Easier node dissection after chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer with collagen insertion at mediastinoscopy

Objective: Induction chemoradiotherapy followed by anatomical resection is a current therapeutic strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer with mediastinal node involvement. Dense peritracheal fibrosis and sclerosis after chemoradiotherapy cause difficult mediastinal node dissection. We evaluated a novel technique to make the mediastinal node dissection easier after induction therapy. Methods: At the end of mediastinoscopic node biopsy for staging of lung cancer, cotton-type collagen was inserted anterior and lateral to the trachea in patients with pathologically confirmed mediastinal node involve-ment (n=45). The induction therapy consisted of concurrent use of platinum-based chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy. After the chemoradiotherapy all patients underwent a pulmonary resection with complete mediastinal node dissection 7–12 weeks after the collagen insertion. Surgical findings of the mediastinum and the time for node dissection were compared with those without collagen insertion at mediastinoscopy after chemoradiotherapy (n=5). Results: All five patients without collagen insertion showed sclerotic and fibrotic change of mediastinal nodes with severe adhesion to the trachea. In 42 of 45 patients with collagen insertion (93.3%) the collagen remained unabsorbed and separated the mediastinal nodes from the trachea. Mediastinal node dissection was easily accomplished by removing mediastinal tissues lateral and anterior to the collagen. The rate of mediastinal node separation was significantly higher with collagen insertion than without (p< 0.0001). The times for node dissection in patients with and without collagen insertion showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Cotton-type collagen insertion at staging mediastinoscopy for lung cancer separates the mediastinal nodes from the trachea and makes the node dissection easier after induction chemoradiotherapy.     

Prevention of Restenosis after Coronary Angioplasty with Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis

Abstract: A prospective study was performed to determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis, when performed only immediately before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions following PTCA. Thirty-six patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypercholesterolemia were divided into 2 groups. The 9 patients in the LDL group underwent LDL-apheresis 1 day before and 5 days after PTCA while the 27 patients of the control group underwent PTCA but did not undergo LDL-apheresis. Follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) was performed 4 months after PTCA. The rate of restenosis of coronary artery lesions was significantly lower in the LDL group (0%) than in the control group (30%). These findings suggest that LDL-apheresis, when performed before and after PTCA, is effective in preventing restenosis of coronary artery lesions in patients with CHD and hypercholesterolemia.     

Immediate changes in subcellular structures of transplanted tumors following photodynamic and laser hyperthermic therapy

Background and Objective: To further understand the precise process of the tumor cell degeneration after photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser hyperthermic therapy (LH), and combined treatments using an Nd:YAG laser. It is important to examine initial morphological alteration of tumor cells after these treatments. Study Design/Materials and Methods: In this study, nude mice bearing HeLa cell tumors were treated with PDT, LH, and combined treatments of the two. Tumor tissues obtained immediately after these treatments were analyzed using electron microscopy and morphometry. Results: In the combined treatments, which produced more severe effects on tumor cells, morphological features of apoptosis such as cytoplasmic condensation, blebs, and apoptotic bodies appeared in the cells, although the typical alteration in the nuclear chromatin was not seen. Conclusion: Cytoplasmic alterations may proceed more rapidly than nuclear alterations in the cellular degeneration induced by the single or combined treatments of PDT and LH.     

Type-II collagen gene expression is transiently upregulated in experimentally induced degeneration of rabbit intervertebral disc

To clarify phenotypic alterations of intervertebral disc cells during the repair process, we cloned partial type-II collagen cDNA from rabbits and analyzed the level of expression of type-II collagen mRNA in disc degeneration. An animal model was created by surgical denucleation of rabbit intervertebral discs through, an extraperitoneal approach. Eight animals each from an experimental and a control group were killed at 2, 4, 8, or 16 weeks postoperatively, and the disc samples were used for this study. Round chondrorcyte-like cells that filled the herniated space showed intense signal of type-II collagen mRNA and significant pericellular immunostaining of type-II collagen but no clear staining of type-I collagen. Northern. blot analysis revealed that the expression of type-II collagen mRNA of the repair disc cells was transiently increased at 4 weeks postoperatively. The cells were able to change their morphology in response to mechanical stimulation by surgical denucleation and to induce a significant increase in the gene expression of type-II collagen at an early phase of disc degeneration. The present results indicate the transient enhancement of repair activity in the degenerative process of injured fibrocartilage.     

Proliferative activity of calcifying odontogenic cysts as evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index

The calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) presents with diverse hlstologlcal features; thus, several subclasslfl-cations have been proposed. To evaluate the slgnlficance of the various histological features and subtypes of COC from the perspectlve of proliferative activity, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labellng index (LI; the percentage of positive nuclei) was assessed immunohistochemlcally in 25 cases of COC (21 benign and four malignant). All of the benign cases were of the cystic variety and further subclas-sified into non-proliferative subtype (NPS; four cases); proliferative subtype (PS; eight cases); and COC associated with odontoma (COCaO, nlne cases). The PCNA U of the mallgnant COC (65.2 ± 5.6) was slgnlflcantly higher than that of the benlgn COC (11.6 ± 9.0; P = 0.002). Non-proliferative subtype (6.8 ± 2.8) showed the lowest PCNA LI and PS (17.2 ± 11.2) the highest of among the three subtypes of benign cystic COC (P = 0.028). In nine cases of COCaO, six showed epithelial lining of the non-proliferative type as NPS and the other three had lining wlth proliferative features as PS. The PCNA LI of the latter COCaO group (14.3 ± 6.6) was significantly higher than that of the former (6.1 ± 4.3; P = 0.05), as Seen between PS and NPS. These results demonstrate that PCNA LI is a possible parameter for differentiating mallgnant COC from benign COC and, whatever the subtypes, the proliferative features In the lining are the main factor influencing the prollferatlng actlvity of COC.     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.