A 38-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our clinic because of cervical incompetence at 19 weeks of gestation. Trans-abdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was performed after failure of modified Shirodkar cerclage operation in the patient at 21 weeks of gestation via a laparotomic approach. Another 38-year-old patient, who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure conization for treatment of cervical dysplasia 4 years ago, presented for cervical incompetence. At 18 weeks of gestation, we performed trans-abdominal laparotomic cervicoisthmic cerclage without any post-operative complications. During antenatal follow-up, there were no obstetrical co-morbidities and finally she gave birth to a healthy infant at full term by cesarean section. We report two cases of women who underwent trans-abdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage surgery because of cervical incompetence as they were not suitable for transvaginal cervical cerclage. Both patients successfully maintained their pregnancy until full term after undergoing transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage at more than 18 weeks of gestation.
Adult ; Cerclage, Cervical ; Cesarean Section ; Conization ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Uterine Cervical Incompetence

We report a rare case of lung disease caused by Mycobacterium terrae in a previously healthy woman. A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to a chronic cough with sputum. A computed tomography scan of the chest revealed bronchiolitis in conjuction with bronchiectasis in both lungs. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were identified and isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from each lung. All isolates were identified as M. terrae by various molecular methods that characterized the rpoB and hsp65 gene sequences. Antibiotic therapy using clarithromycin, rifampin, and ethambutol improved the patient's condition and successfully resulted in sputum conversion.
Bronchiectasis ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Clarithromycin ; Cough ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Rifampin ; Sputum ; Thorax

Hantaan virus is widely distributed among rodent populations in Korea. Two antigenically distinct hantaviruses were isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the serological evidence of hantavirus infection among indegenous wild rodents, which were captured in 11 mountains located in Kyunggi, Kangwon, Chungnan, Chunbug and Kyungnam province of South Korea. A total 252 wild rodents of 3 species were trapped from Myungsung Mt., Chumbong Mt., Kali Mt., Hansuk Mt., Chachil peak, Kyebang Mt., Odae Mt., Kyerong Mt., Kaya Mt., Togju Mt. and Chiri Mt. in 1997. Serologic test for hantavirus infection was performed using hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique. Among 122 Apodemus agrarius, 88 Apodemus peninsulae and 42 Eothenomys regulus; 18 A. agrarius (14.8%), 12 A. peninsulae (13.6%) and 4 E. regulus (9.5%) were immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) positive against hantaan virus. IFA titers 3 Eothenomys regulus sera were higher against puumalavirus than hantaan virus. These data imply that above three species of rodent might be natural reservoirs of hantaviruses in Korea.
Animals ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus Infections* ; Hantavirus* ; Korea* ; Murinae ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Serologic Tests

Cyclin D1, a cell cycle regulator essential for G1 phase progression, is a candidate proto-oncogene implicated in pathogenesis of several human carcinomas including breast carcinoma. We studied the cyclin D1 expression in 101 cases of primary breast carcinoma tissues. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was immunohistochemically demonstrated in 34 (37.8%) of 90 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Positive cyclin D1 staining was seen in 32 of 79 invasive ductal carcinomas, and 2 of 3 mucinous carcinomas. All 5 medullary carcinomas, 2 invasive lobular carcinomas, and 1 metaplastic carcinoma were negative. Cyclin D1 overexpression was observed in 9 of 11 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Normal epithelial components, either ductal or lobular, were not immunoreactive for cyclin D1. No significant correlations were observed between cyclin D1 immunoreactivity and other parameters including tumor size, clinical stage, nuclear or histologic grades, lymphatic or angioinvasion, lymph node metastasis, and immunohistochemical status of progesterone receptor, p53 and c-erbB-2. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was positively correlated with estrogen receptor status (p=0.025). Based on our results, the cyclin D1 protein aberration may play a role in tumorigenesis of breast carcinoma, but does not seem to have prognostic value in invasive breast carcinoma without hormonal treatment.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Estrogens ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Receptors, Progesterone

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET), a rare, highly aggressive neoplasm of indetermined histogenesis, occurs typically in the soft tissues of the chest wall and the paraspinal region. Comprehensive diagnostic studies including histological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses have been stressed to diagnose this entity. We report a case of primary renal PNET which was incidentally found in a 59-year-old man who presented with generalized weakness for 4 months. He was diagnosed as a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus 15 years ago and has been made well by oral therapy. An ill-defined mass, measuring 3.5 3 cm, located in the left kidney and perirenal fat, was incidentally found by ultrasonogram during a renal diabetic examination. The mass was resected because of the unresponsiveness against one-year chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Grossly, a homogeneously solid, gray-white mass, measuring 2.8 1.8 cm, was noted in the mid portion of renal cortex. The mass showed severe adhesion to the perirenal fatty tissue. Microscopically, tumor cells were rather uniform, small round with scanty cytoplasm and often showed rosette formation. Ultrastructurally, they showed membrane-bound dense core granules, measuring 125~150 nm, intercellular junctions and microvillous cytoplasmic projections. The tumor cells were uniformly immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase and were focally immunoreactive for CD99 (013), chromogranin, synaptophysin and cytokeratin. They were not reactive for S-100 protein, vimentin, Leu-7, leukocyte common antigen, desmin and smooth muscle actin. To our knowledge, this is the smallest renal PNET in literature.
Actins ; Adipose Tissue ; Antigens, CD45 ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; Keratins ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Rosette Formation ; S100 Proteins ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; Synaptophysin ; Thoracic Wall ; Ultrasonography ; Vimentin

URP primers of 20 mer derived from repetitive sequence of rice were used to assess genetic variation of oyster mushroom consisting of 10 cultivars of Pleurotus ostreatus, two cultivars of P. florida and two cultivars of P. sajor-caju which were registered in Korea. URP2F and URP38F primers produced cultivar-specific PCR polymorphic bands in the Pleurotus species. UPGMA cluster analysis using the URP-PCR data showed that 14 Pleurotus cultivars are genetically clustered into large three groups. The URP-PCR data provided important information for more efficient breeding strategies of Pleurotus cultivars.
Breeding ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Florida ; Genetic Variation ; Korea* ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related kidney disease is a chronic immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disorder characterized by multiple organ infiltration with IgG4-positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis or tumefactive lesions. Previous studies have explored IgG4-related kidney disease, increasing our understanding of its clinical manifestations, and pathological and radiologic findings. However, IgG4-related kidney disease can be misdiagnosed since it mimics malignancies. We report a case of a 77-year-old Korean man diagnosed with IgG4-related kidney disease with membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis, presenting with a renal pelvic mass suspected of being malignant.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related kidney disease is a chronic immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disorder characterized by multiple organ infiltration with IgG4-positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis or tumefactive lesions. Previous studies have explored IgG4-related kidney disease, increasing our understanding of its clinical manifestations, and pathological and radiologic findings. However, IgG4-related kidney disease can be misdiagnosed since it mimics malignancies. We report a case of a 77-year-old Korean man diagnosed with IgG4-related kidney disease with membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis, presenting with a renal pelvic mass suspected of being malignant.

Gastric volvulus is characterized by an abnormal rotation of the stomach typically 180degrees left to right around a line joining the relatively fixed pylorus and the esophagus. Gastric volvulus can be classified anatomically as organoaxial, mesenteroaxial or combined, and symptomatically as acute or chronic. Acute gastric volvulus is an extremely rare emergency surgical condition. The classical triad of gastric volvulus are severe nausea with a paradoxical inability to vomit, localized epigastric pain and an inability to pass a nasogastric tube. Gastric volvulus may be suspected on a plain radiological examination of the abdomen as well as by its symptoms. It is confirmed by the specific findings on the esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We report a case of acute mesenteroaxial gastric volvulus, that was treated using laparoscopic reduction and anterior gastropexy.
Abdomen ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagus ; Gastropexy ; Gastroscopy ; Nausea ; Pylorus ; Stomach ; Stomach Volvulus*

Two Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) died after suffering from pododermatitis, lethargy, and ataxia; necropsy was performed. Grossly, the liver was swollen and firm. The kidney and spleen were also enlarged and a pale tan color. On histopathologic examination with Congo red staining, amyloidosis was noted in liver, spleen, and kidney. In addition, marked osseous metaplasia was present in the liver. Based on these results, systemic amyloidosis involving liver, spleen, and kidney with osseous metaplasia in the liver was diagnosed. Study results indicate that an inflammatory reaction associated with pododermatitis had a role in the amyloidosis in this particular case.
Amyloidosis* ; Ataxia ; Congo Red ; Kidney ; Lethargy ; Liver ; Metaplasia ; Spleen ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl