On the uptake of S35-methionine by the mitochondria of neoplastic cells

Summary S³⁵-DL-methionine was injected to normal and Ehrlich ascites bearing mice. The cells of the normal liver and of the ascitic fluid were fractionated and the specific activities of the fractions investigated. The mitochondria of the Ehrlich ascites cells took up the labeled methionine at a lower rate than those of the normal liver cells. After 3 hours the TCA-soluble fraction was more active in the Ehrlich ascites cells than in normal liver cells. These differences were not found when the labeled methionine was administered in vitro to cultures of normal and malignant cells.

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Zusammenfassung S³⁵-DL-Methionin wurde in normale Mäuse und Mäuse mit Ehrlich-Ascitestumor injiziert. Die Zellen der normalen Leber und des Tumors wurden fraktioniert und die Aktivität der einzelnen Fraktionen untersucht. Die Mitochondrien des Ehrlich-Ascitestumors hatten das markierte Methionin weniger aufgenommen als die normalen Leberzellen. Nach 3 Sdt war die Trichlor-Essigsäure-lösliche Fraktion der Ehrlich-Ascites-Tumorzellen aktiver als die der normalen Leberzellen. Diese Unterschiede wurden nicht gefunden, wenn markiertes Methionin zu Gewebskulturen von normalen und malignen Zellen zugesetzt wurde.

     

Renal cell carcinoma metastases to gallbladder

A 74-year old man underwent a radical cholecystectomy for presumed gallbladder cancer. The histology of the resected specimen in fact revealed the lesion to be metastatic renal cell carcinoma from his resected right nephrectomy performed 14 years previously.     

Incidence and location of positive surgical margins following open, pure laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy and its relation with neurovascular preservation: a single-institution experience

To evaluate whether robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (dvRP) provides adequate local control of the disease, incidence of positive surgical margins (PSMs) obtained with dvRP was compared with that of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and with that of open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) performed in a single institution by the same surgeons. We also studied whether neurovascular bundle preservation modified PSM rates. The records were retrospectively reviewed from electronic medical data, and three groups of 100 patients were organized. Group 1 included 100 patients who underwent RRP prior to the incorporation of minimally invasive techniques. Group 2 included the first 100 patients who underwent LRP, and group 3 was made up of the first 100 patients who underwent dvRP. All surgical specimens were analyzed by the same pathologist. We used the technique described by Patel et al. for dvRP. LRP was performed using a five-trocar extraperitoneal approach as previously published by the authors. RRP was performed using retrograde dissection as described by Walsh et al. The final decision of preserving neurovascular bundles was made during surgery. Using D’Amico’s risk classification, the dvRP group had a lower percentage of patients with low risk (dvRP versus LRP p = 0.017; dvRP versus RRP p = 0.0108). No statistically significant differences were found within high- and intermediate-risk groups. A higher percentage of patients with pT3 disease was found in the dvRP group compared with the RRP group (p = 0.0408). There were no statistically significant differences regarding PSMs among groups (RRP: 25, LRP: 14, dvRP: 18), although when we compared the total number of PSMs we found that the dvRP group had 18 PSMs versus 21 and 50 PSMs for LRP and RRP, respectively. All three groups had more PSMs located posterolaterally. There was a higher percentage of nerve-sparing procedures in the dvRP group (dvRP: 91 patients, LRP: 47 patients, RRP: 5 patients) (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found in the PSM rates between the three techniques analyzed. The number of nerve-sparing procedures in the dvRP group was statistically higher. However, this preservation did not modify PSM rates.     

Microsurgical reconstruction of the isolated columellar defect with a prelaminated radial forearm free flap. A case report and a review of the literature

The columella is one of the smallest subunits of the nose, but the loss of this structure has important aesthetic and structural implications. Few papers in literature present microsurgical techniques for the reconstruction of an isolated columellar defect. This report describes the use of a prelaminated radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for the reconstruction of an isolated columellar defect and reviews the current literature. A 45-year-old woman presented to our Unit with a history of palate squamous cell carcinoma and severe nasal deformity with an almost complete loss of the columella. A prelaminated RFFF with the fifth rib was used for a two-staged reconstruction of the isolated columellar defect. The radial pedicle was anastomosed to the facial vessels and the postoperative course was uneventful. Complete survival of the flap was achieved and, 10 months postoperatively, the patient had bilateral nasal patency, with an increased tip projection and a good aesthetic result. A prelaminated RFFF can be considered a valuable reconstructive option in cases of a large composite defect of the columella and limited availability of adjacent tissues.