PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Fas-L expression is associated with increased apoptotic induction of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in human gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The author analysed 38 cases of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) and 61 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC) who received gastric resection, in whom the number of diffuse type was 38 cases and the number of intestinal type was 61 cases. The author used immunohistochemical staining for Fas, Fas-L and CD45, and TUNEL in situ apoptosis detection kit. TIL were detected by CD45 and apoptosis of TIL were detected by CD45 expression and TUNEL positivity on serial histologic sections. RESULTS: Fas-L was localized to neoplastic cells in 61% (23/38) of EGC group and 66% (40/61) of AGC group. The extent of Fas-L expression was variable, with both Fas-L positive and negative neoplastic region occuring within tumors. TIL adjacent to Fas-L expressing tumor region were decreased in number and TIL adjacent to FasL-negative tumor region were increased in number; apoptotic induction of TIL showed just the opposite pattern (p<0.05). Fas expression was found essentially homogeneously throughout the tumor mass independent of tumor stage. Fas expression showed 64% (39/61) of intestinal type and 68% (26/38) of diffuse type. Labeling indices for tumoral apoptosis in EGC and AGC were 6.72% and 7.13%, respectively and this difference was statistically insignificant. Co-expression of Fas-L and Fas, which occurred over large areas of the tumors, did not result in an enhanced rate of tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, factors such as tumor stage and other prognostic factors were not concerned in Fas and Fas-L expression, number of TIL and apoptotic induction. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest Fas-mediated apoptotic depletion of TIL in response to Fas-L expression by stomach cancers, and provide the evidence to support the Fas counterattack as a mechanism of immune escape in gastric cancer. In addition, gastric carcinoma cells of the intestinal and diffuse type did not differ in their expression of the apoptotic receptor Fas.
Apoptosis* ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Stomach Neoplasms ; United Nations

PURPOSE: We evaluated the correlation between the carcinogenesis of gallbladder and the expression of lysozyme, p53, c-erbB2 and CEA in gallbladder lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty cases of gallbladder lesions (containing 17 cases of GB carcinoma) were examined. We analyzed the clinicopathologic findings of the early (stage I & II) and advanced carcinoma (stage III, IV & V) and those of carcinoma with or without metaplasia in the tumor. We performed p53, c-erbB2 and CEA immunohistochemical staining and compared their findings with those of normal mucosa and preneoplastic lesions. We also performed lysozyme immunohistochemical staining and compared its finding with metaplastic and non-metaplastic lesions. RESULTS: There are two distinct genetic pathways in gallbladder cacinogenesis and metaplastic carcinoma was more frequent than non-metaplastic carcinoma. Metaplasia of gallbladder did not reveal any difference of the clinicopathologic findings and depth of invasion (Nevin stage). Lysozyme expression was found in all metaplastic lesions but non-expression did not indicate non-metaplastic lesions. p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively. The correlation of p53 and c-erbB2 expressions was found but which did not indicate that the co-expression was needed in the carcinogenesis. CEA immunohistochemical staining may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of benign lesions and precancerous and cancerous lesions of the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 mutations and c-erbB2 alterations may have a role in the carcinogenesis of gallbladder carcinomas, especially, in a late event, and in an early and late events, respectively.
Carcinogenesis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder* ; Metaplasia* ; Mucous Membrane ; Muramidase

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Ceramic and composite resin have been used to fulfill the demand for esthetic prosthesis. However, ceramic is easy to break and wears off the opposite natural teeth. Conventional composite resin also has low abrasive resistance and color stability. Ceramic Optimized Polymer (ceromer) was developed in mid-1990s to overcome the shortfalls of ceramic and composite resin. Ceromer has similar abrasiveness with the natural tooth and has relatively high strength. Color stability affects esthetics and long-term prognosis of the prosthesis. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare color stability of ceromers(2 types : Artglass., Targis.) with ceramics(Vintage.-polishing, Vintage.-glazing). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The color difference(E*) was measured by spectrophotometer with different immersion time. Twenty disks, 3mm in thickness and 10mm in diameter, were fabricated for each specimen in shade A2(Vita Lumin shade guide). Specimens(5 samples in each group) were immersed in the food colorants(Red no.3, Yellow no.4, Blue no.1, Distilled water) for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours respectively. L*, a* and b* value were measured with spectrophotometer (CM 503i : Minolta Co., Japan) and mean E* value was calculated for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study were obtained as follows. 1. The E* values of all test samples increased with the time of immersion. 2. The E* values of all materials increased in order of Distilled Water, Yellow no.4, Blue no.1 and Red no.3. There was significant difference between Red no.3 and the other food colorants(p<0.05). 3. The E* values increased in order of Vintage-glazing, Vintage-polishing, Artglass and Targis. There was significant difference between Vintage.-glazing and the other materials (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: By means of the above results, immersion time was found to be a critical factor for color stability of ceromer. For the long-term color stability of prosthesis it is recommended patients having ceromer prosthesis(Artglass., Targis.) to reduce the habitual intake of Red no.3 colorants con taining foods.
Ceramics ; Esthetics ; Food Coloring Agents* ; Humans ; Immersion ; Polymers ; Prognosis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth ; Water

Ground-glass opacity is a frequent but nonspecific finding seen on high-resolution CT scans of lung parenchyma. Histologically, this appearance is observed when thickening of the alveolar wall and septal interstitium is minimal or the alveolar lumen is partially filled with fluid, macrophage, neutrophils, or amorphous material. It has been shown that ground-glass opacity may be caused not only by an active inflammatory process but also by fibrotic processes. When a focal area of ground-glass opacity persists or increases in size, the possibility of neoplasm-bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or adenoma, or lymphoma, for example- should be considered. Diffuse nonsegmental ground-glass opacity in both lung fields was incidentally found on follow up abdominal CT in a stomach cancer patient and signet-ring cell-type metastatic lung cancer was confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. We report a case of diffuse ground-glass opacity seen in metastatic lung cancer from adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neutrophils ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine* ; Spinal Cord Diseases*

The Bcl-2 protein has been shown to block apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. We have performed the experiments which cell death can be blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene under moderate(50-100mM) or high ethanol treatment(400-600mM). As a result of morphological changes, and MTT assay, cell death was blocked by Bcl-2 under 100mM ethanol. However, the results of DNA fragmentation and RT-PCR(ICE, and CPP32), immunoblotting(CPP32, and PARP) for SK-pcDNA3 cells(vector only) and SK-Bcl-2 cells(stably expressed bcl-2 gene) were showen to be no significant differences between two cell lines. These result suggested that cell death induced by ethanol was not followed by apoptosis mechanism, and was blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene with moderate ethanol.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death* ; Cell Line ; DNA Fragmentation ; Ethanol* ; Ice ; Proto-Oncogenes*

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an issue not only with regard to public health, but also in terms of economic impact. AMR surveillance has mainly been carried out in general hospitals, and not in nursing hospitals. This study was conducted to investigate the AMR rate for bacterial strains isolated from nursing hospital samples.METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results from a total of 23,518 bacterial isolates recovered from clinical specimens taken in 61 nursing hosals were analyzed. AST was conducted using Vitek 2 with AST cards specific for the bacterial strains.RESULTS: A total of 19,357 Gram-negative and 4,161 Gram-positive bacterial strains were isolated. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=6,384) and Escherichia coli (n=5,468) were the most prevalent bacterial species and, among Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (n=1,565) was common. The AMR rate was high for the following strains: cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, 77.4%; cefotaxime-resistant E. coli, 70.6%; imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, 90.3%; imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, 49.3%; oxacillin-resistant S. aureus, 81.1%, penicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, 44.8%, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, 53.5%. AMR rate change varied by bacterial species and antimicrobial drug.CONCLUSION: AMR rates of major pathogens from nursing hospitals were higher than those from general hospitals with the exception of imipenem-resistant A. baumannii. Continuous monitoring and infection control strategies are needed.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus faecium ; Escherichia coli ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Hospitals, General ; Infection Control ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Nursing ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Public Health ; Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE: To describe the operation of our Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic, lead by a radiologist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From its opening in July 2000, until September 2001, patients who attended the Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic at the Department of Radiology were referred mainly from the Health Promotion Center. Additional radiologic examinations were performed immediately, and according to the results, patients were either referred at once to a surgical clinic or a follow-up schedule was arranged for them there. The no-show rate, patient distribution, chief complaint, type and number of additional radiologic examinations, patient compliance rate, biopsy result, rate of cancer detection, and staging of cancers were determined. The merits and demerits of the clinic were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 671 patients attended, with a no-show rate of 13.2%. Referrals from the Health Promation Centre accounted for 90.4% of patient visits. The most frequent complaint was a suspicious nodule at mammography. One additional radiologic examination was performed in 429 patients, two examinations in 70, and three or more examations in five. The most frequent type of examination was ultrasonography, followed by magnification compression view, mammography, and ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy. An additional radiologic examination was recommended in 81.2% of patients and compliance rate was 96.7%. Primary breast cancer was diagnosed in 16 patients (2.1%), and was found to be stage 0 and 1 in 64.3% of these. No significant demerits were apparent. CONCLUSION: Radiologic examinations play a very important role in the detection of early-stage breast cancer, and the establishment of an early detection clinic lead by a radiologist is a very effective and recommendable approach to screening.
Appointments and Schedules ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Compliance ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Patient Compliance ; Referral and Consultation ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Aging is a significant issue worldwide, and Korea is one of the most rapidly aging countries. Along with the demographic transition, the age structure of intensive care unit (ICU) patients changes as well. METHODS: The aim of this study was to analyze the change in age distribution of the ICU patients over the last 10 years and its effect on clinical outcomes. Single-center, retrospective analysis of all patients aged ≥18 years admitted to either the medical or surgical ICU at St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between January 2005 and December 2014 was conducted. For clinical outcome, in-hospital mortality, duration of ICU stay, and hospital stay were analyzed. Cost analysis was performed to show the economic burden of each age strata. RESULTS: A total of 10,366 ICU patients were admitted to the chosen ICUs during the study period. The proportion of elderly patients aged ≥65 years increased from 47.9% in 2005 to 63.7% in 2014, and the proportion of the very elderly patients aged ≥80 years increased from 12.8% to 20.7%. However, this increased proportion of elderly patients did not lead to increased in-hospital mortality. The percent of ICU treatment days attributable to elderly patients increased from 51.1% in year 2005 to 64.0% in 2014. The elderly ICU patients were associated with higher in-hospital mortality compared to younger age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of elderly patients admitted to ICUs increased over the last decade. However, overall in-hospital mortality has not increased during the same period.
Age Distribution ; Aged* ; Aging ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Critical Care* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Population Dynamics ; Retrospective Studies*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of myopia and their relation with gestational age, birth weight and the factors influencing the occurrence and degree of myopia in pre-term infants without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: At the age of 6 months, cycloplegic refraction and A-Scan sonography were performed in 172 eyes of 86 pre-term infants with the gestational age less than 38 weeks from Jan. 1997 to Dec. 1999. RESULTS: Myopia was observed in 46.5% of the refracted eyes. Gestational age and birth weight had a positive correlation with the spherical equivalent. The mean axial length of the right and left eye were 19.030 mm and 19.834 mm, respectively. The axial length had a negative correlation with spherical equivalent. Male infants had longer eyes than female infants. There was no correlation between lens thickness or anterior chamber depth with the spherical equivalent. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the birth weight and axial length significantly influenced the value of spherical equivalent. CONCLUSION: Clinically, pre-term infants without ROP also run an increased risk of developing myopia. Especially pre-term infants with low birth weight pose a greater risk. The extent of myopia of pre-term infants strongly relate to the axial length but not to the lens thickness or the depth of anterior chamber.
Anterior Chamber ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Myopia* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity*