Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

As surgeons embrace the concept of increasingly less invasive surgery, techniques using only a single small incision have begun to gain traction. Multiple case series managed by a single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) have been published. The objective of this study is to describe the short-term outcomes of SILC in our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective review was done for 51 patients who underwent SILC between 2009-2012. The operative time, surgical technique, conversion rate, and postoperative complications were reported.

RESULTS

SILC was performed for 51 patients, all women, with a mean age of 35.6 years (range=19-62). Their body mass index(BMI) ranged from 16.8-35.6 kg m2 with a mean of 20.4. Twelve patients (23.52 %) had acute cholecystitis. The mean operating time was 58.6 minutes (range=45-95 min). Incidents were encountered in 6 patients (11.76%) and were related to intraoperative bleeding. There was a single conversion to the standard laparoscopic procedure (1.9%) and in 5 cases an accessory needle grasp was used (9.8%). Two patients (3.9%)presented postoperative complications (wound infections) and the mean hospital stay was 1.6 days.

CONCLUSIONS

SILC is feasible and provides a promising alternative to natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery for scarless laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, routine application of this novel technique requires an evaluation of its safety and cost effectiveness in larger studies.

Microsphere size influences the foreign body reaction

Biodegradable poly-(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres (MSP) are attractive candidate vehicles for site-specific or systemic sustained release of therapeutic compounds. This release may be altered by the host's foreign body reaction (FBR), which is dependent on the characteristics of the implant, e.g. chemistry, shape or size. In this study, we focused on the characterisation of the influence of MSP size on the FBR. To this end we injected monodisperse MSP of defined size (small 5.8 µm, coefficient of variance (CV) 14 % and large 29.8 µm, CV 4 %) and polydisperse MSP (average diameter 34.1 µm, CV 51 %) under the skin of rats. MSP implants were retrieved at day 7, 14 and 28 after transplantation. The FBR was studied in terms of macrophage infiltration, implant encapsulation, vascularisation and extracellular matrix deposition. Although PLGA MSP of all different sizes demonstrated excellent in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility, significant differences were found in the characteristics of the FBR. Small MSP were phagocytosed, while large MSP were not. Large MSP occasionally elicited giant cell formation, which was not observed after implantation of small MSP. Cellular and macrophage influx and collagen deposition were increased in small MSP implants compared to large MSP. We conclude that the MSP size influences the FBR and thus might influence clinical outcome when using MSP as a drug delivery device. We propose that a rational choice of MSP size can aid in optimising the therapeutic efficacy of microsphere-based therapies in vivo.

Multimodal treatment of aggressive forms of breast cancer

Aggressive breast cancer is an invasive form with G3, G4 differentiation degree, the absence of receptors for estrogen and progesterone and the absence or presence of HER2 (+ or 3+) gene. The final diagnosis is established by cumulating the clinical, paraclinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

84 out of 268 aggressive breast cancer cases were presented in the study, which were operated in October 2011-September 2013. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are exposed in the study lot and the treatment schemes.

RESULTS

For the study lot (lot A made up of 36 cases, lot B made up of 41 cases, lot C made up of 7 cases) the distribution was presented on age groups, histopathological and immunohistochemical classification, etiologic factors, type of surgery, postoperative staging and complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of aggressive breast cancer depends on the level of the aggressiveness of the disease, the biologic status and the age that imposes the order of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical treatment and target therapy.

Analysis of several BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in a hospital-based series of unselected breast cancer cases

BACKGROUND

The distribution of BRCA mutations varies significantly between populations. The spectrum of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in breast cancers in the Romanian population is incompletely known. The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of nine BRCA mutations in patients with breast cancer identified in a surgical clinic from Bucharest.

METHODS

Unrelated women diagnosed with breast cancer from Coltea Hospital (n=114) and healthy controls (n = 150) were selected for this study. Seven mutations in BRCA1 (185delAG, 5382insC, 943ins10, E1250X, 1294del40, E1373X, R1443X) and two in BRCA2 (IVS16-2A4G and 6174delT) were tested using PCR based protocols. In addition, the presence of BRCA1 185delAG, BRCA1 5382insC, BRCA2 6174delT mutations were tested with a post amplification mutation detection system, based on the ELISA method.

RESULTS

Two patients with sporadic breast cancer (2%) and one patient with family history of the disease (7.14%) have the BRCA1 5382insC mutation. No other mutation was detected in patient and control groups. The mutations were not present in the control lot.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that BRCA1 5382insC is a common mutation in Romanian women with breast cancer (3 114).

Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by foreign body, a rare complication

Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital disorder that results from an incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct. Meckel's diverticulum may give rise to bleeding, intestinal obstruction and inflammation; however, its perforation by a foreign body is an extremely rare life-threatening complication. We report ona 37-year-old male presenting symptoms and signs of acute abdomen with an initial suspicion of acute appendicitis.However, the right diagnosis was made only during exploratory laparoscopy when the appendix was found to be normal,whereas Meckel's diverticulum was found to be inflamed and perforated by a chicken bone. The patient was treated successfully with laparoscopic resection of the diverticulum, and had an uncomplicated postoperative course.

Local medial microenvironment directs phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells after experimental renal transplantation

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of occlusive vascular diseases, including transplant vasculopathy. Neointimal SMCs in experimental renal transplant vasculopathy are graft-derived. We propose that neointimal SMCs in renal allografts are derived from the vascular media resulting from a transplantation-induced phenotypic switch. We examined the molecular changes in the medial microenvironment that lead to phenotypic modulation of SMCs in rat renal allograft arteries with neointimal lesions. Dark Agouti donor kidneys were transplanted into Wistar Furth recipients and recovered at day 56. Neointimal and medial layers were isolated using laser microdissection. Gene expression was analyzed using low-density arrays and confirmed by immunostaining. In allografts, neointimal SMCs expressed increased levels of Tgf β1 and Pdgfb. In medial allograft SMCs, gene expression of Ctgf, Tgf β1 and Pdgfrb was upregulated. Gene expression of Klf4 was upregulated as well, while expression of Sm22α was downregulated. Finally, PDGF-BB-stimulated phenotypically modulated SMCs, as evidenced by reduced contractile function in vitro which was accompanied by increased Klf4 and Col1α1, and reduced α-Sma and Sm22α expression. In transplant vasculopathy, neointimal PDGF-BB induces phenotypic modulation of medial SMCs, through upregulation of KLF4 in the media to contribute to (further) expansion of the neointima.

[Synchronous gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and multiple digestive neoplasms, benign and malignant]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are a broad category of mesenchymal, non-epithelial primary tumors of the digestive tract, located in the wall of hollow viscera, from the esophagus to the anus and often in adjacent mesentery and omentum. They are clinically unpredictable (may be discovered incidentally during an imagistic investigation or during surgery for other pathological entity, or at necropsy) and also have an unpredictable behavior (GISTs with very low risk, with low or moderate malignancy, which have benign histopathologic features but can recurr or can metastasize). The case we present here represents a rare association between a synchronous gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and multiple gastric benign and malignant tumors.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast--two case reports]

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare type of breast carcinoma with a good prognosis. It represents less than 0,1% of breast carcinomas. We present two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma diagnosed in the Surgical Department of Coltea Hospital in the last 3 years. The first case is a 66 years old patient with a breast tumor that has clinical and imagistic features compatible with a benign diagnosis. The frozen sections established the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma, confirmed by histopathologic examination of paraffin embedded tissue and immunohistochemistry. The second case is a 68 years old patient with a breast tumor located in the central quadrant of the left breast, with skin infiltration. Preoperatory fine needle aspiration is sugestive of a papillary tumor, so the cytologic exam cannot establish malignancy. The frozen sections established the diagnosis of ductal invasive carcinoma and histopathologic examination of paraffin embedded tissue and immunohistochemistry established the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma associated with ductal invasive carcinoma grade I and adenomyoepitelioma. The cytology had a false papillary aspect, in fact there was amorphous material contained in pseudoluminal spaces. In both cases the treatment was surgical resection with tumor excision and free resection margins. In the second case lymphadenectomy was also performed.

MTRR polymorphism and the risk for colorectal and breast cancer in Romanian patients--a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) is influenced by polymorphisms located in the genes encoding enzymes of the folate pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate if A66G MTRR (rs1801394) polymorphism is involved in predisposition for colorectal and breast carcinogenesis in Romanian patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present case-control study, 300 individuals divide in four groups: sporadic CRC patients (n = 120), control CRC (n = 60), BC patients (n = 60) and control BC (n = 60), were genotyped by PCR-RFLP method.

RESULTS

Frequency of genotype AA was 11.7% in CRC control and 5% respectively in BC control. For cancer groups the frequency of genotype AA was 9.2% in CRC and 0% in BC.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results do not demonstrate an association between A66G MTRR polymorphism and CRC or BC in Romanian patients.

Donor and recipient origin of mesenchymal and endothelial cells in chronic renal allograft remodeling

Chronic transplant dysfunction (CTD) is the leading cause for limited kidney graft survival. Renal CTD is characterized by interstitial and vascular remodeling leading to interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and transplant vasculopathy (TV). The origin of cells and pathogenesis of interstitial and vascular remodeling are still unknown. To study graft-versus-recipient origin of interstitial myofibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), we here describe a new rat model for renal CTD using Dark Agouti kidney donors and R26 human placental alkaline phosphatase transgenic Fischer344 recipients. This model showed the development of CTD within 12 weeks after transplantation. In interstitial remodeling, both graft- and recipient-derived cells contributed to a similar extent to the accumulation of myofibroblasts. In arteries with TV, we observed graft origin of neointimal SMCs and ECs, whereas in peritubular and glomerular capillaries, we detected recipient EC chimerism. These data indicate that, within the interstitial and vascular compartments of the transplanted kidney, myofibroblasts, SMCs and ECs involved in chronic remodeling are derived from different sources and suggest distinct pathogenetic mechanisms within the renal compartments.

Expression of EpCAM is up-regulated during regeneration of renal epithelia

The human epithelial cell adhesion molecule (hEpCAM) is involved in epithelial morphogenesis and repair of epithelial tissues. We hypothesized that changes in hEpCAM expression in vivo correlate with regeneration of renal epithelia after ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRi). Unilateral IRi was performed on kidneys of hEpCAM transgenic mice. Changes in hEpCAM expression were investigated by quantitative RT-PCR in renal cortex and medulla dissected by laser dissection microscopy and expression patterns of hEpCAM in regenerating kidneys were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The mechanism of hEpCAM promoter activation was investigated in vitro, by real-time bioluminescent imaging in HK-2 cells and in primary tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. In vivo, the transcription of the human epcam gene significantly increased in the renal cortex during tubular re-epithelialization (p < 0.01). Moreover, the number of tubuli that expressed hEpCAM protein more than doubled in the renal cortex during regeneration. De novo expression of hEpCAM was detected in the S1 segments of proximal tubuli. Under hypoxic conditions in vitro, activity of the hEpCAM promoter was up-regulated two-fold in the HK-2 proximal epithelial cell line. Moreover, both in primary proximal epithelial cells and in HK-2 cells, hEpCAM protein expression was increased after hypoxia and reoxygenation. The significant up-regulation of hEpCAM during post-ischaemic renal regeneration in vivo and during in vitro hypoxia indicates that hEpCAM expression is associated with renal regeneration.

[The sentinel lymph node technique in colorectal cancer using in vivo dye--utility and limits]

The aim of this work is to analyze the importance of sentinel lymph node technique in the treatment of colorectal cancer. There are presented data from literature concerning sentinel lymph node, especially papers about the place of sentinel lymph node method in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This work also shows the experience of Surgical Clinical Department of Coltea Hospital in the use of sentinel lymph node method in colorectal cancer (8 patients with colon cancer and 9 with rectal cancer). There are presented the criteria for inclusion in the study group (26 patients initially proposed for the study) and the exclusion criteria, the diagnostic method using an in vivo dye and the pathology study. The study of the literature and our experience leads to the conclusion that the identification of the sentinel lymph node in colorectal cancer doesn't modify the dissection of the lymphatic area. This procedure may change the adjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer. The discussion is still open concerning the importance of lymphatic micro metastases found by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry methods. More studies are necessary to clarify these problems.

Staphylococcal toxic-shock-syndrome-toxin-1 as a risk factor for disease relapse in Wegener's granulomatosis

OBJECTIVES

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus constitutes a risk factor for disease exacerbation in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). We hypothesized that staphylococcal superantigens (SAg) are a determinant of S. aureus-related risk for disease relapse in WG.

METHODS

In a retrospective longitudinal cohort study in 62 WG patients, we investigated the presence of the staphylococcal SAg genes sea, seb, sec, sed, see, tsst-1 and eta in S. aureus strains isolated from WG patients during an observation period of seven years. Subsequently, we assessed whether relapses of WG were associated with the presence of SAg-positive staphylococci.

RESULTS

Of 1718 swab cultures analysed, 709 (41.2%) were S. aureus-positive. Fifty-one patients carried S. aureus, of whom 37 (72.5%) patients carried at least one SAg-positive S. aureus strain. Of the 709 S. aureus-positive cultures, 326 (46%) contained at least one SAg gene. Except for see, all assessed SAg genes were detected. sea was found most frequently, followed by sec, tsst-1 and eta and finally, by sed and seb. Using a multivariate, time-dependent Cox regression analysis we found that the presence of S. aureus was associated with relapses of WG (RR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2-8.4). The risk for relapse was modulated by the presence and type of SAg, with tsst-1 being associated with an increased risk for relapse (RR 13.3, 95% CI 4.2-42.6).

CONCLUSION

The risk for relapse of WG increases with the presence of tsst-1-positive S. aureus. Eradication of tsst-1-positive S. aureus in WG may show whether disease relapses can be prevented.

Circulating human CD34+ progenitor cells modulate neovascularization and inflammation in a nude mouse model

CD34+ progenitor cells hold promise for therapeutic neovascularization in various settings. In this study, the role of human peripheral blood CD34+ cells in neovascularization and inflammatory cell recruitment was longitudinally studied in vivo. Human CD34+ cells were incorporated in Matrigel, implanted subcutaneously in nude mice, and explanted after 2, 4, 7, or 14 days. Cell-free Matrigels served as controls. Histochemical analyses demonstrated that neovascularization occurred almost exclusively in CD34+ implants. Cellular and capillary density were increased in cell-loaded Matrigels after 2 days and further increased at 14 days. Human CD34+ cells did not incorporate in neovessels, but formed vWF+/CD31+/VEGF+ cell clusters that were present up to day 14. However, CD34+ cells induced host neovascularization, as demonstrated by increased presence of murine CD31+ and vWF+ vasculature from day 7 to 14. Moreover, recruitment of murine monocytes/macrophages was significantly enhanced in CD34+ implants at all time points. Gene expression of chemotactic cytokines MCP-1 and IL-8 was detected on CD34+ cells in vitro and confirmed immunohistochemically in cell-loaded explants at all time points. Our data indicate that human CD34+ cells, implanted in a hypoxic environment, generate an angiogenic niche by secreting chemotactic and angiogenic factors, enabling rapid neovascularization, possibly via recruitment of monocytes/macrophages.

Sex difference in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

BACKGROUND

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is rare and in the past has proved an invariably fatal disease. Female patients have been reported to have an improved survival outcome for reasons that are not understood.

METHODS

The survival of 34 men and 28 women who underwent cytoreduction and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy for DMPM was compared. Twenty-five clinicopathological variables were subjected to univariate analysis.

RESULTS

The women had a 5-year survival rate of 63 per cent and median survival was not reached. The men had a 5-year survival rate of 42 per cent, with a median survival of 32 months (P = 0.045). Women had undergone more extensive previous surgery and had less extensive peritoneal involvement at the time of cytoreduction. Tumours in women more frequently showed a small nuclear size (30 microm or less) and the chromatin pattern was more often granular than clear.

CONCLUSION

Women with DMPM had better survival. This observation may be related to the favourable clinical and histopathological features associated with women.

[The complications of colostomies]

The evaluation of the frequency of complications that arise after colostomies performed for colorectal and genital neoplasm, and also the treatment possibilities for these complications. In Colţea Hospital, Surgical Department during 1984-2002 there have been admitted and surgically treated 891 patients with colorectal cancers, among which, 484 had rectosigmoidal neoplasm. We have treated 25 patients with complicated genital neoplasm (19 rectovaginal and recto-bladder-vaginal fistulas following cervical cancers, 5 pelvic tumoral blocks following ovarian cancers and a vulvar cancer with local invasion). For all these patients we performed: 25 Hartmann resections, 75 Reybard resections, 73 Dixon resections and 147 rectal amputations, with 294 colostomies (30 iliac anus in continuity-Audrey, 18 on a stick, 232 terminal and 14 cecostomies for protection or decompression). There were 48 complications following the colostomies: 10 cases of stenosis, 14 prolapses, 7 intestinal loop necroses and 17 parastomal hernias, all of them surgically managed. Terminal colostomies and colostomies for protection are still frequently used in surgical departments, having strict indications. Because they are frequently performed as emergencies, at patients with poor biological status they are often enough followed by complications, most of them with little gravity. The complications can be avoided by a proper therapeutic choice and in most cases can be managed with a surgical intervention.

[Therapeutic approach in locally advanced and complicated rectosigmoid and genital cancers]

Locally advanced and complicated rectosigmoidian and genital cancers raise many therapeutic problems for surgeons. The most frequently used therapeutic methods nowadays are: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical procedures, immunotherapy and other modern methods that aren't in the current clinical use yet. In a trial of 456 patients with locally advanced and complicated rectosigmoidian cancers and 632 patients with genital cancers we performed 573 (52.6%) radical surgical procedures and 515 (47.4%) palliative procedures, 301 (27.6%) of these being permanent colostomy (257 terminal and 44 in continuity). All of the patients received radiotherapy or chemotherapy pre and/or after surgery. The survival was between 5-7 months in the trial of patients with permanent colostomy, between 12-36 months in the trial of patients with palliative surgical procedures and adjuvant treatment and between 5-17 years in the trial of patients with radical surgical procedures and neo- and adjuvant therapy.

The relation between Staphylococcus aureus and Wegener's granulomatosis: current knowledge and future directions

To date, in the investigation of the role of S. aureus in WG, we face a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, clinical results obtained from treatment of WG patients with co-trimoxazole and studies assessing the impact of S. aureus on disease relapses strongly suggest that this bacterium contributes to disease pathophysiology. On the other hand, laboratory investigation of the possible mechanisms by which S. aureus is involved in WG is scarce, despite the fact that knowledge and tools to study this microorganism are abundant. In the present review, we discuss recent works investigating the possible pathophysiologic contribution of S. aureus to WG. Moreover, we propose a number of possibly relevant pathways of interaction of this bacterium with lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells of the WG host.

[Mini invasive surgery--"a new era"]

Miniinvasive surgery together with general anesthesia, the antibiotherapy and the transplant, the argon laser, the electric and ultrasound scalpel, the mechanical sutures and imagistic techniques are "a new surgical era". The cystoscope Nietze, the Veres needle and the insufflations system with flow and pressure control, the improvement of laparoscopes, the invention of endoscopes with optical fibers, the miniaturized video camera connected to a video monitor and the fabrication of instruments of 10, 3 and 3 mm diameter permitted the rapid develop of miniinvasive surgery. This, from a diagnostic method, progressed with success to therapeutics procedures in the field of general, thoracic, urology, orthopedic, vascular and neurological surgery. The miniinvasive surgery associated with endoscopic surgery resolve some of the illnesses with small tissues lesions, with decreasing the sufferance and the number of complications, also decreasing the hospitalization period and facilitate the socio-professional re-entrance and increasing the quality of life. The miniinvasive surgical practice need good open surgical skills and a "learning curve" for each procedure also need to keep fundamental principium. The conversion is not a fail but an aspect of surgical maturity.

[The rectal cancer--between resection and amputation. Surgeon's decalogue]

The surgeon has the opportunity to use a lot of treatment choices taking into account the site, the progression and the aggressiveness of the rectal tumors. If the treatment of anal cancer have been the same over the last years there are a few problems regarding the rectal cancer, especially for the one, which is distal and locally advanced. The therapeutic choice must take into account the following factors: the site of the tumor, the circumferential invasion, the local and distant spread, the complications and loco-regional recurrences, the anatomical shape of the pelvis, the possibility of developing tumor implants on the residual rectum, the equipment of the hospital, the experience of the surgical team, the accuracy of stoma technique, and the previous results in patients survival. In a trial of 381 patients with recto-sigmoidian and anal cancers we performed 171 rectal amputations, 29 Hartmann procedures and 76 laparotomies and colostomies. From the 276 patients with colostomy 172 (62.31%) were followed. The survival rate was: 6-10 months for the patients with laparotomy and colostomy, 16-24 months for those with palliative procedures (55.8%) and 5-17 years for those with radical procedures. From the point of view of the authors the rectal amputation with colostomy it is an alternative between oncological safety and patients comfort. This kind of surgical procedure must be done in specialized centers excepting the emergencies.

Staphylococcal superantigens and T cell expansions in Wegener's granulomatosis

In Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), a form of autoimmune systemic vasculitis, chronic carriage of Staphylococcus aureus constitutes a risk factor for the development of exacerbations. Circulating T cells in this disease are persistently activated, suggesting the presence of a chronic stimulus. A causal link between chronic carriage of S. aureus and chronic T cell activation in WG is conceivable, because S. aureus produces superantigens (SAg), which are potent T cell stimulators. Superantigenic stimulation of T cells results in expansion of T cell subsets expressing SAg-binding T cell receptor V-beta (Vbeta) chains. In the present study we hypothesized that in WG the presence of staphylococcal SAg is accompanied by expansion of SAg-reacting T cell subsets. We tested our hypothesis in a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study in which the association between seven staphylococcal SAg genes [typed by poplymerase chain reaction (PCR)], eight SAg-binding Vbeta chains and four SAg-non-binding Vbeta chains (assessed by flow-cytometry) was assessed. Both studies showed that T cell expansions were present at a significantly higher rate in WG patients than in healthy individuals, but were not associated with the presence of either S. aureus or its SAg. Moreover, T cell expansions were generally of small extent, and did not appear simultaneously in both CD4 and CD8 subsets. We conclude that in WG S. aureus effects its supposed pathogenic function by a mechanism other than superantigenic T cell activation.

[The place of conservative surgery in the complex oncologic treatment of breast cancer]

For a long time, breast-conserving surgery has been a subject of great interest and debate. Many researchers have tried to find strict criteria in selecting the patients who can benefit from such a treatment but this remains a goal to achieve in the future. In our surgical department, from 1984 to 2000, 1152 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer. 741 patients (64.1%) had advanced breast cancer and 411 patients (35.6%) were diagnosed in I and II stages. From the patients with early breast cancer only 57 (14.1%) had benefited of conservative surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. All patients received hormonotherapy. The surgical treatment consisted in a broad sectorectomy and axillary lymphadenectomy in all cases. We present the criteria for selecting patients in our study. The patients were followed for 2-5 years, with a mean period of 48 months and there were no significant differences between the trial with mamectomy and that with conservative surgery. There is presented a brief review of the literature in this field. Our conclusion is that the conservative surgery for breast cancer is a good method, which can be applied for selected patients and with a good follow-up.

In vitro cytokine production and proliferation of T cells from patients with anti-proteinase 3- and antimyeloperoxidase-associated vasculitis, in response to proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase

OBJECTIVE

To investigate in vitro proliferative responses of CD4+ T cells and generation of specific cytokines induced by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis with the autoantigens proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO).

METHODS

PBMCs from vasculitis patients with PR3 ANCA or MPO ANCA and from healthy controls were stimulated for 7 days with PR3, MPO, or control stimuli. Proliferation of CD4+ T cells was assessed by flow cytometry, using the proliferation marker Ki-67. Levels of the pro-proliferative cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 and of the Th1 and Th2 cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and IL-10 in culture supernatants were determined.

RESULTS

PR3 and MPO induced proliferative responses in CD4+ T cells from individual patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides and healthy controls in vitro. Neither PR3 nor MPO elicited significant IL-2 production. Levels of IL-6 were highest after stimulation with PR3 but low after stimulation with MPO, independent of study group. Stimulation with PR3, and to a lesser extent with MPO, induced a Th2 cytokine milieu, characterized by high production of IL-6 and IL-10 and low production of IFN gamma in patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

PR3 and MPO promote proliferation of CD4+ T cells from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides, but also cross-stimulate T cells from healthy individuals. Strong IL-10 production elicited by PR3 in vitro may act as an inhibitory signal for T cell proliferation and may have an important immunoregulatory function in vivo.

[The therapeutical strategy for locally advanced breast cancer]

As for the other cancers, the strategy of therapy of breast cancers is going to a unitary standardization. In our department between 1984-1999 we are operated 1040 patients with breast cancers, which means 25.3% of all cancers treated. 688 (64.3%) were CMLA, 646 (96.7%) of them were in patients women and 22 (3.3%) men. The mean age was 52.4 years (3-84 years). All patients were divided into two trials and analyzed: retrospectively (A) 312 (46.7%) and prospectively (B) 356 (53.3%) patients, 51.2% of patients was in III and IV TNM stage. The patients from trial B were treated concerning with specific therapeutically protocol, adapted by age, anatomopathological form, volume of tumor, skin or thoracic wall invasion, inflammatory lesions, lymph node invasion and physiological period. The results were: the increase of number of radical surgical interventions, the decrease of the morbidity, the increase of survival and a better quality of life.

[Conversion in laparoscopic surgery]

AIM

The conversion causes evaluation in dynamics.

METHODOLOGY

The study is a retrospective analysis of the conversion to open surgery in 1993-2001 period, indifferently of the moment and the determinant cause. The yearly dynamics of the conversions was divided by operation types and surgeons. There were also analysed the moment and the cause of the conversion.

RESULTS

There were realised 3961 laparoscopic operations (by 7 experienced surgeons and a lot of young surgeons), with 244 conversions (6.2%), percentage variable depending of the operation (3.3% in hernioraphies, 5.3% in cholecystectomies, 8.2% in gynecologic procedures, 12.1% in appendectomies, 33% in abdominal esophagus procedures, 33% in splenectomies) and on surgeon (until 0% and 8%); the differences until the surgeons don't depend on their experience and for the same surgeon, the experience accumulation doesn't reduce the conversion rate. The most conversions happen after a simple inspection or a minimal dissection (73.1% in cholecystectomy) caused by the existence of plastron, the discovery of a difficult anatomic situation or of another pathology; more rarely, the conversion happens in the principal time (23.4% in cholecystectomy), doing to hemorrhage, impossible dissection, visceral injury or even at the end of the operation (3.5% in cholecystectomy), doing to hemorrhage, loss piece or calculs.

CONCLUSIONS

The conversion rate depends especially on the correctness of the indication of laparoscopic approach and not on the surgeon experience, what proves that it is a moment of surgical maturity. Decide from the beginning, in the moment of the recognition of a difficult situation and not after the occurrence of a complication, modifies neither the morbidity, nor the much discussed hospital stay.

[Merkel cell carcinoma]

Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine dermal neoplasm. This study is a retrospective outcomes analysis of two cases of MCC with data regarding clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemistry and also surgical, chimio and radiological treatment. MCC is a rare dermal tumors, this tumors are most predictable found on sunexposed sites. Diagnosis is best accomplished by a thorough clinical evaluation coupled with light microscopy and defined panel of immunohistochemical studies which are necessary for the definitive diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma (cytokeratins, neuron specific enoiase and chromogranin). A lot of other disease must be included in the differential diagnosis. MCC is an aggressive tumor with local or locoregionale extension and distant spread by hematogen or lymphatic way. Surgical excision of tumor and regional lymphadenectomy is the first step of treatment completed with radiotherapy and chemotherapy bat in advanced studies the rate of local or distant recidives is high.

[Pseudomyxoma peritonei (gelatinous peritonitis )]

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (P.P.) is characterised by the presence in the peritoneal cavity of 3 elements--mucinous neoplasic cells, mucinous ascites and diffuses mucinous implants. We analysed the patients treated in our service and we made a literature review. The study is a retrospective analysis on the 1984-2000 period. 6 patients were diagnosed with P.P., 2 females and 4 men, with medial age 63 years (53-75). Clinical findings and biologic analysis were not specific and the imagistic explorers didn't permit the preoperative diagnosis. The patients were submitted to variate surgical procedures, based on the benign (4 cases) or malignant (2 cases) character of the disease and on the origin of the lesions: cystadenoma of the appendix with secondary tumours of the ovary (the 2 females) and, respectively, cystadenoma and cytsadenocarcinoma of the appendix, mucinous paraenteric cyst with pseudomyxoma retroperitonei, mucinous recto-sigmoidian neoplasm (the 4 men). We practiced intraperitoneal chemotherapy with Thio-Tepa in 5 cases (intraoperative in 4 cases) and systemic, with 5-FU and mytomicine, in one case. The operative morbidity and mortality were null. All the patients were follow-up (average 4.2 years). The global 5-year survival rate was 60% (100% in the benign disease and 0% in the malignant form).

CONCLUSION

P.P. is a rare disease, still poorly understood. The origin of the disease is the appendix (70-80%) and less frequently the ovary. It was divided in two distinct forms: disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis. The treatment associates radical surgery and intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia, in specialised centres, but the prognosis still remains poor (50-70% 5-year global survival rate).

Origin of neointimal endothelium and alpha-actin-positive smooth muscle cells in transplant arteriosclerosis

The development of transplant arteriosclerosis (TA) is today's most important problem in clinical organ transplantation. Histologically, TA is characterized by perivascular inflammation and progressive intimal thickening. Current thought on this process of vascular remodeling assumes that neointimal vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells and endothelium in TA are graft-derived, holding that medial VSM cells proliferate and migrate into the subendothelial space in response to signals from inflammatory cells and damaged graft endothelium. Using MHC class I haplotype-specific immunohistochemical staining and single-cell PCR analyses, we show that the neointimal alpha-actin-positive VSM cells in rat aortic or cardiac allografts are of recipient and not of donor origin. In aortic but not in cardiac allografts, recipient-derived endothelial cells (ECs) replaced donor endothelium. Cyclosporine treatment prevents neointima formation and preserves the vascular media in aortic allografts. Recipient-derived ECs do not replace graft endothelium after cyclosporine treatment. We propose that, although it progresses beyond the needs of functional repair, TA reflects the activity of a normal healing process that restores vascular wall function following allograft-induced immunological injury.

Voltammetric determination of L-cysteine at conductive diamond electrodes

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes were used to examine L-cysteine (CySH) oxidation in alkaline media. The results of the voltammetric and polarization measurements showed that at BDD electrodes the overall CySH oxidation reaction is controlled by the initial electrochemical step, i.e., the oxidation of the CyS- electroactive species. The same conclusion was supported by the results of a study of pH effects. Conversely, at glassy carbon (GC) electrodes, the same reaction is controlled by the desorption of the reaction products. These results account for the poor response for CySH determination at GC compared to BDD. It was found that BDD exhibits excellent behavior for CySH determination, clearly outperforming GC. The results demonstrate that measurement of the peak current for CySH oxidation can be used as a basis for simple method for determining CySH in the micromolar concentration range by the use of BDD electrodes.

Recipient origin of neointimal vascular smooth muscle cells in cardiac allografts with transplant arteriosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease is today's most important post-heart transplantation problem after the first perioperative year. Histologically, coronary artery disease is characterized by transplant arteriosclerosis. The current view on this vasculopathy is that vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells from the media of affected arteries proliferate and migrate into the sub-endothelial space (intima) in response to signals from inflammatory cells and damaged graft endothelium. According to this model, the intimal VSM cells in transplant arteriosclerotic lesions should originate from donor tissue. Using recipient-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of microdissected, single, neointimal VSM nuclei, we recently showed that after allogeneic aorta transplantation the neointimal VSM cells are of recipient and not of donor origin. In this study, we analyzed whether VSM-cell replacement with recipient-derived cells also takes place after allogeneic heart transplantation.

METHODS

Cardiac allografts, when transplanted from female donors to male immune-modulated recipient rats, eventually developed transplant arteriosclerosis. We microdissected alpha-actin positive neointimal VSM cells from tissue sections and determined the origin (donor or recipient) using recipient-specific (male), single-cell, PCR analysis.

RESULTS

In total, we analyzed 35 VSM-cell nuclei from 3 allografts, and PCR analysis revealed that 30/35 (86%) of the samples displayed the male-specific 128 base pair DNA fragment. These results indicate that after allogeneic cardiac transplantation, at least 86% of VSM cells in transplant arteriosclerotic lesions are of recipient origin.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to current thought, the neointimal VSM cells in cardiac allografts that show transplant arteriosclerosis are of recipient and not of donor origin.

Most marginal zone B cells in rat express germline encoded Ig VH genes and are ligand selected

The present study was performed to analyze whether marginal zone B (MZ-B) cells in nondeliberately immunized adult rats are selected on basis of the specificity of their B cell receptor, and to determine to what extent memory B cells contribute to the MZ-B cell subset. To this end, the Ig PC7183 V(H) gene repertoire was studied among V(H)DJ(H)-mu transcripts expressed in four sequential stages of B cell development, of two individual untreated adult rats. B cell subsets, i.e., pro/pre-B cells and newly formed B (NF-B) cells from bone marrow, and recirculating follicular B cells and MZ-B cells from spleen were sorted by flow cytometry. In addition, from one these rats, cells were microdissected from follicular and MZ areas of the spleen and productive PC7183 V(H) gene rearrangements were analyzed for the presence of somatic mutations. Sequence analysis reveals that most MZ-B cells in the adult rat, either defined by flow cytometry or by their anatomical location in the spleen, express germline encoded V(H) genes (naive MZ-B cells) and a minor fraction (about 20%) of the MZ-B cells carry somatic mutations (memory MZ-B cells). In addition, we show that naive MZ-B cells are a selected population of cells, both based on PC7183 V(H) gene repertoire and on the length of the Ig heavy (H) chain complementarity-determining region 3 (H-CDR3) region, i.e., PC7183 V(H)DJ(H)-mu transcripts of MZ-B cells carry significantly shorter H-CDR3 regions than other B cell subsets.

[The effects of cicatrizant wound compresses]

Cicatrisant collagen compress are biomaterials performed from type I collagen purified. Experimental studies including trials carried out in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated the biocompatibility of these biomaterials and their effect on accelerating the process of dermic wound re-epithelization. A subsequent stage of our investigations consisted in clinical trial of these cicatrisant compresses. These were applied to post-traumatismal wounds of variable areas or to 2nd and 3rd degree of deeper burns. The obtained results demonstrated that collagen biomaterials as cicatrizing compresses are well tolerated by human organism, they do not cause inflammations, necroses or other undesirable phenomena at the site of application. Also it was found that these biomaterials are not antigenic, since anticollagen type I antibodies were not present in nome of the treated patients' serum and accelerate the epitelization.

Selective voltammetric and amperometric detection of uric acid with oxidized diamond film electrodes

Electrochemically anodized diamond film electrodes were used for selective detection of uric acid (UA) in the presence of high concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) by differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Because the oxidation peak potential for AA is approximately 450 mV more positive than that for UA at anodized diamond electrodes, UA can be determined with very good selectivity. By use of chronoamperometry, linear calibration curves were obtained for UA over the concentration range up to 1 x 10(-6) M in 0.1 M HClO4 solution, with the lowest experimental value measured being 5 x 10(-8) M. This is consistent with the fact that a statistical analysis of the calibration curve yielded a detection limit of 1.5 x 10(-8) M (S/N = 3). AA in less than 20-fold excess does not interfere. The practical analytical utility of the method is demonstrated by the measurement of UA in human urine and serum without any preliminary treatment.

[Technical solving variants of external biliary and pancreatic fistulas]

Two cutaneous postoperative fistulas--pancreatic and biliary--was solved by an anastomosis of maturate fistulas traject with duodenum and respectively an Y jejuno loop (Roux) with good results.

[Considerations on 988 breast cancers]

AIM

Therapy schedule improvement.

MATERIAL & METHOD

The study includes 988 patients (which 16 men) with breast cancer who underwent surgery between 1984-1998. Out of them 63.2% were in advanced stages. The patients were divided in 2 homogenous groups: trial A = 520 patients treated between 1984-1991 (in stade: I = 2, II = 240, III = 246, IV = 32) studied retrospectively, and trial B = 468 patients treated between 1992-1998 (in stade I = 3, II = 212, III = 235, IV = 18) studied prospectively. In trial B the complex therapy schedule was improved according to disease's stade, local breast aspect and patient's biological status, straining on neoadjuvant therapy. To the entire group 945 radical mastectomies (95.6%) were performed. Only 628 (63.5%) could be properly followed up.

RESULTS

Global 5 years survival rate was 72% (improved from 69% in trial A to 72% in trial B). The survival rate varied according the stage from 100% (stade I), 88% (stade II), to 22% (stade III) and 2% (stade IV). In the advanced states, the local recurrencies at 5 years were of 22% and the methastases of 17%.

CONCLUSIONS

The neoadjuvant therapy, selectively applied upon stade and patient improves the 5 year survival rate. Every patient with an advanced breast cancer can benefit of a complex, differentiated and well guided treatment. The adequate operation earn the important role in powering the neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies. Further results improvement requires restarting the collectivities and high risk persons screening.