• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1833-1840
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• 2013

Metastasis is one of the hallmarks of malignant neoplasms and is the leading cause of death in many cancer patients. A major challenge in cancer treatment is to find better ways to specifically target tumor metastasis. In this study, the anti-metastatic potential of the methanolic extract of Rhizophora apiculata (R.apiculata) was evaluated using the B16F-10 melanoma induced lung metastasis model in C57BL/6 mice. Metastasis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by injecting highly metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells through the lateral tail vein. Simultaneous treatment with R.apiculata extract (10 mg/kg b.wt (intraperitoneal) significantly (p<0.01) inhibited pulmonary tumor nodule formation (41.1 %) and also increased the life span (survival rate) 107.3 % of metastatic tumor bearing animals. The administration of R.apiculata extract significantly (p<0.01) reduced biochemical parameters such as lung collagen hydroxyproline, hexosamine, uronic acid content, serum nitric oxide (NO), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and sialic acid levels when compared to metastasis controls. These results correlated with lung histopathology analysis of R.apiculata extract treated mice showing reduction in lung metastasis and tumor masses. Taken together, our findings support that R.apiculata extract could be used as a potential anti-metastasis agent against lung cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.214-217
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a well-recognized risk factor for thrombotic events in adults but data on children are scarce. In the great majority of adult patients, thrombotic events are usually deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Other sites such as jugular veins are extremely rare. We present a case of Lemierre syndrome in an adolescent girl with active ulcerative colitis and discuss possible risk factors. This is the first reported case of severe Lemierre syndrome with thrombus extension to cranial veins in a patient with ulcerative colitis. Early recognition of Lemierre syndrome in patients who present with rapidly worsening symptoms of neck pain, fever and signs of pharyngitis is imperative because it increases a chance of favorable prognosis. It is important for pediatricians treating IBD patients not to underestimate possible thrombotic events in children with IBD. Recognition of additional risk factors is crucial for prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1989

Forty two patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis, who were admitted to the Yonsei University College of medicine over a period of 18 years from January, 1970 to August, 1988, were analyzed retrospectively. Mean age of the patient was 33.5 year ranging from 6.8 to 60 years old. Male to female ratio was 1.3 to 1. Twenty-one cases [50%] were tuberculous origin [based on either associated pulmonary tuberculosis and/or caseous necrosis in thickened pericardial specimen] and 17 cases [40.5%] were idiopathic [non specific chronic inflammatory change was considered to be idiopathic]. Dyspnea on exertion was evident in 30 cases [71.4%] and abdominal distention in 21 cases [50%]. On physical examination, hepatomegaly [83.3%], neck vein distention [54.8%], distant heart sound [47.6%] and ascites were found. Thirty-nine patients showed low voltage of QRS and/or T wave flattening or inversion on EKG. Thirty-one cases had undergone cardiac catheterization which showed data compatible with chronic constrictive pericarditis. Midsternostomy group [n=15] had shown the most remarkable CVP decline [12.20 mmHg] as compared with bilateral submammary incision group [n=25, 8.96 mmHg] and left thoracotomy group [n=2, 7.75 mmHg] but difference was not significant statistically There was four early death among 42 patients [9.5%] including 3 cases of left ventricular failure and one cardiac tamponade. Main postoperative complications were wound infection [6 cases] and arrhythmia [3 cases]. Follow-up of 24 patients [mean; 55.3 months, ranging from 2 months to 155 months] revealed good functional status.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.277-280
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• 2015

We report the case of a 37-year-old man who suffered from biventricular failure due to left isomerism, inferior vena cava interruption with azygos vein continuation, bilateral superior vena cava, double outlet of right ventricle, complete atrioventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and isolated dextrocardia. Heart transplantation in patients with systemic venous anomalies often requires the correction and reconstruction of the upper & lower venous drainage. We present a case of heart transplantation in a patient with left isomerism, highlighting technical modifications to the procedure, including the unifocalization of the caval veins and reconstruction with patch augmentation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.140-143
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• 2020

Primary cardiac sarcoma is rare, and intimal sarcoma is an extremely rare and highly lethal disease. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman who was incidentally diagnosed with a primary cardiac sarcoma originating from the left atrial appendage and extending to the left superior pulmonary vein. The location of the tumor was very complicated, posing a major challenge for complete resection. We successfully performed complete resection of the cardiac sarcoma via cardiac autotransplantation with left pneumonectomy. The patient recovered uneventfully, without any adjuvant therapy as of 6 months postoperatively. Autotransplantation of the heart may be suggested as a reasonable surgical option for extensive left atrial tumors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.294-300
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• 2012

We investigated the effects of resveratrol on metastasis in in vitro and in vivo systems. 4T1 cells were cultured in the presence of various concentrations (0-30 ${\mu}mol/L$) of resveratrol. For experimental metastasis, BALB/c mice were injected intravenously with 4T1 cells in the tail vein, and were orally administered various concentrations (0, 100, or 200 mg/kg Body weight) of resveratrol for 21 days. After resveratrol treatment, cell adhesion, wound migration, invasion, and MMP-9 activity were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in 4T1 cells (P < 0.05). The numbers of pulmonary nodules were significantly decreased in mice fed the resveratrol (P < 0.05). The plasma MMP-9 activity was decreased in response to treatment with resveratrol in mice (P < 0.05). We conclude that resveratrol inhibits cancer metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, and this inhibition is likely due to the decrease in MMP-9 activity caused by resveratrol.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2021

Treating cardiac injuries following blunt trauma to the chest requires thorough examination, accurate diagnosis, and therapeutic plan. We present two cases; pulmonary vein rupture and left atrial appendage laceration, both as a result of blunt chest trauma. Through these cases, our team learned the importance of maintaining hemodynamic stability during the examination of injured cardiac structures. And based on the comprehensive cardiac examination, a decision to surgically intervene with median sternotomy via cardiopulmonary bypass was made, saving lives of the patient. This report introduces how such decision was made based on what supporting evidence and the diagnostic process leading to the initiation of surgical intervention. This report may help with decision-making process when confronted by blunt cardiac injury patients who need cardiac exploration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 2010

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious disease that causes life-threatening pulmonary embolism and chronic venous insufficiency. Anticoagulation is the standard therapy for DVT. However, the results of standard anticoagulation for treating DVT have been disappointing, so endovascular treatment is commonly performed nowadays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an endovascular procedure for treating patients with DVT. Material and Method: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of 29 DVT patients who underwent an endovascular procedure between December 2006 and July 2008. We compared the results of the 29 patients with the results of another 45 patients who were treated with only aspirin and heparin. Result: The patient’s mean age was 55.4 years in the intervention group and 53.7 years in the control group. DVT occurred more frequently in the females. Catheter-directed thrombolysis was performed in 22 patients (75.8%). Aspiration thrombectomy was performed in 18 patients (62%) and a endovascular stent was placed in 25 patients (86.2%). Fifteen patients (51.7%) underwent percutaneous insertion of a retrievable IVC filter for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. In the control group, thirty nine patients (86.7%) were treated with low-molecular heparin, and seven patients (15.6%) who were contraindicated for warfarin were treated with aspirin. No bleeding complications occurred during thrombolysis or anticoagulation. We analyzed the statistical data according to recurrence of DVT and the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) during the follow-up period. The intervention group had a significantly lower incidence of PTS (p-value=0.008), but they had the same result as the control group for the recurrence of DVT. In addition, death from the DVT did not occur in the intervention group. Thus, we obtained better clinical outcomes in the intervention group as compared to those in the anticoagulation only group. Conclusion: Endovascular procedures are effective alternative modalities, as compared to systemic anticoagulation, for the treatment of DVT. But more studies are needed to determine the specific indications and to validate the long-term efficacy of endovascular procedures for the treatment of DVT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.862-870
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• 2002

The surgical results of the patients with single ventricle(SV) associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TAPVC) has been reported with high mortality and morbidity due to their morphologic and hemodynamic complexity. A retrospective review was undertaken to report the outcome of the first-stage palliative surgery in our institution and to determine the factors influencing early death. Material and Method: Between January 1987 and June 2002, 39 patients with SV and TAPVC underwent surgical intervention with or without TAPVC repair. Age at operation ranged from 1day to 10.7months (median age, 2.4month), and 29 patients were male. Preoperative diagnosis included 20 right-dominant SV, 15 SV with endocardial cushion defect, 3 left-dominant SV, and 1 tricuspid atresia. The pulmonary venous connection was supracardiac in 22, cardiac in 5, infracardiac in 11, and mixed in 1, Obstructed TAPVC was present in 11. First-stage palliative surgery was performed in 37. Repair of TAPVC, either alone or in association with other procedures, was performed during the initial operation in 31. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors influencing the operative death. Result: A mean follow-up period of survivors was 34.3 $\pm$ 43.0(0.53 ~ 146.2)months. Overall early operative mortality was 43.6%(17/39). The causes were low cardiac output in 8, failure of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass in 3, sepsis in 2, pulmonary hypertensive crisis in 1, pulmonary edema in 1, pneumonia in 1, and postoperative arrhythmia in 1. Risk factors influencing early death in univariate analysis were body weight, surgical intervention in neonate, obstructive TAPVC, preoperative conditions including metabolic acidosis, and need for inotropic support, TAPVC repair in initial operation, operative time, and cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time. In multivariable analysis, body weight, age at initial operation, surgical intervention in neonate, preoperative conditions including metabolic acidosis, need for inotropic support and CPB time were the risk factors. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that the patients with SV and TAPVC had high perioperative mortality. Preoperative poor condition, young age, the length of operative and CPB time, the presence of obstructive TAPVC had been proven to be the risk factors. This fact suggests that the avoidance of unnecessarily additional procedures may improve the surgical outcomes of the first-stage palliative surgery. However further observation and collection of the data is mandatory to determine the ideal surgical strategy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.672-679
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• 2001

Background: Surgical correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava has been associated with postoperative venous obstruction and sinus node dysfunction. In this paper we describe our current approach and its short-term results. Material and Method: Between April 1999 and January 2000, 5 consecutive patients, ranging from 2 months to 66 years old, underwent corrective operation for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava at Sejong General Hospital and Daegu Catholic University Medical Center. Surgical correction involved diversion of the pulmonary venous drainage to the left atrium using a right atrial flap(2 patients) or prosthetic patch(3 patients) with division of the superior vena cava superior to the restore site of the pulmonary veins and reimplantation on the right atrial appendage to restore systemic venous drainage. Result: All patients were discharged between postoperative day 9 and 15 without complications. One Russian boy returned to his country, therefore, he was lost to follow-up after discharge. Remaining 4 patients were asymptomatic and in normal regular sinus rhythm at a mean follow-up of 17.75$\pm$4.27 months. Follow-up echocardiographic study (range, 12 to 24 months) revealed no incidence of narrowing of the venous pathways or of residual shunt. Conclusion: Our current approach is relatively simple and reproducible in achieving unobstructive pulmonay venous and SVC pathways. By avoiding incision across the cavoatrial junction, surgical injury to the sinus node and its artery may be minimized. The presented surgical technique can be safely and effectively applied to the selected patients.