No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans

Three cases of hydatidiform mole with a coexisting fetus are described. In two cases, flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content from paraffin-embedded, molar tissues and normal-appearing placental tissues showed diploid pattern. One case had karyotypes of 46, XX both in fetal skin fibroblasts and in molar tissues. Microscopically, the villi showed diffuse hydropic swelling with circumferential trophoblastic proliferations and consistent with the diagnosis of complete mole. Two patient had persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia on the follow-up. Therefore, in cases of hydatidiform mole with a coexisting fetus, dizygotic twin pregnancies composed of a normal pregnancy from one ovum and a complete mole pregnancy from the other ovum must be considered and the patients should be followed with serum beta-hCG measurements.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

Five cases of ovarian serous borderline tumor associated with multiple peritoneal implants were analysed. The age of 5 patients ranged from 34 to 45(mean: 39) years at the time of diagnosis. Two patients presented with secondary infertility underwent hyperstimulation of the ovary under the in vitro fertilization program. One patient was presented with abdominal pain and the remaining two with lower abdominal mass accompanied by abdominal pain. Serous surface papilloma of borderline malignancy, involving one or both ovaries, was present in all 5 cases and papillary serous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy was associated simultaneously in one or both ovaries in all cases. Marked adhesions between the pelvic organs, and multiple granularities and nodularities of the omentum and peritoneum were noted. Microscopically, the peritoneal lesions were composed of noninvasive implants of tumor cells and pasmmoma bodies on the surface of entire pelvic and abdominal organs. Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content from paraffin-embedded tissue fo primary ovarian tumor classified as aneuploidy in 3 cases and as diploidy in 2 cases. The DNA index of the aneuploid tumors ranged from 1.21 to 1.37. Four patients underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and partial omentectomy in which two were followed by chemotherapy and one case underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular coccidian protozoan, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a widespread infection affecting various birds and mammals including humans. In immunocompetent hosts, the infection is usually asymptomatic and benign. Toxoplasmosis is either congenital or acquired. In general prenatal therapy of congenital toxoplasmosis is beneficial in reducing the ncy of infant infection. Therapies are based primarily on spiramycin because of the relative lack of toxicity and high concentration achieved in the placenta. Clindamycin is the standard drug for chemoprophylaxis in newborn infants, and is directed at preventing the occurrence of retinochoroiditis as a late sequel to congenital infection. The standard treatment for acquired toxoplasmosis in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients is the synergistic combination of pyrimethamine and sulphonamides. Toxoplasmic encephalitis is tbe most common manifestation of acquired toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients and if not treated is fatal. However, because of toxicity, the therapeutic efficacy of pyrimethamine sulphonamide combinations may be seriously limited in immunodeficient patients. We have experienced a case of toxoplasmosis during the workup of habitual aborter. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Birds ; Chemoprevention ; Clindamycin ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mammals ; Placenta ; Pyrimethamine ; Spiramycin ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis* ; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital

A case of diffuse malignant mesothelioma of peritoneum which was difficult to distinguish from metastatic anaplastic carcinoma or malignant melanoma was presented. The patient was a 50 year-old woman and complained of an abdominal pain and ascites for 20 days. Histologically, the tumor cells showed highly anaplastic appearance with sheet-like arrangement without any papillary or tubular structure. They stained Positive for cytokeratin and vimentin and negative for CEA, S-100 protein and melanoma associated antigen. A few cells within the tumor showed Positive reactivity to desmin. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells had characteristic findings of mesothelioma such as long, exuberant, wavy microvilli with 10 to 12 of length/diameter ratio. The patient died 3 months after the diagnosis in spite of intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: We performed dynamic MR imaging using GdDTPA to find characteristic enhancement pattern of hepatic hemangioma distinguishing from hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 28 hepatic hemangiomas and 10 hepatocellular carcinomas were evaluated. Serial dynamic scans after Gd-DTPA(0.1mmol/kg) intravenous injection were obtained by using 0.5T machine and analyzed contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) of the lesion and enhancement pattern on each scan. RESULTS: Hepatic hemangiomas had positive CNR from 1-2 minute images, and revealed typical "fill-in phenomenon" on early phase with prolonged enhancement in 26 cases(92.8%), and early homogeneous enhancement with isointensity on delayed phase in 2 cases(7.2%) of small hemangiome~ Hepatocellular carcinomas revealed inhomogeneous enhancement with hypointensity on delayed phase in 10 cases(100%) and 3 cases (30%) of capsular enhancement. CONCLUSION: Hepatic hemangioma can be easily distinguished from hepatocellular carcinoma by using Gd DTPA enhanced dynamic MR imaging according to its typical enhancement pattern of "fill-in phenomenon" and prolonged enhancement.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemangioma* ; Injections, Intravenous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a multisystem disorder with a peak age of onset in the second and fourth decades of life predominantly occuring in females who will usually have the potential to become pregnant. This female to male predominance is greatest during childbearing years approaching a ratio of 13:1, after the menopause it declines to a ratio of 3:1, the ratio also seen in prepubertal years. In practice, despite the higher prevalence of rheumatiod arthritis, pregnancy in SLE is the most common management problem confronting physician and obstetrician amongst the connective tissue disorders and it is particularly important as the outcome of pregnancy is more unpredictable in this disease. As well as having clinical consequences for the health of both mother and fetus, pregnancy in lupus provides a model for studying the importance of other biological phenomena characterizing the disease. For example, the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies to Ro(SSA) and La(SSB) and their strong association with the neonatal lupus syndrome suggests a pathogenetic role for these autoantibodies. Other relevant issues are feto-meternal immunological tolerance and hormonal interaction with the immune system. We have experienced a case of recurrent pregnancy loss associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.
Age of Onset ; Antibodies ; Arthritis ; Autoantibodies ; Biological Phenomena ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Immune System ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Male ; Menopause ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Nuchal Translucency Measurement* ; Pregnancy*

Zonula occludens (ZO) proteins serve as scaffolding proteins that provide structural support at cell junctions and the cytoplasmic surface, acting as bridges between integral membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton. In addition to their structural functions, they also regulate cell growth and proliferation. Recent studies have shown that ZO proteins are involved in various diseases, including cancer. Specifically, ZO proteins influence the growth and development of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. These proteins perform various functions in the tumor microenvironment through processes such as angiogenesis, inflammatory responses, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and interactions with mesenchymal stem cells. The mechanisms of these actions may vary depending on the type of cancer and environmental conditions. Ongoing research explores several signaling pathways involving ZO proteins. These insights suggest that new therapeutic approaches may be considered to slow down cancer growth and development within the tumor microenvironment. Despite continuing research on the cellular and in vivo roles of ZO proteins, the current understanding of how these signaling mechanisms function within the tumor microenvironment in vivo remains limited. In this review, we introduce the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of ZO proteins in the cancer microenvironment, explore their potential to suppress cancer cell environments, and examine their roles in vivo.

Zonula occludens (ZO) proteins serve as scaffolding proteins that provide structural support at cell junctions and the cytoplasmic surface, acting as bridges between integral membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton. In addition to their structural functions, they also regulate cell growth and proliferation. Recent studies have shown that ZO proteins are involved in various diseases, including cancer. Specifically, ZO proteins influence the growth and development of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. These proteins perform various functions in the tumor microenvironment through processes such as angiogenesis, inflammatory responses, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and interactions with mesenchymal stem cells. The mechanisms of these actions may vary depending on the type of cancer and environmental conditions. Ongoing research explores several signaling pathways involving ZO proteins. These insights suggest that new therapeutic approaches may be considered to slow down cancer growth and development within the tumor microenvironment. Despite continuing research on the cellular and in vivo roles of ZO proteins, the current understanding of how these signaling mechanisms function within the tumor microenvironment in vivo remains limited. In this review, we introduce the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of ZO proteins in the cancer microenvironment, explore their potential to suppress cancer cell environments, and examine their roles in vivo.