Transabdominal impalement injury by an iron pipe - A case report.

Impalement injuries are rare and complex problems, often involving multiple organ injuries. An 18-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department after a car accident. Positioned in the right-side recumbent position, he had a 4.

[Transmanubrial Osteomuscular-sparing Approach for Resection of Superior Mediastinal Schwannoma].

Various approaches can be applied to resect superior mediastinal tumor. It is important to choose the procedure according to the location, size, and characteristics of the tumor in order to perform safe procedure surgery because of distinctive anatomy of this site. We hereby report on a case of Schwannoma of the superior mediastinum resected by the transmanubrial approach.

Impact of elemental diet on early recovery after laparoscopic colectomy: findings of a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: An amino acid-containing elemental diet (ED) does not require digestion for nutritional absorption, making it a good option for patients with gastrointestinal malabsorption. We conducted a randomized trial to confirm that perioperative ED enhanced the recovery of patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy.

Methods: Patients in the intervention arm received commercially available ED from the day prior to surgery until postoperative day (POD) 3, whereas patients in the control group received a conventional perioperative diet program.

Inhibition of Eph receptor A4 by 2,5-dimethylpyrrolyl benzoic acid suppresses human pancreatic cancer growing orthotopically in nude mice.

Ephrin receptor A4 (EphA4) is overexpressed in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and activate cell growth. Recent studies have identified small molecules that block EphA4. In this study, we investigated the correlation between EphA4 expression and the prognosis of patients with PDAC.

Paraneoplastic extralimbic encephalitis associated with thymoma: a case report.

Here we a report a rare case of extralimbic encephalitis associated with thymoma. A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with cramping in her right leg and inability to walk. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multifocal high intensity signals on T2 flare images in the cerebral cortex, and chest computed tomography showed a 5-cm anterior mediastinal mass, which was considered to be a thymoma.

Surgical resection of solid gallbladder adenocarcinoma presenting as a large mass: report of a case.

This report describes a case of a patient with a large solid gallbladder adenocarcinoma that was completely resected through aggressive surgery. The patient was a 57-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer, had no indications for surgical resection and was scheduled to undergo systemic chemotherapy. She presented to our hospital for a second opinion.

Impact of the tumor microenvironment in predicting postoperative hepatic recurrence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The disease frequency of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) has been growing, and postoperative hepatic recurrence (PHR) is one of the factors affecting patient prognosis. The present study aimed to investigate biomarkers of PNETs in the primary disease site to predict PHR using immunohistochemical analysis for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs: CD3, CD8 and CD45RO), human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I, α-thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX), death domain-associated protein (DAXX), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phospho-mTOR (p-mTOR). Correlations were analyzed between TILs and the biomarkers, clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 as a target for passive cancer immunotherapy.

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is an inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling that is overexpressed in most lung and esophageal cancers. Here, we show its utility as a serum biomarker for a wide range of human cancers, and we offer evidence favoring the potential application of anti-DKK1 antibodies for cancer treatment. Using an original ELISA system, high levels of DKK1 protein were found in serologic samples from 906 patients with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, liver, bile duct, breast, and cervix, which also showed elevated expression levels of DKK1.

Activation of an oncogenic TBC1D7 (TBC1 domain family, member 7) protein in pulmonary carcinogenesis.

To develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic agents for lung cancers, we screened molecules that were highly expressed in lung cancers by means of cDNA microarray analysis and found an elevated expression of TBC1 domain family, member 7 (TBC1D7) in the majority of lung cancers. Northern-blot analysis using mRNAs from 16 normal tissues detected its expression only in testis. Immunohistochemical staining using tumor tissue microarrays consisting of 261 archived non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens suggested an association of TBC1D7 expression with poor prognosis for NSCLC patients (P = 0.

Activation of WD repeat and high-mobility group box DNA binding protein 1 in pulmonary and esophageal carcinogenesis.

Purpose: We attempted to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung and esophageal cancers.

Experimental Design: We screened for genes that were overexpressed in a large proportion of lung and esophageal carcinomas using a cDNA microarray representing 27,648 genes or expressed sequence tags. A gene encoding WDHD1, a WD repeat and high-mobility group box DNA binding protein 1, was selected as a candidate.

[Clinical examination of challenge test to local anesthetics].

Background: Although adverse reactions to local anesthetics are often diagnosed as local anesthetic allergy, there is evidence that most of these reactions occur via non-allergic mechanisms.

Methods: To evaluate allergic reactions to local anesthetics, challenge tests were performed in 20 patients who had a history of adverse events to local anesthetics for whom dental treatment was planned. The diagnostic protocol of this challenge test consisted of skin prick and intracutaneous tests, as well as subsequent incremental subcutaneous challenge tests with local anesthetics such as lidocaine.

Activation of placenta-specific transcription factor distal-less homeobox 5 predicts clinical outcome in primary lung cancer patients.

Purpose And Experimental Design: To identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung cancers, we screened for genes that were highly transactivated in lung cancers using a cDNA microarray representing 27,648 genes. DLX5 gene, a member of the human distal-less homeobox transcriptional factor family that is expressed during early embryonic development, was found to be overexpressed in the great majority of lung cancers. Tissue microarray consisting of archival non-small cell lung cancer samples from 369 patients was applied to examine the clinicopathologic significance of DLX5 protein.

Activation of Holliday junction recognizing protein involved in the chromosomal stability and immortality of cancer cells.

We identified a novel gene HJURP (Holliday junction-recognizing protein) whose activation seemed to play a pivotal role in the immortality of cancer cells. HJURP was considered a possible downstream target for ataxia telangiectasia mutated signaling, and its expression was increased by DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). HJURP was involved in the homologous recombination pathway in the DSB repair process through interaction with hMSH5 and NBS1, which is a part of the MRN protein complex.

[Prognostic significance of neutrophil elastase inhibitor in patients with acute lung injury and interstitial pneumonia].

The prognostic significance of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat sodium hydrate (SSH), was evaluated in patients on mechanical ventilation due to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). We studied 20 consecutive patients in our hospital, where patients complicated with interstitial pneumonia (IP) were separately analyzed (ARDS group, n = 10; IP group, n = 10). There was no significance difference between the two groups in the average lung injury score (3.

[A case of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease, mimicking hot tub lung].

A 56-year-old man in whom reticulonodular shadows had been noted on a previous chest radiography study was admitted to our hospital with complaint of exertional dyspnea in March 2004. His thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse ground-glass opacities and multiple centrilobular small nodules in both lung fields. Lymphocytes occupied a high proportion in the cells recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

[A pregnant woman with severe asthma effectively treated by inhalational lidocaine therapy].

We report a case of a pregnant woman with severe asthma that was not controlled with ordinary medications but was effectively treated by inhalational lidocaine treatment. The case was a 27-year-old woman who had been repeatedly hospitalized due to acute asthma since her infancy. The patient had an episode of asthma attack caused by the use of aspirin.

Hyaline vascular-type Castleman's disease in the hepatoduodenal ligament: report of a case.

Castleman's disease is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder, which occurs most commonly in the mediastinum. Sporadic reports of its occurrence in the hepatoduodenal ligament and other extrathoracic locations have also been documented. Ultimately, Castleman's disease can develop anywhere lymphoid tissue is found, and the preoperative diagnosis is often difficult.

Serum IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and severity of emphysema.

Objective: Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been identified serologically in patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to examine whether the severity of emphysema is related to elevated antibody titres against C. pneumoniae.

High resolution CT and bronchial reversibility test for diagnosing COPD.

Background: COPD is defined by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible and is associated with relevant risk factors. The diagnosis requires that other causes of chronic airflow limitation (CAL) be excluded. We assessed the diagnostic utility of high resolution thoracic CT (HRCT) and bronchodilator reversibility to assist in making a diagnosis of COPD.

[A case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia with bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy].

A 53-year-old man in whom reticulonodular shadows had been noted since 1999 in chest radiographs was admitted to our hospital in January 2003 with a complaint of persistent cough. His thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lung fields and bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Histopathological findings from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical biopsy included diffuse, monotonous interstitial pneumonia with accumulation of macrophages in the alveolar spaces and many lymphoid follicles, which was compatible with desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP).

[Usefulness of Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen detection kit and the duration and intensity of reactivity with urinary antigen in patients with pneumonia].

We evaluated a rapid urinary antigen detection kit, Binax Now Streptococcus pneumoniae (Binax Inc., USA), which detects S. pneumoniae antigen in urine by immunochromatographic membrane assay, in 379 patients with presumptive pneumonia (total: 454 urine samples).

[Ct findings of drug-induced pneumonitis--characteristic CT findings by histological group and subgroup].

We examined the chest CT results of 27 cases of drug-induced pneumonitis. We classified the subjects into 3 groups in accordance with the clinicopathological findings: eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) group (5 cases), diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) group (3 cases), and interstitial pneumonia (IP) group (19 cases). We evaluated the CT findings in each group, and made a further subclassification.

[Polymicrobial infections in patients with Legionella pneumonia].

We assessed the frequency and clinical significance of polymicrobial infections in 31 patients with sporadic community-acquired Legionella pneumonia. Twenty-six patients were men, 5 were women and mean age was 61 years. Eighteen patients were smokers, 6 patients were chronic alcoholics and 23 had underlying diseases.

Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activity improves ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat lungs.

Although c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of transplantation-induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in various organs, its significance in lung transplantation has not been conclusively elucidated. We therefore attempted to measure the transitional changes in JNK and AP-1 activities in I/R-injured lungs. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of JNK inhibition by the three agents including SP600125 on the degree of lung injury assessed by means of various biological markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histological examination including detection of apoptosis.