BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides(MF) is a form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with clonal differentiation of helpr' T cell. It has a patch, plaque, and tumor stage. But pathogenetic factors controlling the development and progression of MF are still unclear. Apoptosis plays a major role in developmental biology and homeostasis. The bcl-2 oncogene prolongs ce11 life by inhibiting apoptosis. The mutant pS3 gene induces apoptosis indirectly. Ki-67 antigen is the cell proliferation marker. Recently, it has been shown that the relationships among them are important in the tumorigenesis of the various tumors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of these genes and apoptotic rate and clarify the relationship among them in the development and progression of MF. METHODS: The eighteen specimens from 8 patients with MF and 10 specimens from benign lymphocytic infiltrating diseases including 5 lichen planus, 3 lupus erythematosus, and 2 contact dermatitis were included. We performed immunoperoxidase staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibodies including bc1-2, p~53, and Ki-67(MIB1). We used ApoptaqTM(Oncor) in situ labelling kit for detecting apoptotic cell.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Developmental Biology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Lichen Planus ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Oncogenes

No abstract available.
Gardner Syndrome*

No abstract available.

The CT findings and their differential points were evaluated by reviewing the CT scans of 47 patients with destructive lesions of vertebral bodies which included tuberculous spondylitis(23), pyogenic infection(9), syphilitic spondylitis(1) and malignant lesions(14). Twenty-one(91.3%) of 23 patients with tuberculous spondylitis showed mixed osteolytic and osteosclerotic patterns of bony destruction. Six(66.7%) of 9 patients with pyogenic infection and 10(71.4%) of 14 malignant lesions showed osteolytic pattern of bony destruction. Thirty(90.9%) of 33 infections lesions including pyogenic infection and tuberculous spondylitis involved intervertebral disc, while the involvement of intervertebral disc was not found in malignant lesions. The Swisscheese appearance of bony destruction was commonly seen in tuberculous spondylitis, but pyogenic infections and malignant lesions more commonly revealed geographic or moth-eaten appearance. The sequestral pattern and sclerotic rims in and around bony destruction were mainly seen in tuberculous spondylitis, and they were thought to be specific findings in tuberculous spondylitis. CT of the spine appears to offer the detailed findings of vertebral body destruction and may be a useful adjunct in differentiation between tuberculous spondylitis, pyogenic infections and malignant lesions of the spine.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Intervertebral Disc ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report two cases of surgical removal of a retained subfoveal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade. Two patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with PFCL injection for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In both cases, a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble was noticed postoperatively by funduscopy and optical coherence tomography. Both patients underwent surgical removal of the subfoveal PFCL through a therapeutic macular hole and gas tamponade. The therapeutic macular holes were completely closed by gas tamponade and the procedure yielded a good visual outcome (best-corrected visual acuity of 20 / 40 in both cases). In one case, additional intravitreal PFCL injection onto the macula reduced the size of the therapeutic macular hole and preserved the retinal structures in the macula. Surgical removal of a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade provides an effective treatment option.
Aged ; Female ; Fluorocarbons/*administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fovea Centralis ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Retinal Perforations/diagnosis/physiopathology/*surgery ; Suction/*methods ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy/*methods

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Application of automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) is regarded as the primary therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, a low adherence rate is a major problem with APAP treatment in OSAS patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to assess factors related to good adherence of APAP therapy in OSAS Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Of 112 consecutive newly diagnosed moderate to severe OSAS patients, 70 were enrolled in this study. All patients received APAP therapy for 2 weeks, along with reinforcing intervention, consisting of motivational reinforcement and technical support. All APAP therapy involved a device rental service. After 2 weeks of treatment, patients had to choose the kind of treatment for OSAS [APAP therapy (good adherence) or alternative treatment options (poor adherence)]. RESULTS: After 6 months, the adherence rate to APAP therapy was 35.7% (n=25). No statistically significant difference was observed between the good and poor adherence groups with regard to snoring intensity, apnea-hypopnea index, and mean O2 saturation after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, marital status, and socioeconomic status. However, we found that excessive daytime sleepiness and lowest O2 saturation were significantly associated with good adherence [adjusted odds ratios (ORs)=9.515 and 2.327] after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, marital status, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness and lowest O2 saturation are important factors to identify good adherence to APAP treatment in Korean OSAS patients.
Acetaminophen ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Odds Ratio ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Snoring ; Social Class

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen (TAM) inhibits the action of estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors, and also has non-estrogen receptor mediated cytostatic activities. Transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) inhibits the proliferation of many other cell types, such as epithelial, hematopoietic and endothelial cells. METHODS: We investigated the effects of tamoxifen on the growth of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumors and the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, p21Cip1, and p27Kip1 by performing immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, and studied whether TGF-1 injection amplified the effects of TAM. When tumor size reached between 10-15 mm in the largest dimension, the rats were divided into 3 groups: DMBA-control group (n=12), DMBA-TAM group (n=14) and DMBA-TAM plus TGF-1 group (n=5). RESULTS: The consecutive administration of TAM markedly decreased the tumor development compared with the DMBA-control group. The DMBA-TAM and DMBA-TAM plus TGF-1 groups showed decreased expression of bromodexoyuridine, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and p21Cip1 when compared with those of the DMBA-control group. On the other hand, the labeling index of p27Kip1 was higher in the DMBA-TAM plus TGF-1 group than in the DMBA-control group. CONCLUSION: TAM suppresses tumor development, which may be associated with down-expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and overexpression of p27Kip1, and addition of TGF-1 does not influence tumor development treated by TAM.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Breast ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclin E* ; Cyclins* ; Endothelial Cells ; Estrogens ; Hand ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats* ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Robenidine ; Tamoxifen* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

PURPOSE: Peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) is a serious causative factor that contributes the morbidity or mortality of brain tumors. The development of PTBE is influenced by many factors, including such tight junction proteins as occludin. We evaluated the PTBE volume and survival time with respect to the occludin expression in various pathological types of brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh-frozen specimens from sixty patients who had brain tumors were obtained during surgery and the tumors were confirmed pathologically. The occludin expression was investigated by Western blot analysis. The PTBE volume was measured by using preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the survival time in each patient was estimated retrospectively. RESULTS: Occludin was detected in 41 (68.3%) of the cases with brain tumors and it was not expressed in the other 19 (31.7%) cases. Although the lowest expression was revealed in high-grade gliomas, its expression was variable according to the pathology of the brain tumors (p>0.05). The difference of PTBE volume between occludin-positive and negative brain tumors was statistically significant (2072.46+/-328.73 mm3 vs. 7452.42+/-1504.19 mm3, respectively, p=0.002). The mean survival time was longer in the occludin-positive tumor group than in the occludin-negative group (38.63+/-1.57 months vs. 26.16+/-3.83 months, respectively; p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the occludin expression is highly correlated to the development of PTBE in brain tumors and it might be a prognostic indicator for patient survival.
Blotting, Western ; Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Edema* ; Glioma ; Humans ; Mortality ; Occludin* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tight Junction Proteins

OBJECTIVES: The clinical features of various facial deformities in Korean leprosy patients were evaluated according to the type of leprosy. METHODS: One hundred ninety six patients with leprosy were examined for various facial deformities using a nasal speculum, endoscope, and digital camera. The frequency and severity of external nasal deformities and septal perforations were evaluated according to the type of leprosy. Eye deformities, ear deformities, and facial palsy were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients (36.2%) displayed external nasal deformities: 28 minimal contractures, three cartilage contractures, two bony-cartilage contractures, and 38 skin defects. The external nasal deformity and severe form deformity in lepromatous types were more frequent compared to other types (P<0.05 for each variable). Twenty-three patients (9%) displayed septal perforations, among whom 11 had cartilaginous perforations and 12 had bony-cartilaginous perforations. The frequency of septal and bony-cartilaginous perforations did not differ significantly between the types of leprosy (P>0.05 for each variable). Sixty-one patients (31.1%) had eye deformities and 19 patients (9.7%) had facial nerve palsy, common in the borderline type. No cases of ear deformities were observed. CONCLUSION: Korean patients had characteristic deformities according to the type of leprosy. They were different from those seen in the prior analyses of Caucasian populations.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Ear ; Endoscopes ; Eye ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Paralysis ; Skin ; Surgical Instruments

OBJECTIVE: Acute vertebral burst fractures warrant extensive fixation and fusion on the spine. Osteoplasty (vertebroplasty with high density resin without vertebral expansion) has been used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We report our experiences with osteoplasty in acute vertebral burst fractures. METHODS: Twenty-eight cases of acute vertebral burst fracture were operated with osteoplasty. Eighteen patients had osteoporosis concurrently. Preoperative MRI was performed in all cases to find fracture level and to evaluate the severity of injury. Preoperative CT revealed burst fracture in the series. The patients with severe ligament injury or spinal canal compromise were excluded from indication. Osteoplasty was performed under local anesthesia and high density polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) was injected carefully avoiding cement leakage into spinal canal. The procedure was performed unilaterally in 21 cases and bilaterally in 7 cases. The patients were allowed to ambulate right after surgery. Most patients discharged within 5 days and followed up at least 6 months. RESULTS: There were 12 men and 16 women with average age of 45.3(28-82). Five patients had 2 level fractures and 2 patients had 3 level fractures. The average injection volume was 5.6cc per level. Average VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) improved 26mm after surgery. The immediate postoperative X-ray showed 2 cases of filler spillage into spinal canal and 4 cases of leakage into the retroperitoneal space. One patient with intraspinal leakage was underwent the laminectomy to remove the resin. CONCLUSION: Osteoplasty is a safe and new treatment option in the burst fractures. Osteoplasty with minimally invasive technique reduced the hospital stay and recovery time in vertebral fracture patients.
Anesthesia, Local ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Length of Stay ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty