We present a case of pemphigus vulgaris developed during pregnancy. The clinical features of this patient were similar to those of hetpes gestationis. By immunofluorescence studies we found that the patient's serum contained autoantibodies to intercellular substance of epidermis. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy of a perilesional skin also demontrated immunoglobulin deposition in the intercellular areas. Additionally we did in vitro C3 staining for further confirmation of the diagnosis but it was negative in basement membrane zone. This patient was initially treated with corticosteroid and azathioprine. Several months later gold compound was given instead of azathioprine and corticosteroid with good therapeutic response.
Autoantibodies ; Azathioprine ; Basement Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Microscopy ; Pemphigus* ; Pregnancy* ; Skin

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Is there any relationship between penile size and physical stature? This study was performed to answer this question and provide guidelines of penile size to assist in counseling patients for penile augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Penile size, body weight and height were measured in 150 young healthy men, and the body mass index(BMI) was calculated in weight(kg)/height(m)2. The penile length and circumference were measured with tape in flaccid and erect states. The 'lengthening ratio' was calculated by 'erect length/flaccid length', and 'tumescent ratio' was calculated by 'erect circumference/flaccid circumference'. All the data was statistically evaluated and the following results were obtained. Result : The average length and circumference were 8.26+/-1.07cm and 8.34+/-1.03cm respectively in the flaccid state, and 13.42+/-1.38cm and 11.17+/-1.05cm in the erect state. The average lengthening and tumescent ratios were 1.64+/-0.22 and 1.35+/-0.08, and were negatively correlated to the flaccid penile length and circumference. Height was positively correlated to erect penile length and lengthening ratio. There was a relationship between body weight and erect penile length in a positive direction, but with other penile parameters there were none. There was no relationship between BMI and any parameters of penile size. However, the erect penile length of the normal BMI group was longer than that of the lower BMI group. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the flaccid penile size is related to the erect penile size and there is some relation between penile size and physical stature. We believe these results will be applicable to the penile augmentation.
Body Size ; Body Weight* ; Counseling ; Humans ; Male

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphologic changes of the bile canaliculi and its associated structures of the liver induced by common bile duct ligation(CBDL) in the rat. The canalicular surface and lateral surface of the dry-fractured hepatocytes was studied with scanning electron microscopy at 1~6 weeks post ligation. The first week after CBDL, the bile canaliculi were dilated. The microvilli were increased in number and the lumens contained granular materials After 2 weeks or more, the bile canaliculi were dilated to a variable degree, and with irregularity, measuring from 1.5 to 5 micrometer in diameter, and in the advanced stage, the canaliculi showed blunting and the disappearance of microvilli. Some canaliculi had sprouting side branches. At 4~6 weeks post-ligation, the lateral surface of the hepatocytes also showed some irregularity and a tortuous appearance, and numerous small sized microvillous projections were formed. The tubular structures of the proliferated SER distributed adjacent to the lateral surface of the hepatocytes, and the direct connection of a tubular structure and the cytoplasmic membrane was observed. These results suggest that the deformity and loss of microvilli of bile canaliculi reflect the disturbance of bile secretion from the hepatocytes. And prolonged obstruction of bile flow may result in bile excretion via the lateral surface of hepatocytes.
Rats ; Animals

A wide range of denomination has been used for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). IMT is not entirely homogeneous, even though it shows some overlapping histologic features such as haphazard proliferation of spindle cell and polymorphic chronic inflammatory cell infiltraion. The spindle cell is considered to be of myofibroblastic origin but follicular dendritic cell origin was reported recently. IMT is known as nonneoplastic, aberrant inflammatory response. However, IMT could show local invasion, recurrence, vascular invasion, and malignant transformation, and clonal characteristics and aneuploidy of IMT support the hypothesis that IMT may be a neoplastic process. In order to define the nature of spindle cell of IMT, immunohistochemical stains for smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin (VMT), lysozyme, S-100 protein, cytokeratin, CD21 were done. Additional immunohistochemical stains for MIB-1 for proliferating activity and LMP (latent membrane protein) for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were done. IMTs were composed of each 2 cases from lung, liver and lymph node and one case from common bile duct, maxillary sinus, bladder and thigh, and were histologically subclassified according to Coffin et al. Nine cases (90%) were positive for SMA and VMT, but no correlation between SMA and VMT immunoreactivity and histologic types was identified. Five cases (50%) were positive for lysozyme and S-100 protein, and histologic type III was negative for lysozyme and S-100 protein, and immunoreactivity for S-100 protein was different according to the histologic subtypes. All 11 cases were negative for CD21 and EBV LMP. MIB-1 labelling index was less than 1% in all cases. In summary, the spindle cell is regarded as myofibroblastic origin rather than follicular dendritic cell origin. Relationship with EBV is not clear, and negligible MIB-1 reaction suggests that IMT might have a good prognosis.
Actins ; Aneuploidy ; Coloring Agents ; Common Bile Duct ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Maxillary Sinus ; Membranes ; Muramidase ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroblasts* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; S100 Proteins ; Thigh ; Urinary Bladder ; Vimentin

Primary malignant melanornn of the vagina is rare, with only about 130 reported cases worldwide. They presumably arise from melanocytes that are present in the vagina in 3% of normal wornen. Vaginal melanoma accounts for less than 1% of melanomas and less than 3% of primary malignant tumors of the vagina. Most of patients complain vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, foreign body sensation in order. The best treatment of vaginal melanoma rernains eni.gmatic, Many authors indicate that radical surgery may be the pcferred approach and the number of reported cases treated with radical surgery is increasing. But other author comment that no significant change in survival is apparent with radical surgery. Overall prognosis is poor as most patients have deeply penetrating lesions at the time of diagnosis. Recently, not only the effort to increase the survival rate but the quality of life including sexual function after treatment is becoming an important issue about treatment ot cancer patients. We experienced a case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina treated with radical surgery and restored the sexual function by vulvovaginal reconstruction using gracilis myocutaneous flap. So we report this case with brief literature review.
Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Sensation ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina* ; Vaginal Discharge

A 52-year-old woman with esential mixed cryoglobulinemia (type II ), which was confirmed by cryoglobulin elcct,rophoresis and immunofixation elect,rophoresis, had purpuric skin lesions on the legs. The lesions had a tendency of recurrence for the past 2 years, and moderate degrees of arthralgia and myalgia were accompanied in each time. However, the patient had not been suffered from any internal organ distress caused by the disease proress. Histological examinations of a skin lesions revealed a feature of leukocytoclatic vasculitis, and deposits of IgM, IgG and C; were also recognized. A regimen of small doses of prednisolone was effective for the cutaneous lesions in this patient for 4 months follow-up until this writing. It, seems that the patient has had a mild form of the disease among the clinical spectrum of mixed cryoglobulinemia, with a cryocrit value of 2.4% at the time of her initial visit..
Arthralgia ; Cryoglobulinemia* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Myalgia ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Vasculitis ; Writing

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the avary(SST) is a rare benign tumor first described as a distinct neoplasm by Chalvardjian and Scully(1973) and confirmed as such by Scully(1977) and Gee and Russell(1979). This tumor was separated from the thecoma fibroma group on the basis of characteristic histolog ic features. We present two caaes of postmenopausal women in seuentieth decades with SST, other reported cases of SSTs are discused.
Female ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Thecoma

Unilateral or, particularly, bilateral congenital agenesis of the internal carotid artery is a rare anomaly. We report an occurrence of the condition, arising bilaterally, and report the findings of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography.
Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

We present a case of mucous gland adenoma arising from the main bronchus of the lower lobe of the left lung in terms of clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural aspects as well as review of related literatures. The patient, a 31-year-old female, was admitted to Catholic University Medical College Hospital with complaints of coughing and purulent sputum for about seven years. The chest CT showed a severely calcified tumor in the left lower lobe of the lung. Grossly, the calcified tumor arising from the main bronchus protruded into the lumen and showed bronchiectasis of the lower lobe and atelectasis of the upper lobe of the lung. The tumor was pale brown-gray and sharply circumscribed and showed some small cystic spaces filled with mucoid material. Microscopically, most of the tumor showed dystrophic calcification. The growth pattern of the tumor is composed of cysts, tubules, and glands lined by cytologically bland columnar, cuboidal, or flattened mucus secreting cells. Electron micrograph of tumor cells showed some round or oval mucous granules measuring 0.5-1.8 micrometer.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Bronchi* ; Bronchiectasis ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Mucus ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Sputum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed