PURPOSE: MEN1 gene mutation causes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. It also suggests that somatic MEN1 gene mutation plays a role in sporadic endocrine tumor. In this study, we examined whether somatic mutations of MEN1 gene are responsible for sporadic parathyroid tumors and correlate with clinical manifestations of parathyroid tumors. METHODS: Somatic mutation of MEN1 gene in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded parathyroid tumor tissue from 8 adenomas, 2 carcinomas and 1 hyperplasia were analyzed by direct sequencing. Clinicopathological parameters were reviewed from medical records and compared with the mutational data. RESULTS: Eight of eleven (73%) sporadic parathyroid tumors had somatic MEN1 mutations of 14 different types. In the 14 types, 13 were a point mutation which is composed of 8 missense mutations, 2 nonsense mutations and 3 silent mutations. One of 14 types is a frameshift deletion of 27 base pairs in exon 2. Somatic mutation was frequent in the exon 2 and exon 10. Four types of polymorphism were found. There was no correlation between the presence of mutations and clinicopathological phenotype of parathyroid tumors. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that somatic mutation of MEN1 gene plays a definite role in sporadic parathyroid tumor formation.
Adenoma ; Base Pairing ; Codon, Nonsense ; Exons ; Hyperplasia ; Medical Records ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation

No abstract available.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antifungal/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppression/*methods ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; *Transduction, Genetic

A 47-year-old woman with stage IV chronic kidney disease developed a fistula between common carotid artery (CCA) and internal jugular vein (IJV) during central catheterization of the right IJV. The patient was treated with a self-expandable graft stent, which achieved successful closure of the carotid-jugular fistula. As demonstrated in our case, self-expandable graft stents could be a feasible treatment option for CCA-IJV fistulas without additional interventional procedures such as balloon angioplasty.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Female ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Stents* ; Transplants*

The Landsteiner–Wiener (LW) antigen is a type of red blood cell antigen. Anti-LW appears in various situations, including alloantibodies, autoantibodies, and even transiently occurring antibodies. Anti-LW has similar characteristics to anti-D, so it can interfere with interpreting pre-transfusion tests and finding compatible blood. This paper introduces three cases in whom anti-LW was detected through antibody identification tests. All three cases were examined using the column agglutination technique with ID-DiaPanel (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) on a LISS/Coombs card, ID-DiaPanel p (Bio-Rad) on a NaCl/Enzyme card, and ID-DiaPanel (Bio-Rad) on a LISS/Coombs card using red blood cells treated with dithiothreitol. The auto-control test, direct antiglobulin test, and umbilical cord blood test were also performed. In all three cases, the reaction with D-positive panel cells was stronger than that with the D-negative panel cells, and two of them showed a pan-agglutinated reaction in ID-DiaPanel p (Bio-Rad) with NaCl/Enzyme card. They were reported as anti-LW, and as in these cases, anti-LW can occur under a range of conditions and interfere with proper transfusion. Therefore, it is important to identify anti-LW accurately, and if anti-LW is present, the transfusion of D-negative ABO matched blood should be recommended because of the low expression of the LW-antigen. On the other hand, D-positive blood is not a contraindication when an urgent transfusion is needed.

PURPOSE: The ketogenic diet(KD) has been felt to be clinically more efficacious at younger ages, presumably because of the enhanced ability of the immature brain to extract and utilize ketone bodies. The present study was designed to investigate age-dependent effects of the KD on pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-seizure severity in rats. METHODS: A KD([fat]:[protein+carbohydrate] ratio of 4.3:1) was administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 weeks, while control animals were fed a standard rodent chow. Dietary treatment was initiated at either postnatal 9 or 12 weeks. Seizures were chemically induced by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ(60 mg/kg) and blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels were assayed on treatment day 21. Seizure severity was evaluated by using a scoring system of seizure behaviors:0, no seizure; 0.5, abnormal behavior; 1, myoclonic jerk; 2, myoclonic jerk with jumping; 3, forelimb clonus with preserving righting reflex; 4, generalized clonic seizure with brief loss of righting reflex; 5, generalized tonic clonic seizure; 6, expire. A greater score represents a more severe seizure. RESULTS: In 9 weeks old rats, the mean(+/-SEM) seizure behavior scores were 3.5+/-1.2 [n=19] and 4.4+/-0.9[n=17] for the KD-treated and control groups, respectively(P<0.05), whereas in 12 weeks old animals, no significant differences in seizure behavior scores between the two groups(3.9+/-0.3[n=17] vs. 4.1+/-0.3[n=16], respectively). Blood BHB levels in the KD-treated group were significantly higher than those of the control group in 9 (1.21+/-0.14[n=19] vs. 0.14+/-0.12[n=17] mM, respectively; P<0.001) and 12(0.64+/-0.08[n=17] vs. 0.18+/-0.02[n=16] mM, respectively; P<0.001) weeks old animals. CONCLUSION: The KD was previously reported to decrease PTZ-seizure severity in 3 weeks old rats. In this study, the KD decreases PTZ-seizure severity in 9 weeks old rats, but is ineffective in 12 weeks old rats. These results parallel clinical experience, where the beneficial effects of the KD are felt to be age-dependent.
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; Animals* ; Brain ; Forelimb ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Ketogenic Diet* ; Ketone Bodies ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Myoclonus ; Pentylenetetrazole ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Righting ; Rodentia ; Seizures

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for central nervous system neoplasms was declared in 2000, chordoid glioma of the third ventricle has been noted as a newly recognized tumor for central nervous system neoplasms. Although there is not enough universal experience to know the nature of this tumor due to its rarity, the origin of chordoid glioma was guardedly proposed to be the ependymal cells of the third ventricle. Such an idea has been primarily based on the specific location of the tumor, that is, third ventricle, suprasellae, and hypothalamus. However, we report a rare case of histologically confirmed chordoid glioma located in the left thalamus, not attached to any of the midline structures having unusual neuroradiological characteristics.
Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; Collodion ; Glioma ; Hypothalamus ; Thalamus ; Third Ventricle ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: To investigate epidemiology of a specific strain, and evaluate correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and antimicrobial susceptibility, we studied about Mycobacterium tuberculosis RFLP isolated from Taegu area. METHODS: From Oct. 1997 and Mar. 1999, we isolated 54 strains of M. tuberculosis from the patients visiting Catholic University of Taegu Hyosung, Taegu, Korea. We studied their drug susceptibility and analyzed the Pvu treated RFLP using digoxigenin labeled IS6110 probe. RESULTS: Fifty-three had more than 6 bands of RFLP and strains with 10 bands were predominant (15 strain). Cluster analysis reveals eleven distinct clusters showing 57.4% of clustered rate (31 strains from A to K) and 35 independent patterns showing 64.8% of the diversity rate at 70% similarity level. Cluster A was the largest group (7 strains) and the next was cluster B (5 strains). Most of the patients with cluster A lived in Taegu city (85.7%) and all of 2 cluster K patients lived in Euisung area. There was no correlation between RFLP pattern and antimicrobial susceptibility, but all two strains of cluster H were resistant to isoniazid. Strains of clustered were also prevalent in the people of middle class. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the RFLP analysis in the developed countries, Korea disclosed lower rate of diversity and higher clustered patterns of M. tuberculosis. The clustered strains were also prevalent among the people of middle class.
Daegu* ; Developed Countries ; Digoxigenin ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Tuberculosis

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung is considered to be a rare, benign, neoplastic lesion, consisting mainly of spindle mesenchymal cells, sometimes in such a way that its histological appearance mimics that of a spindle cell sarcoma, fibrous histiocytoma or fibrosarcoma. A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung occurring in a 13-year-old boy is reported with pathologic findings, including its ultrastructure. The patient had had no symptoms and accidentally discovered his condition after a chest X-ray examination at a regular school physical check up. The mass was located in the suprahilar area of the left lung. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a large mass that was removed, together with the left upper lobe of the lung. Microscopically, the mass was composed of numerous interstitial inflammatory cells, mainly lymphoplasma cells. Ultrastructurally, the spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells were arranged haphazadly and the normal pulmonary structure was nearly totally destroyed. Emphasis is given to complete resection of the tumor for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Adolescent ; Child ; Fibrosarcoma ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* ; Sarcoma ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Most of all studies about the relation between the health risk and obesity are based on the European and American data. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between adiposity and risk factors for cardio vacular disease (CVD) in normal weight individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal weight subjects with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 23 kg/m2 (76 subjects) and overweight subjects with a BMI between 23 and 25 kg/m2 (53 subjects) were retained for this study. Normal weight subjects were divided into three group of each adiposity variable, then three group and the overweight group were evaluated for the presence of CVD risk factors and analyze the correlation coefficients between adiposity variables and risk factors controlled for age in normal weight, overweight groups. Using logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for the prevalence of risk factors for each group of adiposity variables and the overweight group was estimated relative to the first group in normal weight subjects. RESULTS: Systolic BP, diastolic BP, LDL cholestrol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides in normal weight subjects were significantly correlated with all adiposity variables (P<0.01). Third group (3.7 for %fat and 4.7 for fat mass)of adiposity variables in the normal weight group and the overweight group (6.6 for %fat and 11.5 for fat mass) tended to have higher ORs compared to first group for risk factor variables. CONCLUSION: Normal weight subjects with elevated adiposity had higher prevalence of risk factors than normal weights subjects with less adiposity. Measuring of adiposity added additional information of cardiovascular disease risk factors in normal weight subjects.
Adiposity* ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight* ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Body weight is an important factor that influence the bone density in postmenopausal women except estrogen dificiency. However, different results are reported about the relationship between body composition and bone density in the postmenopausal women. We have studied the relationship between age, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), muscle mass, fat mass, fat free mass and bone density. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have studied 127 persons of postmenopausal women who visited university medical center and examined the inbody 3.0 and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) from Jan, 2001 to Jun, 2002. they didn't have any disease and didn't received hormone therapy, osteoporosis therapy or other medication that influence the bone density. RESULTS: The numbers of study subjects is total 127 persons. Mean age is 56.9+/-5.14, mean weight is 59.3+/-8.7 kg, mean BMI is 25.37+/-3.16 (kg/m2), mean fat mass is 20.02+/-5.05 kg, mean muscle mass is 37.49+/-4.50 kg, mean fat free mass is 39.80+/-4.70, mean BMD is 0.828+/-0.148 (g/cm2). In the result of linear regression analysis, age, height, weight, muscle mass, fat free mass, fat mass, BMI are significant determinants of BMD. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, age is the most significant determinant of BMD and besides age, fat free mass is the most significant determinant of BMD among body composition. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women, age, height, weight, BMI, muscle mass, fat free mass, fat mass are significant determinants of BMD and besides age, fat free mass is the most significant determinant of BMD among the body composition. So, diet and exercise that increase fat free mass will contribute to bone density increment.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Academic Medical Centers ; Body Composition* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Bone Density* ; Diet ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Osteoporosis ; Waist-Hip Ratio