Modified Gluteus Maximus V-Y Advancement Flap for Reconstruction of Perineal Defects After Resection of Intrapelvic Recurrent Rectal Cancer: Report of a Case

Technical advances in myocutaneous flap preparation have resulted in primary reconstruction now being generally indicated for malignant tumors extensively infiltrating the pelvic cavity and perineum. Pelvic tumor resection can dramatically improve the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer complicated by infection and pain. However, the removal of a wide area of perineum by these two procedures often leaves a large dead space. A gluteal thigh muscle, rectus abdominis muscle, or pedicle myocutaneous flap is usually made to reconstruct such extensive perineal defects. The subject of this case report was a 76-year-old woman with recurrent rectal cancer in the pelvis after abdominoperineal resection. The large pelvic tumor, which was causing severe pain, was resected and the extensive perineal defects were reconstructed using a modified maximus V-Y advancement flap. The operating time was approximately 30min, and the pain after surgery was much less severe. Moreover, she could walk the day after surgery and returned to normal daily life without requiring prolonged bed rest. No infection developed in the intrapelvic dead space postoperatively. This technique proved very useful for improving the patient's QOL.     

Ascending Colon Cancer with Hepatic Metastasis and Cholecystolithiasis in a Patient with Situs Inversus Totalis Without Any Expression of UVRAG mRNA: Report of a Case

Situs inversus totalis refers to an inverted position of part or all of the viscera, which represents a mirror-image of the normal location, and it is a relatively rare condition that occurs in one in 4000–8000 people in Japan. We herein report a patient demonstrating a combination of situs inversus totalis, colon cancer with hepatic metastasis, and cholecystolithiasis, who was treated surgically. We found no expression of UVRAG mRNA in our case, thus suggesting that the UVRAG gene is partly responsible for this condition.     

Radiologic findings of the lumbar spine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,and a review of pathologic mechanisms

We have analyzed the radiologic findings on the lumbar spine and the clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 106 patients who fulfilled the revised criteria of the American Rheumatism Association were subjected. All of the patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the existence of low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness. Radiologic features of the lumbar spine, including scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, disc space narrowing, endplate erosion, osteophyte, and osteoporosis, were checked. Radiographs of the cervical spine were also taken. The clinical background of RA, such as mutilating disease or not, was assessed. Forty-two patients (40%) had the symptoms of low back pain. Abnormal radiologic findings in lumbar spine were detected in 57%. The prevalence of clinical symptoms tended to be higher in the patients with endplate erosion. Forty-two percent of the patients had both lumbar and cervical lesions. The prevalence of lumbar lesion was not high in the mutilating type of RA, except for facet erosion and severe osteoporosis. The patients with pulse steroid therapy revealed a higher prevalence of vertebral fracture. From these results, we concluded that lumbar lesions were frequently observed in patients with RA. The possibility of lumbar lesions as well as the lesions in the cervical spine and peripheral joints should be examined in patients with RA.     

Resection of synchronous lung and Vater's papilla cancer

We present a case of a 78-year-old man with a synchronous double cancer of the lung and Vater's papilla. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed for Vater's papilla cancer and a partial lung resection for lung cancer. The pathological diagnosis of the tumors was a well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and well differentiated bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, respectively. Although most cases of synchronous double cancers involve lung and gastric cancers, a combination of lung and Vater's papilla is extremely rare. This patient is still alive with no recurrence for 5 years after the last operation.     

Influence of coronary artery disease risk factors on baroreflex sensitivity in the elderly

Abstract. In this study, we assessed whether baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is influenced by risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Subjects of this study were 95 elderly people (40 males and 55 females; mean age ± SD, 66.6±1.6 years) who underwent a medical check-up. BRS was determined as the gain of transfer function in baroreflex arc by spectral analysis of mean blood pressure and R-R interval variabilities in low-frequency band (0.04–0.15 Hz). Gender-related differences in BRS and relationships between BRS and various risk factors of cardiovascular disease were investigated. The value of BRS was significantly higher in males [10.7±3.7 (SD) ms/mmHg] than in females [9.0±4.0 ms/mmHg, p< 0.05]. However, this gender-related difference disappeared when other variables were taken into account in the multivariate model. Multiple regression analyses showed independent inverse relationships between BRS and heart rate [b=–0.016±0.004 (SE) bpm, =–0.39], and between BRS and platelet count [b=–0.002±0.001 × 103/µl, =–0.22]. Our results indicated that BRS is inversely related to platelet count in the elderly population. The precise mechanism of this correlation is unknown, but platelet factors released from platelet aggregates can potentially influence vascular function and modify BRS, or there is a common underlying determinant responsible for the covariation.     

Combination of dopamine D2 receptor gene polymorphisms as a possible predictor of treatment-resistance to dopamine antagonists in schizophrenic patients

Both the A1 allele carriers of TaqI A and Del allele noncarriers of -141C Ins/Del for dopamine D(2) receptor (DRD(2)) gene polymorphisms have been reported to have a lowered DRD(2) density. The present study aimed to examine whether the combinations of these two DRD(2) gene polymorphisms predict treatment response to antidopaminergic agents in schizophrenic patients. Subjects consisted of 49 acutely exacerbated schizophrenic inpatients treated with bromperidol (30 cases, mean dose+/-S.D.: 11.4+/-4.8 mg/day) or nemonapride (19 cases, 18 mg/day). Clinical symptoms were evaluated using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) before and 3 weeks after the treatment. DRD(2) genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction method. The A1 noncarriers with a Del allele showed poorer percentage improvement in anxiety-depression symptom after 3-week treatment (n=9, 7.3+/-42.9%) than A1 carriers without Del alleles (n=25, 62.4+/-38.0%) or A1 noncarriers without Del alleles (n=10, 65.4+/-29.2%). However, these preliminary results should be replicated in further research with a larger number of the subjects in each haplotype subgroup.     

Implication of cyclooxygenase-2 on enhanced proliferation of neural progenitor cells in the adult mouse hippocampus after ischemia

Global ischemia promotes neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult mouse hippocampus. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, the principal isoenzyme in the brain, modulates inflammation, glutamate-mediated cytotoxicity, and synaptic plasticity. We demonstrated that delayed treatment with different classes of COX inhibitor significantly blunted enhancement of dentate gyrus proliferation of neural progenitor cells after ischemia. COX-2 immunoreactivity was observed in both neurons and astrocytes in the dentate gyrus, but not in neural progenitor cells in the subgranular zone. Moreover, in the postischemic dentate gyrus of heterozygous and homozygous COX-2 knockout mice, proliferating bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells were significantly fewer than in wild-type littermates. These results demonstrate that COX-2 is an important modulator in enhancement of proliferation of neural progenitor cells after ischemia.     

Tendon chitosan tubes covalently coupled with synthesized laminin peptides facilitate nerve regeneration in vivo

We have developed tendon chitosan tubes having the ability to bind peptides covalently, and the effectiveness of laminin peptides coupled to these tubular wall on nerve regeneration was examined in vivo. Bridge graft implantation (15 mm) into the sciatic nerve of SD rats was carried out using chitosan tubes having a triangular cross section containing either covalently bound intact laminin or the laminin peptides CDPGYIGSR or CSRARKQAASIKVAVSAD or being nontreated (N = 20 in each group). As a control, isografting (N = 5) was carried out. Three rats in each experimental group were sacrificed for histology observations after 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The total area of regenerating tissue in the tube and the length of the area where regenerating tissue attached to the inner surface of the tube were measured. In five rats from each experimental and control group, the latency quotient between the implanted and the nontreated site was determined 12 weeks after implantation. Furthermore, the percentage of myelinated axon area was measured at a 10-mm distance from the distal anastomosed site. Histological findings suggest that the immobilized laminin, confirmed by immunostaining as long as 12 weeks postoperatively, as well as laminin oligopeptides may effectively assist nerve tissue extension. According to statistical analysis of the percentage neural tissue found in relation to evoked action potentials, the sequential treatments with YIGSR first followed by IKVAV matched the effectiveness of intact laminin in enhancing nerve regeneration. However, when compared with that after isografting, the enhancement of regenerated axon growth was less sufficient.     

Two types of VIP neuronal components in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons constitute a large group in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and it is thought that they are involved in the generation and entrainment of circadian rhythm. We have characterized these VIP-expressing neurons in rat SCN by their ability to induce the mammalian Period1 (Per1) gene in response to light exposure, innervation of retinal afferents, day-night variations in VIP mRNA, and coexpression of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP). VIP neurons in the ventrolateral SCN (SCNVL) were subdivided into two groups, light-evoked Per1-inducible main SCNVL (SCNVLmain) and non-Per1-inducible medially located SCNVL (SCNVLmed). Retinal innervation was abundant in the SCNVLmain but nearly absent in the SCNVLmed. Day-night variation in VIP mRNA expression level was observed in the SCNVLmain but not in the SCNVLmed. GRP mRNA was seen in rarely SCNVLmed but abundant in SCNVLmain, where some neurons coexpressed VIP mRNA. These findings indicate that VIP neurons in the SCN can be divided into two topographically and functionally distinct groups.     

Subtypes of nociceptive units in the rat temporomandibular joint

Response properties of nociceptors in the rat's temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were investigated using an in vitro TMJ-nerve preparation. Recordings were obtained from 33 nociceptive units that responded to mechanical, chemical, and/or thermal stimuli. According to both characteristics of nociceptors and afferent fibers, nociceptive units in the TMJ area were classified into the following four subtypes: Adelta-high-threshold mechanonociceptor (HTM) (12.1%), Adelta-polymodal nociceptor (POLY) (36.4%), C-HTM (12.1%), and C-POLY (39.4%). The mean mechanical threshold of the Adelta units was significantly lower than that of the C units. Bradykinin increased the discharge of Adelta- and C-POLY units. No significant differences of thermal thresholds between Adelta and C units were found. The percentage of Adelta units was 47.2% and of C units was 52.8%, respectively. In the TMJ area, POLY units were predominant (75.8%), suggesting that inflammatory reactions can easily evoke pain sensation.