Extraregional lymph node recurrence of stage IA1 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix after initial surgery: two case studies.

Lymph node recurrence is extremely rare in cases of stage IA1 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix without lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). We present two cases of extraregional lymph node recurrence after initial surgery for stage IA1 SCC of the uterine cervix without LVSI. Both patients initially underwent hysterectomy and developed recurrent extraregional lymph nodes within a few years postoperatively.

Relevance of Solidification Kinetics for Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance in Al-Doped Higher Manganese Silicides.

The solidification kinetics of an alloy from its liquid state forms an underlying basis for microstructural engineering, wherein the state of thermodynamic equilibrium associated with the melt-grown crystal and the quenched amorphous solid denotes the two limits for crystallinity in the alloy synthesis. In this study, we report the implication of the crystalline state on the thermal and electrical transport properties of partially substituted Mn(SiAl) by comparing the single crystals melt-grown by the Bridgman method, and polycrystals synthesized from melt spinning (MS) and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS). The rapidly solidified alloys exhibited nanocrystalline microstructures in MS ribbons, while melt-grown single crystals displayed characteristics evolution of MnSi striations with limited solubility of Al.

Case of heterotopic cervical pregnancy and total placenta accreta after artificial cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Case: A 39-year-old woman presented with a genital hemorrhage at 5 weeks of gestation after an artificial cycle double frozen-thawed embryo transfer. She was diagnosed with a cervical heterotopic pregnancy. Although hormone supplementation was discontinued to terminate the pregnancy at 5 weeks of gestation, the intrauterine and cervical gestational sacs continued to develop.

Three cases of reconstruction with a simply designed bilobed flap after excision of squamous cell carcinomas of the lateral eyebrow areas.

Squamous cell carcinoma is frequently observed on the lateral eyebrow, one of the most difficult sites for one-stage reconstruction because of its location close to the eyelids. The reconstruction of defects by the single-stage flap is advantageous for elderly patients because of its good functional and aesthetic outcome. We surgically treated three cases of squamous cell carcinoma on this area and performed reconstruction with a simply designed bilobed flap, all of which resulted in favorable outcomes.

A Study on the Alterations in Skin Viscoelasticity before and after an Intradermal Administration of Growth Factor.

Background: While photo-aging is believed to be preventable by the complete blockage of ultraviolet rays, there is no epoch-making method except sing fillers or autologous fat injection, for rejuvenating the skin once it has aged.

Objective: Our group developed a new method for rejuvenating aged skin by the direct intradermal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor, the first method of its kind in the world. In this paper we report the results of long-term follow-up observations and alterations in skin viscoelasticity before and after this treatment.

Melanoma-targeted chemo-thermo-immuno (CTI)-therapy using N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol-magnetite nanoparticles elicits CTL response via heat shock protein-peptide complex release.

Melanogenesis substrate, N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP) is specifically taken up by melanoma cells and inhibits their growth by producing cytotxic free radicals. By taking advantage of this unique chemical agent, we have established melanoma-targeting intracellular hyperthermia by conjugating NPrCAP with magnetite nanoparticles (NPrCAP/M) upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). This treatment causes cytotoxic reaction as well as heat shock responses, leading to elicitation of antitumor immune response, which was proved by tumor rechallenge test and CTL induction.

The mechanisms underlying fibroblast apoptosis regulated by growth factors during wound healing.

While investigating the mechanisms underlying cell death during wound healing processes, we uncovered the pro-apoptotic effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on granulation tissue fibroblasts following pretreatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in vitro. bFGF induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in TGF-beta1-pretreated granulation tissue-derived fibroblasts (GF-1) following bFGF treatment for 48 and 96 h. In contrast, fibroblasts that had been treated in the same manner and that originated from the uninjured dermis did not display apoptosis, indicating that the mechanisms underlying apoptosis events in fibroblasts that originate from normal dermal and wound tissues differ.

Growth inhibition of re-challenge B16 melanoma transplant by conjugates of melanogenesis substrate and magnetite nanoparticles as the basis for developing melanoma-targeted chemo-thermo-immunotherapy.

Melanogenesis substrate, N-propionyl-cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP), is selectively incorporated into melanoma cells and inhibits their growth by producing cytotoxic free radicals. Magnetite nanoparticles also disintegrate cancer cells and generate heat shock protein (HSP) upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). This study tested if a chemo-thermo-immunotherapy (CTI therapy) strategy can be developed for better management of melanoma by conjugating NPrCAP on the surface of magnetite nanoparticles (NPrCAP/M).

De novo follicular regeneration of the skin by wingless int 3 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 genes introduced into dermal fibroblasts and fibroblast growth factor-2 protein.

In this study, we regenerated skin and its appendages by transplanting cultured normal dermal fibroblasts, into which morphogen genes had been introduced. We cultured normal dermal fibroblasts obtained from Fisher 344 rats on the surface of hydroxyapatite beads, and then adsorbed them onto the surface of a collagen sponge, which was transplanted into a full-thickness skin defect prepared on the backs of rats. Before transplantation, genes were introduced into the dermal fibroblasts via adenovirus vector (ad)-bone morphogenetic protein 2 and ad-wingless int 3 genes in addition to fibroblast growth factor-2 protein.

N-propionyl-cysteaminylphenol-magnetite conjugate (NPrCAP/M) is a nanoparticle for the targeted growth suppression of melanoma cells.

A magnetite nanoparticle, NPrCAP/M, was produced for intracellular hyperthermia treatment of melanoma by conjugating N-propionyl-cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP) with magnetite and used for the study of selective targeting and degradation of melanoma cells. NPrCAP/M, like NPrCAP, was integrated as a substrate in the oxidative reaction by mushroom tyrosinase. Melanoma, but not non-melanoma, cells incorporated larger amounts of iron than magnetite from NPrCAP/M.

Basic fibroblast growth factor reduces scar formation in acute incisional wounds.

In order to identify a means to reduce scar formation of the skin after incision, this study examined the effect of local administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in humans. bFGF was administered to a sutured wound immediately after an operation. The drug was injected once into the dermis of the margins of wounds using a 27G needle or rinsing after performing dermostitches.

Basic fibroblast growth factor in an artificial dermis promotes apoptosis and inhibits expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, leading to reduction of wound contraction.

To clarify the mechanisms underlying declines in wound contraction caused by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the role of autologous fibroblasts in modulating wound healing, we have examined the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and apoptosis in a model of wound healing using collagen sponges with and without bFGF (1 microg) and/or fibroblasts (1 x 10(6) cells/cm(2)) applied to experimentally produced full-thickness skin wounds in rats (n=10 for each group). At 7 days postoperatively, wounds filled with a fibroblast-seeded collagen sponge (fibroblast-seeded group) displayed a greater area of collagen sponge and a smaller area of fibroblasts compared with control wounds filled with collagen sponge alone (control group). Therefore, seeding of fibroblasts in the dermal substitute might retard degradation of the collagen sponge, inhibiting fibroblast infiltration into the substitute.

Papulonecrotic tuberculid-like eruptions after Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination.

One of the specific skin lesions occurring after Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination is generalized tuberculid-like eruptions, which occur rarely, but have a tendency to heal spontaneously. Their pathogenesis and relationship to "true" tuberculids are poorly understood. This report presents a case of a 6-month-old girl who developed generalized papulonecrotic tuberculid-like eruptions after BCG vaccination.

The real-time, three-dimensional analyses of benign and malignant skin tumors by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Background: In obtain images of skin tumors non-invasively with real-time, confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) is introduced.

Objective: Reconstructed images of given horizontal sections were converted into three-dimensions using the data set of a large number of tomograms in the horizontal directions.

Methods: To develop the multiplaner reconstruction images of skin tumors in vertical directions and three-dimensionally reconstructed images of tumors will be obtained from the continuously collected horizontal image data sets.

Reconstruction method with a newly-designed bilobed flap after excision of tumours of the skin.

We have devised a bilobed skin flap for reconstruction after excision of small skin tumours. The sutured part serves as a zig-zag that leads to only slight postoperative contracture of the scar. The rotation centre of the flap is nearer to the affected area than other conventional bilobed flaps, resulting in less dog-ear deformity and distortion of tissue.

Activated caspase expression and apoptosis increase in keloids: cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation during the apoptosis of keloid fibroblast lines.

To characterize apoptosis in keloids and the mechanisms responsible for this process, the expression of activated caspase-9 and -3 in fibroblasts obtained from keloids was analyzed. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of fibroblasts positive for terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) or activated caspase-9 or -3 was low but was significantly higher in keloid tissues than in normal scar tissues. Significant relationships between the number of caspase-positive fibroblasts and TUNEL-positive fibroblasts suggested that the activation of caspase-9 and -3 induces apoptosis in a subpopulation of keloid fibroblasts.

A case of systemic osteomyelitides due to Mycobacterium avium.

A case of multiple osteomyelitides due to Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) infection with osteosclerotic bone lesions is reported. A 67-year-old male had been suffering from persistent fever and back pain since October 1999, and 20.

Local administration of hepatocyte growth factor gene enhances the regeneration of dermis in acute incisional wounds.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has a number of biological activities, e.g., mitogenic, motogenic, antiapoptotic, antifibrous, and morphogenic.

Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes apoptosis and suppresses granulation tissue formation in acute incisional wounds.

Cytokines are thought to play an important role in cellular loss and apoptosis during the repair of granulation tissue. In order to investigate the role of apoptosis following the administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to a wound, the present study examined the relationship between the degree of granulation tissue formation and the level of apoptosis in rat skin incisional wounds, following treatment with an intradermal injection of bFGF (0.1 microg and 1 microg per cm of wound).

Combination of porous hydroxyapatite and cationic liposomes as a vector for BMP-2 gene therapy.

The clinical significance of hydroxyapatite (HAP) as a bone substitute has become apparent in recent years and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) a substance which induces bone has attracted much attention. In this study, a 1.2 cm diameter bone defects created on rabbit cranium were treated with the BMP-2 gene (cDNA plasmid) introduced with porous HAP after completion of hemostasis and the resultant bone formation was analyzed histopathologically.

Combined administration of basic fibroblast growth factor protein and the hepatocyte growth factor gene enhances the regeneration of dermis in acute incisional wounds.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a ligand for the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. This study was aimed to characterize the role of the HGF gene combined with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) protein in wound healing by administering both of them locally to acute incisional skin wounds created on the backs of rats. The bFGF protein and the HGF gene were administered intradermally after incisional surgery.

A comparison of the shapes of hydroxyapatite implants before and after implantation.

Based on helical volume scan computed tomography (HVCT) data, it has been demonstrated previously that real-size models can be prepared with the binder-jet method with extremely high precision of various parts ranging from the outer structure of the cranio-maxillofacial bone to such fine parts as the cranial base and the orbital walls. The application of this method to clinical cases with large cranial bone defects has also been studied. The results showed the usefulness of the binder-jet method, employing starch for fixing, with which a model can be prepared faster and with less deformity caused by the weight of the material itself.