Stomach cancer is one of the major causes of cancer deaths in Korea. It has been well known, like other solid tumors, that cancer stage at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Previous studies from Japan have revealed that screen-detected gastric cancers showed an earlier stage distribution and had a lower mortality rate than symptom-diagnosed cases. Considering the high provalence and substantial mortality from gastric cancer in Korea, it seems necessary to establish a well organized nationwide screening program. In this regard, consensus meeting was held in January, 2002 in conjunction with The Koean Gastric Cancer Association and National Cancer Center in Korea. In this meeting, specialists from gastroenterology, surgery and radiology drew a conclusion as follows : biannual screening for people aged 40 years and over either by endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series. During the screening endoscopy, biopsy can be performed if necessary, and specimens should be examined by pathologist. Screening test should be performed in authorized hospital or mobile unit by qualified doctors.
Biopsy ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Gastroenterology ; Japan ; Korea* ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Specialization ; Stomach Neoplasms*

No abstract available.

Solitary morphea profunda is a rare form of scleroderma, characterized clinically by a solitary sclerotic plaque, and histologically by marked dermal and subcutaneous fibrosis with an inflammatory infiltrate. We describe another case of this entity presented with an ulcerative, indurated plaque on the left iliac crest, which histologically revealed a focal incidental acantholysis in the overlying epidermis and a marked eosinophilic infiltration through the dermis to the sub-cutaneous tissue.
Acantholysis* ; Dermis ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Fibrosis ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Mucinoses

No abstract available.
Acupuncture* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Nickel*

No abstract available.
Lip ; Neurofibroma

BACKGROUND: The immortalized human keratinocyte line, HaCaT cells have been widely used as substitutes for normal epidermal keratinocytes. Recently, reconstruction of a skin equivalent using HaCaT cells showed a multilayered epithelium,but somewhat different tissue architecture as compared with normal epidermis. OBJECTIVE: In this study, using HaCaT cells we tried to reconstruct an epidermis resembling more closely to normal epidermis than the previous results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HaCaT cells were cultured in air-liquid interface on a recently developed dermal substrated in our laboratory, de-epidermized dermis (DED) raised on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix and the result was compared with those on DED or fibroblast-populated collagen matrix alone. RESULTS: HaCaT cells on the new dermal substrate formed a multilayered epithelium with rete ridges, showing rather orderly cellular organization compared with those on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. However, horny and granular layers were not observed contrary to normal epidermis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that differentiation markers such as keratin 1, keratin 6 and involucrin showed the similar pattern to those in HaCaT cells cultured on fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. Markers of terminal differentiation, loricrin and filaggrin were not expressed contrary to normal epidermis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that organotypic culture HaCaT cells on the dermal substrate combines DED with fivroblast-populated collagen matrix results in incomplete differentiation of HaCaT cells contrary to normal keratinocytes.
Antigens, Differentiation ; Collagen* ; Dermis* ; Epidermis ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Keratin-1 ; Keratin-6 ; Keratinocytes ; Skin

We described a case of diffuse biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis, a unique form of localized cutaneous amyloidosis. A 41-year-old man has gradually developed a lichenoid papular and a grouped spotted pigmented macular eruption on the trunk and upper extremities over the past 15 years. Histopathologic examination revealed that amyloid deposits were present in the papillary dermis. It was confirmed by Congo red staining, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. There was no evidence of systemic amyloidosis.
Adult ; Amyloidosis* ; Congo Red ; Dermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND : Lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] may be an independent risk factor for macrovascular disease in middle aged populations, but in elderly populations, Lp(a) levels to predict macrovascular risk is controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of macrovascular disease with Lp(a) levels and lipid change in the elderly. METHODS : We have examined Lp(a) levels, lipid change and clinical, biochemical profile in 114 patients with macrovascular disease and 55 control subjects. Macrovascular disease was defined as ishemic heart disease and/or peripheral vascular disease, peripheral vascular disease was defined as arteriosclerosis obliterans, diabetic foot and/or cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS : Hypertension, diabetes were more prevalent and median Lp(a) levels, fasting blood glucose and HDL-cholesterol were significant higher in patients with macrovascular disease than control subjects, but there were no significant differences in age, body mass index, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Lp(a) levels were positively weak correlated with fibrinogen levels, but not correlated with age, body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels. In logistic regression analysis, there was no independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease, whereas diabetes, hypertension and low HDL-cholesterol levels were independent risk factors for peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION : Serum Lp(a) levels was not independent risk factor for macrovascular disease, but diabetes, hypertension and low HDL-cholesterol levels were independent risk factors for peripheral vascular disease. Therefore, the relationship between Lp(a) and lipid change and macrovascular disease in the elderly were different from middle aged subjects.
Aged* ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Diabetic Foot ; Fasting ; Fibrinogen ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: The reproducibility in grading a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are not perfect. The aim of this study was to assess the value of the immunohistochemical expression of p63 and the other biomarkers for grading a CIN (dysplasia and in situ carcinoma), and diagnosing invasive carcinomas. METHODS: Sixty six cervical specimens were immunostained with the monoclonal antibodies against p63, Ki-67, p27Kip1, and p53 to determine the localization. RESULTS: The p63 positive cells are well linked with squamous cell maturation and the degree of dysplasia. In mild dysplasia, the p63 positive cells were localized to the basal and parabasal cells, which gradually extended into the middle and upper layers in moderate and severe dysplasia. p63 expression was strong in immature squamous epithelium and invasive squamous cells, but was constantly absent in an adenocarcinoma. The Ki-67 positive cells were scattered from the parabasal cells to the superficial cells in accordance with the degree of dysplasia. p27Kip1 expression was noted in the intermediate cells in the normal cervix. In CIN, the p27Kip1 positive nuclei tended to extend to the basal cells, but it showed no diagnostic consistency in an invasive carcinoma. p53 expression was also variable. CONCLUSION: p63 is a useful diagnostic adjunct for grading CIN as well as for detecting microinvasion and squamous differentiation in invasive carcinoma. However, immunohistochemical expressions for the p27Kip1 and p53 have no correlation with the grade of CIN and squamous cell carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Epithelium ; Female ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms