MR imaging of brachial plexopathy in breast cancer patients without palpable recurrence

Objective. To investigate the role of MR imaging in detecting brachial plexus (BP) abnormalities in breast cancer patients with plexopathy but without palpable masses. Design. MR imaging of the BP was performed on 26 breast cancer patients with brachial plexopathy without palpable regional masses, using 0.5 T and 1.5 T imaging systems. Findings were correlated with the clinical diagnoses. Patients. Twenty-six patients with brachial plexopathy and history of breast cancer were enrolled in the study. All patients presented with plexopathy symptoms. Fourteen patients were positive and 12 patients were indeterminate for BP metastasis according to clinical criteria. Results and conclusion. MR imaging demonstrated masses involving the BP representing metastases in two patients. Nine patients had other regional abnormalities with a normal brachial plexus. It is concluded that MR imaging is useful in the assessment and direction of therapy of brachial plexopathy in breast cancer patients by detecting both metastases to the BP as well as other abnormalities, unrelated to the BP, which may explain the patient’s symptoms. Received: 29 September 1999 Revision requested: 22 January 1999 Revision received: 23 March 1999 Accepted: 6 April 1999     

Rapamycin, but not cyclosporine or FK506, alters natural killer cell function

Infiltration of natural killer (NK) cells into solid organ allografts is observed in clinical and experimental transplantation. Studies suggest a role for NK cells in acute and chronic rejection of solid organ allografts; however, the effects of immunosuppressive agents on NK cells are not clearly established. Rat NK cell lines were analyzed for proliferation and cytotoxicity in the presence of cyclosporine, FK506, or rapamycin. Lewis recipients of DA liver allografts received immunosuppressive agents after transplantation. NK cells demonstrated robust function both in the absence and presence of cyclosporine and FK506. In contrast, rapamycin significantly inhibited proliferation and cytotoxicity of NK cells. NK cell numbers remained stable in graft recipients treated with cyclosporine and FK506, whereas there was a significant decrease in NK cells in rapamycin-treated recipients. These data indicate that immunosuppressive drugs have differential effects on NK cell function that may impact the immune response of transplant recipients.     

经肛门Ⅰ期先天性巨结肠根治术临床观察

目的 探讨经肛门Ⅰ期先天性巨结肠根治术的治疗方法和临床效果.方法 对12例已证实为短段型或普通型先天性巨结肠患儿行经肛门Ⅰ期先天性巨结肠根治术.年龄3月至5岁,平均1.8岁.结果 全组手术顺利,无死亡.术后1周左右出院,随访半年,术后有1例出现轻度排便困难,经保守治疗痊愈.有3例出现不同程度的污粪,3-6月后痊愈.无严重并发症,生长发育良好.结论 经肛门Ⅰ期巨结肠根治术适用于患短段型或普通型先天性巨结肠症的婴幼儿,手术创伤小,不需开腹,合并症少、手术时间短,效果满意.     

经肛门I期先天性巨结肠根治术临床观察

目的 探讨经肛门I期先天性巨结肠根治术的治疗方法和临床效果。方法 对12例已证实为短段型或普通型先天性巨结肠患儿行经肛门I期先天性巨结肠根治术。年龄3月至5岁，平均1．8岁。结果 全组手术顺利，无死亡。术后1周左右出院，随访半年，术后有1例出现轻度排便困难，经保守治疗痊愈。有3例出现不同程度的污粪，3-6月后痊愈。无严重并发症，生长发育良好。结论 经肛门I期巨结肠根治术适用于患短段型或普通型先天性巨结肠症的婴幼儿，手术创伤小，不需开腹，合并症少、手术时间短，效果满意。     

Correlation of serum basic fibroblast growth factor levels with clinicopathologic features and postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an important positive regulator of tumor angiogenesis. This study evaluated the role of serum bFGF as a biological marker of tumor invasiveness and postresection recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Concentrations of bFGF in preoperative serum samples in 88 patients undergoing resection of HCC were measured by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A single pathologist performed histopathologic examination of all tumor specimens. All patients were prospectively monitored for tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The preoperative serum bFGF levels ranged from <0.22 to 71.2 pg/mL (median 10.8 pg/mL). There was significant correlation between high serum bFGF levels and large tumor >5 cm, presence of venous invasion or advanced pTNM stage. Patients with a serum bFGF level >10.8 pg/mL had worse disease-free survival than those with a level <10.8 pg/mL (median disease-free survival 11.2 versus 20 months, P = 0.044). Serum bFGF level >10.8 pg/mL (P = 0.035) and tumor size >5 cm (P = 0.004) were independent preoperative factors that predicted early recurrence after resection of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a role of bFGF in tumor growth and invasion in HCC. A high preoperative serum bFGF level appears to be predictive of invasive tumor and early postoperative recurrence. The clinical implications of serum bFGF level in HCC warrant further investigation.     

Effects of endothelin receptor antagonists on the progression of diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in European countries and is associated with an enhanced renal synthesis of endothelin (ET)-1. ETs are - beside their potent vasoconstrictor properties - very potent profibrotic acting paracrine hormones especially in the kidney. METHODS: We analyzed in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes the effects of an ETA-type (ETA) receptor antagonist (LU 135252) in comparison to a combined ETA/ETB receptor antagonist (LU 224332) on the expression of interstitial and glomerular collagen type I, III and IV as well as on fibronectin and laminin by quantitative immunohistochemistry using a computer-aided image analysis system. Global glomerular matrix deposition was analyzed after PAS staining. In addition to the morphometric examination of the kidneys, we also investigated GFR, urinary albumin and total protein excretion. The diabetic rats were treated for 36 weeks. RESULTS: Treatment with either LU 135252 or LU 224332 normalized the amount of PAS-positive material within the glomeruli. The expression of glomerular fibronectin and type IV collagen was increased 36 weeks after induction of diabetes. The overexpression of these two matrix proteins within the glomeruli of diabetic rats was completely abolished by both ET receptor antagonists, whereas protein excretion was only reduced by about 50% as compared to diabetic rats without treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that ETA receptor antagonists as well as combined ETA/ETB receptor antagonists reduce proteinuria and completely normalize the renal matrix protein expression in hyperglycemic rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The antifibrotic effect seems to be mediated via the ETA receptor. ET receptor antagonists might be a new approach in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.     

川芎嗪对体外循环心内直视手术患者血浆β-内啡肽、强啡肽A_(1-13)含量的影响

目的 观察川芎嗪(tetramethylpyrazine,TMP)对体外循环心内直视手术患者血浆β-内啡肽(β-EP)、强啡肽A_(1-13)(DynA_(1-13))含量的影响。方法 24例风湿性瓣膜病患者,随机分为对照组12例,用药组12例。检测了围手术期血浆β-EP,DynA_(1-13)含量。结果 用药组病人β-EP,DynA_(1-13)含量在术中及术后48h内显著低于对照组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论 TMP改善体外循环心内直视手术患者脑部微循环障碍,减少脑组织β-EP,DynA_(1-13)的合成和释放。     

Analysis of loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 10q, 11, and 16 in medulloblastomas

OBJECT: The loss of genetic material from specific chromosome loci is a common feature in the oncogenesis of tumors and is often indicative of the presence of important tumor suppressor genes at these loci. Recent molecular genetic analyses have demonstrated frequent loss of chromosomes 10q, 11, and 16 in medulloblastomas. The aim of this study was to localize the targeted deletion regions on the three aforementioned chromosomes in medulloblastomas. METHODS: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was examined on chromosomes 10q, 11, and 16 in a series of 22 primary and two recurrent medulloblastomas by using polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis. The DNA extracted from the tumors and corresponding normal blood samples were amplified independently in the presence of radioactively labeled microsatellite primers, resolved by denaturing gel electrophoresis and processed for autoradiography. The DNA obtained from control blood samples that displayed allelic heterozygosity at a given microsatellite locus were considered informative. Loss of heterozygosity was inferred when the allelic signal intensity of the tumor sample was reduced by at least 40%, relative to that of the constitutional control. The LOH analysis demonstrated that deletions of chromosomes 10q, 11p, and 16q are recurrent genetic events in the development of medulloblastomas. Three subchromosomal regions of loss have been identified and are localized to the deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 [DMBT1] gene site on chromosomes 10q25, 11p13-11p15.1, and 16q24.1-24.3. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that DMBT1 is closely associated with the oncogenesis of medulloblastomas and highlight regions of loss on chromosomes 11p and 16q for further fine mapping and cloning of candidate tumor suppressor genes that are important for the genesis of medulloblastoma.     

Early outcomes of surgery for small bowel obstruction: analysis of risk factors

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to review the etiologies of patients who underwent surgery for small bowel obstruction (SBO) and to evaluate the risk factors affecting the early postoperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case series of 430 patients (252 men) with a mean age of 64.5 years, who underwent 437 operations for SBO, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Peritoneal adhesions and hernia were the most common causes of SBO, contributing 42.3 and 26.8% of all cases, respectively. Strangulation occurred in 27.7% and caused nonviable bowel in 13.0% of obstructing episodes. Old age (age >/= 70 years), female patient, nonadhesive obstruction, and hernia were the independent significant factors associated with bowel strangulation. The 30-day mortality was 6.5%, and the median postoperative hospital stay was 8 days. Old age, the presence of premorbid pulmonary disease, and malignant obstruction were the independent factors associated with operative mortality. The overall complication rate was 35.5%, and old age was the only significant factor associated with postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for SBO is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. As old age is significantly associated with an increased incidence of strangulation, operative mortality, and complications, this group of patients should be managed with extra cautions to avoid unfavorable outcome of surgery.     

Bosworth-type fibular entrapment injuries of the ankle: the Bosworth lesion. A report of 6 cases and literature review

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patients with Bosworth-type fibular entrapment injuries of the ankle. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study and analysis of the literature. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Six cases treated for Bosworth-type fibular entrapment injuries (the Bosworth lesion) in the period 2001 to 2004. INTERVENTION: Five patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), and 1 patient was treated with closed reduction and cast. RESULTS: All patients treated by ORIF healed without complications with a good subjective outcome. In 1 case treated nonoperatively, an ankle fusion had to be performed 2 years after injury for severe osteoarthritis. Additionally, we have recorded 3 cases, 2 not previously described in the literature, in which the fracture of the fibula was located at the middle or proximal third of its shaft.In the literature we found another 54 cases with dislocation of the fibula behind the posterior tubercle of the distal tibia. The analysis showed that morphology of the Bosworth lesion, as we prefer to refer to this complex fracture-dislocation, changes with age and may be divided into 3 basic types. In children and adolescents the dislocation of the distal fibula is associated with epiphyseolysis of the distal tibia; in young adults the fibula dislocates without fracture; in middle-aged and older adults, the dislocated fibula fractures, probably because of the decreased elasticity. CONCLUSIONS: The Bosworth lesion is a severe injury of the ankle, and its successful treatment requires a correct diagnosis based on careful initial clinical and radiographic evaluation and early surgical treatment.