Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and E-cadherin Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Hepatic Metastasis

PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluate the differences of COX-2 expression in patients with synchronous and metachronous hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer. In addition, the expression of COX-1 and E-cadherin were also evaluated. METHODS: Paraffin embedded blocks were obtained from 41 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer with hepatic metastasis. Samples from primary colorectal cancer, synchronous and metachronous hepatic lesions were stained by immunohistochemistry for monoclonal antibody against COX-1, COX-2, and E-cadherin. RESULTS: In colonic COX-1 expression, there was no significant difference in the degree of COX-1 expression between primary colorectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastasis and that of metachronous hepatic metastasis (P=0.507). In colonic COX-2 and E-cadherin expression, the degree of COX-2 expression was not different between the two groups. But, the patient survival rate in the positive group of COX-1 and COX-2 expression was lower than in the negative group, respectively (P=0.023, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The degree of colonic COX-1 and COX-2 expression has an impact on prognosis in synchronous and metachronous hepatic metastasis. Further large-scale study is necessary to determine the meaning of COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer.

Comparison of Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair and Tension-Free Herniorrhaphy Using Perfix(R): Short-Term Follow-Up Results

PURPOSE: Tension-free open repair for inguinal hernia is a safe and popular operation with a high success rate, but laparoscopic techniques are fairly recent. Comparing the tension-free herniorrhaphy using mesh and plug (Perfix(R)) with laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair is the aim of this study. METHODS: We compared two groups of patients in which 39 patients with inguinal hernias were treated by tension-free repair using Perfix(R) (group P) and 39 patients were treated by laparoscopic TEP repair (group T). Information about operation time, length of hospital stay, use of analgesics (pain), recurrence, complications, cosmetic satisfaction, medical costs, and time until return to work were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean operation time, postoperative hospital stay, and the time until return to work were 101+/-33 min, 1.9+/-1.0 days, 11+/-8 days in group T, 86+/-28 min, 2.0+/-0.8 days, 12+/-10 days in group P. Postoperative complications, medical costs and the cosmetic satisfaction were 20.5%, 821,048 won, 94% (32/24) in group T, 7.7%, 692,149 won, 79% (19/24) in group P. There was difference between the two groups but not significant statistically. Group P used more analgesics than group T, significantly (P<0.05). There was only 1 recurrence in group T. CONCLUSION: Although we need more experience in patients with inguinal hernias, laparoscopic TEP repair may be a secure and feasible procedure compared to tension-free repair using Perfix(R).

Expression of Fascin in Gallbladder Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract in Koreans. However the exact histopathological characteristics and its carcinogenesis are not well understood. Fascin is an actin bundling protein, and it induces membrane protrusions and increased cell motility in various transformed cells. The expression of fascin is known to be greatly increased in various human neoplasms, but its expression in gallbladder carcinoma is unknown. METHODS: A total 110 cases of gallbladder carcinoma, six cases of carcinoma in situ and 10 cases of chronic cholecystitis were immunohistochemically studied to evaluate the expression of fascin in the light of its relationship with various prognostic factors. RESULTS: Seventy eight gallbladder carcinomas (70.9%) showed positive staining for fascin, but none of the chronic cholecystitis and carcinoma in situ was positive. Fascin was strongly stained in the cytoplasm of the cancer cells. The adjacent normal mucosa was negative for fascin staining. There was a significant correlation between lymph node metastasis (P=0.039) and the presence of residual tumor (P=0.016) but there was no significant correlation between age, gender, tumor invasion, histologic difference, neural invasion, lymphatic invasion, stage and recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate of the fascin positive and negative groups were 48.5% and 53.8%, respectively (P=0.236). On the multivariate analysis, a fascin expression was not significant. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a fascin expression is strongly associated with neoplastic progression in gallbladder carcinomas and fascin positive gallbladder carcinomas show more aggressive behavior.

Liver Metastasis Mimicking Cholangiocarcinoma from Colon Cancer

There are very few reports on the intrabiliary growth of a liver metastasis from a colorectal cancer. The clinical and radiographic findings resemble those of a cholangiocarcinoma. We encountered a surgically resected case of a metastatic liver tumor with prominent intrabiliary growth derived from ascending colon cancer. The patient was a 55 year-old man with ascending colon cancer who showed a cholangiocarcinoma at segment IV of the liver with a mild dilatation of bile duct. He underwent a left hemihepatectomy and right hemicolectomy. The resected specimen of the liver showed a mass with intraductal growth at segment IV. The histological findings demonstrated it to be a metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Biliary Cystadenoma and Cystadenocarcinoma

Biliary cystadenomas are rare cystic neoplasms of the biliary ductal system. Cystadenomas have a tendency to recur, particularly following their incomplete excision, with the potential for malignant transformation. Cystadenocarcinomas are very rare and; despite complete resection, can recur in a short time. A cystadenoma cannot be easily differentiated from a cystadenocarcinoma preoperatively or intraoperatively; therefore, complete surgical resection should be always considered. Four biliary cystadenoma and one biliary cystadenocarcinoma cases, treated at the Kyung Hee Medical Center, between 1998 and 2003, are reported. The patients were comprised of one man and four women, with a mean age of 45 years. Four patients presented with abdominal pain or jaundice, and the other was asymptomatic, with an incidentally discovered liver tumor. Preoperative CT scans demonstrated a multilocular cyst in four patients and a choledochal cyst-like appearance in the other. All patients underwent complete excision. One cystadenoma arose in the extrahepatic bile duct and the other four appeared in the liver. A histological examination revealed a mesenchymal stroma, which resembling ovary, in two cystadenomas. None of the four patients with a cystadenoma developed a recurrence. However, the patient with a cystadenocarcinoma underwent two pulmonary wedge resections for pulmonary metastases 14 and 21 months after the liver resection.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Bile Ducts

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the bile ducts (IPMNs-B) are uncommon lesions that are characterized by innumerable papillary fronds that contain fine vascular cores, enriched mucin production and bile duct dilatation. IPMNs-B are histologically similar to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas and they are occasionally associated with hepatolithiasis. IPMNs-B are considered to be relatively low-grade malignancy and they merit consideration for aggressive surgery. Thus, early and precise diagnosis is important to maximize patient survival. From July 2002 to March 2006, we identified four patients with IPMNs-B at our hospital. In three patients, intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct stones were associated with their condition. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiography were done in all four cases and this demonstrated marked dilatation of the biliary tree. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was done in two cases and a large amount of mucin that was draining from the patulous orifice of the duodenal papilla was seen on endoscopy. However, two cases were initially misdiagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or choledochal cyst with intrahepatic bile duct stones. All the cases underwent ipsilateral hemihepatectomy with caudate lobectomy. Histologically, one case showed to be adenoma, one case was borderline and two cases were invasive adenocarcinoma.

Surgical Treatment of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumor of the Pancreas

OBJECTIVE: The clinical features and prognosis of intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas are diverse. We reviewed the clinicopathologic features and surgical results of patients who were treated for IMPT. METHODS: WE retrospectively reviewed seven cases that were surgically resected and pathologically diagnosed. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 63.7 years and there were 6 (85.7%) symptomatic patients. The diagnostic accuracy of abdominal CT was 57.1% (n=4) and the was 71.4% (n=5). (Ed note: the last part made no sense. Put in the correct terms.) The final diagnosis was benign IPMT in 4 cases (57.1%), malignancy in 3 cases (42.9%, and borderline malignancy, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma in one case each, respectively). Three cases each of pylorus preserving panreaticoduodectomy (42.9%) and distal pancreatectomy were performed (42.(%), respectively, and 1 pancreatic wedge resection (14.3%) was performed for 1 case. Three patients (42.9%) were found to have associated malignancies. The median follow-up duration was 10 months (range: 3-25). Four patients are still alive and 3 patients have died, but only one patient died of systemic metastasis. CONCLUSION: The clinicopathological features, treatment, and prognosis of IPMT are still unclear, but the significant possibility of malignancy and associated malignancies should always kept in mind and further study is required

Expression and Mutation Analysis of RKIP (Raf-1 Kinase Inhibitor Protein) in Human Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: RKIP (Raf kinase inhibitor protein) is a novel candidate tumor suppressor, known to inhibit the MAPK signaling by interfering with the MEK phosphorylation by Raf-1. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RKIP and analyze the pattern of inactivation and mutation of the RKIP gene in human gastric cancer. METHODS: To explore if RKIP inactivation is implicated in gastric tumorigenesis, an expression analysis on the transcription and protein expression levels and a mutational analysis of RKIP were performed in 15 human gastric cancer cell lines and 92 primary carcinoma tissues. RESULTS: Abnormal reduction of the level of RKIP expression was frequently detected in the cancer cell lines and primary tumor tissues, at both the transcript and protein levels. Moreover, the expression level of RKIP in the tumor cells was inversely correlated with the level of Erk phosphorylation, indicating that RKIP plays a key role in the regulation of the Raf-MEK-Erk signaling pathway in human gastric cells. While the expression of the RKIP transcript was not re-activated in low expressor cells by treatment with the demethylating agent 5'Aza-dC, the genomic RKIP was detected at low levels in many cancer cell lines, suggesting that an abnormal reduction of level of RKIP expression in tumors might be caused by allelic deletion of the gene rather than transcriptional silencing due to aberrant DNA hypermethylation. A loss of heterozygosity study, using an intragenic polymorphic marker, revealed that approximately 21% of the gastric cancers harbored allelic loss of the RKIP gene. CONCLUSION: Collectively, this study has demonstrated that RKIP is a tumor suppressor, whose expression is frequently downregulated by allelic deletion in human gastric cancers. This study also suggests that an altered expression of RKIP might contribute to the development of gastric cancer via abnormal elevation of the Raf-Erk signaling pathway.

Comparison of Laparoscopic and Conventional Open Resection of Pheochromocytoma

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) has become the standard treatment for benign adrenal neoplasm because of the procedure's minimal invasiveness and the patients' earlier recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for treating pheochromocytoma. METHODS: 19 Operations were performed between March 1993 and July 2004 at Kyung-Hee medical center for treating pheochromocytoma, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the postoperative pathology. There were 5 cases treated with LA and 14 cases treated with open adrenalectomy (OA). The various clinical parameters (tumor location, tumor size, first oral feeding, hospital stay, hemodynamic change and operation time) were compared between the LA and OA procedures, retrospectively. RESULTS: The location of the tumor was 2 : 2 : 1 (left : right : extra-adrenal) in the LA group and 9 : 3 : 2 (left : right : both) in the OA group. The mean tumor size (cm) was 5.4 in the LA group and 6.3 in the OA group. The mean operation time (minutes) was 219 in the LA group and 202 in the OA group. The resumption of liquid diet (days) was 2.2 in the LA group and 3.0 in the OA group (P=0.037). The postoperative hospital stay (days) was 6.3 in the LA group and 8.5 in the OA group. The mean number of intraoperative hypertensive crisis was 1.42 in the LA group and 1.40 in the OA group. The number of cases requiring intraoperative transfusion was 2 of 5 in the LA group and 2 of 15 in the OA group. The use of antihypertensives (number of times) was 1.42 in the LA group and 1.40 in the OA group. The mean highest BP (mmHg) was 162 in the LA group and 165 in the OA group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for treating pheochromocytoma is a safe and effective procedure that provides the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.

Portal Pyelophlebitis Associated with Acute Appendicitis

Portal pyelophlebitis is extremly rare in its incidence and associated with high mortality. It usually occurs secondary to infection in the region drained by the portal systems or in the structure contiguous to the portal vein. We report two cases of septic thrombophlebitis of the portal and superior mesenteric veins caused by acute appendicitis. Both the patients had good outcomes after medical and surgical treatment. An early diagnosis and treatment are vital for the good treatment results.

Clinical Analysis of Urachal Anomalies

PURPOSE: Although relatively rare, urachal remnants manifest as a large number of diverse disorders, which can lead to a high misdiagnosis rate. Because of the many clini-cal pre-sentations, there are no uniform guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of urachal remnants. We report our experi-ence with urachal anomalies in an attempt to establish an optimal diagnostic and treatment modality. METHODS: Fifteen patients (6 males and 9 females), who had undergone surgery for urachal anomalies from December 1988 to July 2004, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The patients' age ranged from 1 day to 71 years old. The 3 variants of urachal anomalies included a patent urachus in 1 patients (7%), urachal sinus in 5 (33%), and an urachal cyst in 9 (60%). The presenting complaint was a low abdominal mass in 6 patients, abdominal pain in 5, periumbilical discharge in 3, fever in 3, and periumbilical urination in 2. Four combined anomalies were observed in 4 patients. The diagnostic evaluation included fistulography in 3 cases, sonography in 12, and CT in 3. Excision was performed in 12 patients. CONCLUSION: Urachal anomalies most often present in infancy, and can be diagnosed and treated with certainty if a good physical examination and proper imaging studies are performed. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for urachal anomalies.

Primary Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor with Hepatic Metastasis

Gastric neuroendocrine tumor is an uncommon entity, and it constitutes less than 1% of all neuroendocrine tumors and less than 2% of all gastric neoplasms. Regardless of its origin, approximately 75% of the patients with neuroendocrine tumors will develop liver metastasis. We report here on two cases of primary neuroendocrine tumor with hepatic metastasis. A 37-year-old-man presented with chronic and intermittent abdominal pain in the epigastric area. He was diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine tumor together with hepatic metastasis, based on the imaging studies and the octreotide scan. Subtotal gastrectomy and right hemihepatectomy was done and the patient was discharged on the postoperative 15th day without any complication. Another 41-year-old man presented with abdominal discomfort and a RUQ palpable mass. He was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma based on the abdominal computerized tomography (CT). However, we incidentally found a gastric mass in the operating field and subtotal gastrectomy was then done. The pathologic report was large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The patient was discharged on the postoperative 19th day without any complication.

Esophago-Gastric Devascularization in Portal Hypertension

PURPOSE: Bleeding from esophago-gastric varices needs urgent treatment. Esophageal varix bleeding usually was controlled by intervention, but rebleeding rate was high. Gastric varix bleeding is unable to be controlled by intervention. Recently, newly developed methods for varix bleeding controll have been used, but surgical intervention is still advocated. We report our experience with esophago-gastric devascularization for bleeding control in portal hypertension and its effectiveness. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed on 32 cases who underwent esophago-gastric devascularization in portal hypertension at Kyuung Hee University Hospital from Nov. 1990 to Feb. 2004. Author analyzed characteristics & patients, causes of portal hypertension, liver function reserve, operation methods, perioperative finding, complications and factors determining postoperative mortality. RESULTS: Sex ratios of male to female was 5.4:1. The ages were ranged from 25 to 70 years old with mean age of 50.5. Postoperative complication rate was 40.6% (13/32) and those were recovered by conservative management. There was one case of recurrent bleeding at 9months postperatively (3%). Mortality rate was 4% in Child-Pugh group A and B, and 57% in group C. The overall mortality rate was 15%. Preoperative hepatic reserve (P<0.05) & preoperative blood pressure (P<0.05) was a significant factors. A mean follow up period is 18.7 months. CONCLUSION: In our study, esophago-gastric devascularization in portal hypertension showed good results with 3% rebleeding rate and 85% overall survival rate. Esophago-gastric devascularization was effective method for esophago-gastric varix bleeding.

Diagnosis and Prognosis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Stomach

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common form of mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have improved the treatment of GISTs, and their diagnosis facilitated by immunohistochemical markers. The aim of this paper was to study the clinicopathological features of GISTs of the stomach and determine the accuracy of a new grading system and the prognostic factors. METHODS: Patients with mesenchymal tumors of the stomach, operated on between 1982 and 2004, were identified using medical and pathological files. Immunohistochemical staining for KIT (CD117), CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin and s-100 protein were performed, and the diagnoses reviewed. Cases were classified into either the very low, low, intermediate or high risk groups according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus symposium. RESULTS: 78 mesenchymal tumors were reanalyzed, and with the supportive use of immunohistochemical markers, 71 (91%) of the gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors were shown to be GISTs. The tumors often coexpressed KIT and CD34 (90%) and were variably positive for SMA (18%), s-100 protein (11%) and desmin (23%). With a median follow-up of 73.9 months (range 1~228 months), a recurrence occurred in 10 (14%) patients. Analyses demonstrated that the mitotic index (P<0.001) and tumor size (P<0.001) were significant prognostic factors for survival. The new grading system showed a significant difference between the risk groups and the survival rates (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining is needed to distinguish GISTs from other mesenchymal tumors. The tumor size and mitotic count are significant prognostic factors for GISTs. The new grading system (2001 NIH) for classifying the 4 risk groups of GISTs, according to the tumor size and the mitotic count, is useful in the evaluation of the tumor behavior.

Effect of Estradiol-induced E2IG5 on Breast Cancer Cell Line

PURPOSE: Estrogens control the development and cell proliferation of various tissues including the normal mammary epithelial cells, where they induce the expression of the immediate and delayed hormone-responsive genes. The proliferative effects of estrogen have been attributed to its ability to increase the expression of the key cell cycle regulatory genes responsible for cell cycle progression. However, the regulation of cell proliferation is only one aspect of estrogen function. It has also been well documented that estrogen plays a critical role in the etiology and progression of human breast and gynecological cancers. This tumorigenic effect of estrogen might be associated with its anti- apoptotic activities such as of Bcl-2 induction. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of E2IG5, which is an estrogen-induced downstream effector molecule, in breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: This study shows that E2IG5 is a pro-apoptotic protein that is localized to the mitochondrial membrane via two distinct transmembrane domains. When over-expressed, it induces a mitochondrial permeability transition with the resultant of release cytochrome c and caspase activation. However, three out of four breast cancer cell lines lost their estrogen dependence of E2IG5 expression, which suggests the possible involvement of E2IG5 in the development of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that breast cancer cells may loose their pro-apoptotic signals and selectively use the proliferative mechanism of estrogen, which drives the normal mammary epithelial cells to transform into cancer cells. Further studies using breast cancer tissues will be needed.

Surgical Experiences with Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Stones / 한국간담췌외과학회지

PURPOSE: Biliary stones, situated in the proximal sites from the confluence level of the right and left main bile ducts, are considered to be intrahepatic stones. Synonyms include hepatolithiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. The exact etiology of this condition is unknown, but it causes serious problems, such as obstructive jaundice, cholangitis and liver abscesses and so on. Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice for intrahepatic stones. With improving techniques in hepatobiliary surgery and aggressive surgical treatment, the outcome of intrahepatic stones has improved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes after a hepatectomy for intrahepatic stones. METHODS: 77 patients underwent hepatic resections due to intrahepatic stones at the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University between January 1996 and December 2002. The surgical outcome and follow-up were analyzed by a retrospective clinical review. RESULTS: The gender ratio of the patients was 1: 1.9 male to female, with a mean age of 54-years. The most common preoperative symptom was RUQ pain (81.8%). Concomitant diseases were common bile duct stones (53.2%), gallstones (23.4%), liver abscesses (7.8%), malignant neoplasms (6.5%) and choledochal cysts (5.2%). Nineteen patients (24.7%) had a history of cholecystectomy and 2 (2.6%) had had a hepatectomy at other hospitals due to intrahepatic stones. The stone locations were the right hemi-liver 18.2%, the left hemi-liver 66.2%, especially the left lateral section 44.2%, and bilaterally 15.6%. The operation methods were as follows; a right hemihepatectomy in 11 patients (14.3%), a posterior sectionectomy in 3 (3.9%), a left hemihepatectomy in 14 (18.2%), a lateral sectionectomy in 42 (54.5%), segmental resections at both lobes in 7 (9.1%) and biliary-enteric bypass in 24 (31.2%). The most common complication was wound infection (26.0%). Two patients had remaining stones and 1 had recurrent stones 4 years later. The morbidity and mortality were 42.9 and 1.3%, respectively. With a mean follow-up period of 49.6 months, 59 patients (76.6%) were free of symptoms. 15 patients (19.5%) had mild to moderate RUQ discomfort or pain, but no detectable stones on radiological studies. 3 patients (3.9%) needed admission for severe symptoms, one due to recurrent stones, but the others had no abnormal findings. CONCLUSION: There was low mortality, despite the high complication rates with hepatic resections for intrahepatic stones. Low rates of remaining stones and recurrence of intrahepatic stones can be achieved.

A Case of Non-traumatic Hemobilia due to Warfarin Therapy / 대한소화기학회지

Hemobilia is a hemorrhage into the biliary tract that may follow surgical trauma, liver biopsy, aneurysms, extra- or intra-hepatic tumors of the biliary tract, gallstones, and inflammatory lesion of liver, especially helminthic or pyogenic. Sometimes, it is associated with primary liver cancer. An 84 year-old woman was admitted because of continuous right upper quadrant pain 4 days before admission. Physical examination revealed decreased skin turgor, icteric sclerae and severe tenderness on right upper quadrant abdomen. She had no hepatosplenomegaly, and no rebound tenderness. She has been taking warfarin for 3 weeks before admission because of atrial fibrillation. On admission, serum bilirubin and transaminase were elevated. The level of hemoglobin and hematocrit were 11.3 g/dL and 37.4%, respectively. HBsAg was negative, but IgG anti-HBc and anti-HBs were positive and anti-HCV was negative. Parasite skin test and stool ova count demonstrated non-specific findings. Stool occult blood was strongly positive, and prothrombin time was markedly prolonged. According to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, common bile duct was dilated, and filled with blood clot but there was no stone in bile tree. After two weeks, serum transaminase, bilirubin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and CA19-9 were normalized. We report a case of hemobilia, occurring in a patient with continuous warfarin use.

Traumatic Perilymphatic Fistula Presenting with Direction-Changing Positional Nystagmus

Diagnosis of perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is considered in the patient presenting hearing loss associated with ataxia after penetrating injury of the tympanic membrane. PLF accompanies mixed type hearing loss and paralytic nystagmus. If audiovestibular symptoms and signs are not definite for those patients, in whom PLF is highly suspicious, they can be induced by affected ear down position. The direction of nystagmus induced by position change was reported either toward or away from the affected ear. But the direction changing nature has not been noted in the previous literature. We report on a case of traumatic PLF presented with direction changing positional nystagmus and discuss the possible mechanism involved in this case

Significance of Plasma Homocysteine Concentration in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an important risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Previous reports have identified that elevated total homocysteine levels are associated with the development and progression of PAD, though little is known about its mechanism. Especially hyperhomocysteinemia is known to an independent risk factor for PAD. In this study, we examined the relationship between plasma homocysteine concentration and disease progression and disease severity in a patient with PAD. METHOD: We retrospectively analysed the clinical records of 65 patients, who were diagnosed with arteriosclerosis obliterans, for sex, mean homocysteine concentration, relationship between plasma homocysteine concentration and disease severity and disease progression at Kyung-Hee University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2003. Homocysteine level of 28 healthy adults was measured to identify normal value. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a plasma homocysteine concentration exceeding the 95th percentile of the control group (> or =13.8mumol/L). RESULT: The study group comprised 56 men (86.29%) and 9 (13.8%) women. The mean plasma homocysteine concentration was higher in study group than in controls (11.4mumol/L vs. 10.03.mumol/L, P=0.06). Hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly more common in the disease progression groups (P=0.028). Mean plasma homocysteine concentrations associated with disease severity, according to the Rutherford classification, were 8.33mumol/L, 9.59mumol/L, 12.64 mumol/L and 14.17mumol/L at Grades 0, I, II and III, respectively. The high grade patients were significantly more likely to have high plasma homocysteine concentration (P=0.04). Plasma homocysteine concentration according to associated disease was 10.79mumol/L in patients with PAD alone, 10.88 mumol/L in patients with CVD, 15.02mumol/L in patients with CHD, and 14.99mumol/L in patients with both CVD and CHD. In patients associated with CHD, plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly higher (P=0.035). CONCLUSION: In this study, plasma homocysteine concentration was higher in patients with PAD than in controls. Especially, there was a high rate of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients associated with CHD. Progression of PAD was more likely in patients with elevated plasma homocysteine. The high-grade patients were more likely to have high plasma homocysteine concentration. Therefore, the measurement of plasma homocysteine concentration in patients with PAD is expected to be useful in making prognosis. However, a prospective, randomized study is necessary to prove the effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy in delaying disease progression.

Results of Femoro-Below Knee PTFE Bypass Graft

PURPOSE: Saphenous vein allografts are used for femoral-below knee bypass graft purposes in chronic lower limb ischemia. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an acceptable material for bypass graft, when it is difficult to gain a suitable vein for the graft material, such as the great saphenous, small saphenous, or arm vein. However, some controversy exists as to whether PTFE is equivalent to the saphenous vein as bypass graft material for femoral below knee revascularization. A retrospective analysis was performed to obtain results about femoral-below knee bypass graft using PTFE in chronic lower ischemia patients. METHOD: Between July 1992 and June 2002, 56 patients with chronic lower limb ischemia underwent femoral-below knee bypass graft. The results of treatment were analyzed retrospectively by the patients's clinical records. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate patency rate. RESULT: There were 52 men and 2 women, of mean age 66.6 years. The primary patency rate was 65.6%, 44.9%, 38.0%, and 34.0%, and the secondary patency rate was 85.7%, 72.0%, 72.0%, and 56.1%, after 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The limb salvage rate was 78.8% in severe lower limb disease, such as disabling claudication, non-healing ulcer, and gangrene. The major amputation rate was 14.3%. There was no mortality within one month after bypass operation. The primary and secondary rates were not correlated with diabetes, inflow procedure, or severity of lower limb ischemia. CONCLUSION: The overall results of this study show that PTFE grafts have an acceptable patency rate when used for femoral-below knee bypass surgery in patients with chronic lower limb ischemia. This study suggests that early diagnosis of occlusion in graft and adjuvant procedures offers improved patency and limb salvage rate.