In this study, the structural components of thymic cortex were compared in aging process. Thymic tissues of 1 week, 8 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months-old ICR mice were fixed in the 2.5% glutaraldehyde- 1% paraformaldehyde solution, and refixed in the 1% osmium tetroxide solution. Dehydrated tissue blocks were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultrathin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate solution. Results from the electron microscopic observations are as follow; 1. In the thymic cortex of 1 week old mice, epithelial reticular cells incompletely surrounded thymoblasts and thymocytes, resulting variable spaces between thymocyte and cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells. 2. Microenvironments of the thymus of 8 weeks to 6 months old mice showed typical thymic structure, and thymocytes and thymoblasts were completely surrounded with epithelial reticular cells. 3. In the thymic cortex of a 12 months old mouse, many epithelial reticular cells contains vacuolated cytoplasm and apoptotic thymocytes. 4. Epithelial reticular cells of 18 months old mouse were shrunken, and intercellular spaces between them and thymocytes and/or thymoblasts are increased. Deep cortex shows activated macrophage and mature plasma cells with a well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. 5. Epithelial reticular cells of a 24 months old mouse were shrunken, since decreased cytoplasmic volume and increased lipidic globules. Deep cortex showed many activated macrophages and mature plasma cells. Epithelial reticular cells showed increasing electron density in their cytoplasmic plates and lipomatous atropy on aging. In conclusion, on aging, the components of microenvironment of thymus are more or less involute for preventing immunological actions in the thymic parenchyme. The digestion of cellular material results in a accumulation of lipid within the cells. Morphological change of epithelial reticular cell were characterized by the prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization. The cortical and subcapsular epithelial cells exhibited a loss of the cytoplasmic processes in all animals except in the 6 months old animals. At the same time, the thinning of thymic cortex, alterations of epithelial reticular cells, more macrophages, and other cell elements were pronounced, which may well be correlated with the age involution of the thymus.
Aging ; Animals ; Child, Preschool ; Citric Acid ; Cytoplasm ; Digestion ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Space ; Humans ; Infant ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Osmium Tetroxide ; Plasma Cells ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) is an enteral nutritional method that can be applied to a patient with dysphagia due to cerebrovascular accident, Parkinsonism, dementia, or head and neck cancer. PRG is a safe and cost-effective method with low morbidity and mortality rates compared with surgical gastrostomy, because it require less sedation and less invasive placement technique. PRG complications include wound infections, peritonitis, tube malfunctions, peristomal leakage, bleeding, ileus, pneumoperitoneum, aspiration pneumonia, and bowel perforation. But, bowel perforation after PRG is rare. We recently experienced a case of transverse colon penetration and tube displacement, which occurred as a PRG complication in a 60-year-old male with a cerebrovascular accident.
Colon, Transverse ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dementia ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Gastrostomy ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileus ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Peritonitis ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Stroke ; Wound Infection

To determine whether the tumor cell contamination of peripheral blood stem cells influences clinical impacts on high-dose chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer, we analyzed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA in the apheresis products by nested RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). A total of 38 metastatic breast cancer patients and ten normal healthy subjects as a negative control were included. Twenty out of 38 (51.3%) apheresis products from patients with metastatic breast cancer were positive for CEA mRNA. CEA mRNA was noted in 54.8% (17/31) of patients mobilized with chemotherapy plus G-CSF and 42.8% (3/7) of patients with G-CSF alone. There was no significant difference in age, estrogen receptor, menopausal status, mobilization method, disease free interval, or number of metastasis sites (1 vs >/=2) between positive and negative groups. The presence of CEA mRNA in apheresis products did not influence the time to progression and overall survival in both groups. However, both the univariate and the multivariate analysis disclosed that the number of metastasis was associated with survival significantly. We suggest that the tumor cell contamination does not predict poor treatment outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/administration & dosage ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/*secondary ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/genetics ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin/administration & dosage ; Epirubicin/administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration & dosage ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Human ; Middle Age ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Circulating Cells ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction