Effect of benzo[a]pyrene on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor by human eosinophilic leukemia EoL-1 cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been shown to affect both the development and response of T and B cells in the immune system. However, the effect of BaP on other immune cells, such as eosionophils, is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of BaP on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using an in vitro eosinophilic EoL-1 cell and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) co-culture system. EoL-1-conditioned medium was found to promote the growth of HUVEC in a time-dependent manner. The growth stimulating activity was due to the production of VEGF by the EoL-1 cells. The production of VEGF was correlated with the enhanced expression of the phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-ERKs) and the upregulated expression of VEGF mRNA. Furthermore, BaP-induced expression of VEGF mRNA was reduced by the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Results from this study suggested that BaP might affect the growth of endothelial cells through the modulation of VEGF production by eosinophils.

Photodynamic effect of curcumin on NPC/CNE2 cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is highly prevalent in Southern China. Radiotherapy is the primary treatment of NPC, but the rate of tumor recurrence is significant. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the use of natural compounds become one of the new approaches in the investigation of NPC treatment. PDT is an alternate method of cancer treatment while curcumin (CUR) is a compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herbs. The purpose of the study focuses on the photodynamic effect of CUR on one of the NPC cell lines, NPC/CNE2. Cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity of CUR were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimthyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. Uptake kinetics of CUR in NPC/CNE2 was examined by flow cytometry. The mode of cell death induced by CUR was studied by fluorescence microscopy. Summarizing the results, CUR showed dark cytotoxicity as well as photocytotoxic effects on NPC/CNE2 cells. LC50 of CUR in the dark was about 16 microM. The cytotoxicity of CUR was enhanced by the irradiation of visible light and blue filtered light (maximum transmittance at 300 approximately 400 nm) with light doses of 300 kJ/m2 and 60 kJ/m2 respectively. NPC/CNE2 was found to rapidly take up CUR in the first hour of incubation, and the uptake kinetics steadily increased to a plateau level after 20 hr of incubation. Cell shrinkage and membrane bledding appeared under the observation of fluorescence microscopy. Such evidences proved that CUR might induce apoptosis on NPC/CNE2 cells. The preliminary study confirmed that CUR demonstrated dark cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicty to NPC/CNE2. The mode of action is likely to be induced by apoptotic pathway. CUR may be developed as a potential photosensitizer as well as a chemotherapeutic agent in clinical application.

Comparison of merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic action on leukemia cells between pulsed and continuous wave light sources.

Whether a pulsed laser is superior to a continuous wave (CW) light source in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is still unclear and contradictory in the literature. Although photosaturation of a sensitizer and oxygen depletion in tumor have been considered to be involved during pulsed laser irradiation, there is a lack of experimental data. In the present work several parameters such as the amount of merocyanine 540 (MC540) in cells, the oxygen concentration in cells, and the amount of photos reaching cells during pulsed laser irradiation, were studied to compare the MC540-mediated PDT effects of a pulsed laser and a CW light source on murine myeloid WEH-3B (JCS) cells in vitro. The results showed that the pulsed laser was less effective at cell inactivation than the CW light under the same irradiation dose. However, when the energy of the pulsed laser was reduced from 0.25 to 0.06 mJ/cm2 while keeping the total irradiation dose unchanged, the photoinactivation of cells was increased significantly. Based on the measurements and calculations for the present experimental conditions, each cell has about 108 MC540 molecules bound (5 microg/ml MC540 for 1 hr) and receives about 109 photos from 0.25 mJ/cm2 of the pulsed laser. The results indicate that the photosaturation of MC540 occurs in the present conditions due to the fact that the photons received by one cell in one laser pulse were much more than the numbers of MC540 molecules bound to one cell. Thus, the photosaturation of the photosensitizer is one of the reasons to explain the different efficiency in cell inactivation between the pulsed laser and CW light.

Tuberculous pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta: a case report and literature review of surgically treated cases.

Tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is an extremely rare disease with a high mortality rate. Only 32 patients treated surgically have been reported in the literature. These reports indicate an 84.4% operative survival rate. We present a case of a tuberculous false aneurysm in the descending thoracic aorta that was successfully treated surgically with an extracorporeal circulation. The hole in the aorta within the false aneurysm was closed with a Dacron patch because the aortic wall appeared to be free of active infection as a result of long-term preoperative antituberculous chemotherapy.

Jaundice due to afferent loop obstruction following hepatectomy for a hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

A case of jaundice due to obstruction of Roux en Y-limb following hepatectomy for a hilar cholangiocarcinoma is presented. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage improved the jaundice but promoted disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Our limited experience suggested that afferent loops should be drained directly to prevent reflux of enteric contents into the biliary system.

Pedicled jejunal seromuscular flap for bronchocutaneous fistula.

We report the successful closure of a complicated bronchocutaneous fistula using a pedicled jejunal flap. The fistula, secondary to tuberculosis and irradiation, previously had been closed with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. This initial repair failed. The recurrent fistulas were closed again using a jejunal seromuscular flap, and the chest wall defect was reconstructed with a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap.

Closure of the distal pancreatic stump with a seromuscular flap.

We describe herein our new method for transecting the pancreas and closing its stump in distal pancreatectomy, devised to decrease the risk of pancreatic fistula formation. With this technique, the pancreas is transected in such a way that a convex stump is left, whereby the pancreatic secretions from the parenchyma near the pancreatic stump are fully drained into the main pancreatic duct. A pedicled seromuscular flap of the stomach or jejunum is then used to cover the cut surface of the pancreas. This new technique provides tight closure of the pancreatic stump after distal pancreatectomy.

Aneurysm of bilateral persistent sciatic arteries with ischemic complications: case report and review of the world literature.

A case of bilateral persistent sciatic artery (PSA) aneurysms with thromboembolic complications is presented along with a review of the 167 cases of PSA reported in the world literature. Its embryology, anatomy, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed and provide the following findings: The incidence of PSA is estimated to be from 0.025% to 0.04%, based on angiographic studies. Ages range from 6 months to 89 years, with a mean of 54 years. There is no gender predilection. A PSA was present on the right side in 32%, on the left side in 29%, bilaterally in 22%, and on either side in 18%. The "complete" type of PSA was 69%. Aneurysmal change was present in 46% of all PSAs. Overall, 59% had symptoms, including ischemia in 31% (acute in 14% and chronic in 17%), a gluteal mass in 26% (painful in 10%, painless in 6%, and pulsatile in 13%), gluteal pain in 2%, and ischialgia in 5%. Exclusion of the aneurysm or PSA by surgical or interventional techniques, with a femorodistal bypass as required for the resultant ischemia is currently the treatment of choice.

The inclusion of an omental flap in pancreatoduodenectomy.

A technique for reducing the morbidity and mortality of pancreatoduodenectomy by using an omental flap to protect the anastomoses and splanchnic vessels exposed during dissection is described herein.

Hepatic gastrinoma.

A solitary hepatic tumor in a 50-year-old woman, which was observed as a hemangioma, ultimately was resected because it increased in size. The tumor volume doubling time was 28.8 months over the observed period of 30 months. The histologic diagnosis was carcinoid tumor. Immunohistochemical staining showed strong focal reactivity for gastrin and diffuse reactivity for pancreatic polypeptide, vasointestinal polypeptide, calcitonin, and parathormone. Preoperative gastric hyperacidity with diarrhea and a body weight loss of 7 kg, moderately controlled by cimetidine on admission, suggested high serum gastrin levels produced by the tumor. Her symptoms resolved after surgery, and she had a normal serum gastrin level with negative secretin stimulation test results. A review of six cases of hepatic gastrinoma suggests that surgical resection, if feasible, would be the treatment of choice.

Combination gastric seromuscular patch and omental pedicle flap for bronchial fistula.

We report the successful closure of a recurrent bronchial fistula using a combination gastric seromuscular patch and omental pedicle flap. This new method provided an immediate airtight closure of the bronchial fistula. This technique appears superior to closure by omentum alone.

Chronic venous insufficiency in primary varicose veins evaluated by plethysmographic technique.

Venous hemodynamics were evaluated by plethysmography in normal subjects and patients with venous disorders of the lower extremity, to clarify the pathophysiology of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) due to primary varicose veins. Expelled volume during five active dorsiflexions of the feet and venous recovery time were calculated to evaluate muscle pump efficiency and valvular competence. Limbs with CVI due to primary varicose veins showed a higher expelled volume and a more shortened refilling time than limbs with simple varicosities. With application of tourniquets, the refilling time normalized in limbs with CVI, as well as in limbs with simple varicosities. These results indicate that a high degree of venous congestion in the distal part of the calf and valvular incompetence of the superficial vein system might cause CVI due to primary varicose veins.

Campylobacter fetus infection of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

A 61-year-old man with Campylobacter fetus infection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm treated surgically is presented herein, the fifth survival case reported in the literature. Fever and back pain preceded the enlargement of atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient tolerated satisfactorily total excision of the aneurysm followed by axillo-femoral prosthetic bypass. Antibiotic therapy consisted of intravenous infusion of fosfomycin and gentamicin and oral administration of minocycline. The organism cultured from the aneurysmal wall and intraluminal thrombi was identified as Campylobacter fetus from its typical characteristics. It is concluded that this organism should be considered in all cases of infected aneurysm in elderly or debilitated patients.

[Assessment of primary varicose veins with plethysmographic techniques].

Venous hemodynamics were evaluated by simultaneous strain gauge- and photo-plethysmographic techniques in 40 normal limbs (normal group), 74 limbs with primary varicose veins (varicosis group) and 28 limbs with postthrombotic syndrome (thrombosis group). Furthermore, the venous function of 52 limbs with primary varicose veins was assessed before and after surgical treatment of varicose veins. The mean 1/2-refilling time in varicosis and thrombosis group was significantly shorter than that in normal group. With application of tourniquets, limbs in varicosis group showed improvement in 1/2-refilling time. Varicosis group showed a significantly higher value in expelled volume during exercise than thrombosis group, and no significant difference compared with normal group. With tourniquets, the value in varicosis group was higher than that in normal group. From these results, the pathogenesis of primary varicose veins might be characterized as a high degree of venous congestion of the leg and valvular incompetence of the superficial vein system. Postoperative recording showed the improvement in venous function. However, in early stage after the operation, all parameters were lower than those in normal group. These values normalized 3 months after surgery.

Prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins in Japanese women.

The prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins in Japan were investigated in 541 Japanese women. Varicose veins were defined as any dilated, tortuous, and elongated veins of the lower extremity and classified into four types. The total prevalence rate was 45%. Saphenous type was observed in 22%, segment type in 35%, reticular type in 28%, and web type in 16%. Varicose veins in Japan seem to be less common than in the United States and Europe but more prevalent than in Africa. Concerning risk factors for varices, age, sex, heredity, and childbirth were related to the incidence of varicosities, as reported by others. However, these risk factors were shown to differ according to type of varicose veins.

A case of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Vibrio vulnificus, a recently described strain of the halophilic Vibrio species, was isolated from the blood of a 73-year-old man, who developed rapidly progressive wound infection and fatal septicemia. Twenty-one patients with Vibrio vulnificus infection have been reported in the Japanese literature. Vibrio vulnificus most frequently causes primary septicemia and necrotising cellulitis after the eating of raw fish or shellfish or after exposure to seawater. The infection is characterized by its occurring during the warm months of the year, in patients with underlying diseases, especially liver diseases, and the mortality rate is surprisingly high. Clinicians should therefore consider the possibility of Vibrio vulnificus infection in the differential diagnosis of severe wound infections. Early surgical intervention and intensive antibiotic therapy are recommended for preventing the progress of the septicemia.