Synchronous and metachronous transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract: prevalence, incidence, and radiographic detection

Six hundred forty-five cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder, ureter, and/or kidney were reviewed retrospectively to determine the frequency of synchronous and metachronous lesions elsewhere in the urinary tract. Among 597 patients with TCC of the bladder, 23 (3.9%) developed an upper-tract lesion, after an average delay of 61 months. Metachronous upper-tract tumors developed in 13% of 38 patients with primary ureteral TCC and in 11% of 63 with renal TCC, after average delays of 28 and 22 months, respectively. Synchronous TCC was found in 2.3% of patients with bladder TCC, 39% of those with ureteral TCC, and 24% of those with renal TCC. Seventeen percent of the subsequent upper-tract lesions would have been demonstrated by intravenous or retrograde urography performed 1 year after the initial onset of primary bladder cancer, and 61% would have been demonstrated by studies performed within 2 years. Therefore, the authors recommend annual radiologic evaluation of the upper urinary tract for 2 years after initial diagnosis and treatment of an upper-tract or bladder TCC.     

Low Molecular Weight CEA, Isolation and Characterization

A low molecular weight CEA-fraction (CEA_low) was purified from liver metastases of colorectal cancer. The following purification sequence was used: homogenization—PCA extraction—ion-exchange chromatography— Con A affinity chromatography—gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 (x2)—affinity chromatography on specific anti-CEA immunoadsorbent—gel filtration (G-200).
CEA_low was homogeneous on gel filtration in 6M guanidine-HCl and gave a single band on SDS-PAGE. CEA_low and CEA gave a reaction of identity in immunodiffusion with 7/9 monkey anti-CEA sera. 2/9 monkey anti-CEA sera showed a weak spur, with CEA spurring over CEA_low. CEA_low gave a reaction of partial identity with NCA and BGP-1 with unabsorbed rabbit and sheep anti-CEA sera. CEA_low consisted of a single polypeptide chain and had a molecular weight of 125,000 as compared to 175,000 ± 8,000 for CEA (SDS-PAGE). CEA and CEA_low contained the same sugars and aminoacids in approximately the same molar proportions. However the carbohydrate content of CEA_low was lower (30–40% as compared to 45–50% for CEA). The peptide relatedness (expressed in SΔQ-units) of CEA, CEA_low, NCA and BGP-I was compared. CEA_low was most closely related to CEA (SΔQ-values of 5–7) followed by NCA (SΔQ values of 12–17) and BGP-I (SΔQ-values of 35–40).
It is clear from these studies that CEA_low is closely related to CEA but contains less carbohydrate. Whether the polypeptide chain is shorter remains to be established.     

Progenitor cell assays predict hematopoietic reconstitution after syngeneic transplantation in mice

Hematopoietic reconstitution following syngeneic bone marrow transplantation with graded doses of untreated and drug-treated bone marrow was studied in B6D2F1 mice. Granulocyte-macrophage colony- forming units (CFU-GM) and spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) showed similar in vitro drug sensitivities. Both the speed of hematologic recovery and survival of mice transplanted with untreated or drug- treated bone marrow were directly related to the number of CFU-GM or CFU-S transplanted. Similar hematologic recovery was seen for untreated marrow transplants and treated transplants that had similar CFU-GM or CFU-S content. There is a minimum number of transplanted CFU-GM or CFU- S that allows survival of lethally irradiated mice. This number is present in a marrow transplant containing the equivalent of 5 X 10(3) untreated cells or producing one to two spleen colonies. There also exists a maximum value for the number of hematopoietic progenitors in a marrow graft, above which the rate of hematologic recovery following transplantation is rapid and no detectable increase in the rate is seen with increasing CFU-GM or CFU-S content. The presence of this maximum value for transplanted progenitors and variations in culture techniques are probably the reasons previous studies have not always shown a correlation between CFU-GM content and hematologic recovery after bone marrow transplantation.     

继发于前额粘液囊肿的眼眶脓肿1例

目的:报告1例继发于前额粘液囊肿的左眼眶脓肿患者。方法:病例报告。结果:1例30岁马来西亚妇女,表现为左眼疼痛、肿胀3d,伴视力下降和上眼睑下垂。CT报告左额窦粘液囊肿蔓延至左眶内。手术引流治疗,视力和上眼睑下垂很快改善。结论:眼眶脓肿可继发于前额粘液囊肿,而且患者可无鼻旁窦既往病史。     

Single incision glove port laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection

Introduction

The advantages of single port surgery remain controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of single incision glove port colon resections using a diathermy hook, reusable ports and standard laparoscopic straight instrumentation.

Methods

Between June 2012 and February 2014, 70 consecutive patients (30 women) underwent a colonic resection using a wound retractor and glove port. Forty patients underwent a right hemicolectomy through the umbilicus and thirty underwent attempted single port resection via an incision in the right rectus sheath (14 high anterior resection, 13 low anterior resection, 3 abdominoperineal resection).

Results

Sixty-two procedures (89%) were completed without conversion to open or multiport techniques. Four procedures had to be converted and additional ports were needed in four other patients. The postoperative mortality rate was 0%. Complications occurred in six patients (9%). Two cases were R1 while the remainder were R0 with a median nodal harvest of 20 (range: 9–48). The median length of hospital stay was 5 days (range: 3–25 days) (right hemicolectomy: 5 days (range: 3–12 days), left sided resection: 6 days (range: 4–25 days). At a median follow-up of 14 months, no port site hernias were observed.

Conclusions

Single incision glove port surgery is an appropriate technique for different colorectal cancer resections and has the advantage of being less expensive than surgery with commercial single incision ports.     

Immunohistochemical expression of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) and p53 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Moroccan experience

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor intimately associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). NPC is a characteristic tumor displaying epidemiological, genetic and regional distribution properties that makes it unique by its natural behavior.

Objectives

To assess the expression pattern of LMP1 and p53 proteins in the different histological types of NPC in a sample of the Moroccan population and to define any association between the expression of those proteins with the sex, the age and the histological types of NPC.

Methods

Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NPC biopsies were evaluated in 23 Moroccan patients for the presence of LMP1 and p53 using immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

No LMP1 expression was observed whereas 8 of 23 cases (34. 7%) had detectable p53 protein in the nuclei of tumor cells. After statistical analysis according to the Fisher''s exact probability test, no significant association between p53 expression and histological type, age and sex distributions was demonstrated (p>0.05).

Conclusion

This study confirms that p53 overexpression is present in a subset of Moroccan NPC patients. Our results are consistent with those reported by other studies concerning the same NPC endemic risk area and provide original data concerning Morocco.     

Localization of the G-CSF gene on chromosome 17 proximal to the breakpoint in the t(15;17) in acute promyelocytic leukemia

The human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor gene (G-CSF) is localized at 17q11.2-q21, the region of one of the breakpoints in the 15;17 chromosome translocation specific for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). As G-CSF induces differentiation and loss of tumorigenicity in myeloid leukemic cells or cell lines, it was possible that the translocation in APL involved the DNA of the G-CSF coding region or its regulatory region. In situ hybridization to chromosomes with the t(15;17) from patients with the APL translocation using a G- CSF cDNA clone revealed that the coding region of this gene is proximal to the t(15;17) breakpoint on chromosome 17. Southern analysis of DNA from patients with the APL translocation showed no differences in hybridization between normal and leukemic cells. These results indicate that the G-CSF coding sequence is not disrupted by the chromosomal rearrangement characteristic of APL.