Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay of Pro-gastrin-releasing Peptide for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Comparison with Neuron-specific Enolase Measurement

Our previous study demonstrated that pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(31–98), or ProGRP, is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Using a newly developed, highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ProGRP, we analyzed 1,446 samples including those obtained from 478 lung cancer patients to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this ELISA. Several properties indicated that ProGRP is a useful tumor marker for SCLC. First, ProGRP was specifically elevated in SCLC patients. In non-SCLC patients and patients with non-tumorous lung diseases, its serum level was very rarely elevated. Secondly, ProGRP was a reliable marker, in terms of the marked elevation of serum ProGRP levels in SCLC patients. Thirdly, serum ProGRP levels were elevated in SCLC patients even at a relatively early stage of this disease. Fourthly, changes in the serum ProGRP level showed an excellent correlation with the therapeutic responses in SCLC patients. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is accepted as a tumor marker of SCLC patients. With the aim of comparing ProGRP and NSE as tumor markers for SCLC patients, we measured serum NSE levels in all samples collected in the present study. We found that ProGRP was superior to NSE in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reliability. Therefore, we consider that ProGRP can play a major role as a clinical tumor marker for SCLC patients.     

α-Bungarotoxin blocks the nicotinic receptor mediated increase in cell number in a neuroendocrine cell line

Exposure of H69 small cell lung carcinoma cells to nicotinic agonists resulted in a significant increase (up to 100%) in cell number after 6 to 12 days. The effect of nicotine (10⁻⁸ M to 10⁻⁴ M) was both dose and time dependent as was that of another nicotinic agonist cytisine (10⁻⁶ M to 10⁻⁴ M). Interstingly, both the nicotine and cytisine induced increases in H69 cell number were blocked by α-bungarotoxin, as well as d-tubocurarine a nicotinic blocker which appears to interact with most nicotinic receptors. These results suggest that the nicotine induced increase in cell number is mediated through an interaction at the nicotinic α-bungarotoxin receptor. This idea is further supported by experiments which show (1) that H69 cells possess high affinity α-bungarotoxin sites (K_d = 25 nM, B_max = 10.4 fmol/10⁶ cells) with the characteristics of a nicotinic α-bungarotoxin receptor and (2) that the potencies of nicotinic receptor ligands in the α-bungarotoxin binding assay were similar to those observed in the functional studies. Northern analysis showed that mRNA for α7, a putative nicotinic α-bungarotoxin binding subunit, and for α5 were present in H69 cells. The present data provide further evidence that nicotine increases cell number in small cell lung carcinoma and are the first to show that this effect is mediated through an interaction at the nicotinic α-bungarotoxin receptor population. These results suggest that the α-bungarotoxin site may be involved in modulating proliferative responses in neuroendocrine derived SCLC cells.     

Localization of small intestinal bleeding

The preoperative identification of a bleeding site is not always possible, particularly when bleeding originates in the small intestine. Small vascular abnormalities, such as the telangiectatic lesion described in this report, comprise about 40–60% of such cases. Preoperative location using arteriography, radionuclide bleeding scan, and enteroclysis were nondiagnostic. The lesion was demonstrated by intraoperative endoscopy. A segment of small intestine was resected, and the patient made an uneventful recovery.     

Neuroblastoma-like epidural localization in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Summary We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with CNS involvement confined to the epidural space causing cranial suture diastasis. Cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow were normal. Two cases only of cranial epidural lymphoma have been reported in the literature; in both cases, the leptomeninges were also involved but without suture diastasis.     

鞋带式可调整缝线在小梁切除术中的应用

目的评价鞋带式可调整缝线在小梁切除术中作用和效果。方法回顾性分析首次接受小梁切除术的青光眼患者156例205眼,其中无可调整缝线(A组)41眼,行褥式可调整缝线(B组)66眼和行鞋带式可调整缝线者(C组)98眼,对照分析各组术后低眼压、浅前房、脉络膜脱离等并发症的发生情况。结果3组病例术后眼压控制理想;术后浅前房、低眼压发生率C组低于A组和B组,差异均具显著性意义(P<0.05);脉络膜脱离发生率C组低于A组,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05);术后浅前房持续时间C组、B组明显低于A组,差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论鞋带式可调整缝线在小梁切除术中的效果确切,可增加手术安全性,减少术后早期并发症。     

Bleeding from gastric ulcer halted by laparoscopic suture ligation

In a 48-year-old Japanese man there was an uncontrollable and recurrent bleeding from a gastric ulcer and laparoscopic surgery was done. Two cannulae were placed in the gastric cavity through the abdominal wall and suture ligation of the bleeding vessel at the posterior wall of the stomach was done under videovisual control with endoscopic guidance. The bleeding ceased, complications were nil, and he remains well.This article reports on surgery done to repair uncontrollable, recurrent bleeding from a gastric ulcer. Two cannulae were placed in the gastric cavity through the abdominal wall and suture of the vessel at the posterior wall of the stomach was done with videovisual control and endoscopic guidance. This approach is concluded to have supplied minimal-access surgery, cost effectiveness, early discharge, less pain, and doctor-patient satisfaction.     

肺部小孤立病灶的鉴别诊断

本文对我院胸外科自1984年至1991年肺部X线片显示孤立病灶,其直径小于或等于3cm的78例住院患者作回顾性分析,提出其常见病种及鉴别诊断要点,对诊断未肯定的病灶是否立即手术要视病灶的良恶性可能性等因素来决定,特别强调医生的临床经验与分析能力对鉴别诊断的作用.     

小切口手术治疗肾囊肿14例体会

目的分析讨论应用小切口手术治疗单纯性肾囊肿的临床特点及体会。方法总结自1996年1月至2004年10月14例应用小切口手术行囊肿去顶术的临床资料。结果小切口手术组14例,囊肿单发均位于肾中下极及中部背侧,手术时间30~90m in,术后未发生并发症,住院日5~8d。随访半年~1年均无复发。结论小切口手术治疗单纯肾囊肿具有手术操作简便、创伤小、恢复快、降低住院日等优点,适用于肾中下极及肾中部背侧的单纯肾囊肿。