas or necrotic debris. In the incisional biopsy of the same lymph node, the sections revealed a thin rim of viable lymphocytes, granular tissue was noted peripherally and extensive necrosis associated with vascular thrombi was noted centrally. There was no evidence of malignancy or granulomatous inflammation.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infarction* ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphocytes ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Plasma Cells

Heterotopic bone formation in the eyeball is a rare finding. Some etiologic factors, such as trauma, chronic inflammation, and long-standing retinal detachment have been associated with the onset of intraocular ossification. We report here on a case of a 21-year-old woman with a history of blunt trauma fifteen years ago, who complained of right eye blindness. When the right eyeball eviceration was done, a hard, grayish mass was found. On histopathologic examination, the mass showed lamellar bone with fatty marrow and hyalinized tissue with dystrophic calcification. We diagnosed her case as intraocular ossification.
Blindness ; Bone Marrow ; Female ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Inflammation ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteogenesis ; Retinal Detachment ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Although the expression of MUC2 is seen in colorectal tumors, there have been few reports about the expression of MUC6 in colorectal tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of MUC2 and MUC6 in normal colorectal tissues and in tumors, as well as the association of MUC2 and MUC6 expressions with prognostic factors. METHODS: Twenty (20) cases of colorectal adenomas treated by using a endoscopic polypectomy and 30 cases of colorectal carcinomas treated by using a resection were collected. Ten (10) normal tissue samples were obtained apart from the carcinomas. Sections were used for MUC2 and MUC6 immunostaining. The expressions of MUC2 and MUC6 were scored by using the sum of the percentages of the stained cells and the intensity of staining. RESULTS: All of the ten normal colorectal tissues expressed MUC2 and MUC6. Of the 20 adenomas, 19 cases (95%) were MUC2 positive, and 17 cases (85%) were MUC6 positive. Adenomas with severe atypia tended to express lower levels of MUC2 and MUC6 than those with mild or moderate atypia. Of the 30 carcinomas, 28 cases (93%) were MUC2 positive and 19 cases (63.3%) were MUC6 positive. Colorectal mucinous carcinomas differed significantly from non-mucinous carcinomas in strong MUC6 expression. MUC2 expression showed a significant association with lymph-node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MUC6 is expressed in normal colorectal tissues and tumors, that MUC6 expression is especially strong in mucinous carcinomas, and that MUC2 expression is associated with lymph-node metastasis, among the prognostic factors.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Adenoma* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis