Extension of Nonoperative Management on Spleen Injury with Judicious Selection and Embolization; 10 Years of Experience

PURPOSE: We describe clinical outcomes of NOM on spleen injuries with judicious selection and embolization during the past 10 years. METHODS: From March 2000 to November 2009, 151 patients with splenic injury were included. Eighteen patients were excluded because of incomplete data. Patients' medical records were reviewed to examine admission demographics, laboratory results, radiologic findings as well as transfusion requirement, hospital stay, and ultimate outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty patients were chosen for non-operative management (NOM) after splenic embolization and 1/20 (5%) patient failed. There were 32 patients more than 55 years old (range, 55~87 years). Of these patients, 26 (81%) patients were chosen for NOM and 3 (11.5%) patients failed. According to OIS, 51 patients were grade 3; 26 patients, grade 4; and 6 patients, grade 5. Among grade 3, 49 (96%) were chosen for NOM with or without embolization and 1 (2%) patient failed; grade 4, 19 (73%) with NOM, 2 (7.6%) patients failed. Of all 133 patients with NOM or failed NOM (FNOM), there was 0 mortality in grade 3; 2, in grade 4; 2, in grade 5, excluding other causes of death. The mean ISS was significantly higher in the failed NOM group compared with successful NOM group (P=0.01). The group of failed NOM had a significantly higher mean OIS (P=0.00). CONCLUSION: Aggressive but highly selective NOM on the base of clinicoradiologic parameters with the aid of angioembolization would result in a low failure rate and complication in the management of high grades (grade 3 or 4).

FAS (Fatty acid synthase) expression in breast cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.

FAS (Fatty acid synthase) expression in breast cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.

Primary Torsion of Greater Omentum in Children: Report of Two Cases

Two cases of primary torsion of the greater omentum were described. The first patient was a 5-year-old boy who was admitted to the hospital because of severe abdominal pain for 1 day. The The clinical features were similar to perforated acute appendicitis. Laparotomy revealed a normal appendix and the greater omentum twisted around its pedicle. The second patient was a 7-year-old girl admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain in right lower quadrant for 2 days. The clinical features were that of acute appendicitis. Laparotomy revealed a normal appendix and primary torsion of greater omentum around its pedicle. In both cases, resection of twisted omentum and incidental appendectomy were done. The microscopic findings in two cases consisted of congestion and vascular hemorrhage. Both patients recovered uneventfully. Torsion of the greater omentum, therefore, may be added to the entities to consider in the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) Expression by Genistein in Breast Cancer Cell-line / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: The isoflavones in soy are likely to contribute to the historically low incidence of breast cancer among Asian women that consume traditional diets. A possible role of isoflavones in controlling the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) has not previously been explored. In this study, the ability of the isoflavone, genistein, to regulate the expression of Cox-2 in breast cancer cells was evaluated. METHODS: The effects of genistein and NS-398, a Cox-2 inhibitor, were examined on the expression of Cox-2 at the mRNA level using the MDA-MB 231, and MCF-7 breast cancer cell-lines. RESULTS: In the MCF-7 cells, the Cox-2 mRNA could not be detected using RT-PCR. In the MDA-MB-231 cells, NS-398 and genistein were found to inhibit the Cox-2 mRNA expressions by 50 and 35~40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that dietary isoflavonoids may contribute to the prevention or inhibition of breast cancer by inhibiting the Cox-2 expression.