The cystic disease of the kidney include a heterogeneous group of developmental, hereditary, and acquired disorders. Based on extensive microdissection studies, Potter concluded all renal cystic diseases could be categorized into four types. We have experienced 5 cases of cystic kidney disease which were confirmed by aoutopsy and classified as Type I, Type II, Type III, Boderline between types II and III and Type IV according to Potter's classification. We report these cases with a review of literatures.
Classification* ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic* ; Microdissection

Metastatic cancers to the thyroid gland are rare, with the most common primary site being the kidney. The next most common sites are the breast, lung, melanoma, colon and larynx. In the case of thyroid metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, the thyroid metastasis may be the initial manifestation and the incidence of this type seems disproportionate to the frequency of the primary renal cell carcinoma. 3Ve have recently experienced two cases of thyroid metastasis of renal cell carcinoma and report them with a brief review of the related literature.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Colon ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Larynx ; Lung ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles has resulted in their widespread use in many consumer products. Yet, despite their many advantages, it is also important to determine whether silver nanoparticles may represent a hazard to the environment and human health. METHODS: Thus, to evaluate the genotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles, in vivo genotoxicity testing (OECD 474, in vivo micronuclei test) was conducted after exposing male and female Sprague-Dawley rats to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days according to OECD test guideline 413 (Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity: 90 Day Study) with a good laboratory practice system. The rats were exposed to silver nanoparticles (18 nm diameter) at concentrations of 0.7 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (low dose), 1.4 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (middle dose), and 2.9 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (high dose) for 6 hr/day in an inhalation chamber for 90 days. The rats were killed 24 hr after the last administration, then the femurs were removed and the bone marrow collected and evaluated for micronucleus induction. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or in the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes among the total erythrocytes after silver nanoparticle exposure when compared with the control. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that exposure to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days does not induce genetic toxicity in male and female rat bone marrow in vivo.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Inhalation Exposure ; Male ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Nanoparticles ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silver

OBJECTIVE: In order to elucidate the retrogressive degeneration of orofacial cleft, the fissured tissues of prenatal and postnatal cleft lip and palate were examined by histological and immunohistochemical methods. DESIGN: Totally 42 cases of prenatal (n=17) and postnatal (n=25) cleft lip and/or palate were examined in comparison with 10 cases of normal lip and oral mucosa using immunohistochemical stainings of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-10, cathepsin G, PCNA, E-cadherin, TGase 2, HSP-70, vWF, and VEGF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In the fissured tissue the sebaceous glands were strongly positive for PCNA and grew into the underlying fibromuscular tissue (24/42). Some hyperplastic sebaceous glands of prenatal cleft lip produced infundibular follicular cyst (9/17). The skin and mucosal epithelia from the postnatal cleft lip and palate (10/25) showed severe basal hyperplasia (11/25) and melanocyte infiltration (7/25). RESULTS: The immunostaining of MMP-3 and HSP-70 were strongly positive in the hyperplastic sebaceous glands and nearby atrophying muscle bundles of the fissured tissue, while MMP-9, MMP-10, and cathepsin G were almost negative. The immunoreactions of the other antibodies used in this study were similar between in the fissured tissues and in the normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the over-expression of MMP-3 is closely related to the sebaceous gland hyperplasia, epithelial dysplasia, and the muscle degeneration, and that the over-expression of MMP-3 in the fissured tissue may continuously aggravate the cleft condition in the later life.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Cadherins ; Cathepsin G ; Cleft Lip* ; Follicular Cyst ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lip ; Melanocytes ; Mouth Mucosa ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Palate* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The plunging ranula is a relatively uncommon phenomenon which represents a mucus escape reaction occurring from disruption of the sublingual salivary gland. We present a series of 22 patients treated at Korea University Hospital during a 20-year period. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of plunging ranula in order to provide our experience for its correct diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective review of 22 patients with this condition was undertaken. Information was collected on age, sex, history of onset, predisposing factors, treatent, post-operative follow-up and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: The patients were all young adults with a median age of 19.8 years old. The sex distribution was male predominant with 15 men and 7 women. Except for one, no patients had any history of preceding trauma to the neck or oral cavity. Six patients had history of previous operation. Managements included 21 surgical approach and one sclerotherapy. There were no recurrences. One patient experienced transient paralysis of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve postoperatively, but it was temporal and was sustained with no further complications. CONCLUSION: The incidence of plunging ranulas was not common. The precise etiology of its predisposition is unknown. Reoval of the sublingual gland via either a cervical or intraoral approach is important in the management of this condition.
Causality ; Diagnosis ; Escape Reaction ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mouth ; Mucus ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Ranula* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Glands ; Sclerotherapy ; Sex Distribution ; Sublingual Gland ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The closure of nasal septal perforation is a significant surgical challenge with high failure rates. Acellular human dermal graft (Alloderm) placed between mucoperichondrial advancement flaps may be an alternative. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of Alloderm for the repair of nasal septal perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven consecutive patients with septal perforation who received the septal perforation repair with Alloderm were included in this study. The causes of septal perforations were previous nasal surgeries, trauma, chemical irritation, inflammation, or unknown. Follow-up periods ranged from 7 to 36 months. RESULTS: Six of seven patients had successful outcomes with complete closure of their perforations. The remaining one patient had an incomplete closure, but the size of the performation was reduced with no further symptoms. CONCLUSION: AIloderm can be used as a connective tissue and interpositional grafts in the repair of septal perforations with high success rates. Therefore, Alloderm is the viable alternative for the closure of nasal septal perforations.
Connective Tissue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nasal Septal Perforation ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Transplants

Leiomyosarcomas of the ovarian vein are very rare. Four cases have been reported in the English language clinical literature. We present a case of leiomyosarcomas where the use of multi-detector CT had a substantial role in the establishment of the preoperative diagnosis. The radiological images as well as intraoperative features are illustrated. We also discuss the radiological findings of the ovarian vein leiomyosarcoma in comparison with those of other venous or retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas. We expect that the use of multi-detector CT will be the choice for the diagnostic work-up of vascular leiomyosarcomas.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma/*radiography/surgery ; Ovary/*blood supply ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery ; Veins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to elucidate the antiviral efficacy and the predictors of entecavir treatment in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: A total of 160 patients treated with entecavir (0.5 mg daily) for at least 24 weeks were consecutively enrolled. The virologic response (HBV DNA<2,000 copies/mL), biochemical response (ALT< or = upper limit of normal), and virologic breakthrough (>1 log10 copies/mL increase in HBV DNA level above nadir on two consecutive occasions) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 58.8 weeks, and 85 patients (53.1%) showed HBeAg positivity. The median pretreatment levels of serum ALT and HBV DNA were 99 IU/L and 7.6 log10 copies/mL, respectively. The cumulative rates at 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks were 37.5%, 68.1%, 87.4%, and 95.8%, respectively, for the virologic response; 40.0%, 66.2%, 84.5%, and 92.7% for the biochemical response; 10.6%, 18.8%, 27.0%, and 34.5% for HBeAg loss; and 3.5%, 7.1%, 9.0%, and 13.2% for HBeAg seroconversion. There was no case of virologic breakthrough. An absence of HBeAg and a low serum HBV DNA level (<8 log10 copies/mL) at baseline were significant predictors of the virologic response in a multivariate analysis (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir therapy showed excellent efficacy in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. The predictors of a virologic response were an absence of HBeAg and a low baseline HBV DNA level.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Genotype ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a relatively uncommon complication of peripheral vascular surgery and although rare, is the most severe complication in reconstructive vascular surgery. The early diagnosis of this complication can reduce the mortality. We report a case of aorto-femoral bypass graft infection, which was diagnosed by Tc-99m HMPAO WBC scan, complicated with infective endocarditis. A 60-year-old man had been operated with aortofemoral bypass graft because of aortojejunal fistula due to abdominal aortic aneurysm. Nine months later, he was admitted with fever of two months' duration. On echocardiolography, aortic regurgitation and vegetation were observed, and then he was diagosed with infective endocarditis. He was treated with antibiotics for 6 weeks. Recurrent bacteremia of unknown origin persisted despite antibiotic therapy. Multiple microorganisms were separately isolated from the blood cultures. He complained of intermittent right groin pain. Imaging study (CT, MRI, US) showed no definite evidence of graft infection. However, Tc-99m HMPAO WBC scan demonstrated uptake in the aortofemoral bypass graft site. The patient underwent emergent aortofemoral graft removal with axillobifemoral bypass and right femoropopliteal bypass.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Bacteremia ; Early Diagnosis ; Endocarditis* ; Fever ; Fistula ; Groin ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Protein kinase plays an important role in transmembrane signalling, which is modulated by cellular transduction by second messengers such as inositol-1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3), Diacylglycerol (DG), cAMP, to express biological activity by stimulation of hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, growth factors. Protein kinase Cs participate in signal transduction of cell, secretion of neurotransmitter, regulation of ion conduction, exocytosis, gene expression and cellular proliferation. Also, it raises slow motility by Na+-H+ exchange (NHE) and Ca2+ channel in the outer hair cells. It may also be involved in mechanical transduction, cellular proliferation and reproduction in supporting cells, and in producing endolymphs using the KCNE1 and Na+/K+-ATPase in the lateral wall of cochlea. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We investigated the immunoreactivities of the PKC (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) via paraffin section and surface preparation of the cochlea of albino guinea pigs. RESULTS: PKC alpha immunoreactivities were shown in the outer and inner hair cell cytoplasm and delta was revealed in the type II fibrocytes and suprastrial cells in the basal turn of the spiral ligament. But beta, gamma were not shown. CONCLUSION: We suggest that PKC alpha may induce the slow motility and depolarization to mediate the ion conductance in the hair cells. Also, PKC delta may participate in the production of endolymph. We thus conclude that PKC alpha and delta play an important role in the cochlear signal transduction.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cochlea* ; Cytoplasm ; Endolymph ; Exocytosis ; Gene Expression ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Paraffin ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Reproduction ; Second Messenger Systems ; Signal Transduction ; Spiral Ligament of Cochlea