Esophageal carcinoma is frequently accompanied with early gastric carcinoma.

A review of data on 360 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophageal resection revealed 14 cases (3.9%) and 16 lesions with synchronous gastric carcinomas. Among the 16 lesions, there were 14 (87.5%) early gastric carcinomas and two advanced carcinomas. Of the 14 early gastric carcinomas, two were minute (less than 5 mm in the largest diameter) early gastric carcinomas and four small (6-10 mm in the largest diameter). These gastric carcinomas were in a relatively early stage. The six early gastric carcinomas were not detected preoperatively. However, a thorough observation of the gastric mucosa could not be done in four of those due to stenosis which had developed as a result of the esophageal carcinoma. Therefore, intraoperative gastric observation should be done in cases in which the findings of the preoperative endoscopic examination of the stomach are inadequate and the upper gastrointestinal series reveal certain gastric abnormalities.     

Improved power control during microwave heating in biological applications.

The heating performance of prototype variable power control units attached to two domestic microwave ovens, 500 W and 700 W, was investigated. The units employed the phase control method where rated voltage was obtained by switching AC supply at a particular angular position on the sinusoidal voltage. In order to create experimental conditions employed in a previous study, Sydney tap water (50 mL) was heated at a 10% power level in the 500 W oven. Water boiled at 10 min in both experiments. However, the precision and control of the heating was greatly improved with addition of the control unit. A disinfecting solution (50 mL) and a tissue fixative (10 mL) were included for experiments with the 700 W oven. A power level of only 1% was sufficient to maintain the temperature of the fixative at low temperatures (30-40 degrees C) where many biological reactions occur. The present results indicate that microwave heating power can be controlled by the variable power control method. This will make temperature control possible through the provision of an electronic feedback loop which links a thermocouple with the power control unit.     

Intermittent claudication associated with persistent sciatic artery: Report of two cases

Two elderly women complaining of intermittent claudication complicated with persistent sciatic artery are herein reported. A direct femoral arteriogram showed hypoplasty of the superficial femoral artery and an unnatural anatomical relationship between the distal superficial femoral artery and the proximal popliteal artery, thus suggesting the presence of persistent sciatic artery. The diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery was finally made based on the aortography findings including the iliac arterial system and computed tomography (CT) scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was helpful to demonstrate the entire image of this anomaly in cases with non-thrombolized sciatic artery. These diagnostic methods were useful in designing the optimal surgical strategy. The first case with a gluteal pulsating mass underwent exclusion of the persistent sciatic artery including the aneurysm through a retroperitoneal approach with a combination of femorotibial bypass, while the second case with thrombosed persistent sciatic artery only underwent femoropopliteal bypass. To recognize such a rare lesion, awareness of the differential diagnosis is important, and to provide appropriate treatment, an accurate whole image including adequate angiography, a CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging is necessary.     

Anti-Candida albicans activity of essential oils including Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil and its component, citral]

The effects of 12 essential oils, popularly used as antifungal treatments in aromatherapy, on growth of Candida albicans were investigated. Mycelial growth of C. albicans, which is known to give the fungus the capacity to invade mucosal tissues, was inhibited in the medium containing 100 micro g/ml of the oils: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica). Not only lemongrass oil but also citral, a major component of lemongrass oil (80%), in the range of 25 and 200 micro g/ml inhibited the mycelial growth but allowed yeast-form growth. More than 200 micro g/ml of citral clearly inhibited both mycelial and yeast-form growth of C. albicans. These results provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential value of lemongrass oil for the treatment of oral or vaginal candidiasis.     

Expression of proliferation-associated nuclear antigen in human malignancies

40 specimens consisting of 27 carcinomas, 9 lymphomas, 2 thymomas, 1 sarcoma and 1 neurinoma were studied by immunoperoxidase technique to demonstrate a cell proliferation-associated antigen defined by proliferating cells (PC) antibody. Though PC antibody expression did not seem to correlate well with histologic grading of carcinomas, positivity to this was consistently more intense in carcinomas than in normal epithelia. Correlation with histologic grading of lymphomas was more significant: the high grade types, e.g. ATL, exhibited greater positivity than intermediate grade types, e.g. diffuse medium lymphoma and certainly much more than low grade types, e.g. follicular lymphomas. These data were compared to another proliferation-associated antigen, the transferrin receptor.     

Systemic treatment of rhinosinusitis in children

Systemic acute rhinosinusitis therapy consists mostly of antibiotic treatment because pathogens play a major role. Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of acute rhinosinusitis, with second- and third- generation cephalosporins, azythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin as possible options, especially in the case of allergy to amoxicillin. If the clinical course suggests that an anaerobic pathogen is more likely, clindamycin or metronidazole can be considered in combination with a broad-spectrum drug. In antimicrobial treatment of chronic sinusitis there is no consensus on treatment length, organism coverage, or which antibiotics are most effective because the bacteriology is variable with polymicrobial anaerobic and aerobic organisms present. Adjuvant therapies need to be proven by additional studies. Chronic rhinosinusitis is heterogeneous and treatment should vary according to the causative factor involved. Short courses of systemic steroids have been found very useful to decrease mucosal swelling and inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, no randomized controlled studies have been performed to validate their efficacy in children. A variety of other agents are used in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis including antihistamines, decongestants, and leukotriene modifiers. To date, there is no good evidence from randomized controlled studies to support the use of any of these agents in the treatment of this disease in either children or adults.     

Light microscopy of GTP-binding protein (Go) immunoreactivity within the retina of different vertebrates

To examine species differences in the distribution pattern of guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (Go) within the vertebrate retina, paraffin-embedded retinae from a number of vertebrate species, including the goldfish, frog, turtle, chicken, monkey, and human, were immunohistochemically stained with affinity-purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of Go. Go-immunoreactive products were found to be located in the neuropil, but not in the cell bodies of neurons, in the retina of all these species. However, some species differences were observed. In the frog, monkey and human, the inner plexiform layer (IPL) was homogeneously stained with this antibody, but in the goldfish, turtle and chicken, the IPL was heterogeneously stained. In the frog, chicken, turtle and human, the outer plexiform layer (OPL) was densely stained with this antibody, but in the goldfish and monkey, the OPL was rather faintly immunoreactive to the antibody. In the goldfish, monkey and human, the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was not immunoreactive to the Go-antibody, whereas in the frog, turtle and chicken, the ONL was immunoreactive to it. The implications of these species differences in Go localization in the vertebrate retina are discussed.     

Predicting recurrence time of esophageal carcinoma through assessment of histologic factors and DNA ploidy

Cytophotometric analysis of nuclear DNA content was done in 128 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The relationship among histopathologic features, DNA distribution pattern, and survival time was investigated from the standpoint of recurrence. Of 128 patients, 77 (60.1%) died of recurrence within 2 years after surgery: 16 (12.5%) from 2 to 5 years and two (1.6%) over 5 years. The rate of death of recurrence within 2 years was higher in patients with T4 or N1 than T1, T2, and T3 or N0 (P less than 0.01). Survivors over 5 years more frequently possessed type II DNA pattern than types III and IV (P less than 0.05). The rate of death of recurrence within 2 years was 34.4% in type II, which was lower than the 59.6% rate in type III (P less than 0.05) and the 76.6% rate in type IV (P less than 0.01). Survivors from 2 to 5 years were higher in type III than in type IV (P less than 0.05), and recurrence over 5 years was found only in type II. This inclination was more apparent in those with curative resection. In the patients with type II, careful follow-up may be needed over 5 years for late recurrence. However, in those with type IV, no recurrence over 2 years could be regarded as healed because most of their recurrences occur within 2 years. These findings suggest that the growth rate of esophageal carcinoma should reflect DNA aneuploidy, and the DNA analysis of esophageal carcinoma should be a valuable parameter for postoperative follow-up planning.