Pilomattiaoma, aften called calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe, is a benign tumor originating from the outer root sheath cell of the hair follicle and extending into the hair matrix, Pilomatricoma usually occurs as a single, asymptomatic dermal or subcutaneous nodule. Multiple lesions are quite unueuel, comprising only 2-3.5% of cases. We report two patients with multiple pilomatricoma.
Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Pilomatrixoma*

PURPOSE: To analyze the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in superior segmental optic hypoplasia (SSOH) patients and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients with inferior visual field defects using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Ten eyes of 10 patients with SSOH and 10 eyes of 10 patients with NTG were evaluated. The peripapillary RNFL thickness measured by OCT was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The mean RNFL thickness was not significantly different between SSOH patients (79.60 +/- 12.54 micrometer) and NTG patients (77.10 +/- 8.52 micrometer) (p = 0.089). Among the quadrant parameters, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). In a clock-hour analysis, the peripapillary RNFL thickness of the NTG group was significantly thicker than the SSOH group in 12, 1, and 2 o'clock (p = 0.029, 0.007, 0.043, respectively). In contrast, the peripapillary RNFL thickness of the SSOH group was significantly thicker than the SSOH group in 6, and 7 o'clock (p = 0.029, 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Peripapillary RNFL thickness in patients with SSOH was thinner than in those with NTG in the superonasal region, but thicker in the inferotemporal region indicating a different retinal nerve fiber defect pattern between the 2 diseases.
Eye ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Low Tension Glaucoma ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Nerve ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Fields

It is known that top-down associative inputs terminate on distal apical dendrites in layer 1 while bottom-up sensory inputs terminate on perisomatic dendrites of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (L2/3 PyNs) in primary sensory cortex. Since studies on synaptic transmission in layer 1 are sparse, we investigated the basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission in layer 1 and compared them to those in perisomatic dendrites of L2/3 PyNs of rat primary visual cortex. Using extracellular stimulations of layer 1 and layer 4, we evoked excitatory postsynaptic current/potential in synapses in distal apical dendrites (L1-EPSC/L1-EPSP) and those in perisomatic dendrites (L4-EPSC/L4-EPSP), respectively. Kinetics of L1-EPSC was slower than that of L4-EPSC. L1-EPSC showed presynaptic depression while L4-EPSC was facilitating. In contrast, inhibitory postsynaptic currents showed similar paired-pulse ratio between layer 1 and layer 4 stimulations with depression only at 100 Hz. Cholinergic stimulation induced presynaptic depression by activating muscarinic receptors in excitatory and inhibitory synapses to similar extents in both inputs. However, nicotinic stimulation enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission by ~20% in L4-EPSC. Rectification index of AMPA receptors and AMPA/NMDA ratio were similar between synapses in distal apical and perisomatic dendrites. These results provide basic properties and cholinergic modulation of synaptic transmission between distal apical and perisomatic dendrites in L2/3 PyNs of the visual cortex, which might be important for controlling information processing balance depending on attentional state.
Animals ; Automatic Data Processing ; Dendrites ; Depression ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Kinetics ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats ; Receptors, AMPA ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Synapses ; Synaptic Transmission ; Visual Cortex

BACKGROUND: Cadherins are a supergene family of structurally related transmembrane glycoprotein. V-cadherin was a subclass of cadherin which expressed on endothelial cell as an endothelial cell cell adhesion molecule. The role of V-cadherin is still unclear in inflarnmation and immunologic responses. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to demonstrate the expression and the regulation of V-cadherin expression on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells(HDMEC) by biological response modifier(BRM). METHODS: The cell surface expression of V-cadherin on HDMEC that was unstimulated or pretreated with IL-1, TNF, IFN-, and PMA was evaluated by immunofluorescence flow cytometry and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: 1. V-cadherin was constitutively expressed on unstimulated HDMEC. 2. Maximal expression of V-cadherin was observed at 16 hrs after stimulation with IL-1, at 6 hrs after stimulation with TNF and at 24 hrs after stimulation with IFN- on HDMEC. 3. V-cadherin expression on HDMEC was increased after stimulation with IL-1 or PMA. CONCLUSION: V-cadherin was constitutively expressed on HDMEC, and V-cadherin expression can be regulated by BRM. These results suggest V-cadherin may contribute to inflammation.
Cadherins ; Cell Adhesion ; Endothelial Cells* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glycoproteins ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1

BACKGROUND: Epidurally administered dexamethasone may reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative pain. We investigated whether postoperative pain could be alleviated by preoperative or postoperative epidural dexamethasone administration in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Ninety patients (age 30-77 with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II) undergoing radical subtotal gastrectomy were randomly allocated to three groups using computer generated randomization. In all groups, 10 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine was injected epidurally before the start and at the end of the operation. In Group I, a bolus ropivacaine epidural without dexamethasone was administered. In Group II, dexamethasone (5 mg) was added to the ropivacaine bolus epidural before the start of operation. In Group III, the same amount of dexamethasone was given with the ropivacaine epidural at the end of operation. Effort and resting VAS, the use of rescue analgesics and any complications noted during the procedure were evaluated. RESULTS: VAS and requirements of rescue analgesics were significantly lower in Groups II and III when compared to Group I. There were no difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting between groups, but an itching sensation was frequent in Group III. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of 5 mg of dexamethasone epidurallly, before or after operation, could reduce the pain and analgesic requirement after radical subtotal gastrectomy.
Amides ; Analgesics ; Dexamethasone ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pruritus ; Random Allocation ; Sensation ; Vomiting

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) and the residual tumor size of breast cancer after neoadjucant chemotherapy (NAC), and to determine the factors affecting the accuarcy. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after NAC at our center between 2010 and 2017 were included in this study. pCR was defined as the absence of invasive cancer on pathological evaluation. The maximum diameter of the residual tumor on post-NAC MRI was compared with the tumor size of the surgical specimen measured pathologically. Statistical analysis was performed to elucidate the factors affecting pCR and the residual tumor size-discrepancy between the MRI and the pathological measurements. Results: The pCR rate was 10%. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI and the area under the curve for predicting pCR were 90.91% and 0.8017, respectively. The residual tumor sizes obtained using MRI and pathological measurements showed a strong correlation (r = 0.9, p < 0.001), especially in patients with a single mass lesion (p = 0.047). The size discrepancy between MRI and the pathological measurements was significantly greater in patients with the luminal type (p = 0.023) and multifocal tumorson-mass enhancement on pre-NAC MRI (p = 0.047). Conclusion MRI is an accurate tool for evaluating pCR and residual tumor size in breast cancer patients who receive NAC. Tumor subtype and initial MRI features affect the accuracy of MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) and the residual tumor size of breast cancer after neoadjucant chemotherapy (NAC), and to determine the factors affecting the accuarcy. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after NAC at our center between 2010 and 2017 were included in this study. pCR was defined as the absence of invasive cancer on pathological evaluation. The maximum diameter of the residual tumor on post-NAC MRI was compared with the tumor size of the surgical specimen measured pathologically. Statistical analysis was performed to elucidate the factors affecting pCR and the residual tumor size-discrepancy between the MRI and the pathological measurements. Results: The pCR rate was 10%. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI and the area under the curve for predicting pCR were 90.91% and 0.8017, respectively. The residual tumor sizes obtained using MRI and pathological measurements showed a strong correlation (r = 0.9, p < 0.001), especially in patients with a single mass lesion (p = 0.047). The size discrepancy between MRI and the pathological measurements was significantly greater in patients with the luminal type (p = 0.023) and multifocal tumorson-mass enhancement on pre-NAC MRI (p = 0.047). Conclusion MRI is an accurate tool for evaluating pCR and residual tumor size in breast cancer patients who receive NAC. Tumor subtype and initial MRI features affect the accuracy of MRI.

Scar endometriosis, which is characterized by ectopic endometrial-like glands and stroma surrounding scar tissue, is rare and presents diagnostic challenges due to its inconsistent presentation. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman who had previously undergone two cesarean sections and a hysterectomy, in whom a mass in the subcutaneous layer of the lower abdomen was incidentally discovered by computed tomography (CT). A physical examination revealed a linear cesarean scar with a palpable, pigmented mass. An enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed an approximately 3.5-cm ill-defined soft tissue mass infiltrating the rectus abdominis muscle. A desmoid tumor was suspected based on the radiological findings, and endometriosis was also considered in light of the patient’s medical history. Wide mass excision was performed, ensuring 5-mm margins. The mass was completely excised, and a histopathological examination revealed endometriosis. Due to its rarity, scar endometriosis in the abdominal area can be easily misdiagnosed. Therefore, a heightened suspicion of scar endometriosis should be maintained in female patients with a history of abdominal or pelvic surgery presenting with an abdominal mass. Although imaging modalities can play a supportive role in the diagnosis, an extensive medical history assessment and comprehensive physical examination remain crucial.

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia in its morphology as well as molecular or genetic profiles, conferring a good prognosis owing to the active roles of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines. METHODS: Patients diagnosed as APL from March 1997 to April 2006 were analyzed on their clinical features, laboratory profiles, methods of treatment including remission induction, consolidation and maintenance, treatment outcomes, and treatment-related morbidity. RESULTS: Chemotherapy naive were all the 12 patients in our study consisting of 3 males and 9 females. All patients showed typical morphologic feature of APL with cytogenetic abnormality, t(15;17), and PML/RAR alpha fusion gene was confirmed in 10 patients by FISH or PCR. The combination of cytarabine with daunorubicin (n=2) or idarubicin (n=9) was used as an induction regimen with concurrent ATRA administration. For consolidation therapy, cytarabine with anthracycline (n=4) or idarubicin monotherapy (n=8) was used with ATRA. Cytogenetic and molecular remissions were documented after induction chemotherapy (n=11) or first consolidation therapy (n=1). Maintenance therapy with ATRA was done in 11 patients. CR was obtained in 12 patients, with median remission duration of 30.5+ months (range 2 to 86+) at a median follow up duration of 33.5+ months (range 4 to 89+). One patient relapsed after completion of maintenance therapy and died of infection during reinduction chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Herein is the report of ten years' experience of our hospital in the treatment of APL with favorable results as seen by high CR rate and fewer complications.
Anthracyclines ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytarabine ; Cytogenetics ; Daunorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Idarubicin ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Tretinoin

We report four cases of Ganoderma lucidum-induced aplastic anemia involving members of the same family. A 33-year-old man and three family members were admitted to the hospital due to fever and pancytopenia. The illness arose after ingesting herbal wine containing G. lucidum 2 weeks earlier. A bone-marrow biopsy showed hypocellularity in three of the four family members (the exception was the one who died). They were treated with supportive management, including transfusions, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and empirical antibiotics for neutropenic fever. The pancytopenia improved 4-5 weeks after the symptoms first appeared.
Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Colony-Stimulating Factors ; Fever ; Ganoderma ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Pancytopenia ; Plants, Medicinal ; Reishi* ; Wine