Systemic analysis for chromosomal instability and inactivation of cell cycle checkpoints are scarce during hepatocarcinogenesis. We studied 24 patients with chronic B viral cirrhosis including 30 cirrhotic regenerative nodules, 35 low-grade dysplastic nodules, 15 high-grade dysplastic nodules, 7 dysplastic nodules with hepatocellular carcinoma foci, and 18 hepatocellular carcinomas. Eight normal livers were studied as the control group. Telomere length and micronuclei were detected by Southern blot and Feulgen-fast green dyeing technique, respectively, and p21 WAF1/CIP1 expression was studied by immunohistochemistry. Micronuclei 41 per 3000 hepatocytes were found in 17% of low-grade dysplastic nodules, 87% of high-grade dysplastic nodules, and 100% of high-grade dysplastic nodules with hepatocellular carcinoma foci and hepatocellular carcinomas in contrast to those of all normal livers, and 90% of cirrhosis showed no micronuclei. The micronuclei index showed a gradual increase during hepatocarcinogenesis and there was a significant increase between cirrhosis and low-grade dysplastic nodules, low-grade dysplastic nodules and high-grade dysplastic nodules, and highgrade dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas. Telomere length showed a gradual shortening during hepatocarcinogenesis and a significant reduction was found in high-grade dysplastic nodules (P ¼ 0.024) and hepatocellular carcinomas (P ¼ 0.031) compared with normal and cirrhotic livers. The micronuclei index was correlated with telomere shortening (P ¼ 0.016). The p21 WAF1/CIP1 labeling index was significantly higher in cirrhosis than in normal livers (P ¼ 0.024) and markedly decreased in low-grade dysplastic nodules, high-grade dysplastic nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas compared with cirrhosis (Po0.05). The p21 WAF1/CIP1 labeling index was associated with telomere length (Po0.001) but not micronuclei index. This study shows that telomere shortening, chromosomal instability, and inactivation of p21 WAF1/CIP1 checkpoint function occur in low-grade dysplastic nodules as well as in high-grade dysplastic nodules, and their cooperation is considered to be critical for malignant transformation during hepatitis B virus associated-multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.

Gene araA encoding an l‐arabinose isomerase (AraA) from the hyperthermophile, Thermotoga neapolitana 5068 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene encoded a polypeptide of 496 residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56 677 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence has 94.8% identical amino acids compared with the residues in a putative l‐arabinose isomerase of Thermotoga maritima. The recombinant enzyme expressed in E. coli was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The thermophilic enzyme had a maximum activity of l‐arabinose isomerization and d‐galactose isomerization at 85°C, and required divalent cations such as Co2+ and Mn2+ for its activity and thermostability. The apparent Km values of the enzyme for l‐arabinose and d‐galactose were 116 mM (vmax, 119 μmol min−1 mg−1) and 250 mM (vmax, 14.3 μmol min−1 mg−1), respectively, that were determined in the presence of both 1 mM Co2+ and 1 mM Mn2+. A 68% conversion of d‐galactose to d‐tagatose was obtained using the recombinant enzyme at the isomerization temperature of 80°C.

Schwannomas, also known as neurinomas or neurilemmomas, are generally benign, slow-growing neoplasms originating in any nerve that has a Schwann cell sheath. These neoplasms are rare among the spindle cell mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, but develop most commonly in the stomach representing 0.2% of all gastric tumors. We present the case of a 57-year-old female patient with a large schwannoma in the stomach that was palpable in the abdomen. She underwent subtotal gastrectomy under suspicion of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), but post-operative histopathological and immunohistochemical findings showed a fascicular arrangement of spindle cell with pallisading nuclei, and positive for S-100 protein with negative smooth muscle actin (SMA). These results confirmed schwannoma as the diagnosis.

Esophageal schwannoma is very rare neoplasm, which is difficult to diagnose by endoscopy or radiologic evaluations. The diagnosis is not confirmed until immunohistochemical tests are performed after a surgeon has resected the lesion. We present the case of a 65-year-old male patient with an esophageal schwannoma having a palpable neck mass and severe dysphagia. The postoperative pathological findings revealed a strong immunoactivity to S-100 protein but negative activity to smooth muscle actin and C-kit. These results support the characteristics of schwannoma in the tumor.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare pathologic condition in the pancreas. The origin of this tumor and characteristic biologic behavior are still under investigation. With the advances of laparoscopic surgery, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery has been accepted as a feasible, safe procedure. Especially, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is regarded as an appropriate treatment option for benign or borderline malignant pancreatic lesions. In addition, the frequency of spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy has been increasing owing to embossing the value of the spleen in terms of its immunologic aspects. In this paper, we present a case of a 39-year-old male patient with solid pseudopapillary with (SPN) and a gallstone who successfully underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen, as well as a simultaneous cholecystectomy for the gallstone. To our knowledge, this case may be the first report of the spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy in an adult male patient with SPN.