No abstract available.
Aneurysm*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Although pulmonary resection is the standard approach for the management of pulmonary metastases from soft tissue sarcoma, most of them are unresectable and chemotherapy remains the only option. The effectiveness of the cytotoxic drugs may be limited by the toxicities that occur before the therapeutic dose is reached. The regional administration of doxorubicin using pulmonary arterial perfusion in a rodent model can produce 10 to 25 times higher concentrations in the lung than systemic administration with minimal systemic toxicities. However, it is unclear whether a high concentration of doxorubicin has beneficial effects for killing cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied this to evaluate the dose-dependent cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of doxorubicin on methylcholanthrene-induced rat fibrosarcoma(MCA) cells. This study examined the cytotoxicity and apoptosis-related gene expressions(Fas, FasL, Bax, caspase 1, caspase 2, caspase 8, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-xS) in MCA cells after 24 hours exposure to various concentrations of doxorubicin such as 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 micrometer. RESULT: Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed after 24 hours exposure to doxorubicin. However, peak apoptosis after 24 hours exposure was observed at 5 micrometer of doxorubicin. Above 5 micrometer, apoptotic activity was decreased with dose-increment. All mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes after 24 hours exposure were up-regulated above the control level at 1 micrometer of doxorubicin and then decreased by doxorubicin dose-increment except caspase 8, which showed higher levels than the control level at 5 micrometer. Apoptosis-related protein levels were highest at 1 micrometer of doxorubicin and then decreased by doxorubicin dose-increment. However, Bax and Bcl-xL proteins steadily showed higher levels than the control throughout the different concentrations of doxorubicin. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that apoptosis is the main cytotoxic mechanism in low concentrations of doxorubicin in MCA cells and apoptosis-related genes, such as Bax, caspase 8, a can kill MCA cells, even when apoptosis is inhibited, and have its propriety for achieving much cytotoxicity against MCA cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; bcl-X Protein ; Caspase 1 ; Caspase 2 ; Caspase 8 ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Fibrosarcoma ; Homicide ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Rodentia ; Sarcoma

Cationic liposome-mediated gene transfection is a promising method for gene therapy. In this study, the transfection efficiency and histological patterns were evaluated in rat lung after intravenous administration via femoral vein of naked plasmid DNA, naked plasmid DNA with pretreatment of DOTAP, and DOTAP-cholesterol-plasmid DNA complex. Plasmid DNA encoding bacterial LacZ gene was used. For quantification of LacZ gene expression, -galactosidase assay was performed. For histologic examination, X-gal staining and immunohistochemical staining for transfected gene products were performed. Pretreatment of DOTAP prior to the infusion of naked plasmid DNA increased transfection efficiency up to a level comparable to DOTAP-cholesterol-plasmid DNA complex injection. Transfected genes were mainly expressed in type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages in all animals. We conclude that the high transfection efficiency is achievable by intravenous administration of naked plasmid DNA with pretreatment of DOTAP, to a level comparable to DOTAP-cholesterol-plasmid DNA complex. In this regard, naked plasmid DNA administration with pretreatment of DOTAP could be a more feasible option for intravenous gene transfer than DOTAP-cholesterol-plasmid DNA complex, in that the former is technically easier and more cost-effective than the latter with a comparable efficacy, in terms of intravenous gene delivery to the lung.
Animal ; DNA/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Galactosides/analysis ; *Gene Therapy ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Immunohistochemistry ; Indoles/analysis ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lung/*metabolism ; Male ; *Plasmids ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; *Transfection

When tracheal invasion of a malignant tumor or tracheal stenosis of a benign origin exists at the lower or anterior part of the trachea, tracheal intubation or conventional tracheostomy may be difficult, and in these cases a modified tracheostomy through the lower or lateral part of the trachea would be necessary. We present 6 cases of modified tracheostomy performed with satisfactory results in severe tracheal stenosis that developed in the lower or anterior part of the trachea.
Intubation ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis* ; Tracheostomy*

BACKGROUND: Interstitial pneumonia is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer but the outcome of surgical resection in this setting is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pre-operative interstitial pneumonia (IP) and post-operative respiratory failure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review of 672 patients with lung cancer who underwent curative pulmonary resection at the Hospital of Catholic University Medical College between 1997 and 2005 was undertaken. The patients were divided into two groups according to preexisting interstitial pneumonia and not by the pre-operative chest HRCT or findings of pathologic papers. The pre-operative data and cancer-related findings were analyzed between the IP group and non-IP group, and between the respiratory failure group and non-failure group in IP patients. RESULT: Twenty-eight patients (4.2%) of the developed post-operative respiratory failure and this proved to be fatal in 21 of these patients. We could find preoperative interstitial pathology in 53 patients (7.9%) among the 672 patients. The incidences of respiratory failure were 11.3% (6/53 cases) and 3.6% (22/619 cases) in IP group and non-IP group respectively. CONCLUSION: Interstitial pneumonia was considered one of the risk factors for developing postoperative acute respiratory failure in patients with lung cancer.
Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pathology ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax

Prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE) is not infrequent and one of the serious complications of cardiac valve replacement despite advances in antimicrobial therapy, diagnostic techniquens and surgical procedures. Although the incidence of PVE may be declining, the absolute number of cases of this infection is increasing. In patients with a prosthetic valve, fever, a regurgitant heart murmur, peripheral manifestations of infective endocarditis and postitive blood cultures, the diagnosis of PVE is evident. We have reviewed our experience with 13 patients with PVE from October 1976 through August 1983. During this period valve replacements were performed in 686 patients, with an infection rate of 1.9%. PVE currently accounts for approximately 14% of the total number of cases of infective endocarditis seen at Seoul national University Hospital. PVE occurred more often after multiple valve replacement than after replacement of single valve alone. Blood cultures were positive in 69% cases of PVE. Systemic emboli could be seen in 54% of patients with PVE and overall mortality was about 23%.
Diagnosis ; Endocarditis* ; Fever ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Thymoma*

PURPOSE: Since acute respiratory failure was one of the most fatal postoperative complications in lung cancer surgery, to know its incidence, and predisposing factors is very important. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pre-operative interstitial pneumonia (IP) and post-operative acute respiratory failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 672 patients with lung cancer who underwent curative pulmonary resection at the Hospital of Catholic University Medical College between 1997 and 2005 was undertaken. The patients were divided into two groups according to preexisting interstitial pneumonia or not by pre-operative chest HRCT or findings of pathologic papers. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (4.2%) developed post- operative respiratory failure and this proved to be fatal in 21 of these patients. We could find preoperative interstitial pathology in 53 patients (7.9%) among the 672 patients. The incidences of respiratory failure were 11.3% (6/53 cases) and 3.6% (22/619 cases) in IP group and non-IP group respectively. CONCLUSION: Interstitial pneumonia considered of one of the risk factors for developing postoperative acute respiratory failure in patients with lung cancer.
Causality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pathology ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pregnancy