We evaluated the frequency of genetic alteration of chromosome 3p in lung cancer, and analyzed the patterns of genetic alterations between two distinct histologic types, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and adenocarcinomas (AC). PCR-LOH analysis for 40 Korean non-small cell lung cancer including 20 SCC and 20 AC was performed using microsatellite markers, D3S1300, D3S1029 and D3S1038. These markers represented the loci of FHIT gene (3p14), mismatch repair gene hMLH1 (3p21) and VHL gene (3p25), respectively. For SCC, the frequency of LOH at D3S1300, D3S1029 and D3S1038 was 78.6%, 61.5% and 64.3%, and for AC, was 62.5%, 62.5% and 46.7%, and for total 40 cases of SCC and AC, was 70.0%, 62.1% and 55.2%, respectively. Among 27 cases showing heterozygosity at three examined loci, 7 cases (25.9%) revealed LOH at only one locus and 16 cases (59.3%) revealed LOH at two or three loci. The differences of incidence of LOH and the patterns of genetic alterations at chromosome 3p between two distinct histologic types of lung cancer were not significant. The genetic deletion of relatively broad area, including more than two loci, was more frequent than that of small area, including only one locus.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Incidence ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Microsatellite Repeats

Gaucher's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting fror i mutation at the glucocerebrosidase locus on chromosome 1q21. As a result, glucocerebroside accumulates principally in the phagocytic cells known as Gaucher ce Is. In our case, a five-year old girl was admitted with seven days history of fever and abdominal distension. At physical examination the patient had hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory tests revealed a hemoglobin concentration of 2.8g/L: platelet counts of 23,0001?l: normal range of white cell and differential counts, and negative Coombs' test. Liver enzymes were normal. For the evaluation of hepatosplenomegaly, fine needle aspiration was aerformed blindly against the palpable spleen. Wet-fixed hematoxylin and eosin-stained smears are made. The smears from the spleen showed predominantly macrophages with abundant cytoplasm and rather small, uniform, often eccentric nuclei with small nucleoli. The multinucleated cells were often found. The cytoplasm was pale, with more or less distinct fibrillarity. The cells had the characteristic appearance of Gaucher cells. Gaucher cells were also found it the tissue section from the liver, spleen and lymph node and the bone marrow aspirate. The diagnosis was later confirmed by determination of beta-glucosidase activity in peripheral blood leucocytes. Fine needle aspiration of the spleen is considered as a convenient procedure with a low complication rate for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage disease.
beta-Glucosidase ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Bone Marrow ; Coombs Test ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; Gaucher Disease* ; Glucosylceramidase ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lysosomal Storage Diseases ; Macrophages ; Phagocytes ; Physical Examination ; Platelet Count ; Reference Values ; Spleen*

Background: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued for a couple of years, the long-term effects of the pandemic and the subsequent school curriculum modification on the mental health of children and parents need to be investigated. To clarify the changes that can occur during one school year and to predict the risk factors for vulnerable groups, this study identified parameters relative to children’s screen time, their problematic behavior, and parental depression. Methods: A total of 186 participants were analyzed who were parents of elementary schoolchildren in South Korea. These parents were required to complete a web-based questionnaire twice. The questionnaires were conducted in June 2020 and September 2021. Participants’ general demographics including family income, children’s screen time, sleep patterns, problematic behavior, and parental depression were assessed via the parental questionnaire that included various measurement tools. Results: Children’s body mass index (BMI) increased significantly in 2021 (18.94 ± 3.75 vs. 18.14 ± 3.30, P < 0.001). Smartphone frequency of use per week (5.35 vs. 4.54, P < 0.001) and screen time per day (3.52 vs. 3.16, P < 0.001) significantly increased during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The television screen time (2.88 vs. 3.26, P < 0.001), frequency of viewing (3.77 vs. 4.77, P < 0.001), and children’s problematic behaviors significantly decreased (9.15 vs. 11.85,P < 0.001). A lower income household was a key predictor of increased smartphone frequency (B = 1.840, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.923–2.757, P < 0.001) and smartphone screen time (B = 1.992, 95% CI, 1.458–2.525, P < 0.001). The results showed that the lower income household (B = 5.624, 95% CI, 2.927–8.320, P < 0.001) and a child’s psychiatric treatment history (B = 7.579, 95% CI, 5.666–9.492, P < 0.001) was the most significant predictor of problematic behaviors of children and parental depression (B = 3.476, 95% CI, 1.628–5.325, P < 0.001; B = 3.138, 95% CI, 1.827–4.450, P < 0.001). Conclusion This study suggested that children’s smartphone screen time and BMI increased during COVID-19 because of the school curriculum modification following school closures in South Korea. The increased children’s problematic behaviors and parental depression were predicted by lower-income households and the previous psychiatric history of children. These results indicate that multiple social support systems to the vulnerable group are needed during the ongoing pandemic and that a modified school setting is required.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Various strategies to expand the ablation zone have been attempted using hepatic radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The optimal strategy, however, is unknown. We compared hepatic RFA with an internally cooled wet (ICW) electrode and vascular inflow occlusion. METHODS: Eight dogs were assigned to one of three groups: only RFA using an internally cooled electrode (group A), RFA using an ICW electrode (group B), and RFA using an internally cooled electrode with the Pringle maneuver (group C). The ablation zone diameters were measured on the gross specimens, and the volume of the ablation zone was calculated. RESULTS: The ablation zone volume was greatest in group B (1.82+/-1.23 cm3), followed by group C (1.22+/-0.47 cm3), and then group A (0.48+/-0.33 cm3). The volumes for group B were significantly larger than the volumes for group A (p=0.030). There was no significant difference in the volumes between groups A and C (p=0.079) and between groups B and C (p=0.827). CONCLUSIONS: Both the usage of an ICW electrode and hepatic vascular occlusion effectively expanded the ablation zone. The use of an ICW electrode induced a larger ablation zone with easy handling compared with using hepatic vascular occlusion, although this difference was not statistically significant.
Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; Dogs ; Electrodes ; Handling (Psychology) ; Liver

BACKGROUND: Microembolic signals (MES) have been implicated as an important mechanism of acute ischemic stroke in middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. We conducted a prospective study to correlate MES and patterns of diffusion-weighted MR images (DWI). METHODS: A total of 211 consecutive patients with MCA territory ischemic symptoms within 24 hours of symptom onset were monitored for MES. Among them patients with acute ischemic lesion in MCA territory on DWI were included. MCA velocities on transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination, patterns and multiplicity of DWI lesions, and the degree of stenosis on MR angiography (MRA) were compared between MES positive and negative groups. RESULTS: MES were detected in 9 patients (17.3%) among 52 patients who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The mean number of MES per 30 minutes was 9.11+/-5.94 (range, 1-19). Mean flow velocity of insonated ipsilateral MCA in MES positive group was higher than that of MES negative group (115.67+/-81.9 cm/s vs 58.07+/-23.5 cm/s, p= 0.032). The degree of MCA stenosis on MRA and the presence of MES had significant relationship (p=0.039), but there was no significant relationship between lesion multiplicity on DWI and the presence of MES (p=0.431). The frequency of symptom recurrence in the corresponding MCA territory during 90 days from the index stroke did not show statistical significance between two groups (p=0.681). CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the idea of direct causal relationship between MES and the mechanism of atherothrombotic MCA stroke. Further study is needed to identify whether the appearance of MES implicates a predictor for further ischemic events or a sign of recanalization.
Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Stroke*

Duodenal intramural hematoma is mostly caused by blunt abdominal trauma. It is also less commonly reported as a complication of anticoagulation therapy or as a blood dyscrasia, and as a complication of diagnostic/ therapeutic endoscopy. The presentation of these patients is abdominal pain, vomiting, fever and hematochezia, and this is rarely accompanied with intestinal obstruction, severe pancreatitis and acute peritonitis as its complications. The diagnosis is made clear by performing abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography. We reported here on one case of intramural duodenal hematoma and hemoperitoneum after performing endoscopic hemostasis in a chronic renal failure patient who was on maintenance hemodialysis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Duodenum ; Endoscopy* ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematoma* ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Pancreatitis ; Peritonitis ; Renal Dialysis ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: The variable operative methods are underwent as a treatment of tuberculous spondylitis. We propose hemilaminectomy and debridement as a one of operative method at a certain circumstance. METHODS: From July 1998 to June 2002, 13 consecutive patients with spinal tuberculosis were treated surgically in our institution. Among them, the authors analysed 7 patients in whom posterior approach were performed. The lumbar spine was involved in 6 patients, the thoracic in 1. The hemilaminectomy with debridement was done in all cases. The changes in the Kyphotic angle and the height of involved vertebras retrospectively measured from lateral spinal radiographs obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Mean follow up periods were 16 months. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms and signs were improved in all cases. One patient (14%) was needed anterior fusion because of aggravation of lesion. Another one needed reoperation because of relapse of epidural abscess. The arithmethical average of kyphotic angle was worsened about 2 degrees and that of height loss was lesser than 5% postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The hemilaminectomy with debridement for spinal spondylitis can be a first therapeutic modality in a mild neurologic deficit and minor lesions with extended epidural abscess and granulation tissue to the adjacent vertebras in radiologic finding. Especially if epidural abscess and granulation tissue involve the multiple vertebras, we recommend this operative method.
Debridement ; Epidural Abscess ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

Metformin has been reported to increase the expression of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor in pancreatic beta cells in a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha-dependent manner. We investigated whether a PPARalpha agonist, fenofibrate, exhibits an additive or synergistic effect on glucose metabolism, independent of its lipid-lowering effect, when added to metformin. Non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were divided into four groups and treated for 28 days with metformin, fenofibrate, metformin plus fenofibrate or vehicle. The random blood glucose levels, body weights, food intake and serum lipid profiles were not significantly different among the groups. After 4 weeks, metformin, but not fenofibrate, markedly reduced the blood glucose levels during oral glucose tolerance tests, and this effect was attenuated by adding fenofibrate. Metformin increased the expression of the GLP-1 receptor in pancreatic islets, whereas fenofibrate did not. During the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests with the injection of a GLP-1 analog, metformin and/or fenofibrate did not alter the insulin secretory responses. In conclusion, fenofibrate did not confer any beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis but reduced metformin's glucose-lowering activity in GK rats, thus discouraging the addition of fenofibrate to metformin to improve glycemic control.
Animals ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; Fenofibrate/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/agonists/metabolism ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Homeostasis/*drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; Male ; Metformin/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Peptides/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, Glucagon/metabolism ; Venoms/administration & dosage/pharmacology

Recent evidence shows that transcriptional silencing as a consequence of hypermethylation of CpG islands is an important mechanism in the inactivation of p16INK4 tumor suppressor gene. This study is designed to clarify the significance of p16INK4 hypermethylation in 23 cases of glioblastomas (GBMs) by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and p16 immunostaining. Fourteen cases (60.9%) out of 23 GBMs revealed hypermethylation on p16. p16 immunostaining revealed that 13 (93%) of these 14 hypermethylation cases showed complete loss of immunoreactivity and only one (7%) case retained immunoreactivity. Among 9 methylation-negative cases, 4 were immunonegative, which might be related to mutations or deletions other than hypermethylation. The most significant finding was that of 17 cases with immunonegativity, 13 cases (76.5%) showed hypermethylation. We reconfirmed that p16 hypermethylation may be one of the major mechanisms of tumorigenesis of GBMs and the results between the methylation specific-PCR study and p16 immunostaining had a good correlation.
5' Untranslated Regions/metabolism* ; 5' Untranslated Regions/genetics ; Adult ; Antisense Elements (Genetics) ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics* ; Brain Neoplasms/chemistry ; CpG Islands/physiology* ; DNA Methylation* ; Female ; Gene Silencing/physiology ; Glioblastoma/pathology ; Glioblastoma/genetics* ; Glioblastoma/chemistry ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein p16/genetics* ; Protein p16/analysis

Myoepitheliomas are well-established to occur in the salivary glands, but they have also been described in the breast, upper aerodigestive tract, skin, and soft tissues. We report here on a unique case of primary myoepithelioma that occurred in the right testis of a 28-year-old man. The tumor was entirely confined to the testis and it was clearly separated from the epididymis. Histopathology revealed mixed architectural patterns in which the reticular areas merged into the chondromyxoid stroma. The tumor cells, which were focally immunoreactive to pancytokeratin and S-100 protein, were round to ovoid and spindly arranged in cords, strands, and fascicles. They showed mild nuclear pleomorphism, sparse mitotic figures and a low Ki-67 proliferative index. There was no ductal differentiation in the tumor. To the best of our knowledge, there has been only one case report of a primary testicular myoepithelioma in the English medical literature.
Adult ; Breast ; Epididymis ; Humans ; Male ; Myoepithelioma ; S100 Proteins ; Salivary Glands ; Skin ; Testis