No abstract available.
Humans

OBJECTIVE: Even though paramedian approach has advantages over other surgical approaches for lumbar extraforaminal disc herniations, this approach has limitations for lumbosacral extraforaminal disc herniations because of narrow operative bony window. This case report is presented to describe the modified paramedian tangential approach for lumbosacral extraforaminal disc herniations(focused on surgical technique and efficacy of this approach). METHODS: Two patients with lumbosacral extraforaminal disc herniations were operated using paramedian tangential approach. RESULTS: Using this new approach, lumbosacral extraforaminal disc herniations could be operated with safety and minimal amount of nerve root manipulation. CONCLUSION: This paramedian tangential approach seems to be one of good surgical options for lumbosacral extraforaminal disc herniations.
Humans

PURPOSE: To compare the response of dry eye treatment in patients divided by the degree of lower lid laxity. METHODS: Thirty patients were classified into three groups - normal, moderate and severe, according to the degree of lower lid laxity. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test (ST), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores and changes in OSDI score in each group were compared before and at 3 months after the treatment. RESULTS: TBUT, ST and OSDI scores were not different among the three groups at baseline. TBUT improved to 6.60 +/- 1.43, 6.0 +/- 2.54 and 6.0 +/- 1.45 sec in normal, moderate and severe lower lid laxity group, respectively at 3 months after the treatment and no difference among the groups was found. ST scores did not increase after the treatment, while OSDI scores improved to 12.20 +/- 1.40, 16.10 +/- 4.63 and 20.80 +/- 4.52 in each group, respectively and they were significantly different (p = 0.029, 0.029, <0.001, respectively). The response to the dry eye treatment as assessed by changes in OSDI scores was poorer in patients in the severe lower lid laxity group (p = 0.019 vs. moderate laxity group, <0.01 vs. normal group). CONCLUSIONS: As the degree of lower lid laxity increases, the response to dry eye treatment becomes poorer even when TBUT increases.
Humans

Bcl-2 is a proto-oncogene initially described in follicular lymphoma, associated with chromosomal translocation(14;18). Recent studies have shown the presence of Bcl-2 in nonhematolymphoid tissue, especially in hormonally responsive tissue. The endometrium is an attractive model for studying the hormone dependent regulation of Bcl-2 expression. We have studied the immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in relation to the immunoreactivity of estrogen receptors(ER) and progesterone receptors(PR) by immunohistochemistry in 52 human endometrial carcinomas, according to nuclear grade. The results obtained are summarized as followings, 1) Immunohistochemical grade of Bcl-2 showed a significant inverse correlation with nuclear grade. 2) Immunohistochemical grades of ER and PR also showed a significant inverse correlation with nuclear grade, and were well correlated with each other. 3) Immunohistochemical grades of Bcl-2 and hormone receptors showed a strongly significant correlation. On the basis of the above results, we suggest that Bcl-2 expression may be under hormone dependent control and that it can be used in prognosis and choice of hormonal therapy in the presence of hormone receptor.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

Sequential development pattern of the intrahepatic bile ducts is analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically using 50 embryonal and fetal liver specimens. Serial sections are made to reconstruct the intrahepatic biliary system, and monoclonal antibodies were used for differential antigenic expression of the biliary system. By 9 weeks of gestation a layer of small round cells, namely plate cells, became first noticed around large portal vein branches close to the hepatic hilum. These plate cells extended subsequently to more distal branches. The ductal plates became duplicated to contain cleft-like spaces and tubular structures. These tubules gradually became incorporated into surrounding connective tissue around the protal vein, and gave the appearance of the individualized bile duct. At term(40 weeks of gestation) the smallest branches of the portal vein were still surrounded by a discontinuous ductal plate. The ductal plate cells showed strong positive reaction for CAM 5.2 and AE1/AE3. They also expressed CK 19 and AE1 from 9 weeks of gestation on. The immunoreactivity of bile duct cells for cytokeratins persisted throughout the whole gestational period. Carcinoembryonic antigen was expressed along the luminal border of the bile duct, duplicated ductal plate and intrahepatic bile canaliculi. Laminin was demonstrated along the basement membrane of the bile duct cells from 9 weeks of gestation. Few duplicated ductal plates were composed of two different types of cells, duct-like cells and hepatocyte-like cells. The duct-like cells and hepatocyte-like cells showed same imrhunoreactivity with the hepatocytes and the bile duct cells, respectively, suggesting that the intrahepatic bile duct cells are actually coming from the hepatocytes around the branches of the portal vein.
Humans

The Beta-2-microglobulin is the part of light chain of human histocompatibility antigen (HLA). This protein can be observed in most of the human nucleated cells. Some of reports indicated that the Beta-2-microglobulin was lost completely or partially in the malignant or premalignant lesions. Observations on presence of Beta-2-microglobulin were made on 24 cases of malignant, premalignant and benign epithelial umors and 6 cases of normal or non-neoplastic epithelial lesions in the skin, using PAP method. The PAP method. 1) Normal epidermis and no-neoplastic cutaneous lesions (chronic non-specific dematitis, actinic change of skin with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia) showed strong positive staining along the cutaneous epithelial cytoplasmic surface for Beta-2-microglobuin in all 6 cases. 2) Benign cutaneous tumors (keratoacanthoma, squamous cell papilloma and pigmented nevus) showed similar strong positive staining for Beta-2-microglobulin along the epithelial cell surface in 4 out 6 cases. Remaining 2 cases were out of 4 pigmented nevus, which showed weakly or pretty weakly staining. 3) Premalignant cutaneous lesions as solar keratosis showed generally weak positive staining along the epithelial cytoplasmic surface in all 4 cases. 4) Malignant cutaneous tumors (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and malignant melanoma) showed mostly negative staining along the surface of epithelial cells for Beta-2-microglobulin, in 8 out of 14 cases. Remaining 6 cases showed slightly weak or patchy positive staining. As above observation, the presence of Beta-2-microglobulin in cutaneous epithelial lesions using PAP method could be indicated as one of good differential tool for histopathologic diagnosis in cutaneous malignant lesions.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans