Cowden's syndrome is a harmatomatous polyposis syndrome with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions and among the spectra of clinical disorders that has been attributed to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Although Cowden's syndrome has rarely been reported, immunologic studies have revealed that patients with this syndrome have humoral and/or cellular immune abnormalities. We recently identified a 21-year-old woman with Cowden's syndrome who was diagnosed with candida esophagitis without a history of diabetes, carcinoma, or steroid therapy. We report the immunologic status of this patient and the relationship with candida esophagitis on the basis of a literature review.
Candida ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the expressions of clusterin, bax, Ki-67, p53, and apoptotic index in epithelial ovarian tumors, borderline and malignant ovarian tumors, (2) to find out the correlation between their expressions and clinicopathological parameters, and (3) to evaluate the effect on the patient's survival according to their expressions. METHODS: The histological and clinical findings of 22 cases of ovarian cystadenomas, 44 cases of borderline tumors and 96 cases of carcinomas were evaluated. Expressions of clusterin, bax, Ki-67, p53, and apoptotic index were studied on paraffin-embedded tissue sections by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The expressions of clusterin, p53, and Ki-67 were higher in ovarian carcinomas than borderline tumors. The overexpression of p53, and Ki-67 were frequent in high stage, poorly differentiated and bilateral ovarian carcinomas. The overexpressions of clusterin, bax, p53, and Ki-67 showed a statistically significant correlation with histologic type. Apoptotic index was higher in bax overexpression group, but there was no correlation with overexpression of clusterin or p53. Ki-67 was higher in p53 overexpression group, but there was no correlation with overexpression of clusterin or p53. There was no statistically significant correlation with each other between the overexpressions of clusterin, bax, p53, and Ki-67. The overexpressions of clusterin, Ki-67, p53 was associated with overall patient's survival in borderline significance. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of p53, and Ki-67 were frequent in poorly differentiated ovarian carcinomas. So the overexpression of p53, and Ki-67 can be used as prognostic factor. The overexpression of clusterin was more in epithelial ovarian carcinomas than in borderline tumors but showed no significant correlation with the overall patient's survival. Further studies are required to clarify the possibility of using clusterin for target therapy in epithelial ovarian carcinomas.
Clusterin ; Cystadenoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity has been recently proposed as a noninvasive means for assessing endotheial function. This endothelial function is impaired in certain cardiovascular conditions, including essential hypertension. METHODS: The study population included 50 healthy subjects aged 22 to 62 years (mean+/-SD, 42+/-12 years), all normotensive, nondiabetic with cholesterol level <220 mg/dL and no family history of premature vascular disease. Normal subjects were classified according to age into those younger than and those older than 40 years. Using high-resolution ultrasound, brachial artery diameter and flow were measured at rest, during reactive hyperemia (with flow increase causing flow-mediated dilation [FMD], which depends on normal endothelial function), and after sublingual nitroglycerin, an endothelium-independent vasodilation. To better characterize this technique, this study was an attempt to assess the flow-mediated vasodilation in two separate protocols (as follows); (1) the stimulus response to various duration of occlusion (using 1 and 5 min), and (2) the stimulus response to various pressure of occlusion (using low and high pressure). In 28 patients (mean+/-SD, 52+/-7 years) with essential hypertension, this study was additionally evaluated endothelial function. The measurements have been compared with those of 14 healthy control subjects. In all subjects, the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was also measured. This study sought to 1) determine whether endothelial dysfunction was presented in patients with essential hypertension, and 2) examine IMT in these patients. RESULTS: 1) Both in the younger and the older groups, the basal diameter and flow of the brachial artery were significantly increased in men than women. The values were 4.4+/-0.1 mm and 186+/-16 ml/min in men and 3.6+/-0.09 mm and 125+/-13 ml/min in women (p<0.001; p<0.01). In subjects younger than 40 years, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and the difference in flow response were similar between men and women. But, in subjects older than 40 years, FMD was decreased in men than women (6.6+/-1.6 vs. 14.7+/-1.6%. p<0.01) and the difference in flow response was also decreased in men than women (217+/-24.3 vs. 314+/-40.5%, p<0.05). In younger and older groups, there were no significant change in the nitroglyserin response in either gender. 2) Fifteen normal subjects underwent sequential evaluation following 1 and 5 min of upper arm blood pressure cuff occlusion. There were substantial increase in brachial artery diameter and flow immediately after release of 1 and 5 min of occlusion. The FMD and the difference in flow response following release of occlusion between 5 min duration (11.5+/-1.9%, 253+/-36%) and 1 min duration (6.6+/-1.2%, 53+/-11%) were statistically significant (p<0.05; p<0.001). But, the percent change of diameter following release of occlusion between 5 and 1 min was not statistically significant (p<0.05). 3) Fourteen normal subjects was evaluated the effects of various pressure on endothelial cell function. Inflation pressure was maintained at 30 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure for 5 min and 200 mm Hg (70-90 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure) for 5 min in a random fashion, and then the cuff was suddenly deflated. The diameter and flow response following release of occlusion between high and low pressure were not statistical significance (p>0.05). 4) Flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with essential hypertension than in normotensive control subjects (4.2+/-0.8 vs. 7.3+/-1.3 %, p<0.05). Intima-media thickness was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than in normotensive control subjects (0.82+/-0.04 vs. 0.64+/-0.04 mm, p<0.05). Nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation (9.5+/-1.4 %) in patients with essential hypertension did not differ significantly from those in normotensive control subjects (10.0+/-2.6%, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that 1) in men older than 40 years, flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was declined, 2) longer brachial artery occlusion resulted in more vasodilation despite similar hyperemic responses, 3) using low (30 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure) and high (70-90 mm Hg higher than systolic pressure) pressure, each pressure of occlusion was similar hyperemic response, and 4) in patients with essential hypertension, flow-medeiated vasodilation was significantly impaired and IMT was increased than in normotensive control subjects.
Adult* ; Arm ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cholesterol ; Dilatation ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Hypertension* ; Inflation, Economic ; Male ; Nitroglycerin ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Diseases ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVE: To discover the risk factor of postpartum depression and whether this is different from the induced factor of prepartum depression and to clarify what is the recovery factor from prepartum depression. METHODS: In the first test stage, 310 pregnant women were examined and with their postpartum follow-up survey, materials from 85 people in total were retrieved. In order to predict the postpartum depression and find out the recovery factor from prepartum depression, longitudinal study was carried out. For the statistical analysis hierarchical regression analysis and MANOVA were used. RESULTS: Postpartum depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI score of 16 or greater) was prevalent amongst 22.4% of pregnant women and prepartum depression was experienced by 10.5% in pregnant women. There were no significant on psychological variable factor of prepartum and postpartum depression. Only preatum depression redicted 33% for postaprtum depression. In the case of depressed during pregnancy but not depressed after pregnancy, recovery factor is related to increase in self-esteem, husband support and improvement in marital satisfaction. Postpartum depression showed twice higher depression ration than prepartum depression and it was serious in terms of degree of depression. CONCLUSION: Postpartum depression is related with lack of husband support that is recovery factor from prepartum depression. Also, unstable attachment is vulnerable to depression but even people with unstable attachment can be recovered from depression with better marriage relationship. Even people without unstable attachment if husband support is reduced then it is suggested that can be subject to vulnerability in depression.
Depression* ; Depression, Postpartum* ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Marriage ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Risk Factors ; Spouses

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association between depression with atypical features and metabolic syndromes in Korean adults using the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. METHODS: We used the 2016 KNHANES data to enroll 277 participants with a score of 10 or higher on Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Depression with atypical features was diagnosed when at least two of the following criteria were met : 1) sleeping more than 10 hours a day ; 2) weight gain of more than 3 kg in a year ; and 3) fatigue/anergia. Depression was divided into two groups based on the presence/absence of atypical features. Physical and mental health, and risk of metabolic syndrome were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Among the 277 participants, 91 had depression with atypical features. We identified significant differences in age, sex, income, and education between the two groups. After adjusting for these variables, depression with atypical features had lower EuroQol-5D index scores (p<0.001) and higher prevalence of metabolic syndromes (p=0.035) compared to the depression without atypical features. Depression with atypical features had higher odds ratio (OR) in association with metabolic syndromes after adjusting for confounding variables (OR=1.923 ; 95% confidence interval : 1.069–3.460). CONCLUSIONS Depression with atypical features increases the risk of metabolic syndromes and lowers the quality of life.

Objectives: The natural course of native kidneys after hemodialysis initiation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) remains poorly understood. Methods: We measured the total volumes of native kidneys in 12 patients who had at least one enhanced computed tomography (CT) image both before and after initiation of hemodialysis (group 1) and in 18 patients who had no image before dialysis but more than two images after dialysis (group 2). In patients with images, the last image was used for analysis only after dialysis. Results: The mean total kidney volume (TKV) (± SD) before hemodialysis initiation was 3132 ± 1413 mL and the mean TKV of the last image was 3047 ± 1323 mL in group 1. The mean TKV change rate (%) was - 5.2 ± 27.4% (P > 0.05) during follow-up of 3.9 ± 1.9 years in group 1. The mean TKV change rate was 2.8 ± 34.4% (P > 0.05) in group 2. The follow-up period after dialysis initiation ranged from 4.2 ± 4.7 to 8.0 ± 5.2 years. Conclusions The results suggest that the TKV of native polycystic kidneys decreases substantially after hemodialysis initiation. This reduction occurs mainly during the early post-hemodialysis period and followed by a slow enlargement of TKV.

OBJECTIVE: Although some sporadic reports reveal the link between the homeobox (HOX) genes and ovarian carcinoma, there is no comprehensive analysis of the expression pattern of the class I homeobox genes in ovarian carcinoma that determines the candidate genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. METHODS: The different patterns of expression of 36 HOX genes were analyzed, including 4 ovarian cancer cell lines and 4 normal ovarian tissues. Using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantification analysis, the specific gene that showed a significantly higher expression in ovarian cancer cell lines than in normal ovaries was selected, and western blot analysis was performed adding 7 ovarian cancer tissue specimens. Finally, immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analyses were performed to compare the pattern of expression of the specific HOX gene between ovarian cancer tissue and normal ovaries. RESULTS: Among 36 genes, 11 genes had a different level of mRNA expression between the cancer cell lines and the normal ovarian tissues. Of the 11 genes, only HOXB4 had a significantly higher level of expression in ovarian cancer cell lines than in normal ovaries (p=0.029). Based on western blot, immunohistochemical, and immunocytochemical analyses, HOXB4 was expressed exclusively in the ovarian cancer cell lines or cancer tissue specimens, but not in the normal ovaries. CONCLUSION: We suggest HOXB4 may be a novel candidate gene involved in ovarian carcinogenesis.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Blotting, Western ; Carbonates ; Cell Line ; Female ; Genes, Homeobox ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with profound insulin sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic effects. Apart from its obvious potential as a mediator of adult metabolic syndrome, in pregnancy, adiponectin could have a significant role in regulating energy homeostasis. However, correlations between umbilical cord and maternal serum adiponectin levels and neonatal birthweights are far from understood. The purpose of the present study was to clarify correlations between umbilical cord and maternal serum adiponectin levels and neonatal birthweights. METHODS: The study included 30 healthy mothers who had given birth to healthy neonates. Adiponectin levels in maternal serum and umbilical cord serum were determined by ELISA and analysed. RESULTS: The ranges of adiponectin levels for umbilical cord and maternal serum were 7.12-24.93 microgram/mL and 1.76-8.20 microgram/mL, respectively. Umbilical cord adiponectin levels (14.82+/-3.66 microgram/mL) were significantly higher than maternal serum levels (4.73+/-1.87)(p<0.001). Umbilical cord adiponectin levels were correlated positively with neonatal birthweights (r=0.459, p=0.011). No significant differences in adiponectin levels were found between female and male neonates. In addition, there was no correlation between umbilical cord adiponectin levels and maternal serum adiponectin levels, maternal body mass index, umbilical leptin, or insulin levels. CONCLUSION: The levels of adiponectin were higher in umbilical cord than in maternal serum. The adiponectin levels in umbilical cord were found to correlate positively with neonatal birthweights. Therefore, adiponectin may be involved in fetal energy metabolism in pregnancy.
Adiponectin* ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Energy Metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Male ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Cord

This study evaluated the risk of brain damage in neonates delivered at < 34 weeks following a prolonged latency after preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). The medical records of 77 singletons delivered at < 34 weeks with pPROM and 66 singletons delivered at < 34 weeks with preterm labor and intact membranes were reviewed. Latency was divided into four intervals: < or = 24, > 24- < or = 72, > 72- < or = 168 hr, and > 1 week. Outcomes in the longer three intervals were compared with those in neonates delivered at < or = 24 hr after pPROM. The documented outcomes were placental (histologic chorioamnionitis, vasculitis, funnisitis) and neonatal (intraventricular hemorrhage, ventriculomegaly, germinal matrix hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia). Odds ratios and 95% CI for the risk of histologic chorioamnionitis according to the respective latency intervals were 4.8 (1.0-22.9), 7.0 (1.1-43.1), 7.4 (2.1-42.3) in patients with pPROM. The risks of intracranial ultrasonic abnormalities, however, did not increased with prolonged latency. In the patients with preterm labor and intact membranes, the both risks did not increased with increasing latency. Therefore, this study was suggested that the risk of histologic chorioamnionitis increased with increasing latency, but there was no relationship between neonatal brain damage and latency interval after pPROM.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods ; Sepsis ; Risk ; Pregnancy ; Odds Ratio ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Models, Statistical ; Intracranial Hemorrhages/pathology ; Humans ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/*pathology ; Female ; Extraembryonic Membranes/pathology ; Chorioamnionitis ; Brain Injuries/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Adult

The aim of the current study was to determine the clinical significance according to the subtypes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and presence of KRAS mutations in operable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We sequenced exons 18-21 of the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain and examined mutations in codons 12 and 13 of KRAS in tissues of patients with NSCLC who had undergone surgical resection. EGFR mutations were more frequent in never-smokers than smokers (33% vs. 14%, respectively; p=0.009) and in females than in males (31% vs. 16%, respectively; p=0.036). Mutations in exon 18-19 and 20-21 were found in 10 and 22 patients, respectively. Never-smokers and broncho-alveolar cell carcinoma features were positively associated with a mutation in exon 18-19 (p=0.027 and 0.016, respectively). The five-year survival rate in patients with a mutation in exons 18-19 (100%) was higher than that in patients without such mutation (47%; p=0.021). KRAS mutations were found in 16 patients (12%) and were not related to the overall survival (p=0.742). Patients with an EGFR mutation in exons 18-19 had better survival than patients without such mutation. Subtypes of EGFR mutations may be prognostic factors in patients undergoing curative resection.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis/*genetics/*surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; *Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/*genetics ; Sex Factors ; Treatment Outcome