Transvaginal specimen extraction versus conventional minilaparotomy after laparoscopic anterior resection for colorectal cancer: mid-term results of a case-matched study

Background

Although the vagina is considered a viable route during laparoscopic surgery, a number of concerns have led to a need to demonstrate the safety of a transvaginal approach in colorectal surgery. However, the data for transvaginal access in left-sided colorectal cancer are extremely limited, and no study has compared the clinical outcomes with a conventional laparoscopic procedure.

Objective

We compared the clinical outcomes of totally laparoscopic anterior resection with transvaginal specimen extraction (TVSE) with those of the conventional laparoscopic approach with minilaparotomy (LAP) for anastomosis construction and specimen retrieval in left-sided colorectal cancer.

Methods

Fifty-eight patients underwent TVSE between October 2006 and July 2011 and were matched by age, surgery date, tumor location, and tumor stage with patients who underwent conventional LAP for left-sided colorectal cancer.

Results

Operative time was significantly longer in the TVSE group (149.3 ± 39.8 vs. 131.9 ± 41.4 min; p = 0.023). Patients in the TVSE group experienced less pain (pain score 4.9 ± 1.6 vs. 5.8 ± 1.9; p = 0.008), shorter time to passage of flatus (2.2 ± 1.1 vs. 2.7 ± 1.2 days; p = 0.026), and higher satisfaction with the cosmetic results (cosmetic score 8.0 ± 1.4 vs. 6.3 ± 1.5; p = 0.001). More endolinear staplers for rectal transection were used in the LAP group (1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2; p = 0.021). Overall morbidities were similar in both groups; however, three wound infections only occurred in the LAP group. After a median follow-up of 34.4 (range 11–60) months, no transvaginal access-site recurrence occurred. The 3-year disease-free survival was similar between groups (91.5 vs. 90.8 %; p = 0.746).

Conclusions

Transvaginal access after totally laparoscopic anterior resection is safe and feasible for left-sided colorectal cancer in selected patients with better short-term outcomes.     

Protective effects of Korean red ginseng against radiation-induced apoptosis in human HaCaT keratinocytes

Radiation-induced oral mucositis is a dose-limiting toxic side effect for patients with head and neck cancer. Numerous attempts at improving radiation-induced oral mucositis have not produced a qualified treatment. Ginseng polysaccharide has multiple immunoprotective effects. Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on radiation-induced damage in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and in an in vivo zebrafish model. Radiation inhibited HaCaT cell proliferation and migration in a cell viability assay and wound healing assay, respectively. KRG protected against these effects. KRG attenuated the radiation-induced embryotoxicity in the zebrafish model. Irradiation of HaCaT cells caused apoptosis and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). KRG inhibited the radiation-induced apoptosis and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and stabilized the radiation-induced loss of MMP. Western blots revealed KRG-mediated reduced expression of ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM), p53, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 and cleaved caspase-3, compared with their significant increase after radiation treatment. The collective results suggest that KRG protects HaCaT cells by blocking ROS generation, inhibiting changes in MMP, and inhibiting the caspase, ATM, p38 and JNK pathways.     

Evidence for Involvement of Spinal RANTES in the Antinociceptive Effects of Triptolide,a Diterpene Triepoxide,in a Rat Model of Bone Cancer Pain

It has been shown that triptolide has beneficial effects in the treatment of neuropathic pain, but its effects on bone cancer pain (BCP) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential role of spinal regulated activation of normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the antinociceptive effects of triptolide on BCP. A BCP model was induced by injecting Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells into the intramedullary space of rat tibia. Intrathecal administration of triptolide (0.5, 1, 2 μg) could dose‐dependently alleviate mechanical hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain. In addition, there were also concomitant decreases in RANTES mRNA and protein expression levels in spinal dorsal horn. These results suggest that the antinociceptive effects of triptolide are related with inhibition of spinal RANTES expression in BCP rats. The findings of this study may provide a promising drug for the treatment of BCP.     

复方四季青软膏的制备及质量控制

目的鉴别复方四季青软膏中各主药的真伪;研究复方四季青软膏的制备方法;建立复方四季青软膏含量的控制方法。方法以薄层色谱法鉴别四季青叶、大黄、紫草;以紫外分光光度法测定紫草中左旋紫草素的含量。结果左旋紫草素的乙醇溶液在5.64~33.87μg/mL范围内,A与C呈良好线性关系,r=0.9999(n=6),平均回收率为98.80%,RSD(%)=0.88(n=6)。结论该方法准确、简便,重现线好,可用于复方四季青软膏中紫草含量的控制。     

The First Korean Family with Hemoglobin-M Milwaukee-2 Leading to Hereditary Methemoglobinemia

Hemoglobin M (HbM) is a group of abnormal hemoglobin variants that form methemoglobin, which leads to cyanosis and hemolytic anemia. HbM-Milwaukee-2 is a rare variant caused by the point mutation CAC>TAC on codon 93 of the hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) gene, resulting in the replacement of histidine by tyrosine. We here report the first Korean family with HbM-Milwaukee-2, whose diagnosis was confirmed by gene sequencing. A high index of suspicion for this rare Hb variant is necessary in a patient presenting with cyanosis since childhood, along with methemoglobinemia and a family history of cyanosis.     

胸椎旁神经阻滞术穿刺深度的解剖学研究

目的　观察横突、肋横突外侧韧带与脊神经之间的毗邻关系,为提高超声引导下胸椎旁神经阻滞术的安全性及阻滞效能提供解剖学依据。 方法　选用18具标本胸椎节段,取椎板外侧缘和同名脊神经根的十字交点作为测量的起点,分别测量T1~12共12个节段脊神经与横突下后缘中点、肋横突外侧韧带下缘中点之间的距离。根据“3个一组”原则,12个节段共分为4组,记为T1~3组、T4~6组、T7~9组及T10~12组,对不同组别的脊神经-横突间距、脊神经-肋横突外侧韧带间距分别进行单因素方差分析。 结果　（1）脊神经-横突间距：平均为（16.13±5.59）mm,T1~12总体呈先递增后递减的趋势,T5节段最大,为（18.88±5.78）mm,T5向上或向下节段逐渐减小,T1节段为（16.62±3.67）mm,T12节段为（9.76±3.75）mm。自上而下4组的脊神经-横突间距分别为（17.50±4.67）、（18.19±5.62）、（16.92±5.28）及（12.00±4.42）mm,T10~12组相比T1~3组（P<0.01）、T4~6组（P<0.01）、T7~9组（P<0.01）有统计学差异。（2）脊神经-肋横突外侧韧带间距：平均为（17.67±3.76）mm,自上而下4组的间距分别为（16.95±3.82）、（17.55±3.89）、（17.81±3.83）及（18.30±3.43）mm,两两比较均无统计学差异（P>0.05）。 结论　了解脊神经-横突间距、脊神经-肋横突外侧韧带间距利于估算椎旁神经阻滞的安全穿刺深度,以提高阻滞效能,避免脊神经损伤及全脊髓麻醉的风险。     

POLD1 variants leading to reduced polymerase activity can cause hearing loss without syndromic features

DNA polymerase δ, whose catalytic subunit is encoded by POLD1, is responsible for synthesizing the lagging strand of DNA. Single heterozygous POLD1 mutations in domains with polymerase and exonuclease activities have been reported to cause syndromic deafness as a part of multisystem metabolic disorder or predisposition to cancer. However, the phenotypes of diverse combinations of POLD1 genotypes have not been elucidated in humans. We found that five members of a multiplex family segregating autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NS‐SNHL) have revealed novel compound heterozygous POLD1 variants (p.Gly1100Arg and a presumptive null function variant, p.Ser197Hisfs*54). The recombinant p.Gly1100Arg polymerase δ showed a reduced polymerase activity by 30–40%, but exhibited normal exonuclease activity. The polymerase activity in cell extracts from the affected subject carrying the two POLD1 mutant alleles was about 33% of normal controls. We suggest that significantly decreased polymerase δ activity, but not a complete absence, with normal exonuclease activity could lead to NS‐SNHL.