ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: Colonoscopy has been known as the best diagnostic and therapeutic modality for colorectal polyps. However, it has been difficult to assess its accuracy. METHODS: We studied the data from patients who had colonoscopic polypectomy within 30 days after the initial examination. RESULTS: From 218 patients, a total of 362 polyps were found, 51 (14.1%) of which were missed. There were 17 patients with missed polyps among 59 patients who had two or more polyps on the initial examination. According to the location, the missing rates were variable: the splenic and hepatic flexure had the highest missing rates, and the sigmoid colon had the lowest missing rate. In our study, there was no difference of missing rate according to the size and shape. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant colonoscopic missing rate for colorectal polyps in routine clinical practice, especially in patients with multiple colonic polyps and at the site of the colonic flexure.
Subject(s)
Humans , Colon , Colon, Sigmoid , Colonic Polyps , Colonoscopy , PolypsABSTRACT
Calciphylaxis has been described as a rare condition in patients with end-stage renal disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Selye et al. first coined the term calciphylaxis to describe soft-tissue calcification and cutaneous necrosis. The common manifestation include painful digital necrosis and medial calcification of small and medium sized vessels. Calciphylaxis is a clinical diagnosis and is characterized by painful, violaceous, mottled skin lesions. Radiographic studies reveal calcification of median and small vessels under the knee but vascular calcification is not specific for calciphylaxis. Histolopathologic findings show a markedly reduced lumen, secondary to the fibrin deposition and inflammation in and around the outer media with an outer ring of calcification which leads to progressive ischemic tissue necrosis. Kidney transplantation and parathyroidectomy is recommened but it is controversial. We present the case of a 64-years-old man with chronic renal failure as well as painful ischemic necrosis on the lower extremity. The pertinets literature is reviewed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Calciphylaxis , Diagnosis , Fibrin , Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary , Inflammation , Kidney Failure, Chronic , Kidney Transplantation , Knee , Lower Extremity , Necrosis , Numismatics , Parathyroidectomy , Skin , Vascular CalcificationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Gastric cancer cells may show resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents. The ability of cancer cells to become drug resistant is thought to be a cause of chemotherapy failure. Recent studies showed that multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) might confer resistance to a wide spectrum of natural product drugs. However, the clinical relevance of MRP-mediated multidrug resistance in human gastric cancer remains unknown. To determine the significance of MRP expression in gastric cancer, we investigated the relationship between MRP expression and chemosensitivity in gastric cancer cell lines. METHODS: In 8 gastric cancer cell lines (SNU-1, 5, 16, 484, 601, 620, 638 and 668), the expression of MRP and MRP mRNA was detected by using Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, respectively. Sensitivity to the anticancer agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, camptothecin, epirubicin, and vincristine) was examined using a dimethylthiazole- diphenyltetrazolium-bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: All 8 cell lines expressed MRP and MRP mRNA in various degrees. There was no significant correlation between the expression of MRP and MRP mRNA. Sensitivity to anticancer agents had no significant correlation with the level of MRP expression. CONCLUSION: There was no general correlation between the expression of MRP and chemosensitivity in the various gastric cancer cell lines used in this study. In addition to MRP, another mechanism might be involved in the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cell lines.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antineoplastic Agents , Blotting, Western , Camptothecin , Cell Line , Doxorubicin , Drug Resistance, Multiple , Drug Therapy , Epirubicin , Fluorouracil , Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins , RNA, Messenger , Stomach NeoplasmsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: It is known that deficiency of metallothionein (MT) and manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), scavengers of reactive oxygen species, results in aging and carcinogenesis by inducing DNA damage. Paraquat can produce reactive oxygen species and induce antioxidants in human. In this study, an attempt was made to verify the relation between gastric carcinogensis and the induction rates of these antioxidants. METHODS: Peripheral blood of 24 randomly selected patients with gastric cancer, who were treated at Chosun University Hospital between Febuuary 1999 and December 1999, was examined. 3 male and 3 female patients in each decade from 40 to 70 years were selected. Twenty-four (24) volunteers with no laboratory, chemical, radiologic and endoscopic abnormalities during the same period were used for the normal control group. White blood cells were isolated from peripheral blood and incubated in culture media, including paraquat, for 18 hours at 37oC. MT and Mn-SOD mRNA expressions were examined using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: The induction rates of MT and Mn-SOD mRNA in the cancer group due to paraquat were lower than those in the control group. Also, the rates decreased in both groups with age. CONCLUSION: The inducibilities of MT and Mn-SOD mRNA by paraquat may play a role in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer and in the aging process. Based on this result, patients with a high risk of gastric cancer should be screened actively for early detection.