OBJECTIVE: The authors present a retrospective analysis of the long-term recurrence rate for the 79 craniopharyngima patients surgically treated between Jan 1989 and Dec 1999. METHODS:Tumor recurrence rates were analysed with respect to age of patients, symptom duration, tumor size, localization of tumor, morphology of tumor, the extent of surgical resection, pathologic diagnosis and the other treatment modalities. RESULTS: For 79 patients, with a mean follow-up period of 5 years, the overall recurrence rate was 29%. Factors associated with decreased risk of recurrence was gross total tumor resection(p=0.01). Subtotal resection was associated with increased risk of tumor recurrence. The adjuvant radiation therapy was revealed efficient not in decreasing recurrence rate but in the delay of tumor recurrence time(p=0.05). There were no differences in recurrence rates for other factors. CONCLUSION: A rigorous evaluation of recurrence for craniopharyngima must consider the extent of resection, as judged by postoperative imaging. Adjuvant radiation therapy or Gamma knife surgery could be the effective treatment modalities.
Craniopharyngioma* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies

Viral proteins of gamma-2 herpesviruses, such as LMP2A of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Tip of herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) dysregulate lymphocyte signaling by interacting with Src family kinases. K15 open reading frame of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), located at the right end of the viral genome, encodes several splicing variants differing in numbers of transmembrane domains. Previously, we demonstrated that the cytoplasmic tail of the K15 protein interfered with B cell receptor signal transduction to cellular tyrosine phosphorylation and calcium mobilization. However, the detailed mechanism underlying this phenomenon was not understood. In the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of K15, putative binding domains for Src-SH2 and -SH3 were identified. In this study, we attempted to characterize these modular elements and cellular binding protein(s) by GST pull down and co-immunoprecipitation assays. These studies revealed that K15 interacted with the major B cell tyrosine kinase Lyn. In vitro kinase and transient co-expression assays showed that the expression of K15 protein resulted in activation of Lyn kinase activity. In addition, GST pull down assay suggested that the SH2 domain of Lyn alone was necessary for interaction with the C-terminal SH2B (YEEV) of K15, but the addition of Lyn SH3 to the SH2 domain increases the binding affinity to K15 protein. The data from luciferase assays indicate that K15 expression in BJAB cells induced NFAT and AP1 activities. The tyrosine residue in the C-terminal end of K15 required for the Lyn interaction appeared to be essential for NFAT/AP1 activation, highlighting the significance of the C-terminal SH2B of K15 as a modular element in interfering with B lymphocyte signaling through interaction with Lyn kinase.
Cell Line ; Herpesvirus 8, Human/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology ; Transcription Factor AP-1/genetics/*metabolism ; Transfection ; Viral Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; src-Family Kinases/genetics/*metabolism

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the important causative microbes for nosocomial infection and has been isolated from the dental environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of linalool and alpha-terpineol against MRSA isolates from a Korean population. In the experiments, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of these two compounds against 18 strains of MRSA. The data revealed that the MIC90/MBC90 values of linalool and alpha-terpineol against MRSA were >12.8 mg/ml and 6.4 mg/ml, respectively. These results indicate that alpha-terpineol has more potent antimicrobial activity against MRSA than linalool and may have utility as an anti-MRSA cleansing agent for dental instruments and dental unit chairs.
Cross Infection ; Cyclohexenes ; Dental Instruments ; Detergents ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Monoterpenes

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important component of innate defense mechanisms with broad-spectrum activities against various pathogenic microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Antibiotic resistance has become a pervasive and global health burden, resulting in the immediate need to develop a new class of antibiotic substances. We screened a 16-mer random peptide library using the yeast two-hybrid system with Beclin 1 as bait and found that two 16-mer peptides (named P4 and P30) appeared to interact with Beclin1 in the beta-gal assay. The two candidate cDNAs were introduced into the yeast secretory system of Pichia pastoris and their expression induced in the presence of methanol. Spectrophotometric analysis and Disc clear zone assay using the supernatant of the yeast growth media showed that both of the two peptides had strong activities against Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA (methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA2242, and MRSA-2250, but no effect on commensal Lactobacillus strains. PCR analysis of the genomic DNA of transformed Pichia pastoris using AOX1 primers revealed that the two cDNAs were integrated into the genome at the AOX1 locus. Our result suggests that these peptides could be developed as a useful alternative to classic chemical antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Defense Mechanisms ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Fungi ; Genome ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus casei ; Methanol ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Peptide Library* ; Peptides* ; Pichia* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Yeasts*

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein H (gH) is one of target molecules in the human immune response to HCMV infection. This study was performed to rneasure the immune responses to HCMV gH in human sera by the expression of HCMV gH in eukaryotic cells. Amplified DNA from the gene encoding gH of HCMV by polymerase chain reaction was cloned into pcDNA3 to construct eukaryotic expression vector. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that the expressed gH in mammalian cells was reactive with the specific monoclonal antibody. Antibody titer in patient's sera with HCMV infection was measured with HCMV-infected fibroblasts and HCMV gH expressed in mammalian cells. Anti-HCMV gH antibody titer was higher in patient group than in healthy control group. There was no correlation between the antibody titer to the whole HCMV and neutralizing antibody titer, and between the antibody titer to whole HCMV and whole gH. Conclusively it is highly recommendable to use the defined antigen such as HCMV gH for the detection of antibody in HCMV-infected persons in the aspect of immunological properties.
Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Clone Cells ; Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Glycoproteins* ; Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

We present a case of ganglioglioma in the cerebellar vermis. A 2-year-old boy presented with symptoms and signs of raised intracranial pressure and the physical examination revealed large head and developmental delay. Magnetic resonance image demonstrated a hypointense mass in the cerebellar vermis on T1-weighted image with heterogeneous enhancement after gadolinium administration, mimicking a malignant tumor. A gross total resection was performed and pathologic findings demonstrated a ganglioglioma. There was no evidence of recurrence of the tumor during 16 months follow up period.
Cerebellum ; Child, Preschool ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium ; Ganglioglioma ; Head ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence

Ganglioglioma comprises about 2% of all intracranial neoplasm, however, it is rarely originated from the brain stem. We report a case of ganglioglioma arising from the brain stem. A 15-year-old girl presented with gait disturbance and dysarthria. Magnetic resonance image revealed a high signal intensity mass with cystic cavities in the right cerebellum and the brain stem. The patient underwent subtotal resection and microscopic examination revealed a ganglioglioma. It is suggested that ganglioglioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors, even located in the brain stem.
Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Gait ; Ganglioglioma* ; Humans ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hemangioendothelioma is a recently described uncommon vascular neoplasm, characterized by epithelioid tumor cells and borderline biologic behavior. Its histological features and clinical behavior are intermediate between those of hemangioma and angiosarcoma. Its four principal sites of occurrence are the soft tissue, liver, lung and bone. Its intracranial occurrence is extreamly rare. We report a case of primary cerebral hemangioendothelioma in a 29-year-old male patient
Adult ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Vascular Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES AND OMPORTANCE: The present study investigated the levels of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in the CSF of patients with moyamoya disease and its clinical significance. METHODS: The levels of bFGF in CSF, taken from 26 hemispheres of 14 moyamoya patients and 20 patients without vascular anomaly(control group), were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We analyzed the correlation between the level of bFGF and the clinical factors such as age, onset pattern, development of neovascularization, and cerebral circulation. RESULTS: The CSF of moyamoya patients contained a high concentration of bFGF to a significant extent. The bFGF level was apparently elevated in the patients in whom neovascularization from indirect revascularization, such as modified encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis(EDAS) was well developed. A linear correlation between the values of bFGF and clinical progression was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of bFGF in moyamoya disease seems to be specific. Clinically, the bFGF level may be considered a useful indicator to predict the efficacy of indirect revascularization.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Moyamoya Disease*

A 44-year-old woman presented with acute confusion, apparently due to a clinically silent subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by vasospasm, which in turn led to an ischemic stroke. During the initial evaluation, an acute ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a late subacute hemorrhage in the left basal cistern. Digital subtraction angiography indicated the presence of a small saccular aneurysm that had recently ruptured, as well as vasospasm in the left circle of Willis. Balloon angioplasty and balloon-assisted coil embolization were performed for the vasospasm and saccular aneurysm, respectively. This case demonstrates that clinically silent subarachnoid hemorrhages resulting in ipsilateral vasospasm and infarction can occur as complications of a ruptured aneurysm.