Although causative factors are not completely defined, carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is attributed to multiple genetic alterations. The abnormal expressions of oncogenes are regarded to be responsible for the production of malignant phenotype, subsequent invasion and metastasis. From 63 surgically resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, expression of oncogenes in colorectal cancer tissue was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal antibodies to products of the oncogenes. To evaluate the possibility of oncogenes as a prognostic factor, we studied the relationship between the expression of oncogenes and the clinicopathologic findings which are well known prognostic factors. Rates of expression in colorectal cancer tissue were 27% for c-myc, 74.6% for c-Ha-ras and 77.8% for c-erbB-2 oncogenes. The positive rate of c-erbB-2 oncogene was higher in the well differentiated group than in the poorly differentiated group. The rates of expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes were significantly correlated each other. Expression of these oncogenes in colorectal cancer were not correlated with the pathologic stage, location of cancer, DNA ploidy pattern and histologic differentiation except between c-erbB-2 and histologic differentiation. In conclusion, there seems to be a possibility that c-erbB-2 could be used as a prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. However, further and more intensive study seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes* ; Phenotype ; Ploidies

PURPOSE: Abdominal CT scans in patients with intraperitoneal fluid were retrospectively studied to identify characteristic features useful for differential diagnosis of various causes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy patients with intraperitoneal fluid collection were classified as categories of hepatic disease, carcinomatosis, and infectious disease. We analyzed sites of fluid collection, the presence of peritoneal thickening, omental and mesenteric fat infiltration, and lymph node enlargment. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal fluid was present in subhepatic space, subphrenic space, paracolic gutter, mesentery, and fossa of the gallbladder in decreasing order of frequency. Fluid in the gallbladder fossa was the most frequent in hepatic diseases. The fluid collection in subhepatic and subphrenic space was less frequent in infectious diseases. Peritoneal thickening was noted in infectious diseases, and carcinomatosis. Omental fat infiltration and enlarged lymph nodes were the most frequent in carcinomatosis (58% and 44%, respectively), whereas, mesenteric fat infiltration and enlarged lymph nodes were the most common in infectious diseases (61%, and 26%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The location of peritoneal fluid collection showed some lesion specific characteristics, and CT features of fat infiltration and enlarged lymph nodes of peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery were helpful for differential diagnosis between carcinomatosis and infectious diseases.
Ascitic Fluid ; Carcinoma ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mesentery ; Omentum ; Peritoneum ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Cats* ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate* ; Inositol*

We experienced 3 cases of intrahepatic duct stones detected on plain radiographs. The patients had history of multiple episodes of recurrent cholangitis. Radiographic characteristics of these stones included multiple, round or rectangular radioopaque densities surrounded by calcified rim; these densities showed a branching pattern along the intrahepatic ducts.
Cholangitis ; Humans

Clinical characteristics of papular-purpuric gloves and socks syndrome consist of a purpuric erythema affecting the hands and feet in a gloves and stocking distribution. It is sometimes associated with fever and oral lesions. The disease is self-limiting and resolves within 1 to 2 weeks. Serological studies have shown that there is an association with parvovirus B19 infection in most patients affected by this syndrome. We report a case of gloves and socks syndrome in a 21-year-old female. She had a 4-day history of papular-purpuric eruptions of the hands and feet in a gloves-and-socks distribution. She also complained of fever(up to 39C) during the first 2 or 3 days of clinical onset. The oral mucosa was normal and there were no palpable lymph nodes. Laboratory and histopathological findings were non-specific. However, human parvovirus B19 DNA was detected in the serum by a polymerase chain reaction. Systemic manifestations were transient and disappeared within a few days, whereas the skin lesions resolved gradually over a period of 2 weeks.
DNA ; Erythema ; Female ; Fever ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mouth Mucosa ; Parvovirus ; Parvovirus B19, Human ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin ; Young Adult

In 1952, Zoon described eight cases of benign circumscribed chronic balanitis characterized by an extensive infiltration of plasma cells with no evidence of dysplasia of the overlying epidermis. Plasma cell balanitis can often be confused clinically with other conditions, such as erythroplasia of Queyrat, fixed drug eruptions, secondary syphilis, candidiasis and Reiters disease. We report a case of plasma cell balanitis in a 65-year-old man. He complained of a single, red, shiny and smooth patch involving the glans penis and adjacent prepuce. This patch was unresponsive to systemic and topical steroid treatment. Laboratory studies were negative or within the normal range. Histopathological findings showed a band-like mainly plasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate of the upper dermis. This patient was treated once daily with 2% fusidic acid cream topically for 5 weeks. The lesions resolved and no recurrence was observed during 2 years of follow-up.
Aged ; Arthritis, Reactive ; Balanitis* ; Candidiasis ; Dermis ; Drug Eruptions ; Epidermis ; Erythroplasia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Furosemide* ; Fusidic Acid* ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Plasma Cells* ; Plasma* ; Recurrence ; Reference Values ; Syphilis

Eleven cervical myelograms were perfomed by lateral cervical puncture using Metrizamide. So, following resultswere obtained: 1. Site of lateral cervial puncture; Posterior one third of bony cervical canal at C 1-2 level. 2.Advantages as compared with lumbar puncture for cervial myelogram; 1) Small amount of contrast media 2) Excellentimage 3) Less position change 4) Short time 5) Well visualization of superior margin of obstructive lesion inspinal canal 3. Cessation of lateral cervical puncture, when; 1) Pain during injection of contrast media 2)Localized collection of contrast media
Contrast Media ; Metrizamide ; Myelography ; Punctures ; Spinal Puncture

Understanding of brain morphology and magnetic resonance image(MRI) is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment of the brain diseases. As education tools, the cadaver dissection, plastic models, and neuroanatomy books have been used for understanding brain morphology; and the MRI films and radiology books have been used for understanding brain MRI. Recently, due to the popularization of powerful personal computers, computer programs compensating the conventional education tools have been used. But these computer programs have a disadvantage that it is not possible to visualize the details of brain morphology or to compare the corresponding sectioned specimens and MRI. Therefore, we attempted to make a computer program which could visualize not only the details of brain morphology but also the corresponding sectioned specimens and MRI by using the brains removed from Korean cadavers. Three brains were removed from Korean cadavers. With a brain, 122 MRI and 122 serially-sectioned specimens with an 1.4mm interval were acquired and inputted into the computer. Ten brain structures were segmented, and 83 fine structures were designated on the images. With two brains, 27 dissected specimens were acquired and inputted into the computer. One-hundred two fine structures were designated on the images. Based on these images, a computer program for understanding brain morphology and MRI was made. The computer program, which was made in this study, visualized the corresponding sectioned specimens, MRI, and segmented images after sectioning a brain horizontally or at any angles. In addition, the computer program visualized the images of dissected brain. This computer program is helpful to understand brain morphology and MRI. This computer program is expected to be used through CD-title or Internet as an educational tool for medical students and doctors.
Brain Diseases ; Brain* ; Cadaver ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Internet ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microcomputers ; Neuroanatomy ; Plastics ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: We evaluated the CT criteria useful for the diagnosis of the site of bowel perforation in patients with this or mesenteric injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT findings of 26patients with blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively analyzed by two observers who were unaware of operative findings, and the results of their analysis were compared with those findings. Twenty cases of bowel perforation found at the jejunum (8), ileum (9), and colon (3), and six cases of mesenteric injuries were confirmed byoperation. We evaluated CT findings of 1) segmental bowel wall thickening, b) focal mesenteric fat infiltration, c) loculated fluid collection and d) extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel, and in addition analyzed the locations of ascites and free air, and the associated injuries of solid organs. RESULTS: The most common finding at the site of bowel perforation was segmental bowel wall thickening (17 cases), followed by focal mesenteric fatinfiltration (12 cases), loculated fluid (12 cases) and extraluminal air ajacent to the bowel (9 cases). Segmental bowel wall thickening was present at 34 sites, and the perforations were confirmed at 17 of these(50%). Focalmesenteric fat infiltration was present at 19 sites ; the perforations were proven at 12(63%). Loculated fluid collections were confirmed at 12/20 sites(60%), and extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel at 9/12(75%). Thepositive predictive value of criteria a, b, d, c) was 100%, and the positive predictive values of a, b, c) and a,d) were 60 and 67%, respectively. We observed ascites in 16 cases and intraperitoneal free air in 8 cases, the locations of ascites and free air did not, however, significantly correlate with the perforation sites. CONCLUSION: Extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel was the most specific criterion, and segmental bowel wall thickening wasthe most sensitive criterion. of all criteria, the finding 'a, b, c, d' most accurately predicted the site ofbowel perforation.
Ascites ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Ileum ; Jejunum ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: TDI is known to be the most prevalent cause of occupational asthma ( OA ) in Korea. However, the pathogenesis of TDI - induced occupational asthma still remains to be further clarified. So, we evaluated clinical significance of serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate in TDI - induced occupational asthma. Subjects and METHODS: Serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum was collected from 50 TDI- induced OA patients ( classified as group I ), and was compared with that from 13 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI - bronchoprovocation test ( BPT, group II ), allergic asthmatics ( group III ), and unexposed healthy controls ( group IV ). RESULTS: The prevalence of specific IgG was significantly higher in group I than in group II (p = 0.01) or group III (p <0.01). No significant difference was noted between group II and group III (p> 0.05). However, the prevalence of specific IgE was not different between group I and group II (p> 0.05 ) or group II and group III( p> 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in prevalence of specific IgG according to the asthmatic response during TDI bronchoprovocation test ( p> 0.05 ). No statistical significance was noted between specific IgG and IgE antibodies in group I subjects ( p> 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that presence of specific IgG to TDI - HSA conjugate is closely related to TDI - BPT results and it may contribute to the development of TDI - induced asthma.
Antibodies* ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Serum Albumin* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate* ; Toluene*