Primary leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor of the ovary. We experienced a case of primary ovarian leiomyosarcoma in a 68 year old woman. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by interlacing bundles of plump spindle cells that showed immunoreactivity for alpha-smooth muscle actin, pleomorphic multinucleated giant cells and an increased mitotic rate. Ultrastructural features included abundant smooth muscle type filaments and irregular bodies. Consequently, this case has led us to propose ultrastructural and immunohistochemical criteria for primary ovarian leiomyosarcoma.
Female ; Humans

To study factors related to release of atrial natriuretic polypeptide(ANP) in human subjects, instracardiac pressure and plasma ANP concentration in peripheral and central circulation were measured in patients with various heart disease (18 valvular heart disease, 4 congenital heart disease, 2 cardiomyopathy). 1) The concentration in peripheral venous plasma were increased in 14 patients with New York Heart Associaion (NYHA) functional class III-IV (87+/-38 pg/ml) as compared with that in 10 patients with NYHA functional class I-II (39+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.005)and 15 normal subjects (51+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.01). 2)The concentration of plasma ANP in inferior vena cava, right ventricle, pulonary artery, left ventricle and aorta were markedly increased in patient with NYHA functional class III-IV, elevated mean right atrial pressure (MRAP> or =8 mmHg) elevated mean pulmonary capllary wedge pressure (MPCWP> or =15 mmHg) and/or elevated pulminary artery systolic pressure (PASP> or =35 mmHg), as compared with those in patients with NYHA functional class I-II and/or lower intracardiac pressure (MRAP<8 mmHg, MPCWP<15 mmHg, and/or PASP<35 mmHg). 3) A step up in ANP concentration between inferior vena cava and right atrium was seen in patients with elevated MRAP (81+/-28pg/ml, 137+/-60pg/ml, P<0.05), MPCWP (74+/-37pg/ml,112+/-62pg/ml, P<0.05) and/or PASP (75+/-29 pg/ml,119+/-64 pg/ml, P<0.05). But there were no differences among intracardiac ANP concentrations from right atrium though aorta. 4) Plasma concentrations in right atrium, pulmonary artery, left ventricle and aorta correlated with MRAP (r=0.82, 0.63, 0.56, p<0.005 and r=0.52, P<0.01, respectively), MPCWP (r=0.86, 0.75, 0.73 and 0.72 respectively, P<0.005 in all) and PASP (r=0.73, 0.57, 0.68 and 0.59 respectively P<0.005 in all). 5) Left atrial diameter correlated with plasma ANP concentration in peripheral plasma (r=0.55, P<0.01), inferior vena cava (r=0.51, P<0.025), right atrium (r=0.45, P<0.05), right ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01), pulmonary artery (r=0.52, P<0.01), left ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01) and aorta (r=0.56, P<0.005). These results suggest that the heart secrets atrial natriuretic polypeptide into right atrium in response to increased mean right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and/or left atrial distention.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Vena Cava, Inferior

No abstract available.
Genetic Loci* ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

This experiment is designed to find differentially expressed genes in p388D1 cells that are specific for the serum deprived state. Serum starvation induces cells to enter the quiscent state in the cell cycle and is used to arrest cell growth or synchronize the cell cycle. Differential display and ribonuclease protection assay were used to identify quantitative change in gene expression. Nineteen genes that showed a differential expression in the differential display were cloned and 7 clones were verified by a ribonuclease protection assay. Among the 7 clones clone-16 showed same expression pattern in comparison with the differential display. Deduced amino acid sequences of clone-16 had N-glycosylation motif and seems to be a secretory protein. Getting a full sequence of clone-16 is critical for the characterization of it.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Cycle ; Clone Cells ; Gene Expression ; Ribonucleases ; Starvation

The acardiac fetus is a rare type of fetal monster in which, as the name implies, the heart is completely absent. Acardius occurs only in a pair monozygotic twin, and shows various other defects in addition to the absence of the heart. Our autopsy case is acardiac anceps. He weighed 1,980 gm and the height was 33 cm. The brain is poorly developed, 60 gm in weight and similar to reversed snowman (3.5x2.8x2.8, 1.5x1.5x1.3 cm). Encephalocele, 6 cm in diameter, was communicated with the brain by a tract which contains nervous tissue and primitive choroid plexus. The upper extremities were absent, while the vertebrae and lower extremities were relatively well developed. The heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and spleen were absent, but the kidney, genital organs and urinary bladder were present. The intestine was seperated into two segments which were blindly ended, 32 cm and 15 cm in length, respectively.

To understand the mechanism of cell injury when exposed to HgCl2, monitoring of cytosolic ionized free Ca2+([Ca2+]i), viability test, measurement of the amount of ATP, and Ca-ATPase activity were evaluated in cultured rabbit renal tubular cells(RTC) exposed to HgCl2. The results were as follows: 1) HgCl2 was cytotoxic to rabbit RTC at all doses except 10 uM and the rate of killing displayed a dose- and time-dependent relationship. 2) The absence of extracellular Ca provided partial protection from irreversible injury induced by HgCl2. 3) The increasing pattem of [Ca2+]i varied according to the concentrations of HgCl2. At the low concentrations of HgCl2 (2.5-10 microM), the level of [Ca2+]i increased slowly over the flat 2-3 min and then achieved plateau-state. In contrast, at the high concentrations of HgCl2 (25-100 microM) the level of [Ca2+]i achieved peak within 1 min and then decreased to a plateau state under normal concentrations. 4) The level of ATP was decreased to 27.5% of that of normal control cells within 3 min by using a treatment of 100 microM HgCl2. 5) HgCl2 did not affect the Ca2+ ATPase activity by enzyme histochemical observation. These findings suggest that the elevation of [Ca2+]i in response to the HgCl2-induced injury is an important event in accelerating injury that ultimately leads to cell death. But other possibilities such as HgCl2 might have direct deleterious effects on the also should be considered.
Rabbits ; Animals

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of silicosis has been focused on the interaction between alveolar macrophages and silica particle. Although fibrosis in silicosis has been studied extensively, the mechanism is still not fully understood. There is increasing evidence that monokines and arachidonic acid metabolites produced by macrophage are involved in pathogenesis of silicosis. Recently, it was reported that prostaglandin E2 produced from macrophage counteracts the stimulatory effects of other monokines on fibroblast proliferation or collagen production. Until now, it was remained uncertain by which mechanism silica particle may activate alveolar macrophage to an enhanced release of prostaglandin E2. METHODS: In order to investigate the relationship between the activity of alveolar macrophage and the production of PGE2 from activated alveolar macrophage, the authors measured hydrogen peroxide and PGE2 from alveolar macrophages activated by silica in vitro and from alveolar macrophages in the silicotic nodules from rat. Experimental silicosis was induced by intratracheal infusion of silica(SiO2) suspended in saline (50 mg/ml) in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: 1) The silicotic nodules with fibrosis were seen from the sections of rat lung at 60 days after intratracheal injection with 50 mg aqueous suspension of silica. 2) In vitro, silica caused the dose dependent increase of hydrogen peroxide(p<0.05) and PGE2(p>0.05) release from alveolar macrophages. Alveolar macrophages from rats with silicotic nodules released more hydrogen peroxide and PGE2 than those of control group(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that silica particle could activate macrophage directly and enhanced the release of PGE2 and hydrogen peroxide from the alveolar macrophage.
Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Collagen ; Dinoprostone* ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Monokines ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silicon Dioxide* ; Silicosis

Human brucellosis has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, which includes endocarditis, a focal complication that is uncommon yet responsible for the majority of associated deaths. The most successful treatment outcomes of Brucella endocarditis have been reported with usage of both antimicrobial agents and surgery. However, there are few reports on the treatment of Brucella endocarditis using antibiotics only. We report the first case in Korea of Brucella endocarditis with aortic valve vegetations and an accompanying splenic abscess, which were treated successfully with antibiotic therapy alone.
Abscess/*microbiology ; Animals ; Aortic Valve/microbiology ; *Brucella abortus ; Brucellosis/*diagnosis ; Cattle ; Dairying ; Endocarditis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*microbiology ; Spleen/microbiology ; Zoonoses

We report on a 41-year-old woman with a chest wall desmoid tumour who was successfully treated with a computed tomography (CT)-guided steroid injection. She presented with a palpable mass in the right upper chest wall and was treated by surgical excision and postoperative radiation therapy due to recurrence of the mass at the surgical site. At 20 months after the second operation, a recurrent mass was again detected in the anterosuperior portion of the previous surgical site on CT. We performed a CT-guided steroid injection weekly for 4 weeks by applying a mixture of 3 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 3 mL of 1% Lidocaine, administering 4-6 mL of the mixture, to the lesion. Six months later, CT showed a marked decrease in the size of the mass.
Adult ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive/*drug therapy/*radiography ; Glucocorticoids/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lidocaine/therapeutic use ; *Radiography, Interventional ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall/*pathology ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Triamcinolone/*therapeutic use

Rhinoliths result from calcification of an endogenous or exogenous nidus within the nasal cavity. Patients typically present symptoms of long-standing unilateral nasal obstruction, pain and foul-smelling discharge. Rhinoliths are most often found on the floor of the nose and maxillary antrum. Rhinoliths are most often found on the floor of the nose and maxillary antrum. Rhinoliths present complications involving erosion or perforation of nasal mucosa, septum and palate. Sinusitis is a rare complication of rhinoliths. The authors experienced a case of frontal sinus rhinoliths in 36 years old man who complained of a headache and had a history of a frontal area trauma. At first we suspected it to be fungal sinusitis or mucocele, but finally confirmed it to be frontal sinus rhinolith after carrying out a frontal sinus osteoplastic operation.
Adult ; Frontal Sinus* ; Headache ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Mucocele ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Palate ; Sinusitis