Angiogenesis is an essential requirement for development, progression, and metastasis of malignant tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the important angiogenic factors. Recently the role of angiogenesis has been known in premalignant lesions. This study was performed to determine whether the angiogenesis and VEGF expression were increased in association with histological grade of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and to see the relationship between the angiogenesis and VEGF. Immunostainings for factor VIII and VEGF were performed on 52 cases of cervical neoplasia (12 cases of CIN I, 11 cases of CIN II, 15 cases of CIN III, 7 cases of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma, and 7 cases of invasive carcinoma) and 5 cases of normal cervix. The results showed a significant increase of microvessel count from normal cervix through CIN grades to invasive squamous cell cacinoma. VEGF expression was increased in proportion to the CIN grades. There was no significant correlation between microvessel count and VEGF expression. In conclusion, the tumor angiogenesis is an early event in tumorigenesis of uterine cervix. In addition, no significant relationship between the microvessel count and VEGF expression in CIN suggests the possibility of other growth factors affecting mainly angiogenesis of premalignant lesion of uterine cervix.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

The purpose of this study was the improvement and modification of the HACCP verification checklist in school foodservices. For this, the HACCP verification checklist was modified on the basis of an existing school foodservice format. The modified checklist was composed of 28 items, including CCPs (critical control points), microbial test, and other components of the HACCP system than CCPs. To confirm the suitability of the modified checklist, comparisons were made based on the microbiological quality of cooked foods, utensils, and number of aerial microbes in the working area. In this study, the applicability of the modified checklist was determined by focusing on cooked squid with seasoned fresh vegetables (Ojingeochaesomoochim). The following results were obtained from 14 schools in Changwon. The checklist scores for maintaining hot foods over 60degrees C or serving within 2 hours, microbial tests of drinking water, food contact surfaces and cooking utensils, monitoring tools, and usage of suitable sanitizers were 2 points each (The possible highest score is 2 points). On the contrary, the checklist score for microbial test of cooked foods was the lowest of all the items. The correlation coefficient (r) between the improved checklist and microbiological quality of cooked foods was 0.699 (P<0.01), whereas that between the improved checklist and microbiological quality of cooking utensils was 0.612 (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient between the improved checklist and aerial plate count in the working area was -0.556 (P<0.05). Our results indicate the potential possibility of using the HACCP verification checklist in school foodservices.
Checklist ; Cooking and Eating Utensils ; Decapodiformes ; Drinking Water ; Humans ; Seasons ; Vegetables

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Endocrine adrenal tumors are uncommon but clinically significant because they can be managed successfully by surgical therapy. During pregnancy, adrenal tumors can be a cause of death for both mother and baby, unless they diagnoses antenatally and managed properly. To investigate clinical characteristics of endocrine adrenal tumors, we analyzed 26 cases of adrenal tumor diagnosed and managed in Chung Ang Gil Hospital including cases associated with pregnancy and also a rare case of paraganglioma in liver. 1) There were 7 cases of Cushing's syndrome among which two cases were due to Cushing's disease and five cases were due to adrenal adenoma. Six cases were managed successfully by appropriate surgery. Another one case was associated with pregnancy but the patient expired due to sudden development of pulmonary edema and hypotension during preoperative preparation.2) Among 9 cases of primary aldosteronism, 8 cases were aldosterone-producing adenoma(APA) and 1 case was idiopathic hyperaldosteronism(IHA). In differential diagnosis between APA and IHA, diagnostic accuracy of postural study and adrenal CT was 86%, 78% respectively. In each one case of APA and IHA, adrenal venous aldosterone sampling was used for the differential diagnosis. Six cases of APA were managed by appropriate surgery. One patient with APA who refuses surgery and one patient with IHA were placed on spironolactone with good response.3) Among 10 cases of pheochromocytoma, seven cases were from adrenal gland and three cases were paragangliomas including one case originating from liver and two cases from abdominal ganglia. One patient with pheochromocytoma was diagnosed in 1st trimester of pregnancy and she was successfully treated by surgery.We observed 26 cases of endocrine adrenal tumors which were successfully managed except one case. We think that it is important to pay attention to adrenal tumor for early diagnosis particulary when associated with pregnancy. Paraganglioma in liver, although very rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of space occupying lesion in liver.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Glands ; Aldosterone ; Cause of Death ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Early Diagnosis ; Ganglia ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypotension ; Liver ; Mothers ; Paraganglioma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Edema ; Spironolactone

Dumping syndrome is a common complication of esophageal or gastric surgery. Patients with late dumping syndrome usually suffer from hypoglycemic symptoms such as palpitation, tremor, and general weakness. Hypoglycemia induced convulsive seizure due to late dumping syndrome is rarely reported. We report a 46-year-old man with postprandial hypoglycemic convulsive seizure as the first symptom of late dumping syndrome.
Dumping Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Middle Aged ; Seizures ; Tremor

No abstract available.
Ammonium Compounds ; Corpus Callosum

Recurrent meningitis is defined as more than one episode of meningitis that is separated by an entire recovery period. Causes of recurrent meningitis include anatomical defects, immune deficiency, and parameningeal infections. A thorough investigation of the underlying causes of recurrent meningitis is required for proper treatment. Herein we report a case of recurrent bacterial meningitis caused by osteomyelitis of the odontoid process.

BACKGROUND: Korean national cancer screening program selected fecal occult blood test (FOBT) as a primary screening method of colorectal carcinoma in adult > or =50 yr old irrespective of symptom. Notice to pre-analytical errors is especially important for the FOBT because examinees collect and submit their specimens to laboratories by themselves. We examined the influences of the fecal storage temperatures, durations and with or without buffer on the FOBT results. METHODS: Thirty FOBT-positive specimens above 100 ng/mL were used for the study from July to August 2008. Quantitative FOBT was performed with OC-sensors II (Eiken Chemical Co., Japan). Each specimen was divided into 4 groups. Two groups in plastic buffer-free containers were kept either at 4degrees C or room temperature (25-28degrees C), respectively. Another two groups in buffer-tubes were also kept either at 4degrees C or room temperature. Each group was repeatedly examined with same method every 24 hr up to 120 hr. RESULTS: Eleven specimens (36.7%) in buffer-free containers converted to negative results (below the 100 ng/mL) after 24 hr and 17 specimens (56.7%) did after 48 hr at room temperature. Ten specimens (33.3%) in buffer-free containers converted to negative after 48 hr at 4degrees C. Specimens contained in buffer-tubes showed little change; 3 specimens (10.0%) at room temperature and no specimen at 4degrees C showed negative conversions after 48 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Buffer-tube minimizes false negative FOBT results during pre-analytical delay of specimen. The examinees using buffer-free containers need to be educated to hand in their specimens to laboratories as soon as possible.
Buffers ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Occult Blood ; *Specimen Handling ; Temperature ; Time Factors