A device for performing drainage into common bile duct

A new original instrument is proposed for draining the cystic duct into the common bile duct through the stump. The device combines a reliable fixation of the drainage tube in the stump of a narrow (less than 3 mm) or scared altered cystic duct and the not traumatically embedded cannula into the common bile duct.     

Solitary fibrous tumor: a clinico-morphological and immunohistochemical study

Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare neoplasm which may occur at any site although it is more frequent in the pleura, mediastinum and lung. The study used 4 cases of tumor localization in the pleura and orbit. Three cases presented as a "hemangiopericytic" variety of spindle cells; there were numerous giant cells in orbit tumor. Solitary fibrous tumor revealed enhanced expression of vimentin, CD34, bel-2 and CD99. Expression of S-100, desmine and non-striated muscle actin was found in few cells in some cases. Such features as large size (over 10 cm), necrosis, high cellularity, nuclear polymorphism and high mitotic index (more than 4 mitoses within 4 visual fields, at high magnification) were used as malignancy criteria:. Tumor histological pattern of "hemangiopericytic" variety could be reliably identified thanks to immunohistochemical procedure.     

Use of novel radiation fractionation regimens in organ-sparing therapy of bladder cancer

The findings of evaluation of complex organ-sparing therapy of 153 patients with invasive bladder cancer are discussed. Transurethral resection of the exophytic end of tumor was followed by two courses of polychemotherapy plus combined treatment. Radiotherapy was carried out by conventional fractionation (group I), hyperfractionation (group II) and accelerated hyperfractionation (group III) (total focal dose--up to 60-66 Gy). Overall and corrected 5-year survival rates were: 47.3 +/- 7.5% and 51.7 +/- 7.5% (group I), 65.6 +/- 1% and 70.4 +/- 8.4% (group II), 53.9% +/- 6.8% and 61.9% +/- 6.8% (group III), respectively. Our tentative results suggest that further efforts be made to improve the efficiency of radiotherapy by introduction of novel techniques.     

Dendritic cells are significantly reduced in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and express less CCR7 and CD62L

Despite the lack of tumor control, infiltration of immune cells has been demonstrated for several malignancies including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since dendritic cells play a pivotal role in the initiation and control of the immune response, the frequency and phenotype of recently described sub-types of dendritic cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were characterized. Myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were analysed in 55 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 33 reactive lymph nodes by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Overall frequency of dendritic cells in reactive lymph nodes was higher than in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while the pDC/mDCs ratio was comparable. The low frequency of dendritic cells in infiltrated lymph nodes was confirmed by immunohistochemistry; however, no significant difference in the distribution within lymphoid and tumor tissue was detected. For further characterization of the dendritic cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the expressions of adhesion molecules, costimulatory molecules, chemokine receptors and activation markers were assessed. Interestingly, a significantly decreased expression of CD62L and CCR7, receptors necessary for homing to lymph nodes, was identified in dendritic cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, potentially explaining the lack of these cells. Taken together, dendritic cells are phenotypically altered and reduced in number in NHL, potentially contributing to the loss of tumor control in these patients.     

Acute and chronic amiodarone effects on the dynamics of force-interval relationship in rat papillary muscle

Effects of acute and chronic amiodarone treatment on the force-interval relationship were investigated in rat papillary muscle. It was found that both acute and chronic amiodarone treatment decreased the amplitude of extrasystoles. At the same time, only short-term administgration of amiodarone increased postextrasystols and post-rest potentiations of twitch force in rat myocardium. It is concluded that the acute and chronic amiodarone treatment suppress the excitability of cardiomyocytes, but only the chronic treatment increases the effective refractory period. The results suggest that the acute administration of amiodarone can influence the intracellular calcium homeostasis.