Cystic tumors of the liver: on the problems of diagnostic criteria

We report on three cases of cystic neoplasms of the liver with mucinous epithelium. Case 1 showed a low-grade cystic neoplasm with ovarian-like stroma (OS). Case 2 showed a low-grade cystic neoplasm without OS, and case 3 showed a high-grade cystic neoplasm without OS. In all three cases, bile duct communication (BDC) was absent. Currently, pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN) are clearly distinguishable. However, MCN of the liver and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPN-B) are not as easily distinguished. According to the latest WHO classification (2010), these conditions are classed as typical MCN of the liver, MCNs of the liver without OS, or IPN-Bs without BDC. The clinicopathological differences between MCN without OS and IPN-B without BDC are controversial. We present three cases describing these presentations and discuss the difficulties related to the diagnostic criteria used to distinguish between MCN of the liver and IPN-B.     

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the spermatic cord with a hemangioendothelioma-like component: A case report and review of the literature

Atypical lipomatous tumor or well-differentiated liposarcoma/dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is the most frequent subtype of malignant adipocytic tumor. This tumor typically presents in late adult life, most commonly in the retroperitoneum, extremities, or spermatic cord. It has been reported that the dedifferentiated component consists mainly of high-grade sarcoma, including undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and myxofibrosarcoma, and it has been recently reported that the dedifferentiated component can be also made up of a low-grade sarcomatous component. Therefore, the dedifferentiated areas exhibit a wide morphological spectrum that commonly includes fibroblastic/myofibroblastic and fibrohistiocytic tumors but very rarely includes vascular tumors. We present here the first reported case of DDLPS with a hemangioendothelioma-like component in the spermatic cord.     

Correlation between cardiac norepinephrine overflow during exercise and cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake in patients with chronic heart failure.

Cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) uptake is reduced in chronic heart failure, and its reduction is reported to relate to the decrease in exercise capacity. Reduced (123)I-MIBG uptake may predict an inadequately reduced adrenergic drive to the heart during cardiac sympathetic stimulation, including exercise. However, there is little information about the relationship between cardiac (123)I-MIBG uptake at rest and norepinephrine (NE) release during exercise in relation to the exercise capacity in the failing heart. The aim of this study was to examine whether cardiac (123)I-MIBG uptake at rest can predict cardiac sympathetic activity during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure. We determined how cardiac (123)I-MIBG uptake at rest relates to NE overflow from the heart during symptom-limited graded exercise in such patients. METHODS: Twelve patients (mean +/- SD, 52 +/- 12 y) with chronic stable heart failure performed symptom-limited graded exercise tests under catheterizations with a 4-min stage using a supine bicycle ergometer within 2 wk after (123)I-MIBG imaging. NE concentrations in the arterial and coronary sinus blood (NE(A) and NE(CS), respectively) were measured at each exercise stage, and NE overflow was approximated by the difference between NE(CS) and NE(A) (NE(CS-A)). RESULTS: The left ventricular ejection fraction at rest was 47% +/- 16% and peak oxygen uptake was 17.7 +/- 5.1 mL/kg/min. The heart-to-mediastinum uptake ratio of the delayed (123)I-MIBG image (1.00 - 1.72; mean +/- SD, 1.30 +/- 0.19) correlated with NE(CS-A) at peak exercise (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and peak heart rate (r = 0.73, P < 0.01) but not with peak oxygen uptake. CONCLUSION: Cardiac (123)I-MIBG uptake of the delayed image can predict the degree of the increase in adrenergic drive to the heart during sympathetic stimuli induced by exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.     

Intercondylar and central regions of complete discoid lateral meniscus have different cell and matrix organizations

Background

A complete discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) has a high risk of horizontal tear. However, cellular phenotypes and extracellular matrix organizations in complete DLMs are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate histological and cellular biological characteristics in both the intercondylar and central regions of complete DLM.

Myocardial protective effect of lidocaine during experimental off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) has recently gained popularity. During OPCABG, patients remain vulnerable to ischemic-reperfusion injury due to a temporary coronary occlusion without any active cardioprotection. Some strategies such as ischemic preconditioning (IP) and an intracoronary shunt have been applied with a view to minimizing the effects of ischemia, but the effects of these strategies remain controversial. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of lidocaine against myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury. Twenty-one pigs were assigned to three groups, each consisting of seven pigs. In the control group, using a left internal thoracic artery (LITA) bypass circuit, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for 45 min followed by two hours of reperfusion. In the IP group, five min of occlusion followed by 15 min of reperfusion was performed. In the lidocaine group, 2 mg/kg of lidocaine was administered directly into the LAD just before the LAD occlusion. Infarct size expressed as a percentage of the area at risk was significantly smaller in the lidocaine group (2.7+/-4.2%) than in the control group (79.9+/-6.0%, p<0.001) or the IP group (57.0+/-25.9%, p<0.001). Lidocaine exhibited a potent myocardial protective effect in the present OPCABG model.     

The role of iron in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Background.?Endometriosis may cause symptoms including chronic pelvic pain and infertility, and increases susceptibility to the development of ovarian cancer. Genomic studies have started to delineate the wide array of mediators involved in the development of endometriosis. Understanding the mechanisms of endometriosis development and elucidating its pathogenesis and pathophysiology are intrinsic to prevention and the search for effective therapies.

Method of study.?The present article reviews the English language literature for biological, pathogenetic and pathophysiological studies on endometriosis. Several recent genomic studies are discussed in the context of endometriosis biology.

Results.?Severe hemolysis occurring during the development of endometriosis results in high levels of free heme and iron. These compounds oxidatively modify lipids and proteins, leading to cell and DNA damage, and subsequently fibrosis development. Recent studies based on genome-wide expression analysis technology have noted specific expression of heme/iron-dependent mediators in endometriosis. The heme/iron-dependent signaling pathway of endometriosis, which is providing new insights into the regulation of inflammation, detoxification and survival, is discussed.

Conclusion.?Several important endometriosis-specific genes overlap with those known to be regulated by iron. Other genes are involved in oxidative stress. Iron has a significant impact on endometriotic-cell gene expression. This review summarizes recent advances in the heme/iron-mediated signaling and its target genes, outlines the potential challenges to understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis, and proposes a possible novel model.     

Paraplegia due to spinal epidural hematoma after mitral valve surgery: Report of a case

Spinal epidural hematomas are rare entities that can be associated with spinal traumatic injuries and vascular lesions or that can spontaneously arise. Several reports have linked these hematomas to heart valve surgery. We herein describe a 71-year-old female patient who developed postoperative paraplegia immediately after mitral valve repair. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an epidural hematoma of the spinal cord from C7 to Th4. A laminectomy was not performed because the patient’s paraplegia gradually improved. After continuous rehabilitation, the patient regained sufficient muscle strength to perform standing exercises. She is presently capable of routine activities at home and is undergoing bethanechol chloride treatment for a neurogenic urinary bladder. Motor and sensory deficits of both lower limbs in a patient that arise immediately after heart surgery must be examined by early imaging to rule out space-occupying pathologies such as spinal epidural hematomas.     

Massive bone reconstruction with heat‐treated bone graft loaded autologous bone marrow‐derived stromal cells and β‐tricalcium phosphate composites in canine models

Bone marrow‐derived stromal cells (BMSCs) contain mesenchymal stem cells that are capable of forming various mesenchymal tissues. We hypothesized that BMSCs and β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) composites would promote the remodeling of large‐sized autologous devitalized bone grafts; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the composites on the remodeling of autologous devitalized bone grafts. Autologous BMSCs cultured in culture medium containing dexamethasone (10^?7 M) were loaded into porous β‐TCP granules under low‐pressure. Theses BMSC/TCP composites were put into the bone marrow cavity of autologous heat‐treated bone (femoral diaphysis, 65‐mm long, 100°C, 30 min) and put back to the harvest site. In the contralateral side, β‐TCP without BMSC were used in the same manner as the opposite side as the control. Treatment with the BMSC/TCP composites resulted in a significant increase in thickness, bone mineral density, and matured bone volume of the cortical bone at the center of the graft compared to the control. Histological analysis showed matured regenerated bone in the BMSC loaded group. These results indicate that BMSC/TCP composites facilitated bone regeneration and maturation at the graft site of large‐sized devitalized bone. This method could potentially be applied for clinical use in the reconstruction of large bone defects such as those associated with bone tumors. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1308–1316, 2013

     

Renoportal anastomosis in right lobe living donor liver transplantation: report of a case

End-stage liver disease is often accompanied by thrombosis of the portal vein and the formation of splanchnic collateral vessels. Successful liver transplantation in such situations is more likely if the surgeon uses a strategy to establish a graft inflow. A 59-year-old male with a decompensated liver secondary to idiopathic portal hypertension underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using a right lobe liver graft donated from his son. His portal venous trunk was atrophied and a splenorenal shunt drained the mesenteric venous flow into the systemic circulation. LDLT was performed with renoportal anastomosis (RPA) using his right internal jugular vein as an interposed venous graft, without dissecting the collateral vessels. Although he developed temporary functional hyperbilirubinemia, he was discharged from the hospital 23 days after LDLT. This case suggests that RPA is a useful technique to manage patients with an obstructed portal vein and a splenorenal shunt.     

Postoperative development of sarcopenia is a strong predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and upper gastric cancer

Background

There were few studies assessed the postoperative sarcopenia in patients with cancers. The objective of present study was to assess whether postoperative development of sarcopenia could predict a poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, (AEG) and upper gastric cancer (UGC).