We report two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with prominent lymphocytic infiltration, which has been described as a subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma with good prognosis. One case showed lymphoid follicles and dense lymphocytic infiltrates within the tumor and its periphery, and the other case showed marked lymphocytic infiltration in the cancerous tissue. Piecemeal necrosis of cancer cells and atypical reactive changes were evident. The two cases were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA. One of the cases showed Clonorchis infestation. The prognostic significance of lymphocytic stroma in hepatocellular carcinoma requires further investigation.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/pathology ; Clonorchiasis/diagnosis/parasitology ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A model theory of passive-targeted drug delivery in sphere-shaped solid tumors is introduced on the basis of Fick's law of diffusion, with appropriate boundary and initial conditions. For a uniform initial concentration inside the tumor, the concentration is obtained as a function of time and radial position. The concentration is shown to approach the equilibrium distribution as the time elapses, as is expected by the Gedanken Experiment. The time-evolution rate is found to be determined by the diffusion coefficient of the drug in the tissue, the size of the tumor, the volume of the drug-injected region, and the concentration gradient at the boundary.
Diffusion ; Jurisprudence

No abstract available.
Endoscopy* ; Pancreatic Diseases*

Patients undergoing monocular excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopic correction can develop strabismus secondary to decompensated heterophorias. We experienced a case of ocular esodeviation and diplopia that developed 8 nionths after monocular excimer laser phtorefractive keratectomy. So, we report this case with 8 review of the literature.
Diplopia ; Esotropia ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Strabismus

Nonimmune hydrops fetals is defined as generalized edema of the fetal soft tissue in utero and may be associated with effusion in the serous cavities without hematologic evidence of isoimmunization. The most common demonstrable causes are cardiac anomalies, followed by chromosomal disorders, congenital malformations, alpha-thalassemia, and the twin-twin transfu-sion syndrome. We have experienced a case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis in identical twin which caused by congenital mitral valve insufficiency and disappeared spontaneously at 35 wks. Now we report a case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis that slowly and spontaneously imp-roved without interventions with a brief review of related literatures.
alpha-Thalassemia ; Chromosome Disorders ; Edema ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Twins, Monozygotic*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Lupus Nephritis*

Background : Carcinoma of the pancreas is a fatal malignant disease with limited therapeutic options. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and c-erbB-2 are known to be involved in the carcinogenesis, differentiation and invasiveness of various neoplasms. We studied the immunohistochemical expressions of c-erbB-2 and COX-2 and the correlation between these expressions and the clinicopathologic parameters and the relation between the expressions. Methods : Immunohistochemical staining for c-erbB-2 and COX-2 were performed on the paraffin embedded sections of 36 cases of surgically resected ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and 10 cases of non-neoplastic pancreas tissue. Results : The non-neoplastic control group showed a c-erbB-2 expression in the acini (8/10) and ducts (2/10), and a COX-2 expression in the acini (6/10) and ducts (3/10). The overexpression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 58% (21/36) of the carcinoma specimens. No significant correlation was found between c-erbB-2 and age, gender, tumor size, gross type, histologic grade, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the TNM stage. The overexpression of COX-2 was observed in 41.7% (15/36) of the carcinoma specimens. The COX-2 expression was significantly high in the lymph node metastasis group (p<0.05), but it was not correlated with the other clinicopathologic parameters. Also there was no significant correlation between the c-erbB-2 and COX-2 expressions. Conclusions : In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, c-erbB-2 and COX-2 were frequently overexpressed, and COX-2 overexpression was correlated with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Paraffin ; Receptor, erbB-2

BACKGROUND: In survivors of acute myocardial infarction(ANI), reduced heart rate variability(HRV) has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death and mortality. The heart rate variability can be examined and analyzed non-invasively and quantitated with 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring. In general, the patency of infarct-related artery appears to be one of the most important prognostic factor after AMI. Therefor, the correlation between infarct artery patency and HRV was examined in survivors of AMI. METHODS: The 24-Hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was performed in 23 patients with AMI and 20 normal controls, and analyzed for frequency & time domain HRV. HRV was recorded dwithin 7 days after AMI, and coronary angiogram was performed at 7th day after AMI. The AMI patients were divided into two groups, depending upon patency of infarct-related artery and correlated to clinical manifestations. Thirteen patients had patent vessel(Group 1) and ten patients had non-patent vessel(Group 2). Parameters of frequency domain HRV include LF, HF & LF/HF ratio and time domain HRV include SDNN, SDANN, SD, rMSSD and pNN50. RESULTS: All parameters of HRV was depressed in patients of AMI than in normal control(p<0.05). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was 54.1+/-10.6% in group 1 and 42.6+/-12.2% in group 2(p<0.05). The mean values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group 1 and group 2 were 5.09+/-0.83msec2/Hz & 4.09+/-0.53msec2/Hz, 84.5+/-24.2msec & 59.0+/-11.8msec, 73.2+/-22.8msec & 50.5+/-12.6msec, and 37.8+/-13.1msec & 27.2+/-4.4msec(p<0.05), respectively. There was no difference between two groups in HF,rMSSD and pNN50. The location of infarction and thrombolytic therapy itself did not influence of HRV. The mean values of HF, SDANN, rMSSD and pNN50 in patients with LVEF<40% were reduced significantly than in patients with LVEF> or =40%. There was a significant correlation between LVEF and LF, between LVEF and HF and between LVEF and LF/HF ratio(r:0.55, p<0.05;r:0.67, p<0.05;r:-0.56, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HRV was depressed due to reduced vagal activity in patients with AMI. The values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group of patent infarct-related artery were reduced significantly than in non-patent group.
Arteries* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Survivors ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that a recently approved synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride. To assess the efficacy on the level of serum LDL cholesterol and other lipoprotein fractions and its safety, we investigated 59 patients for lipid and side effect profile. METHOD: In patients with hypercholesterolemia, who showed 12-hours fasting serum LDL cholesterol>145 mg/dl and <250 mg/dl and triglyceride levels<400 mg/dl were enrolled to diet therapy for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of diet therapy, serum lipid profile were reevaluated and patients with LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dl were assigned to receive 10 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily for 4weeks. After 4 weeks of drug therapy, serum lipid profile were rechecked, if showed LDL cholesterol level> or =130 mg/dl, assigned to receive 20 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily until 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients were assigned to receive atorvastatin therapy, 52 patients completed the study. Among lipid profiles, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels showed significant reduction with mean reduction rate of 28%, 13%, 38%, 32% respectively after 4 weeks and 31%, 13%, 41% and 34% respectively after 8 weeks. HDL-Cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) level did not show significant change after 8 weeks of therapy. Nine patients had mild adverse events, such as elevated ALT, epigastric pain, insomnia, thumb pain. postural hypotension, palpitation and constipation. Only three patients of fifty-nine withdrew from the study due to adverse events related to drug treatment. CONCLUSION: The atorvastatin was highly effective and generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile in patients with primary hypercholestelemia.
Apolipoproteins ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Constipation ; Diet Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Oxidoreductases ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Thumb ; Triglycerides ; Atorvastatin Calcium

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis, We analyzed the cases of distal femoral fracture treated with this newly developed surgical technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 12 cases of distal femoral fracture which had been treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and each patients had been followed up for a minimum twelve months. Post-operative function was evaluated with checking the range of motion of knee joint and Knee Society Score. Union period and post-operative alignment was measured on radiograph. RESULTS: In all cases, bony union was obtained in average fifteen weeks after operation without bone graft. The arc of motion of knee joint which was checked at the last follow up was 123.75 degrees on average. According to Knee Society Score, there were 9 excellent, 1 fair and 1 poor results. The post-operative complications were malunion in 1 case, soft tissue infection in 1 case and joint stiffness in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The treatment of distal femoral fracture with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis is one of the good surgical options for clinically preferable results with high union rate without bone graft and early joint motion.
Femoral Fractures* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Transplants