No abstract available.
Reference Values*

Background: Thyroperoxidase(TPO) is one of the most important autoantigens in autoimmune thyroid disorders and autoantibody to TPO is found in almost every patients with various autoimmune thyroid diseases. Human TPO was already cloned and the completed nucleotide sequences are well known. In human thyroid tissues, several variants mRNA's of TPO are found in addition to the wild type. Especially the variants lacking exon 10(TPOΔexon10) and exon 16(TPOΔ exon16) are found in very large amount in both normal and Graves thyroid tissues. The significance of these variants TPO mRNAs are largely unknown. The authors tried to investigate the autoantigenic role of these variant TPO. Methods : To produce variant TPO cDNAs, oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis was performed using cDNA for wild type human TPO as template. The produced variants cDNAs were transfected into Cos-7 cells and variants TPO proteins were tested against patients sera showing high titers of anti-TPO antibody. Results: Seven of 12 Graves sera reacted with TPOΔexon 10 and 8 Graves sera with TPOΔ exonl6. Eight of 15 Hashimoto sera reacted TPOΔexon16 and 9 with TPOΔexon16. The reactivity with variants TPO was not related to clinical findings. Conclusion: These two variant TPOs, that is TPOexon10 and TPOΔexon16, could act as an autoantigen if they were translated in vivo, and could play a role in autoimmune thyroid disease. Their exact role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disorders are to be clarified.
Animals ; Autoantigens ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; COS Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Exons ; Humans ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; RNA, Messenger ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland

A case of invasive cribriform carcinoma of the breast is presented with fine need- le aspiration cytologic features. The aspiration was performed from a papable 2.0cm mass in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast in a 53 year-old woman. The aspirate showed cellular smear composed of larger three dimensional tight clusters, smaller monolayered loose clusters, and many individual cells on the clean background. In the clusters, the tumor cells were bordering central lumina, quite similar to the cribriform in histology. The tumor cells in the clusters and individual tumor cells had uniform, small and round nuclei. The chromatin was finely granular, and nuclear membrane was smooth. No discernible nucleoli were present (nuclear grade 1-2). Unless the abundance of individual cells and the cribriform growth pattern are recognized in the smear, the cytologic diagnosis of invasive cribriform carcinoma is difficult.
Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

Endodermal sinus tumor of the mediastinum is a very rare malignant tumor, usually affecting young adolescents, and its histologic findings are characteristic as that of gonadal germ cell origin. We describe the cytologic finding of fine needle aspiration of mediastinal endodermal sinus tumor in a 19-year-old male patient, comparing with tissue section. The tumor cells in smears were usually in tight clusters with large overlapping cells, which were arranged in a papillary or microacinar pattern, suggesting carcinoma. The tumor cells were large, round or oval with a small amount of cytoplasm which was occasionally vacuolated and had indistinct border. The nuclei were large, pleomorphic, and vesicular with large promi- nent nucleoli. The tissue sections showed typical findings of endodermal sinus tumor. Careful correlation of cytological findings and the serum alpha-fetoprotein level would be helpful to confirm the diagnosis.
Adolescent ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Child* ; Clonorchiasis ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Dietary Proteins* ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Giant Cells ; Gonads ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Gland ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux* ; Young Adult

So-called sclerosing hemangioma of the lung is a rare benign neoplasm which usually presents with a coin lesion detected through routine chest X-ray. We report two cases showing characteristic cytologic appearances which have been rarely reported. Both cases were young females with coin lesions in the lung. Fine needle aspiration of each case revealed unique but some different cytologic features. Case 1 showed bland-looking polygonal epithelial cells resembling bronchioloalveolar cells having pre- dominantly papillary configurations with loosely arranged solid sheets or isolated cells. Cytoplasms were plump, cyanophilic, and finely granular, with eccentric nuclei, The nuclei were usually monotonous, round-to-ovoid, and vesicular with a small but conspicuous nucleolus. In comparison to case 1, case 2 revealed largely loose pavement-like solid sheets or clusters rather than papillary patterns in the hemorrhagic background. The size of tumor cells were a little smaller than that of case 1. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and papillary adenocarcinoma of metastatic origin were considered to be one of the important differential diagnoses with these cytologic features. Histologically, both cases exhibited findings compatible with so-called sclerosing hemangioma of the lung.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Lung ; Numismatics ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma ; Renal Insufficiency* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Blotting, Southern* ; Diagnosis* ; DNA* ; Humans*

PURPOSE: To obtain magnetization transfer ratio(MTR) of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the changes of these MTRs as an early indicator of disk degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of lumbar spine with magnetization transfer(MT) technique in 42 patients were obtained. spin echo techniques (600/14) with same TR/TE with 1KHz off-resonance saturation were employed in 1.0T MR system. MTRs were calculated in two regions, anterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, and the results were compared between the normal and degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: MTRs of the nucleus pulposus were 17.6% in the normal disks, and 26.7%, 28.4%, 29.1%, 29.7% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand, MTRs in the annulus fibrosus were 30.2% in the normal disks and 31.5%, 33.2%, 32.1% and 35.6% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, without significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since MTRs are significantly higher in degenerative nucleus pulposus than those of the normal disks, increased MTRs in the nucleus pulposus can be used as an early sign of the degeneration of the nucleus pulposus.
Hand ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spine

No Abstract Available.
Humans*

PURPOSE: Magnetization transfer imaging(MTI) is a new imaging contrast technique. Our MT pulse sequence is designed as fixed time interval between echo and MT pulse. This study was peformed to evaluate the influence of variations in TR/TE on MTR in T1 weighted image of normal brain tissue on this kind of MT pulse sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers in twenties of age as the objectives, MRI was taken under various TR/TE(TR/TE ;700/14, 650/14, 750/14, 700/20 and 1500/20 msec). MTR was calculated from signal intensities measured at the same point in both pre and post MT images and statisticslly analyzed. The MR imager used in this study was 1.0T Magnetom 42SP(Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) and the parameters of additional MT pulse sequence were offset 1000Hz and bandwidth 250Hz, and posteriorly located to echo with 7.7 msec fixed interval. Offset of this MT pulse was variable. RESULT: In white matter of brain tissue from a normal person, MTR was 34-39%(average 37%) for TR and TE of 700/14 in T1WI and 33-36%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 650/14, and 34-38%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 750/14 which showed no statistical difference. However, in case of 1500/20 of TR/TE, MTR was 26-28%(average 26%) which is statistically significant. With TR/TE of 700/14 as the standrd value, the MTR of gray and white matter were 37% and 29% respectively, showing a definite difference of statistical means. Signal from CSF in ventricles is rarely influenced by MT pulse. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, a subtle variation in TR/TE in T1WI has little influence on MTR but wide range of variation in TR/TE as in proton density image induces significant difference in MTR on this kind of MT pulse sequence. Therefore, the exchangeable usage of MTR data would be possible in narrow range of TR/TE change but difficult in wide range of variation.
Brain* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons ; Reference Values*

Magnesium ion is known to selectively block the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced responses and to have anticonvulsive action, neuroprotective effect and antinociceptive action in the behavioral test. In this study, we investigated the effect of Mg2+ on the responses of dorsal horn neurons to cutaneous thermal stimulation and graded electrical stimulation of afferent nerves as well as to excitatory amino acids and also elucidated whether the actions of Ca2+ and Mg2+ are additive or antagonistic. Mg2+ suppressed the thermal and C-fiber responses of wide dynamic range (WDR) cell without any effect on the A-fiber responses. When Mg2+ was directly applied onto the spinal cord, its inhibitory effect was dependent on the concentration of Mg2+ and duration of application. The NMDA- and kainate-induced responses of WDR cell were suppressed by Mg2+, the NMDA-induced responses being inhibited more strongly. Ca2+ also inhibited the NMDA-induced responses current-dependently. Both inhibitory actions of Mg2+ and Ca2+ were additive, while Mg2+ suppressed the EGTA-induced augmentation of WDR cell responses to NMDA and C-fiber stimulation. Magnesium had dual effects on the spontaneous activities of WDR cell. These experimental findings suggest that Mg2+ is implicated in the modulation of pain in the rat spinal cord by inhibiting the responses of WDR cell to noxious stimuli more strongly than innocuous stimuli.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; Magnesium* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Posterior Horn Cells* ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord