BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been useful as a diagnostic tool to define heart failure. Recently, the BNP assay was used on an automated immunochemistry platform. Studies included precision, analytical correlation between the Biosite Triage BNP assay and Bayer ADVIA Centaur BNP assay. METHODS: Between February 22, 2005 and March 4, 2005, 66 cases were anal-yzed. For the BNP measurement, 3 mL blood samples were collected in plastic tubes containing EDTA. Precision was analyzed with 20 repeat tests in 3 different control levels. RESULTS: The ADVIA Centaur assay had between-run precision (CV) of 3.9%, 3.7%, and 3.7% at BNP concentrations of 41.39, 420.08, and 1671.73 ng/L, respectively. The correlation between the ADVIA Centaur and Triage was as follows: ADVIA Centaur=0.753(Triage)-21.888 ng/L (r=0.94). At a cutoff of 100 ng/L, however, the diagnostic agreement was 89.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The ADVIA Centaur BNP assay is the first commercially available BNP assay using an automated immunochemistry platform. This assay has good analytical and clinical performances and agreement with the Biosite Triage BNP Assay.
Edetic Acid ; Heart Failure ; Immunochemistry ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Plastics ; Triage*

Angiosarcoma with predominantly epithelioid features is a rare soft tissue neoplasm and the interpretation of its cytopathologic findings may be difficult. We report a case of metastatic angiosarcoma with predominantly epithelioid features diagnosed by liquid-based cytology. The cytopathologic findings in this case differed from those of the conventional preparation and we found a clean background, no hyperchromatic nuclei and several cytoplasmic changes, including intracytoplasmic vacuoles with peculiar shapes, juxtanuclear condensation and perinuclear clearing. Identification of these changes using liquid-based cytology supplemented with immunochemistry may be helpful in reaching a correct cytopathologic diagnosis.
Cytodiagnosis ; Cytoplasm* ; Diagnosis ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Immunochemistry ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Vacuoles

PURPOSE: Galectin-3 and HBME-1 have been recognized as useful markers for the diagnosis of the thyroid lesions. In this study, we investigated whether they have a diagnostic value for nodular lesions of the thyroid. METHODS: We investigated the galectin-3 and HBME-1 expressions in 14 nodular hyperplasias, 30 papillary carcinomas, 17 follicular adenomas and 8 follicular carcinomas with using immunochemistry. RESULTS: Galectin-3 was positive in 96.7% of the papillary carcinomas and this incidence was significantly higher (P=0.0001) than that of nodular hyperplasia, 7.1%. However, the galectin-3 expressions of follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma were not significantly different. HBME-1 was positive in 50.0% of the follicular carcinomas and this incidence was significantly higher (P=0.0001) than that of follicular adenoma. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 and HBME-1 may be useful markers to diagnose papillary carcinoma. Although HBME-1 contributes to differential diagnosis of follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma, further study is required.
Adenoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Galectin 3* ; Hyperplasia ; Immunochemistry ; Incidence ; Thyroid Gland*

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a chronic localized itch, affecting mainly the inter-scapular area particularly between the T2-T6 dermatomes. Occasionally it has a more widespread distribution and involves the shoulders, back, and upper chest. There are no specific cutaneous signs, apart from those attributed to scratching and rubbing. Various etiologies have been reported, but the cause of NP is not established. The current hypothesis regarding its etiology postulates that a neuropathic itch develops due to nerve entrapment of the posterior rami of spinal nerve arising at T2-T6. Another recent documented case showed an increase in the number of intradermal nerves by neural immunochistochemistry staining of S-100 protein, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). Herein, we experienced an uncommon case of NP of the back and tried to clarify pathogenesis by using quantitative sensory testing, such as neurometer and Von-Frey filaments. Also, we performed neural immunochemistry to confirm an increase in nerve fibers at the site of the lesion.
Immunochemistry ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Nerve Fibers ; Pregabalin* ; S100 Proteins ; Shoulder ; Spinal Nerves ; Thorax

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a major health problem in the elderly that involves changes in the properties of bone as well as impaired bone healing around a titanium implant in both humans and animals. This study examined effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the bone healing process around a titanium implant in osteoporosis-induced rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen rats were divided into two groups. A control group with osteoporosis induced by removing both ovaries and an experimental group of rats that were applied with LIPUS after osteoporosis had been induced. A screw type titanium implant (diameter, 2.0 mm: length, 3.5 mm, Cowell-Medi, KOREA) was placed into the tibias of 16 rats. The control and experimental group contained 8 rats each. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation to examine the histopathology and immunochemistry. RESULTS: The histopathology examination revealed earlier new bone formation in the experimental group than the control group. In particular, at 1 week after implantation, more new bone matrix and collagen were observed around the implant of the experimental group compared to the control group. Immunochemistry analysis showed that the level of OPG expression of the experimental group was higher in the early stages than in the control group. After 8 weeks, the levels of OPG expression were similar in both groups. The expression level of receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) was stronger in the experimental group than the control group. After 4 weeks, the level of RANKL expression was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the application of LIPUS to implantation can promote bone healing around titanium in osteoporosis animals.
Aged ; Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Collagen ; Dental Implants ; Female ; Humans ; Immunochemistry ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Ovary ; Rats ; Tibia ; Titanium

PURPOSE: Angiofibroma usually affects the nasopharynx, but primarily developed angiofibroma in the orbit has not yet been reported in Korea. Thereby we report a case of angiofibroma in the orbit. METHODS: A-5-year-old girl, who had been followed up for intraorbital mass which was incidentally detected, was operated with superior orbitotomy approach due to progressive proptosis and dislocated eyeball. RESULTS: The patient was diagnosed angiofibroma in the orbit with light microscopy and immunochemistry. The symptom was improved and she wore the artificial eye due to corneal opacity 6 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: We diagnosed and managed the primary angiofibroma in the orbit of a young girl. In diagnosing the orbital tumor, the possibility of angiofibroma should be considered.
Angiofibroma* ; Corneal Opacity ; Exophthalmos ; Eye, Artificial ; Female ; Humans ; Immunochemistry ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Nasopharynx ; Orbit*

BACKGROUND: Mucoceles have diverse clinical and histological features. Their pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the structural and/or pathogenic differences between two clinically different types of mucoceles. METHODS: Seventeen oral mucoceles were examined clinically and immunohistologically. The mucoceles were divided into two groups by their clinical manifestations: papular group (PG) and nodular group (NG). RESULTS: Histologically, granulation tissue formed more frequently in the NG group, while CD4 and CD8 positive cells were more abundant in the PG group. There were no significant differences in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha or the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and 9, between the two groups. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in the depth of the lesions, granulation tissue formation and infiltrating T lymphocytes between the PG and NP type of mucoceles. These findings suggest that the clinical manifestations may be influenced by the type of inflammatory response and extracellular matrix remodeling.
Extracellular Matrix ; Granulation Tissue ; Immunochemistry ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mucocele ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 32 brain tumors(8 meningiomas, 10 astrocytomas(low grade 5, anaplastic 5), 8 glioblastoma multiforme, 6 oligodendrogliomas(low grade 2, anaplastic 3) were investigated by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). Expression of p53 protein was detected in 1 of 5 cases(20%) of low grade astrocytomas, 2 of 5 cases(40%) of anaplastic astrocytoma, 4 of 8 cases(50%) of glioblastoma multiforme and 4 of 4 cases(100%) of malignant oligodendroglioma. All low grade oligodendrogliomas, meningiomas fail to express p53. Expression of PCNA was detected in 3 of 8 cases of meningioma with very low labeling index(0-0.3), 2 of 5 cases of low grade astrocytoma with low labeling index(0-11.3), 3 of 5 cases of anaplastic astrocytoma with middle labeling index(0-28.2), 6 of 8 cases of glioblastoma multiforme and 4 of 4 cases of malignant oligodendroglioma with high labelling index(0-92.3, 7.6-48.1). Expression of PCNA was not detected in low grade oligodendrogliomas. Tumor group with high expression of p53 protein showed increment of PCNA expression. A strong positive correlation between tumor grade and extent of p53 protein and PCNA expression was found(p<0.002) .
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Glioblastoma ; Immunochemistry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Meningioma ; Oligodendroglioma ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

AlloDerm(R) is human cadaveric dermis that has been decellularized. It is easy to handle and simple to use, and has superb tissue compatibility; hence it has been used in several fields. But studies about the effect and the histologic changes of AlloDerm(R) in soft tissue augmentation are lacking. We measured the heights of pronasale and supretip breakpoint through Pre-and post- operative photographs in 13 patients who had undertaken AlloDerm(R) tip plasty surgery from April 2004 to July 2005. Histologic changes were investigated by H&E and CD34 immunochemistry staining of tissue samples from 10 patients who had AlloDerm(R) removed by re-operative procedures from January 2005 to March 2006. The result of photographic analysis is as follows supratip breakpoint heights were 2.43+/-0.36, 2.64+/-38, 2.52+/-0.38mm in the pre-operative(T1), early post-operative(T2) and late post-operative(T3) periods, respectively. Pronasale heights were 2.68+/-0.33, 2.93+/-0.44, and 2.79+/-0.38mm, respectively. Statistical analysis of corrective value of T1-T2, T2-T3 and T1-T3 revealed a statistically significant difference in both pronasale and supratip breakpoint heights. Histological analysis showed chronic inflammatory signs with foreign body reactions around grafted AlloDerm(R). We concluded that AlloDerm(R) neovascularization and fibroblast ingrowth were also noted. AlloDerm(R) is effective in raising the nasal tip, but considering the late-term partial absorption, an overcorrection of about 50% is recommended.
Absorption ; Cadaver ; Dermis ; Fibroblasts ; Foreign Bodies ; Histocompatibility ; Humans ; Immunochemistry ; Nose* ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of intratendinous injection of 12.5% dextrose water on healing of injured Achilles tendon in rat. METHOD: Quantification of hydroxyproline concentration in Achilles tendons of 21 Sprague-Dawley rats was performed to assess the concentration of collagen, and hematoxyline-eosin and immunochemistry staining was performed to analyse histopathology. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in collagen concentration between the three groups (p>0.05). Light microscopic examination showed irregular arrangement of coarse collagen fibers and decreased number of fibroblasts in sham treatment and dextrose injection group and showed more irregular arrangement of coarse collagen fibers in dextrose injection group than in sham treatment group. The immunochemical staining of sham treatment and dextrose injection group showed more increased immunoreactivity for type I and III collagen than control group, but the same as in sham treatment group and dextrose injection group. CONCLUSION: The increase of collagen concentration in injured Achilles tendon of rat treated with hyperosmolar dextrose was not found. This implies that clinical observation of collagen remodelling process may alter biomechanical property other than collagen concentration which should be further investigated.
Achilles Tendon* ; Animals ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Glucose* ; Hydroxyproline ; Immunochemistry ; Placebos ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Water*