We describe herein a case of meningioma showing three recurrences and in the end malignant transformation. To compare the differences of MIB1, p53 and progesterone receptor expressions in benign, recurrent and malignant meningiomas of the same patient, we performed immunohistochemical stainings for those markers. MIB1 and p53 reactivities were increased in proportion to histologic aggressiveness. By contrast, the progesterone receptor expression was noted in benign meningioma but not in malignant meningioma.
Humans ; Meningioma* ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Progesterone* ; Recurrence*

Epidermoid cysts occur rarely on the palms and soles, where hair is not present. These cysts have long been assumed to arise from traumatic implantation of epidermal fragment, but the pathogenesis is still controversial. Recently, with microscopic findings, immunohistochemical features, and molecular studies, the epidermoid cysts of the sole may be induced by the human papillomavirus. We report two cases of epidermoid cysts of the sole with the discussion of the pathogenesis.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Hair ; Humans*

We described the findings of fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung from a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the patients with Wegener's granulomatosis is essential for a better prognosis. However, the variety of clinical presentations and nonspecific radiologic infiltrates of Wegener's granulomatosis frequently make the diagnosis difficult. Although an open lung biopsy is required for a firm diagnosis, fine needle aspiration cytology & biopsy preparation can also provide an adequate tissue sample, when the findings of fine needle aspiration are considered with clinical manifestations and ANCA value in the serum. The cytologic smears showed scattered necrotic tissue fragments entrapping many neutrophils and occasional epithelioid cells. Multinucleated giant cells were infrequently observed. Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid fast bacilli was negative. All the cytologic features recapitulated the histopathologic findings of purulent and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation seen in Wegener's granulomatosis.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Neutrophils ; Prognosis ; Wegener Granulomatosis*

Factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare hereditary disorder with a reduced FVII:C activity, which is transmitted by an autosomal recessive gene with variable expressions and a high penetrance. FVII deficiency has different antigen levels, normal or reduced, and has various symptoms. We report on a 26 year-old male patient with pleurisy who showed hematuria and prolonged prothrombin time. FVII:C was 4% and FVII:Ag level was 80% (within normal range). The inheritance of this case is unclear. The FVII:C, FVII:Ag, and prothrombin time of his father and mother's sister were within normal ranges. This is the first proven case of FVII deficiency with normal FVII:Ag level in Korea.
Adult ; Factor VII Deficiency* ; Factor VII* ; Fathers ; Genes, Recessive ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Penetrance ; Pleurisy ; Prothrombin Time ; Reference Values ; Siblings ; Wills

We Describe a case of ovarian serous cystadenoma having Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, well differentiated, in the cystic septum. Well differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor coexisting with other tumor, including serous tumor, has not yet been described. In all cases of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with heterologous components or other tumors, the androblastomatous components are intermediately or poorly differentiated. The present case revealed a well differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor arising in a septum of serous cystadenoma, as a circumscribed nodule. With these findings, we discuss the possibility of this Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, considered a mural nodule, which is well established in cystic common epithelial tumors of the ovary.
Adult ; Case Report ; Cystadenoma/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; Leydig Cells/pathology ; Male ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*pathology ; Sertoli Cells/pathology ; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor/*pathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compounds), which was at first extracted from cultured broth of Basidiomycotina, is known to be one of the Biological Response Modifiers (BRM). We examined the protective effects of AHCC on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury in mice. The AHCC pretreatment prevented the suppression of several physiological and biochemical parameters in the mice injected with CCl4 or TAA for 5 days. The liver weights and serum ALT and AST levels were increased by CCl4 or TAA, the degree of which was significantly reduced with the AHCC pretreatment. The AHCC pretreatment induced increasing activity of GST (glutathione s-transferase) and showed an increasing tendency of P450 and EROD (ethoxyresorufin o-dealkylation). The AHCC pretreatment also showed negative effects against the suppression of drug metabolizing enzymes, such as P450, EROD, and GST induced by CCl4 or TAA. AHCC pretreatment showed protective effects with significant inhibition of fatty change, inflammation, and necrosis in CCl4 and TAA intoxicated mice liver. The present study suggests that the protective effect of AHCC pretreatment might be related to the protection of liver from the drug induced liver injury in mice model.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury* ; Immunologic Factors ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Mice* ; Necrosis ; Thioacetamide ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of anticoagulants used in blood sampling and time of mesurements after blood collection on D-dimer determinations. METHODS: A total of 32 samples of sodium citrated plasma, and 23 samples each of serum and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma, were studied. D-dimer was measured by enzyme linked fluorescent assay using a VIDAS analyzer. RESULTS: The mean+/-SD (median) of D-dimer titers in citrated plasma, serum, and EDTA plasma samples immediately after blood collection were 282.7+/-201.1 (224.6) microgram/L, 255.1+/-206.8 (197.3) microgram/L, and 313.3+/-230.8 (246.4) microgram/L respectively. The results obtained for the three different sample groups were well correlated. While the upper limit of the reference range for D-dimer for citrated plasma has been set at 500 microgram/L, the cut-off values for serum and EDTA plasma were 400 microgram/L (100%sensitivity and specificity), and 585 microgram/L (100% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity), respectively CONCLUSIONS: In addition to citrated plasma, both serum and EDTA plasma can be used for D-dimer assay. A delay in the time of measurements after blood collection does not influence the results significantly.
Anticoagulants* ; Edetic Acid ; Plasma ; Reference Values ; Sodium

Cutaneous fistula of dental origin is the most common type of cutaneous fistula that is formed on the face and neck. This lesion can be a diagnostic challenge to clinicians who are not familiar with cutaneous fistula since many patients with cutaneous fistula of dental origin do not have any complaints such as toothache. Diagnostic errors may result in multiple excisions, biopsies, and ineffective long-term antibiotic therapy. However, if the lesion could be suspected of being of dental origin, the diagnosis can be easily confirmed by radiologic examinations. We report four cases of cutaneous fistula of dental origin. All four patients had a characteristic cutaneous findings with chronically draining, fixed, erythematous papule on their nasolabial fold or submental region. Ultrasonography, fistulography or plain roentgenography were needed to confirm the diagnosis of cutaneous fistula originating from dental problems.
Biopsy ; Cutaneous Fistula* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Nasolabial Fold ; Neck ; Radiography ; Toothache ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Plastic tubes have recently been used for blood collection tubes in clinical laboratories. The silicone coated plastic tube is said to be very similar with the glass tube and to show no difference with the glass tube in routine blood test except for some tests such as hormone tests and drug monitoring. So, we investigated the influence of plastic tube on the thyroid hormone test using two types of plastic vacuum tubes. METHODS: A total of 105 cases for the total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were studied. The glass tube was a plain glass tube, and the plastic tube was a serum separator tube with gel. The plastic vacuum tubes used in this study were the SST II plus tube (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, USA) and the Vacuette tube (Greiner Bio-One, Kremsmunster, Austria). An IMMULITE 2000 analyzer (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, USA) was used to measure the total T3, total T4 and TSH. RESULTS: Comparisons of the measured values within 1 hour of blood collection in the plastic tube with that in the glass tube are as follows. There was no difference between the Vacuette tube and the glass tube for the three tests, while there was statistically significant difference between the SST II plus tube and the glass tube for the total T3 and total T4. CONCLUSIONS: It might need more cautious interpretation of the results by a solid-phase, competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, when the plastic vacuum tube is used as a blood collection tube instead of the glass tube.
Drug Monitoring ; Glass* ; Hematologic Tests ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Lakes ; Plastics* ; Silicones ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine ; Vacuum*

BACKGROUND: Sometimes we receive specimens collected several hours ahead, hemolyzed, or turbid. To decide to analyze the samples or not, the influence of storage time, hemolysis, and turbidi-ty on PT and PTT were studied. METHODS: Total of 198 cases for PT and 192 for aPTT were studied to clarify the effect of storage time on PT and aPTT. We performed the tests of PT and aPTT at 0, 2, 4, and 8 hours after collection of specimens. For the hemolysis effect study, we used 31 cases. Slightly, moderately, and severely hemolyzed plasma were obtained by adding hemolysate to plasma. For the turbidity effect study, we used 30 cases. Slightly, moderately, and severely turbid plasma were obtained by adding Intrali-pos (20% soybean oil) to plasma. RESULTS: Delayed test time affected the aPTT results after 8 hours. Hemolysis affected the PT and aPTT results. Turbidity did not affect the PT and aPTT results; however, the Coagrex-100s rejected to analyze the severely turbid samples. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that specimens be evaluated immediately or within 4 hours and that hemolysed or severely turbid specimens for PT and aPTT tests not be used.
Hemolysis* ; Plasma ; Soybeans