The development of tophi in th absence of prior episodes of gauty arthritis is unusual. We report a case of extensive tophi in a 31 year-old man, whose initial skin lesion had started without arthritis.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Gout* ; Humans ; Skin

BCG Vaccine ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; complications ; Panniculitis ; etiology ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tuberculosis ; etiology

Animals ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penicillins ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology

Objective To develop an interleukin-4(IL-4) antagonist named M5-IgG1Fc protein constructed by genetic engineering of antibody Fc fragment-cytokine mutein fusion protein which has a long half-life time in plasma.M5-IgG1 Fc protein binds to IL-4 receptor but cannot activate downstream signalling pathway , which provides a basis for drug develop-ment for allergic diseases .Methods The synthesized interleukin-4 mutant gene ( named M5 ) was cloned into the expres-sion vector pBV220 and transformed into E.coli DH5α.Chimeric gene M5-IgG1Fc obtained by overlap extension (SOE) method was transformed into glycoengineered Pichia pastoris GJK01 through expression vector pPICZαA .Then M5-IgGFc fusion protein was obtained by protein purification after being induced by methanol in 72 hours.The anti-IL-4 biologicial ac-tivity assay of M5 and M5-IgG1 Fc was performed with CTLL-2/IL-4R cells and detected with MTT colormetry .Finally,the half-life time of M5 and M5-IgG1 Fc protein in mice was compared by detecting the remaining amount in plasma with ELISA kit.Results The M5 protein expressed in E.coli and M5-IgG1 Fc fusion protein expressed in P.pastoris GJK01 both had IL-4 antagonistic bioactivity .The EC50 of both, which inhibited 5.6 ×10 -2 nmol/ml of IL-4, were 0.31 ±0.05 and 0.77 ± 0.03 nmol/ml,respectively.The maximum of M5 in plasma at 0.5 h was 5.8 ×10 -2 nmol/ml but the remaining amount was 2.8%of the maximum at 2 h.M5 protein could not be detected after administration at 8 h because of the detection line . The maximum of M5-IgG1 Fc fusion protein was 4.7 ×10 -2 nmol/ml,while fusion protein M5-IgG1 Fc decreased to 4.3%of its maximum at 120 h and could not be detected at 168 h.Conclusion M5 protein has IL-4 antagonistic bioactivity .M5-IgG1 Fc fusion protein expressed in glycoengineered P.pastoris GJK01 has IL-4 antagonistic bioactivity and long retention time in mice,which can be potentially used for treatment of allergic diseases .

CD56 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoid Tumor ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin ; metabolism

We report herein a case of acral lentiginous melanoma in a 65-year-old female. An about 2x3cm sized erythematous to brownish mass with central ulceration was located on the left heel accompanied by enlargement of the left inguinal lymph nodes. Histopathologic findings showed lentiginous proliferation of atypical melanocytes with pseudoepithliomatous hyperplasia and invasion of tumor cells from the epidermis into the dermis. Focal pigmented melanocytes were also noted. Complete surgical excision and chemotherapy with DTIC were done. Marked edematous swelling on the left lower leg was developed after 8 months and 1 month later she was expired.
Aged ; Dacarbazine ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Epidermis ; Female ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To determine whether dynamic or conventional MR imaging is most useful for the detection of pituitary microadenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 20 patients (M:F=1:19, mean age=37 years) in whom a pituitary microadenoma had been identified. Routine unenhanced coronal T1-weighted MR imaging was followed by dynamic imaging (repetition time/echo time/excitation=200/10/1, 3-mm-thick sections, 256X128 or 256 ma-trix,14X14-cm field of view, scan time=30 or 60 seconds, spin-echo pulse sequence), and contrast-enhanced coronal T1-weighted imaging was then immediately performed. Temporal changes in signal intensity were quantified with manually placed ROIs (regions of interest, circular, 3 mm 2), and tissue contrast between the pituitary gland and microadenoma was calculated. Conspicuity of the tumor margin was graded by three radiologists working independently as either 4 (excellent clear margin), 3 (good clear margin), 2 (relatively clear mar-gin), or 1 (unclear margin). RESULTS: Average peak enhancement of the pituitary gland and microadenoma occurred at 58.5 and 91.5 seconds, respectively. Maximum enhancement of the pituitary gland occurred within 30 to 60 seconds of contrast infusion (signal intensity range: 426-442), but during dynamic MR imaging, the microadenoma showed rela-tively constant enhancement (signal intensity range: 230 -250). Maximal contrast between normal pituitary gland and the microadenoma was seen at 60 seconds or in the first three sequential images. Dynamic MR images were superior to conventional T1-weighted images, with or without contrast infusion, not only in terms of tissue contrast between the pituitary gland and the microadenoma (p=0.0048), but also as regards tumor margin conspicuity (p=0.0035). CONCLUSION: Dynamic MR imaging is a useful technique in the detection of pituitary microadenoma.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pituitary Gland

Malacoplakia is a rare granulomatous inflammatory disease, which most frequently involves the urinary tract and especially the urinary bladder. The prostatic involvement of malacoplakia is rare and only two cases have been reported in the Korean literature. Malacoplakia of the prostate may clinically mimic prostate cancer or chronic prostatitis. We report a case of malacoplakia of the prostate in a 71-year-old man, which was initially misdiagnosed as prostate cancer or prostatitis.
Aged ; Humans ; Malacoplakia* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract

No abstract available.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lissencephaly* ; Spasms, Infantile*

Objective To explore the relationship between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization in carotid artery and the level of serum homocysteine.Methods Contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed on 72 carotid atherosclerotic plaques of 48 patients.Contrast-enhancement within the plaque was categorizde as grade 1 to grade 3.The level of serum homocysteine were detected in the fasting state during the same period.Results According to the degree of contrast enhancement(grade 1 to 3),patients were divided into 3 groups.The more new vessels in plaque,the higher the level of homocysteine.The levels of homocysteine in three groups increased in turn.There were distinct differences among the three groups(F =18.49,P ＜0.05),and there was significant difference between every two groups (P ＜0.05).The linear correlation analysis showed that the level of homocysteine was positively correlated with the degree of carotid plaque enhancement (r =0.66,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Contrastenhanced ultrasonography could semi-quantitate new vessles in plaque.There was positive correlation between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization with the level of serum homocysteine.Combine with the level of serum homocysteine based on intraplaque neovascularization detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound,the plaque stability could be more accurately evaluated.