Electron microscopy (EM) can provide a valuable contribution to light microscopy (LM) in the interpretation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimen, especially in the diagnosis of the tumor. However, considerable care in processing the specimen is mandatory to recover the cells and avoid altering the fine structures. We experienced a case of malignant melanoma in 33-yrs-old female, diagnosed by EM study of FNAC specimen from the axillary mass, who was initially thought as dissem- inated carcinomatosis on LM study. The technique of EM study on FNAC specimen consisted of washing the needle and syringe in 2.5% glutaraldehyde after a rapid stain (Diff-Quik), which was used to obtain a preliminary diagnostic impression and to assure the adequacy of the EM specimen. After centrifugation in the steps of fixation and dehydration, the sediment was made into an epon block and examined. The whole processing time of EM study can be shortened within 7 or 8 hours, and results can be available within 48 to 72 hours. Our experience suggests the EM study on FNAC can be a useful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of difficult FNAC cases.
Behcet Syndrome* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma ; Centrifugation ; Dehydration ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glutaral ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Lung ; Melanoma ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Needles ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Syringes

Leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the uterus, and although they can occur at any site in the genitourinary tract, they very rarely originate from the urinary bladder. We report a case in which a leiomyoma occurred at that site, deseribing the US, CT, and MRI findings.
Leiomyoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Adenoma* ; Toes*

No abstract available.
Trophoblasts*

Hemangioma of the ovary is a very rare lesion, although the ovary itself is a highly vascularized organ. In the literature review, about 40 cases were reported all of which were small in size and they were usually identified incidentally. The age range spanned from 4 months to 81 years. Cavernous hemangioma was the most common histologic type. We experienced a case of cavernous hemangioma of the left ovary in a 26 year-old pregnant woman. The lesion was 8x6x2cm in size with well demarcated margin. The cut surface was purple to bluish red in color and had a spongy-like appearance. Microscopically, it was composed of dilated vascular spaces with a common wall.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Hemangioma

Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is generally used to identify highly degraded forensic samples, particularly when the extracted DNA is not sufficient for nuclear DNA analysis. However, direct sequencing, the most widely used mtDNA analysis method, is laborious and time-consuming, and precludes the simultaneous analysis of many samples. Here, we describe a rapid and simple screening method for mtDNA analysis in Koreans using single base extension (SBE) methods. Sixteen highly polymorphic mtDNA SNPs from the control region were selected, and a multiplex SBE system was constructed to analyze them. Because the developed system consists of two duplex PCRs, which produce small amplicons with fewer than 270 bp, it works well with highly degraded samples such as old skeletal remains. Using this multiplex SBE system, 145 different haplotypes were expected to be observed from 593 unrelated Koreans. Seventy-three haplotypes were expected to be observed only once, and the most frequent haplotype was expected to occur 80 times. Since the mean number of pairwise differences was estimated to be 4.55, the developed system could be useful to exclude samples that do not match evidence and reference samples. Therefore, the multiplex SBE system used in this study will be a useful tool to analyze many samples simultaneously and to efficiently screen out non-matching mtDNA sequences in forensic casework.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*

Interferons(IFNs) exhibit an antiproliferative effect on many normal and transformed cells and have in vivo antitumor activity in a variety of cancers. Recent clinical studies have suggested major activity with IFNs, especially in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and cervix. With the objective of exploring how the IFNs might work in squamous carcinoma cell line, we studied the effect of IFN-a on cervical cancer cell lines. The effect of IFNs on apoptosis and cell cycle of cervical cancer cell lines(C33A, CaSki, SiHa, HeLa, ME-180) was analysed by flow cytometry in time dependent manner. Results were as follows: (1) According to cell count of studied cancer cell lines treated with 2,000 IU/ml IFN-a for 7 days exposure, IFN-a had the antiproliferative effect on all five tested cervical cancer cell lines. Also this antiproliferative effect was confirmed by WST-1 assay. (2) The effect of IFN-a on apoptosis of each cultute was analysed by flow cytometry after 3 days and 7 days exposure with 2,000 IU/ml IFN-a, Apoptosis was not induced by IFN-a treatment. (3) The effect of IFN-a on the cell cycle of each culture was analysed by flow cytometry after 3 days exposure with 2,000 IU/ml IFN-a. As compared to control cells, treatment with IFN-a resulted in a higher proportion of cells in S phase with lower portion of cells with G2/M phase. (4) Time course of IFN-a effect on HPV 16 and HPV 18 E6 mRNA levels was evaluated by northern blot analysis. In CaSki cell line, HPV 16 E6 mRNA expression induced by IFN-a was not inhibited. But in HeLa cell line, HPV 18 E6 inRNA expression was inhibited. IFN-a appears to have the antiproliferative effect on all five tested cervical cancer cell lines and the antiproliferative effect of IFN-a seemed to be induced not by apoptosis but by disruption on specific cell cycle. Also regulation of HPV E6 mRNA expression induced by IFN-a is not directly related to the mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of IFN-a in cancer cell lines.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HeLa Cells ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; S Phase ; Skin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans

This study was to investigate the risk factors for the development of diabetes mellitus on healthy offsprings of Korea non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) patients. Forty four offsprings who have at least 1 parent with NIDDM and age, sex and body mass index(BMI) matched forty four healthy control subjects were collected for this study. BMI, skinfold thickness, waist/hip circumference ration(WHR), fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, serum lipid profile, nutrient intakes and food behaviors were measured. There were no significant difference in BMI, WHR, fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride and daily nutrients intake between offsprings and controls. But skinfold thickness, LDL-cholesterol level and sweety food eating frequency were significantly higher in male offsprings than in male controls. And HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in male offsprings than in male controls. Although there were no significant difference, offsprings had a overeating habit and ate more confectionery and greasy food than controls.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Eating ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Insulin ; Korea ; Male ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Skinfold Thickness ; Triglycerides

Mirizzi syndrome refers to a gallstone impacted in the gallbladder neck and this exerts pressure on the adjacent common hepatic duct, which produces inflammatory stricture and eventual penetration of its lumen. Making the preoperative diagnosis of Mirrizzi syndrome is very important. But if it cannot be diagnosed before an operation, intraoperative recognition is also important for surgeons. We experienced two patients who were diagnosed with this syndrome at the time of operation.
Choledocholithiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Mirizzi Syndrome ; Neck