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Bilateral variations in the formation and branching of brachial plexus are rare. Variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves were observed on both sides during the dissection of an 87-year-old Korean female cadaver, whose cause of death was cholangiocarcinoma. The variations found were bilateral, in which each musculocutaneous nerve did not pierce the coracobrachialis muscle. The musculocutaneous nerve was rudimentary in the right arm and all branches arose from the median nerve separately, which corresponds to previous classification type 0-2. In the case of the left arm, the musculocutaneous nerve originated from the lateral cord, but had connections between median and musculocutaneous nerves below the coracobrachialis muscle, which corresponds to previous classification type 1-B-2. To the best of our knowledge, the bilateral variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves in this case have different features from other previous reports. Awareness of the possible variations between median and musculocutaneous nerves is important to both anatomists and clinicians.

Extraosseous osteosarcoma originating from paratesticular soft tissue is an extremely rare type of malignant tumor. With the exception of the present study, only one other case of osteosarcoma originating from paratesticular soft tissue has previously been reported. A 52-year-old man presented with a painless scrotal swelling and palpable mass. The patient underwent left orchiectomy with the diagnosis of testicular tumor. Pathological examination was suggestive of osteosarcoma without any different histological components. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and the patient is currently free of disease.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in mouse colon and to identify the underlying mechanisms of PACAP action. Spontaneous pacemaker activity of colonic ICC and the effects of PACAP were studied using electrophysiological recordings. Exogenously applied PACAP induced hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and inhibited pacemaker frequency in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1 nM to 100 nM). To investigate cyclic AMP (cAMP) involvement in the effects of PACAP on ICC, SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP were used. SQ-22536 decreased the frequency of pacemaker potentials, and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP increased the frequency of pacemaker potentials. The effects of SQ-22536 on pacemaker potential frequency and membrane hyperpolarization were rescued by co-treatment with glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel blocker). However, neither N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-α]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) had any effect on PACAP-induced activity. In conclusion, this study describes the effects of PACAP on ICC in the mouse colon. PACAP inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by acting through ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. These results provide evidence of a physiological role for PACAP in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility through the modulation of ICC activity.

A giant hidradenocarcinoma presented by a 75-year-old female is reported. The patient had a malignant transformation within a nodular hidradenoma involving the right postauricular area, which was treated by mass removal and a right radical neck dissection with a free-flap covering. Malignant hidradenocarcinoma is the least common adnexal tumor of uncertain origin. They are usually malignant from their inception, but some develop from a benign counterpart. To the authors' knowledge, only three cases have been reported previously. Two histologically distinct components were seen in this tumor: (i) typical nodular hidradenoma, which constituted a small part of the tumor; and (ii) carcinoma with areas of transition. The secretory cells of hidradenocarcinoma showed decapitation secretion on light and electron microscopic observations, which is evidence of apocrine differentiation. Histologically, this case was concluded as a hidradenocarcinoma arising from a long-standing nodular hidradenoma. A literature review is presented and the histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features are described.

Background: Of the many prognostic factors for breast cancer, the relationship between an infil tration of inflammatory cells and the prognosis is debatable. Of the chemokines affecting cancer’s inflammatory reactions, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) has attracted attention for its prognostic value in many cancers, including colorectal cancer and renal cell carcinoma. But the situation for breast carcinoma is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the prognostic factors and the CXCL16 expression in patients with breast carcinoma. Methods: The patients (n= 106) diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer of the breast were enrolled. We reviewed the clinicopathological factors of these patients, hematoxylin and eosin stains were prepared and estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ neu) and CXCL16 immunostaining was performed. Results: The ER expression was significantly correlated with age and inflammation. A CXCL16 expression was noted in 81.1% of the cases. No association was evident between a CXCL16 expression and any other parameter, including the survival rate. Multivariate analysis did not implicate ER, HER2/neu or CXCL16 as an independent prognostic factor, but the tumor size was independent predictive factor for the patient outcome. Conclusions: An inflammatory reaction mediated by CXCL16 is not associated with the prognosis of breast cancer or any clinicopathological factors.

Background Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is an extremely rare disease that usually occurs in the parotid gland but can occur in a variety of sites such as the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and base of the tongue. Case presentation We report a rare case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, which developed in the subglottic region. A 78-year-old Korean woman visited our hospital complaining of hoarseness, which had developed 1 month previously. Flexible laryngoscopy showed a round mass that blocked approximately 80 % of the tracheal diameter. Complete excision of the mass was carried out under general anesthesia, using a transoral approach. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma was diagnosed following immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusions We report a rare case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma that occurred in the subglottic region. To the best of our knowledge, only one other case has been reported since this disease was first identified approximately 40 years ago.