Serum pseudocholinesterase activities, using butyrylthiocholine as substrate, measured in 639 employees of Korea Cancer Center Hospital in 1993. Overall mean value of pseudocholinesterase was 9.38+/-2.10 U/ml, 10.6+/-2.10 U/ml in male, and 8.58+/-1.67 U/ml in female, respectively. Male in the first five decades of life had higher pseudocholinesterase activity than female, and after the age of 50 tbere was no intersexual difference. These findings suggest that adults before the age of 50, male has higher pseudocholinesterase activity than female.
Adult* ; Butyrylthiocholine ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pseudocholinesterase*

A detailed study of the distribution of neuropeptide Y(NPY) in the olfactory bulb of the male adult and aging rat brains was undertaken by means of immunohistochemistry. Adult rats(Sprague-Dawley, 12-14 weeks old) were used in the control group. And aging rats(30 months old) were used in the experimental group. Brain tissues of both rat groups were obtained from each animal which were perfused transcardially with 0.9% NaCl followed by a 4% paraformaldehyde solution. Coronal serial sections(30nm) were cut on a freezing microtome, and were immunostained with the rabbit-raised antiserum to neuropeptide Y. In the control group, neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive(NPY-IR) neurons were mainly found in the white matter and deep internal granule cell layer, and rarely in the external plexiform layer of main olfactory bulb. In case of accessory olfactory bulb, a few of NPY-IR neurons were found in the internal granule cell layer. Virtually most neurons were medium-sized(10-20nm), and appeared to be bipolar or bitufted in shape. And small numbers of large-sized multipolar neurons(20-30nm) were found in the internal granule cell layer of main olfactory bulb. In the experimental aging rats, the numbers of NPY-IR neurons were decreased, that is to say, NPY-IR neurons in aging group were found average 2.5 neurons per each section compared with average 4.5 per each section in the control group. Also many perikarya of NPY-IR neurons appeared shrinkage, oval or round in shape. In brief, NPY-IR neurons of the olfactory bulb seem to be decreased in number of the neurons in aging rat. These findings may concern with reduction of olfactory function.
Adult* ; Aging* ; Animals ; Brain ; Freezing ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y ; Neuropeptides* ; Olfactory Bulb* ; Rats*

Multiple myeloma is a neoplasm of mature and immature plasma cells. Extraosseous tissues are involved frequently in multiple myeloma. The most common sites of involvement are spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and kidneys. Sinus involvement of multiple myeloma is rare but usually presents in secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma. Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma is neoplastic proliferation of plasmacytes in reticuloendothelial tissues and occurs most commonly in head and neck areas. Evaluation of the extent of disease is essential for proper management of this patient. The treatment and prognosis are different according to whether the extramedullary plasmacytoma is primary or secondary. Recently, we experienced a case of multiple myeloma which simultaneously progressed in maxillary sinus in spite of systemic chemotherapy and report with literature review.
Drug Therapy ; Head ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma ; Prognosis ; Spleen

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Fluorouracil* ; Leucovorin*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is one of the most common complication and responsible for the majority of post-operative fatalities. Despite continuous efforts to eliminate this problem, it still remains a major risk. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records of 1,510 tonsillectomized patients were reviewed for the frequency of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in relation to sex and age of the patients, seasons of year, operators as well as for the site, the type, and the control method of hemorrhage. RESULTS: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage was common in males with the incidence of 3.9%, of which the primary and secondary types accounted for 11.9% and 88.1%, respectively. The hemorrhage most frequently occurred in the left. There was no statistical significance associated with the seasons of year and with operators. Most of hemorrhages were controlled with electrocautery and conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Although there are no obvious preventable means of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage, complete bleeding control during operation and post-operative education are most important.
Education ; Electrocoagulation ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Seasons ; Tonsillectomy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: beta-catenin has an essential role in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. The Adenomatous poliposis coli (APC) protein interacts with beta-catenin in a multi-protein complex to regulate the level of expression of beta-catenin. Mutations in beta-catenin or APC gene can lead to the accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytosol and the nucleus. This study was designed to investigate the expression of APC and beta-catenin in laryngeal cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the beta-catenin and APC protein expression in 15 laryngeal cancers. Results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: beta-catenin expression to the plasma membrane was reduced or absent in 11 of 15 cases (73%) of the laryngeal cancers. Cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin was seen in 6 out of 15 cases (40%). APC immunoactivity was negative in 5 of 15 (33%) of the laryngeal cancers. One of the six cytoplasmic expressions of the beta-catenin was negative for APC immunoactivity, and one of the five negative for APC immunoactivity was cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin. CONCLUSION: There was no correlation between beta-catenin and APC protein in the analysis. This finding suggests that cytoplasmic expression of the beta-catenin resulted not from the APC mutation but from the beta-catenin mutation and abnormal Wnt signal. Only the expression of the beta-catenin in cytoplasm was associated with lymph node metastasis.
beta Catenin* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Cytosol ; Genes, APC ; Laryngeal Neoplasms* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction

No abstract available.

A rare case of the tongue is encountered and we report the case with the literature review on osteoma, chondroma, and osteochondroma of the tongue. The most common oral extraskeletal site is the tongue. The occurrence of osteochondroma in soft tissues of the oral cavity is rather uncommon. They are usually seen on the lateral border and foramen cecum of the tongue. It has been suggested that they arise from metaplastic formation or remnants of branchial arch cartilage. Following surgical removal, recurrence has not been reported. The etiology and pathogenesis remain obscure. The possible causes of this unusual neoplasm are discussed.
Branchial Region ; Cartilage ; Cecum ; Chondroma ; Mouth ; Osteochondroma* ; Osteoma ; Recurrence ; Tongue*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Damage in the auditory sensory epithelia is irreversible and the resulting hearing loss is permanent in mammals. Nevertheless, mammals like birds can recover their auditory function anatomically and physiologically after the sensorineural hearing loss. One of the functions of a receptor tyrosine kinase is to controll the cellular metabolisms like motility, growth, differentiation, regeneration, and ion transport via various pathways. There are no reports on the distribution of receptor tyrosine kinases in the guinea pig cochlea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and transforming growth factor receptor (TGFR-beta, type II ) in the cochlear sensory epithelia of guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the immunoreactivity and functional roles of the receptor tyrosine kinases-FGFR and TGFR-beta (type II) - by using surface preparation technique in the cochlea of the Preyer's positive, pigmented guinea pig. RESULTS: The results showed that receptor tyrosine kinases were expressed in the cytoplasm of Deiter's and Hensen's cells to FGFR and TGFR-beta (type II), and the stereocillia of inner and outer hair cells to FGFR by surface preparation technique. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in the cellular growth, differentiation and regeneration in the cochlear supporting cells, and ion transport in the hair cells of the mammals. We found that receptor tyrone kinases are not related to outer hair cells participating in the PLCgamma1-IP3 second messenger system.
Animals ; Birds ; Cochlea* ; Cytoplasm ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Ion Transport ; Mammals ; Phosphotransferases* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; Regeneration ; Second Messenger Systems ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Tyrosine*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The endolymph produced from cochlear lateral wall regulates fluid balance and maintains positive endocochlear potentials. Although many immunohistochemical studies on ion transport enzymes have been reported, their mechanisms are still not completely understood. And there are no reports on the distribution of receptor tyrosine kinases in the cochlear lateral wall of the guinea pig. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and transforming growth factor receptor-beta (TGFR-beta, type II) in the lateral wall of the guinea pig cochlea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of the receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFR, TGFR-beta) in the lateral wall of the Preyer's positive, pigmented guinea pig. RESULTS: The results showed that receptor tyrosine kinases were expressed in the cytoplasm of the marginal cells, intermediate cells in the stria vascularis, and type II, III, IV, and V fibrocytes, but not the basal cells and type I fibrocytes, in the lateral wall of the guinea pig. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in the various ion transports and that they participate in the PLC-IP(3) second messenger system.
Animals ; Cochlea ; Cytoplasm ; Endolymph ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Ion Transport ; Phosphotransferases ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; Second Messenger Systems ; Signal Transduction ; Stria Vascularis ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Tyrosine ; Water-Electrolyte Balance