Author performed this experiment to define the most important factor preventing the intimal thickening. An endothelium of abdominal aorta in the rat was denuded by two different wires having same caliver. The degree of injury was limited to the endothelial cells in one, and extended to the internal elastic lamina in another. The results showed that at 72 hours, in the case of superficial injury, the entire injury site was covered by new regenerating cells, but in the case of disruption of the internal elastic lamina, the migrating smooth muscle cell completely reached into the intima and resulted in intemal thickening. Similar findings persisted to 1 week later. Above results suggest the most important factor preventing the intimal thickening in endothelial injury is the depth of the injury which limited within the endothelial cells without extending into the internal elastic lamina and medial smooth muscle cells.
Rats ; Animals

Aneurysmal bone cyst uncommonly involves the pubic bone and tends to grow eccentrically and thin out overlying cortex. In the following case report, a 19-year-old male patient visited out hospital, because of dull pain in his left groin. He was diagnosed as aneurysmal bone cyst originated from the superior pubic ramus by CT guided needle biopsy. Transcatheter arterial embolization was effective in the treatment of this lesion such as complete consolidation after the procedure. At present, 2 years follow-up, no problem was noted at weight bearing as well as hip function or recurrence.
Aneurysm ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bone Cysts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Groin ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Pubic Bone ; Recurrence ; Weight-Bearing ; Young Adult

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition leading to renal dysfunction and is closely related to increased cardiovascular and mortality risk. CKD is an important public health issue, and recent genetic studies have verified common CKD susceptibility variants. This research examines the interrelationship between candidate genes polymorphisms of interferon lambda (IFNL) induction, its signaling pathway, and CKD. Methods: Seventy-five patients with advanced CKD and 312 healthy subjects (as controls) participated in this research. A replication set composed of 172 patients with advanced CKD and 365 controls was used for additional analysis. The genotype of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was determined by the Axiom Genome-Wide Human Assay and SNaPshot assay. Results: The SNP of IFNL3 was significantly associated with CKD in the codominant (p = 0.02) and dominant models (p = 0.02). In addition, the SNPs of IFNL2 were significantly associated with CKD in the dominant model (p = 0.03), and the SNP of interferon alpha receptor 2 (IFNAR2) was significantly associated with CKD in the log-additive model (p = 0.03). Concerning rs148543092, in the IFNL3 gene, a significant association was observed after pooling the original and replication sets. Conclusion: These results indicate that SNPs in the IFNL induction and signal pathway may be associated with CKD risk in the Korean population. Finally, our results also show that the IFNL3 gene variant may be associated with CKD risk.

It is often problematic to diagnose T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the skin because of the difficulty in establishing clonality in paraffin-embedded tissue. We used polymerase chain reaction single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and heteroduplex analysis in paraffin embedded tissue to detect clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor gamma (TCRgamma) gene in 17 T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and 6 atypical lymphoproliferative diseases. We used polymerase chain reaction to detect TCR beta gene rearrangement in 8 of 17 cases which did not show TCRgamma gene rearrangement. Jurkat cell lines were used as monoclonal controls. DNA was extracted from 5 biopsies of T-cell lymphomas, 10 biopsies of mycosis fungoides, 2 biopsies of lymphomatoid papulosis, and 6 biopsies of atypical lymphoproliferative lesions. We detected monoclonality in 5 of 5 T-cell lymphoma cases, 2 of 2 lymphomatoid papulosis cases, 6 of 10 mycosis fungoides cases, and 2 of 6 atypical lymphoproliferative disease cases. We conclude that nonradioactive PCR-SSCP for TCR gene rearrangement analysis is a useful adjunct to routine histological and immunophenotypic methods in the diagnosis of cutaneous T cell lymphoproliferative disorders in paraffin embedded tissue.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta ; Heteroduplex Analysis ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: Survival outcome of locally advanced pancreatic cancer has been poor and little is known about prognostic factors of the disease, especially in locally advanced cases treated with concurrent chemoradiation. This study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors of patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 34 patients diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer and treated with definitive CCRT, from December 2003 to December 2012, were reviewed. Median prescribed radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 41.4 to 55.8 Gy), once daily, five times per week, 1.8 to 3 Gy per fraction. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 10 months (range, 0 to 49 months), median overall survival was 9 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 40% and 10%, respectively. Median and mean time to progression were 5 and 7 months, respectively. Prognostic parameters related to overall survival were post-CCRT CA19-9 (p = 0.02), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status (p < 0.01), and radiation dose (p = 0.04) according to univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, post-CCRT CA19-9 value below 180 U/mL and ECOG status 0 or 1 were statistically significant independent prognostic factors associated with improved overall survival (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Overall treatment results in locally advanced pancreatic cancer are relatively poor and few improvements have been accomplished in the past decades. Post-treatment CA19-9 below 180 U/mL and ECOG performance status 0 and 1 were significantly associated with an improved overall survival.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

A C2-3 zygapophygeal joint is a major source of cervicogenic headache. Radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy is preformed widely for zygapophygeal joint pain. Conventional RF denervation technique is generally performed under fluoroscopic control. Recently, ultrasound-guided radiofrequency on zygapophygeal joint has emerged as an alternative method. We report our experiences of two successful ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequencies on 39-year-old and 42-year-old males, who complained occipital headache and posterior neck pain.
Arthralgia ; Denervation ; Headache ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Neck Pain ; Post-Traumatic Headache

A 16-month-old boy had signs of virilization such as penile enlargement and pubic hair since 13 months of age. Hormone evaluation indicated increased levels of 17-OH-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone- sulfate (DHEA-S) and testosterone. Initially he was diagnosed as simple virilizing type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and hydrocortisone was given to him. After 2 months, his penile enlargement continued and we did not find gene mutation for 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Adrenal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3.5x2.7x4.4 cm size of adrenal mass consistent with an adrenocortical tumor. The patient underwent surgical excision of the well-encapsulated tumor with normalization of his hormone levels. Childhood adrenocortical tumors are rare and are not well characterized. Surgery is the definitive treatment for adrenocortical tumors and prognosis is often poor. We report a case of adrenocortical tumor in a 16-month-old boy presenting with virilization with review of literature.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Hair ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; Testosterone ; Virilism

PURPOSE: To evaluate the lung changes in healthy smokers, as seen on inspiratory and expiratoryhigh-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy smokers (light smokers,below 20 pack-years, n=16; heavy smokers, above 20 pack-years, n=11) and 25 nonsmokers underwent inspiratory andexpiratory HRCT. All healthy smokers had normal pulmonary function and chest radiography. Parenchymal andsubpleural micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema, bronchial wallthickening, bronchiectasis and septal line were evalvated on inspiratory scan and by air-trapping on expiratoryscan. RESULTS: On inspiratory scan, parenchymal micronodules were observed in one of 25 nonsmokers(4%), two of 16light smokers(13%) and five of 11 heavy smokers(45%); subpleural micronodules in two(8%), four(25%), two(18%);ground-glass attenuation in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%); centrilobular emphysema in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%);paraseptal emphysema in three(12%), 0(0%), five(45%); bronchial wall thickening in 0(0%), two(13%), one(9%),bronchiectasis in 0(0%), one(6%) two(18%) and septal line in one(4%), four(25%), two(18%). On expiratory scan,air-trapping was detected in 0 of 15 nonsmokers(0%), two of 17 light smokers(12%), and five of 11 heavysmokers(45%). Statistically significant differences between these three groups were found in parenchymalmicronodules(P=0.006), ground-glass attenuation(P=0.008), centrilobular emphysema(P=0.018), paraseptal emphysema(P=0.005) and air-trapping(P=0.013) between these three groups. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of HRCT,heavy smokers had higher frequency of parenchymal micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular andparaseptal emphysema, and air-trapping than nonsmokers and light smokers.
Bronchiectasis ; Bronchiolitis ; Emphysema ; Lung* ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Radiography ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Air Pollutants/*toxicity ; Animals ; Biological Markers/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhalation Exposure ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nasal Mucosa/drug effects/pathology ; Ozone/*toxicity ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism ; Respiratory Mucosa/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Skin/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology

Gangliosides have been suggested to play important roles in various functions such as adhesion, cell differentiation, growth control, and signaling. Mouse follicular development, ovulation, and luteinization during the estrous cycle are regulated by several hormones and cell-cell interactions. In addition, spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of adult testes is also regulated by several hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and cell-cell interactions. The regulation of these processes by hormones and cell-cell interactions provides evidence for the importance of surface membrane components, including gangliosides. During preimplantation embryo development, a mammalian embryo undergoes a series of cleavage divisions whereby a zygote is converted into a blastocyst that is sufficiently competent to be implanted in the maternal uterus and continue its development. Mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from mouse embryo, specifically, from the inner cell mass of blastocysts. Differentiated neuronal cells are derived from mES cells through the formation of embryonic bodies (EBs). EBs recapitulate many aspects of lineage-specific differentiation and temporal and spatial gene expression patterns during early embryogenesis. Previous studies on ganglioside expression during mouse embryonic development (including during in vitro fertilization, ovulation, spermatogenesis, and embryogenesis) reported that gangliosides were expressed in both undifferentiated and differentiated (or differentiating) mES cells. In this review, we summarize some of the advances in our understanding of the functional roles of gangliosides during the stages of mouse embryonic development, including ovulation, spermatogenesis, and embryogenesis, focusing on undifferentiated and differentiated mES cells (neuronal cells).
Animals ; *Cell Differentiation ; *Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; Gametogenesis ; Gangliosides/*metabolism ; Mice ; Urogenital System/cytology/embryology/metabolism