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

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*

No Abstract Available.
Endothelial Cells* ; Vitrectomy*

The purpose of this study is to observe the choroidal vascular occlusion by photocoagulation under intravenous administration of fluorescein sodium. Argon laser photocoagulation(intensity: 50 mW, duration: 0.05 sec., spot size: 200 micrometer) was applied to the retina of the left eye(control group) and the same method was repeated to the right eye combined with intravenous infusion of 2 ml of fluorescein sodium in the pigmented rabbit(experimental group). The photocoagulated rabbit eyes were enucleated after 2 hrs, 1, 3 and 5 days and the retina and choroid were observed under electron microscopy. The result were as follows. 1. In the control group, loss of melanin pigments in the retinal pigment epithelium and destruction of outer segments of the photoreceptor were observed but endothelial cells of choriocapillaris and Bruch's membrane were intact. 2. In the experimental group, two hours after irradiation, endothelial cells of choriocapillaries were destroyed and capillary lumen was occupied with thrombus components, the retinal pigment epithelium and outer segment of the photoreceptor cells were also destroyed. One day after irradiation, occupied materials in lumen were absorbed but residual debris of thrombus was demonstrated. Three days after irradiation, newly formed endothelial cel1 processes were extended in the area of destroyed choriocapilJaries. Five days after irradiation, long processes of newly fonned endothelial cells extended in the area of choriocapillaries. The outer part of retina was repaired with newly formed pale pigment epithelium and proliferated Miil1er cells. 3. In conclusion, argon laser-provoked vascular change was more easily recognized by intraluminal fluorescein sodium which probably acted as an energy absorbent.
Administration, Intravenous ; Argon ; Bruch Membrane ; Capillaries ; Choroid* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Fluorescein* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Light Coagulation ; Melanins ; Microscopy, Electron ; Photoreceptor Cells ; Retina ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Thrombosis

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

We have experienced a case of occult hepatocellular carcinoma metastasized to the heart in a 41 year old female. The hepatocellular carcinoma invaded the hepatic vein, grew in a snakelike fashion up the inferior vena cava and reached the right atrium. Ultrastural examination in this case confirmed the hepatocellular origin of the tumor.
Female ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

The ultrastructural changes of the chorioretina following the intravitreal injection of ornithine in rabbit eyes at 1,2,4,8 week time intervals were investigated employing electron microscopy in this animal experiment. 1. 1 week after injection, swelling of the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the pigment epithelium was seen. 2. 2 weeks after injection, phagosomes and phagolysosomes were present in the cytoplasm of the pigment epithelium and nerve elements in the inner nuclear layer disappeared and were replaced by Muller cell. 3. 4 weeks after injection, stroma of the choroid was atrophied and abundant melanocytes were aggregated, and papillary formed pigment epithelium with detachment of the retina was seen. 4. 8 weeks after injection, stromal atrophy and attenuated choriocapillaries of the choroid were present, and proliferation of the microvilli of the pigment epithelium after detachment of the retina was seen. 5. In summary intravitreal injection of ornithine in rabbits initially caused marked changes in the pigment epithelium with subsequent degeneration of the choroid and sensory retina.
Animal Experimentation ; Atrophy ; Choroid ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelium ; Intravitreal Injections ; Melanocytes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microvilli ; Mitochondria ; Ornithine* ; Phagosomes ; Rabbits ; Retina

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colitis ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Spasm ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: The claudins are a family of transmembrane proteins associated with tight junctions and they are critical for maintaining cell-to-cell adhesion in sheets of epithelial cells. However, their role in the progression of cancer remains largely unexplored. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression patterns of claudin-1 and -4 in benign lesions and invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) of the breast, and relationships between the expression of these markers and the clinicopathological characteristics in IDC patients. METHODS: We examined the claudin-1 and -4 protein expressions by performing immunohistochemical stainings in 54 benign lesions and 120 IDCs via the tissue microarray method. We evaluated the correlation between the expression of these markers and the clinicopathological characteristics of IDC. RESULTS: The expressions of claudin-1 (p=0.099) and -4 (p=0.000) were up-regulated in IDCs as compared with benign lesions. The claudin-1 expression correlated with the loss of estrogen receptor (p=0.036) and progesterone receptor (p=0.011). The claudin-4 expression correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.043), the nuclear grade (p=0.030), the histologic grade (p=0.007), and the loss of estrogen receptor (p=0.001) and progesterone receptor (p= 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that claudin-1 and -4 may play a significant role in the carcinogenesis of IDC of the breast and these may represent novel markers for this disease.
Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Claudin-1* ; Claudin-4 ; Claudins ; Epithelial Cells ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Tight Junctions