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

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

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

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

BACKGROUND: Cortactin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are two important components among actin cross-linking proteins that play a central role in cell migration. METHODS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of cortactin and FAK in normal colorectal mucosa and colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) using tissue microarray of 2 mm cores to correlate their expression with other clinicopathological factors and, investigate their prognostic significance. RESULTS: Twenty (9%) and 24 cases (11%) of normal colorectal mucosa were immunoreactive for cortactin and FAK. In addition, 184 (84%) and 133 cases (61%) of CRCs were immunoreactive for cortactin and FAK, respectively. Cortactin expression was associated with histologic differentiation and FAK expression. Cortactin, but not FAK expression was also correlated with poor overall and relapse-free survival and served well as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Cortactin expression, in association with FAK expression, may plays an important role in tumor progression. Furthermore, it may also be a satisfactory biomarker to predict tumor progression and survival in CRC patients.
Actins ; Adenocarcinoma ; Calcium Hydroxide ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cortactin ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Focal Adhesions ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Proteins ; Zinc Oxide

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive jaundice is developed from the cholangiocarcinoma, biiliary tract stone, biliary benign stricture and pancreatic head cancer and is rapidly progress to cholangitis or sepsis. So early decompression, accurate diagnosis and treatment are very important. Percutaneous transhepatic choledocoscopy (PTCS) and endoscopic retrograde choledocoscopy (ERCS) have been used for evaluation of the obstructive jaundice. We performed, through the PTCS, electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) for biliary tract stone rernoval, biopsy for diagnosis of biliary stric and self expandible metalic coil stent (EndocoilTM stent, Instent Co.) insertion on biliary stricture to evaluate the usefullness of PTCS in patients with obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Between Auguest 1994 and September 1995, PTCS was performed in 37 patients with obstructive jaundice. First, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) with 7Fr. drainage tube was done. Three days later, we exchainged the 7Fr. drainage tube with 16Fr.. Seven days later, through the PTCS, we performed EHL, biopsy and EndocoilTM stent insertion.
Biliary Tract ; Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Lithotripsy ; Sepsis ; Stents

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a novel growth factor that regulates lymphangiogenesis and/or angiogenesis via binding to the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) or VEGFR-2. Recent studies have suggested that VEGF-C may play a role in lymph node metastasis. This study was conducted to examine whether the expression of VEGF-C is associated with the clinicopathologic parameters, and especially lymph node metastasis, of invasive ductal carcinoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed for VEGF-C and CD31 in the surgically resected specimens from 83 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. RESULTS: Of the 83 breast carcinomas, 61 (74%) cases showed cytoplasmic VEGF-C imunoreactivity. VEGF-C expression was associated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.03), but it did not correlate with tumor size, the histologic grade, and the presence of estrogen receptor or progesteron receptor. The mean microvessel density in the cases without VEGF-C expression was 51.9+/-30.1 and it was 72.9+/-33.0 in the cases with 2+ expression for VEGF-C (p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that VEGF-C expression may have an association with lymph node metastasis in the patients with breast carcinoma.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Cytoplasm ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3