No abstract available.
Apolipoproteins* ; Thyroxine*

The most important prognostic factor of breast cancer is the status of lymph node or distant metastasis, which is resisted by basement membrane and stromal matrix. MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-2 is a 72-kilodalton type IV collagenase/ gelatinase and degrades the type IV collagen which is a main component of the basement membrane. Therefore, MMP-2 is believed to be one of the key molecule for cancer invasion and metastasis. Enzymatic activity of MMP is inhibited by TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase). TIMP-2 forms a complex with latent pro-MMP-2 and inhibits the active forms of MMP-2. The balance of MMPs and TIMPs is suspected as the important factor of invasion and metastasis of the tumor cells. We studied the association between the expression of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and growth pattern of tumor border, lymph node metastasis, and estrogen receptor expression in the 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast using immunohistochemical staining methods. The results revealed increased expression of MMP-2 in the infiltrating tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor with no statistical significance (p>0.05). But the expression of TIMP-2 was increased in expanding tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor without statistical significance (p>0.05).
Basement Membrane ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Collagen Type IV ; Estrogens* ; Gelatinases ; Lymph Nodes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2*

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I(MEN I) is a rare, eomplex, and potentially lethal disease. In Korean, only five anecdotal cases were reported as yet. The authors rescently experienced four cases of MEN I, and analysed the clinieal characteristics of MEN I in Koreans. Methods: The authors evaluated nine cases of MEN I, retrospectively. Four cases were analysed by clinical records in patients admitted to Asan Medical Center and five cases were reviewed by previously reported Korean literature from 1986 to 1995. Results: The average age was 39 years(ranged from 33 to 59 years). Eight of the nine patients had hyperparathyroidism documented by elevated serum calcium and PTH level with or without evidence of parathyroid mass. Initial presenting manifestations were symptomatic urinary stone, hypoglycernia due to insulinoma, hypogonadism, acromegaly, or peptic ulcer. Eight of nine patients had pancreatic islet cell tumors, and three of them were be malignant by radiologic and/or pathologic findings. The pancreatic tumors produced various hormones, such as gastrin, insulin, glucagon, or combination of them. Six of the nine cases had pituitary lesion. The most cornmon pituitary tumor was prolactinoma and the remaining was GH or GH and TSH producing tumor. In addition to the major components of MEN I, four had adrenocortical hyperplasia or adenoma and two had carcinoid tumor. There was only one familial case. Conclusion: The clinical charateristics of MEN I in Korean are mostly not different from the previous reports except older age at diagnosis, more comrnon adrenal involvement(44%) and gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor(22%). Although only one case was familial, more cases could be found if careful screening were done for the family members of the MBN I patients. In addition, screening and close follow up for endocrine pancreatic tumors are required for MEN I patients without detectable pancreatic lesion becau~se the malignant potential of pancreatic tumors has beeome an increasing concem for the prognosis of MEN I.
Acromegaly ; Adenoma ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcium ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrins ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperplasia ; Hypogonadism ; Insulin ; Insulinoma ; Islets of Langerhans ; Mass Screening ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ; Peptic Ulcer ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Prolactinoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Calculi

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND: Rapid adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test using 250ug of ACTH (1-24) has been used as a standard test in the initial assessment of adrenal function. However, it has recently been suggested that a rnaximal cortisol response can be achieved with a much lower ACTH dose, and reducing the dose might further enhance the sensitivity of the test in the detection of mild adrenal insufficiency. This study was performed to evaluate the role of low-dose (lug) ACTH stimulation test in the assessment of adrenal function and the diagnosis of subtle adrenal insufficiency. METHODS: Twenty-two subjects with suspected adrenal insufficiency due to long-term corticosteroid use were included in this study. The correlations between clinical features and the serum cortisol responses to low dose (lug) and high dose (250 ug) ACTH stimulation were evaluated. RESULTS: In high dose test, 10 (67%) out of 15 subjects with clinical features of adrenal insufficiency showed decreased serum cortisol response (peak cortisol level <18 ug/dL), but 5 (33%) subjects showed normal response (peak cortisol level > 18ug/dL). On the other hand, 14 (93%) subjects with clinical features of adrenal insufficiency showed decreased serum cortisol response in low dose test, while only one showed normal response. In 7 subjects without clinical features of adrenal insufficiency, 5 subject (71%) showed normal response, and 2 subjects (29%) showed decreased response in both low and high dose tests. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the 1-ug low dose ACTH stimulation test might be more sensitive than conventional 250-ug test in the detection of mild adrenal insufficiency. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of ACTH and the criteria for normal response to ACTH stimulation.
Adrenal Insufficiency* ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Cosyntropin ; Diagnosis* ; Hand ; Hydrocortisone

Paget bone disease(PBD) is usually focal, but can be wide spread disorder of the skeletal remodeling characterized by greatly increased osteoclast size and activity. It has extremely variable prevalence worldwide, being common in England and northern European countries and areas populated by their descendants, but strikingly uncommon in Asia, the middle east, Africa and Scandinavia. It's occurrence also shows familial clustering, some postulates autosomal dominant inheritance. Many studies have shown that paramyxoviruses may play a critical role in the etiology of this disorder. However, the precise etiology of PBD remains unknown.We describe a kindred with PBD in 3 successive generations. The propositus, a 55-year-old man, has panostotic PBD and giant cell reparative granuloma of pagets disease involving his head, mandible, abdomen and ileum, rare tumorous complication of Paget's disease. Bowed limbs were first noticed at age 25 years, and progressed for 20 years. Giant cell reparative granuloma began manifesting at age 45 years, and responded dramatically to high-dose dexamethasone therapy. His pretreatment biochemical finding were remarkable for elevated serum ALP, 765(normal 66-220 u/L) and osteocalcin, 154(normal 6.3-30.7 mg/ml), but normal serum calcium, phosphorous, 250HD and PTH. A nondecalcified iliac crest specimen demonstrated classic histopathologic 25OHD and PTH. A nondecalcified iliac crest specimen demonstrated classic histopathologic changes of PBD on light microscopy. His decreased father had a similar degree of bony deformities beginning at age 20 years, but had not been examined. His two asymptomatic daughters, 20 and 24-year-old, were both found to be affected with widespread PBD by bone scan, radiographic study, and their serum ALP levels, 939 and 435U/L, respectively. This is the first report of familial occurance of PBD and a case of giant cell reparative granuloma of Paget's disease in Korea, where PBD is very rare.
Abdomen ; Africa ; Asia ; Bone Diseases ; Calcium ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dexamethasone ; England ; Extremities ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma ; Head ; Humans ; Ileum ; Korea ; Mandible ; Microscopy ; Middle Aged ; Middle East ; Nuclear Family ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoclasts ; Pedigree ; Prevalence ; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries ; Wills ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

No abstract available.
Endosonography* ; Insulinoma*

Chronic hypophosphatemia caused by decreased intestinal absorption or increased renal clearance, may lead to rickets or osteomalacia independently of other predisposing abnormalities. The conditions commonly associated with increased renal clearance of phosphate are X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, tumor associated rickets/osteomalacia, RTA and Fanconi syndrome. Recently we experienced 3 men with adult-onset, histologically proven osteomalacia associated with increased renal clearance of phosphate. None of them had a family history of bone disease, tumors or other tubular defects. All of these had remarkable biochemical and clinical improvement with medical treatment such as 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D and phosphate supplementation. Although we did not find tumors yet, we could not rule out the possibility of tumor-associated osteomalcia since it often takes several years to make a diagnosis because of small size, benign nature and unusual location of tumors. Thus, careful long-term follow up for tumor occurrence will be maintained in these patients with sporadic nonfamilial hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.
Bone Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets ; Fanconi Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Osteomalacia ; Rickets