PURPOSE: With the process of neoangiogenesis being linked to the growth and metastasis of various tumors, anticancer therapeutics with a basis in the suppression of neoangiogenesis has recently been receiving attention. In this study, we tried to clarify the immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), major angiogenic inducer and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), major angiogenic inhibitor in human Wilms' tumor and its clinicopathological significance. MATERAILS AND METHODS: Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, we assessed the immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 in archival tissues of 29 Wilms' tumors and 25 normal kidneys. Also, we assessed the relationship between expression of each factor and clinicopathological parameters in 29 cases of Wilms' tumors. RESULTS: Immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 were detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the tubular cells in normal kidneys. In Wilms' tumors, whereas VEGF was detected in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and peritumoral stromal tissues, but TSP-1 only in the peritumoral stromal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression patterns of each factor were divided into two groups according to the area of immunoreactivity (negative:<10%, positive: > OR =10%). VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 25 (100%) normal kidneys and in 20 (69%) Wilms' tumors. However, TSP-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 24 (97%) normal kidneys and in 3 (10%) Wilms' tumors. Therefore, although no significant difference was observed between the expressions of VEGF and TSP-1 in normal kidney, the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors. A relatively higher rate of positive expression of TSP-1 was observed in the patients with no demonstrable lymph node metastasis. Also, as for the VEGF, maximal diameter of the tumor was larger in the positive expression group. However, it proved otherwise for TSP-1 as the negative expression group demonstrated tumors with larger maximal diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors, and disease progression has a tendency to be found in the VEGF-positive cases and TSP-1 negative cases. We suggest that the growth and metastasis of Wilms' tumor may be influenced mainly by TSP-1 decrease rather than VEGF increase.
Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wilms Tumor*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Hypersensitivity, Delayed* ; Ranitidine* ; T-Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.
Growth Plate*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Colon, Descending* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

OBJECTIVE: Although there is no consensus on the ideal treatment of the craniocervical instability, biomechanical stabilization and bone fusion can be induced through occipito-cervical fusion (OCF). The authors conducted this study to evaluate efficacy of OCF, as well as to explore methods in reducing complications. METHODS: A total of 16 cases with craniocervical instability underwent OCF since the year 2002. The mean age of the patients was 51.5 years with a mean follow-up period of 34.9 months. The subjects were compared using lateral X-ray taken before the operation, after the operation, and during last follow-up. The Nurick score was used to assess neurological function pre and postoperatively. RESULTS: All patients showed improvements in myelopathic symptoms after the operation. The mean preoperative Nurick score was 3.1. At the end of follow-up after surgery, the mean Nurick score was 2.0. After surgery, most patients' posterior occipito-cervical angle entered the normal range as the pre operation angle decresed from 121 to 114 degree. There were three cases with complications, such as, vertebral artery injury, occipital screw failure and wound infection. In two cases with cerebral palsy, occipital screw failures occurred. But, reoperation was performed in one case. CONCLUSION: OCF is an effective method in treating craniocervical instability. However, the complication rate can be quite high when performing OCF in patients with cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis. Much precaution should be taken when performing this procedure on high risk patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Atlanto-Occipital Joint ; Cerebral Palsy ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Reference Values ; Reoperation ; Vertebral Artery ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microanatomy and histological features of the central myelin in the root exit zone of facial nerve. METHODS: Forty facial nerves with brain stem were obtained from 20 formalin fixed cadavers. Among them 17 facial nerves were ruined during preparation and 23 root entry zone (REZ) of facial nerves could be examined. The length of medial REZ, from detach point of facial nerve at the brain stem to transitional area, and the thickness of glial membrane of central myelin was measured. We cut brain stem along the facial nerve and made a tissue block of facial nerve REZ. Each tissue block was embedded with paraffin and serially sectioned. Slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Microscopy was used to measure the extent of central myelin and thickness of outer glial membrane of central myelin. Thickness of glial membrane was examined at two different points, the thickest area of proximal and distal REZ. RESULTS: Special stain with PAS and GFAP could be differentiated the central and peripheral myelin of facial nerve. The length of medial REZ was mean 2.6 mm (1.6-3.5 mm). The glial limiting membrane of brain stem is continued to the end of central myelin. We called it glial sheath of REZ. The thickness of glial sheath was mean 66.5 microm (40-110 microm) at proximal REZ and 7.4 microm (5-10 microm) at distal REZ. CONCLUSION: Medial REZ of facial nerve is mean 2.6 mm in length and covered by glial sheath continued from glial limiting membrane of brain stem. Glial sheath of central myelin tends to become thin toward transitional zone.
Brain Stem ; Cadaver ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Facial Nerve* ; Formaldehyde ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hematoxylin ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Myelin Sheath* ; Paraffin

With the technical development of ultrasonically guided punture of the gallbladder, percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopy(PTCCS) was first performed in 1981 by Inui et al. and Ichikawa et al. This procedure useful for preoperative, accurate diagnosis of carcinoma and nonsurgical treatment of high-risk patients with gallbladder stones. PTCCS-lithotripsy(PTCCS-L) is one of the non-surgical treatment modalities for gallbladder stones, and is a safe, reliable and technically easy therapeutic procedure through improvement in PTCCS-L manipulation and the development of new devices for this technique. PTCCS-L is performed when the patients with gallbladder stones cannot be operated on because of the risk of complications, such as renal failure, congestive heart failure etc. In this report, we present the proeedures of PTCCS-L for the the nonoperative treatment of gallbladder stones in the patient with cholangitis and cholecystitis because of common bile duct stone and gallbladder stones. Since a sinus tract of about 5 mm in diameter was needed to pass an endoscope, the sinus tract of percutaneous cholecystostomy was dilated immediately upto 18 French in diameter in a single step following percutaneous cholecystostomy itself, using a dilator set containing 10, 14, 16 and 18 French dilators and 18 French sheath. And then PTCCS-L with electrohydraulic lithotripter was successfully performed with a complete removal of gallbladder stones. There- after endoscopic sphincterotomy and mechanical lithotripsy was successfully done for the removal of common bile duct stone. There has been no recurrence of gall stones for up to 1 year.
Cholangitis ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystostomy ; Common Bile Duct ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopes ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Endoscopic intubation is well established as a cheap, fast and durable procedure for palliation of malignant dysphagia. However, the placement of conventional esophageal endopros-thesis is difficult in some cases and this procedure is associated with significant complications such as perforation, hemorrhage and dysfunetion of the prosthesis in the long term. The self-expanding metallic stents offer an attractive alternative to conventional esophageal stents. These can be compressed into and inserted through a small lumen catheter, making placement easier, safer and less painful to patients. But, open mesh of self-expanding metallic stent such as Wallstent allows tumor ingrowth, unfinished wire ends can lead to perforation and bleeding, and immense stent shortening makes precise positioning difficult. Inflammatory response at site of the metal strut, difficulty in retrieving prostheses that place and very expensiveness in cost-benefit analysis are also problems. Recently developed Ultraflex" esophageal prosthesis is knitted from single strand of Elastalloy' wire, undulates to conform with normal esophageal peristalsis, maintaining patency and promoting patient comfort. Unlike other metallic stent that have sharp, bare-wire ends, the Ultraflex' Stent has smooth looped ends, with Teco-flex coating, which provide an atraumatic transition from the stent to the esophageal wall. We experienced a case of a 60-year old male with malignant stenosis of esophageal cancer in whom Ultraflex esophageal prosthesis was implanted with successful oral nutrition.
Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophageal Stenosis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intubation ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Peristalsis ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Stents

No abstract available.
Colostomy*