Myoepithelial carcinomas are rare, malignant salivary neoplasms in which the tumor cells almost exclusively manifest myoepithelial differentiation. A 50-year-old man presented with an indolent movable submucosal mass of 10 years' duration on the right upper oral mucosa. The diagnosis of myoepithelial carcinoma originated from minor salivary gland was made by histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; Salivary Glands, Minor*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of plasma MMP-2, -9 levels in preeclampsia between antepartum and postpartum periods, and compare with normotensive pregnant. METHODS: Plasma MMP-2, -9 levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunoassay in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n=20) compared to control group (normotensive pregnant women) matched by maternal age, gestational age, and parity (n=20). RESULTS: Women with preeclampsia presented significantly higher plasma level of MMP-2 before delivery [516.33 +/- 98.75 vs 384.55 +/- 93.84 (ng/mL), p=0.002]. In postpartum 24 hours, women with preeclampsia exhibited higher plasma MMP-2 level compared control group [534.77 +/- 158.67 vs 336.04 +/- 139.11 (ng/mL), p=0.002]. But the plasma level of MMP-9 was significantly lower in preeclampsia group before delivery [26.26 +/- 7.49 vs 45.00 +/- 20.31 (ng/mL), p=0.001]. In postpartum 24 hours, women with preeclampsia also speculated lower plasma MMP-9 level compared control group, but no existence of significance. CONCLUSION: Plasma MMP-2 concentration is significantly increased in preeclampsia before delivey and postpartum 24 hours. Plasma MMP-9 concentration is significantly decreased in preeclampsia before delivery.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Maternal Age ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Parity ; Plasma* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of plasma MMP-2, -9 levels in preeclampsia between antepartum and postpartum periods, and compare with normotensive pregnant. METHODS: Plasma MMP-2, -9 levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunoassay in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n=20) compared to control group (normotensive pregnant women) matched by maternal age, gestational age, and parity (n=20). RESULTS: Women with preeclampsia presented significantly higher plasma level of MMP-2 before delivery [516.33 +/- 98.75 vs 384.55 +/- 93.84 (ng/mL), p=0.002]. In postpartum 24 hours, women with preeclampsia exhibited higher plasma MMP-2 level compared control group [534.77 +/- 158.67 vs 336.04 +/- 139.11 (ng/mL), p=0.002]. But the plasma level of MMP-9 was significantly lower in preeclampsia group before delivery [26.26 +/- 7.49 vs 45.00 +/- 20.31 (ng/mL), p=0.001]. In postpartum 24 hours, women with preeclampsia also speculated lower plasma MMP-9 level compared control group, but no existence of significance. CONCLUSION: Plasma MMP-2 concentration is significantly increased in preeclampsia before delivey and postpartum 24 hours. Plasma MMP-9 concentration is significantly decreased in preeclampsia before delivery.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Maternal Age ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Parity ; Plasma* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnant Women

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an inherited disease of connective tissue disorder which represents a phenotypically heterogeneous group of conditions that results from a number of genetic defects in the synthesis of type I collagen. A pregnancy associated with osteogenesis imperfecta is considered a high risk pregnancy because the disease is associated with various metabolic and hematologic disorders, as well as well-recongnized skeletal abnormalities. In addition to the mother with OI, the offspring has about a 25% to 50% chance of being affected, therefore genetic counseling before conception and prenatal diagnosis should be offered to all affected mothers. Patients with OI present a series of problems and require a multidisciplinary approach in their management. We present a case of parturient with osteogenesis imperfecta with brief review of literature.
Collagen Type I ; Connective Tissue ; Fertilization ; Genetic Counseling ; Heredity ; Humans ; Mothers ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Prenatal Diagnosis

PURPOSE: We wanted to assess the benefits and safety of periarticular soft tissue injection of bupivacaine and morphine in total hip arthroplasty by conducting a prospective randomized trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2008 and January 2010, a prospective, randomized study was performed on fifty patients with an American Society of Anesthesiology stage of I or II. All the patients were administered COX-2 inhibitor and we used PCEA (Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia) for 24 hours postoperatively. All the patients underwent their operation under general anesthesia. Fifty randomly selected patients were divided into two groups. After reduction of the hip joint, 50 ml of normal saline was intraoperatively injected into 25 patients (Group A) and 50 ml of locally injected analgesia that included 0.5 ml 5 mg of morphine HCL, 40 ml of 0.5% 50 mg chirocaine (Levo-bupivacaine) and 9.5 ml of normal saline was injected into the capsule and the soft tissue and muscle around the hip joint in 25 patients (Group B). The analgesic efficacy was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively with the patients in a resting state and at 24, 48 and 72 hours postoperatively with the patients in a resting state and during a passive exercise (30degrees) state. The consumption of PCEA and additional analgesic drugs was also evaluated postoperatively. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the 2 groups (P<0.05) with regard to the VAS at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively with the patients in a resting state and at 24, 48 and 72 hours postoperatively with the patients in a resting state and a passive exercise state. During 24 hours postoperatively, in the mixed analgesia injected group, the consumption of PCEA was significantly lower than that in the normal saline injected group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found for the consumption of additional analgesic drugs between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative periarticular soft tissue injection of bupivacaine and morphine can significantly reduce pain and it can reduce the requirement for patient-controlled analgesia, with no apparent risks, following total hip arthroplasty.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesiology ; Arthroplasty ; Bupivacaine ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Morphine ; Muscles ; Prospective Studies

Bone metastasis is common in lung cancer patient and the diagnosis of bone metastasis is usually made by using imaging techniques, especially bone scintigraphy. However, the diagnostic yield from bone scintigraphy is limited. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical usefulness of urinary pyridinoline cross-linked N-telopeptides of Type I collagen (NTx), urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the assessment of bone metastasis in patients with lung cancer. Urinary NTx, DPD, and serum ALP were measured in 151 lung cancer patients (33 with and 118 without bone metastasis). Lung cancer patients with bone metastasis had a higher urinary excretion of NTx and DPD, and a higher serum ALP than those without bone metastasis. NTx had a better receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve than DPD and ALP, since the areas under the ROC curve were 0.82, 0.79, and 0.71, respectively. Although correlation coefficients among NTx, DPD and ALP were significantly positive (p < 0.005), the strongest relationship was appeared between NTx and DPD (R=0.616). In conclusion, our results showed the utility of the new bone markers in detecting bone metastasis and suggested that measurement of urinary NTx was valid diagnostic method of bone metastasis from lung cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Amino Acids/urine ; Bone Neoplasms/blood/*secondary/urine ; Collagen/urine ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*pathology ; Middle Aged ; Peptides/urine ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tumor Markers, Biological/blood/*urine

PURPOSE: The altered gantry angle during scanning for some multiplanar reconstruction CT program (CT/MPR) may cause distortion of the image. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there is a image distortion in a reformatted image when the gantry and the object are equally inclined using ToothPix and DentaScan program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A resin block model with four cylindrical holes and a human dry mandible were used. Two MPR software packages, ToothPix and DentaScan program, were used for reformatted panoramic images. The block and the gantry were equally inclined at 0degree, 15degrees, and 30degrees. RESULTS: With ToothPix program, a resin block model with empty holes and a dry mandible showed inclined images in the reformatted panoramic image. Increasing the gantry angle, the depth and inclination of the holes were increased in the reformatted central panoramic images. However, a resin block model with gutta percha in its holes and a dry mandible with a wire in its mandibular canal didn't show image distortion. With DentaScan program, image distortion was not seen in any situation. CONCLUSION: ToothPix program may distort the reformatted image when the gantry angle is not at zero degrees. However, with DentaScan program, the patient may be positioned comfortably and the gantry can be adjusted to the patient positioning.
Dental Implants ; Gutta-Percha ; Humans ; Mandible ; Patient Positioning

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignant pleural effusions, which is currently most commonly treated using pleurodesis via bedside thoracostomy. Several agents had been used for the treatment of pleural sclerosis, but with differing efficacies and associated side effects. Our purpose with this study was to compare the efficacy, side effects and disease free survival times of patients being treated with OK-432 and doxycycline sclerotherapy in lung cancer induced malignant pleural effusions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 79 patients who underwent pleurodesis with OK-432 and doxycycline, between Jan. 1994 and Aug. 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Resopnses 30 days following pleurodesis were determined from chest radiographs, with the disease free survival time being evaluated according to the response. RESULTS: The success rates, 30 day followint pleurodesis, with OK-432 and doxycycline 83 and 87%, respectively (p=0.677). With regard to the side effects, fever was more common when OK-432 was used (59%, p=0.001), and pain was more common with doxycycline use (73%, p=0.008). There was no significant difference in disease free survival times between OK-432 (13.6 Months) and doxycycline (11.6 Months) (p=0.532). CONCLUSION: with the use of OK-432, for pleurodesis, was as effective as doxycycline, can be considered as an alternative treatment for malignant effusion in patients with lung cancer.
Disease-Free Survival ; Doxycycline* ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Picibanil* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant* ; Pleurodesis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Sclerotherapy ; Thoracostomy

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignant pleural effusions, which is currently most commonly treated using pleurodesis via bedside thoracostomy. Several agents had been used for the treatment of pleural sclerosis, but with differing efficacies and associated side effects. Our purpose with this study was to compare the efficacy, side effects and disease free survival times of patients being treated with OK-432 and doxycycline sclerotherapy in lung cancer induced malignant pleural effusions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 79 patients who underwent pleurodesis with OK-432 and doxycycline, between Jan. 1994 and Aug. 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Resopnses 30 days following pleurodesis were determined from chest radiographs, with the disease free survival time being evaluated according to the response. RESULTS: The success rates, 30 day followint pleurodesis, with OK-432 and doxycycline 83 and 87%, respectively (p=0.677). With regard to the side effects, fever was more common when OK-432 was used (59%, p=0.001), and pain was more common with doxycycline use (73%, p=0.008). There was no significant difference in disease free survival times between OK-432 (13.6 Months) and doxycycline (11.6 Months) (p=0.532). CONCLUSION: with the use of OK-432, for pleurodesis, was as effective as doxycycline, can be considered as an alternative treatment for malignant effusion in patients with lung cancer.
Disease-Free Survival ; Doxycycline* ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Picibanil* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant* ; Pleurodesis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Sclerotherapy ; Thoracostomy

The most common anterior mediastinal tumors originate from the thymus. Among them, thymic carcinomas occur as an early local invasion and wide spread metastases. However, when squamous cell carcinoma in the thymus or mediastinum is identified, an occult primary lung cancer must be excluded because the histologic types resemble those found more typically in the lung. CD5 and cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining is useful in evaluating biopsy samples from those tumors. Spuamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary origin in the mediastinum is a rare occurrence and there are only a handful of case reports. Here we describe a case with an anterior mediastinal mass of squamous cell carcinoma with unknown primary origin. A resection of the mediastinal mass without an association with the lung was performed. Immunohistochemical stainings were positive using cytokeratin 13, and negative using CD5 and cytokeratin 7. This was followed by chemotherapy for presured thymic carcinoma.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Drug Therapy ; Hand ; Keratin-13* ; Keratin-7* ; Keratins* ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thymoma ; Thymus Gland*