Despite its fall in incidence, gastric adenocarcinoma remains a common disease with dismal prognosis worldwide. A better understanding of its tumorigenesis and biologic properties of tumor cells related to invasion and metastasis is crucial to improving diagnosis and treatment. Conflicting results concerning the relationships between overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein and biologic behavior of gastric carcinoma have been noted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein as prognostic factors in gastric adenocarcinoma. Overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein by immunohistochemistry was correlated with variable clinicopathological parameters and patients' survival in 80 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma. Overall PAI-1 expression rate was 63.7% (51/80) and higher in advanced cancer (p=0.0003) and nodal metastasis (p=0.003) groups. Overall c-erbB2 expression rate was 43.8% (35/80) and higher in antral (p=0.03), differentiated (p=0.001), intestinal (p=0.0007), and expanding (0.03) groups. The p53 protein overexpression was 37.5% (30/80) and higher in early cancer (p=0.02), differentiated (p=0.006) and intestinal groups (p=0.009). Patients with PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein positive tumors tended to have poorer survival rates than patients with PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein negative tumors, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.25, 0.37, 0.52). Our data indicated that PAI-1 overexpression is one of the poor prognostic factors in gastric adenocarcinoma and c-erbB2 and p53 protein seem to be involved in the early stage of carcinogenesis of intestinal type-gastric adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Prognosis* ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate symptom experience and quality of life (QoL) and to identify the predictors of QoL among colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 107 colorectal cancer patients at a university-affiliated hospital between June 1 and July 30, 2021. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C), Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF) were used to assess symptom experience and QoL of these patients. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The mean QoL score for colorectal cancer patients was 88.78±20.08. The most frequently experienced physical and psychological symptoms were numbness/tingling and worrying. Physical and psychological symptoms have a significant negative association with QoL. Perceived economic status was significantly associated with QoL in patients’ general characteristics. The regression analyses showed that high psychological symptoms (β=-.63, p<.001), middle perceived economic status (β=-.22, p=.009) and low perceived economic status (β=-.36, p<.001) were statistically significant in predicting patients’ low QoL. Conclusion Symptom experience and QoL are essential variables that should be acknowledged when delivering health care to colorectal cancer patients. More attention to the reduction and comprehensive symptom management of psychological distress could improve QoL among colorectal cancer patients.

Matrix producing carcinoma of the breast is a variant of heterologous metaplastic carcinoma which is defined as "overt carcinoma with direct transition to a cartilagenous and/or osseous stromal matrix without an intervening spindle cell zone or osteoclastic cells". This tumor is very rare, occuring in less than 0.2% of total breast carcinoma, but the prognosis is better than other metaplastic carcinoma. We experienced a case of fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic finding of matrix producing carcinoma of the breast. A 75-year old woman, who presented a right huge breast mass(9x8cm) during 10months, was examined. Mammography reveals right lateral mass with even density without calcification. Breast ultrasonography shows multifocal hypoechogenic cystic change in the huge mass, suggesting resolving hematoma or carcinoma or sarcoma with necrosis. On cytologic finding of FNA, myxoid matrix was the dominant feature and the rest of the material was composed of scanty isolated atypical cells with large irregular nuclei. The histologic finding was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with abundant cartilagenous matrix and focal squamous metaplasia.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Mammography ; Metaplasia ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Osteoclasts ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Along with the expansion of the field of laparoscopic surgery, many laparoscopic instruments have been developed and these all together made laparoscopic surgery possible in many operative procedures which used to be considered impossible to be done using a laparoscope. Suturing is a technique quite often required during laparoscopic surgery and so far we have used imported suture material. In this article, we have compared the safety and harmfulness of suture material developed domestically in Korea with those imported using house rabbits. METHODS: A total of 40 white house rabbits from New Zealand weighing 3.0-3.4 Kg were used from July 1, 2000 until April 30, 2001. Under general anesthesia, we created a pneumoperitoneum using a veress needle with a pressure of 10 mmHg followed by insertion of a 5mm laparoscope right above the umbilicus and two 5mm trocars were inserted in the right and left midclavicular lines 5cm below the costal margin. After perforating the pylorus of the stomach using laparoscopic scissors, we sutured two sites using Laploop and then perforated the body of the stomach and again sutured two sites but this time using Vicryl #3-0 for comparison with Laploop. 10 house rabbits were sacrificed each on post operation days 10, 20, 30 and 40 and tissues obtained from those house rabbits were compared using the Sewell method. RESULTS: Suturing and ties were done without any problems and there were no postoperative complications or deaths. On postoperation days 10 and 20, Laploop showed a moderate degree of tissue reaction proved by a Sewell score of 57 and 48 respectively and on postoperation days 30 and 40, a mild to moderate degree of tissue reaction occurred with a S score of 36 and 33 respectively. In models using Vicryl, the S scores were 67 an 62 on postoperation days 10 and 20 respectively showing a moderate degree of tissue reaction and on postoperation days 30 and 40, it showed a mild to moderate degree of tissue reaction with a S score of 52 and 44 respectively which is similar to the results obtained by Laploop. CONCLUSION: Imported Vicryl and Laploop were both applicable in terms of biologic compatibility but Laploop was easier to apply, more cost effective compared to Vicryl but most of all, there were no complications such as a loosening of a knot or a knot being undone. Therefore it could be concluded that Laploop shows a promising future as a suture material in laparoscopic surgery.
Anesthesia, General ; Korea ; Laparoscopes ; Laparoscopy ; Needles ; New Zealand ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Polyglactin 910 ; Postoperative Complications ; Pylorus ; Rabbits* ; Stomach ; Surgical Instruments ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Sutures ; Umbilicus

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the object relations and parenting behavior of the mothers of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with that of the mothers with normal children. METHODS: In this study, we studied 64 mothers of children who were diagnosed with ADHD and 90 mothers of normal children. The mothers completed the Bell Object Relations Inventory (BORI), the Parenting Behavior Inventory (PBI), the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. RESULTS: As compared with the mothers of normal children, the mothers of children with ADHD showed significantly different results for the parenting stress and parenting efficacy. For parenting behavior, the mothers of children with ADHD perceived their mothering as being more neglectful. On the other hand, the mothers of the normal control group perceived their mothering as being more affectionate and the fathers as being more reasonable and monitoring. CONCLUSION: This study suggests there is a significant difference of object relation between the mothers of children with ADHD and the mothers with normal children. The object relation pathology of the mothers of children with ADHD might contribute to impaired parenting behavior. The result of the present study indicate that inadequate grandparental rearing behavior affects the insecure object relation of their child (the mother), and a mother's insecure object relation affects their parental stress and parenting efficacy.
Child ; Fathers ; Hand ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Mothers ; Object Attachment ; Parenting ; Parents

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the object relations and parenting behavior of the mothers of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with that of the mothers with normal children. METHODS: In this study, we studied 64 mothers of children who were diagnosed with ADHD and 90 mothers of normal children. The mothers completed the Bell Object Relations Inventory (BORI), the Parenting Behavior Inventory (PBI), the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. RESULTS: As compared with the mothers of normal children, the mothers of children with ADHD showed significantly different results for the parenting stress and parenting efficacy. For parenting behavior, the mothers of children with ADHD perceived their mothering as being more neglectful. On the other hand, the mothers of the normal control group perceived their mothering as being more affectionate and the fathers as being more reasonable and monitoring. CONCLUSION: This study suggests there is a significant difference of object relation between the mothers of children with ADHD and the mothers with normal children. The object relation pathology of the mothers of children with ADHD might contribute to impaired parenting behavior. The result of the present study indicate that inadequate grandparental rearing behavior affects the insecure object relation of their child (the mother), and a mother's insecure object relation affects their parental stress and parenting efficacy.
Child ; Fathers ; Hand ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Mothers ; Object Attachment ; Parenting ; Parents

OBJECTIVE: Tributyltin (TBT), an endocrine disrupting chemical, has been reported to decrease ovarian function by causing apoptosis in the ovary, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, we examined whether TBT increases the expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary and the increased expression of these genes is associated with apoptosis induction. METHODS: Three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered TBT (1 or 10 mg/kg body weight) or sesame oil as a control for 7 days. The ovaries were obtained and weighed on day 8, and then they were fixed for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) or frozen for RNA extraction. Using the total RNA of the ovaries, adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The ovarian weight was significantly decreased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT compared to that in control rats. As determined by the TUNEL assay, the number of apoptotic follicles in ovary was significantly increased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT. The real-time PCR results showed that the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as PPARgamma, aP2, CD36, and PEPCK was increased after TBT administration. In addition, apoptosis-related genes such as TNFalpha and TNFR1 were expressed more in the TBT-administered rats compared with the control rats. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that TBT induces the expression of adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes in the ovary leading to apoptosis in the ovarian follicles. These results suggest that the increased expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis resulting in a loss of ovarian function.
Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Female ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary ; PPAR gamma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I ; RNA ; Sesame Oil ; Trialkyltin Compounds ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: Tributyltin (TBT), an endocrine disrupting chemical, has been reported to decrease ovarian function by causing apoptosis in the ovary, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, we examined whether TBT increases the expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary and the increased expression of these genes is associated with apoptosis induction. METHODS: Three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered TBT (1 or 10 mg/kg body weight) or sesame oil as a control for 7 days. The ovaries were obtained and weighed on day 8, and then they were fixed for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) or frozen for RNA extraction. Using the total RNA of the ovaries, adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The ovarian weight was significantly decreased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT compared to that in control rats. As determined by the TUNEL assay, the number of apoptotic follicles in ovary was significantly increased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT. The real-time PCR results showed that the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as PPARgamma, aP2, CD36, and PEPCK was increased after TBT administration. In addition, apoptosis-related genes such as TNFalpha and TNFR1 were expressed more in the TBT-administered rats compared with the control rats. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that TBT induces the expression of adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes in the ovary leading to apoptosis in the ovarian follicles. These results suggest that the increased expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis resulting in a loss of ovarian function.
Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Female ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary ; PPAR gamma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I ; RNA ; Sesame Oil ; Trialkyltin Compounds ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Fine needle aspiration cytology of the salivary lesions was performed on 221 patients at Soonchunhyang University Hospital for 10 years. Of 221 aspirates, 6 aspirates(2.7%) were inadequate, 116 cases(52.5%) were non-neoplastic lesions, 76(34.4%) cases were benign neoplasms and 23 cases(10.4%) were malignant neoplasms. The cytologic diagnoses could be correlated with histologic findings in 58 cases. FNAC correctly discriminated between neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions in fifty-seven lesions and failed in a case, and overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 98.3%, 98.0%, and 100.0%. FNAC correctly discriminated malignant neoplasms from benign neoplastic/non- neoplastic lesions in fifty-three cases and failed in five cases, and overall accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 91.3%, 72.7%, and 95.7%. Among three false negative cases, two mucoepidermoid carcinomas were misdiagnosed as mucocele and benign neoplasm, and an acinic cell carcinoma were misdiagnosed as Warthin's tumor. Two false positive cases were a Warthin's tumor misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma and a pleomorphic adenoma misinterpretated as suggestive of malignancy. In conclusion, diagnostic accuracy of FNAC of salivary lesions is high, and the possibilities of low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma should be considered on hypocellular smears with mucoid or fluidy background.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mucocele ; Salivary Glands* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between Helicobacter pylori infection and ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, we investigated the protective effects of H. pylori infection on the severity of UC. Methods: This single-center study included 316 patients with newly diagnosed UC based on findings of colonoscopy and upper endoscopy for H. pylori evaluation between January 1994 and December 2015. Patients’ medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and severity of UC was assessed based on endoscopic findings, clinical symptoms, treatment regimens, and Mayo scores. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with UC was 74/316 (23.4%). Based on upper endoscopic findings, the percentage of patients with duodenal ulcers was significantly higher in the H. pylori positive group than that in the H. pylori negative group (27.0% vs. 11.6%, p=0.022). Disease extent and endoscopic severity showed no significant intergroup difference (p=0.765 and p=0.803, respectively). Endoscopic severity was unaffected by the H. pylori infection status, based on the extent of endoscopically documented disease and endoscopic findings. Furthermore, UC-related symptom severity assessed on the basis of stool frequency, rectal bleeding severity, and rate of admission necessitated by UC aggravation was not associated with H. pylori infection (p=0.185, 0.144, and 0.182, respectively). Use of steroids as induction therapy for severe UC did not differ with regard to H. pylori infection (p=0.327). No intergroup difference was observed in disease severity of UC classified using the Mayo score (p=0.323). Conclusions H. pylori infection was detected in approximately 25.0% of patients with UC. However, the H. pylori infection status was not associated with the severity of UC based on endoscopic disease activity, patients’ symptoms, steroid use, or the Mayo clinic score.