OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the progression of solid tumors. The mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia, however, are not well defined. Our study was aimed to determine the expression of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), its receptor(KDR), and TGF-beta1(Transforming Growth Factor-beta1) in cervical neoplasia, to determine the role of these angiogenic factors in preinvasive(dysplastic) process and the progression of cervical cancer and to investigate the progression of angiogenesis in the transition from normal cervix to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The cervical lesions of 76 patients were punch biopsied and paraffin embedded. Among these, 5 were normal cervix, 36 were cervical intraepithelial lesion I-III, and the other 35 were invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The tissues were immunostained with antiVEGF, antiKDR, and antiTGF-beta1 polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 in CIN III was stronger than those of CIN I(p<0.01). Their expression were not significantly different among the each staged cervical cancers(p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 are important angiogenic factors in cervical neoplasia, especially in an early event to neoplastic transformation of cervical tissues, but these angiogenic factors are not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Phosphotransferases* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Pimecrolimus cream 1% has shown to be effective in patients with a variety of inflammatory cutaneous disorders. And it might be a useful modality in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. This prospective study was aimed at assessing the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis. Twenty patients were instructed to apply pimecrolimus cream 1% for 4 consecutive weeks. Assessment of the disease severity was performed at baseline and at week 1, 2, and 4. Clinical assessments of erythema, scaling, and pruritus were measured using a 4-point scale (0-3). Global assessments of the disease severity by patients and investigators were performed at each visit. Mean clinical scores of erythema, scaling, and pruritus significantly improved by 87.4%, 91.9%, and 91.5% respectively at week 4 (p<0.001). Improvements in the global assessment of disease severity determined by patients and investigators also showed excellent results. No specific adverse events other than transient burning and tingling sensations were noted. The relapse of facial seborrheic dermatitis was mostly observed between 3 to 8 weeks after the discontinuation of pimecrolimus. We suggest that the topical application of pimecrolimus cream 1% can be an effective and safe alternative for treatment of facial seborrheic dermatitis.
Adult ; Aged ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic/*drug therapy ; Erythema/drug therapy ; Face ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tacrolimus/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: TSH stimulates both the adenyl cyclase and phospholipase C (PLC) pathways by binding to a single cell surface receptor that is coupled to G protein, and we examined crosstalk between these two signaling pathways. METHODS: FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells were grown in 6H medium, then incubated with 5H medium before the stimulation. Then cells were incubated for 24 hours with 5H mix containing 1 mCi/L myo-(2-N-3H) inositol. After pretreatment of 100 microM Rp-cAMP, 100 microM forskolin, 50 nM staurosporine, or 100 nM PMA (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate), TSH were added in different experiments. After 30 min at 37 degrees C, cells were disrupted and IP formation was determined. RESULTS: Stimulation with 100 microU/mL TSH resulted in a 1.65 fold increase in IP generation. In pursuing the possibility that the two post-receptor events might be linked in some way, we examined the effect of exogenously administrated Rp-cAMP, protein kinase A antagonist, and forskolin, a direct stimulant of protein kinase A, on IP generation achieved at a dose of 100 microU/mL TSH. The pretreatment of 100 M Rp-cAMP at a concentration sufficient to inhibit protein kinase A enhanced TSH-induced IP production. This effect of Rp-cAMP was dose-dependent. Forskolin attenuatedTSH-stimulated increases in phosphatidylinositide turnover. PMA, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator and staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor did not affect TSH-induced IP generation. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that activation of adenylate cyclase/cAMP post-receptor signalling casacde, which results in the protien kinase A activation, has an inhibitory effect on IP turnover activated by TSH.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Animals ; Colforsin ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Inositol ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinase C ; Rats ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Signal Transduction* ; Staurosporine ; Thyroid Gland ; Type C Phospholipases

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Brain* ; Protons*

A 62-year-old male developed a solitary asymptomatic nodule on the lateral aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right great toe. Histopathologic findings demonstrated a myxoid cyst with a concomitant epidermal inclusion cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of concurrent occurrence of digital myxoid cyst and epidermal inclusion cyst. Although the exact mechanism for developing a digital myxoid cyst and an epidermal inclusion cyst simultaneously at the same site is not explained, trauma might be a possible cause.
Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Toes

We report the case of a 23-year-old woman who developed bowenoid papulosis of the vulva and subsequent periungual Bowen's disease. She had a history of a long standing periungual wart on her right thumb before the outbreak of periungual Bowen's disease. By HPV DNA chip, human papillomavirus (HPV) 11, 18 and 31 were identified from the periungual lesions, and HPV 11, 18 and 33 from the vulvar lesion. This case supports the theory of anogenital-digital spread of HPV, and proposes that the periungual wart may change into Bowen's disease by mucosal HPVs. To the best of our knowledge, this case is important as the first Korean case of periungual Bowen's disease concurrent with bowenoid papulosis of the vulva.
Bowen's Disease ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 11 ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Thumb ; Vulva ; Warts ; Young Adult

Ectopic salivary tissue is an uncommon etiology of a neck mass in an infant. It is due to anomalous embryologic development of salivary tissue. We have experienced a case of cervical fistula due to ectopic salivary gland in 3-year-old male. The discharge is saliva-like and related to meals. Histopathologically, mucinous acini are located in lower dermis and subcutaneous fat. When a cystic neck mass or fistula is present on cervical area especially in children, an ectopic salivary gland should be considered as one of the causes.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermis ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meals ; Mucins ; Neck ; Salivary Glands* ; Subcutaneous Fat

Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign granulomatous disease. Although its etiology is not well understood, there are some reports about GA occurring after specific conditions such as sunburn, a tuberculin test, insect bites, viral diseases and trauma. Especially, in case of the auricular region which is vulnerable to trauma, it seems that GA has some relation with trauma. In 1992, Mills and Chetty proposed that repetitive minor trauma may be an important cause of auricular GA. Among the 5 cases of auricular GA that have been reported in the English literatures, 3 cases are assumed to be associated with repetitive minor trauma. Herein, we report on two cases of auricular GA that were thought to be associated with repetitive minor trauma.
Granuloma ; Granuloma Annulare ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Sunburn ; Tuberculin Test ; Virus Diseases

BACKGROUND: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), previously named drug `hypersensitivity syndrome', is a subset of severe drug eruption with quite distinct clinical presentations. Perhaps because of its relatively late onset and variable presentations, the diagnosis of DRESS may be delayed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the incidence and investigate the causative drugs and clinical characteristics of DRESS. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and laboratory findings of DRESS in 795 drug eruption patients who had visited Pusan National University Hospital over the last 10 years (1995-2004). RESULTS: 1. Of 795 drug eruption patients, 14 (1.76%) received a diagnosis of DRESS. 2. The average age of onset was 44.5 years and there was no significant difference according to sex. 3. The most common causative agent of DRESS was carbamazepine (50%), followed by allopurinol, captopril, phenytoin and antituberculous medications. 4. DRESS developed 2-10 weeks after administration of the causative agent, and the average latent period was 4.6 weeks.
Age of Onset ; Allopurinol ; Busan ; Captopril ; Carbamazepine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Eosinophilia* ; Exanthema* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Phenytoin ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Although serum thyroglobulin (Tg) has been proved to be a good tumor marker in the follow-up of the well differentiated thyroid cancer, some patients show low detectable Tg with negative 131I scan. In the present study, we tried to determine the lowest level of serum Tg which suggests requirement of aggressive work-up for the recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer. METHODS: Serum Tg levels were measured in 102 patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who had underwent thyroidectomy followed by 131I ablative therapy. Of 102 patients, 44 patients had no remnant thyroid tissue, while 58 patients had remnant thyroid. Serum Tg levels were measured while TSH-suppressive dose of T4 was administered (on T4 therapy) and then T4 was discontinued for 4 weeks to increase serum TSH level (off T4 therapy), then serum Tg levels were analyzed in relation to the presence or absence of recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer, assessed by I scan and operation with reference to the physical examination, chest X-ray and thyroid ultrasonogram. RESULTS: Of 102 patients, 16 patients were found to have recurrent or matastatic thyroid cancer. Among them, 10 patients didnt have any remnant thyroid, while 6 patients had remnant thyroid. Serum Tg was undetectable on T4 therapy in 6 patients, but rose higher than 30 ng/mL off T4 therapy in 2 patients, while Tg remained undetectable in other 4 patients. In all 10 patients whoseTg levels were higher than 1 ng/mL. on T4 therapy, Tg rose higher than 30 ng/mL off T4 therapy. The best cut-off value of serum Tg which suggests recurrent or metastatic disease in patients without remnant thyroid was 3 ng/mL on T therapy (sensitivity 60%, specificity 91%, accuracy 84%) and 30 ng/mL off T4 therapy (sensitivity 80%, specificity 75%, accuracy 77%). In patients with remnant thyroid, cut-off value of serum Tg could not be determined because of the low sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: In patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who have no remnant thyroid, serum Tg level lower than 3 ng/mL on T4 therapy can warrant following-up of patients only with such clinical measures only such as physical examination and thyroid ultrasonogram. However, patients with Tg level of 3 ng/mL or more requires Tg measurements off T4 therapy and 131I scan to evaluate the possibility of recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax ; Thyroglobulin* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Ultrasonography