A 52-year-old woman was admitted with a palpable mass on the abdominal wall. This tumor had developed at the same site of a previously resected dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The biopsy specimen from the recurrent tumor revealed malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Immunohistochemistry with anti-CD34 antibody revealed diffuse linear positivity on the tumor cells of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and negativity on malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Anti CD34 antibody was valuable for a differential diagnosis of these two lesions.
Abdominal Wall ; Biopsy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is an uncommon carcinoma accounting for less than 1% of the breast carcinoma. This type of carcinoma has a distinctive histology, such as cylindromatous, cribriform, glandlike space and solid pattern in the variable proportion. Prognosis is favorable with rare recurrence or metastasis and the guideline for therapy is not well established. We experienced a case of ACC of right breast in the 48 year-old woman. Cytologically, it showed numerous three-dimensional, well outlined cell clusters with central core of homogeneous, eosinophilic material. The mass was well demarcated, firm and measured 2.5 2.5 2 cm. Cut surface was yellowish white and granular with focal necrosis. Histologically, the tumor was composed of cylindromatous, adenoid and solid area with marked cellular atypia. Focal invasion was identified in the adipose tissue around the tumor. Histologic and nuclear grade was III by Kleer's grade. Nodal metastasis was not found.
Adenoids* ; Adipose Tissue ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Herpes simplex esophagitis has been recognized with increased frequency as an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed or debilitated patients. However, it is also documented as self-limited esophagitis in apparently healthy patients. We report two cases of herpetic esophagitis diagnosed by biopsies. One case was noted in an immunocompetent patient having gastric peptic ulcer who had clinical improvement with symptomatic treatment. And the other was noted in an immunosuppressed patient having chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma who had resolution of symptoms with acyclovir therapy. Histologically, esophageal mucosa exhibited erosion and inflammatory cellular exudate with intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions in the epithelial cells. These were confirmed by the PCR and immunohistochemical stain for herpes simplex virus using a biopsy material.
Acyclovir ; Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophagitis* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Opportunistic Infections ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simplexvirus

No abstract available.
Female ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Pregnant Women* ; Rupture*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the actor and partner effects of health status, marital satisfaction, and self efficacy on retirement preparation in middle aged couples using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. METHODS: Participants were 121 middle aged couples living in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Daegu City, Korea. All measures were self-administered. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. RESULTS: 1) Wife's self efficacy and marital satisfaction showed direct actor and partner effects on retirement preparation in middle aged couples. Wife's health status showed an indirect actor effect through wife's self efficacy and marital satisfaction on wife's retirement preparation, and showed an indirect partner effect through husband's self efficacy on husband's retirement preparation. 2) Husband's self efficacy and marital satisfaction showed only direct actor effect on retirement preparation. Health status among the husbands showed an indirect actor effect on husband's retirement preparation through their self efficacy and marital satisfaction, and an indirect partner effect through wife's marital satisfaction on wife's retirement preparation. 3) The actor effect size of health status on self efficacy and marital satisfaction was larger among husband's than wife's. Additionally, the partner effect size of health status on self efficacy and marital satisfaction was different between the two groups; however, the actor and partner effect size of self efficacy and marital satisfaction on retirement preparation was the same for husband and wife. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that nursing intervention strategies for improving self efficacy and marital satisfaction are strongly needed to enhance retirement preparation of middle aged couples in Korean community.
Daegu ; Family Characteristics* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Marital Status* ; Middle Aged* ; Nursing ; Retirement* ; Self Efficacy* ; Seoul ; Spouses

PURPOSE: This study was to understand and explain the adjustment of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Variables in this model were social support, uncertainty, resilience and coping. METHODS: The data were collected for approximately five months from May through to September 2006 with cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or cancer patients finished chemotherapy using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics program, Amos 5.0, was employed to verify the goodness of the hypothetic model and the hypotheses formulated in the study. RESULTS: The fitness of the finalized model turned out to be improved (chi2=332.644, df=70, GFI=.809, AGFI=.714, RMSEA=.138, AIC=402.644). Those variables made a 60.8% prediction of the patients adjustment. CONCLUSION: The hypothetic model presented in the study could serve to explain the adjustment of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Moreover, the use of the conceptual framework of the theory of planned nursing intervention would be very worthwhile as a strategy to boost the adjustment of cancer patients when receiving chemotherapy.
Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uncertainty

BACKGROUND: Leukocytes, both polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNL) and monocytes/macrophages have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the cerebral ischemia and stroke. Neutrophils accumulate in post-hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rat brain prior to the evolution of necrosis and neutrophil depletion attenuates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. However, the mechanisms leading to post-hypoxic-ischemic neutrophil accumulation are unknown yet. We hypothesized that Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 might mediate post-hypoxic-ischemic injury in the immature brain; thus, we evaluated ICAM-1 gene expression in post-hypoxic-ischemic neonatal(postnatal day 7) rat brain. METHODS: Neonatal rats(n=36) underwent right carotid ligation followed by exposure in 8% O2 for 2.5 hours; this procedure typically produces ipsilateral striatal, hippocampal and cortical infarction. Control groups are included by carotid ligation alone, hypoxia alone, and neither hypoxia nor ligation. For RNA extraction, rats were killed 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h post- hypoxia-ischemia and RT-PCR was carried out. RESULTS: ICAM-1 mRNA was barely detected in the controls including normal and sham operated animals. In the cortex, striatum and hippocampus, ICAM-1 mRNA was significantly induced in the ipsilateral(right) side compared to the contralateral(left) side just after hypoxia-ischemia. The elevated ICAM-1 mRNA gradually reached a peak at 4 or 8 h and then decreased to an almost basal level by 24 to 48 h. In contrast, the less pronounced contralateral(left-sided) ICAM-1 mRNA expression appeared to peak earlier, within 2 h post-hypoxia-ischemia. CONCLUSION: The temporal profiles of post-hypoxic-ischemic ICAM-1 mRNA expression are consistent with a role in post-hypoxic-ischemic neutrophil recruitment and in the evolution of subsequent brain injury.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Gene Expression ; Hippocampus ; Infarction ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Leukocytes ; Ligation ; Necrosis ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Stroke

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and preferences of supplementary drinks for very old subjects who are likely to be malnourished. Twenty-five elderly subjects were divided into two groups. The supplemented group(N=15) received 500mls of nutrient supplement(New Care) two times daily for 4 weeks. This resulted in a significant increase in the total calories, protein, minerals and vitamins. Nutritional status was assessed both anthropometrically and biochemically, before and after the study period. A significant improvement in mid arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin were observed in the supplemented group but not in the control group. There is a possibility that most of the elderly were in an anemic state at the beginning of the study since their mean hematologic parameters were within the lower normal range while their mean serum osmolarities was slightly higher than normal,. Although mean serum hemoglobin and hematocrit were not increased significantly, th percentage of the recovery rate from anemia in the supplemented group was higher than in the control group. Total lymphocyte count also showed similar tendency. Sensory evaluation of nutritional supplementary drinks were relatively good and the elderly showed great interest in nutrient supplements. This study suggests that a nutritional status of poorly nourished elderly subjects can be improved by providing them with nutritional supplementations.
Aged* ; Anemia ; Arm ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Minerals ; Nutritional Status ; Osmolar Concentration ; Reference Values ; Serum Albumin ; Skinfold Thickness ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Rabbits*

BACKGROUND: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the primary biochemical marker used to monitor patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) for residual or recurrent disease after total thyroidectomy, as only normal or well-differentiated malignant thyroid cells produce Tg. Here, we evaluated the precision and functional sensitivity (FS) of a recently developed highly sensitive Tg (hsTg) electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (ECLIA) and compared it to that of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method using pooled human serum with low levels of Tg. METHODS: For the ECLIA method, the Elecsys Tg II kit (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) was used with an E170 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). For the RIA method, the Tg-plus-RIA kit (BRAHAMS, Germany) was used with a Cobra Quantum gamma counter (Packard Instrument Company, USA). The precision and limit of detection (LOD) were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. FS was determined using a modification of the CLSI guideline. RESULTS: The total precision of the hsTg ECLIA and RIA methods was 9.6% and 48.2%, respectively. The manufacturer-reported LOD was verified by the hsTg ECLIA (0.04 ng/mL), but not by the RIA method (>0.08 ng/mL). The hsTg ECLIA showed better FS (0.04 ng/mL at a coefficient of variation [CV] of 10%) than the RIA method (0.37 ng/mL at a CV of 20%). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the hsTg ECLIA performed better than the RIA method in terms of FS, which is extremely important for the early detection of residual or recurrent disease in DTC patients after total thyroidectomy. The excellent performance of the hsTg ECLIA could allow for clinical Tg measurement without thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation, in contrast to the insufficient performance of the RIA method.
Biomarkers ; Elapidae ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Limit of Detection ; Methods ; Radioimmunoassay* ; Thyroglobulin* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin