[A case of amelanotic anorectal malignant melanoma mimicking gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

A 56-year-old female patient was admitted, complaining of hematochezia. She was preoperatively diagnosed with poorly-differentiated carcinoma of anorectum with metastases in the lung and mesorectal lymph nodes, and underwent abdominoperineal resection of the rectum. The immunohistochemistry of the rectal tumor showed positive for vimentin and c-kit, and negative for AE1/AE3, S-100, a-SMA, LCA and CD34, which was compatible with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

Development of a novel, nearly insoluble antiadhesive membrane.

Background: Sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose (HA/CMC) is difficult to use in a moist environment because of its susceptibility to moisture.

Methods: We developed the three-layered nDM-14R membrane. The surface layers are composed of 1-lactide, glycolide and e-caprolactone copolymers.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with rhabdomyolysis].

We report a patient with advanced gastric cancer with rhabdomyolysis. A 29-year-old man consulted a local doctor complaining of dysphagia and heartburn. He developed rhabdomyolysis that was considered to be caused by administered proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

[A case of solitary splenic metastasis from an ovarian cancer 12 years after primary resection].

A 57-year-old woman underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for bilateral ovarian tumors (T1b, N0, M0; Stage I b, serous cystoadenocarcinoma) in May 1994. She received 4 courses of CAP (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2+epirubicin 50 mg/m2+cisplatin 60 mg/m2) therapy as adjuvant chemotherapy. An increase of the serum CA125 was detected in December 2006, and abdominal CT revealed a mass in the spleen.

The clinical significance of serum procalcitonin levels following direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column in septic patients with colorectal perforation.

Background: The efficacy of direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber columns (PMX) has already been demonstrated in clinical studies for the treatment of septic shock. However, serum procalcitonin levels following PMX remain unknown.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized clinical study was performed at 12 institutions.

Direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin-B-immobilized fiber columns improves septic hypotension and reduces inflammatory mediators in septic patients with colorectal perforation.

Purpose: Although some studies have reported favorable effects of direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin-B-immobilized fiber columns (PMX) for the treatment of septic shock, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of PMX in studies with a uniform case definition and without any other blood purification techniques.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two patients with severe sepsis or septic shock secondary to colorectal perforation were treated with PMX. Hemodynamic alterations and plasma concentrations of endotoxin, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were evaluated following PMX treatment.

Circulating concentrations of adiponectin, an endogenous lipopolysaccharide neutralizing protein, decrease in rats with polymicrobial sepsis.

Background: Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is specifically and abundantly produced by adipocytes as a secretory protein. A direct interaction between adiponectin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is not fully understood. To elucidate the effects of adiponectin on LPS, we first investigated interactions between recombinant adiponectin and LPS.

Magnetic resonance-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for liver metastases of breast cancer in a case.

Real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enables the application of percutaneous microwave coagulation for high-risk patients with metastatic liver tumours. The tumours, local vessels and bile ducts can be observed clearly in three-dimensional sections and a sufficient surgical margin can be confirmed on the MR image even during the coagulation procedure. MR-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy is effective for treatment of not only primary liver tumours but also metastatic breast cancers in the liver, which are not diffuse but discrete, and difficult to treat with only chemo-and endocrine therapy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in situs inversus totalis with "inferior" cystic artery: a case report.

A 76-year-old man with known situs inversus totalis presented with left-sided discomfort. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of a gallstone, as well as, situs inversus; the liver and gallbladder on the left side and the spleen on the right. The biliary system was thought to be left-right reversal, mirror image in the view of drip infusion cholangiogram and MRI.

Diagnostic and predictive value of the silkworm larvae plasma test for postoperative infection following gastrointestinal surgery.

Objective: To determine whether the silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) test is a reliable diagnostic marker of infection in patients with infectious complications following gastrointestinal surgery.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Shiga University of Medical Science.

A free radical scavenger, edaravone (MCI-186), diminishes intestinal neutrophil lipid peroxidation and bacterial translocation in a rat hemorrhagic shock model.

Objective: To investigate the effects of edaravone, a novel free radical scavenger, on bacterial translocation induced by hemorrhagic shock.

Design: Prospective, randomized, unblinded animal study.

Setting: Surgical research laboratories of Shiga University of Medical Science.

Open-configuration MR-guided microwave thermocoagulation therapy for metastatic liver tumors from breast cancer.

Background: Liver metastases from breast cancer are associated with a poor prognosis, however, local control with microwave thermocoagulation therapy has been used in certain subgroups of these patients in the past decade. In this study, open-configuration magnetic resonance (MR) -guided microwave thermocoagulation therapy was used for metastatic liver tumors from breast cancer, and the efficacy of this treatment was assessed.

Methods: Between June 2000 and April 2004, we used MR-guided microwave thermocoagulation therapy on 11 nodules in 8 patients with metastatic liver tumors from breast cancer.

Invasive ductal carcinoma within a fibroadenoma of the breast.

A rare case of invasive ductal carcinoma within a fibroadenoma of the breast in a 42-year-old woman is reported. The patient had a well-defined mass, measuring 6.0 x 5.

Hyperoxic condition prevents bacterial translocation and elevation of plasma microorganism components during hemorrhagic shock.

To evaluate the influence of hyperoxic conditions on bacterial translocation (BT) and microorganism components during hemorrhagic shock, rats were divided into a group breathing 100% oxygen and a group breathing room air. The groups were then subjected to hemorrhagic shock. Systemic blood and mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured for BT, and systemic plasma concentrations of microorganism components were measured by the silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) test and the endotoxin test.

Effect of His-Gly-Lys motif derived from domain 5 of high molecular weight kininogen on suppression of cancer metastasis both in vitro and in vivo.

We have demonstrated previously that kinin-free high molecular weight kininogen, its domain 5 (D5H, Gly402-Lys502), and peptides derived from D5H inhibited vitronectin-mediated migration and invasion of cancer cells in vitro (Kamiyama, F., Maeda, T., Yamane, T.

Dendritic cell vaccine immunotherapy of cancer targeting MUC1 mucin.

The use of dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer vaccination is effective in suppressing cancer progression. This is because the DCs play a crucial role in priming tumor-specific immunity efficiently as antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we analyzed the ability of DCs to elicit tumor-specific immunity and clinical effects of DC vaccine immunotherapy targeting MUC1 tumor antigens.

Changes in circulating levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and nitric oxide metabolites in septic patients during direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber.

Background/aims: This study evaluated the mechanism of hemodynamic improvement in polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX) treatment.

Methods: Fifteen septic patients with endotoxemia and/or gram negative infection were treated with PMX. Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitric oxide metabolites were measured.

Spontaneous hematoma of the lateral abdominal wall caused by a rupture of a deep circumflex iliac artery: report of two cases.

Expanding hematoma of the abdominal wall is a rare example of acute abdominal disease. We report two cases of lateral abdominal wall hematoma caused by the rupture of a deep circumflex iliac artery, which is a rare cause of an abdominal wall hematoma. Both patients experienced severe abdominal pain after sneezing or coughing.

Obstructive jaundice in a metastatic tumor of the pancreas from breast cancer: a case report.

Metastatic pancreas tumors from breast cancer are comparatively uncommon and patients with this tumor usually remain asymptomatic during their life. A 55-year-old woman presented with obstructive jaundice following mastectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma. We diagnosed obstructive jaundice due to a pancreatic tumor demonstrated on computed tomography and performed percutaneous transhepatic cholangio-drainage.

A case of acute hepatic insufficiency treated with novel plasmapheresis plasma diafiltration for bridge use until liver transplantation.

A patient with acute hepatic insufficiency induced by a drug presented to our institution, and we performed a novel plasmapheresis that we call plasma dia-filtration (PDF). The patient was a 36 year old woman. She underwent 11 sessions of PDF for a duration of about 9 h for each procedure using the Evacure EC-2A filter together with 20 units of fresh frozen plasma and dialysate simultaneously.

Enzyme histochemistry is useful to assess viability of tumor tissue after microwave coagulation therapy (MCT): metastatic adenocarcinoma treated by lateral segmentectomy after MCT.

We report on a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma of liver that was removed and examined histochemically after microwave coagulation therapy (MCT). The patient was a 65-year-old woman who had a metastatic tumor in the liver (S3) after high anterior resection due to a rectal adenocarcinoma and received MCT against the tumor. One month after MCT, multiple metastatic tumors were detected by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan.

Bacterial translocation and peptidoglycan translocation by acute ethanol administration.

Background: We examined bacterial translocation (BT) by acute ethanol administration, using a peptidoglycan detecting system.

Methods: Rats were given 20% (v/w) ethanol (10 ml/kg body weight), and heparinized samples of portal blood were collected at specific time points after administration. Plasma peptidoglycan, beta-glucan, and endotoxin concentrations of portal blood were measured.

Extracorporeal treatment for septic patients: new adsorption technologies and their clinical application.

Many kinds of blood purifying technologies have been applied to the treatment of critically ill patients since 1979 when plasma exchange with hollow fiber membranes was developed. These technologies have been applied not only to the removal of toxic substances, but also to the treatment of objective diseases and the removal of the factors relating to the associated inflammation. This article briefly summarizes these methods and their efficacies for critically ill patients, especially those with severe sepsis.

Elevation of plasma peptidoglycan and peripheral blood neutrophil activation during hemorrhagic shock: plasma peptidoglycan reflects bacterial translocation and may affect neutrophil activation.

Objective: To investigate the relations among bacterial transloation, plasma peptidoglycan elevation, and peripheral blood neutrophil activation during hemorrhagic shock.

Design: Prospective, randomized, unblinded animal study.

Setting: Surgical research laboratories of Shiga University of Medical Science.

Off-line leukapheresis using leukofiltration for active ulcerative colitis: a case report.

The method of leukocytapheresis for ulcerative colitis (UC) by using extracorporeal circulation (on-line system) has been reported. To perform leukocytapheresis, we have applied leukocyte elimination filters for blood transfusion to leukocytapheresis without using extracorporeal circulation (off-line leukocytapheresis system). Four hundred milliliters of peripheral blood was collected and reinfused through a leukocyte elimination filter.