PURPOSE: To obtain the findings of normal variant types of lower cervical body configuration for the purpose of differention from compression fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed simple true lateral radiographs of cervical spine from C3 to C7 in 157 pediatric patients who did not have definitive clinical symptoms of cervical spinal injury. We classified the variations of normal cervical spine into 5 types by their configuration. In case of rounded upper corner or anteriorly wedged type, we measured the height and the width of vertebral body to classify these types, and undertook ANOVA test and multiple range test to determine the correlation between the gross configuration and the measured values. RESULTS: Type 1 was similarly observed at each of C3 to C7 in age of 1-4 group but the frequency was markedly decreased in age of 5-8 group. Type 2a was frequently observed at both age groups, and its incidence increased considerally at C3 and C4 with advancing age. Type 2b was more frequently observed at C3 body and Type 3 was observed only at C3 body in age group 1-4. Type 4 was markedly increased at 5-8 age group. Type 2b and 3 were seen mostly at C3, but sometimes at C4 body. Height of body was statistically more significant than width of body in classification of type 2a, 2b and 3. CONCLUSION: The configuration of lower cervical spine in infants and children changes from immature oval type(type 1) to mature rectagular type(type 4) with increasing age. Among the 4 types, the rounded upper corner type or anterior wedging type of lower cervical spine should be differentiated from compresson fracture. We concluded that the height of cervical body is more significant than the width of body in simple radiographic classification of types 2a, 2b and 3.
Child* ; Classification ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

Eccrine spiradenomas are clinically characterized by a solitary, tender mass and they are situated on the upper parts of the body, predominantly on the ventral aspect. We herein report two cases of eccrine spiradenoma in 35-year-old man and 53-year-old woman, which located on upper extremity and inguinal region. The masses are round, well circumscribed and measuring 0.7x0.5x0.5 cm, 5x4.5x3 cm in size, respectively. Histopathologically, the tumor consists of masses of two types of cells, intensely staining cells and pale staining cells, usually arranged in chains, cords and pseudoglands. Immunostainings for low molecular cytokeratin, high molecular cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen, and S-100 protein show positivity in neoplastic cells. Electron microscopically, the tumor was composed of three types of cells, i. e. 1) round or ovoid tumor cells in shape with scanty cytoplasm and poorly developed intracytoplasmic orgenelles, 2) spindle shaped dark cells interconnected by desmosomes, 3) large epithelial cells with abundant cytoplasm and cytoplasmic intermediate filaments which formed glandular structures. The large epithelial cells joint each other by desmosomal attachments and luminal cells featured small numbers of microvilli, but either secretory granules nor ductal type granules were noticed.
Female ; Male ; Humans

For the estimation of the proliferative activity, related to the biologic behaviour, malignant potential, and prognosis, of human thyroid tumors, PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of 9 normal thyroid tissues, 9 adenomatous goiters, 9 follicular adenomas, 4 Hurthle cell tumors, 12 papillary carcinomas, 4 follicular carcinomas, and 3 anaplastic carcinomas. The results were as follows: 1) The PCNA labeling indices in adenomatous goiter, follicular adenoma, and Hurthle cell tumor were 1.1, 1.5, and 2.4, respectively. They were significantly higher than the labeling index in normal thyroid. 2) The PCNA labeling indices in papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma were 3.5 and 4.4, respectively. They were significantly higher than the labeling indices in adenomatous goiter and follicular adenoma, but there was no significant difference between papillary and follicular carcinoma. 3) The PCNA labeling index in anaplastic carcinoma, 14.1, was significantly higher than those in benign and other malignant tumors. According to the results, the PCNA labeling index was well correlated with the malignant potential of a tumor. So the PCNA immunohistochemical staining is thought to be a useful method for the evaluation of the malignant potential and prognosis of a tumor.
Humans

PURPOSE: Radiation adaptive response in human peripheral lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells was investigated using both metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay. We assessed the correlation between both tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of the human peripheral lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells were exposed to low dose (conditioning dose, 0.18 Gy) or high dose (challenging dose, 2 Gy) gamma-rays. The other 4 groups were exposed to low dose followed by high dose after several time intervals (4, 7, 12, and 24 hours, respectively). The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in metphase analysis and micronuclei in micronucleus assay were counted. RESULTS: Chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei of preexposed group were lower than those of the group only exposed to high dose radiation. Maximal reduction in frequencies of chromosomal aberrations were observed in the group to which challenging dose was given at 7 hour after a conditioning dose (p<0.001). Metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay revealed very good correlation in both human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells (r=0.98, p<0.001; r=0.99, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Radiation adaptive response could be induced by low dose irradiation in both human lymphocytes and mouse bone marrow cells. There was a significant correlation between metaphase analysis and micronucleus assay
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells* ; Bone Marrow* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics* ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Metaphase* ; Mice* ; Micronucleus Tests

In this study, the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in the needle biopsied paraffin embedded liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B patients by rapid nested PCR was examined. DNA was extracted by NaOH with boiling, and amplified by rapid air thermocycler with glass capillary tubes and nested PCR with two primer sets specific for the surface and the core genes of HBV. The PCR results were compared to that of serum HBeAg, serum HBV DNA by dot blot hybridization with a radioactive DNA probe, and tissue immunohistochemical (HBsAg/ HBcAg) studies. Among 44 patients with chronic hepatitis with serum HBsAg positivity, HBV DNA could be detected by PCR in 43 liver tissues (98%). This results were comparable to the positive rates of 94%(31/33) for serum HBV DNA, 80%(35/44) for serum HBeAg, and 59%(26/44) and 75%(33/44) for tissue HBsAg and HBcAg, respectively. The accordance rate between tissue PCR and serum DNA probe testing was 91%. The results indicate that HBV DNA detection by rapid nested PCR of paraffin embedded liver tissues by needle biopsy is a more sensitive method to detect the HBV DNA carrier than the serum HBeAg or tissue HBsAg/HBcAg status, and is well correlated with the result of serum HBV DNA probe testing. Therefore this method is a practical indicator for the diagnosis and replication status in retrospective analysis.
Biopsy

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery have a remarkably high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the timing of ramosetron administration on its antiemetic efficacy in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were randomized to receive 0.3 mg of ramosetron intravenously either immediately after induction (group I, n = 60) or at the completion of surgery (group II, n = 60). Occurrences of nausea and vomiting, the need for rescue antiemetics and analgesics, pain score, as well as adverse events associated with study medications, were recorded for 48 hrs after the operation. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the I and II groups were 46.7%, 41.7% respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups in the incidences of PONV, the need for rescue antiemetics and analgesics, pain score and adverse events associated with study medications (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of ramosetron administered either immediately after induction or at the completion of surgery was similar to each other on its efficacy as a prophylactic antiemetic in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia, General ; Antiemetics ; Benzimidazoles ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Vomiting

Histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies were performed on 6 cases of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma to study the histogenesis of the undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma, to determine the most useful markers for diagnosing these tumors and to investigate the nature of osteoclast-like giant cells rarely observed in these tumors. For the immuno-histochemical study, a panel of antibodies to epithelial (cocktailed keratin, low molecular weight keratin, CEA), mesenchymal(vimentin, desmin, actin, FVIIIRAg) endocrine(calcitonin, chromogranin), lymphocytic(LCA), histiocytic(alpha-l-ACT, alpha-1-AT, lysozyme, CD68), and Schwann cell(S-100 protein) markers were used. The following results were obtained; 1) Well differentiated carcinoma was associated with 2 cases of spindle cell type and 1 case of giant cell type of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma and a transitional zone between the well differentiated and undifferentiated lesions was observed. 2) All of the examined cases expressed keratin, and 3 tumors expressed CEA. 3) All the mesenchymal markers, LCA, S-100 protein, calcitonin, and chromogranin were not expressed. Vimentin was coexpressed with keratin in 4 cases. 4) Osteoclast-like giant cells were observed in 1 case of spindle cell type. They expressed CD68 but not keratin. 5) Ultrastructural study revealed the desmosomes between the tumor cells and non-neoplastic, follicular, thyroid epithelial cells. The above results indicate that undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma originates from follicular epithelial cell, keratin is the most useful marker for diagnosis of this tumor, and the osteoclast-like giant cells are histiocytic in nature and reactive, rather than neoplastic.

Hydrocephalus, which is one of the major complications following intracranial aneurysm operations, can prevent patients from improvement of consciousness, symptoms and signs that can be expected after operation. Whenever there is no evidence of appreciable improvement after intracranial aneurysm operation, follow-up brain CT scannings will reveal the development of hydrocephalus. And also radioisotope cisternography and clinical findings could be clarified as Glasgow coma scale(GCS) and Hunt & Hess classification, which will help clinicians making a decision on shunt operation. Among 183 patients of subarachnoiod hemorrhage admitted, 92 patients were operated on due to intracranial aneurysms. Nine patients(9.8%) of them were underwent shunt operations because of hydrocephalus following intracranial aneurysm operations. Eight patients showed improvement of clinical findings and 9 patients have been improved according to GCS score.
Aneurysm ; Brain ; Classification ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Delayed bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) commonly occurs within 3 days, but it may also occur after 1 week following ESD, especially in antiplatelet agent users. We evaluated the risk of delayed bleeding in post-ESD ulcers using the Forrest classification. METHODS: Registry data on the Forrest classification of post-ESD ulcers (n=371) at 1 week or 2 weeks after ESD were retrospectively evaluated. The Forrest classification was categorized into two groups: increased risk (Forrest Ia to IIc) or low risk (Forrest III). The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 371 post-ESD ulcers, one ulcer (0.3%) was classified as Forrest Ib, two (0.5%) as Forrest IIa, 17 (4.6%) as Forrest IIb, 172 (46.4%) as Forrest IIc, and 179 (48.2%) as Forrest III. The proportion of increased-risk ulcers was 72.2% (140/194) at 1 week after ESD, which decreased to 29.4% (52/177) at 2 weeks after ESD (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, a post-ESD ulcer at 1 week after ESD (OR, 7.54), younger age (OR, 2.17), and upper/middle ulcer location (OR, 2.05) were associated with increased-risk ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: One week after ESD, ulcers still have an increased risk of bleeding when assessed using the Forrest classification. This risk should be considered when resuming antiplatelet therapy.
Classification* ; Hemorrhage* ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Ulcer

Fine needle aspiration(FNA) biopsy has become the procedure of choice for initial diagnosis of adrenal masses. However, there have been relatively few reports discussing the FNA cytologic features of adrenal cortical carcinoma. Recently, we experienced a case of FNA cytology of bilateral adrenal cortical carcinoma in a 61-year old man. The smear revealed loosely cohesive pleomorphic tumor cells with hemorrhagic and necrotic background. The tumor cells showed oval to spindle hyperchromatic nuclei and prominent nucleoli with frequent mitotic figures. The cytoplasm of tumor cells was relatively abundant and sometimes vacuolated. These cytologic findings were interpreted as an adrenal cortical carcinoma, undifferentiated pattern.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Needles