Therapeutic Potential of Human Adipose Stem Cells in a Rat Myocardial Infarction Model

PURPOSE: Stem cell transplantation is expected to have good effects in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). We tested the effect of the transplantation of human adipose-derived cells (ASCs) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with myocardial infarctions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ASCs were isolated from the waste of elective abdominal surgery. The MI model was set up in SD rats by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. One week after MI, either 1 x 10(6) ASCs or an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected into the infarct zone. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. Four weeks after transplantation, immunohistochemistry was performed. RESULTS: Left ventricular function, including fractional shortening (FS), and ejection fraction (EF) showed a significant improvement in the ASCs transplantation group compared to the PBS group 4 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). The anterior wall thickness of the left ventricle was significantly thicker in the ASCs transplantation group compared to the PBS group (p < 0.01). Multiple troponin T staining, and irregular, small amounts of connexin 43 expression also was observed in the ASCs transplantation group. Infarcted myocardium showed higher capillary density in the ASCs transplantation group than in the PBS injected group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study provides encouraging evidence that transplantation of ASCs can improve cardiac function of infarct myocardium in rat models with a limitation of cardiac remodeling, improved wall thickness, and increased neovascularization.

Pulmonary Actinomycosis: CT Studies of Diagnostic and Post-treatment Findings

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of the computed tomography (CT) in the study of diagnostic and post-treatment findings of pulmonary actinomycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and CT findings were retrospectively analyzed in 10 patients with histopathologically confirmed pulmonary actinomycosis. We analyzed the initial CT findings in search of patterns and distributions which suggest possible lung abnormalities and found the pleura, chest wall, and lymphadenopathy to be involved as part of the indicators of lung abnormalities. We analyzed follow-up CT findings for changes in the lungs after antibiotic therapy and recurrence after surgery. RESULTS: Of the 10 patients analyzed by CT for lung lesions, seven had been diagnosed with alcoholism and nine were male. The initial CTs (n=10) indicated that all the pulmonary lesions were solitary without chest wall involvement. However, a transfissural extension was observed in 20% of the study population (n=2). Furthermore, peripheral lung distribution and adjacent pleural thickening was observed in 70% of the study population (n=7). Within the consolidation (n=6) or mass (n=4), a central low density with peripheral enhancement was seen in 70% of the study population (n=7). A follow-up CT of the seven cases following antiobiotic therapy revealed that four cases showed minimal improvement or aggravation of their lung lesions, whereas three cases showed resolution or improvement. The improvement of the central low density was related to the improvement of consolidation or mass. Furthermore the presence of fibrosis was observed after the resolution of pulmonary lesions (n=2). No relationship was found between the duration and response of antibiotic therapy. A follow-up CT (n=4) subsequent to a lung resection revealed the onset of chest wall actinomycosis and a thickened pleura in one case. CONCLUSION: The results of this study highlight the value of the CT in pulmonary actinomycosis in order to diagnose and evaluate antibiotic responses, complications, or post-surgical recurrences of lung lesions.

Two Separated Ileal Adenocarcinomas in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Patients with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) have increased susceptibility to a variety of malignancies. Here, we document a rare case of two separated ileal adenocarcinomas in NF-1. The adenocarcinomas were surrounded by a diffuse tubular adenomatous lesion of the mucosa, and ganglion cells were scattered in the NF background. We found this case meaningful for several reasons: two separated adenocarcinomas arising in an unusual ileal segment, the association with precancerous tubular adenoma, and the presence of ganglion cells, which suggests ganglioneuromatosis in NF-1.

A Case of a Tailgut Cyst

The tailgut is a blind extension of the hindgut into the tail fold just distal to the cloacal membrane. Remnants of this structure may form a tailgut cyst. This is prone to infection and chronic fistula formation and has a long-term risk of malignancy. Non-recognition and incomplete treatment leads to morbidity. A twenty one year-old female patient visited our hospital with repeated perianal pain and discharge. Preoperative abdominopelvic MRI and endorectal ultrasonography revealed a retrorectal cyst suggestive of a tailgut cyst. She underwent a complete excision of the retrorectal mass through a presacral approach. She recovered uneventfully. This report includes the case and a brief review of tailgut cysts.

Imaging Findings of Midgut Volvulus Associated with a Large Small-Bowel Diverticulum in an Adult Patient: Case Report

Although most patients with jejunoileal diverticulum are asymptomatic, a large, small-bowel diverticulum can be associated with midgut volvulus in an adult. We present a rare case of midgut volvulus that was associated with a large, small-bowel diverticulum in a 77-year-old woman presenting with chronic recurrent abdominal pain. The CT showed the characteristic whirl sign of twisted mesentery, the small bowel loops along the superior mesenteric artery and a large sac-like small-bowel diverticulum. A small bowel series also demonstrated a corkscrew appearance of proximal jejunum, a finding suggestive of midgut volvulus, and a large jejunal diverticulum. During the laparotomy, the small bowel was seen twisted counterclockwise 270 degree. The mesenteric root was very shortened. A 4 cm sized diverticulum was seen on the mesenteric border of jejunum, on the portion about 40 cm distal from the Treitz ligament.