PURPOSE: Prostatic tumor induced gene-1 (PTI-1) is a mutated human EF-la and putative prostatic carcinoma tumor-inducing oncogene, that is differently expressed in prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. And, it is more sensitive marker than prostate- specific antigen (PSA) for detecting human prostate cancer in the bloodstream. This study invastigated the expression of PTI-1 in paraffin embedded tissue of prostatic carcinoma, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and benign prostatic hyperplasia using in situ PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we evaluated expression of PTI-1 in prostatic carcinoma with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) of 32 cases, benign hyperplasia of 20 cases, high grade transitional cell carcinoma of 10 cases and colon cancer of 10 cases for control group. Also, the immunohistochemical staining for PSA was performed to comparison with clinical value of PSA. RESULTS: The serum level of PSA was closely related to stage and Gleason score (p < 0.05). However, the results of immunohistochemical stains were variable to stage and Gleason score. PTI-1 using in situ PCR expressed in 50% of prostatic carcinoma, 41% of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, 10% of benign hyperplasia and colon cancer (p < 0.05). No expression is observed in transitional cell carcinoma. In prostatic carcinoma, PTI-1 expressed in 43.8% (7/16) of stage II, 50.0% (5/10) of stage III, and 66.7% (4/6) of stage IV (p<0.05). In PIN, expression of PTI-1 was similar to prostatic carcinoma (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: PTI-1 represented a relatively sensitive marker for prostatic carcinoma and PIN, indicator of prostatic carcinoma progression.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Coloring Agents ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Neoplasm Grading ; Oncogenes* ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Prostatic Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans ; Personal Satisfaction

Thirty-eight patients with a musculoskeletal chest wall syndrome were evaluated for the musculoskeletal findings of chest wall. All patients had the chest wall tenderness and the typical chest pain could be reproduced by the palpation. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic features of the pain for the onset, location, characteristics, duration, radiation, and area of references for chest pain among the different groups of the patients. However, a reproduction of pain by palpation and the pressure threshold difference between the lesion and control points by using pressure algometry was a reliable and specific diagnostic tool. Pressure threshold difference was correlated with numerical rating scale by the correlation coefficient 0.96. The common causes of the chest wall syndrome were the myofascial pain syndrome, chostochondritis, sternalis syndrome, rib-tip syndrome, xiphodynia in order. Six patients had chest wall disorders in conjunction with other associated intrathoracic condition. Thirty-two patients had an isolated chest wall syndrome. Chest wall syndrome should be considered in all patients with the chest pain, as its recognition could help the patient management.
Chest Pain ; Humans ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; Palpation ; Reproduction ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

BACKGROUND: DNA topoisomerase II-alpha is linked with active cell proliferation in mammalian cells. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of DNA topoisomerase II-alpha as a proliferating marker, and the expression of Ki-67 and apoptosis in urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder based on World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) consensus classification. METHODS: 73 urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder after transurethral resection and 25 carcinomas after radical cystectomy were investigated for histologic grading based on WHO and WHO/ISUP consensus classification. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue of 98 specimens from 73 patients were immunohistochemically stained for DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and Ki-67, and in situ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method for evaluation of apoptotic cells was performed. For each case, a DNA topoisomerase II-alpha, Ki-67, and apoptotic indices were determined. RESULTS: The histologic grades of 73 cases based on the WHO grading system were 21.9% (16 cases) in grade 1, 65.8% (48 cases) in grade 2, and 12.3% (9 cases). 5.5% (4 cases) of papillary neoplasm of low malignant potential, 47.9% (35 cases) of urothelial carcinoma of low grade, and 46.6% (34 cases) in urothelial carcinoma of high grade were reclassified using the WHO/ISUP consensus classification. Histologic grades based on two grading systems were correlated to invasion and stage (p<0.05). DNA topoisomerase II-alpha, Ki-67, and apoptotic indices were correlated to histologic grades based on two grading system and invasion. Also, the correlation of DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and Ki-67 indices, and DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and apoptotic indices were significant, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DNA topoisomerase II-alpha appears to be an useful marker for assessing the proliferation potential of urothelial carcinoma of in the urinary bladder.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Proliferation ; Classification* ; Consensus* ; Cystectomy ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I* ; DNA* ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Paraffin ; Pathology* ; Urinary Bladder* ; World Health* ; World Health Organization

The E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin expressions were immunohistochemically investigated in paraffin-embedded materials of 80 cases of colorectal adenocarcinomas. The staining similar to normal colorectal mucosa with preserved strong membranous staining pattern was considered normal or preserved expression. The X2 test was used to analyse the statistical correlation of cadherin/catenin expression with clinicopathologic parameters and the Breslow test for the correlation with survival length. Normal colorectal mucosa showed strong membranous expression of cadherin/catenin complex. The reduced E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin expression were found in 53/80 (66.3%), 46/80 (57.5%), and 44/80 (55.5%) cases of colorectal cancers examined, respectively. There were significant correlations between E- cadherin and alpha -catenin (p=0.035), and between alpha-catenin and beta-catenin (p=0.013). The reduced E-cadherin expression was associated with histologic dedifferentiation, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage (p<0.05), poor clinical outcome in stage II (p=0.016) and the reduced alpha-catenin expression with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (p<0.05). Reduced expression of two or more proteins was correlated with lymph node matastasis, histologic dedifferentiation, clinical stage, and survival (p<0.05). The present study demonstrates a significant down-regulation of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in colorectal cancer is associated with tumor invasiveness, histologic dedifferentiation, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage. These results suggest that E-cadherin and alpha-catenin may be useful markers of invasiveness, lymph node metastatic potential, and clinical stage and of value as prognostic markers in the earlier stage. Further studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of these cadherin/catenin complex.
Adenocarcinoma* ; alpha Catenin* ; beta Catenin* ; Cadherins* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Down-Regulation ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Takayasu's arteritis is an uncommon arterial inflammatory disease, which causes obliteration of branches of aortic arch and pulmonary artery. It is characterized by absence of pulsation in the upper extremities and associated with ocular, cerebral, and cardiovascular occlusive complications. It affects mainly young Asian females and its etiology is unknown. The authors have experienced a case of Takayasu's arteritis which is associated with Takayasu's retinopthy in a 18 years old female. The fluorescein angiography shows partial delay in filling of choroidal fluorescence, dilated veins, microaneurysm, microemboli, and multiple leakage of retinal vessels.
Adolescent ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Choroid ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Retinal Vessels ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Upper Extremity ; Veins

Since introduction of venous flap in 1980, many experimental studies and clinical applications of various kinds of venous flaps were reported. Venous flap has the following advantages : (1) nonbulky and goo-quality of flap (2) long & large vascular pedicle (3) easy & rapid elevation of flap (4) no sacrifice of major arteries (5) a single operative field. But, we also have some disadvantages of difficult handling of the pliable veins and the tmcertainty of flap survival. For the better result we had to design the size of the flap larger than that of defect and increase the number of draining vein to reduce the postoperative edema of the flap. We have treated the defects of soft tissue of the hand using free arterialized venous flap from the flexor aspect of the forearm & had an excellent results.
Arteries ; Edema ; Forearm ; Hand* ; Veins ; Wounds and Injuries*

N,N-Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) has been proved to have carcinogenic potential in the initiation or promotion stage and the transformed cells proliferate to form preneoplastic nodules which are positive for placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-P). E-Cadherin, a member of the cadherin family, is expressed in epithelial cells. To evaluate the role of adhesion molecules (E-Cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin), which have not been well understood in carcinogenesis, we investigated the changes of E-cadherin, alpha-Catenin and beta-Catenins by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis of rat liver. In addition, the sequential analysis of histopathology and the expression of GST-P were also examined. Immunoreactive areas for GST-P were gradually increased from early period of carcinogenesis and strong GST-P positive foci were noted in various lesions, especially in the clear cell and eosinophilic cell nodules. Immunohistochemically, the E-Cadherin expression was increased in DEN-treated preneoplastic nodules in 4 and 10 weeks and hepatocellular carcinomas displayed relatively reduced expression compared with the hyperplastic nodules. But alpha- and beta-catenin expression was increased in hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the level of alpha-catenin (cytosol and membranous fraction) was overexpressed in hyperplastic nodules as well as hepatocellular carcinomas, which showed markedly increased expression. The membranous fraction of beta-catenin was markedly increased in 10 weeks of DEN treatment and slightly reduced in hepatocellular carcinomas. These findings suggest that during DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, the clear cell and eosinophilic cell nodules expressing GST-P in their cytoplasm are early transformed cell nodules. The altered expression of E-Cadherin and catenins is closely related with tumor propagation. Loss or reduced expression of E-cadherin may play a role in the progression of late hyperplastic nodule to hepatocellular carcinoma in DEN-induced rat hepato carcinogenesis.
alpha Catenin ; Animals ; beta Catenin ; Cadherins* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catenins* ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver* ; Rats*

We experienced a complication of brachial plexus palsy secondary to operative position during thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomies. His general health was excellent and no previous histories vulnerable to peripheral nerve systems were observed. The thoracic sympathectomies were done under general anesthesia. The patient was placed left lateral position with his right arm abduced 150o on padded arm board. An operation was lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes at this position because of severe right apical lung adhesion. The controlateral side was performed same procedure and lasted 20 minutes. After the patient recovered from the anesthesia, the patient had a complete paralysis of right arm. There was also slightly diminished sensation to pinprick on the arm and hand. Neurologic examination and EMG study revealed brachial plexus palsy. Nerve blocks and physiotherapy were performed to treat brachial plexus injuries. His motor functions were improved day by day and he was discharged with a complete range of motion against gravity on 14th. postoperation day. However, there were loss of muscle powers against some resistances and tingling sensations of fingertips. Two months later, he was recovered completely and there was no residual disabilities.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Brachial Plexus* ; Gravitation ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung ; Nerve Block ; Neurologic Examination ; Paralysis* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sensation ; Sympathectomy*

The prognosis of distal pancreatic cancer is even poorer than that of pancreatic head cancer because of its late symptom onset and tendency of aggressive retroperitoneal invasion at diagnosis. Since the first Appleby's operation in 1952, it has been performed in stomach cancer by several surgeons. But the survival benefit is still controversial. Appleby's operation includes total gastrectomy, splenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, celiac trunk division with ligation of common hepatic artery(CHA) and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In 1976, Nimura first adopted this method for distal pancreatic cancer. We report a case of modified Appleby's operation for distal pancreatic cancer. The patient was 44- year old female. Her chief complaint was epigastric pain for 2 weeks. Preoperative liver function test was within normal range and CA19-9 was elevated to 200 U/ml. Preoperative CT angiography showed 4.5x3cm sized, pancreatic mass in body and tail area invading splenic artery and celiac trunk from its left side. In operation, splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy was initially performed. After ligation of CHA, we confirmed intact proper hepatic artery(PHA) flow by doppler and then divided CHA. After confirmation of intact gastric blood flow, left gastric artery(LGA) was divided. Celiac axis(CA) was divided near its origin. Then we dissected retroperitoneal lymph nodes. There was minor pancreatic leakage controlled by conservative management. CA19-9 was normalized to 33 U/ml on the 16th postoperative day. She was discharged on the 28th postoperative day and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There is no evidence of recurrence for 15 months of follow-up. We suggest that modified Appleby's operation should be considered for radical resection of distal pancreatic cancer which is invading CA or major CA branch but not involving PHA and superior mesenteric artery(SMA), if the CA root is resectable and PHA flow is intact from SMA after ligation of CHA.
Angiography ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Ligation ; Liver Function Tests ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Reference Values ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Artery ; Stomach Neoplasms