Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma is a relatively frequent lymphoreticular malignancy, and has been reported to constitute up to 5.2% of all malignant tumors in Korean patients. Various morphologic classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been proposed, and among them, the Rappaport's classification has been most widely accepted. In 1982, a National Cancer Institute sponsored study on classification led to the creation of the Working Formulation in an attempt to resolve the controversy anddebate regarding the various classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis are lymphoreticular proliferative disorders which have reported to transform to malignant lymphoma. The purpose of the present study is to reclassify non-Hodgkin's lymphomas according to the Working Formulation and to investigate the histopathological and immunocytochemical characteristics of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis. This study reviewed 300 cases of nodal and extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 26 cases of polymorphic reticulosis, and 7 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia examined in the Departments of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Youngdong Severance Hospital and Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine from January 1977 to December 1986. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, each case was classified according to the Working Formulation and the Rappaport classification. All angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis cases were subjected to histopathological analysis and a review of the clinical records. Immunocytochemical studies were done using kappa and lambda chains for B-cell markers and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin for histiocytic marker. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Among 300 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the primarily involved tumor sites were the lymph nodes (141 cases), the gastrointestinal tract (67 cases), and the tonsils (32 cases) in descending order of frequency. 2) Using the Working Formulation, intermediategrade lymphomas occurred in 66.4% of the patients, and the most common subtype was "diffuse, large cell" (32.7%). By the Rappaport classification, 3 patients had nodular lymphomas, and "diffuse, histiocytic" was the most common subtype. 3) Infarction was present in 32 cases in which the "diffuse, lagre cell" type was most frequently associated. 4) In immunoperoxidase stains of 7 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia, proliferating immunoblasts revealed a polyclonal positivity for kappa and lambda chains. Atypical reticulocytes present in 26 cases of polymorphic reticulosis revealed a negativity for kappa, lambda and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin.

Non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma is a relatively frequent lymphoreticular malignancy, and has been reported to constitute up to 5.2% of all malignant tumors in Korean patients. Various morphologic classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been proposed, and among them, the Rappaport's classification has been most widely accepted. In 1982, a National Cancer Institute sponsored study on classification led to the creation of the Working Formulation in an attempt to resolve the controversy anddebate regarding the various classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis are lymphoreticular proliferative disorders which have reported to transform to malignant lymphoma. The purpose of the present study is to reclassify non-Hodgkin's lymphomas according to the Working Formulation and to investigate the histopathological and immunocytochemical characteristics of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis. This study reviewed 300 cases of nodal and extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 26 cases of polymorphic reticulosis, and 7 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia examined in the Departments of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Youngdong Severance Hospital and Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine from January 1977 to December 1986. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, each case was classified according to the Working Formulation and the Rappaport classification. All angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and polymorphic reticulosis cases were subjected to histopathological analysis and a review of the clinical records. Immunocytochemical studies were done using kappa and lambda chains for B-cell markers and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin for histiocytic marker. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Among 300 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the primarily involved tumor sites were the lymph nodes (141 cases), the gastrointestinal tract (67 cases), and the tonsils (32 cases) in descending order of frequency. 2) Using the Working Formulation, intermediategrade lymphomas occurred in 66.4% of the patients, and the most common subtype was "diffuse, large cell" (32.7%). By the Rappaport classification, 3 patients had nodular lymphomas, and "diffuse, histiocytic" was the most common subtype. 3) Infarction was present in 32 cases in which the "diffuse, lagre cell" type was most frequently associated. 4) In immunoperoxidase stains of 7 cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia, proliferating immunoblasts revealed a polyclonal positivity for kappa and lambda chains. Atypical reticulocytes present in 26 cases of polymorphic reticulosis revealed a negativity for kappa, lambda and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin.

BACKGROUND: The study examined the correlations among the results of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core 30 (QLQ-C30) completed by elderly cancer patients and their family caregivers and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-performance status (PS) evaluated by medical doctors. METHODS: The study sample included 269 persons with cancer aged 55 years or older and their family caregivers recruited from hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The results of the ECOG-PS evaluated by medical doctors were obtained from medical records. Intra-class correlation analysis was used to assess rater reliability between the elderly cancer patients and their family caregivers. Correlations among the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the ECOG-PS were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearmen's correlation. RESULTS: The results showed that four subscales of quality of life (physical functioning, emotional functioning, social functioning, and global health status) and three items under symptoms (fatigue, pain, and financial difficulties) in the EORTC QLQ-C30 were highly consistent between patients and their family caregivers. From the EORTC QLQ-C30 results, social functioning, role functioning, health status, fatigue, pain, and appetite loss (patients results) and physical functioning (family caregivers results) were highly consistent with the results of the ECOG-PS by the physicians. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that when the older persons with cancer have difficulty expressing their own thoughts or feelings, the EORTC QLQ-C30 completed by their family caregivers and the results of the ECOG-PS completed by the physicians could be used as substitutes.
Aged ; Appetite ; Caregivers* ; Fatigue ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff* ; Quality of Life* ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) is a natural abietane diterpenoid that is mainly found in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae). DHTS exhibits a potential anti-proliferative effect in various human cancer cells. However, the mechanisms of action of DHTS as an anti-cancer agent have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the anti-cancer effect of DHTS in terms of cell cycle regulation and the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in SK-HEP-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: The anti-proliferative effects of DHTS were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B assay in SK-HEP-1 cells. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The elucidation of mechanisms of action such as the AMPK/AKT/mTOR and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DHTS showed a significant anti-proliferative activity against SK-HEP-1 cells. DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, which was mediated by downregulation of cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK4, CDK2, c-Myc and p-Rb expression and with increased expression of the CDK inhibitor p21. DHTS also activated the AMPK signaling. In addition, DHTS downregulated the Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of DHTS might be associated with the induction of G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and regulation of AMPK/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways in SK-HEP-1 cells.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin A ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin E ; Cyclins ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Protein Kinases ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

Lung cancer is one of the most common causative cancers worldwide. Particularly, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC is a serious form of lung cancer that requires prompt diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate for patients with this disease is only 24%. Gibbosic acid H (GaH), a natural lanostanoid obtained from the Ganoderma species (Ganodermataceae), has antiproliferative activities against colon and lung cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of GaH in NSCLC cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.GaH was found to induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and autophagy by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in A549 and H1299 cells. The induction of this cell cycle arrest was associated with the downregulation of cyclin E1 and CDK2.Additionally, the induction of autophagy by GaH was correlated with the upregulation of LC3B, beclin-1, and p53 expression. GaH also induced apoptosis by upregulating cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the lung cancer cells. These findings suggest that GaH has a potential in the growth inhibition of human lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dominant genotype of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Korea had been known to be genotype 1A in 1990s. Recently, the epidemiologic change of HAV genotype was reported with an upsurge of acute hepatitis A in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of HAV genotypes and clinical characteristics in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. METHODS: From November 2008 to October 2009, a total of 82 patients with acute hepatitis A were enrolled prospectively. HAV genotype was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the PCR products of VP1/2A region of HAV. RESULTS: HAV RNA was detected in 82% (67/82). The genotype IIIA (88%, 59 cases) was significantly more frequent than genotype IA (12%, 8 cases) (p< or =0.01). The subtypes of genotype IIIA were AJ299467 Norway (49%), HA-JNG04-09 Japan (27%), HS-14-12-00 Spain (22%) and H-122 Sweden (2%). The subtypes of IA were FH1 Japan (50%) and HA J04-3 Japan (50%). The substitutions of amino acid were more frequent in genotype IIIA than IA (p< or =0.01). There was no difference in the clinical characteristics between the patients with genotype IIIA and IA. CONCLUSIONS: Genotype IIIA was a dominant genotype of recent HAV infection in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. This study provides valuable epidemiologic information of genetic distributions of HAV in Korea.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: While endoscopic resection could be considered as the best choice for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid, the colonoscopic biopsies performed at the time of detection may lead to scar and ulcer formation and cause unpredicted difficulty in the endoscopic resection. This study was evaluated to analyze the relationship between the post-biopsy scar and the limitation of submucosal elevation for the endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoids. METHODS: Twenty two cases of rectal carcinoid which received prior biopsies before the endoscopic resection were retrospectively compared with 20 non-biopsied cases. All two groups were treated by endoscopic resection from January 2000 to December 2007. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings such as size and location between the two groups. RESULTS: The limited submucosal elevation was experienced in 17 cases (77%) in the biopsy group, significantly more frequent than 9 cases (45%) in the non-biopsy group (p=0.03). The colonoscopic findings which contribute to difficult submucosal elevation were the depressive scar formation after biopsy, the size less than 5 mm in the biopsy group, active ulcer formation after biopsy. Regarding the resection method, endoscopic submucosal dissection was frequently adopted (23% vs. 5%) in the biopsy group. The frequency of endoscopic piecemeal resection in biopsy group was higher than non-biopsy group (23% vs 10%), and all cases were subsequently resected by other endoscopic methods. CONCLUSIONS: The post-biopsy scar can interfere with successful submucosal elevation for endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoids. The number of forcep biopsy should be minimized in the diagnostic colonoscopy when endoscopic resection is planned rectal carcinoids.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor/*pathology/surgery ; Cicatrix/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that systemic administration of agmatine, endogenous ligand for imidazoline receptors has anti-hypernociceptive effects in experimental animal. However the peripheral effects of agmatine on inflammatory pain have not yet been elucidated. Here we examined the effects of intra-articular injection of agmatine in the induction and maintenance phase of arthritic pain. In addition, we sought to determine the potential contribution of imidazoline and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors to the antinociceptive effects using clonidine which is mixed alpha(2)-adrenoceptor and imidazoline receptor agonist. METHODS: To induce arthritis in rats, 2% lambda-carrageenan (50microliter, in saline) was injected into the joint of the right hind limb under enflurane anesthesia. Either agmatine (10, 50, 100microgram/40microliter) or clonidine (10, 50, 100microgram/40microliter) was injected into the knee joint cavity immediately before or 4 hr after carrageenan injection. Weight load tests were performed to measure pain-related behavior in freely walking rats. RESULTS: The intraarticular injection of agmatine into the knee joint had no effects in the both phase of induction and maintenance of arthritic pain at any dose tested. However, injection of clonidine reversed arthritic pain, when injected 4 h after carrageenan injection. CONCLUSIONS: In rats, agmatine has no peripheral effect on inflammatory pain and imidazoline receptors in the periphery may not contribute to the anti-inflammatory pain.
Agmatine ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Arthritis ; Carrageenan ; Clonidine ; Enflurane ; Extremities ; Imidazoline Receptors ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Rats ; Walking

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus ; Spine

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the 3-dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway of skeletal class III patients after bimaxillary surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 18 Korean patients that had undergone maxillary setback or posterosuperior movement and mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy setback surgery due to skeletal class III malocclusion (8 males, 10 females; mean age of 28.7). Cone beam computed tomography was taken 1 month before and 6 months after orthognathic surgery. Preoperative and postoperative volumes of the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and laryngopharyngeal airways and minimum axial areas of the oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces were measured. Moreover, the pharyngeal airway volume of the patient group that had received genioplasty advancement was compared with the other group that had not. RESULTS: The nasopharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces did not show significant differences before or after surgery. However, the oropharyngeal space volume and total volume of pharyngeal airway decreased significantly (P<0.05). The minimum axial area of the oropharynx also decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that bimaxillary surgery decreased the volume and the minimum axial area of the oropharyngeal space. Advanced genioplasty did not seem to have a significant effect on the volumes of the oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Genioplasty ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Oropharynx ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Pharynx