No abstract available.
Spine*

PURPOSE: This study investigated the influence of irradiation and cisplatin on PrxI & PrxII expression and on their survival rates (SR) in SK-N-BE2C and Rat2 cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The amount of PrxI & PrxII production with or without N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) pretreatment was studied using a western blot after 20 Gy irradiation to determine the degree of inhibition of ROS accumulation. In addition, the amount of PrxI & PrxII production after cisplatin and after combination with cisplatin and 20 Gy irradiation was studied. The SRs of the cell lines in SK-N-BE2C and Rat 2 cells, applied with 20 Gy irradiation only, with various concentrations of cisplatin and with the combination of both, were studied. The 20 Gy irradiation-only group and the combination group were each subdivided according to NAC pretreatment, and corresponding SRs were observed at 2, 6, 12 and 48 hours after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the amount of PrxI in SK-N-BE2C increased up to 60 minutes after irradiation and slightly increased after irradiation with NAC pretreatment 60 minutes. It did not increase in Rat2 after irradiation regardless of NAC pretreatment. PrxII in SK-N-BE2C and Rat2 was not increased after irradiation regardless of NAC pretreatment. The amounts of PrxI and PrxII in SK-N-BE2C and Rat2 were not increased either with the cisplatin-only treatment or the combination treatment with cisplatin and irradiation. SRs of irradiation group with or without NAC pretreatment and the combination group with or without NAC pretreatment were compared with each other in SK-N-BE2C and Rat2. SR was significantly high for the group with increased amount of PrxI, NAC pretreatment and lower the cisplatin concentration. SR of the group in SK-N-BE2C which had irradiation with NAC pretreatment tended to be slightly higher than the group who had irradiation without NAC pretreatment. SR of the group in Rat2 which had irradiation with NAC pretreatment was significantly higher than that the group which had irradiation without NAC pretreatment. Compared to the combination group, the irradiation-only group revealed statistically significant SR decrease with the maximal difference at 12 hours. However, at 48 hours the SR of the combination group was significantly lower than the irradiation-only group. CONCLUSION: PrxI is suggested to be an antioxidant enzyme because the amount of PrxI was increased by irradiation but decreased pretreatment NAC, a known antioxidants. Furthermore, cisplatin may inhibit PrxI production which may lead to increase cytotoxicity of irradiation. The expression of PrxI may play an important role in cytotoxicity mechanism caused by irradiation and cisplatin.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cisplatin* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Peroxiredoxins* ; Radiation, Ionizing* ; Rats* ; Survival Rate*

Intrathoracic ectopia denotes either a partial or a complete protrusion of the kidney above the diaphragm into the postecioc mediastinum and is a very rare developmental anomaly. The vast majority of patient with this anomaly has remained asymptomatic but discovered on routine chest radiographs. The diagnosis is made following a routine chest X-ray, lateral chest film and excretory urography. Herein we report a case of intrathoracic kidney which was found incidentally during the routine check-up and normal function of kidney.
Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Mediastinum ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Urography

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome and morbidity in patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy or postoperative radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 24 patients treated with radiotherapy for vulvar cancer between July 1993 and September 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received once daily 1.8-4 Gy fractions external beam radiotherapy to median 51.2 Gy (range, 19.8 to 81.6 Gy) on pelvis and inguinal nodes. Seven patients were treated with primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy, one patient was treated with primary radiotherapy alone, four patients received palliative radiotherapy, and twelve patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty patients were eligible for response evaluation. Response rate was 55% (11/20). The 5-year disease free survival was 42.2% and 5-year overall survival was 46.2%, respectively. Fifty percent (12/24) experienced with acute skin complications of grade III or more during radiotherapy. Late complications were found in 8 patients. 50% (6/12) of patients treated with lymph node dissection experienced severe late complications. One patient died of sepsis from lymphedema. However, only 16.6% (2/12) of patients treated with primary radiotherapy developed late complications. CONCLUSION: Outcome of patients with vulvar cancer treated with radiotherapy showed relatively good local control and low recurrence. Severe late toxicities remained higher in patients treated with both node dissection and radiotherapy.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphedema ; Pelvis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Treatment Outcome ; Vulvar Neoplasms

PURPOSE: We describe the daily bladder volume change observed by mega-voltage computed tomography (MVCT) during pelvic radiotherapy with potential predictors of increased bladder volume variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 41 patients who received pelvic area irradiation, the volumes of bladder and pelvic body contour were measured twice a day with pre- and post-irradiation MVCT from the 1st to the 10th fraction. The median prescription dose was 20 Gy (range, 18 to 30 Gy) up to a 10th fraction. The upper and lower margin of MVCT scanning was consistent during the daily treatments. The median age was 69 years (range, 33 to 86 years) and 10 patients (24.4%) were treated postoperatively. RESULTS: Overall bladder volume on planning computed tomography was 139.7 ± 92.8 mL. Generally, post-irradiation bladder volume (POSTBV) was larger than pre-irradiation bladder volume (PREBV) (p < 0.001). The mean PREBV and POSTBV was reduced after 10 fraction treatments by 21.3% (p = 0.028) and 25.4% (p = 0.007), respectively. The MVCT-scanned body contour volumes had a tendency to decrease as the treatment sessions progressed (p = 0.043 at the 8th fraction and p = 0.044 at the 10th fraction). There was a statistically significant correlation between bladder filling time and PREBV (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Daily MVCT-based bladder volume assessment was feasible both intra- and inter-fractionally.
Humans ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; Prescriptions ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The combination of conservative surgery and radiotherapy is currently accepted as the preferred treatment for most patents with clinical stage I or II breast cancer. However, there is large amount of controversy concerning the optimal means of selecting patients and the details of the treatment technique. Breast cancer patients are being treated both in university hospitals and in community hospitals. Generally, the radiation therapy is not available in many community hospitals. Radiation therapy, which generally follows either a mastectomy or conservative surgery, is an important procedure. Therefore, the type of hospital facilities may influence which surgical procedures are selected. The authors conducted this study to analyse the current patterns of care for early invasive breast cancer in a hospital without a radiation therapy unit, even though the patient could receive such treatment from another affiliated hospital. METHODS: 131 cases of stage I and II breast cancer patients were reviewed between 1987 and 1997, and the types of treatments including surgery, radiation therapy and systemic therapy, were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The surgical procedures used were mainly a modified radical mastectomy (124/131, 94.7%), followed by breast conservation surgery (4/131, 3.1%), a total mastectomy (2/131, 1.5%) and a radical mastectomy (1/131, 0.8%). Radiation therapy was applied to 19 stage II patients (N=105), but not to any of the stage I patients (N=26). Systemic adjuvant therapy was done with chemotherapy (39/131, 29.8%), hormone therapy (17/131, 13.0%) and a combination of both modalities (67/131, 51.1%), with an exception of 8 cases. CONCLUSION: Breast conservation therapy for breast cancer patients was underutilized. The selection of the therapeutic method may be influenced by the facilities of the particular hospital. For proper treatment of early stage breast cancer, a surgeon must keep in close contact with bothe a radiologist and a radiotherapist, even in other affiliated hospitals.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Hospitals, Community ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The combination of conservative surgery and radiotherapy is currently accepted as the preferred treatment for most patents with clinical stage I or II breast cancer. However, there is large amount of controversy concerning the optimal means of selecting patients and the details of the treatment technique. Breast cancer patients are being treated both in university hospitals and in community hospitals. Generally, the radiation therapy is not available in many community hospitals. Radiation therapy, which generally follows either a mastectomy or conservative surgery, is an important procedure. Therefore, the type of hospital facilities may influence which surgical procedures are selected. The authors conducted this study to analyse the current patterns of care for early invasive breast cancer in a hospital without a radiation therapy unit, even though the patient could receive such treatment from another affiliated hospital. METHODS: 131 cases of stage I and II breast cancer patients were reviewed between 1987 and 1997, and the types of treatments including surgery, radiation therapy and systemic therapy, were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The surgical procedures used were mainly a modified radical mastectomy (124/131, 94.7%), followed by breast conservation surgery (4/131, 3.1%), a total mastectomy (2/131, 1.5%) and a radical mastectomy (1/131, 0.8%). Radiation therapy was applied to 19 stage II patients (N=105), but not to any of the stage I patients (N=26). Systemic adju-vant therapy was done with chemotherapy (39/131, 29.8%), hormone therapy (17/131, 13.0%) and a combination of both modalities (67/131, 51.1%), with an exception of 8 cases. CONCLUSION:Breast c0onservation therapy for breast cancer patients was underutilized. The selection of the therapeutic method may be influenced by the facilities of the particular hospital. For proper treatment of early stage breast cancer, a surgeon must keep in close contact with bothe a radiologist and a radiotherapist, even in other affiliated hospitals.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Hospitals, Community ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

Glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare malignancy whose incidence is about 1~3% of the total breast cancers. Histologic features are usually those of ductal carcinoma, but it contains the cells that is characterized by the abundant cytoplasm and centrally-located nuclei. We report a case of glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma of the breast. The case is a 63-year-old woman with a palpable lump of the right breast. The operation is partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. The tumor consists of round or polygonal cells. The cell membranes are distinct, and the cytoplasm is clear. Most of the nulcei are centrally-located and hyperchromatic. The tumor cells are PAS positive and D-PAS negative. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells are positive to the epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and negative to vimentin, smooth muscle actin, desmin. Estrogen receptors are positive, but progesterone receptors are negative.
Actins ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Cell Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; Muscle, Smooth ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Vimentin

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS), which has a characteristic histopathologic features, is an uncommon disease in young adults of either sex. The common clinical features are bloody stool and anal pain. By rectosigmoidoscopy, the lesions are typically seen as single or multiple shallow ulcers with hyperemic margins or polypoid mass. Variable appearance of the ulcer may cause coinical confusion mimicking even a malignant neoplasm. The condition is essentially benign and may persist unchanged for many years. Therefore, it is most important to distinguish solitary ulcer from rectal malignancy. We report a case of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome canfirmed by histopathologic finding, the initial clinical diagnosis was a malignant neoplasm.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ulcer* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. Survival of patients with axillary node positive breast cancer is worse than that of patients with axillary lymph node negative breast cancer. Recently, some authors suggest that axillary dissection may be avoidable if sentinel nodes of the breast cancer do not harbour metastasis. However, 15-20 % of patients with lymph node negative breast cancer recurs within 10 years. Micrometastasis, which was missed or not detected in routine histologic examination, is thought to be one of the reasons for recurrence of axillary node negative breast cancer patients. METHODS: We investigated the frequency of micrometastasis and any clinical significance of micrometastasis in the breast cancer by immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytokeratin antibody from July, 1996 to November, 1990. 70 patients who underwent curative resection for axillary node negative breast cancer were studied retrospectively. We used paraffin blocks of lymph nodes which did not show metastasis by conventional pathological examination. After preparation of tissue blocks with a serial sectioning technique, specimens were stained by an immunohistochemical method using anti-cytokeratin antibody. Hematoxylin-eosin stainings were also repeated. We define metastasis less than 2mm as a micrometastasis. RESULTS: The results showed that micrometastasis were found in 8 of 70 cases(11.4%). There was a significant relationship between the micrometastasis and tumor size. With median follow-up of 20 months, we found 3 recurrences in 70 patients. : 2 recurrences(3.2%) in the 62 axillary node negative breast cancer patients and 1 recurrences(12.5%) in 8 micrometastasis patients. CONCLUSIONSThe results showed that micrometastasis of lymph node in breast cancer might increase the rick for development of breast cancer recurrence. But, there was no significant relationship between the micrometastasis and recurrence of breast cancer because of small numbers of recurrences and relatively short follow-up period. Long tern follow-up will be needed for further evaluation.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Charadriiformes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Paraffin ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies