To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of mutated p53 protein and bcl-2 protein in the cutaneous melanocytic lesion, 15 cases of compound nevus, 10 cases of congenital melanocytic nevus, 15 cases of primary malignant melanoma(4 cases less than 1.5 mm thick and 11 cases more than 1.5 mm thick), and 10 cases of metastatic malignant melanoma(7 cases in lymph node and 3 cases in soft tissue) were examined. All cases of compound nevi and of congenital melanocytic nevi showed no immunoreactivity for p53 protein. p53 protein overexpression was observed in 75%(3/4) wth primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 81%(9/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 100%(10/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. The difference in p53 protein overexpression was statistically significant between benign nevi and malignant melanoma(p<0.01). Bcl-2 protein expression was observed in 73%(11/15) with compound nevus, 70%(7/10) with congenital melanocytic nevus, 75% (3/4) in primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 54%(6/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 40%(4/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. These findings suggested that mutation of p53 gene may be an important mechanism in the development of malignant melanoma. Although bcl-2 protein was expressed in cutaneous melanocytic lesion, no correlation was found between p53 protein and bcl-2 protein expression in malignant melanoma.
Genes, p53 ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Skin*

To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of mutated p53 protein and bcl-2 protein in the cutaneous melanocytic lesion, 15 cases of compound nevus, 10 cases of congenital melanocytic nevus, 15 cases of primary malignant melanoma(4 cases less than 1.5 mm thick and 11 cases more than 1.5 mm thick), and 10 cases of metastatic malignant melanoma(7 cases in lymph node and 3 cases in soft tissue) were examined. All cases of compound nevi and of congenital melanocytic nevi showed no immunoreactivity for p53 protein. p53 protein overexpression was observed in 75%(3/4) wth primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 81%(9/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 100%(10/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. The difference in p53 protein overexpression was statistically significant between benign nevi and malignant melanoma(p<0.01). Bcl-2 protein expression was observed in 73%(11/15) with compound nevus, 70%(7/10) with congenital melanocytic nevus, 75% (3/4) in primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 54%(6/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 40%(4/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. These findings suggested that mutation of p53 gene may be an important mechanism in the development of malignant melanoma. Although bcl-2 protein was expressed in cutaneous melanocytic lesion, no correlation was found between p53 protein and bcl-2 protein expression in malignant melanoma.
Genes, p53 ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Skin*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relation of onset-age and plasma level of beta-endorphin, Ethanol, beta-endorphin, cortisol and blood glucose were compared in 48 male alcoholics and 29 normal controls. METHODS: Alcoholics are divided into two groups by onset-age of alcoholism. Blood samples were obtained before and after 0.75gm/kg of ethanol consumption at the 7th admission day. RESULTS: 1) The ratio of onset-age before 25 years to after 25 years of the patients group was 2 to 3. 2) There was no significant difference in age at admission between two patient groups. 3) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ethanol levels among three groups. 4) There was no significant difference in change of plasma beta-endorphin levels among three groups. 5) There was no significant difference in change of plasma cortisol levels among three groups. 6) There was no significant difference in change of fasting blood sugar levels among two patient groups.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; beta-Endorphin* ; Blood Glucose ; Ethanol ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Male ; Plasma

Authors report a case of separation anxiety disorder, which developed as a side effect during haloperidol treatment of Tourette syndromes(TS). In this case, 14 years old boys developed attention deficit symptoms during his infancy. At 4th grade of primary school, he developed vocal tic, motor tic, and coprolalia. With 5mg/day of haloperidol treatment his symptoms of TS were subsided. During the treatment, he developed features of separation anxiety disorder, including dependence, pleading, clinging, and sadness. Symptoms of attention deficit and separation anxiety disorder were improved by 25mg/day of imipramine treatment. During haloperidol treatment of TS, careful observation may be needed whether separation anxiety disorder-like symptom develops.
Adolescent ; Anxiety, Separation ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Imipramine ; Tics ; Tourette Syndrome*

Carcinoma Showing Thymus-Like Differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare tumor, which occurs in the thyroid gland and surrounding soft tissue, or soft tissue of the neck. It is thought to originate from ectopic thymus or branchial pouch remnants. We report a case of CASTLE of the thyroid gland in a 42-year-old woman. Grossly, a nodular, partly well demarcated, grayish yellow, 3.0 2.0 cm sized, solid mass was found in the right thyroid gland. Microscopically, the tumor was divided into lobules of variable size and shape, nests and cords with thin and thick fibrous septa which were infiltrated by lymphocytes and plasma cells. The tumor cells were large, polygonal and had vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some cells, especially in the central portion of the nests had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and showed squamoid feature.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Thymus Gland ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: Although alpha-fetoprotein is one of the most commonly used tumor markers in Korea, most of the radioimmunoassay kits for alpha-fetoprotein have been imported from foreign countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a recently developed domestic immunoradiometric kit for alpha- fetoprotein (Riakey AFP IRMA CTR, Sin-Jin Medics, Seoul, Korea). MATERALS AND METHODS: We evaluated intra- and inter-assay precision, recovery rate, parallelism, and sensitivity of serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement using Riakey AFP IRMA CTR kit. The values of alpha-fetoprotein measured by Riakey AFP IRMA CTR kit were compared with those measured by two foreign commercial kits (alpha-fetoproteina of Radim and alpha-feto.riabead of Abbott). RESULTS: Intra-assay coefficients of variation on three different levels were 5.3% for 18.9 ng/ml, 3.4% for 133 ng/ml and 1.6% for 330 ng/ml. Inter-assay coefficients of variation were 9.7% for 20.9 ng/ml, 3.2% for 137 ng/ml and 4.1% for 330 ng/ml respectively. Recovery rate tests on all three different levels showed within 100+/-10%. Parallelism was also good and the sensitivity was 0.63 ng/ml. There was strong correlation between the measurement of alpha-fetoprotein by Riakey AFP IRMA CTR and that by two foreign commercial kits(r=0.98). CONCLUSION: The first Korean domestic immunoradiometric kit for alpha-fetoprotein, Riakey AFP IRMA CTR, performed well for clinical use.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Fetal Proteins ; Immunoradiometric Assay* ; Korea ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: We evaluated a rapid preparation procedures for the labeling and quality control of 99mTc-ECD, MAG3, and MIBI using microwave heating and Sep-Pak cartridges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 99mTc labeling of ECD, MAG3, and MIBI kit preparation was performed according to the package inserts with microwave heating modification. Heating time was 10-15 sec, and heating was performed with 3 mm plastic bottle with screw cap to prevent radiation contamination. Labeling efficiency was obtained with C18 or Alumina N Sep-Pak cartridges. RESULTS: The radiochemical purity of 93~96% for 99mTc-ECD and 95~99% for 99mTc-MIBI was obtained using Alumina N Sep-Pak cartridge. The optimum irradiation time of microwave method for 3 ml 99mTc-labeled radiopharmaceutical solution was 10 sec for 99mTc-ECD and 99mTc-MIBI, and 15 sec for 99mTc-MAG3. The RESULTS of quality control data with Sep-Pak cartridges were well correlated with TLC method. The total preparation time of these radiopharmcaeuticals was 5~6 min including quality control procedure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that radiopharmaceuticals preparation by microwave heating and quality control by Sep-Pak cartridges can be efficiently utilized as an alternative to the recommended method by manufacturer's manual.
Aluminum Oxide ; Heating* ; Hot Temperature* ; Microwaves* ; Plastics ; Product Labeling ; Quality Control* ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide

No abstract available.
Mandible* ; Spine*

Adenosquamous carcinoma of stomach is a mixed glandular-epidermoid tumor where both components are neoplastic. Its incidence is extremely rare. The five theories on the origin of squamous components are 1) island of ectopic squamous epithelium in the gastric mucosa, 2) squamous metaplasia of gastric epithelium, 3) squamous differentiation in a preexisting adenocarcinoma, 4) endothelial cell differentiated toward squamous elements, and 5) totipotential undifferentiated cells of the gastric mucosa. We experienced three cases of adenosquamous carcinoma. Case 1 was a 71-year-old female patient; an ulcerative lesion was present in the pylorus, measuring 5 cm in diameter. Case 2 was a 57-year-old male patient; an ulcerative lesion is present in the pylorus, measuring 6 cm in diameter. Case 3 was a 58-year-old female patient; an ulcerative lesion was present in the body and fundus, measuring 10 cm in diameter. Microscopic examination revealed a mixed malignant squamous and adenomatous component.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Middle Aged ; Pylorus ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.