No abstract available.

Nucleolar organizer regions are DNA loops encoding rihbosomal RNA production and detectable by the argyrophilia of their associated proteins(AgNORs). AgNOR numbers correlate with cellular proliferating activity. Many studies have shown a significnt difference in AgNOR counts between benign and malignant tumors. AgNOR counts were also helpful in differential diagnosis. For the evaluation of its diagnostic utility in gastric lesions, a silver staining technique was carried out in paraffin sections of 5 control cases, 5 benign peptic ulcers, 7 hyperplastic polyps, 10 tubular adenomas, 16 early gastric adenocarcinomas and 15 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas. The results were as follows. The mean numbers of AgNORs in early and advanced gastric adenocarcinomas(1.94 and 2.16) were significantly higher than those of normal foveolar epithelium(1.43) and epithelia of benign gastric ulcers(1.54), hyperplastic polyps(1.64) and tubular adenomas(1.79). In malignancy, there was increased variability in size and shape of AgNORs. There was little differences in mean AgNOR numbers between early and advanced gastric adenocarcinomas. Differentiation of the tumor made no difference in AgNOR numbers. From the above results, the AgNORs count, if its morphologic change are taken into consideration, is helpful in differentiation between malignant and non-malignant lesions.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: The electrophysiological effects of purinergic receptor agonists, adenosine triphosphate(ATP) and adenosine were examined using conventional microelectrode technique in rat atrial muscle fibers under superfused with a normal or a simulated ischemic(hypoxic, hyperkalemic and acidotic) physiologic salt solution(PSS) in vitro. METHODS: Action potential parameters, such as maximal diastolic potential(MDP), action potential amplitude(APA), rate of phase 0 depolarization(dv/dtmax) and action potential duration(APD90) were measured in electrically paced, physiologic salt solution(Tyrode's) superfused left rat atrium. In the experiment of ischemic simulation in vitro, normal physiologic salt solutions(NPSS0 were modified(MPSS) and superfused in substitute for normal Tyrode's solution. To investigate the effects of purinergic receptor agonists, ATP or adenosine was added to the superfused tyrode's solutions(NPSS or MPSS) in molar concentration. RESULTS: Under superfused with normal PSS, ATP(10(-3), 10(-4)M) elicited slight hyperpolarization in MDP, and both ATP(10(-6)-10(-3)M) and adenosine(10(-6)-10(-3)M) shortened the duration of normal action potential in a dose-dependent manner. The other paramaters were not affected by the drugs. Superfusion with ischemic PSS caused reductions in MDP as well as APA, dv/dtmax and, especially, APD90. The effects produced by the initial 10 minutes of superfusion with ischemic PSS almost completely disappeared during a subsequent period of continued superfusion with normal PSS, but, those by the initial 20 min lasted in some degree. Both ATP(10(-4)M) and adenosine(10(-4)M) attenuated the reduction in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and the amplitude of the action potential amplitude produced by the ischemic PSS. CONCLUSION: Purinergic receptor agonists, ATP and adensoine, caused a concentration-dependent shortening of the action potential duration in rat atrial muscle fibers and they attenuated the reductions in the rate of phase 0 depolarization and action potential amplitude in fibers superfused with ischemic PSS.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Ischemia ; Microelectrodes ; Molar ; Purinergic Agonists* ; Rats ; Receptors, Purinergic

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is an uncommon carcinoma accounting for less than 1% of the breast carcinoma. This type of carcinoma has a distinctive histology, such as cylindromatous, cribriform, glandlike space and solid pattern in the variable proportion. Prognosis is favorable with rare recurrence or metastasis and the guideline for therapy is not well established. We experienced a case of ACC of right breast in the 48 year-old woman. Cytologically, it showed numerous three-dimensional, well outlined cell clusters with central core of homogeneous, eosinophilic material. The mass was well demarcated, firm and measured 2.5 2.5 2 cm. Cut surface was yellowish white and granular with focal necrosis. Histologically, the tumor was composed of cylindromatous, adenoid and solid area with marked cellular atypia. Focal invasion was identified in the adipose tissue around the tumor. Histologic and nuclear grade was III by Kleer's grade. Nodal metastasis was not found.
Adenoids* ; Adipose Tissue ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Herpes simplex esophagitis has been recognized with increased frequency as an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed or debilitated patients. However, it is also documented as self-limited esophagitis in apparently healthy patients. We report two cases of herpetic esophagitis diagnosed by biopsies. One case was noted in an immunocompetent patient having gastric peptic ulcer who had clinical improvement with symptomatic treatment. And the other was noted in an immunosuppressed patient having chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma who had resolution of symptoms with acyclovir therapy. Histologically, esophageal mucosa exhibited erosion and inflammatory cellular exudate with intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions in the epithelial cells. These were confirmed by the PCR and immunohistochemical stain for herpes simplex virus using a biopsy material.
Acyclovir ; Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophagitis* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Opportunistic Infections ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simplexvirus

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in industrialized countries including Korea. METHODS: The methodology of cardiovascular disease clinical trials, published in 'The Korean Circulation Journal(KCJ)' and in 'The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine (KJIM)' from 1971 to 1993 were reviewed. For the study period, a total of 169 research papers in this field, includion 155 papers in the KCJ and 14 in the KJIM, were reviewed. To review the methodology behind the cardiovascular disease clinical trials, presence of a control group, set up a primary end point, determined sample size and the statistical method to be used, report on the side effects, and consent of patients were checked. In cases involving clinical trials using control groups, rendomization and blinding were also analysed. RESULTS: Among clinical trials reviewed only 6 (4.0%) of the 169 papers were used a control group, and 46.7% were set up with a primary end point. There was no clinical trial which used statitical methods to estimate the sample size. Clinical trials which reported results with statistical methods were 107 to 169 papers;most of these used the student's paired t-test. The number reporting the side effects of intervention was 143(88.7%) and papers reporting with the consent of patients was 15(8.8%). CONCLUSION: Most of clinical trials reviewed did not use appropriate method for clinical trials. Methodologically well-designed clinical trials in cardiovascular disease should be performed to guarantee the validity of study result.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cause of Death ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea* ; Sample Size

A 52-year-old woman was admitted with a palpable mass on the abdominal wall. This tumor had developed at the same site of a previously resected dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The biopsy specimen from the recurrent tumor revealed malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Immunohistochemistry with anti-CD34 antibody revealed diffuse linear positivity on the tumor cells of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and negativity on malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Anti CD34 antibody was valuable for a differential diagnosis of these two lesions.
Abdominal Wall ; Biopsy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged

For many years, members of medical profession have believed that the shorter symptoms to diagnosis interval(SDI) might be related to early stages and that the prompt treatments might improve survival rates in cancer patients. But this notion has been challenged by many researches for many years. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SDI on the cancer survival for 221 stomach cancer cases, 106 lung cancer cases, 74 liver cancer cases and 59 cervix cancer cases. These cancer cases are registered ones in Kanghwa Cancer Registery Program from 1987 to 1991. Relationships among SDI, stages of cancers, operation rates, and survival were analysed. Results are as follows: 1. SDI was not related to stages of cancer. There were no difference in the distribution of stages among five SDI subgroups. 2. This data did not support that SDI affects the survival of stomach cancer patients. The cancer stages did affect survival in stomach cancer patients though. 3. Our data did not support that SDI affects cancer survival. A Cox proportional hazard model showed that SDI does not play a important role in cancer survival controlling age, gender, stage and other variables in the model. Further studies are highly expected to clarify the relationships between SDI and cancer survivals. Researches with bigger sample size and more sophisticated variables would be needed.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sample Size ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Rabbits*