Cutaneous Metastasis From Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland is very rare. OBJECTIVE: To present an unusual case of cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland. METHODS: A 63-year-old woman with multiple subcutaneous nodules on the abdomen and a gradually enlarged mass over the right parotid area was examined. A skin biopsy was taken from one of the abdominal nodules. RESULT: Skin biopsy demonstrated the characteristic histopathologic features of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. A subsequent computerized tomography of the head and neck revealed a huge soft tissue mass involving the right parotid gland. Computerized tomography of the chest revealed extensive nodular pleural thickening, and pleural biopsy also showed typical histopathologic features of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. All of these results are consistent with the diagnosis of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland with disseminated metastases. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case of cutaneous metastasis from adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland. The presentation of cutaneous metastasis is often nonspecific and may mimic benign lesions. Subcutaneous nodules that are rapidly developing or eruptive, are rapidly growing and have stony hardness in nature, have pain or tenderness, and have nonhealing ulceration remind us of the possibility of cutaneous metastases. Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons should keep the diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis in mind and always perform skin biopsy when encountering these lesions.     

急性脑血管病患者血清肌钙蛋白Ⅰ的检测及临床意义

目的 探讨血清肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTn-I)对急性脑血管病(ACVD)后心肌损伤的诊断价值.方法 检测160例ACVD患者入院后24h内、3d、7d的血清cTn-I和肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB),比较不同病程、不同类型、不同病情程度ACVD患者血清cTn-I和CK-MB的测定结果,观察预后与cTn-I、CK-MB的关系.结果 病后24h内和7d血清cTn-I较CK-MB的阳性率高;脑出血和重症患者病后7d cTn-I仍增高;病后30d内死亡者的cTn-I和CK-MB增高比例高于存活者.结论 血清cTn-I对ACVD后心肌损伤的检测具有比CK-MB更高的敏感性、特异性和更宽的诊断窗口.     

Correlation of serum metalloproteinase levels with lung cancer metastasis and response to therapy.

Cancer cells elaborate metalloproteinases which may play a role in invasion and metastasis. The serum level of the M(r) 72,000 type IV collagenase (MMP-2) was measured in 87 lung cancer patients. Stage IV cancer levels were significantly elevated (P less than 0.0001) compared to normal sera. A significant difference (P less than 0.01) was found between enzyme levels in the presence versus the absence of distant metastasis. For 29 patients treated with combination chemotherapy, a positive relationship was noted between response failure and elevated enzyme levels. Serum metalloproteinase levels may provide information relevant to prognosis as well as treatment decisions.     

Non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease by dobutamine-stress echocardiography in children after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Coronary vasculopathy is the main cause of cardiac graft failure. Because yearly coronary angiography is invasive in children, a non-invasive method for detecting graft vasculopathy is needed. The aim of this study was to test dobutamine-stress echocardiography in a pediatric population to determine its feasibility, safety and reliability in the detection of graft coronary artery disease. METHODS: Eighteen patients, aged 2 days to 16.8 years at transplantation (mean 8.4 years), underwent 44 dobutamine-stress echocardiography (DSE) exams, at a follow-up of 1.1 to 11.8 years (mean 5.1 years). Selective coronary angiography was performed for comparison. Echocardiographic recordings were obtained in 4 standard views of the left ventricle and measurements carried out within the frames of a 16-segment model. Segmental scores of contractility were obtained for each segment and a total segmental contractility index was calculated at each stage. RESULTS: All patients reached the maximum dose stage. Maximum heart rate was 57% to 90% of predicted maximum. Maximum systolic blood pressure reached 190 mmHg. Segmental scores were normal in 37 and abnormal in 7 cases. Echographic results were concordant with angiography in 82% and discordant in 18% of the cases (4 negative DSEs with minor angiographic lesions, 2 positive DSEs with normal angiography), but there was no significant angiographic lesion with normal DSE. CONCLUSIONS: DSE is a safe and highly feasible non-invasive technique in transplanted children. A normal DSE study successfully predicts the absence of significant coronary artery disease in the post-transplant population.     

Fine-needle aspiration biopsies of breast masses. An additional experience with 1153 cases (1985 to 1988) and a meta-analysis.

A series of 1153 fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of breast masses obtained during the period 1985 to 1988 in one institution was examined. The following diagnostic accuracy values were found: sensitivity, 93.0%; specificity, 92.4%; predictive positive value, 93.7%; and efficiency, 92.8%. These results were compared with a previously published series for the period 1976 to 1984. The diagnostic accuracy values did not differ significantly between the two series.     

表皮生长因子及其受体与流产关系的探讨

采用放射免疫竞争抑制饱和分析法，检测４７例难免流产患者，６５例人工流产及２０例健康非孕妇女血清表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）水平；同时采用免疫组织化学法检测流产者胚胎组织中表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）表达程度。结果：人工流产组血清ＥＧＦ水平高于自然流产及非孕妇女，而自然流产与非孕妇女差异无显著性；胚胎组织中ＥＧＦＲ阳性表达率人工流产组明显高于自然流产组。提示：ＥＧＦ通过与其受体结合对妊娠维持、胚胎及胎儿的     

小切口胆囊切除术108例临床观察

本文报告腹部切口５－８ｃｍ的小切口胆囊切除术１０８例，与同期大切口胆囊切除术相比，具有创伤较小、恢复较快、并发症少、切口疤痕小的优点，虽不如腹腔镜胆囊切除术（ＬＣ）的疼痛轻、恢复快，但并症比ＬＣ少，只要适应症选择得当，在术者的经验和技术较成熟的情况下，不昔为一种可供选择的方法。     

Immunoregulatory effects of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on the proliferation of human lymphocytes

Extracellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a proinflammatory enzyme found especially in the inflammatory exudate to modulate blood flow to areas of antigen stimulation. In this study we found that PLA2 exerted a biphasic effect on the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human mononuclear cells (PHA MNC). At low concentrations range from 0.001 to 1 U/ml, PLA2 enhanced the proliferation of PHA MNC (maximal increase was 37.0 +/- 5.67%). Conversely, at concentrations over 10 U/ml, PLA2 markedly suppressed the PHA-induced MNC proliferation (maximal decrease was 88.86 +/- 2.89%). PLA2 was non-toxic to lymphocytes after three days culture, unless the concentration was higher than 100 U/ml. The membrane polarization of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was also increased by PLA2 at a low concentration. In addition, PLA2 displayed a similar effect on the proliferation of streptokinase-streptodornase (SK/SD) or allogeneic cell stimulated lymphocytes. The change of lymphocyte proliferation by PLA2, was parallel to the change of percentage of helper T cells. Furthermore--a CD4-rich population was proved more susceptible to PLA2 effect than a CD8-rich population. Para-bromophenacyl bromide (pBPB), an irreversible inhibitor of PLA2, abrogated the biphasic effect of PLA2 on PHA MNC proliferation. These results suggest that PLA2 plays a regulatory role on immune reactions by modulating the percentage of helper T cells.     

Repetitive conservative surgery for recurrence of endometriosis

We evaluated the recovery of fertility and the relief of pain symptoms in a long-term follow-up of 42 women undergoing repetitive conservative surgery for recurrent endometriosis. The mean age of the patients was 31.1 +/- 4.3 years. At the time of their second operation the disease was stage IV in 14 women, stage III in 25, and stage I in three. After reoperation, the patients were followed for a mean period of 41.8 +/- 30.3 months. Pain symptoms returned in eight women, dysmenorrhea and deep dyspareunia in eight, and pelvic pain in seven. Eight of the 28 women (28.6%) who attempted to conceive achieved a total of 13 pregnancies. The corrected pregnancy rate was 35%, and the cumulative rate at 27 months was 30.7%. A third operation was necessary in six women after a mean period of 35 months. Conservative surgery is an effective therapeutic option for infertile patients with recurrent endometriosis.     

Antitumor activity of five new platinum complexes having a glycolate leaving ligand.

In an attempt to develop a new anticancer platinum complex with greater or equivalent antitumor activity but reduced side effects compared with cisplatin (CDDP), a series of new platinum complexes having a glycolate leaving ligand was synthesized. Among them, five complexes were selected for further development on the basis of adequate water solubility, low nephrotoxicity and high antitumor activity in a murine system. The chemosensitivity of these five complexes was examined in MTT assay against two human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines, PC-9 and PC-14, and two human stomach adenocarcinoma cell lines, MKN-45 and KATO III. Their IC50 and relative antitumor activity (RAA) values were compared with those of CDDP and 254-S, a second-generation platinum complex with a glycolate leaving ligand under phase III clinical trial. The lowest mean IC50 value was observed in CDDP, followed by SKI 2034R and SKI 2033R. In this study, the antitumor activity was evaluated in terms of RAA values and SKI 2034R showed the highest RAA value. The order of RAA values was SKI 2034R > CDDP > SKI 2032R > SKI 2033R > SKI 2030R > SKI 2029R > 254-S. Based on the RAA order, we have recommended SKI 2034R as the most promising candidate for further development of a clinically useful platinum complex.