No abstract available.
Animals ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Appendix* ; Intussusception*

This study was to develop a technique for creating gastroschisis by fetal surgery on a pregnant New Zealand white rabbit and to develop a technique for full-term delivery of a mature fetal rabbit after the repair of the abdominal wall incision in the fetal rabbit. The fetal surgery was done on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy and the experiment was divided into two parts: the creation of gastroschisis in the fetal rabbit and celiotomy-repair in the fetal rabbit. To creat gastroschisis, celiotomy and evisceration of the intes-tine in the fetal rabbit was made at both cornua on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy. After 6 days, a Caesarean section was done to deliver two gastroschisis fetal rabbits and two normal fetal rabbits. For the celiotomy-repair, celiotomy-evisceration and immediate repair of the fetal rabbit was made at both cornua on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy. After 6 days, a Caesarean section was done to deliver two experimental fetal rabbits and two normal fetal rabbits. Gastroschisis was successfully produced in 10 out of the 38 fetal rabbits operated on. Celiotomy-repair was done in 38 fetal rabbits. The abdominal wound was successfully repaired in 9 out of these 38 cases. Microscopically, inflammation or scarring was found neither at the gastroschisis wall margin nor at the repaired abdominal wound; however, fibroblast proliferation was found at the repaired abdominal wound. This result coincided with the general tissue finding of the fetal surgery. The conclusions are as follows: 1. By fetal surgery, experimental gastroschisis was created in fetal rabbits, and 2. The experimental abdominal wound was successfully repaired by surgery on the fetal rabbits.
Abdominal Wall ; Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Gastroschisis* ; Inflammation ; New Zealand ; Pregnancy ; Rabbits* ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, which is an important step in tumor invasion and metastasis. A positive correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and aggressive behavior of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) has been reported. MMP-9 expression in RCCs and adjacent normal kidney tissues were examined in this study. MATERILAS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients pathologically diagnosed as clear cell RCCs, from specimens obtained at radical nephrectomy, between May 2003 and December 2004 were enrolled in this study. MMP-9 activity was estimated using gelatin zymography, and quantified using a laser densitometer. The results were compared with clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS: The expression of MMP-9 was significantly elevated in the RCC compared with non-tumor kidney specimens (p<0.01). The levels of MMP-9 expression in the RCC patients with large tumors (>4 cm) or vascular invasion were significantly higher than in those without these clinical manifestations (p<0.01). There were also significant differences in the expression of MMP-9 among T stages (p<0.01). The tissue MMP-9 level was the highest in nuclear grade 4, but there was no statistical significance between the histological grades (p=0.17). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that enhanced MMP-9 expression contributes to carcinogenesis and tumor progression in the later stages of RCC.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare condition defined as the dilatation of coronary artery to at least 1.5 times larger than the normal adjacent coronary artery. Clinical manifestations of CAE vary, ranging from asymptomatic to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Because of its rarity and clinical diversity, the best treatment strategy and prognosis for CAE remain unclear. We describe a case of STEMI caused by intracoronary thrombus formation within an ectatic area in a patient with liver cirrhosis (LC). The patient was successfully managed by thrombus aspiration only, without balloon angioplasty or stent implantation, and maintained by dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor, a potent new P2Y12 inhibitor.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aspirin ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dilatation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Prognosis ; Stents ; Thrombosis*

PURPOSE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endogenous peptidases that are capable of degrading various components of the basement membranes. To evaluate the clinical significance of the expressions of MMPs in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), the MMPs' expression in RCCs and non- neoplastic kidney tissues was examined to evaluate the clinical significance of the expressions of MMPs in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with RCCs (the RCC group), and eleven patients with non-neoplastic kidneys (the control group), were enrolled in this study between November 2002 and November 2003. The MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were estimated using gelatin zymography, and they were quantified using a laser densitometer. The results were compared with the clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS: The expression of MMP-9 was significantly elevated in the RCC group compared with the control group (p<0.01). There was no difference in MMP-2 activity between the RCC group and the control group (p>0.05). The levels of MMP-9 expression in the RCC patients with a large tumor (>4cm) or vascular invasion were significantly higher than that in the patients without these clinical manifestations (p<0.01). There were also significant differences in the expression of MMP-9 among the T stages (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows a close relationship between the expression of MMP-9 and the tumor size and tumor stage in RCC. MMP-9 may be used as a prognostic marker and for the development of a novel treatment modality for RCC.
Basement Membrane ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Kidney ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Peptide Hydrolases

No abstract available.
Leukemia*

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) using the GyrusTM PlasmaKinetic System compared with conventional monopolar TURP. This study included 102 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent TURP from January 2003 to March 2005. In all, 49 consecutive patients had bipolar and 53 had monopolar TURP. All patients were assessed by preoperative and postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, transrectal ultrasonography, operative time, weight of resected tissue, change in serum sodium and hemoglobin, duration of catheter use, length of hospital stay, and complication rates. Significant improvement was seen postoperatively in both groups, and no difference was observed in the resection time, weight of resected tissue, change in serum sodium and hemoglobin, improvement of IPSS and peak flow rate (Qmax), or complication rates over the 12-month follow-up in both groups. There was, however, a significant difference in duration of catheter use and hospital stay. Duration of catheter use (2.28 days vs. 3.12 days) and hospital stay (3.52 days vs. 4.27 days) were shorter in the bipolar group (p = 0.012 vs. p = 0.034, respectively). Our results demonstrate that bipolar TURP using the Gyrus(TM) Plasma Kinetic System is as effective as conventional monopolar TURP with the additional advantage of reduced length of catheter use and hospital stay. Bipolar TURP is a promising new technique that may prove to be a good alternative to conventional TURP in the future.
Treatment Outcome ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate/adverse effects/*instrumentation/methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/*surgery ; Prostate/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Equipment and Supplies/standards ; Aged

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) using bipolar electrocautery and 0.9% saline is a new technology in the field of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This randomized prospective study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of the Gyrus(TM) Plasmasect loop bipolar TURP and the conventional monopolar TURP for the treatment of BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 50 patients who were randomized 1:1 to undergo bipolar or monopolar TURP from August 2003 to October 2004. Preoperatively, the patients were assessed by the symptom score, uroflow and transrectal ultrasonography, and the two groups were comparable with regards to these measures and the mean group age. The perioperative and postoperative parameters we studied included the operative time, the resected prostate volume and the change in serum Na and Hb. Postoperatively, the patients were assessed for the symptom score and uroflow at both 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: Postoperative improvements in the symptom score and the Qmax were significant for both groups and the improvements were similar for the two groups. There was no difference in the operative time and resected prostate volume. The serum Na dropped by 4.2mEq/l in the monopolar group, whereas it fell only 1.1mEq/l in the bipolar group (p<0.001). Significant smaller reduction in serum Hb, a shorter postoperative catheterization time and a shorter hospital stay were noted for the bipolar group. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar TURP using the Gyrus(TM) system is as effective as conventional monopolar TURP and it has additional advantages too. Thus, bipolar TURP may be a good alternative to conventional TURP. However, more follow-up is necessary to assess its long-term efficacy.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Electrocoagulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Ultrasonography