Effect of substituting allogenic blood transfusion with autologous blood transfusion on outcomes after radical oesophagectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: The oncologic benefit of avoiding allogenic blood transfusion in oesophageal cancer resection has not been studied. METHODS: The medical records of 68 patients (Auto group) who underwent a potentially curative oesophageal cancer resection without allogenic blood transfusion from 1996 to 1999 receiving 800 g of autologous blood donated preoperatively, and 97 patients (Allo group) who underwent the same operation with allogenic blood transfusion from 1990 to 1995 were compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in age, gender, stage of disease, number of retrieved nodes, or perioperative hemoglobin concentration between the two groups. The survival of the 45 patients with nodal involvement in the Auto group was better than that of the 59 patients in the Allo group (p=0.0435), and the survival of the 35 patients with T3 or T4 lesions in the Auto group was better than that of the 61 patients in the Allo group (p=0.0408). According to logistic regression analysis, allogenic blood transfusion correlated with tumour recurrence in patients with either nodal involvement or a T3-4 lesion. The natural killer cell activity remained higher in the Auto group than in the Allo group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Avoidance of allogenic blood transfusion favorably effected the survival of patients with oesophageal cancer at risk for recurrence.     

The relationship between the cervical spinal canal diameter and the pathological changes in the cervical spine

A congenitally narrow cervical spinal canal has been established as an important risk factor for the development of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, few reports have described the mechanism underlying this risk. In this study, we investigate the relationship between cervical spinal canal narrowing and pathological changes in the cervical spine using positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two hundred and ninety-five symptomatic patients underwent cervical MRI in the weight-bearing position with dynamic motion (flexion, neutral, and extension) of the cervical spine. The sagittal cervical spinal canal diameter and cervical segmental angular motion were measured and calculated. Each segment was assessed for the extent of intervertebral disc degeneration and cervical cord compression. Based on the sagittal canal diameter, the subjects were classified into three groups: A, subjects with a congenitally narrow canal, diameter of less than 13 mm; B, subjects with a normal canal, diameter of 13–15 mm; C, subjects with a wide canal, diameter of more than 15 mm. When compared with Groups A and B, the disc degeneration grades at the C3-4, C5-6, and C6-7 segments and the cervical cord compression scores at the C3-4 and C5-6 segments showed significant differences. Additionally, when compare with Groups A and C, the disc degeneration grades at all segments, except C2-3, and the cervical cord compression scores at all segments, except C2-3, showed significant differences. With respect to the cervical kinematics, few differences in the kinematics were observed between Groups B and C, however, the kinematics in Group A was different with other two groups. In Group A, the segmental mobility at the C4-5 and C6-7 segments were significantly higher than those observed in Group B, and the segmental mobility at the C3-4 segment was significantly lower than that observed in Groups B or C. We demonstrated the unique pathological and kinematic traits of cervical spine that exist in a congenitally narrow canal. We hypothesize that kinematic trait associated with a congenitally narrow canal may greatly contribute to pathological changes in the cervical spine. Our results suggest that cervical spinal canal diameter of less than 13 mm may be associated with an increased risk for development of pathological changes in cervical intervertebral discs. Subsequently, the presence of a congenitally narrow canal can expose individuals to a greater risk of developing cervical spinal stenosis.     

CD133 Expression at the Metastatic Site Predicts Patients’ Outcome in Colorectal Cancer with Synchronous Liver Metastasis

Background

CD133 is a transmembrane protein that is proposed to be a stem cell marker of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the correlation between CD133 expression and survival of CRC patients with liver metastasis has not been fully examined.

Methods

CD133 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically, both in primary tumors and synchronous liver metastases of 88 consecutive CRC patients, as well as recurrent lesions in the remnant liver of 27 of these 88 patients. The relationship between CD133 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

Results

CD133 expression in liver metastases (mCD133) was detected in 50 of 88 patients (56.8 %), and had significant correlation with CD133 expression in primary lesions (pCD133) (p < 0.001). CD133 expression in liver recurrent lesions (recCD133) also had a significant correlation with mCD133 (p < 0.001). mCD133+ patients had significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.043) and OS (p = 0.014) than mCD133? patients. In addition, mCD133+ patients had a significantly lower rate of extrahepatic recurrence (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients without CD133 expression in liver metastasis had significantly shorter survival, perhaps because mCD133? patients had a significantly higher rate of extrahepatic recurrence.

     

In vivo kinematic analysis of a high-flexion posterior stabilized fixed-bearing knee prosthesis in deep knee-bending motion

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo kinematics of a high-flexion, posterior-stabilized fixed-bearing, total knee arthroplasty in weight-bearing deep knee-bending motion. A total of 20 knees implanted with the Scorpio Non-Restrictive Geometry knee system in 17 patients were assessed in this study. The Scorpio Non-Restrictive Geometry is a recent implant design with modifications made to accommodate a higher flexion range of motion and greater axial rotation, particularly during more functionally demanding activities. Patients were examined during a deep knee-bending motion using fluoroscopy, and femorotibial motion was determined using a 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional registration technique. The average flexion angle was 126.5° (110°-149°). The femoral component demonstrated a mean of 13.5° (5.2°-21°) external rotation. The external rotation increased up to maximum flexion. The pivot pattern was a medial pivot pattern similar to that reported in normal knee kinematics.     

Surgical treatment of lumbar ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Report of two cases and description of surgical technique

The authors report two cases of patients with lumbar ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). One patient underwent surgery via the single posterior approach, and the other patient underwent combined anterior-posterior surgery. The authors consider the anterior approach for excision of the ossified lesion to be the most reasonable for treatment of lumbar OPLL. It is extremely important, however, to select the surgical procedure according to the individual patient's condition.     

Self-expandable metallic stent for unresectable malignant strictures in the esophagus and cardia

Objective Self-expandable metallic stent (EMS) placement has been the first choice for dysphagia because of the certainty over its safety, low invasiveness, and immediate efficacy. However, there still remain some problems in relation to the EMS placement site and anticancer therapies before and after EMS placement. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients in whom EMS was placed due to the unresectable malignant stricture in the esophagus or cardia from July 1995 to August 2003 in our department were studied. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was found in 5 of 8 patients after placement of conventional EMS for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. Meanwhile, acid and bile reflux into the esophagus were not detected by pH and bilirubin monitoring, respectively, in 6 patients after placement of the EMS with an anti-reflux mechanism for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. The median survival period of all patients after EMS placement was 123 days. The median survival period of 7 patients with radiotherapy only after EMS placement was 138 days and that of 17 patients with radiotherapy before EMS placement was 60 days, which was shorter than that of the former (p<0.05). On the other hand, the median survival period after hospital admission due to dysphagia of these 7 patients was longer than that of 17 patients with radiotherapy only before EMS placement, although, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: EMS with an antireflux mechanism is not commercially available in Japan and approval is urgently required. The indication of radiotherapy associated with EMS placement is to be studied further.     

Expression of mouse HtrA1 serine protease in normal bone and cartilage and its upregulation in joint cartilage damaged by experimental arthritis

Levels of HtrA1 protein in cartilage have been reported to elevate in joints of human osteoarthritis patients. To understand roles of HtrA1 in normal osteogenesis as well as in pathogenesis of arthritis, we examine HtrA1 expression pattern during bone and cartilage development and in articular cartilage affected by experimental arthritis. HtrA1 is not expressed in mesenchymal or cartilage condensations before initiation of ossification. When ossification begins in the condensations, the expression of HtrA1 starts in chondrocytes undergoing hypertrophic differentiation near the ossification center. Hypertrophic chondrocytes found in adult articular cartilage and epiphyseal growth plates also express HtrA1. When arthritis is induced by injection of anti-collagen antibodies and lipopolysaccharide, resting chondrocytes proceed to terminal hypertrophic differentiation and start expressing HtrA1. These data suggest that hypertrophic change induces HtrA1 expression in chondrocytes both in normal and pathological conditions. HtrA1 has been reported to inhibit TGF-beta signaling. We show that HtrA1 digests major components of cartilage, such as aggrecan, decorin, fibromodulin, and soluble type II collagen. HtrA1 may, therefore, promote degeneration of cartilage by inducing terminal hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation and by digesting cartilage matrix though its TGF-beta inhibitory activity and protease activity, respectively. In bone, active cuboidal osteoblasts barely express HtrA1, but osteoblasts which flatten and adhere to the bone matrix and osteocytes embedded in bone are strongly positive for HtrA1 production. The bone matrix shows a high level of HtrA1 protein deposition akin to that of TGF-beta, suggesting a close functional interaction between TGF-beta and HtrA1.     

Immunohistochemical detection of cervical lymph node micrometastases from T2N0 tongue cancer

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that extensive, multiple cervical micrometastases occurred from an early stage in patients with T2N0 tongue cancer. The presence of micrometastases suggests the necessity of preventive neck dissection for Level I-IV nodes as a radical treatment. OBJECTIVE: Cervical lymph node metastases occur with a relatively high frequency in patients with T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and control of the metastases greatly influences the prognosis of patients. In this study, micrometastases in the cervical lymph nodes were investigated to clarify the necessity and required extent of preventive neck dissection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated micrometastases in 24 subjects who had previously been diagnosed with T2N0 tongue cancer. We performed immunostaining with anti-cytokeratin antibody cocktail AE1/AE3 of sections of 401 paraffin-embedded lymph nodes obtained from these patients. RESULTS: Micrometastases were observed in 14 patients (58%) and were most abundant in Level II nodes (n=11; 46%). Micrometastases were observed in the Level IV nodes of 3 patients (13%), and upstaging to pN2b occurred in 7 patients (29%).