Neoplasms showing both carcinomatous and sarcomatous features are well established, and have been reported in practically every organ where carcinoma can occur. But the difference in terminology and difficulties in histopathologic interpretation have hampered adequate understanding of these neoplasms. We report a case of carcinosarcoma in the recurrent form of serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. The patient was a 64-year-old female who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophorectomy three years ago, due to perforated papillary serous cysta denocarcinoma of the right ovary. Recurrent pelvic masses contained both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. Morphological transition between carcinomatous and sarcomatous components, and epithelial characteristics in the sarcomatous component by immunohistochemistry were recognized. We postulate the histopathogenetic mechanism based on the phenotypic conversion of carcinoma into sarcoma in the carcinosarcoma.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Ovary* ; Sarcoma

A case of an ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with mural nodules of anaplastic carcinoma is reported. The patient was a 46-year-old female with a right ovarian cystic mass and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The patient died of the disease in five months. Macroscopically, the right ovarian cyst wall contained numerous well-demarcated mural nodules. Histologically, the cysts were mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and the nodules were composed of sarcoma-like spindle and polygonal cells with atypia and numerous mitoses. Spindle cells in the mural nodule showed epithelial characteristics by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. This case supports an epithelial origin of the mural nodule of anaplastic carcinoma in ovarian mucinous tumors.
Carcinoma* ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Mucins* ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 is a causative agent of uterine cervical carcinoma. HPV 16/18 can alter cell cycle regulation through apoptosis. Bcl-2 is an important regulatory gene of apoptosis. A study was done to evaluate the relation between HPV 16/18 and bcl-2 and apoptosis in 21 cases of carcinoma in-situ (CIS), 5 cases of microinvasive carcinoma and 23 cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. HPV 16/18 was detected by hybrid capture system (HCS), bcl-2 protein by immunohistochemical method and apoptosis by using the hematoxylin-eosin stained slide. The results were as follows: Expression of the bcl-2 protein was 43% (9/21) in CIS and 26% (6/23) in invasive carcinoma. Expression of the bcl-2 protein was 42% (5/12) in CIS with HPV 16/18 infection, 44% in CIS without HPV 16/18 infection, 20% (2/10) in invasive carcinoma with HPV 16/18 infection and 31% (4/13) in invasive carcinoma without HPV 16/18 infection. Mean apoptotic index (mAI) was 3.36 in CIS, 5.23 in microinvasive and 6.25 in invasive carcinoma. mAI was 3.66 in CIS with HPV 16/18 infection, 2.86 in CIS without HPV 16/18 infection, 6.18 in invasive carcinoma with HPV 16/18 infection and 6.30 in invasive carcinoma without HPV 16/18 infection. Based on these results, we conclude that there are no correlation between HPV infection and bcl-2, and between HPV infection and apoptosis in invasive and in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix, and apoptosis is increased according to tumor progression.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Cycle ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Genes, Regulator ; Humans

BACKGROUND: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. METHOD: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. RESULTS: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.
Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Sprains and Strains ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Male ; Penis* ; Replantation*

No abstract available.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

Aneurysmal bone cysts are lytic lesions that have been described in virtually every portion of the skeleton but most commonly occur as solitary lesions in the metaphyseal portions of long bones. One fifth of aneurysmal bone cysts occur in the spine where they most frequently involve the posterior elements. In the spine, aneurysmal bone cyst have been reported to occur in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions, but their occurrence in the cervicodorsal area is uncommon. In this case, the second cervical vertebral body and posterior elements are affected. Fortunately, the lesion didn't invade into the spinal canal. The main symptom on admission was pressure pain, tenderness and motion limitation of the cervical spine. We removed the lesion involving posterior elements of second cervical spine and used horse-shoe shaped pediatric C-D device for occipito-cervical fixation. The clinical symptoms were resolved after operation. The clinical, radiologic, operative and pathological findings are reported and the corresponding literature are reviewed.
Aneurysm* ; Bone Cysts* ; Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal ; Lumbosacral Region ; Skeleton ; Spinal Canal ; Spine*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy has been used as a standard treatment in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical outcomes of this regimen are still unsatisfactory in prolonging survival. We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics of patients with advanced pancreatic cancers who received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and showed long-term survival. METHODS: We enrolled 49 patients who underwent treatment with more than three cycles of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Long-term survivor was defined as patient who has survived more than 12 months after diagnosis. The clinical characteristics were analyzed to compare the differences between long-term and short-term survivors. Univariate or multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors associated with chemo-responses. RESULTS: Twenty patients (41%) survived more than 12 months. Long-term survivors had smaller tumor size (OR 2.190, p=0.049, 95% CI 1.005-4.773) and higher serum BUN level (OR 0.833, p=0.039, 95% CI 0.701-0.990) compared to short-term survivors. Overall median and progression-free survivals were 11 and 4 months, respectively. Presence of distant metastasis (hazard ratio 1.441, p=0.035, 95% CI 1.002-2.908) was a significant independent predictor of progression-free survival. Tumor size (hazard ratio 1.534, p=0.004, 95% CI 1.150-2.045) was associated with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Gemcitabine chemotherapy may be more effective and allow longer survivals in patients with clinical characters of smaller tumor size and normal serum BUN level at diagnosis. We suggest a well-designed large controlled study to evaluate the prognostic factors such as clinical characteristics and molecular biological features in patients with advanced pancreatic cancers who receive gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/*therapeutic use ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; CA-19-9 Antigen/blood ; Deoxycytidine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Odds Ratio ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/pathology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: The use of troglitazone (a PPARgamma ligand) and COX-2 inhibitor have been intensively studied for inhibition of tumor growth in cancer treatment, but the anti-tumor effect with a combination of these agents for cancer has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to determine if low concentrations of troglitazone with COX-2 inhibitor in combination would cause significant cytotoxicity in glioma cells. METHODS: The effects of co-treatment with troglitazone and COX-2 inhibitor on cell growth and apoptosis were assessed by use of trypan blue exclusion and a DNA fragmentation assay. A western blot was used to analyze the apoptotic signaling for the expression of bcl-2, bax, PARP and p21 proteins. RESULTS: A low dose of troglitazone (5micrometer) and COX-2 inhibitor (5micrometer) strongly enhanced the cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in glioma cells when compared to a low dose of each drug alone. Western blotting analysis showed a decreased expression of bcl-2 and PARP proteins. In contrast, the bax protein level was increased. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of troglitazone and COX-2 inhibitor in a low dose elicits synergistic cytotoxicity in glioma cells. Our study also demonstrates that down regulation of bcl-2, fragmentation of PARP protein and increased expression of bax protein were accompanied by co-treatment with troglitazone and the COX-2 inhibitor.
Apoptosis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; DNA Fragmentation ; Down-Regulation ; Glioma* ; PPAR gamma ; Trypan Blue

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis*