Feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection: a new technique for en bloc resection of a large superficial tumor in the colon and rectum.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising procedure that enables en bloc resection of large superficial tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, ESD in the colon and rectum is technically difficult to perform because of its anatomical features. At our institution, 137 consecutive superficial colorectal tumors larger than 20 mm in diameter in 137 patients were treated by ESD between April 2007 and October 2010, and 132 lesions were successfully resected. The average procedure time was 79.2 minutes, and the rate of en bloc resection was 89.1% (122/137). The rate of complete resection, defined as en bloc resection with tumor-free lateral and vertical margins, was 85.4% (117/137). The rate of perforation was 3.6% (5/137). Colorectal ESD achieved a high rate of en bloc resection and complete resection and is applicable in the colorectum.

Clinical course of abducens nerve palsy associated with skull base tumours.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course of abducens nerve palsy associated with skull base tumour is rarely reported. In this study, we examined the post-operative course of abducens nerve palsies associated with various skull base tumours. METHOD: Between January 2003 and December 2006, 240 patients with various skull base tumours underwent surgery at Kyushu University Hospital. Among them, nine patients presented with abducens nerve palsies (ten nerves) following surgery. The conditions included two pituitary adenomas, two trigeminal schwannomas and five meningiomas. We evaluated the function of the abducens nerves in these patients on admission, at discharge, and periodically in the outpatient clinic. FINDINGS: Four of the abducens nerve palsies already existed prior to surgery, and six of them developed post-operatively. In the four patients with pituitary adenomas and trigeminal schwannomas, all nerves were anatomically preserved and showed complete recovery of function within 6 months after surgery. In contrast, only two of the six palsies in patients with skull base meningiomas showed complete recovery. In three patients with petro-clival meningiomas, the abducens nerves were completely transected during surgery, and one was reconstructed using fibrin glue. This patient remarkably recovered from the abducens nerve palsy within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The abducens nerve palsies in pituitary adenomas and trigeminal schwannomas showed a better clinical course compared to those in skull base meningiomas. The abducens nerve palsies that occur with skull base meningiomas are less likely to recover. Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the nerves and to perform surgical repair if the nerve is transected.

Differences of clinical manifestations according to the patterns of brain lesions in acute encephalopathy with reduced diffusion in the bilateral hemispheres.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The precise clinical characteristics of acute encephalopathy with bilateral reduced diffusion are not fully understood. We compared clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging findings according to the patterns of brain lesions among children with reduced diffusion in the bilateral hemispheres. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients were analyzed. The patterns of brain lesions were divided into diffuse lesions and central-sparing lesions. Diffuse lesions were defined as reduced diffusion in the whole cortex and/or subcortical white matter. Central-sparing lesions were defined as the lack of reduced diffusion in the areas around the bilateral Sylvian fissures. Clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging findings were compared between groups. RESULTS: Five patients showed diffuse lesions and 4 showed central-sparing lesions. Coma was significantly more common in patients with diffuse lesions, whereas a biphasic clinical course was more common in those with central-sparing lesions. Outcome was worse in patients with diffuse lesions. Maximal aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and kinase levels were also significantly higher in patients with diffuse lesions. In 2 patients with diffuse lesions, diffusion-weighted images during the acute phase revealed reduced diffusion in the bilateral frontal and occipital areas, followed by diffuse lesions. No patient with central-sparing lesions showed MR imaging abnormalities during the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical manifestations in patients with diffuse lesions were severe, whereas those in patients with central-sparing lesions were relatively mild.

Performance evaluation of radiologists with artificial neural network for differential diagnosis of intra-axial cerebral tumors on MR images.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that use of an artificial neural network (ANN) system is beneficial for radiological diagnosis. Our purposes in this study were to construct an ANN for the differential diagnosis of intra-axial cerebral tumors on MR images and to evaluate the effect of ANN outputs on radiologists' diagnostic performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected MR images of 126 patients with intra-axial cerebral tumors (58 high-grade gliomas, 37 low-grade gliomas, 19 metastatic tumors, and 12 malignant lymphomas). We constructed a single 3-layer feed-forward ANN with a Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The ANN was designed to differentiate among 4 categories of tumors (high-grade gliomas, low-grade gliomas, metastases, and malignant lymphomas) with use of 2 clinical parameters and 13 radiologic findings in MR images. Subjective ratings for the 13 radiologic findings were provided independently by 2 attending radiologists. All 126 cases were used for training and testing of the ANN based on a leave-one-out-by-case method. In the observer test, MR images were viewed by 9 radiologists, first without and then with ANN outputs. Each radiologist's performance was evaluated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis on a continuous rating scale. RESULTS: The averaged area under the ROC curve for ANN alone was 0.949. The diagnostic performance of the 9 radiologists increased from 0.899 to 0.946 (P < .001) when they used ANN outputs. CONCLUSIONS: The ANN can provide useful output as a second opinion to improve radiologists' diagnostic performance in the differential diagnosis of intra-axial cerebral tumors seen on MR imaging.

Perfusion imaging of brain tumors using arterial spin-labeling: correlation with histopathologic vascular density.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between tumor blood-flow measurement based on perfusion imaging by arterial spin-labeling (ASL-PI) and histopathologic findings in brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used ASL-PI to examine 35 patients with brain tumors, including 11 gliomas, 9 meningiomas, 9 schwannomas, 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 4 hemangioblastomas, and 1 metastatic brain tumor. As an index of tumor perfusion, the relative signal intensity (SI) of each tumor (%Signal intensity) was determined as a percentage of the maximal SI within the tumor per averaged SI within normal cerebral gray matter on ASL-PI. Relative vascular attenuation (%Vessel) was determined as the total microvessel area per the entire tissue area on CD-34-immunostained histopathologic specimens. MIB1 indices of gliomas were also calculated. The differences in %Signal intensity among different histopathologic types and between high- and low-grade gliomas were compared. In addition, the correlations between %Signal intensity and %Vessel or MIB1 index were evaluated in gliomas. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in %Signal intensity were observed between hemangioblastomas versus gliomas (P < .005), meningiomas (P < .05), and schwannomas (P < .005). Among gliomas, %Signal intensity was significantly higher for high-grade than for low-grade tumors (P < .05). Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between %Signal intensity and %Vessel in 35 patients, including all 6 histopathologic types (rs = 0.782, P < .00005) and in gliomas (rs = 0.773, P < .05). In addition, in gliomas, %Signal intensity and MIB1 index were significantly positively correlated (rs = 0.700, P < .05). CONCLUSION: ASL-PI may predict histopathologic vascular densities of brain tumors and may be useful in distinguishing between high- and low-grade gliomas and in differentiating hemangioblastomas from other brain tumors.

A case of intracranial hypoglossal neurinoma without hypoglossal nerve palsy: operative view of the preserved rostral trunk.

Hypoglossal neurinomas usually manifest with hemiatrophy and weakness of the tongue. A rare case of intracranial hypoglossal neurinoma without preoperative hypoglossal nerve dysfunction and its operative view are presented. A 36-year-old female who presented with headaches and vertigo was admitted to our hospital. The neurological examination revealed bilateral papilledema and mild truncal ataxia, although weakness and atrophy of the tongue were not observed. Magnetic resonance and computed tomography images demonstrated a large foramen magnum tumor without enlargement of the hypoglossal canal. Total removal of the tumor was performed via a lateral suboccipital craniotomy and C1 partial laminectomy. During the operation, two trunks were observed for the hypoglossal nerve at the entrance of the hypoglossal canal. The tumor arose from the caudal trunk, while the intact rostral trunk entered the hypoglossal canal normally. The tumor only developed intracranially, and since the rostral trunk of the hypoglossal nerve was intact, the patient did not present with hypoglossal nerve palsy preoperatively.

Esophageal atresia with double tracheoesophageal fistula--a case report and review of the literature.

Esophageal atresia with double tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a very rare anomaly, and the accurate preoperative diagnosis of proximal TEF is very difficult. This paper describes a baby girl who presented with esophageal atresia with double, proximal, and distal TEF. The distal TEF was diagnosed before operation, whereas the proximal TEF was found intraoperatively. Overlooking the presence of proximal TEF can lead to increased morbidity and mortality due to severe respiratory infection and the necessity of a second operation. Great care must therefore be taken to not overlook the presence of proximal TEF in patients with this anomaly.

Spatio-temporal analysis by voltage topography of ictal electroencephalogram on MR surface anatomy scan for the localization of epileptogenic areas.

A 15-year-old girl developed intractable epilepsy following a right transcallosal resection of the intraventricular teratoma. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a T (2)-prolonged subcortical lesion in the right frontal lobe as well as a residual intraventricular tumor. The integration of the voltage topography of ictal onset activities of the scalp-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and a surface anatomy scan of MR images clearly revealed the epileptogenic area on the cortex above the subcortical lesion, with the propagation pattern towards the frontopolar area. Excision of the epileptogenic cortex and underlying gliosis resulted in a successful cessation of the epilepsy. This non-invasive EEG technique provided useful information that accurately localized the epileptogenic area on a large structural abnormality without invasive intracranial electrocorticographic monitoring.

A case of novel de novo paired box gene 6 (PAX6) mutation with early-onset diabetes mellitus and aniridia.

BACKGROUND: Paired box gene 6 (PAX6) is a transcription factor involved in eye development. Mutations of PAX6 cause congenital eye anomalies, such as aniridia. PAX6 is also involved in the development of the endocrine pancreas, and reported to be a genetic factor common to aniridia and glucose intolerance, although the latter is usually mild. Here, we describe a case of PAX6 mutation with early-onset diabetes mellitus. CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old woman was referred to our clinic. She was diagnosed having diabetes at the age of 15 with negative glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody. Insulin treatment was started at age 24. Because she had aniridia, PAX6 gene mutation was investigated and a heterozygous 2-bp deletion (c.402del2) was identified. Her parents did not have aniridia and PAX6 mutations. Heterozygous PAX6 mutation may cause glucose intolerance. However, cases of early-onset diabetes mellitus have not been reported. Her parents did not have diabetes, but their insulinogenic indices were low (0.25 and 0.3, respectively). We thought her early-onset diabetes was partly as a result of PAX6 mutation and partly because of an unknown insulin secretory defect inherited from her parents. We could not find any mutations in HNF-1alpha, -1beta, -4alpha, IPF-1, ISL-1, BEAT2/NeuroD1, PAX4, and amylin genes. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of PAX6 gene mutation with early-onset diabetes mellitus and aniridia. Low insulin secretory capacity in her parents suggested that her insulin secretory defect is as a result of not only PAX6 mutation but other genetic factors inherited from her parents.

The effect of a prenatal androgen disruptor, vinclozolin, on gubernacular migration and testicular descent in rats.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Androgen has been shown to regulate inguinoscrotal testicular descent. This study aims to clarify the effect of one of the major endocrine disrupters, vinclozolin (V), on both gubernacular migration and inguinoscrotal testicular descent in rats. METHODS: Time-pregnant rats were segregated into 2 groups. In group I, the rats were administered 200 mg/kg/d of V by gavage on days 15 to 18 of gestation. In group II, the rats were administered the same volume of solvent and were used as controls. At birth, the anogenital distance was measured in pups, and gubernacular migration was examined at 10 days of age in some of male offspring. Next, the incidence of testicular descent and the growth of external genitalia were investigated in the remaining male offspring at 60 days of age. The chi2 test was used for statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: At birth, the anogenital distance (AGD) index decreased significantly more in group I than in group II in male offspring. However, there was no significant difference in the AGD index between the 2 groups in the female offspring. At 10 days of age, an aberrant migration of the gubernaculum was found in the 51.5% of V-treated rats in group I. At 60 days of age, the incidence of cryptorchidism was 57.7% in group I and 0% in group II (P <.05). In addition, hypospadias with cleft phallus and pseudo vagina with a blind pouch also were observed in some of the V-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal administration with V thus caused intrauterine defects, which resulted in testicular maldescent caused by the induction of an aberrant migration of the gubernaculum associated with an abnormal extension of the processus vaginalis, and this may have been caused by the antiandrogenic effect of V in utero.

Short-time exposure to vinclozolin in utero induces testicular maldescent associated with a spinal nucleus alteration of the genitofemoral nerve in rats.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Vinclozolin (V), a known antiandrogen, has been used widely to protect fruits, vegetables, and turf from fungus damage. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of V on both the development of the spinal cord nucleus and testicular descent in rats. METHODS: Pregnant rats were administered 200 mg/kg/d of V from day 16 to 18 of gestation. At 5 days of age, the genitofemoral nerve (GFN) of male pups was identified on the psoas muscle, and diamidinophenyl indole was applied to the proximal cut end of the GFN. Forty-eight hours later, the T11 to L4 level of the spinal cord was removed, and 30-microm frozen serial sections were made. Next, the spinal nuclei labeled in a retrograde fashion by diamidinophenyl indole (DAPI) were examined with a fluorescence microscope. Additional male pups survived until 60 days of age to evaluate the position of the testes. RESULTS: The size of the DAPI-labeled spinal nuclei were smaller in the V-treated rats than in the control rats. The average number of the DAPI-labeled spinal nuclei decreased significantly more in the V-treated rats (176+/-33) than in the controls (247+/- 21; P <.05) during the newborn period. At 60 days of age, 15 of the 26 male rats showed either unilateral or bilateral undescended testes in the V-treated rats. The incidence of cryptorchidism was also significantly higher in the V-treated rats (57.7%) than in the controls (0%; P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The antiandrogenic effect of the prenatal administration of V inhibited the development of the GFN nucleus in the spinal cord and induced testicular maldescent in rats. These results support the hypothesis that androgens regulate the descent of the testis through GFN development.

Disturbed pituitary-testicular axis inhibits testicular descent in the prenatal rat.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prenatal stress affects the pituitary-testicular axis in relation to testicular descent in rat fetuses, as maternal stress can alter the plasma testosterone concentration and inhibit testicular descent in male rat fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant rats were divided into two groups and kept in reverse light-dark cycles, with lights-off at 08.00 hours and on at 20.00 hours. In group 1, 15 pregnant females were placed three times daily for 60 min each session in plastic rat-holders (13 x 6 x 8 cm) illuminated by two 150-W flood lights during the dark phase, from day 14 to 18 of gestation. In group 2, 10 pregnant females were not handled and thus were used as controls. At 19 days of gestation, five pregnant rats had a Caesarean section in each group, and both testes and the pituitary gland were removed from male fetuses at 10.00-11.00 hours. The tissue homogenates were analysed for testicular testosterone and pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) by a radioimmunoassay. Thereafter, at 21 and 30 days of age, testicular descent was assessed in the remaining male offspring. Student's t- and the chi-square test were used to assess the results. RESULTS: The mean (sd) concentration of fetal testicular testosterone was significantly lower in group 1, at 312.9 (26.2) pg/mg, than in group 2, at 532.5 (18.2) pg/mg (P < 0.05); that of pituitary LH was also significantly lower in group 1, at 130.6 (22.7) and 295.6 (35.2) pg/mg, respectively (P < 0.05). The completion rate of testicular descent was 14% in group 1 (36 male rats) and 64% in group 2 (28 male rats) at 21 days old, and thereafter they were 81% and 100%, respectively, at 30 days old (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal stress might inhibit the pituitary-testicular axis, thereby resulting in abnormal testicular descent in male fetuses.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in chronic subdural haematomas.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate molecular aspects of the mechanisms of expansion of chronic subdural haematomas (CSH), we examined the expression of two representative angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in CSH. METHODS: We quantified VEGF and bFGF in haematoma fluid and serum of 20 patients with CSH using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean concentrations of VEGF in the haematoma fluid (10277 pg/ml) and in serum, (355 pg/ml) were much greater than those of bFGF (haematoma, 3.04 pg/ml; serum, 4.74 pg/ml). Surgical specimens, including dura and the outer membrane of the CSH were analysed by in situ hybridisation to detect VEGF mRNA. Macrophages and vascular endothelial cells in the outer membrane over expressed VEGF mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced production of VEGF by macrophages and vascular endothelial cells in the outer membrane is thought to be pathogenetically important in CSH.

Possible horizontal transfer of a transposable element from host to parasitoid.

Full-length mariner-like elements (MLEs) were identified from both a parasitoid wasp, Ascogaster reticulatus, and its moth host, Adoxophyes honmai. MLEs were detected in two related Tortricid moths, but not in another Ascogaster species. The MLEs of A. reticulatus and A. honmai were 97.6% identical in DNA sequence. This high similarity suggests a recent horizontal transfer, probably from the moth host to the wasp parasitoid, facilitated by the intimacy of the host-parasitoid relationship.

Thermoregulatory responses to low-intensity prolonged swimming in water at various temperatures and treadmill walking on land.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of water temperature on the human body during low-intensity prolonged swimming. Six male college swimmers participated in this study. The experiments consisted of breast stroke swimming for 120 minutes in 23 degrees C, 28 degrees C and 33 degrees C water at a constant speed of 0.4 m.sec-1 in a swimming flume. The same subjects walked on a treadmill at a rate of approximately 50% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) at the same relative intensity as the three swimming trials. Rectal temperature (Tre) in 33 degrees C water was unchanged during swimming for 120 minutes. Tre during treadmill walking increased significantly compared to the three different swimming trials. Tre, mean skin temperature (Tsk) and mean body temperature (Tb) in 23 degrees C and 28 degrees C water decreased significantly more than in both the 33 degrees C water and walking on land. VO2 during swimming in 23 degrees C water increased more than during swimming in the 28 degrees C and 33 degrees C trials; however, there were no significant differences in VO2 between the 23 degrees C swimming trial and treadmill walking. Heart rate (HR) during treadmill walking on land increased significantly compared with HR during the three swimming trials. Plasma adrenaline concentration at the end of the treadmill walking was higher than that at the end of each of the three swimming trials. Noradrenaline concentrations at the end of swimming in the 23 degrees C water and treadmill walking were higher than those during the other two swimming trials. Blood lactate concentration during swimming in 23 degrees C water was higher than that during the other two swimming trials and walking on land. These results suggest that the balance of heat loss and heat production is maintained in the warm water temperature. Therefore, a relatively warm water temperature may be desirable when prolonged swimming or other water exercise is performed at low intensity.

[A case of tuberculous endometritis detected by cytology of mass screening for gynecologic cancer].

A 55-year-old infertile woman was referred to our clinic for further investigation on extragenital tuberculosis, as tuberculous endometritis was strongly suspected by cytology of her vaginal smear carried out on the occasion of the mass examination for gynecologic cancer screening. Her vaginal smear revealed epithelioid cell clusters which are characteristic for tuberculosis, and cultures of her vaginal discharge were positive for M. tuberculosis consecutively. Moreover, she was exposed for tuberculosis infection from her father who died of active pulmonary tuberculosis when she was ten years old. Her tuberculin test was strongly positive, and her chest radiography showed no abnormality, but a small nodular shadow evaluated as primary focus of tuberculosis located beneath the pleura of the right lower lung field was confirmed by chest CT. In addition, calcification of her para-aortic abdominal lymphnode was detected by simple abdominal X-ray. Based on these data, she was diagnosed as tuberculous endometritis via abdominal cavity, and three antituberculous drugs, namely RFP, INH and EB, were administrated. The mycobacterial cultures of vaginal discharge converted to negative, and chemotherapy was terminated after 9 months treatment. A risk factor leading to the onset of gynecologic tuberculosis, in this case was an exposure to infection from her father. In order to evaluate risk factors relating to the development of gynecologic tuberculosis, bibliographic studies were made on 19 cases of tuberculous endometrites reported recently in Japan regarding their age, its pathogenesis and immuno-suppressive conditions, and the summarized results were as follows. 1. approximately 80% of them were elderly, namely 79% were above 50 years, 63% above 60 years, and 26% above 70 years. 2. 50% of them were caused by endogenous reactivation. 3. 25% of them were immuno-compromised host. It can be concluded that more than 70% of the patients with tuberculous endometritis had risk factors on the host side to develop tuberculosis.

Fenitroxon insensitive acetylcholinesterases of the housefly, Musca domestica associated with point mutations.

The cDNA of AChE in the housefly, Musca domestica, was sequenced and individual flies were genotyped by this gene in an inhibition assay of AChE activity with an organophaspate, fenitroxon. Mutations at Gly(342) and Tyr(407), which are reportedly conserved in resistant strains of Drosophila, were associated with the insensitivity to fenitroxon. Two other mutations, Ile(162) and Val(260), did not have an apparent effect on insensitivity. However, the four mutations are located in the active site of the enzyme, and therefore the non-neutral mutations in this gene are considered to cause the insensitivity of AChE in the development of insecticide resistance of the housefly.

Inhibition of FGF-2-mediated chemotaxis of murine brain capillary endothelial cells by cyclic RGDfV peptide through blocking the redistribution of c-Src into focal adhesions.

The alpha(v)beta(3) integrin is essential for fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced angiogenesis in vivo. However, the role of this integrin in FGF-2-mediated cellular responses by cultured endothelial cells is largely unknown. Cyclic RGDfV (cRGDfV) peptide is widely used to inhibit the binding of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin to vitronectin. To investigate the role of this integrin in FGF-2-mediated cellular responses, we used immortalized murine brain capillary endothelial cells, denoted IBE cells. Because IBE cells proliferate and migrate in response to FGF-2-treatment, when cultured on fibronectin-coated surface, we first examined the inhibitory activity of this peptide on the binding of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin to fibronectin as well as vitronectin. Solid phase binding assay revealed that cRGDfV peptide strongly inhibited the binding of purified alpha(v)beta(3) integrin to vitonectin- and fibronectin-coated plastic surfaces at a concentration of 50 microM. cRGDfV peptide at 50 microM inhibited spreading as well as adhesion of IBE cells on vitronectin-coated plastic surface but not on fibronectin. On fibronectin-coated substrata, cRGDfV at 50 microM attenuated FGF-2-mediated chemotaxis, but not FGF-2-induced proliferation, of IBE cells. We have previously demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation within focal adhesions through c-Src activity was involved in FGF-2-induced chemotaxis of IBE cells. Treatment of cells with cRGDfV peptide was associated with reduced c-Src activity without tyrosine dephosphorylation. Immunofluorescent staining showed that cRGDfV inhibited redistribution of c-Src into focal adhesions. MAPK activation by FGF-2 within focal adhesions was also attenuated in the presence of cRGDfV peptide. Our results indicated that cRGDfV peptide inhibited redistribution of c-Src into focal adhesions, leading to impaired MAPK activation within focal adhesions and motility in FGF-2-treated endothelial cells.