CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes ameliorate acute skin inflammation in an ear edema model

The short release half-life of carbon monoxide (CO) is a major obstacle to the effective therapeutic use of carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2). The potential of CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes (CORM-2-UDLs) to enhance the release half-life of CO and alleviate skin inflammation was investigated in the present study. CORM-2-UDLs were prepared by using soy phosphatidylcholine to form lipid bilayers and Tween 80 as an edge activator. The deformability of CORM-2-UDLs was measured and compared with that of conventional liposomes by passing formulations through a filter device at a constant pressure. The release profile of CO from CORM-2-UDLs was evaluated by myoglobin assay.

Usefulness of hydrocolonic sonograpy in the staging of colorectal cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of hydrocolonic sonography (HUS) in local staging of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Thirty patients with colorectal cancer underwent HUS for clinical TNM staging before operation and then the preoperative staging was correlated with postoperative histological stage. RESULTS: All cases were correctly localized by HUS. The accuracy of depth of invasion (T staging) was 70% in overall cases. When divided into colon and rectal cancer, T staging was more accurate in colon cancer (88%), however, less accurate in rectal cancer (46.1%). The accuracy was higher especially in aspect of pericolic fat infiltration (93%). In N staging, the accuracy was 60% in overall cases, 71% in colon cancer and 46% in rectal cancer, respectively. The accuracy of N staging by HUS were somewhat poor on the whole due to technical properties. CONCLUSION: HUS is very valuable with respect to T staging, especially in colon cancer rather than in rectal cancer. N staging was somewhat doubtful in both. Because HUS is easy, noninvasive, and readily available at any place, it would be useful method for local staging colon cancer, especially T staging.

Analysis of the precore and core promoter DNA sequence in liver tissues from tients with hepatocellular carcinoma

To investigate the role of mutant hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 20 patients with HCC were studied for precore and core promoter mutations in tumorous and nontumorous tissues. The precore and core promoter region was amplified and analyzed by direct sequencing. Among the 20 tumorous and nontumorous tissues, precore mutant HBV was found in 12 (60%) and 18 (90%), respectively. Of the 12 tumorous tissues with precore mutant, nine tissues had a single mutation (1896) and one tissue had another single mutation (1899). The remaining two tissues had a double mutation (1896 and 1899). A single mutation (1896) and a single mutation (1899) were found in 11 and two of the 18 nontumorous tissues with precore mutant, respectively. Among 20 tumorous and nontumorous tissues, HBV with a C to T mutation at nucleotide (nt) 1846 was detected in six and eight, respectively, and was associated with the virus carrying a mutation (1896 or 1899) except in two tumorous tissues. Mutations at nt 1762 and 1764 in core promoter were observed in 16 (80%) tumorous tissues and 18 (90%) nontumorous tissues. Mutations in the precore and core promoter region were found frequently in nontumorous tissue and in tumorous tissue (18/20 and 12/20 in precore region, 18/20 and 16/20 in core promoter respectively). The high prevalence of precore and core promoter mutations in liver tissue from patients with HCC suggests that these mutations may contribute to the development of HCC.

Application of Grasp Forceps on Selective Cannulation of Pancreatobiliary Duct in a Patient with Peripapillary Diverticulum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cannulation is more difficult in patients with anatomical variations, ampullary stenosis, impacted stone in the papilla, papillary cancer, peripapillary diverticulum, postoperative states such as those after Billroth II or Braun operations. In patients with peripapillary diverticulum, the position of the papilla can be modified by the presence of the diverticulum, rendering the cannu-lation more difficult. In this situation, the success rate of ERCP is lower than that in nor-mal situation. We have, therefore, used a new technique with the application of grasp forceps to expose the duodenal papilla properly during ERCP in a patient whose papilla was located on the edge of a large duodenal diverticulum and the papillary orifice was hidden behind the edge of the diverticulum.

Relationship of Serum Anti-p53 Antibody with p53 Expression in Liver Tissue of Chronic Diseases / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The p53 mutations have been described as the most common genetic alteration during development and progression of malignancy in a wide range of human cancers. Mutant p53 proteins have a prolonged half-life accounting for increased levels of p53 protein frequently detected in tumors. This can induce the production of anti-p53 in the senzn of patients with HCC. We determined the relationship of serum anti-p53 with p53 expression in the liver tissue of chronic liver disease and the correlation of serum anti-p53 with serum alpha- fetoprotein(AFP) in patients with HCC. METHODS: In sera of same patients, we analysed the anti- p53 using ELISA system As controls we tested 50 healthy individuals and 20 patients with chronic hepatitis. Immaiohistochemical study for the presence of mutant p53 was performed on liver tissue from 50 patients with cirrhosis and 30 patients with HCC using monoclonal antibody clone DO-7 and LSAB kit by ABC method. RESULTS: Anti-p53 was positive in 9(30%) of 30 patients with HCC. Among nine patients with positive anti-p53, only two patients had detectable p53 expression in their tumor tissues. Anti-p53 was positive in 5(10%) of 50 patients with liver cirrhosis. The AFP was elevated in 21(70%) of 30 patients with HCC. Among the 9 AFP- negative HCC patients, 4(44.4%) were found to be positive for anti-p53. P53 expression was detectable in 9(30%) of 30 HCCs and 1(3.3%) of RO surrounding non-tumorous cirrhotic tissues. CONCLUSION: Mese findings suggest that anti-p53 was not correlated with the status of p53 expression in liver tissue and serological testing for anti-p53 antibody may be complementary to serum AFP for diagnosing of HCC with normal serum AFP.

Endoscopic Application of Modified Gianturco Z Biliary Stent / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstructions represent the principal indications of endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic implantation of endoprostheses. Many kinds of biliary stents have been used to maintain patency of the bile ducts obstructed by benign or malignant strictures. However, the biliary stent in current use, has a tendency to become blocked. In order to maintain a long-term stent patency before clogging, biliary stents with large diameters are needed and some kinds of expandable metal stents are proposed. The Hanaro stent (Sooho medi-tech Co. LTD, Seoul, Korea) is a modified Gianturco Z biliary stent, made of 0,01-inch stainless steel wire with a zigzag pattern. It has a spiral, cylindrical configuration and is 10 mm in expanded diameter. It hes been used only with the percutaneous transhepatic technique. In this article, we describe a new method for endoscopic retrograde placement of a modified Gianturco Z biliary stent. This report describes our experience on endoscopic application of a modified Gianturco Z biliary stent in a patient with malignant obstruction of the distal common bile duct.

The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Staging of Esophageal Cancer : Preliminary Report / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The prognosis of esophageal cancer is poor and strategies for treatment depend on the tumor stage at the time of diagnosis. Surgery is the main therapeutic modality in esophageal cancer and known as the only treatment for cure. Preoperatively it is most important to assess whether the primary tumor is completely resectable or not. Previous staging modality such as CT can not clearly define the depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer which is the most important factor in assessing the possibility of curative resection. Endoscopic ultrasonography is now considered as an useful method in evaluating staging and resectability of esophageal cancer. We compared the findings of endoscopic ultrasonography with pathology result to evaluate the accuracy of this new technique in staging of esophageal cancer in 4 esophageal cancer patients who received surgery among the 23 patients assessed by endoscopic ultrasonography due to esophageal cancer, The depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and staging was correct in 3 among 4 patients. We consider endoscopic ultrasonography is an useful technique in staging of esophageal cancer.

Obstructive Jaundice Caused by the Fragment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Common Hepatic Duct Confirmed by Peroral Choledochoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The causes of jaundice in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are usually attributed to the underlying liver diseases or extensive hepatic destruction by tumor. Obstructive jaundice by the intraluminal tumor fragment of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile duct in hepatocellular carcinoma is exceedingly rare and usually diagnosed by operation or autopsy. Recently, we observed a patient in whom the fragment of tumor from the primary hepatocellular carclnoma obstructed the common hepatic duct, which was confirmed by peroral choledochoscopy. Using peroral choledochoscopy. we could see the mass located at the common hepatic duct and diagnose histologically by cytologic examination of aspirated material of common bile duct. We describe here this rare case with review the literature on primary hepatocellular carcinoma with jaundice caused by biliary obstruction.

Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Since percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV) using balloon was introduced by Inoue in 1984, this procedure has been accepted as a new non-surgical therapeutic modality for the treatment of selected patients with mitral stenosis. Pregnant women with mitral stenosis has suffered from life threatening complication due to altered hemodynamic changes and heart failure. Surgical valvotomy has been performed after failure of medical therapy with high risk of fetal mortality and teratogenicity. PMV can be an adequate alternative to surgical valvotomy in pregnant women. METHODS: After precise echocardiographic examination of mitral valve and its surrounding structures including thrombi in left artrium was performed, antegrade transseptal procedure was done in all 3 cases with abdominal shield using Inoue balloon technique. RESULTS: Mitral valve area increased over 1.5cm2 and hemodynamic variables improved immediately after PMV. Symptoms subsided soon after PMV in all 3 cases. Healthy normal babies were delivered transvaginally without difficulties in all 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is a safe and effective therapeuteic alternative to surgical valvotomy in a pregnant women with mitral stenosis who failed medical therapy, in a high risk or symptomatic pregnant women.