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To study the pathogenetic role of Helicobacter pylori, colonization of this organism was attempted in conventional rhesus monkeys. After inoculation of human H. pylori to the gastric mucosa of four 10‐year‐old monkeys, endoscopical and histological examinations were repeated for 10 weeks. The organisms were recovered bacteriologically from all 4 monkeys at the first week, from 3 animals at the 2nd, and from 2 animals at the 6th to 10th week. The endoscopical examination showed only minimum changes in the mucosal appearance such as erythema and erosion due to H. pylori colonization throughout the study. In contrast, the histological examination revealed prominent polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, edema of the mucosa and dissected epithelium at the earlier periods and mononuclear cell infiltration afterwards. The maximum lymphocyte reaction such as clusters or the formation of a thick layer at the bottom of the lamina propria was observed at the 8th week. These results indicated that rhesus monkeys can be infected by human H. pylori resulting in similar pathologic changes in the human stomach, and that this animal model may be useful for future studies.

The multimodality treatment approach for advanced breast cancer provides survival advantages with decreased locoregional and distant recurrences, but these intensive anti-tumour treatments cause severe myelosuppression. Thus, in this study, the usefulness of pre-operative anti-tumour treatment without myelosuppression was investigated. Nine patients with advanced breast carcinoma underwent pre-operative hyperthermic tumour ablation (HTA) using an 8 MHz radiofrequency (RF) heating device (Thermotron RF-8) combined with a grounded needle electrode. The patients had a mean age of 58.3+/-13.9 years and included four patients with stage IIIA, two with stage IIIB and three with stage IV cancer. The target temperature was over 50 degrees C. They tolerated pre-operative HTA therapy well with no early or late complications. The initial mean tumour size was 122.1+/-71.5 cm3 and the post-HTA tumour size was 82.2+/-63.4 cm3; the reduction rate was significant (p = 0.000 293). After the pre-operative HTA, all patients underwent surgery with Level III nodal extirpation. Post-operatively, no locoregional recurrence was observed. Microscopic examination of the primary focus showed complete coagulation necrosis expanding for a diameter of 3.5-5.0 cm. Taken together, the pre-operative HTA was a safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment, achieving tumour reduction as well as complete coagulation necrosis that resulted in a large volume of destruction in breast cancer tissue.

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