Grade IV (grade + iv)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Penetrating injury at the thoracic inlet in a Paint-Arab mare

EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 12 2009
Y. R. Rojman
Summary A 12-year-old Paint-Arab mare was admitted for evaluation of a penetrating chest laceration at the thoracic inlet. The left brachiocephalic muscle was transected and the recurrent laryngeal nerve was traumatised. Subsequent to the injury, the horse developed Horner's syndrome on the left side of the neck and face, Grade IV left laryngeal hemiplegia, dysphagia, cough and subcutaneous emphysema. The defect was closed in multiple layers. Antimicrobial and antiinflammatory therapy was instituted along with local wound care. The mare remained bright and responsive and the wound healed normally. The mare showed no signs of respiratory distress. Dysphagia and ptosis persisted at 30 days post trauma. [source]


Inter- alu PCR detects high frequency of genetic alterations in glioma cells exposed to sub-lethal cisplatin

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2005
Tapasya Srivastava
Abstract Increased genomic instability contributes to higher frequency of secondary drug resistance and neoplastic progression in tumors as well as in cells exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents. We have used PCR based DNA fingerprinting techniques of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter- alu PCR to study this phenomenon in the tumor genome. The choice of the primer, either random (for RAPD) or specific (inter- alu PCR) can determine the nature of alterations being assessed. We have compared the inter- alu PCR and RAPD profiles of U87MG glioblastoma cells exposed to sequentially increasing low doses of cisplatin for 24 passages to that of untreated controls. Inter- alu PCR, with 2 primers, demonstrated a number of alterations in the treated cells, in the form of loss / gain and changes in the intensity of bands. No changes were observed by RAPD analysis with 5 primers, however, indicating a preferential increase in the alu mediated recombination frequency in the treated cells (p = 1.866 × 10,4). The number of changes observed with respect to the corresponding leucocyte DNA in the inter- alu PCR profile of 26 primary tumors (Grade II = 13; Grade IV = 13), resected before chemotherapy, for the 2 inter- alu primers was very small. We present a novel application of the inter- alu PCR in detecting alterations in long term cultured cells at low dose exposure to a chemotherapeutic agent. Our results suggest that alu mediated recombination may be important in cells exposed to sub-lethal doses of cisplatin but not in the genesis of primary glioma. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Expression patterns of 5-lipoxygenase in human brain with traumatic injury and astrocytoma

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Lei Zhang
5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of arachidonic acid to leukotrienes. The levels of leukotrienes increase after brain injury and when tumors are present. It has been reported that 5-LOX is widely expressed in the brain and that 5-LOX inhibition provides neuroprotection. However, there is still no information available for the expression patterns of 5-LOX in human brain following trauma or with astrocytomas. We investigated its expression patterns by immunohistochemistry. We found that 5-LOX is normally expressed in neurons and glial cells. In neurons, it was expressed in two patterns: in the cytosol and nucleus or only in the cytosol. In traumatic brain injury, 5-LOX expression increased in glial cells and neutrophils. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry showed that part of the 5-LOX-positive glial cells were GFAP positive. No 5-LOX expression was found in brain microvessel endothelia, except in the regenerated endothelia of a patient 8 days following brain trauma. Furthermore, 5-LOX expression increased and showed a granular pattern in high-grade (grade III/IV) astrocytoma. These results indicate that 5-LOX has multiple expression patterns, and can be induced by brain injury, which implies that 5-LOX might have pathophysiological roles in the human brain. [source]


Minor neurological dysfunction, cognitive development and somatic development at the age of 3 to 11 years in very-low-birthweight infants with transient periventricular echodensities

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2006
JOERG KUTSCHERA
Abstract Aim: To determine, using strict exclusion criteria, whether transient periventricular echodensities (TPE) in very-low-birthweight infants lead to minor neurological dysfunction and problems in cognitive and somatic development in children without major neurological impairments. Methods: 23 children with TPE were matched to 23 children without TPE. Exclusion criteria were small for gestational age, microcephaly at birth, diplegia, asphyxia, psychomotor retardation, intraventricular haemorrhage grade III/IV, major surgical interventions and malformations. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Draw-a-Man Test and neuropaediatric examination were used for evaluation. Results: There were no differences in demographic data, growth and socio-economic status. Significant differences with lower results in the TPE group were found in fine motor skills and in the Draw-a-Man Test. In the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, all subscales were below average in the TPE group, except the sequential processing scale. In the control group, all subscales were within the average range. Conclusion: By using strict exclusion criteria to eliminate other risk factors for minimal neurological dysfunction and poor cognitive development, we were able to focus on the effect of TPE. TPE seem to affect cognitive development and cause minor neurological dysfunction. [source]


Cytotoxic factor-autoantibodies: possible role in the pathogenesis of dengue haemorrhagic fever

FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001
U.C. Chaturvedi
Abstract During dengue virus infection a unique cytokine, cytotoxic factor (hCF), is produced that is pathogenesis-related and plays a key role in the development of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). However, what regulates the adverse effects of hCF is not known. We have previously shown that anti-hCF antibodies raised in mice, neutralise the pathogenic effects of hCF. In this study we have investigated the presence and levels of hCF-autoantibodies in sera of patients with various severity of dengue illness (n=136) and normal healthy controls (n=50). The highest levels of hCF-autoantibodies (mean±S.D.=36±20 U ml,1) were seen in patients with mild illness, the dengue fever (DF), and 48 out of 50 (96%) of the sera were positive. On the other hand the hCF-autoantibody levels declined sharply with the development of DHF and the levels were lowest in patients with DHF grade IV (mean±S.D.=5±2 U ml,1; P=<0.001 as compared to DF). Only one of the 13 DHF grade IV patients had an antibody level above the ,cut-off' value (mean plus 3 S.D. of the control sera). The analysis of data with respect to different days of illness further showed that the highest levels of hCF-autoantibodies were present in DF patients at >9 days of illness. Moreover, the DF patients at all time points, i.e. 1,4, 5,8 and >9 days of illness had significantly higher levels of hCF-autoantibodies (P<0.001) than patients with DHF grade I, II, III and IV. In addition DHF grade I and grade II patients had significantly more positive specimens than DHF grade III and grade IV patients at all time points. These results suggest that elevated levels of hCF-autoantibodies protect the patients against the development of severe forms of DHF and, therefore, it may be useful as a prognostic indicator. [source]


Peripheral Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Chronic, Disabling Transformed Migraine

HEADACHE, Issue 4 2003
Charles A. Popeney DO
Background.,Up to 5% of the general population suffers from transformed migraine. This study analyzes clinical responses of transformed migraine to cervical peripheral nerve stimulation. Methods.,Headache frequency, severity, and disability (Migraine Disability Assessment [MIDAS] scores) were independently measured in an uncontrolled consecutive case series of 25 patients with transformed migraine implanted with C1 through C3 peripheral nerve stimulation. All patients met International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for episodic migraine, as well as suggested criteria for transformed migraine, and had been refractory to conventional treatment for at least 6 months. Responses to C1 through C3 peripheral nerve stimulation were recorded. Results.,Prior to stimulation, all patients experienced severe disability (grade IV on the MIDAS) with 75.56 headache days (average severity, 9.32; average MIDAS score, 121) over a 3-month period. Following stimulation, 15 patients reported little or no disability (grade I), 1 reported mild disability (grade II), 4 reported moderate disability (grade III), and 5 continued with severe disability (grade IV), with 37.45 headache days (average severity, 5.72; average MIDAS score, 15). The average improvement in the MIDAS score was 88.7%, with all patients reporting their headaches well controlled after stimulation. Conclusions.,These results raise the possibility that C1 through C3 peripheral nerve stimulation can help improve transformed migraine symptoms and disability. A controlled study is required to confirm these results. [source]


Invasive bladder carcinoma: A pilot study of conservative treatment with accelerated radiotherapy and concomitant cisplatin,

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2001
Abderrahim Zouhair M.D.
Abstract From November 1992 to December 1997, 25 patients (inoperable or refusing cystectomy) were included in a prospective study to assess the feasibility, tolerance, and curative potential of accelerated radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant cisplatin. Median age was 74 years (range 49,86). Stage distribution was as follows: 1 T1, 10 T2, 8 T3, and 6 T4. Two patients had clinically positive pelvic nodes. The goal was to deliver a total dose of 40 Gy to the whole pelvis and bladder in 4 weeks using a concomitant boost of 20 Gy to the tumor or to the whole bladder during the third and fourth weeks (total dose 60 Gy), with daily cisplatin (6 mg/m2) before RT for patients with creatinine clearance > 50 ml/min. All but one patient completed the RT protocol. Daily cisplatin was sucessfully delivered in 18 patients. One patient presented with grade III ototoxicity. Diarrhea was scored grade III in two and grade IV in two patients. Acute urinary toxicity was scored grade III in one patient. Posttreatment late effects included bladder grade II and grade III in two patients and one patient, respectively; large bowel grade III in one; urethral grade III in one; and femoral head radionecrosis in one. Four-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 23% and 35%, respectively. The latter was 60% for patients with T2 tumors. The 4-year actuarial locoregional control rate for all patients was 61%. In summary, accelerated RT and concomitant cisplatin is feasible with acceptable tolerance even in relatively old patients. Although outcome was better for patients with low-stage tumors, local control and survival rates appeared similar to those of standard RT schedules for a similar patient population. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Skin color measurement in Chinese female population: analysis of 407 cases from 4 major cities of China

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Liu Wei MD
Background, Color assessment of human skin is an important index both in dermatology and in cosmetology. Methods, Skin color measured in 407 Chinese women selected from four different cities in China is reported in the 1976 Commission International de L'eclairage (CIE)-color space, according to the skin color typing method proposed by Chardon et al. in 1991. The skin color of buttocks and hands, which represent sun unexposed and exposed sites, respectively, were measured with a Minolta 2500d chromameter. Individual typology angle (ITA°) of each volunteer was calculated based on the measured L* and b* values and her skin complexion was graded accordingly. Results, The results show that most of the volunteers had a "light" skin color at their unexposed sites, namely grade II (65.5%), and then grade III (intermediate, 23.1%), and I (very light, 9.6%). The skin colors at exposed sites of the studied group were mainly grade III (intermediate, 45.7%), followed by grade IV (tan, 42.0%) and II (light, 7.9%). The difference among the investigated cities, the relationship between skin color and ages, and the complexion changes from unexposed site to exposed site were analyzed based on the data from the research. Conclusion, The authors believed that the present results might basically represent the complexion conditions of Chinese women. [source]


Detection of Right-to-Left Shunts: Comparison between the International Consensus and Spencer Logarithmic Scale Criteria

JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 4 2008
Annabelle Y. Lao
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND International Consensus Criteria (ICC) consider right-to-left shunt (RLS) present when Transcranial Doppler (TCD) detects even one microbubble (,B). Spencer Logarithmic Scale (SLS) offers more grades of RLS with detection of >30 ,B corresponding to a large shunt. We compared the yield of ICC and SLS in detection and quantification of a large RLS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We prospectively evaluated paradoxical embolism in consecutive patients with ischemic strokes or transient ischemic attack (TIA) using injections of 9 cc saline agitated with 1 cc of air. Results were classified according to ICC [negative (no ,B), grade I (1-20 ,B), grade II (>20 ,B or "shower" appearance of ,B), and grade III ("curtain" appearance of ,B)] and SLS criteria [negative (no ,B), grade I (1-10 ,B), grade II (11-30 ,B), grade III (31100 ,B), grade IV (101300 ,B), grade V (>300 ,B)]. The RLS size was defined as large (>4 mm) using diameter measurement of the septal defects on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). RESULTS TCD comparison to TEE showed 24 true positive, 48 true negative, 4 false positive, and 2 false negative cases (sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 92.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) 85.7%, negative predictive value (NPV) 96%, and accuracy 92.3%) for any RLS presence. Both ICC and SLS were 100% sensitive for detection of large RLS. ICC and SLS criteria yielded a false positive rate of 24.4% and 7.7%, respectively when compared to TEE. CONCLUSIONS Although both grading scales provide agreement as to any shunt presence, using the Spencer Scale grade III or higher can decrease by one-half the number of false positive TCD diagnoses to predict large RLS on TEE. [source]


Liver grafts from donors with central nervous system tumors: A single-center perspective

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2009
Randeep Kashyap
Traditionally, patients who die with a malignancy have been excluded from donation. However, it has become a common practice to accept organs from donors that have low-grade tumors or tumors with low metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to analyze our experience with the use of liver grafts from donors with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. A retrospective review of 1173 liver transplants performed between 1992 and 2006 identified 42 donors diagnosed with a CNS tumor. Thirty-two tumors were malignant, and 10 tumors were benign. Forty-two liver transplant recipients received livers from these donors. All patients were followed until May 2007 with a mean follow-up of 29 ± 17 months. Among 42 donors, there were 28 males and 14 females. The mean donor risk index was 1.78 ± 0.39. Twenty (47.6%) of the CNS tumors were glioblastoma multiforme (astrocytoma grade IV), 11 (26.2%) were other astrocytomas, and 1 (2.4%) was an anaplastic ependymoma. Twenty (62.5%) neoplasms were grade IV tumors, 8 (25%) were grade II tumors, and 4 (12.5%) were grade III tumors. Over 80% of the patients had at least 1 kind of invasive procedure violating the blood-brain barrier. The rate of recurrence for the entire group was 2.4% (all CNS tumors). There were 7 (7.2%) deaths in all. The most common cause of death was sepsis (n = 3, 7.2%). There was no difference in survival between recipients of grafts from donors with CNS tumors and recipients of grafts from donors without CNS tumors (1 year: 82% versus 83.3%, P = not significant; 3 years: 77.4% versus 72%, P = not significant). In conclusion, in our experience, despite violation of the blood-brain barrier and high-grade CNS tumors, recurrence was uncommon. Grafts from these donors are often an overlooked source of high-quality organs from younger donors and can be appropriately used, particularly in patients who, despite low Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores, carry a high risk of mortality. Liver Transpl 15:1204,1208, 2009. © 2009 AASLD. [source]


J1-31 protein expression in astrocytes and astrocytomas

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Shanop Shuangshoti
J1-31 is one of the astrocytic proteins, the expression of which has not been evaluated in astrocytomas. In the present study, we studied the expression of J1-31 protein in astrocytes and astrocytomas in comparison with GFAP, p53 and Ki-67. Materials consisted of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens that included five cases of normal brain, 17 of gliosis, 15 of pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade I), 26 of low-grade diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II), four of anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III), and eight of glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). GFAP was highly expressed in all specimens examined. The anti-J1-31 antibody exhibited strong cytoplasmic staining of reactive gliosis in 17/17 (100%) cases with a higher intensity of staining than that observed in the adjacent normal astrocytes. The antibody showed reactivity with tumor cells in 12/15 (80%) cases of pilocytic astrocytoma, although intensity of staining was generally weaker and more focal than observed in reactive gliosis. J1-31-positive tumor cells were detected in only 9/26 (35%) cases of the low-grade diffuse astrocytoma and none of the cases of anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Increasing Ki-67 indices paralleled advancing tumor grades. p53 protein was expressed more commonly in infiltrating astrocytomas compared to pilocytic astrocytoma. In conclusion, down-regulation of J1-31 expression correlates with advancing grade of astrocytomas. The result suggests this protein plays some role in astrocytes that is progressively lost in malignant progression. The anti-J1-31 antibody may help further our understanding of astrocytes in disease and may be useful as an aid in the pathologic diagnosis of astrocytic lesions. [source]


Structured review of enamel erosion literature (1980,1998): a critical appraisal of experimental, clinical and review publications

ORAL DISEASES, Issue 4 2000
G. Maupome
OBJECTIVE: To attain an objective account of the methods to measure enamel erosion used in 1980,1998 publications, a structured review of the literature was undertaken. METHODS: Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to 731 clinical/experimental research and review reportS. Eighty-five included papers were subsequently rated according to ,hierarchy of evidence' guidelines to assess the strength of the report's design and the relevance of the evidence to replicating enamel erosion in vivo in humanS. Scores were assigned to rate each aspect in the guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 16 clinical, 13 review and 56 experimental papers were assessed; 36.4% were published during 1996,1998.Excluding reviews, 16 papers were qualitative and 56 quantitative; 51 used human enamel. Our classification yielded nine groups of methods (five scoring systems and 26 measurement techniques).CTFPHE (Can Med Assoc J 1992; 147: 443) grading of research reports indicated that 2.8% provided evidence grade I; 20.8%, grade IIa; 63.9%, grade III; and 12.5%, grade IV. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a consistent increase in the body of knowledge. The overall quality of publications has not substantially changed over time. Experimental studies were more often quantitative, and quantitative studies had better research designS. No single group of research methods had obviously superior research designs. [source]


Identification of the motilin cells in duodenal epithelium of premature infants

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2005
Toshiya Nishikubo
AbstractBackground:,The aim of the present study was to examine the presence of motilin in the duodenal epithelial cells of premature infants of <32 weeks gestation. Methods:,Specimens from 10 deceased infants (gestational age: 26.4 ± 2.7 weeks and birthweight: 808 ± 303 g) were examined as subjects. All infants died of severe cardiopulmonary disorder or intraventricular hemorrhage (grade IV). The average survival period was 3.1 ± 1.9 days. Autopsies were performed and formalin-fixed duodenums were immunostained with rabbit antiserum to motilin by the labeled streptavidin,biotin (LSAB) method. An adult duodenum obtained by pancreatoduodenectomy was also examined for the presence of motilin as a positive control specimen. An absorption test using motilin peptide was performed to prove the specificity of the binding with rabbit antiserum to motilin. Results:,Motilin-containing cells were detected in the adult specimen, and the binding by rabbit antiserum to motilin was completely inhibited by excess amounts of motilin peptide, indicating that this binding was specific to motilin. All 10 infants had presence of motilin antigen in the epithelial cells of their duodenums. Conclusion:,This preliminary study indicates that the immunohistological analysis is specific to detect motilin-containing cells, and certifies the presence of motilin in duodenal epithelial cells of premature infants of <32 weeks gestation, including one at only 22 weeks gestation. [source]


Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatoblastoma

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 9 2005
Mureo Kasahara
Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Recently, liver transplantation has been indicated for unresectable hepatoblastoma. We retrospectively reviewed 14 children with a diagnosis of hepatoblastoma who had undergone living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at Kyoto University Hospital. During the period from June 1990 to December 2004, 607 children underwent LDLT. Of these interventions, 2.3% were performed for hepatoblastoma. Based on radiological findings, the pre-treatment extent of disease (PRETEXT) grouping was used for pre-treatment staging of the tumor. There were grade III in seven patients and grade IV in seven patients. Thirteen patients received chemotherapy, and seven underwent hepatectomy 11 times. Immunosuppressive treatment consisted of tacrolimus monotherapy in 11 patients. Actuarial 1- and 5-year graft and patient survival rates were 78.6% and 65.5%. The poor prognostic factors were macroscopic venous invasion and extrahepatic involvement with 1-year and 5-year survival rates of 33.0% and 0%. Pediatric patients without these factors showed an acceptable 5-year survival rate of 90.9%. LDLT provides a valuable alternative with excellent results in children with hepatoblastoma because it allows optimal timing of the liver transplantation, given the absence of delay between the completion of chemotherapy and planned liver transplantation. [source]


Endoscopic treatment with polydimethylsiloxane in children with dilating vesico-ureteric reflux

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2006
FABIO BARTOLI
The much-visited topic of endoscopic treatment of VUR in children with an injectable agent is assessed by authors from Italy. However, in this study using Macroplastique, they had a 72% success rate after the first injection, 97% after the second, and 100% after the third. What is interesting is that 68% of the cases had grade IV,V VUR. OBJECTIVE To report our experience of treating dilating vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) in children, using an injectable form of polydimethylsiloxane (MacroplastiqueTM, MPQ; Uroplasty BV, Geleen, The Netherlands), as medical treatment for moderate or severe VUR is associated with a high proportion of persistence or development of new scars. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 32 children (40 ureters) with VUR; 13 (32%) were grade III, 20 (50%) grade IV and seven (18%) grade V. They were treated over a period of 42 months, 66% for some form of bladder dysfunction and 38% had associated diseases. The main indications were VUR grade, recurrent urinary tract infection and progression of reflux nephropathy. MPQ was injected under general anaesthesia via an 11 F cystoscope, × 30 objective, with a 5 F working channel. RESULTS The mean (sd) follow-up was 28.5 (10.2) months; VUR resolved in 80% of patients and improved to minimal VUR in the remaining 20%. The resolution/improvement rate was 72% after the first injection, 97% after the second and 100% after the third. There were no significant complications. CONCLUSION The endoscopic implantation of MPQ always corrected VUR even though 68% of the cases were grade IV,V. It should become the treatment of choice for severe VUR. [source]


Identification and Functional Characterization of microRNAs Involved in the Malignant Progression of Gliomas

BRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Bastian Malzkorn
Abstract Diffuse astrocytoma of World Health Organization (WHO) grade II has an inherent tendency to spontaneously progress to anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade III or secondary glioblastoma WHO grade IV. We explored the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in glioma progression by investigating the expression profiles of 157 miRNAs in four patients with primary WHO grade II gliomas that spontaneously progressed to WHO grade IV secondary glioblastomas. Thereby, we identified 12 miRNAs (miR-9, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-17, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-25, miR-28, miR-130b, miR-140 and miR-210) showing increased expression, and two miRNAs (miR-184 and miR-328) showing reduced expression upon progression. Validation experiments on independent series of primary low-grade and secondary high-grade astrocytomas confirmed miR-17 and miR-184 as promising candidates, which were selected for functional analyses. These studies revealed miRNA-specific influences on the viability, proliferation, apoptosis and invasive growth properties of A172 and T98G glioma cells in vitro. Using mRNA and protein expression profiling, we identified distinct sets of transcripts and proteins that were differentially expressed after inhibition of miR-17 or overexpression of miR-184 in glioma cells. Taken together, our results support an important role of altered miRNA expression in gliomas, and suggest miR-17 and miR-184 as interesting candidates contributing to glioma progression. [source]


Role of resection and primary anastomosis of the left colon in the presence of peritonitis,

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 11 2000
Dr S. Biondo
Background Classically a primary colonic anastomosis is not performed in the presence of left colonic peritonitis. Recently there has been a trend towards resection and anastomosis in selected patients, but no prospective study concerning the safety of this approach has been published. The objective of this study was to define the role of intraoperative colonic lavage with resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) in left colonic peritonitis, and to evaluate the differences in outcome in patients with diffuse or localized peritonitis. Methods Between January 1994 and December 1998, 127 patients underwent emergency operation for a distal large bowel perforation. RPA was the operation of choice and was performed in 61 patients, 38 with localized and 23 with diffuse peritonitis. Septic shock, faecal peritonitis, immunocompromised status and American society of Anesthesiologists grade IV were contraindications to the one-stage procedure. Alternative operations used in high-risk patients were Hartmann's procedure in 55 patients, subtotal colectomy in eight and colostomy in three. Results There were two deaths (3 per cent) among 61 patients treated by RPA and one (2 per cent) case of clinical anastomotic dehiscence. Overall morbidity was 39 per cent and the overall mean(s.d.) hospital stay was 18(15) days. No statistical differences were observed between patients with localized and diffuse peritonitis treated by RPA. Conclusion RPA may be the operation of choice in selected patients with left colonic diffuse peritonitis. © 2000 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]


Biomarker discovery: A proteomic approach for brain cancer profiling

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007
Ashraf A. Khalil
Gliomas in the form of astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas are the most common brain tumors in humans. Early detection of these cancers is crucial for successful treatment. Proteomics promises the discovery of biomarkers and tumor markers for early detection and diagnosis. In the current study, a differential gel electrophoresis technology coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization,time of flight and liquid chromatography,tandem mass spectroscopy was used to investigate tumor-specific changes in the proteome of human brain cancer. Fifty human brain tissues comprising varying diagnostic groups (non-tumor, grade I, grade II, grade III and grade IV) were run in duplicate together with an internal pool sample on each gel. The proteins of interest were automatically picked, in-gel digested and mass spectrometry fingerprinted. Two hundred and eleven protein spots were identified successfully and were collapsed into 91 unique proteins. Approximately 20 of those 91 unique proteins had, to our knowledge, not been reported previously as differentially expressed in human brain cancer. Alb protein, peroxiredoxin 4 and SH3 domain-binding glutamic acid-rich-like protein 3 were upregulated in glioblastoma multiform versus non-tumor tissues. However, aldolase C fructose-biphosphate, creatine kinase, B chain dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, enolase 2, fumarate hydratase, HSP60, lactoylglutathione lyase, lucine aminopeptidase, Mu-crystallin homolog, NADH-UO 24, neurofilament triplet L protein, septin 2, stathmin and vacuolar ATP synthase subunit E were downregulated in glioblastoma multiform compared with non-tumor tissues. These differentially expressed proteins provided novel information on the differences existing between normal brain and gliomas, and thus might prove to be useful molecular indicators of diagnostic or prognostic value. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 201,213) [source]


Is screening for vesicoureteral reflux mandatory in infants with antenatal renal pelvis dilatation?

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2006
KARL-JOHAN LIDEFELT
Abstract Aim: To determine whether postnatal ultrasound (US) can guide the use of voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in infants with antenatally detected renal pelvis dilatation (ARPD). Methods: 14000 pregnant women consecutively underwent routine US examination during the second trimester. US examinations later in pregnancy were performed as follow-up of previous anomalies or on obstetrical indications. One hundred and six fetuses with ARPD ,5 mm were identified. Two postnatal US examinations were performed in the newborns: on the 5th to 7th day and during the 3rd week of life. The findings were considered normal when renal pelvis dilatation (RPD) was ,7 mm on both US examinations, and no calyceal or ureteric dilatation or signs of renal dysplasia or other anomalies were present. VCUG was done 6 to 8 wk after birth. Results: In 53 of 103 analysable infants, the postnatal ultrasonographic findings were normal. The VCUG was abnormal in three of these 53 infants, all with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) grade I. Of 50 infants who had abnormal US examinations, six had VUR, four of which were grade IV and V reflux. Conclusion: In infants with ARPD who undergo two postnatal US examinations with RPD ,7 mm and have no other abnormalities, VCUG is unnecessary. [source]


The value and correlation between PRL-3 expression and matrix metalloproteinase activity and expression in human gliomas

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Lingfei Kong
Local invasion of tumor cells is characteristic of most human glioma invasions. It is associated with increased motility and a potential to degrade the extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been proved to be a main process in local invasion of brain tumor. PRL-3 is a new protein tyrosine phosphatase which would also degrade the extracellular matrix and has been proved to be expressed in liver metastases derived from colorectal cancer. In this study, we sought to investigate the expression of PRL-3 in glioma tissues and investigate the relationship between MMPs (MMP2, MMP9, membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MT1-MMP]) activity and expression in gliomas. The modifications of in situ hybridization of mRNA phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) methods are preformed in the study of paraffin-embedded slides. The immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymography are used to detect the expression of PRL-3 and activity of MMPs. The results show that PRL-3 mRNA and antibody of PRL-3 are detected in glioma tissues mainly in grades IV and III, only a little in grade II, but not in normal brain tissue and glioma grade I. MMP2 and MMP9 are observed mainly in glioma tissues of grades IV and III in activity and expression. MT1-MMP protein is located in glioma tissues and vessel endothelial cells. This is the first report of detecting PRL-3 expression in gliomas, especially in grades III and IV, which may play an important role in progression of gliomas. PRL-3, MMP2 and MT1-MMP cooperatively contribute to gliomas invasion. Intermediate MMP2 (MT1-MMP, TIMP-2, MMP2 trimeric complex) is detected in high grades of glioma tissues by gelatin zymography and may be a marker indicating latent malignance of gliomas. [source]