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To evaluate if exercise in a young growing model of obesity would be able to reduce adiposity without adversely affecting bone.Obese (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/Fa) male Zucker rats were randomly assigned (n=8-9 rats/group) to no exercise or to a moderate treadmill exercise regimen consisting of a speed of 20 m/min for approximately 1 h, 5 d/wk for 9 wks. Bone morphometry, total bone ash, and bone strength by three-point bending test were determined in the femur and the tibia. Serum alkaline phosphatase was determined using calorimetric enzyme assays. Serum osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and pyridinoline (PYD) crosslinks were measured using enzyme immunoassays. Various blood chemistry measurements were determined including: serum glucose, insulin, and leptin.Growing obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats have long bone ash comparable to lean Zucker rats, although bone size is reduced. Moderate treadmill running successfully reduced body weight without increasing muscle mass, but did not attenuate the reduction in bone growth or promote greater bone mass and strength in obese Zucker rats.Moderate treadmill running for 9 wks successfully reduced the body weight of obese Zucker rats by 7.5% without negatively affecting bone.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is identified as electrophoretic shifts in allele sizes of microsatellite DNA sequences. It is characteristic of a subset of sporadic colorectal tumors as well as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The cells that display MSI are thought to be susceptible to increased mutability. MSI has been detected in a wide variety of human tumors, but the influence of this form of genetic instability on disease initiation and progression remains unclear. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method we screened 50 sporadic primary endometrial carcinomas to characterize the prevalence of MSI in these tumors and analyze the correlation of MSI with clinicopathologic parameters in this malignancy. Fifteen cases (30%) displayed low frequency of MSI (MSI-L) showing MSI at one locus in 5 loci examined. Two cases (4%) showed high frequency of MSI (MSI-H) having MSI at 2 or more loci. Taking MSI-L and MSI-H cases together as MSI-positive, statistical analysis of patient age, tumor grade, and stage failed to disclose significant differences or trends between cases with MSI-positive and MSI-negative (P > 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between patients with MSI and without MSI (P > 0.05), however, the MSI exhibited only in those cases without evidence of disease at the 24th month after treatment. The difference is statistically significant when compared with patients who are alive with disease or died of disease (P < 0.01). However, the overall survival curves were not statistically different. We conclude that MSI is present in a subgroup of endometrial cancer.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of microsatellite instability (MI) in cervical carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics. Study design: A retrospective study of 100 cases of cervical carcinoma. Results: MI, defined as tumor-associated alterations in at least one of five dinucleotide microsatellite markers examined, was detected in 25% of the cervical carcinomas which were observed. There was a nonsignificant trend towards MI occurrence in higher grade tumors, more advanced stage and cases with poor clinical outcome. Conclusion: The results suggest that microsatellite instability is present in a subset of cervical carcinoma and may be an independent prognostic factor. Further research with more samples is required.

The use of minimally invasive surgery continues to evolve in all fields of surgery with new developments in techniques and instrumentation. One instrument that has evolved and become useful in the field of plastic surgery is the balloon dissector. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the balloon dissector in minimally invasive aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. We define the concept of the fascial cleft-the loose areolar space between fascial linings. In addition, the balloon dissector and its use is described. The optical cavity created by the balloon dissector device is discussed, along with the two techniques used to maintain the optical cavity, and manual retraction and carbon dioxide insufflation. The application of the balloon dissector in various regions of the body is discussed along with its use in free tissue transfers. Three patients are presented to illustrate the application of the balloon dissector.