Establishment of Methylation-Specific PCR for the Mouse p53 Gene

Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) of the mouse p53 gene has not yet been reported. We searched the CpG islands, sequenced the bisulfited DNA, and designed PCR primers for methylation and unmethylation sites. DNA from a young mouse produced a strong PCR product with the unmethylated primer and a weaker band with the methylated primer. DNA from an old mouse produced bands of similar intensities with both primers. In radiation-induced tumors, DNA from an old mouse yielded similar bands with both types of primers. We suggest that MSP is a valuable technique for the epigenetic study of the mouse p53 gene

Maze-learning Ability of Young and Mature ddY Mice and Mus musclus molossinus-M Mice

Maze-learning ability of young and mature ddY mice and Mus musclus molossinus-M mice (Mol-M) which was originally wild, now in the process of establishment as a strain in Nagoya University were examined using 16- unit T-maze for the 5 or 6 daily test trials. Six different scores; total score, total error, retrace error, blind path, total time and time for running between two check points for young and mature ddY decreased with every trial. Those scores for the young mice tended to be lower than those for the mature. The young and mature Mol-M mice exhibited the higher scores than those for the ddY mice. The performances of the young Mol-M mice in the maze became dull and slow with every test trial and that of the mature one was quick but ineffective to reach the goal through the trials

A case of primary breast cancer with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia

A female patient in her ４０s was admitted because of right breast swelling and pain. She had been taking Nilotinib（a molecular targeted drug）for ４months as treatment for chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. She was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer by cytology and histological examinations. She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and had obtained a partial response. She then underwent a nipple-sparing mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Therefore, in this patient, breast cancer and chronic myelogenous leukemia coexisted. Chemotherapy for breast cancer and a molecular targeted drug for chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia were administered concurrently

術後肺ヘルニアに対し，緊急修復手術を施行した１症例

A male patient, in his ５０s, was admitted owing to rear neck pain and stomachache. He was diagnosed Type A acute aortic dissection and underwent a total arch aortic replacement operation. Five days later, he developed dyspnea after he coughed. He was diagnosed left lung hernia, mediastinal emphysema and pneumothorax by a chest CT scan. We repaired pulmonaly fistula and lung hernia using an ePTFE patch

甲状腺癌リンパ節転移との鑑別が困難であった頸部神経鞘腫の１例

A female patient in her 60s visited her previous doctor because of a right cervical mass that exist for 7 years and gradually increased in size. As she was suspected of cervical lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer, she was referred to our hospital. At the initial visit, a 5-cm right cervical mass and enlargement of the right lobe of the thyroid gland were observed. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed on both, but no malignant findings were observed. To confirm the diagnosis and improve the patient’s appearance, a right lobectomy of the thyroid gland and resection of the right cervical mass were performed. A rapid intraoperative histological examination of the cervical mass revealed a schwannoma. The right thyroid tumor was diagnosed as follicular adenoma. Her postoperative course was good, and after several years of follow-up, patient consultation was terminated. Neurolemmoma is a benign tumor arising from Schwann cells in the nerve sheath, and it occurs frequently throughout the head and neck region, with 25%-45% of cases occurring in this region. Cervical schwannomas are characterized by irritation of the vagus nerve, brachial plexus, and sympathetic nerves. However, many patients present with only a painless neck mass, as in this case. Although the mass can be diagnosed by puncture aspiration cytology in some cases, sufficient specimens are often unavailable, and the diagnosis is made preoperatively in about half of all cases. Differential diagnoses of an anterior cervical mass include malignant lymphoma, cervical lymph node metastases of malignant tumors, submandibular gland tumors, and tuberculous lymph node metastases. In this patient, we also considered lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer. However, a histological examination did not detect malignancy in either the thyroid gland or neck mass, and we considered that the thyroid follicular adenoma and the cervical schwannoma occurred independently. We report our experience of cervical schwannoma combined with thyroid tumor which was suspected of lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer

Two cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis

Pulmonary dirofilariasis is almost always asymptomatic. An abnormal nodule was accidentally discovered by a chest x-ray during a medical checkup and detailed examination for other diseases was performed. Case １. A female patient, in her ７０s, was admitted owing to flu-like symptoms and bloody sputum. A chest computed tomography（CT）scan revealed a nodular shadow with １０‐mm ground glass opacity in the right lower lobe. Case２. A female patient, in her ６０s, was admitted due to an abnormal shadow on a chest xray in the left lung during a regular medical checkup. A chest CT scan revealed a nodular shadow with １３‐mm ground glass opacity in the left upper lobe. Lung cancer was suspected in both cases. Thoracoscopy and partial lung resection were performed to confirm the diagnosis. The specimen consisted of granulation tissue and no malignancy was found at operation. Final pathological diagnosis revealed pulmonary dirofilariasis. Pulmonary dirofilariasis can be definitively diagnosed by detecting a worm body. We believe partial lung resection during video-assisted thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive and an effective treatment for this disease