DNA content of 25 cases of breast carcinoma was analyzed by flow cytometry in both fresh and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Aneuploidy in fresh tissue and paraffin-embedded tissues was 72% and 32%, respectively. There was a 52% agreement in analysis of DNA ploidy between fresh and paraffin-embedded tissues. Most of the discrepancies resulted from loss of aneuploid peaks on the histograms of paraffin-embedded tissue. Mean S-phase fraction was slightly higher in a paraffin-embedded tissue than that in the fresh tissue; 19.2 9.1% versus 16.1 8.8% and there was no significant correlation between the S-phase fractions. In statistical analysis, the histologic and nuclear grades were not correlated with ploidy or mean S-phase fraction. Therefore it is strongly recommended to use the fresh tissue in flow cytometric DNA content analysis of breast cancer.
Aneuploidy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Ploidies

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the kidney. The tumor stage is a reliable prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma which is significantly associated with patient survival. But assessment of other prognostic factors has produced varying and often conflicting results. We reevaluated the significance of varied prognostic parameters in 33 cases of renal cell carcinoma; clinical stage, cell type, histologic pattern, DNA ploidy, Ki-67 labeling index, and bcl-2 oncoprotein expression. We could not statistically prove that DNA ploidy and bcl-2 expression were related to any examined parameters. Cell type was not related to clinical stage nor nuclear grade but there was a significant correlation (p=0.002) between cell type and histologic pattern. Nuclear grade (p=0.007) and Ki-67 labeling index (p=0.036) were significantly related to clinical stage, suggesting their value as complementary prognostic markers for renal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; DNA ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Ploidies

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the kidney. The tumor stage is a reliable prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma which is significantly associated with patient survival. But assessment of other prognostic factors has produced varying and often conflicting results. We reevaluated the significance of varied prognostic parameters in 33 cases of renal cell carcinoma; clinical stage, cell type, histologic pattern, DNA ploidy, Ki-67 labeling index, and bcl-2 oncoprotein expression. We could not statistically prove that DNA ploidy and bcl-2 expression were related to any examined parameters. Cell type was not related to clinical stage nor nuclear grade but there was a significant correlation (p=0.002) between cell type and histologic pattern. Nuclear grade (p=0.007) and Ki-67 labeling index (p=0.036) were significantly related to clinical stage, suggesting their value as complementary prognostic markers for renal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; DNA ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Ploidies

Mutation of p53 tumor suppressor gene is now recognized as the most frequent genetic alteration in human neoplasms. Although meningiomas are common intracranial tumors, little is known about the clinical significance of p53 abnormalities in meningiomas. We studied 31 cases of meningioma to investigate the significance of p53 protein expression in meningiomas and its relationships with histological and clinical parameters and proliferative activity. Classical and atypical meningiomas were 16 (51.6%) and 15 cases (43.4%), respectively. p53 protein expression was detected in 4 (25.0%) of 16 classical, and 12 (80.0%) of 15 atypical meningiomas. p53 protein expression was correlated with Ki-67 staining index, atypical type, high histologic score, sheet pattern of the neoplastic cells, vascular proliferation, and male patient (p<0.05). In conclusion, immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 protein and histologic score of meningiomas are useful in assessing the prognosis.
Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Meningioma* ; Prognosis

Passive surveillance (PS) is a traditional approach to communicable disease surveillance. To complement the approach, several countries have adopted active surveillance (AS) systems that involve the voluntary participation of physicians. This study compares AS versus PS systems in Korea based on the systems' reporting propensity of chickenpox. A mail questionnaire survey was conducted with a random sample of physicians involved in the PS system (N=1,955) and all sentinel physicians of the AS system (N=193). Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with reporting propensity. The reporting propensity of physicians in the AS system was significantly higher than that in the PS surveillance system, 2.7 versus 1.9 on a 5-point Likert scale (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that, in addition to the type of the surveillance system, physician knowledge of chickenpox as a notifiable disease and the type of institution with which a physician was affiliated were significant factors for a physician's reporting propensity. For both systems, the common barriers for reporting were 'lack of confidence in diagnosis,' 'burden from interference by the public health department following reporting,' and 'complexity of the reporting system.' In conclusion, AS of communicable diseases appeared to have a significantly better performance compared to PS in Korea in the case of chickenpox reporting. These findings would be useful for countries concerned with developing more effective strategies for improving the reporting rate of notifiable diseases.
Chickenpox ; Communicable Diseases ; Complement System Proteins ; Korea ; Mandatory Reporting ; Postal Service ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea* ; Sentinel Surveillance

There is a lot of difficulty in the diagnosis of follicular lesions of the thyroid by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). The main purpose of this report is offering more guidance regarding the cytologic appearance to distinguish follicular neoplasm from nodular goiter and laying stress on the presence of mixed group. The histologic and cytologic findings of 23 follicular neoplasms and 13 nodular (adenomatous) goiters were reviewed. Histologic specimens were classified into the microfollicular(MIF), mixed(MIX), and nodular goiter(NG) groups. The comparison of histologic patterns with histologic diagnosis revealed that all the lesions with predominantly microfollicular, trabecular, or solid pattern were follicular carcinoma and all the lesions with predominantly macrofollicular pattern were nodular goiter. The distinguishing cytologic features for the MIF group were irregular cell arrangement in cell groups(100%, p=0.00001), absence of atrophic follicular cells(100%, p=0.0007), abundant microfollicles(100%, p=0.002), pleomorphic nuclei(100%, p=0.002), not predominant syncytial smear pattern(100%, p=0.002), heterochromatin(100%, p=0.032), absence of macrofollicles(100%, p=0.038), scant colloid(100%, p=0.04), clear background(83%, p=0.00006), and uniform sized follicles(83%, p=0.014). And regular cell arrangement(honeycomb appearance) in cell groups(85%, p=0.0000), atrophic change of follicular cells(69%, p=0.0002), syncytial smear pattern(54%, p=0.006), monomorphic nuclei(85%, p=0.008), and hemorrhagic background(100%, p=0.027) were characteristic features of the NG group. Seventeen out of 36 cases(47%) were the MIX group composed of combined cytologic features of the MIF and NG groups. Therefore the frequent presence of the MIX group is considered to be main cause of the difficultyin the diagnosis of follicular lesions by FNAC. The mixed morphologic feature may support the hypothesis of a biologic "continuum" between nodular goiter and follicular neoplasm of thyroid gland.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Goiter ; Goiter, Nodular* ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that commonly afflicts the elderly. This disease reduces the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and causes a significant social burden. Whether the effect of coexisting chronic conditions on HRQoL varies according to the presence of OA remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this notion. METHODS: A total of 13,395 participants were identified from the 2009–2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for analysis. HRQoL was assessed using the European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) index. Patients with OA were defined as those diagnosed by a physician or those who displayed both, symptoms and radiological findings consistent with OA at the time of the survey. Associations between OA and 8 chronic conditions were tested using regression analysis. RESULTS: The EQ-5D index was lower in patients with OA than in those without (mean difference, −0.145; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.138 to −0.151; P<0.001). Most patients with OA and chronic conditions showed a lower score than those without. EQ-5D was particularly lower in OA patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, and renal failure. The estimated β coefficient for the interaction term was significant in renal failure (−0.034; 95% CI, −0.055 to −0.012), after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic variables. CONCLUSION: OA significantly affects HRQoL of Korean elderly individuals alone or when combined with other conditions. OA combined with renal failure is particularly detrimental. These results indicate the importance of managing OA, which is an underestimated disease in public health surveys.
Adult* ; Aged ; Chronic Disease* ; Comorbidity ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Osteoarthritis* ; Public Health ; Quality of Life* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Stroke

Airway stenting has become a common treatment for malignant central airway obstruction. Most airway stents are well tolerated, and life-threatening complications are very rare. Here we describe the case of a life-threatening obstruction due to accumulated respiratory secretions. A 33-year-old man had a massive large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the anterior mediastinum, which caused extensive extrinsic compression of the whole trachea. Airway stents were successfully inserted into the whole trachea but 1 week after the procedure, the patient complained of worsening dyspnea due to sticky respiratory secretions accumulated inside the stents. Because the patient could not expectorate a large amount of sticky secretions, frequent bronchoscopic toiletings were performed for 2 months. The stent was well maintained for 7 months till the enlarged tumor causes extrinsic compression because stent revision was performed. About 1 year after the first stent insertion, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and intubated because of obstruction of the stent by organized secretions. Fortunately, these secretions were successfully removed and the patient was discharged without any sequelae. Thus, respiratory secretions can cause life-threatening complications after airway stent insertion. Clinicians should be aware of this, and careful examination and close follow-up of such patients are needed.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Mediastinum ; Self Expandable Metallic Stents ; Sputum ; Stents* ; Trachea

Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (BOS) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited genetic cutaneous disorder characterized by connective tissue nevi that may or may not be accompanied by sclerotic bone lesions (osteopoikilosis). BOS is caused by loss-of-function mutations in LEMD3. Skin lesions appear in childhood and may increase in size and number with age and primarily manifest as yellow or skin-colored plaques or papules. A 21-year-old male presented with brownish, firm plaques on his back and buttocks since childhood. He revealed a history of similar skin lesions in his mother and brother. He was incidentally diagnosed with osteopoikilosis, 2 years prior to presentation. Histopathological examination of a skin biopsy specimen revealed increased collagenous stroma. We report a rare case of Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome that presented with brownish plaques.

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is a type of porokeratosis that is characterized by multiple small lesions on the sun-exposed areas of the body. The presence of dermal amyloid deposition associated with disseminated superficial porokeratosis has rarely been reported in the literature. A 69-year-old female presented to our department with multiple pruritic brownish macules. Physical examination revealed scattered 2∼3-mm-sized, brownish-colored, round to annular macules limited to the sun-exposed areas, such as the forearms, lower legs, and upper trunk. Dermoscopy revealed a peripheral rim and central white hub surrounded by brown pigmentation. Skin biopsy of the leg showed not only the typical finding of DSAP, including the cornoid lamella, but also deposits of eosinophilic amorphous materials in the dermis. After Congo red staining, the dermal deposits were confirmed to be amyloid. Herein, we report a rare case of DSAP with dermal amyloid deposition and dermoscopic presentation.