Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma(CTCL) is a rare cutaneous malignant disease and is typically a disease of older adults. There is no optimal treatment for CTCL, which ranges from topical steroid to systemic chemotherapy. Hence until curative therapy is found, therapies that keep CTCL in check and prevent progression to more advanced lymphoma may be desirable alternatives and may presetve quality of life. Herein we report our experience in treating a stage 11B CTCL patient with triple combination of interferon alfa, oral retinoid, and psoralen plus WA(PWA) therapy.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Ficusin ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Quality of Life ; T-Lymphocytes

Morphological changes of hepatic microcirculation, especially in the peribiliary plexus, in cirrhotic livers of rats induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of N-diethyinitrosamine (DEN) (100mg/kg/week) were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Control rats were treated with saline. The livers were perfused with saline and injected with methyl-methacrylated resin (Mercox CL-2B) through the thoracic aorta. Diffuse nodular changes mimicking human cirrhosis were seen in the livers six weeks after injections of DEN. The cirrhotic livers showed an increase of vascular channels composed mainly of venous branches around the regenerating nodules and increased arterioloportal anastonloses. Peribiliary plexi of the cirrhotic livers had more vessels than those of the controls. Many dilated veins and ramificating portal vein branches were also Present. Direct connections between peribiliary plexi and sinusoids or between peribiliary plexi and portal veins were increased in the cirrhotic liver. These results suggest that the peribiliary plexi in experimentally induced cirrhotic liver might play a role in a collateral circulation under a state of portal hypertension.
Humans ; Rats ; Animals

The clinical and pathological features of a paraganglioma arising in the cauda equina is described and compared with previous reports. The right microscopic fetures were similar to those of paragangliomas from other sites, with a 'Zellballen' pattern of cells containing arzyrophil granules. Immunohistocytochemical stains for neurone specific enolase, S-100 protein, cytokeratin were positive, but stains for glial fibrillary acidic protein were negative. Electron microscopy showed densely staining membrane-bound granules, cilia like structures and fibros bodies in the cytoplasm. The last two features only occur in paragangliomas from this site. The pathological findings suggest that paragangliomas in this site arise from pre-existing paraganglia, possibly of the visceral autonomic group.

Soft-tissue sarcomas are derived from mesodermal tissues and with few exceptions are located in deeper planes of the musculoaponeurotic structures. Despite differences in histogenesis, the rate of locsl recurrence snd distant metastasis of these sarcomas reveals that their rstes are almost the same. These soft-fissue sarcomas do not respond well to chemotherpy or radiotheraphy. And soft-tissue sarcomas located on different anatomical sites, so the surgical approach to them located centrally is difficult than the approach to them located peripherally. The authors reviewed 75 cases of soft-tissue sarcoma, which were confirmed by pathological reports, and also analysed the results of some kinds of surgery on 60 cases of that tumor at the Department of Orthopedidic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during the period from January 1976 to Decomber 1985, and following results were obtained. 1. There were 54 males and 21 females, and the age incidence wss highest in 5th decade. There was no special age-peak. 2. Malignant fibrous histiocytomas accounted for 26.7% of the tumors in this study. Liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma were the next common tumors. 3. The lower extremity was the most common anatomicsl site of malignant soft-tissue sarcomas, which acconted for 46.7% in this study. There showed low incidence below the wrist and ankle joints. 4. Enneking's stage II B was the most common tumor, which accounted for 41.7%. 5. When we decided the prognosis at 2 years postoperatively, in the inadequately treated group the local recurrence rate was 97.1%, distant metastasis rate was 80.0%, and 2 YSR was 28.6%. In the adequately treated group the local recurrence rate was 20.0%, distant metastasis rate was 24.0%, and 2 YSR was 84.0%. 6. The most common site of distant metastasis was the lungs, which accounted for 82.4%. So the significant factors affecting the prognosis of soft-tissued sarcomas were the location of sarcomas and the adequacy of sugical procedure.
Ankle Joint ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liposarcoma ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Male ; Mesoderm ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Seoul ; Wrist

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine the effect of Sargassum coreanum extract (SCE) on blood glucose concentration and insulin resistance in C57BL-KsJ-db/db mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: For 6 weeks, male C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were administrated SCE (0.5%, w/w), and rosiglitazone (0.005%, w/w). RESULTS: A supplement of the SCE for 6 weeks induced a significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations, and it improved hyperinsulinemia compared to the diabetic control db/db mice. The glucokinase activity in the hepatic glucose metabolism increased in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice, while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice were significantly lower than those in the diabetic control db/db mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was lower in the SCE-supplemented db/db mice than in the diabetic control db/db mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a supplement of the SCE lowers the blood glucose concentration by altering the hepatic glucose metabolic enzyme activities and improves insulin resistance.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Glucokinase ; Glucose ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia* ; Hyperinsulinism ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Phosphoenolpyruvate ; Sargassum*

OBJECTIVES: To discern in advanced uterine cervical cancer whether the hyperfractionation is more effective in tumor control and in reducing radiation complication rates than the simple fractionation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 184 patients with advanced cervical cancer at our hospitals from January 2000 to December 2004. All patients were treated with radiation, 114 patients with simple fractionation, and 70 patients with hyperfractionation. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.4 years at baseline study. Complications were occurred in 90 patients of the 184 patients who treated with radiation therapy. Of these, 48 patients suffered from gastrointestinal complications, 24 patients suffered from genitourinary complications and 18 patients had both complications. Complications were occurred in 72 cases in simple fractionation group and 40 cases in hyperfractionation group. 77 patients had acute complications and 13 patients had chronic complications. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.772). Mild complication were occurred in 75 patients and severe complication were occurred in 15 patients, there was no statistically significant difference in two groups (P = 0.495). 66 patients had gastrointestinal complications and 42 patients had genitourinary complications, there was no statistical significance in two groups (P = 0.910). CONCLUSION: Many complications were occurred in patients who treated with radiation therapy, but there was no statistically significant survival and complication difference in two groups. Further research is needed.
Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether Padina arborescens extract (PAE) protects INS-1 pancreatic beta cells against glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis. MATERIALS/METHODS: Assays, including cell viability, lipid peroxidation, generation of intracellular ROS, NO production, antioxidant enzyme activity and insulin secretion, were conducted. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 proteins in INS-1 cells were evaluated by western blot analysis, and apoptosis/necrosis induced by high glucose was determined by analysis of FITC-Annexin V/PI staining. RESULTS: Treatment with high concentrations of glucose induced INS-1 cell death, but PAE at concentrations of 25, 50 or 100 microg/ml significantly increased cell viability. The treatment with PAE dose dependently reduced the lipid peroxidation and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes reduced by 30 mM glucose, while intracellular ROS levels increased under conditions of 30 mM glucose. PAE treatment improved the secretory responsiveness following stimulation with glucose. The results also demonstrated that glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis is associated with modulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. When INS-1 cells were stained with Annexin V/PI, we found that PAE reduced apoptosis by glucotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study indicates that PAE protects against high glucose-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells by reducing oxidative stress.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Oxidative Stress*

Purpose: This study is to develop an interprofessional education (IPE) program for medical, nursing, and pharmacy students and to analyze the effectiveness. Methods: Subjects consisted of 116 students (41 medical, 46 nursing, and 29 pharmacy students) enrolled in their final year. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group, with 58 in each group. A pretest-posttest control group design was used. The program was operated for a single day, and consisted of small-group activities and role-play. We utilized the following tools: Perceptions towards Interprofessional Education (PIPE), Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning (SEIEL), and Perception towards Interprofessional Competency (PIC). We used t-test and analysis of covariance for analysis. Results: The PIPE tool revealed that the scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.000). The result was the same when the scores were categorized into the groups medical students (p=0.001), nursing students (p=0.000), and pharmacy students (p=0.005). The SEIEL study also indicated the intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group (p=0.000). However, pharmacy students did not reveal significant (p=0.983). The intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group in the PIC. A concluding survey of the intervention group indicated that most students were satisfied with the IPE program. Conclusion We hope this study will provide useful information for designing and improving IPE programs in other universities.

OBJECTIVE: Amniocentesis is the most commonly used invasive method for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. We performed this study to analyze the indications, distributions of maternal age and cytogenetic results of midtrimester amniocentesis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 785 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocentesis which were performed in the cytogenetics laboratory using in situ coverslip culture at Dong-A University Hospital from January 1995 to March 2003. RESULTS: Amniocentesis was practiced mostly from 15 weeks to 20 weeks of gestational ages. Requested indications of amniocentesis were abnormal maternal serum screening (421, 53.7%), advanced maternal age (233, 29.7%) and abnormal ultrasonographic finding (61, 7.8%) in the order of decrease. The overall incidence of chromosome abnormalities was 5.1% (40 cases), and it contains 27 cases (3.4%) of numerical abnormalities and 13 cases (1.7%) of structural abnormalities. Among autosomal abnormalities Down syndrome was most common (13 cases) and followed by Edward syndrome (2 cases). Of the sex chromosomal abnormalities, three cases of Turner syndrome and three cases of Kleinefelter syndrome were found. Chromosomal abnormalities were most frequently noted in the maternal age of 30 to 34 years old (14 cases, 35.0%), 25 to 29 years old (12 cases, 30.0%), followed by 35 to 39 years old (7 cases, 17.5%). The frequency of pseudomosaicism were 5 cases (0.6%). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum screening, advanced maternal age and antenatal ultrasonographic finding must be important screening methods for amniocentesis which is considered to the most effective diagnostic procecdure for prenatal cytogenetic studies. I conclude that the karyotyping analysis of midtrimester amniocentesis is efficacious method for detection of chromosomal aberration and genetic counselling for parents.
Adult ; Amniocentesis* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis* ; Cytogenetics* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotyping ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome

The large outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that started in Wuhan, China has now spread to many countries worldwide. Current epidemiologic knowledge suggests that relatively few cases are seen among children, which limits opportunities to address pediatric specific issues on infection control and the children's contribution to viral spread in the community. Here, we report the first pediatric case of COVID-19 in Korea. The 10-year-old girl was a close contact of her uncle and her mother who were confirmed to have COVID-19. In this report, we present mild clinical course of her pneumonia that did not require antiviral treatment and serial viral test results from multiple specimens. Lastly, we raise concerns on the optimal strategy of self-quarantine and patient care in a negative isolation room for children.