Recently, p53, c-erbB-2 and nm23 proteins have been studied in breast cancer. The expression of p53 protein indicates the mutation of p53 gene known as a tumor supressor gene, and c-erbB-2 gene amplification has been considered an indicator of poor prognosis and nm23 a metastsis suppressor gene. In order to elucidate the roles and relations of these proteins in the develpoment, progression and metastasis in breast cancer, we studied 89 cases of invasive breast cancer and 32 cases of lymph node metastasis for the expression of p53, c-erbB-2 and nm23 proteins using an immunohistochemical method. The results were as follows: 1) The expression rates of p53, c-erbB-2, and nm23 proteins in breast cancer were 40.4%, 34.8% and 55.1%, respectively. Co-expression of p53 protein and c-erbB-2 protein was found in 20.2% of cases, showing the highest incidence in poorly differentiated type (40%). 2) p53 protein expression was increased in poorly differentiated type but was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the expression of nm23 protein was decreased in poorly differentiated type, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). 3) The correlation of p53 protein expression with c-erbB-2 protein expression was statistically significant (p<0.05) but that with nm23 protein was not. 4) In the cases with lymph node metastasis, discordant expression of p53, c-erbB-2 and nm23 proteins between primary tumor and the lymph node metastatic tumor was found in 9.4%, 3.1% and 18.8% of cases, respectively. The above results suggest that overexpression of p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins and downregulation of nm23 protein are associated with the tumor progression in the breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Down-Regulation ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Suppressor ; Hand ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Receptor, erbB-2

Angiolipoma is a rare benign soft tissue tumor, an unusual variant of lipoma,consisting of fatty and vascular components and located in the subcutis, usually in the trunk and extremities. We report a case of posterior mediastinal angiolipo-ma extending into the spinal canal and showing both fat and angiomatous fea-tures on CT scan.
Aged ; Angiolipoma/pathology/*radiography ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Spinal Canal/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The isolation of fetal cells from maternal circulation has the potential to allow relativelyself prenatal diagosis for all pregnant women. The present technology, however, has notreached the accuracy required for clinical diagnosis because of maternal cell contaminationSo we published a new method for enrichment of nRBC in a fetal cell isolation(1996).In this study, attempted to FISH analysis of nRBC which was isolated by our ownmethods. We evaluated the efficiency of FISH.As the results, we have successfully used FISH on enriched nRBC.We were able to identified 2 abnormal fetus which were confirmed by conventionalcytogenentic study as Down syndrome(Fig.1) and Klinefeltre syndrome(Fig.2). And thesensitivity and specificity for FISH was 86%(49/57) and 92.3%(36/39), respectively.According to our results, fetal cell analysis by FISH can be reliable used for prenatalaneuploidy diagnosis. However, the problems of enrichment of the fetal cell and FISH probeor condition should be over come before analyze.
Aneuploidy ; Diagnosis ; Erythroblasts* ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence* ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Acute gastric anisakiasis with multiple anisakid larvae infection is reported. A 68-year-old woman residing in Busan, Korea, had epigastric pain with severe vomiting about 5 hours after eating raw anchovies. Four nematode larvae penetrating the gastric mucosae in the great curvature of the middle body and fundus were found and removed during gasteroendoscopic examination. Another one thread-like moving larva was found in the great curvature of upper body on the following day. On the basis of their morphology, the worms were identified as the 3rd stage larvae of Anisakis simplex. This case is acute gastric anisakiasis provoking severe clinical problems by the multiple infection and the greatest number of anisakid larvae found in a patient in Korea.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Animals ; Anisakiasis/*parasitology/surgery ; Anisakis/*growth & development ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/parasitology/pathology/surgery ; Gastroscopy ; Human ; Stomach Diseases/*parasitology/pathology/surgery

Several pancreatic diseases have been associated with a characteristic variant of panniculitis, named pancreatic panniculitis. This variant appears in approximately 2~3% of all patients with pancreatic diseases. We experienced two cases of panniculitis associated with pancreatic diseases. Two patients presented with erythematous tender subcutaneous nodules on the lower extremities. The serum amylase and lipase levels were significantly elevated. Histopathologic findings showed subcutaneous fat necrosis, ghost cell formation and mixed infiltration of neutrophils at the periphery. The lesions subsided gradually with the correction of the underlying pancreatic diseases.
Amylases ; Humans ; Lipase ; Lower Extremity ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Panniculitis ; Subcutaneous Fat

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of vigabatrin (VGB) as a therapeutic agent for patients with infantile spasms (IS), compare risk factors for treatment response, and review safety of VGB by assessing its side effects. METHODS: Among 35 patients admitted to the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea who received initial monotherapy with VGB under diagnosis of IS, 23 patients who met our inclusion criteria were enrolled and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of these 23 patients, average age at diagnosis was 7.26±4.8 months and average age at spasms was 6.20±3.8 months. Average treatment lag was 1.09±1.8 months. Thirteen patients (56.5%) achieved seizure free status. There was no ophthalmic complication among patients. Remission of hypsarrhythmia at 3 and 6 months after treatment was a good prognostic factor (P=0.026 and P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION VGB is effective enough to become a first-line drug for children with IS. Better prognosis can be expected in patients with clinical remission of hypsarrhythmia on electroencephalography after treatment initiation using VGB compared to those who do not have such remission. Regular eye examination and follow-up check-up are also needed in parallel with the use of VGB.

BACKGROUND: The effects of glucose on cardiovascular events or mortality in nondiabetic patients has been recently reported. However, since atherosclerosis can be formed over a long period of time, it is necessary to devote several years to unveil the relationship between the two factors. Here, we attempted to find out the relationship between the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and HbA1c variability for 5 years and coronary artery disease (CAD) by using coronary angiography (CAG) to assess nondiabetic patients. METHODS: We reviewed patients who performed CAG who were followed up for at least 5 years after the initial diagnosis. The fasting blood test was performed annually for glucose and HbA1c level. CAD was defined as more than 50% of luminal narrowing. The severity of CAD was divided into two groups depending on whether no vessels were involved or one more vessel were involved (CAD(-) or CAD(+), respectively). RESULTS: The patients in CAD(+) group had higher mean HbA1c level for 5 years than CAD(-) group (5.71+/-0.40 vs. 5.86+/-0.68; P=0.04). Mean HbA1c was a significant predictor for CAD in multiple regression (odds ratio, 2.224; P=0.028). The percentage of patients with CAD was significantly higher in patients with >6.2% of mean HbA1c levels compared to patients with <6.2% of mean HbA1c levels (P<0.019). CONCLUSION: When the mean HbA1c levels were above 6.2%, the risk of CAD was higher. Also this study shows that HbA1c level can be one of the predictors for CAD even if the patients do not have diabetes.
Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Mortality ; Phenobarbital

Aorta-right atrial tunnel is a rare and distinct congenital anomaly. It is a vascular channel that originates from one of the sinuses of Valsalva with a tortuous course anterior or posterior to the ascending aorta, and terminates either in the superior vena cava or in the right atrium (RA). We report a 42-year-old female briefly with aorta-right atrial tunnel in which the left coronary artery arose from the tunnel and terminated into the RA.
Adult ; Aorta ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Vena Cava, Superior

BACKGROUND: Microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears has been a standard diagnostic test for malarial infection for a long time, but it is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Recently, a rapid diagnostic test for malarial infection containing a dipstick bearing monoclonal antibodies against the intracellular metabolic enzyme, parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), was introduced (DiaMed OptiMAL(epsilon)). We evaluated the usefulness of the OptiMAL test in malaria diagnosis by comparing with a microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears. METHODS: Fifty-eight (initial 44 and follow-up 14) whole blood samples were obtained from 44 patients who were suspected of having malarial infection. After 1 drop of whole blood reacted with the dipstick, band numbers and positions on the dipsticks determined the results. All results were compared to those of microscopic examination findings. RESULTS: The OptiMAL test revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity by comparing with the microscopic examination. The intensity of stained bands showed positively correlated with the severity of parasitemia. The OptiMAL test revealed a more rapid negative conversion than the microscopic examination after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The OptiMAL test is a simple, rapid and accurate test for diagnosis of malarial infection; moreover, it is good tool for monitoring after treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Lactic Acid* ; Malaria* ; Parasitemia ; Parasites* ; Plasmodium ; Sensitivity and Specificity