The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Feb 2005
Review Case ReportsGorham disease of the spine: a case report and treatment strategies for this enigmatic bone disease.
Gorham disease is an extremely rare condition of unknown etiology characterized by progressive osteolysis. Only 28 cases of its spinal involvement have been reported, and some of those cases showed kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, subluxation or dislocation. ⋯ In situ posterior fusion with a hook and rod system and iliac bone grafts were performed, but after surgery, he had complete paraplegia and its cause was uncertain. Based on the unfortunate consequence of the present case and the review of the literature, we propose the treatment strategies for spinal Gorham disease.
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The neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) has been recommended for pain relief in patients with upper abdominal cancer by the WHO Cancer Pain Relief Program. In this article, we review the indications, techniques, and adverse effects of NCPB based on the previous findings in the literature and our own experience of 142 NCPBs during the past 11 years. No well-validated indication criteria for the NCPB have been available from invasive trials or non-invasive pain evaluations. ⋯ The diarrhea may counteract the morphine-induced constipation. NCPB relieves visceral pain in upper abdominal cancer with no serious adverse effects. We recommend this procedure to improve the quality of life of the patients suffering from abdominal cancer pain.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 1999
ReviewPathophysiologic significance of host reactions in human cancer tissue: desmoplasia and tumor immunity.
Invasive growth of malignant cells, particularly carcinoma cells, induces host reaction within and around tumor tissue. Representatives of them are desmoplasia, angiogenesis and immune reactions. Desmoplasia, a process of fibrosis, is induced by activation of fibroblasts with increased production of matrix proteins and matrix degrading enzymes. ⋯ T-cells were co-localized with these cells. Clinicopathologic analysis confirmed that CD8+ T-cells distributed within cancer cell nest (intraepithelial) have the most significant impact on the patients' survival in colorectal cancer. These data suggest that various host reactions take place in the stroma of cancer tissue, which modulate the biologic behavior of cancer.