Anatomic variations in the biliary tree may not be detected until adulthood and they can cause unexplained jaundice and biliary pain. Recognition of these anatomic variations is important to avoid an incorrect diagnosis and significant ductal injury during biliary surgery. Although there are numerous anatomic bile duct variations, an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct is rare. We report a case of an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct with cholelithiasis, in which the abnormality was identified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and confirmed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the self‐renewing, multipotent progenitors that give rise to all types of mature blood cells. The hallmark properties of HSCs are the ability to balance self‐renewal versus differentiation cell fate decisions to provide sufficient primitive cells to sustain haematopoiesis, while generating more mature cells with specialized capacities. In the present experiment, we optimized the techniques for isolation and identification of hematopoietic stem cells from cow peripheral blood. The objective of this study was to optimize the more accurate methodology for separation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) from peripheral blood and identification of HSCs by using a specific cell surface marker i.e. CD34. A total 10 peripheral blood samples were collected from Holstein dairy cows from jugular vein. We used Ficoll 400 in different concentrations from 1 to 12% and Ficollpaque Plus (1.077 g/ml) at different centrifugation speed and time. After Giemsa staining, we found more than 98% recovery of monocytes with Ficollpaque Plus (1.077 g/ml). It was demonstrated that Ficollpaque Plus (1.077 g/ml) and centrifugation at 400xg for 30 min is the best method for separation of MNCs from bovine peripheral blood. Separated MNCs were immediately subjected for magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) by using CD34 microbead kit. HSCs (CD34+ cells) recovery was 0.307% of peripheral blood. Peripheral blood MNCs and CD34+ cells were morphologically characterized by Giemsa staining. CD34+ cells were also confirmed by immunochemistry using FITC conjugated CD34 antibodies. HSCs were also confirmed by progenitor assay including burst forming unit‐erythroid (BFU‐E), colony forming cells‐ granulocyte (CFC‐G), colony forming cells‐ macrophage (CFC‐M), colony forming cells‐ granulocyte macrophage (CFU‐GM) and colony forming cells‐ granulocyte erythroid macrophage monocyte (CFCGEMM) on Methocult 4435.

Previously, we found that expression by translational fusion of the polyhedrin (Polh)-green fluorescence protein (GFP) led to the formation of granular structures and these fluorescent granules were easily precipitated by high-speed centrifugation. Here, we developed an easy, fast, and mass purification system using this baculovirus expression system (BES). An enhanced GFP (EGFP) fused with Polh gene at the N-terminus including an adaptor and enterokinase (EK) site between Polh and EGFP was expressed in Sf9 cells. The cells infected by AcPolhEKA-EGFP produced fluorescent granules. The EGFP fusion protein was purified from granule-containing cells according to three steps; cell harvest, sonication and EK digestion. Through the final enterokinase digestion, EGFP was presented mainly in the supernatant (93.3%) and the supernatant also showed a pure EGFP band. These results suggest that the combined procedure of Polh fusion expression and enterokinase digestion can used for the rapid and easy purification of other proteins.

May-Thurner syndrome is caused by blockade of local venous flow due to local vascular intimal proliferation, caused by repeated pulsatile compression of the iliac or iliofemoral vein between the iliac artery and the lumbar spine. In this case, we confirmed May-Thurner syndrome using lower extremity computed tomographic angiography and venography. However, on venography, it was impossible to distinguish the left iliac vein from the collateral vein; a thrombus was also seen, although some of the thrombus was not seen clearly. These problems were overcome with use of intravascular ultrasound. We report on intravascular ultrasound guided treatment of May-Thurner syndrome.

May-Thurner syndrome is associated with deep vein thrombosis resulting from chronic compression of the iliac vein against the lumbar vertebrae caused by the overlying common iliac artery. Stent insertion into the compressed lesion is used in treatment of May-Thurner syndrome. Various complications can occur during angioplasty while using a stent. Among these complications, shrinkage of the vein below the stent, a rare complication, was observed in our hospital during treatment of a patient with May-Thurner syndrome. Different complications can occur when venous angioplasty is performed, unlike that when arterial angioplasty is performed.