PURPOSE: Angiogeneisis is essential process for tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is major regulator of angiogenesis. Recently, the incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) increased because of development in diagnostic modality. Several recent reports have documented relationship of VEGF and papillary thyroid cancer. The aims of this study were to determine whether angiogenetic phenotype was changed or not changed and to evaluate the relationship between clinicopathologic features and VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), hypoxic induced factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) mRNA expression in PTMC. METHODS: VEGF, VEGFR-1, HIF-1α mRNA expression was examined by RT-PCR in 14 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy due to PTMC. The thyroid tumor tissue and adjacent normal thyroid tissue were collected in operation and preserved at -70℃ in RNA later solution. We evaluate the expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, HIF-1α mRNA by RTPCR. The expression of mRNA was quantititated by densitometer and analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic features and mRNA expression. RESULTS: Compared to normal tissues, in PTMC we observed higher expression of HIF-1α mRNA (P=0.024) and lower expression of VEGF mRNA (P=0.002). There was no difference in expression of VEGFR-1.The patients with nodal metastasis had higher expression of the VEGF mRNA in tumor tissues than those without nodal metastasis but not significantly. The VEGF mRNA of tumor tissues in patients with thyroid capsule invasion or not were expressed similarly. The lower expression of VEGF mRNA were observed more frequently in younger patients (<40). CONCLUSION: The expression of VEGF mRNA was lower in tumor tissue in spite of higher expression of HIF-1α mRNA. These results suggest that the reason for good prognosis and no progression to clinical cancer in PTMC was related to the unchanged angiogenic phenotype.
Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenotype ; Prognosis ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1*

Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is the most common ovarian germ cell neoplasm representing 10-20% of all ovarian tumors. Malignant transformation rarely takes place, which is approximately 1-2% of all cases. The most common malignancy arising in mature cystic teratoma is squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis of malignant transformation developing in mature cystic teratoma is poor and the management is not established due to the rarity of malignant degeneration. A case of stage Ia squamous cell carcinoma which developed in mature cystic teratoma of left ovary in a 43-year-old female is presented. The ovarian tumor was woman's fist-sized with intact capsule. Left oophorocystectomy was done. Above case with a brief review of literature is given.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Teratoma*

A case of intraperitoneal hemorrhage of intraligamentary pregnancy is one of the most unusual accidents in obstetrics and carries a high degree of maternal and fetal morbity and mortality. The diagnosis of intraligamentary pregnancy is rarely ever made prior to laparotomy. We report a case of it with a brief review of literatures concerned.
Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage* ; Laparotomy ; Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy*

Emphysematous cholecystitis is an uncommon form of acute cholecystitis characterized by the presence of gas within the wall, lumen of the gall bladder or biliary ducts. Clinically it is very similar to ordinary farm. But since the risk of perforation is five times that expected from ordinary cholecystitis, early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment are important. We could diagnose these cases by the simple abdomen, abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT by the presence of air in the lumen and the wall of the gall bladder. Percutaneous trans hepatic gall bladder drainage (PTGBD) for decompression was used because poor general condition of patients and later, we could successfully perform the cholecystectomy without any complication. We presented two cases of emphysematous cholecystitis with review of the relevant literature on the subject.
Abdomen ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Decompression ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Emphysematous Cholecystitis* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The degree of coronary vasoconstriction induced by acetylcholine administeration can vary. We compared the prognosis between coronary vasospasm and intermediate vasoconstriction, which were both induced by acetylcholine administration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 156 patients with the coronary vasospasm or intermediate vasoconstriction, as observed on the acetylcholine provocation tests that were performed from January, 2000 to January, 2004. The patients with a spasm showing greater than 90% reduction of vessel diameter along with chest pain or ST changes or both were classified as having 'strong positive vasospasm' (n=113). The patients with 70-90% reduction of diameter were classified as having 'intermediate vasoconstriction' (n=43). The mortality, frequency of chest pain and clinical events were then analyzed. RESULTS: A smoking history (p<0.001) and multivessel involvement (p=0.02) were more frequent in the strong positive group. We compared the mortality and clinical events due to chest pain during the average 26.4+/-14.1 months of follow-up. There were 5 patients (4.4%) who incurred cardiac death in the strong positive group as compared with none in the intermediate group. The total clinical events were more frequent in the strong positive group (p<0.001). Also, the strong positive group showed a significantly higher frequency of chest pain (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis of the intermediate vasoconstriction was better than that of strong positive vasospasm. Thus, the intermediate vasoconstriction must be ruled out by strict application of the positive criteria for the acetylcholine provocation test.
Acetylcholine* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prognosis* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spasm ; Vasoconstriction*