Nineteen cases of leiomyoma of the skin were examined clinicopathologically. This group included 12 cases of angioleiomyoma, 5 cases of solitary piloleiomyoma, and 2 cases of multiple piloleiomyomas. 1) All twelve angioleiomyomas occured as solitary lesion in the extremities. There was a preponderance in females with a ratio of 2:1. The ages of patients ranged from 24 to 80 years and only one was below the age of 30 years. Six tumors were either painful or tender. Nine tumors in subcutaneous fat were shelled out at surgery. All tumors did not exceed 4cm in diameter. Histologically they could be separated into ten cases of the solid type and two cases of venous type according to Morimoto's classification. Although actin or desmin was easily detected in all tumors, the diagnosis was better made using a combination of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome stains. 2) Five cases of solitary piloleiomyoma were slow-growing intradermal nodules. The ages of patients ranged from 10 to 77 years. All five cases were female. The lesions were located on the extremities, back and sholuder. Pain or tenderness was present in 3 cases among these tumors. Histologically, all tumors were characterized by subtle poorly circumscribed proliferation of benign smooth muscle in the dermis. 3) Two multiple piloleiomyomas from two female patients, aged 50 and 40 years, were situated on the shoulder and thigh, respectively. Pain was induced by change of temperature in the shoulder lesion. Histologically they were identical to the solitary piloleiomyoma.
Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Bias (Epidemiology)* ; Case-Control Studies* ; Humans ; Triplets*

No abstract available.
Dental Porcelain* ; Hardness* ; Resin Cements*

An eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS) is defined as a mature squamous metaplasia of the eccrine ducts. The clinical and pathological features of an ESS are presented. Syringometaplasia is a rare lesion, mostly occuring in the extremities, and as far as we know, no report on the ESS has been published in Korean literature. We experienced a case of an ESS occured in a 15 year-old male, who had a tender erythematous plaque in the right knee. The histologic examination revealed some scattered nests of metaplastic squamous epithelium in the deep dermis, associated with acute nonspecific panniculitis. The importance of the ESS is that it histologically simulates the well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathologic findings were discussed and a brief review of the literature was made.
Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermis ; Epithelium ; Extremities ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Panniculitis

Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that synthesizes TTAGGG telomeric DNA onto chromosomal ends to compensate for sequence loss during replication. It has been detected in a variety of human malignancies, suggesting that such activity may play a role in the tumorigenic process. To determine whether telomerase is reactivated in malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 12 tissue samples with this tumor were analyzed for the telomerase activity by a radioactive PCR-based TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay. All of the tumors were further investigated for the expression of human telomerase RNA (hTR) by an in situ hybridization (ISH). Telomerase activity was detected in one (8.3%) sample. Expression of hTR was demonstrated in 7 (58.3%): one telomerase-positive and six telomerase-negatives. These data indicate that the reactivation of telomerase is an uncommon event and not an important factor involved in tumorigenesis in malignant fibrous histiocytoma. It is noteworthy that 50% of the patients with grade 2 tumors expressed hTR, suggesting that telomerase RNA may be useful as a marker for identifying tumor aggressiveness earlier than the conventional histopathologic grading scale.
Carcinogenesis ; DNA ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; RNA* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Telomerase*

Because changes in rat and dog hematological parameters according to storage conditions have been poorly documented, we sought to examine such changes. Blood analysis was performed using two hematology analyzers (ADVIA 2120i and Sysmex XN-V) after storage at room temperature and in cold storage for 5, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Interassay coefficients of variation for hematological parameters analyzed with the ADVIA 2120i and the XN-V showed similar. The levels of hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet (PLT) showed significant variations with time in blood samples of rats and dogs. The leukocyte subpopulation showed high variation with storage conditions. The data for leukocyte differential counts obtained using the ADVIA 2120i, XN-V, and a manual differential counting procedure showed good agreement for neutrophils and lymphocyte counts, but monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils showed differences between the procedures. In conclusions, most rat and dog hematological parameters showed minimal changes; however, some showed high variation with storage time and temperature, especially PLT and leukocyte subpopulations. In conclusion, when performing hematological analysis in dogs and rats, it will be exactitude to analyze blood samples in fresh condition and at least within 24 h in the cold storage.
Animals ; Basophils ; Blood Platelets ; Dogs* ; Eosinophils ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocyte Count ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Electrodes* ; Humans ; Neural Conduction*

We have expressed GFP in Sf9 and Bm5 cells or Bombyx by larvae by using Ac-Bm hybrid virus capable of replicating in both Bm5 and Sf9 cells. Genomic DNA of Ac-Bm hybrid virus expressing P-galactosidase was cotransfected with baculovirus transfer vector containing GFP gene, pBacPAK-GFP in Sf9 cells. The Ac-Bm hybrid virus harboring GFP was named as Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP. The Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP-infected insect cells were easily selected by detecting the emission of GFP from each well of cell culture dish on the UV illuminator. GFP produced by Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP in Sf9 and Bm5 cells or B. mori larvae was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis using GFP antibody. In addition, B. mori larvae infected with Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP was apparently appeared fluorescence from the whole body at 5 days postinoculation. The fluorescence of GFP from the hemolymph and fat body of B. mori larvae infected with Ac-Bm hybrid virus-GFP was also observed by fluorescence microscope. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that in baculovirus expression vector system, use of Ac-Bm hybrid virus have an additional advantage of expanded host range for producing recombinant proteins.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; Blotting, Western ; Bombyx* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fat Body ; Fluorescence ; Hemolymph ; Host Specificity ; Insects ; Larva* ; Recombinant Proteins ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera*

Trichoblastic fibroma is a benign trichogenic tumor that has both epithelial and mesenchymal components and exhibits partial follicular induction. We studied 4 cases of trichoblastic fibroma and reviewed their clinical and histologic features. Two tumors were present in the face. The remaining two were in the vulva and perianal area, respectively. The age of the patients ranged from 53 to 68 years, with an average age of 62. All were female. Histologically, the lesions showed a well circumscribed mass, located at dermo-subcutaneous junction in three patients and subcutaneous in one. They demonstrated mesenchymal induction evidenced by hair germ-like structure and perifollicular sheath. There was no connection between the tumor and epidermis. Differentiation toward hair structure led to the formation of the infundibulum through inner root sheath. Trichoblastic fibroma may be confused clinically and/or histologically with basal cell carcinoma. Identification of the mixed epithelial and mesenchymal components, and the absence of epidermal connection and cleft within the stroma are important in differentiating this benign neoplasm from basal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Epidermis ; Female ; Fibroma* ; Hair ; Humans ; Vulva

Reactions from stinging insects are significant to dermatologists because of the wide variety of clinical presentations from mild local reaction to severe anaphylactic reaction. Although ant sting commonly occurs, it has been rarely reported in the literatures. We experienced a unique case with allergic reactions by the ant of the Cremawgaster iw6w urai vagala, subfamily Myrmicinae, family Formicidea, order Hymenoptera that has not been previously reported.
Anaphylaxis ; Ants* ; Bites and Stings* ; Humans ; Hymenoptera ; Hypersensitivity ; Insects