Percutaneous placement of self-expandable metallic stents in patients with obstructive jaundice secondary to metastatic gastric cancer after gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous placements of a biliary stent for obstructive jaundice secondary to metastatic gastric cancer after gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients (mean age, 62.4 years; range, 27-86 years) who underwent percutaneous placements of a biliary stent for obstructive jaundice secondary to metastatic gastric cancer after gastrectomy were included. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, complication rate, stent patency, patient survival and factors associated with stent patency were being evaluated. RESULTS: The median interval between the gastrectomy and stent placement was 23.1 months (range, 3.9-94.6 months). The 50 patients received a total of 65 stents without any major procedure-related complications. Technical success was achieved in all patients. The mean total serum bilirubin level, which had been 7.19 mg/dL ± 6.8 before stent insertion, decreased to 4.58 mg/dL ± 5.4 during the first week of follow-up (p < 0.001). Clinical success was achieved in 42 patients (84%). Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheters were removed from 45 patients (90%). Infectious complications were noted in two patients (4%), and stent malfunction occurred in seven patients (14%). The median stent patency was 233 ± 99 days, and the median patient survival was 179 ± 83 days. Total serum bilirubin level after stenting was an independent factor for stent patency (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transhepatic placement of a biliary stent for obstructive jaundice secondary to metastatic gastric cancer after gastrectomy is a technically feasible and clinically effective palliative procedure

Relationships between Tumor Volume and Lymphatic Metastasis and Prognosis in Early Oral Tongue Cancer

ObjectivesAlthough T stage is an important prognostic tool for oral tongue cancer, it fails to define the depth of invasion and true three-dimensional volume of primary tumors. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relations between tumor volume and lymph node metastasis and survival in early oral tongue cancer.MethodsForty-seven patients with T1-2 tongue cancer were included. Tumor volumes were measured by the computerized segmentation of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsThe overall average tumor volume was 27.7 cm3 (range, 1.4 to 60.1 cm3). A significant positive correlation was found between tumor volume and pathological T stage, depth of invasion, and cervical lymph node metastasis (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.002, respectively). When the tumor volume exceeded 20 cm3, the cervical metastasis rate increased to 69.2%. The overall 5-year disease specific survival rate was 80%. There was a statistically significant association between large tumor volume (≥20 cm3) and the 5-year disease-specific survival (P=0.046).ConclusionTumor volume larger than 20 cm3 was associated with greater risk cervical lymph node metastasis and poor 5-year disease-specific survival rate in early oral tongue cancer patients

A Rare Case of Radial Arteriovenous Fistula After Coronary Angiography

The percutaneous transfemoral approach has been routinely used for cardiac catheterization and coronary angioplasty. Local vascular complications following angioplasty are seen in 5% to 10% of patients, especially in those who need prolonged anticoagulation. Transradial access for coronary procedures dramatically reduces access site complications. We report a rare case of radial arteriovenous fistula, which developed after coronary angiography perfomed using the transradial approach

A Rare Case of Radial Arteriovenous Fistula After Coronary Angiography

The percutaneous transfemoral approach has been routinely used for cardiac catheterization and coronary angioplasty. Local vascular complications following angioplasty are seen in 5% to 10% of patients, especially in those who need prolonged anticoagulation. Transradial access for coronary procedures dramatically reduces access site complications. We report a rare case of radial arteriovenous fistula, which developed after coronary angiography perfomed using the transradial approach

A case of McKusick-Kaufman syndrome

McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (MKS) is an autosomal recessive multiple malformation syndrome characterized by hydrometrocolpos (HMC) and postaxial polydactyly (PAP). We report a case of a female child with MKS who was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of Seoul National University Children's Hospital on her 15th day of life for further evaluation and management of an abdominal cystic mass. She underwent abdominal sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, genitography and cystoscopy which confirmed HMC with a transverse vaginal septum. X-rays of the hand and foot showed bony fusion of the left third and fourth metacarpal bones, right fourth dysplastic metacarpal bone and phalanx, right PAP and hypoplastic left foot with left fourth and fifth dysplastic metatarsal bones. In addition, she had soft palate cleft, mild hydronephroses of both kidneys, hypoplastic right kidney with ectopic location and mild rotation, uterine didelphys with transverse vaginal septum and low-type imperforated anus. She was temporarily treated with ultrasound-guided transurethral aspiration of the HMC. Our patient with HMC and PAP was diagnosed with MKS because she has two typical abnormality of MKS and she has no definite complications of retinal disease, learning disability, obesity and renal failure that develop in Bardet-Biedl syndrome, but not in MKS until 33 months of age. Here, we describe a case of a Korean patient with MKS

Immuno-chromatographic Analysis for HPV-16 and 18 E7 Proteins as a Biomarker of Cervical Cancer Caused by Human Papillomavirus

Among the more than 120 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), types 16 and 18 have been known to be high risk agents that cause cervical cancer. We examined, in an immuno-chromatographic analysis, the potential of using the early gene product. E7 protein, as a diagnostic marker of cervical cancer caused by HPV. We developed monoclonal antibodies specific to HPV-16 and 18 E7 proteins that were produced from bacterial cells using, gene recombinant technology. For each E7 protein, the optimal antibody pair was selected using the immuno-chromatographic sandwich-type binding system based on the lateral flow through membrane pores. Under these conditions, this rapid testing assay had a detection capability as low as 2 ng/mL of E7 protein. Furthermore, since viral analysis required the host cell to be lysed using chemicals such as detergents, it was possible that the E7 protein was structurally damaged during this process, which would result in a decrease in detection sensitivity. Therefore, we examined the detrimental effects caused by different detergents on the E7 protein using HeLa cells as the host. In these experiments, we found that the damage caused by the detergent, nonylphenylpolyethylene glycol (NP-40), was minimal relative to Triton X-100 commonly used or the cell lysis. Temperature also affected the stability oldie E7 protein, and we found that the E7 protein was stabilized at 4 T. for about 2 h, which was 4 times longer than at room temperature. Finally, a HPV-infected cervical cancer cell line, which was used as a real sample model, was treated using the optimized conditions and the presence of E7 proteins were analyzed by immuno-chromatography. The results of this experiment demonstrated that this rapid test could specifically detect HPV-infected samples.Cho IH, 2009, ANAL CHIM ACTA, V632, P247, DOI 10.1016/j.aca.2008.11.019Liang YJ, 2008, INT J BIOCHEM CELL B, V40, P2431, DOI 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.04.003Ressler S, 2007, CLIN CANCER RES, V13, P7067, DOI 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-1222Jeon JH, 2007, EXP MOL MED, V39, P621Mirecka EA, 2006, PROTEIN EXPRES PURIF, V48, P281, DOI 10.1016/j.pep.2006.04.017Nishimura A, 2006, MICROBES INFECT, V8, P984, DOI 10.1016/j.micinf.2005.10.015Cho JH, 2006, ANAL CHEM, V78, P793, DOI 10.1021/ac051453vHuh KW, 2005, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V102, P11492, DOI 10.1073/pnas.0505337102Ono T, 2003, J IMMUNOL METHODS, V272, P211DeFilippis RA, 2003, J VIROL, V77, P1551, DOI 10.1128/JVI.77.2.1551-1563.2003Jeon JH, 2002, EXP MOL MED, V34, P496VINCE A, 2002, J CLIN VIROL, V25, P109Chen XJS, 2001, J MOL BIOL, V307, P173Paek SH, 2000, METHODS, V22, P53, DOI 10.1006/meth.2000.1036Walboomers JMM, 1999, J PATHOL, V189, P12Wertlake P, 1999, J REPROD MED, V44, P11JEON S, 1995, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V92, P1654WILBUR DC, 1994, AM J CLIN PATHOL, V101, P209SCHEFFNER M, 1993, CELL, V75, P495SELVEY LA, 1992, J VIROL METHODS, V37, P119MAY K, 1991, AM J OBSTET GYNECOL, V165, P2000DYSON N, 1989, SCIENCE, V243, P934NELSON PH, 1989, EMBO J, V8, P3905GISSMANN L, 1986, VIRAL ETIOLOGY CERVI, P217CHANG JY, 1985, EUR J BIOCHEM, V151, P217

Misdiagnosis of fetus-in-fetu as meconium peritonitis

Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare congenital condition in which a fetiform mass is detected in the host abdomen and also in other sites such as the intracranium, thorax, head, and neck. This condition has been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we report the case of a fetus presenting with abdominal cystic mass and ascites and prenatally diagnosed as meconium pseudocyst. Explorative laparotomy revealed an irregular fetiform mass in the retroperitoneum within a fluid-filled cyst. The mass contained intestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and finger. Fetal abdominal cystic mass has been identified in a broad spectrum of diseases. However, as in our case, FIF is often overlooked during differential diagnosis. FIF should also be differentiated from other conditions associated with fetal abdominal masses

Characteristics of Ni-Doped IZO Layers Grown on IZO Anode for Enhancing Hole Injection in OLEDs

The preparation and characteristics of a Ni-doped indium zinc oxide (NIZO) layer were investigated to enhance hole injection in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). A thin NIZO layer with a thickness of 5 nm was cosputtered onto an indium zinc oxide (IZO) anode using tilted Ni and IZO dual targets dc magnetron sputtering at room temperature in a pure Ar atmosphere. Using 3 W of Ni dc power, we can obtain a NIZO (5 nm)/IZO (135 nm) double-layer anode with a sheet resistance of 30.04 / and an optical transmittance of 83.8% at a wavelength of 550 nm. In addition, it was found that the work function of the NIZO layer was higher than that of a pure IZO anode due to the presence of a NiOx phase in the NIZO layer. An increase of Ni dc power above 7 W significantly degrades the electrical and optical properties in the NIZO layer. X-ray diffraction examination demonstrated that the NIZO layer consisted of an amorphous structure regardless of the Ni dc deposition power due to low substrate temperature. Furthermore, an OLED fabricated on the NIZO layer exhibited a higher current density, luminance, and efficiency due to improved hole injection by the high work function NIZO. These results indicate that the NIZO/IZO anode scheme is a promising anode material system for enhancing hole injection from the anode into the active layer of OLEDs.The authors acknowledge financial support from LG Displays, OLED Panel Development team

Phase II Study of Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil Combination Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced gastric cancer. Patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible for the study. Paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2) were given as a 1-hr intravenous infusion on day 1, followed by 5-FU (750 mg/m2) as a 24-hr continuous infusion for 5 days. This cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. Forty-five eligible patients (median age, 56 yr) were treated in this way. Of the 41 patients in whom efficacy was evaluable, an objective response rate (ORR) was seen in 51.2% (95% CI, 0.35-0.67), a complete response in two, and a partial response in 19 patients. The median progression free survival was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.86-7.94 months), and the median overall survival was 12.7 months (95% CI, 9.9-15.5). The main hematological toxicity was neutropenia and greater than grade 3 neutropenia was observed in twelve patients (54%). Febrile neutropenia developed in three patients (6.8%). The major non-hematological toxicities were asthenia and peripheral neuropathy, but most of patients showed grade 1 or 2. In conclusion, combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU is a promising regimen, and was well tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer