Duplication of the vermiform appendix

In this brief report, the authors present a case of duplication of the vermiform appendix with appendicitis occurring in both appendices and causing small bowel obstruction.

Regional distribution in the mouse of proteins homologous to artery-specific antigenic proteins (ASAPs)

We have reported the sequences of four novel proteins derived from extracts of human aortic tissue and a cDNA library from human aortic adventitia. These proteins are immunoreactive with serum immunoglobulins from patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and they have homologies of amino acid sequence with microfibrillar proteins of connective tissue. We are reporting separately that two of these proteins are artery-specific antigenic proteins (ASAPs) in man. The present work investigates the regional distribution of these two proteins (AAAP-40 and MatCAM-1) in mouse (E-beta-b). Antibodies were raised in rabbit against polypeptides encoding novel amino acid sequences, unique to these proteins (e.g., not reported in GenBank). Immunohistochemical studies with these two specific antibodies show conspicuous immunoreactivity of collagen-associated microfibrils in the aortic adventitia of the murine abdominal and thoracic aorta. Immunoreactive peptides were not present in brain, muscle, or kidney. These findings support the hypothesis that proteins occur in the mouse that are homologous to a unique family of aortic microfibrillar proteins in man.

Peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis after laparoscopic-assisted anterior resection for early rectal cancer: report of a case

Minimally invasive colon surgery has been shown to be both technically feasible and a safe alternative to laparotomy. Its efficacy for the curative resection of colorectal cancer, however, remains controversial. Of major concern are the increasing reports of port-site recurrence after use of laparoscopic techniques in malignant disease. In this article a heretofore unreported complication of peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis after laparoscopic-assisted anterior resection for early stage rectal cancer is presented. Isolated peritoneal recurrence is rare after curative resection of Stage I rectal cancer. The effect of pneumoperitoneum on tumor dissemination is discussed.