Adolescent ; Diseases in Twins ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Pregnancy ; Twins, Monozygotic

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma is a rare tumor, presenting superficially over the cerebral hemispheres of young subjects. We report a case of Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma of the cervical cord in view of its unusual location. The patient is a 20-year-old female, presenting with left neck pain radiating to the left shoulder one month before the admission. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high signal lesion in the upper cervical cord lower brainstem in T2 weighted image. On operation, intramedullary tumor was present and it was relatively well delineated. Near-total removal of the spinal cord mass was done. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of pleomorphic astrocytes, which were spindle-shaped with cytoplasmic processes and hyperchromatic nuclei. Other cells were round with vesicular nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. A few giant cells were seen. Despite the marked pleomorphism, mitosis or necrosis was not encountered. Scattered foamy cells were also seen, which showed negative staining in GFAP immunostaining in contrast to other GFAP-positive tumors cells.
Female ; Humans

Cysts of the iris may be primary lesions of either epithelial or stromal in origin, or secondary lesions after trauma or surgery. The stromal cyst is usually of primary lesion, although it could be secondary as shown in our case. We report a case of recurrent iris cyst after trauma. The patient was an 8-year-old girl. She had a penetrating injury of the involved eye three years ago. She had a similar iris cyst removed two years before this surgery. Histologically, the cyst was lined by non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelia and subjacent fibrovascular tissue. Islands of melanin-containing epithelial cells and acellular basophilic degenerating materials were also seen in the lesion. This case represents a stromal epithelial cyst that by history appears to be of post-traumatic etiology.
Cysts

An intraparotid benign lymphoepithelial cyst is a rare disease characterized by unilateral painless swelling of parotid region. The histogenesis is controversial. Surgical excision is recommended for diagnosis and curative treatment. We present a case of benign lymphoepithelial cyst arising in a patient with neurofibromatosis. A 46-year-old woman presented with a slowly growing multilocular cystic mass in the left cheek. The cystic mass measured 4 cm in maximal outer diameter and the cystic wall was thick and yellowish pale to gray, soft with well circumscribed margin. Microscopically, the multilocular cyst was lined by stratified squamous epithelium for the most part and underlying lymphoid tissue aggregates with follicles and sharply demarcated from adjacent salivary parenchyma which is of normal appearance and without lymphoid aggregates. Since this lesion is absolutely benign, it is important to separate this benign cyst from cystic salivary gland tumors.
Female ; Humans ; Cysts

To elucidate a possible prognostic factor, we studied 91 cases of breast carcinoma for the expression of n-tn23 protein using an immunohistochemical method, and compared these results with the known prognostic parameters of the breast carcinoma. The mn23 protein was intensely stained in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus of carcinoma cells in 82 cases(90.1%). There were two patterns of cytoplasmic staining; heterogeneous pattern and homogeneous pattern. Among the positive cases, 43 cases(47.2%) were heterogeneous while 39 cases(42.8%) were homogeneous. Axillary lymph node metastases(p<0.005) was found more frequently in the heterogeneous pattern group(79.0%) than in the homogeneous pattern group(41.0%). There was no significant correlation between nm23 protein expression and other parameters such as patient age, tumor size, estrogen receptor, histopathologic grade, and p53 overexpression. Although axillary lymph node metastasis was correlated with the disease free status(p<0.0005) and patient survival (p<0.05), they showed no correlation with nin23 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that axillary lymph node metastasis was the only prognostic indicator(p<0.05), and the expression of nm23 protein was of borderline significance. The results suggest that the homogeneous and/or granular cytoplasmic expression of mn23 protein plays a role in the suppression of nodal metastasis in breast carcinoma and might contribute in predicting patient survival.
Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcome after pancreatcetmy and its relationship with pathological appearances and clinical features in patients with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy(PHHI). METHODS: Medical records of 10 patients(9 males and 1 female, mean age:40.4+/-1.5 months) who were diagnosed as PHHI and underwent pancreatectomy from 1988 to 2000 were reviewed. Clincal and biochemical data were recorded. Subjects were classified arbitrarily into early-onset or late-onset group according to age of onset. Pathologic appearance of pancreas was divided into 2 forms:diffuse or focal. The former had a focal pancreatic adenomatous hyperplasia and the latter was characterized by increased number of betacells with similar distribution seen in normal neonates. RESULTS: One patient had focal, and nine had diffuse lesions. After near-total pancreatectomy, 4 patients(40.0%) showed complete response, 4(40.0%) had persistent hypoglycemia, and 2(20.0%) developed diabetes mellitus. As neurological sequelae, 6 patients(60.0%) had persistent seizures, and 6(60.0%) had delayed motor and speech development. No clinical or biochemical factors related to postoperative outcome were found. CONCLUSION: This data indicate that early diagnosis of patients who present with hypoglycemic symptoms in infancy, especially early in life, and development of more effective therapy are warranted, because there is no clinical or biochemical factor predicting final outcome after near-total pancreatectomy and only 40% of patients with PHHI remained euglycemic after surgery with possible severe neurological sequelae.
Age of Onset ; Congenital Hyperinsulinism* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypoglycemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy* ; Seizures

In order to elucidate the biological effects of pulsating magnetic field in in vitro culture system we designed a pulsating magnetic apparatus using 120 Hertz, 24 Volt direct current. It can generate 63~225 Gauss in the experimental area of 90 mm petri dish, and has little thermal effect on the culture media in 37.5oC, 5% CO2. Human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured in the pulsating magnetic field and the nuclear changes of cultured cells were observed routinely by hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic change was detected by ApopTag staining using both peroxidase and fluorescein labelings. Compared to the control group which formed well organized whorling pattern of HOS cell line in 3 days culture, the HOS cells cultured in the pulsating magnetic field for 12 hours or 24 hours grew irregularly and showed increased number of apoptotic cells. When the flow of pulsating magnetic field was interrupted by insertion of strong permanent magnetic bar (1000 Gauss, 5530 mm) beneath the petri dish during in vitro culture, the area of sparse pulsating magnetic field showed active proliferation and aggregation of HOS cells even in 24 hour exposure group. These data suggest that the pulsating magnetic field may play a role in inducing growth retardation and apoptosis of HOS cells. Furthermore, the hazardous effects of pulsating magnetic field can be lessened or nullified by the interruption of pulsating magnetic field with a strong permanent magnetic bar.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fluorescein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Magnetic Fields* ; Osteosarcoma* ; Peroxidase

To elucidate the developmental sequence of the eccrine sweat gland, a morphologic and a morphometric observation were done using developing human embryos and fetuses. Five embryos and sixty four fetuses from the 9th to the 38th week of the gestational age were studied. The skin was sampled in eight different areas, i.e., scalp, forehead, face, chest, abdomen, back, palm and sole. Routine histological sections were made for histological evaluation and morphometric analysis. The results obtained were as follows : The primordia of the eccrine sweat glands appeared first as regular undulation of the basal cells in the palm and the sole in the 13th week of getation. Subsequently, elongation and coiling of the cell cords were noted from the 16th to the 18th weeks. Intraductal lumen formation was first noted in the 20th week. Secretory segment of the eccrine sweat glands were noted from the distal part of the coiling intradermal sweat duct in the 22nd week of the gestational age. The eccrine sweat glands became fully developed by the 28th week of gestation and this included the clear cell, the dark cell and the myoepithelial cell. In the morphometric analysis, the number of eccrine epithelial buddings were decreased with aging and the highest were in the palm and the sole. The diameter of the eccrine sweat duct showed no significant change by gestational age or in the different sites observed. Straight and coiled eccrine sweat ducts or glands were lengthened into the deep reticular dermis and upper portion of the subcutaneous adipose tissue with an increase of the gestational age. The above results suggest that developmental stage and the number of eccrine glands of the skin in the fetal stage is different from other areas of the body, especially in the palm and the sole.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Forehead ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Thorax

To elucidate the developmental sequence of the eccrine sweat gland, a morphologic and a morphometric observation were done using developing human embryos and fetuses. Five embryos and sixty four fetuses from the 9th to the 38th week of the gestational age were studied. The skin was sampled in eight different areas, i.e., scalp, forehead, face, chest, abdomen, back, palm and sole. Routine histological sections were made for histological evaluation and morphometric analysis. The results obtained were as follows : The primordia of the eccrine sweat glands appeared first as regular undulation of the basal cells in the palm and the sole in the 13th week of getation. Subsequently, elongation and coiling of the cell cords were noted from the 16th to the 18th weeks. Intraductal lumen formation was first noted in the 20th week. Secretory segment of the eccrine sweat glands were noted from the distal part of the coiling intradermal sweat duct in the 22nd week of the gestational age. The eccrine sweat glands became fully developed by the 28th week of gestation and this included the clear cell, the dark cell and the myoepithelial cell. In the morphometric analysis, the number of eccrine epithelial buddings were decreased with aging and the highest were in the palm and the sole. The diameter of the eccrine sweat duct showed no significant change by gestational age or in the different sites observed. Straight and coiled eccrine sweat ducts or glands were lengthened into the deep reticular dermis and upper portion of the subcutaneous adipose tissue with an increase of the gestational age. The above results suggest that developmental stage and the number of eccrine glands of the skin in the fetal stage is different from other areas of the body, especially in the palm and the sole.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Forehead ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Thorax

A retrospective analysis was performed on the 968 cases of fetal or pediatric autopsies over five year period (1990-1994), at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Age/mode distribution of cases were artificial abortus(30.6%), spontaneous abortus(12.0%), stillbirth(21.9%), neonates(29%), infants(2.8%) and children(0.9%). Male/female ratio was 1.21. Overall incidence of congenital anomalies was 60.8% and 34.0% of all cases had anomalies involving multiple organ systems. Percentage of cases with any anomaly was 71.6% in artificial abortus, 35.3% in spontaneous abortus, 59% in still births, 65.5% in neonates and 38.9% in infant and children. Common organ systems involved were the cardiovascular system (39.0%), musculoskeletal system (23.6%), nervous system (22.6%), gastrointestinal system (19.9%), and urinary system (14.6%). From these results, we found that the congenital anomalies were most significant diseases of the perinatal period and the cardiovascular anomalies were the most common anomalies of them.
Autopsy* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nervous System ; Parturition ; Perinatal Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul*