Preparation and characterization of antibodies to o-phosphotyrosine and their use for identification of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins

To facilitate the identification of phosphotyrosine (Ptyr)-containing proteins, rabbit polyclonal antibodies and mouse monoclonal antibody specifically reactive to P-tyr were prepared by hyperimmunizing the animals with P-tyr-conjugated bovine serum albumin or poly-L-lysine. As determined by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the antibodies reacted with P-tyr-conjugated target antigens but not with those conjugated with phosphoserine (P-ser) or phosphothreonine (P-thr). This immune reaction was strongly blocked by 2 mM P-tyr and phenylphosphate but not by P-ser or P-thr. The antibodies were capable of isolating, as the major P-tyr-containing components, a 170kd protein (most likely the EGF receptor) from EGF-stimulated, ³²P-labelled A431 cells, and 130kd and 60kd proteins from Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed chick cell lysate which had been labelled in vitro, with γ-³²P-ATP. Immunofluorescent staining of RSV-transformed cells and A431 cells showed specific localization of P-tyr-containing proteins in the cytoplasm, plasma membrane, and nucleoluslike structures. The results demonstrated the usefulness of the antibodies for identification or isolation of P-tyr-containing proteins.     

Video-assisted thoracic lobectomy with bronchoplasty for lung cancer, with special reference to methodology

Few studies have described video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to bronchoplasty with pulmonary resection. Here, we report the successful implementation of VATS bronchoplasty, as determined retrospectively. Between 2005 and 2010, 362 patients underwent elective lung resection for malignant or benign lung tumors. Of these patients, VATS lobectomy with bronchoplasty was performed in seven patients (four men, three women; median age, 72.9 years). The medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Of the seven patients, six had primary lung cancer (PLC), and one had metastatic cancer of the lung. The surgical procedures were lobectomy with wedge bronchoplasty. The patients with PLC also underwent mediastinal or hilar lymph node dissection. The median total operating time was 230 min, and the median blood loss was 152 ml. The median postoperative hospital stay was seven days, without major postoperative complications. The most important feature of the described method is that the surgeon mainly observes the operative field directly, through a working wound; the surgical team observes via a monitor. An advantage for the surgeon is the ability to use the same instruments in VATS as are used in conventional thoracotomy, as well as the same suturing techniques in vascular reconstruction, especially involving the pulmonary artery.     

Esophageal Schwannoma: Report of a Case

We report a case of esophageal schwannoma in a 46-year-old woman who presented with rapidly progressive dyspnea and dysphagia. Chest computed tomography showed a large mediastinal mass, which was extrinsically compressing the trachea, widely adjacent to the upper thoracic esophagus. We performed an axillary right thoracotomy to enucleate the tumor, which was located in the esophageal muscle layer. A definite diagnosis of esophageal schwannoma was made from the pathologic findings, which included positive immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein and negative staining for c-kit and CD34.     

High-grade fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung; report of a case

82-year-old man was admitted with an abnormal shadow on the chest roentgenogram. Computed tomography showed a 2.8 x 2.4 cm solid tumor in S3 of the left lung. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma and a left upper lobectomy (ND2a-1) was performed. The tumor consisted mainly of tall columnar clear cells, and no morules were found. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and p53. Accordingly, we made the histological diagnosis of high-grade fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung, pT2N0M0, stage IB. The patient was not received adjuvant therapy and has been doing well without any tumor recurrence for 3 months postoperatively.     

Wedge tracheobronchoplasty technique for primary pulmonary carcinoma of the right upper bronchus

We describe a novel tracheobronchoplasty procedure for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper lung. A 78-year-old male was referred for further investigation of an abnormal shadow on a chest x-ray. A conventional right upper sleeve lobectomy was not applicable because of the invasion of lateral wall of the lower trachea. So, we performed a modified tracheobronchoplasty. This report shows that our cutting design for the trachea and bronchus was reasonable and appropriate for a caliber mismatch, with adaptation and suturing of each edge of the wedge-shaped defect of the trachea.     

Tracheoplasty using a suprahyoid release for adenoid cystic carcinoma: Report of an oncologic emergency case

Anastomosis of the tracheal ends requires sufficient mobilization of the trachea because excessive tension is the principal cause of anastomotic insufficiency. Several mobilization and release techniques can be used to reduce some of the anastomotic tension of the trachea. Of these, Montgomery's suprahyoid release technique is a surgical method that severs three muscles above the hyoid bone: the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and genioglossus. Of these, we present the suprahyoid release technique here because we believe that it is superior to the other mobilization techniques, particularly supralaryngeal release. This is the first report to approach this subject from both anatomical and functional perspectives. In summary, we performed a tracheoplasty requiring a suprahyoid release for a 55-year-old female with adenoid cystic carcinoma as an oncologic emergency. We should master the supralaryngeal release, particularly wide resection of the trachea, because this technique provides sufficient mobilization, with no dysphagia or complications.     

Evaluation of asialoglycoprotein receptor imaging agent as a marker of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and recovery

Protection of hepatocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury is a clinically important issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in acute liver damage and recovery after ischemia-reperfusion in rats with asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) ligand. Ischemia was induced by clamping the hepatoduodenal ligament for 90 min. At 1, 3, 24, 48 hr, 1 and 2 wk after reperfusion, I-125-GSA was injected. Five min after injection, blood samples were obtained and the liver was removed. Several regions from each lobe were dissected, weighed and counted. Mean uptakes (% dose/g) in the liver and blood samples were calculated. Histologic sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) stain showed ischemic damage at 1 and 3 hr, and focal hepatocyte necrosis at 24 hr. Predominant massive necrosis was not seen. The mitotic index with H-E stain and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index were highest at 1 wk, indicating liver regeneration. At 1 and 3 hr, liver uptake was significantly decreased, and blood uptake was significantly increased, indicating decreased tissue blood flow and ischemic damage. Liver uptake showed significant increases at 48 hr and 1 wk, and was the highest at 1 wk, indicating liver regeneration during the convalescence stage. ASGP-R binding may provide valuable information on ischemia-reperfusion injury and recovery.     

Unique case of pulmonary bronchial gland type tumor with broad spectrum of cell differentiation from the terminal duct-acinar unit to excretory duct

In the lung, acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare form of tumor. Reported herein is a unique bronchial gland-type tumor diagnosed as well-differentiated ACC that developed in the B9 bronchus of the left lung. Various immunohistochemical and histochemical staining partly satisfied the diagnosis of ACC. Moreover, this tumor contained various sizes of mucous cysts lined by columnar mucous cells, which produced abundant mucin positive for Alcian blue, which is usually present in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Therefore, the present case is a unique tumor having a broad spectrum of cell differentiation from the terminal duct--acinar unit to the striated duct and excretory duct. This is the first case of unique bronchial gland-type tumor with mixed histological features of ACC and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.     

Initial experience of using the filter protection device during carotid artery stenting in Japan

PURPOSE: No filter protection devices for carotid artery stenting (CAS) have been formally approved for use in Japan; however, as of April 2008, the Angioguard XP (AGXP) was approved. This article describes our initial results using the AGXP during CAS for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 15 patients (14 men) with a mean age of 72.3 years (range 53-81 years) were treated by CAS using the AGXP. Among them, 10 were symptomatic with >50% stenosis of the common or internal carotid artery (ICA), and 5 were asymptomatic with >70% stenosis. The rates of technical success, periprocedural stroke, ICA flow impairment, filter movement, and development of new ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were assessed. RESULTS: CAS using the AGXP was successful in all cases. There was one minor stroke, and flow impairment occurred in six patients. Filter movement averaged 1.9 vertebral bodies. DWI showed new ipsilateral ischemic lesions in eight of the patients. CONCLUSION: Initial clinical experience using the AGXP for CAS has been generally sufficient. However, attention must be paid to three problems when using the AGXP: the filter may move after placement; the filter may disturb blood flow in the ICA; and debris may pass around the filter.