We have recently experienced a case of mammary hamartoma in 29-year-old woman. Hamartoma of the breast is a rare benign tumor-like lesion which is characteristically well demarcated by thin layer of fibrofatty tissue and composed of essentially normal mammary tissue with mammary glandular structure and fibrous stroma containing variable amounts of fat. The lobular architecture is relatively well preserved. It can be readily recognized, but should not be confused with fibroadenoma or mammary dysplasia. It also shows characteristic mammographic picture.
Female ; Humans ; Hamartoma

Purpose: This study comprehensively examined the experiences of breast cancer survivors' while accessing healthcare facilities for developing nursing intervention programs to enhance and maintain patients' health. Methods: As part of this qualitative study, focus group interviews were conducted with six breast cancer survivors from December 30, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Results Qualitative data analysis revealed four themes and nine sub-themes using a medical institution after diagnosis in breast cancer survivors. Four themes were ‘burden that individuals still have to bear’, ‘hospital situation that is not patient-centered’, ‘alternative ways to get information and support from the other resources’, and ‘the journey of long-term treatment and management’. Discussion: To improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors, it is vital to establish medical services that consider the characteristics of each stage of the disease, in addition to support hospitals and social policy programs that can address the unmet needs of the survivors.

BACKGROUND: Direct observation of healthcare workers is commonly used in hospitals to investigate hand hygiene compliance. However, the hand hygiene compliance rate may increase due to the Hawthorne effect, which is the modification of behavior simply because subjects become aware that they are being observed. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the Hawthorne effect when directly observing hand hygiene compliance in intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare personnel. METHODS: A total of 87 staff members from the coronary care unit and cardiac surgery ICU of a general hospital in Seoul were included in this study: 24 residents and interns, 55 nurses, and 8 nursing assistants. Both covert and overt observations, where subjects were either unaware or aware of any direct observation, were performed on separate occasions. RESULTS: A total of 1,052 covert and 1,336 overt observations were documented over 30 and 34 occasions, respectively. Overall hand hygiene compliance was significantly higher with overt observation than with covert observation (1,041/1,336, 77.9% vs. 659/1,052, 62.6%, P<0.001). The Hawthorne effect was present in all professions and behaviors, with the exception of nursing assistants, and prior to touching a patient. CONCLUSION: Direct observation of hand hygiene compliance was associated with the Hawthorne effect when observations were made overtly and this was likely to contribute to an overestimation of compliance rate.
Compliance ; Coronary Care Units* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic* ; Hand Hygiene* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Thoracic Surgery*

Carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract have generally been regarded as a type of sarcoma. Recent studies, however, suggest the tumor may be more closely related to carcinoma and may represent metaplastic carcinoma in histogenesis. We analyzed clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 10 carcinosarcomas to evaluate the relative importance of the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in metastasis and recurrence. The primary tumor originated in the uterine body in seven cases, the uterine cervix in two and the ovary in one. Patient,s ages ranged from 54 to 71 years (mean, 64). The most common symptom of the uterine mass was vaginal bleeding. The median survival time was 21 months following diagnosis in five cases. Surgico-pathologic FIGO stages of five patients who received an operation were stage III and IV, but clinical FIGO stage of three patients (60%) among them were I. Lymphovascular invasions were identified in seven areas; five vascular invasion lesions showed the carcinomatous component alone, one the sarcomatous component alone, and remained one admixture of both components. Metastatic and recurrent lesions to the paraaortic lymph node, ovary, pelvic wall, or vaginal vault showed characteristically carcinomatous component only. Immunohistochemically, positive reactions for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen were noted in the sarcomatous component of five cases. Vimentin positivity was detected in carcinomatous component of three cases. We conclude that the dominant element in carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract is the carcinomatous component. The survival rate of carcinosarcoma is extremely poor. The surgico-pathologic stage is better indicator of survival than the clinical stage. Immunohistochemical findings suggest that carcinosarcoma may represent a metaplastic carcinoma in histogenesis.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucin-1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vimentin

No abstract available.

Primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) is a recently described, distinct subtype of ovarian carcinoma resembling TCC of the urinary bladder. TCC differs from malignant Brenner tumor(MBT) by absence of benign or proliferative Brenner component and prominent stromal calcification. TCC also represents a high-stage tumor with more aggressive biologic behavior than MBT, but it has a relatively favorable response to chemotherapy. TCC may arise from the pluripotential surface epithelium of the ovary or from the cells with urothelial differentiation, rather than from a benign or proliferative Brenner tumor precursors. We report a case of pure form of primary TCC presenting as a left ovarian mass in 45-year-old woman.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The introduction of Hansenula polymorpha for recombinant hepatitis B vaccine production allowed high product yield with plasmid stability and less glycosylation than conventional Saccharomyces cerevisiae system. A Green Cross HG-II vaccine formulated from HBsAg produced by a recombinant strain of the yeast H. polymorpha was evaluated for immunogenicity and safety in an open label triaL METHOFD: A 20 ug dose of Green Cross HG-II vaccine was administered intramuscularly at 0, 1 and 6 months at the deltoid region in 118 healthy adults seronegative for HBV markers. The anti-HBs titers were determined at one month after administration of the third dose of vaccine by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The seroconversion rate was 96.8% (90 out of 93), with seroprotective rate of 95.7% (89 out of 93). The geometric mean titers(GMT) of the anti-HBs response was 153.1mIU/ml in seroconverters. An age-dependent effect was observed in the anti-HBs response. But sex-dependent effect was not prominent. Reactogenecity was in incidence and general reactions were short-lasting and a mainly mild in severity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have shown that the Green Cross HG-II vaccine is safe and clinically well tolerated, a nd that it may provide protection against HBV infection.
Adult* ; Glycosylation ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pichia ; Plasmids ; Radioimmunoassay ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: Troglitazone (TRO) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist. TRO has antiproliferative activity on many kinds of cancer cells via G1 arrest. TRO also increases Cu2+/Zn2+-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and catalase. Cell cycle, and SOD and catalase may affect on radiation sensitivity. We investigated the effect of TRO on radiation sensitivity in cancer cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three human cervix cancer cell lines (HeLa, Me180, and SiHa) were used. The protein expressions of SOD and catalase, and catalase activities were measured at 2-10 microM of TRO for 24 hours. Cell cycle was evaluated with flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Cell survival by radiation was measured with clonogenic assay. RESULTS: By 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, the mRNA, protein expression and activity of catalase were increased in all three cell lines. G0-G1 phase cells were increased in HeLa and Me180 by 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, but those were not increased in SiHa. By pretreatment with 5 microM TRO radiation sensitivity was increased in HeLa and Me180, but it was decreased in SiHa. In Me180, with 2 microM TRO which increased catalase but not increased G0-G1 cells, radiosensitization was not observed. ROS produced by radiation was decreased with TRO. CONCLUSION: TRO increases radiation sensitivity through G0-G1 arrest or decreases radiation sensitivity through catalase-mediated ROS scavenging according to TRO dose or cell types. The change of radiation sensitivity by combined with TRO is not dependent on the PPARgamma expression level.
Catalase ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Cervix Uteri ; Chromans ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluoresceins ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Thiazolidinediones ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The term malignant mesenchymoma has been applied to those tumors of the soft tissue of mesenchymal origin which are composed of tumor cells differentiating into two or more unrelated malignant forms in addition to the fibrosarcomatous element. Recently authors experienced a case of malignant mesenchymoma in the right axillary area. Microscopically the sarcoma revealed multiple pattern of differentiation, including liposarcoma, malignant schwannoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and rhabdomyoblastoma. The presence of rhabdomyblastic cells were proved by immunochemical study utilizing desmin. This patient was treated with surgical excision and radiation.

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma*