Objective: To observe the effect of heat shock on tropoelastin mRNA and protein expression in cultured human dermal fibroblasts and to elucidate the possible role of heat shock in the development of solar elastosis in human skin. Methods: Primary cultured human dermal fibroblasts were incubated in 43 ℃ water bath for 30 minutes, then returned to 37 ℃, 5%(volume fraction) CO 2 atmosphere normal culture condition. The cells were harvested at hour 24 and 48 after heat treatment respectively. Total RNA was extracted from cell lysis and tropoelastin mRNA level was measured by Northern blot assay. Tropoelastin protein level in cultured supernatant was measured by Western blot assay. Results: At hour 24 after heat treatment, the level of tropoelastin mRNA was enhanced to (163?12)% of control group (P

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*

Intestinal atresia is a frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in the newborn. We reviewed the clinical presentation, associated anomalies, types of atresias, operative managements, and early postoperative complications in 36 cases of intestinal atresia treated at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 1994 and February 2003. Location of the lesion was duodenum in 17 patients, jejunum in 11 patients and ileum in 8 patients. The male to female ratio was 1:1.4 in duodenal atresia (DA), 2.7:1 in jejunal atresia (JA) and 7:1 in ileal atresia (IA). The most common type was type III (41.1 %) in DA, and type I (52.6 %) in JA and IA. The most common presenting symptoms was vomiting(88.2 %) in DA, but in jejunoileal atresia, vomiting(89.4 %) and abdominal distension(89.4 %) were the most common sign and symptom. All cases of DA were diagnosed by plain abdominal radiography. There were 6 cases of DA with congenital heart disease, 3 cases of DA with Down syndrome and 3 cases of JA with meconium peritonitis. Segmental resection was performed in 13 cases, duodenoduodenostomy in 11 cases, membrane excision in 7 cases, jejunojejunostomy in 2 cases, gastroduodenostomy in 2 cases and ileocolic anastomosis in 1 case. There were 9 postoperative complications including 3 each of anastomotic leakage, wound infection, and intestinal obstruction 3 cases. The mortality rate for DA was 11.8 %(2/17). Both deaths in DA were attributed to congenital heart disease. The mortality rate for JA was 18% (2/11). Both cases died with sepsis and short bowel syndrome.
Anastomotic Leak ; Down Syndrome ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Ileum ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Atresia* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Jejunum ; Male ; Meconium ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Sepsis ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; Wound Infection

Pancreatoblastoma is a rare pediatric neoplasm with distinct acinar and squamoid differentiation that generally affects infants and young children. Although the prognosis is relatively favorable over typical pancreatic cancer, the optimal treatment of pancreatoblastoma has not been established. We experienced two cases of pancreatoblastoma in a 2-year-old girl and boy which was found incidentally by the parents due to the detection of abdominal masses.
Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Parents ; Preschool Child ; Prognosis

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

BACKGROUND: The catalytic subunit of telomerase, hTERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), is one of the most important components of telomerase, and performs a pivotal role in the mechanism underlying the regulation of telomerase activity in cellular immortalization and carcinogenesis. The principal objective of this study was to investigate hTERT expression in patients with non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), and to evaluate its clinical significance and association with the expression of p16 and p53. METHODS: Using tissue microarray, the protein expression profiles of hTERT, p16 and p53 were investigated via immunohistochemistry in 167 samples of NSCLCs. RESULTS: Expression was observed in 54.5% (91/167) of the tumors, which were predominantly squamous cell carcinomas. Patients evidencing hTERT expression in their tumors exhibited significantly poorer survival rates than did patients without hTERT expression in early-stage NSCLCs (p=0.0125). According to the results of our Cox regression analysis, hTERT expression proved to be an independent prognostic factor (p=0.006), particularly for squamous cell carcinomas (p=0.019). hTERT expression was not correlated with p16 expression, but was rather associated with the expression of p53 (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that hTERT may perform a function in the progression of NSCLC, and that its detection may be useful in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC patients in the early stages of the disease, as well as in the development of a targeted therapy in these tumors.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Catalytic Domain ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung* ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Telomerase*

Gastric trichobezoars are commonly observed in young women with trichotillomania and trichophagia. We encountered an 8-year-old girl who had trichotillomania and trichophagia with abdominal pain and a mass, which was diagnosed as a large gastric trichobezoar. On physical examination, a huge, firm nontender mobile mass was palpated in her epigastrium. An upper gastrointestinal series and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass in the stomach. Endoscopic removal was tried but failed. Laparoscopic removal was therefore performed. The trichobezoar was successfully retrieved through a gastrotomy and removed through an extended umbilical trocar incision. This case demonstrates that laparoscopic removal of large gastric trichobezoars is feasible and safe without a large abdominal incision.
Abdominal Pain ; Bezoars ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Stomach ; Surgical Instruments ; Trichotillomania

A 67-year-old-man, who had a medical history of hypertension and angina pectoris, was referred to our hospital due to dysuria and a palpable lower abdominal mass. He was a farmer until at the age of 50 and then had been working at a textile factory. The physical examination revealed a fixed, firm and round mass in the lower abdomen. The laboratory data were within the normal ranges, except for elevation of CA-125 (128 U/ml). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 6 x 5 cm round hypodense mass in the pelvic cavity. Preoperative ultrasound-guided needle biopsy resulted in a suspicious rhabdomyosarcoma. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a 10 x 8 cm size firm, round mass that was located between the superior aspect of the urinary bladder and lower anterior abdominal wall. En bloc excision of the mass with partial cystectomy was performed. The pathologic diagnosis was primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Angina Pectoris ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cystectomy ; Diagnosis ; Dysuria ; Hypertension ; Laparotomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesothelioma* ; Physical Examination ; Reference Values ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Textiles ; Urinary Bladder

Spontaneous gastric perforation in the newborn is a rare disease that requires early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment. Between 1988 and 2001 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 9 cases of spontaneous gastric perforation were treated. Seven were males and two females. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 36.7 weeks and 2,455 grespectively. All patients presented with severe abdominal distention and pneumoperitoneum on cross table lateral film of the abdomen. Perforations were located on the anterior wall along the greater curvature of the stomach in six and on the posterior wall along the greater curvature in two. One case showed two sites of perforation on the anterior and posterior wall along the greater curvature. Six patients were managed with debridement and primary closure and the others with debridement and partial gastrectomy. Peritoneal drainage was not performed. There were four deaths; two from sepsis due to leakage from the anastomotic site, one as a result of acute renal failure, and the other by associated respiratory distress syndrome. Spontaneous gastric perforation in the newborn is usually located along the greater curvature. Elevated intragastric pressure is a possible cause of the perforation. Poor prognosis is related to associated diseases and prematurity.
Abdomen ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Birth Weight ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gestational Age ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Stomach

Linear nevus sebaceous syndrome is an uncommon neurocutaneous disorder characterized by nevus sebaceus, seizures, and mental retardation, and is often accompanied by ocular anormalies. We recently experienced a case of conjunctival choristoma associated with linear nevus sebaceous syndrome in a 17-month-old boy. The child was the product of a full-term uncomplicated pregnancy and normal delivery with normal karyotype of 46, XY. He was noted at birth to have a conjunctival mass on the right eye and linear nevi over the midline facial region and right temporoparietal scalp. Ophthalmologic examination revealed optic atrophy, peripapillary staphyloma, macular hypogenesis, and osseous choristoma of the choroid. A computed tomography scan demonstrated widening of the subarachnoid space and moderate atrophy of the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. He has been followed by ophthalmology and completely free of seizures since birth. The patient underwent excision of the conjunctival mass and biopsies of the skin lesion at 17 months of age. Histologic examination of the skin biopsies was characteristic for the linear sebaceous nevus of Jadassohn. Histologic findings of the conjunctival lesion showed a complex choristoma that contained lacrimal gland tissue and cartilage.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Child ; Choristoma* ; Choroid ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Karyotype ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Male ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Atrophy ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Seizures ; Skin ; Subarachnoid Space