Easier node dissection after chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer with collagen insertion at mediastinoscopy

Objective: Induction chemoradiotherapy followed by anatomical resection is a current therapeutic strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer with mediastinal node involvement. Dense peritracheal fibrosis and sclerosis after chemoradiotherapy cause difficult mediastinal node dissection. We evaluated a novel technique to make the mediastinal node dissection easier after induction therapy. Methods: At the end of mediastinoscopic node biopsy for staging of lung cancer, cotton-type collagen was inserted anterior and lateral to the trachea in patients with pathologically confirmed mediastinal node involve-ment (n=45). The induction therapy consisted of concurrent use of platinum-based chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy. After the chemoradiotherapy all patients underwent a pulmonary resection with complete mediastinal node dissection 7–12 weeks after the collagen insertion. Surgical findings of the mediastinum and the time for node dissection were compared with those without collagen insertion at mediastinoscopy after chemoradiotherapy (n=5). Results: All five patients without collagen insertion showed sclerotic and fibrotic change of mediastinal nodes with severe adhesion to the trachea. In 42 of 45 patients with collagen insertion (93.3%) the collagen remained unabsorbed and separated the mediastinal nodes from the trachea. Mediastinal node dissection was easily accomplished by removing mediastinal tissues lateral and anterior to the collagen. The rate of mediastinal node separation was significantly higher with collagen insertion than without (p< 0.0001). The times for node dissection in patients with and without collagen insertion showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Cotton-type collagen insertion at staging mediastinoscopy for lung cancer separates the mediastinal nodes from the trachea and makes the node dissection easier after induction chemoradiotherapy.     

ENDOSCOPIC NASOBILIARY DRAINAGE: CURRENT INDICATIONS AND EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTS

Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is a well established mode of biliary decompression. Although ENBD is certainly an uncomfortable procedure with the potential risk of spontaneous dislocation or removal of the drainage catheter by disoriented patients, it has several advantages over endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) using an indwelling stent. The current indications for ENBD are: (i) temporary drainage to treat obstructive jaundice and cholangitis caused by malignant or benign biliary stricture; (ii) urgent drainage to treat suppurative cholangitis primarily caused by common bile duct stones; (iii) temporary drainage after stone removal in patients with suspected incomplete clearance and/or with cholangitis; and (iv) biliary leaks that occur primarily after surgery, as well as other indications. Different types of nasobiliary catheters are currently available that have been designed with various diameters, shapes, and materials. However, the current catheters are not considered by most endoscopists to be sufficient. Further improvements are needed to achieve better drainage and better maneuverability.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of TrkA neurotrophin receptor expression in human non-neuronal carcinomas

The Trk family of tyrosine protein kinase receptors plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of neural tissues. It has been recently shown that Trk receptors are also expressed by a wide range of normal non-neuronal tissues in humans in a cell type-specific manner. In the present study, the expression patterns of TrkA in 337 non-neuronal invasive carcinomas of 15 different human tissues were investigated immunohistochemically. Overall, 133 (39%), 101 (30%) and 103 (31%) tumors exhibited strong, moderate and no TrkA Immunoreactivity, respectively. Esophageal and thyroid carcinomas expressed high levels of TrkA, whereas the levels in gastric and colon cancers were low. TrkA expression was detected not only in carcinomas originating from TrkA-positive normal counterpart tissues, Including the esophagus, breast, lung and uterus, but also in those from TrkA-negative tissues/cells of the thyroid, liver and ovary. Immunostaining for nerve growth factor-β, the specific ligand for TrkA, in esophageal and breast carcinomas demonstrated its immunoreactivity in stromal fibroblasts and some TrkA-expressing tumor cells. These results suggest that paracrine/autocrine regulation via stromal/tumoral NGF-tumoral TrkA interaction may be involved In the growth of certain non-neuronal carcinomas.     

Reduced Expression of nm23 Is Associated with Metastasis of Human Gastric Carcinomas

Reduced expression of nm23 gene is implicated in high metastatic potential In a variety of malignancies. To elucidate the role of nm23 in human gastric carcinomas, we examined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of nm23 gene by Southern blotting, nm23 mRNA expression by Northern blotting and nm23 protein expression by Western blotting as well as immunohistochemistry in both primary and metastatic tumors. LOH of nm23 gene was found in 2 (8%) out of the 23 informative gastric carcinomas. Twenty-two (84%) out of the 26 cases expressed nm23 mRNA at higher levels in primary tumor tissue than in corresponding non-neoplastic mucosa. No obvious correlation was observed between clinico-pathological features and LOH of nm23 gene or nm23 mRNA expression. On the other hand, 52% of the gastric carcinomas showed reduction of nm23 immunoreactivity in the metastatic tumor of regional lymph nodes, as compared to the primary tumor. Interestingly, 71% of the gastric carcinomas showed weaker nm23 immunoreactivity in the liver metastasis than in the primary tumor. These results suggest that nm23 overexpression is linked with development of gastric carcinomas and the decrease in expression of nm23 participates in metastasis.     

Endoscopic observation of pathophysiology of ventricular diverticulum

Background Although there have been reports dealing with ventricular diverticulum (VD) analyzed by cisternography and computed tomography (CT), those focusing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or neuroendoscopic findings are rare. Case report We present a case of noncommunicating hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis with cystic lesion located in supracerebellar region. Third ventriculostomy was performed on this case. The conventional CT and MRI were compatible with usual VD, but neuroendoscopic examination suggested otherwise. The endoscopic view inside of the cystic lesion demonstrated passing veins and no membrane. We diagnosed this cystic lesion as a unique subtype of advanced VD mimicking spontaneous ventriculostomy. Endoscopic observation of the cyst was very useful for accurate diagnosis and safe treatment.     

A quantitative analysis of valgus torque on the ACL: a human cadaveric study.

The loads needed to elicit a positive pivot shift test in a knee with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture have not been quantified. The coupled anterior tibial translation (ATT), coupled internal tibial rotation (ITR), and the in situ force in the ACL in response to a valgus torque, an inherent component of the pivot shift test, were measured in 10 human cadaveric knee specimens. Using a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system, valgus torques ranging from 0.0 to 10.0 Nm were applied in nine increments on the intact and ACL-deficient knee in flexion ranging from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. At 15 degrees of knee flexion, the coupled ATT and ITR were significantly increased in the ACL-deficient knee when compared to the intact knee. Coupled ATT increased a maximum of 291% (6.7 mm, p<0.05), while coupled ITR increased a maximum of 85% (5.1 degrees, p<0.05). At 30 degrees, the increases in coupled ATT and ITR were significant at valgus loads of 3.3 Nm and greater with a maximum increase in coupled ATT of 137% (6.3 mm, p<0.05) and a maximum increase in coupled ITR of 38% (3.6 degrees, p<0.05). At 45 degrees, coupled ATT increased significantly (maximum of 69%, 4.4 mm, p<0.05), but only at torques > or =6.7 Nm. The in situ force in the ACL was less than 20 N for all flexion angles when a torque between 3.3 and 5.0 Nm was applied. Low valgus torque elicited tibial subluxation in the ACL-deficient knee with low in situ ACL forces, similar to a positive pivot shift test. Thus, application of a valgus torque may be suitable to evaluate ACL-deficient and ACL-reconstructed knees, since subluxation can be achieved with minimal harm to the ACL graft. This work is important in understanding one load component needed for the pivot shift examination; further studies quantifying other load components are essential for better comprehension of the in vivo pivot shift examination.     

A case report of spinal epidural Ki-1 lymphoma presenting acute paraplegia without spinal cord compression at the first onset]

A 68-year-old man noticed weakness in both legs, which worsened rapidly with additional urinary disturbance. At the time of admission, a neurological examination revealed spastic paraplegia. Sensation was intact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any lesions in the spinal cord. Thereafter, sensory disturbance under Th5 level and weakness in both hands developed gradually. Seven months after the onset, he noticed pain of the right upper arm. MRI showed an epidural mass at the level between the lower cervical and the upper thoracic spine. Histological examination of the epidural mass revealed Ki-1 lymphoma. In this case, the diagnosis was difficult, because lymphoma did not present epidural mass in the early stage. We speculate that spinal epidural lymphoma might disturb venous circulation and cause myelopathy in this patient.     

The genotoxicity of UVA irradiation in Drosophila melanogaster and the synergistic action of 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA.

To study the genotoxicity of near-ultraviolet light (UVA) on a whole body, Drosophila melanogaster larvae were irradiated with UVA and the emerging flies were examined for the mutant wing spot formation. The genotoxicity of UVA was also assayed with the in vivo DNA-repair test using males with repair-deficiency at the mei-9 and mei-41 locus and the matching repair-proficient females. Third-instar larvae were placed in a plastic Petri dish, which was covered with soft glass, and irradiated with black light at 4-5 W/m2. This irradiation resulted in an increase in mutant wing-hair spots. After a 15 h irradiation (approximately 240 kJ/m2), the mutant clone frequencies found in the adult flies (spots/wing) were: 1.68 for the small single spots, 0.38 for the large single spots and 0.11 for the twin spots, while at zero time they were 0.68, 0.06 and 0.02 respectively. On the other hand, the UVA irradiation was negative in the in vivo DNA-repair test, indicating that the UVA-induced DNA lesion may not be subject to repair by the mei-9 and mei-41 functions. The presence of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) during the irradiation remarkably enhanced somatic mutations, and showed a strong DNA-damaging effect in the repair test. For example, a 15 h UVA irradiation with 26.7 microM 8-MOP resulted in a 14-fold increase in the number of twin spots per wing as compared with the frequency obtained on treatment with UVA alone. Treatment of the larvae with 8-MOP alone gave no mutant clones or DNA damage. A high frequency in twin spot formation was also observed in this UVA + 8-MOP treatment, indicating that extensive chromosomal recombinations took place in the somatic cells.