Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by infection with E. multilocularis metacestode, represents one of the most fatal helminthic diseases. AE is principally manifested with infiltrative, proliferating hepatic mass, resembling primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Sometimes metastatic lesions are found in nearby or remote tissue. AE diagnosis largely depends on imaging studies, but atypical findings of imaging features frequently require differential diagnosis from other hepatic lesions. Serological tests may provide further evidence, while obtaining reliable AE materials is not easy. In this study, alternative antigens, specific to AE were identified by analyzing E. granulosus protoscolex proteins. An immunoblot analysis of E. granulosus protoscolex showed that a group of low-molecular-weight proteins in the range from 14 kDa to 16 kDa exhibited a sensitive and specific immune response to AE patient sera. Partial purification and proteomic analysis indicated that this protein group contained myosin, tubulin polymerization promoting protein, fatty-acid binding protein, uncharacterized DM9, heat shock protein 90 cochaperone tebp P-23, and antigen S. When the serological applicability of recombinant forms of these proteins was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, DM9 protein (rEgDM9) showed 90.1% sensitivity (73/81 sera tested) and 94.5% specificity (172/181 sera tested), respectively. rEgDM9 showed weak cross-reactions with patient sera from the transitional and chronic stages of cystic echinococcosis (3 to 5 stages). rEgDM9 would serve as a useful alternative antigen for serodiagnosis of both early- and advanced-stage AE cases.

Lentigo maligna, a precancerous tumor arising from abnormal melanocytes, is a chronic, slowly progressive, pigmented lesion with a range of colors from pale tan to black and an irregular shape, The commonest location of lentigo maligna is the face during the sixth and seventh decades of life. Less frequently, the lesion occurs on an extrafacial area such as the hand or lower leg. In the late stage, lentigo maligna transforms into invasive malignant melanoma. A 50-year-old male patient had a well-defined, black pigmented patch on the right sole for 30 years. The histopathologic examination revealed numerous vacuolated melanocytes clusters at the dermo-epidermal junction with invasion of the epidermis. There was no evidence of dermal invasion by atypical melanocytes.
Epidermis ; Hand ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle* ; Leg ; Lentigo* ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

We report two cases of recurrent extramarnmary Pagets disease after wide local excision. Both cases involved the scrotum and the penoserotal junction, respectively. On histopathological examination, we could observed many Paget cells confined to the epidermis and the hair follicle, but not invading the underlying dermis in both cases. There was no evidence of internal malignancy. Both cases were treated with wide local reexcision.
Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Scrotum

No abstract available.
Masticatory Muscles* ; Spasm* ; Tetanus*

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences suggest that anesthetic action within the spinal cord is important in suppressing somatic responses to painful stimuli. Intrathecal endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to have antinociceptive effect. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether intrathecal ET-1 may influence the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in rats and access the role of the spinal cord as the sites of anesthetic action in blocking somatic responsiveness. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats fitted with an indwelling intrathecal catheter, we determined the MAC of isoflurane using a tail-clamp technique as a painful stimulus, combined with end-tidal anesthetic sampling. In experiment 1, the control MAC was determined and changes of control MAC were observed after intrathecal ET-1 (4x10-2 nmol, 4x10-3 nmol) administration. In experiment 2, we observed the effects of L or N type Ca++ channel blocker such as verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) on the MAC after measurement of the control MAC. In experiment 3, after measurement of the control MAC, ET-1 (10-2 nmol) was administered intrathecally and the MAC was determined again. Next, intrathecal verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) was injected. After that, the MAC was determined again. RESULTS: In experiment 1, ET-1 decreased the MAC of isoflurane and its effect was sustained over 2 hours. In experiment 2, the MAC, determined following administration of verapamil or W-conotoxin, was not different from that of the control. In experiment 3, the MAC was decreased after ET-1 administration and then increased following injection of verapamil or W-conotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ET-1, in relation to calcium, might play an important role in determining the MAC of isoflurane in the spinal cord.
Animals ; Calcium ; Catheters ; Endothelin-1* ; Isoflurane* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Verapamil

A case of right-sided infective endocarditis in a 22-year-old male with ventricular septal defect of perimembranous type, right ventricular(RV) infundibular and pulmonic valve stenosis was reported. The vegetations were found on the mural endocardium of RV infundibulum and pulmonic valve. Streptococcus viridans was identified in 5 consecutive blood cultures, Pulmonary embolism and septic infarction in the lung was associated with systemic embolization, which was manifested by left renal infarction. The RV infundibular stenosis was due to anomalous muscle bundle at the proximal portion. Therefore, we thought that the mechanism of RV infundibular vegetation was probably due to 'Venturi effect and turbulence'. Several clinical features which were found in this case were also reviewed.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Endocarditis* ; Endocardium ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Viridans Streptococci ; Young Adult

Leiomyoma of the urethra is a rare entity. We experienced a case of leiomyoma in the female urethra recently. Twenty-eight-year-old multiparous woman admitted to the Department of Urology, Busan National University Hospital with the chief complaint of a painless mass on the anterior lip of the external urethral meatus. The mass was easily removed by electroresection. It was an ovoid mass, 3.0 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm in size, and was firm and well-encapsulated. Histologically it was confirmed as a benign leiomyoma.
Busan ; Female* ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Lip ; Urethra* ; Urology

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level and to understand the correlation between Caspase 3 expression and the clinical factors in renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with renal cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining of Caspase 3 and p21 was performed in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections using rabbit polyclonal antibody (Caspase 3) and mouse antibody (p21). The Caspase 3 and p21 expression levels were compared with the TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, pathological type and survival rates. RESULTS: The Caspase 3 expression level correlated only with the Fuhrman grade (p=0.017). There was no significant correlation between the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level. The prognostic values did not correlate with the Caspase 3 and p21 expression level. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic value of the Caspase 3 expression level in renal cell carcinoma was insufficient. The relationship between Caspase 3 and p21 was not proven in renal cell carcinoma, and new factors may be implicated with Caspase 3.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Caspase 3* ; Humans ; Mice ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

A case of Wegener's granulomatosis is described, with special attention focused on the typical histologic findings and involvement of both middle ear and lung. The patient is a 37-year-old man presented with four-month history of cough and sputum. He had a past history of surgery of both ears because of otitis media followed by left facial palsy. Chest radiographs showed variable sized ill defined nodules in both lower lobes with internal airspace consolidation. Histologic preparations of the open lung biopsy specimens demonstrated a diffusely scattered palisading micro and macrogranulomas with central focus of neutrophils and necrotic collagen surrounded by histiocytes, histiocytic giant cells. Fibrinoid necrosis involved blood vessels and lung parenchyma. Chronic inflammation, diffuse granulation tissue formation and irregular fibrosis are also found in the lung parenchyma. The histologic findings of middle ear which was previously biopsied showed scattered palisading ill defined microgranulomas mixed with fibrotic tissue.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Collagen ; Cough ; Ear ; Ear, Middle* ; Facial Paralysis ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Granulation Tissue ; Granuloma ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung* ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Otitis Media ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum ; Vasculitis ; Wegener Granulomatosis*

Tatbion is a tripeptide, reduced form of Glutathione(GSH or p-glutamyl-cysteiny1 -glycine). Glutathione(SH compound)is believed to inhibit melanin formation by combining witb the copper in tyrnsinase whicb is essential in the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA (3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and DOPA to DOPA-quinone or by forming cornplex with the intermediate in the tyrosine-to-melaa.in reaction. The effect of Tathion in the treatment of melasma has not been reported in Korea. We have observed the effect of Tatbion in 150 patients with melasma. After the average duration of Gwks of treatment(50-100mg tree tirnes/daily), we were abIe to grade the results as follow. Excellent(Pigmentation almost disappeared): 17. 4 % Good (Pigmentation markedly improved): 56. 7% Fair (Pigmentation slightly improved: 7. 3% None (No effect) : 18.6% The result showed relatively good effects of Tathion in the treatment of 122pts (81.4%) with melasma in total. The brief review of literature on the treatment of melasma was undertaken.
Copper ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Korea ; Melanins ; Melanosis* ; Tyrosine