PURPOSE: Lymph-node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in gastric cancer. However, it can be missed with conventional histologic examination with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Several methods have been introduced to improve the detection rate of micrometastasis. Among them, immunohistochemical staining with the anti-cytokeratin antibody is known to be an easy and useful method. METHODS: We used immunohistochemical staining with the anti-cytokeratin antibody to evaluate the incidence of micrometastasis in 48 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had been diagnosed as lymph-node negative by H&E, and its relationship to various clinicopathologic factors. RESULTS: Lymph-node micrometastasis (anti-cytokeratin antibody positive) was found in 15 (31.3%) of the 48 patients and in 33 (1.75%) of 1884 lymph nodes. Among the clinicopathologic variables, only lymphatic invasion was significantly associated with micrometastasis status. The gender, the age, the tumor size, the location of the tumor, the histologic type, and the depth of invasion were not significantly associated with micrometastasis status. During the average follow-up period of 21 months, 6 patients suffered a recurrence, and 2 of these patients died of the cancer recurrence. The recurrence and mortality rates were not significantly associated with micrometastasis status. CONCLUSION: Micrometastasis in stomach cancer was frequent when the primary tumor had invaded the lymphatic vessels.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Behcet's disease is a systemic vasculitis, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, recurrent genital ulcers, skin lesion, and ocular involvement. Monoclonal antibody to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is considered as a possible therapeutic approach to achieve clinical improvement, preventing relapse in Behcet's disease refractory to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs or immunosuppressive durgs. We report the use of infliximab, which is one of the TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies, in a 17-year-old girl with Behcet's disease exhibiting severe mucocutaneous, ocular and neurological involvement refractory to standard treatment.
Adolescent ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Skin Ulcer ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Infliximab

PURPOSE: Warthin's tumor is a slow growing tumor found exclusively either in the parotid gland or the periparotid lymph nodes. Although surgical resection is the treatment of choice, the extent of surgery which is most beneficial has remained contraversial. We performed a comparative study of the results between enucleation and parotidectomy groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the enucleation procedure for the surgical management of parotid Warthins tumor. METHODS: Between January 1981 and July 2001, 74 patients underwent surgical resection of parotid Warthin's tumor. We reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics retrospectively and compared the operation time, postoperative complication rate, duration of postoperative hospital stay and recurrence between the enucleation group and the parotidectomy group. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.0 years (19~86 years) and the male to female ratio was 5.7: 1. The majority of the tumors were situated in the lower region of the superficial lobe (89.2%). Bilateral simultaneous involvements of the parotid gland was found in 5 patients (6.8%) and therefore a total of 79 parotid glands were involved. Four (5.4%) of the 79 parotid glands featured multifocal tumors of two or three lumps. Tumor sizes varied from 0.5 to 13.0 cm with a mean diameter of 3.5 cm. Of the 74 patients, 51 (68.9%) were diagnosed preoperatively or perioperatively by means of CT scans, ultrasound, 99m-Tc. scan, fine needle aspiration cytology or intraoperative frozen section biopsy. Of the 79 glands, 46 underwent a superficial (n=39), partial (n=2) or total (n=5) parotidectomy, while enucleation was performed for the remaining 33 cases with single Warthin's tumor. Only one case of recurrence was identified during the follow up period. However the operation time, the postoperative complication rate, and the duration of postoperative hospital stay were all significantly reduced in the enucleation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The enucleation procedure may represent a safe and appropriate surgical method for patients with single Warthin's tumor that is diagnosed preoperatively.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Parotid Gland ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<4 x10(6) motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of E2 on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 77% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth .ate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.
Abortion, Induced ; Age Factors ; Amino Acids* ; Clomiphene ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gestational Sac ; Gonadotropins ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Male ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Sperm Count ; Ultrasonography ; Zygote

PURPOSE: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegerative disease due to persistent measles virus infection. We investigated the role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule which is related with chronic viral infection in developing SSPE in mouse. METHODS: We adopt the PD-1-/-, PD-1-/+, and wild type BALB/c 3 week old mice to make an animal model of SSPE by injecting measles virus (SSPE strain) intraventricularly. Three months after infusion of virus, the mice were sacrificed and examined if the typical pathologic lesions had been progressed. The sera were collected from each group of mice and the serum level of IL-21 was measured with ELISA kit. RESULTS: The necrotic lesions on white matter and gliosis were found in focal areas in wild type BALB/c. The extent of lesion was smaller in heterotype BALB/c. Scanty lesions were found in PD-1-/- mice. The sera level of IL-21 was not elevated in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the PD-1 molecule may play a role in persistent viral infection.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Knockout Techniques* ; Gliosis ; Measles virus ; Measles* ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis ; Viruses

OBJECTIVES: To estimate false-negative rate of cervical smears using Autopap 300 QC system in rescreening modality. METHODS: From September 1997 to December 1997, Total 26,983 cervical smears were obtained and 18,592 cervical smears were rescreened by Autopap 300 QC system with 10% review rate. The 274 cases of total 26,983 cervieal smears were confirmed histologically by colposcopic biopsy, cone biopsy and hysterectomy. The 274 cases of cervical smears, which obtained prior to pathologic diagnosis made, were evaluated based on cyto-histologic correlation and then the false negative rate were estimated. The cervical smears were reviewed, researching for the cause of false negative. RESULTS: (1) Histologic diagnosis of 274 cases include 65 cases of Low SIL, 173 cases of High SIL, 29 cases of SCC, 2 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ, and 5 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma. (2) The false negative rate were 3% (9/274). Those were 6.2%(4/65) of LSIL, 2.3% (4/173) Of HSIL, none of SCC and AIS, and 20%(5/1) of invasive adenocarcinoma. (3) The false negative cases were reviewed. The 6 cases were sampling enor and 3 cases were screening error. CONCLUSION: Using AutoPap 300 QC system in rescreening modality, The false negative rate of cervical smears were decreased, compared with our previous study.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Hysterectomy ; Mass Screening ; Vaginal Smears

Right atrial aneurysm is a rare abnormality of unknown origin. Approximately half of patients with right atrial aneurysm show no symptoms. Right atrial aneurysm is usually detected by chance at any time between fetal and adult life and can be associated with atrial arrhythmia and systemic embolism. The diagnosis of right atrial aneurysm can be established with echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because of thromboembolic risk, aneurysmectomy is usually recommended. We review the case report of a 69-year-wold woman with right atrial appendiceal aneurysm, whose diagnosis was established by echocardiography and CT angiography.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Embolism ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: The presence of C4d in peritubular capillaries (C4d (PTC)) as a diagnostic in-situ marker of acute humoral rejection and CD20 as marker of B-cell deposition in graft kidney has been reported to be related to steroid resistance and poor outcome. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical significance of C4d and CD20 in allograft renal biopsies by immunohistochemistry technique. And we also evaluated the relationships between C4d and CD20 positive B lymphocytes. METHODS: We studied 22 patients who had been biopsied for suspected acute rejection. Biopsies were classified by updated Banff 97 criteria. Of the 22 cases, borderline rejection and Banff 1A were 11 cases respectively and no case had a vascular lesion. Paraffin sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies (anti-C4d and -CD20) using an immunohistochemistry technique and the results of immunohistochemistry were analyzed by clinical data. RESULTS: Of the 22 cases, 22.7% (5/22) showed diffuse and 40.9% (9/22) showed focal C4d positivity in peritubular capillaries. The grafts failed to survive in 20% (1/5) of the diffuse (P), 44.4% (4/9) of the focal, and 0% (0/8) of the negative group for 2 years since postbiopsies, however, the C4d staining was not statistically related to graft loss and graft survival rates (P=0.091, P=0.106 respectively). The C4d positivity was significantly related to the level of serum creatinine (P=0.042) and to steroid pulsing therapy resistance (P=0.030). However C4d deposition was not associated with recipient gender, age, type of donor (living vs deceased), HLA matching, induction, and Banff classification. On the CD20 immunostaining, 50.0% (11/22) showed negative reactivity, 9.1% (2/22) one nodule, 40.9% (9/22) 2 nodules. The presence and the number of CD20 positive nodules were not correlated to the C4d clinical data. But, the degree of C4d staining was statistically related with the presence of CD20 positive nodules (P=0.029). CONCLUSION: The peritubular capillary C4d is clinically important however, not likely a significant predictor of grafts survival rates in mild rejection. The clinical implication of CD20 positive B lymphocyte nodules in acute rejection was not demonstrated in this study. But, CD20 positive B lymphocyte may be a positive linkage with C4d and participate in humoral rejection.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Creatinine ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Lymphocytes ; Paraffin ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

The main causes of biliary obstruction are stones and cancers. Fascioliasis is a very rare case which causes biliary obstruction. Fascioliasis is a zoonosis caused by Fasciola hepatica which infects herbivores like sheep and cattle. F. hepatica lives in the biliary system or the liver parenchyma of a host. In Korea, the occurrence of this infection in human is very rare and only few cases have been reported. A 32-year-old male presented with upper abdominal pain and jaundice. His laboratory finding revealed elevated liver transaminases. Abdomen CT scan showed mild left intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. On ERCP, adult F. hepatica worms were found and were thus removed. Concurrently, clonorchiasis was diagnosed by stool exam and serologic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Clonorchiasis was treated with praziquantel. Herein, we report a case of intrahepatic bile duct dilatation due to F. hepatica infection with concurrent Clonorchis sinensis infestation.
Adult ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Clonorchis sinensis/immunology/isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasciola/isolation & purification ; Fascioliasis/complications/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Humans ; Liver/enzymology ; Male ; Praziquantel/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transaminases/metabolism

Gallbladder perforation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with spillage of bile and gallstones occurs frequently, but clinical sequelae caused by dropped gallstones are uncommon. We present a case of subhepatic and right-back abscess formation due to spilled gallstones occurring two years after LC, which were successfully removed using a percutaneous method as a minimally invasive technique. The patient firstly visited a primary care physician with right-back mass that was increasing in size and becoming symptomatic, then underwent incision and drainage. He was referred to our hospital and the subhepatic and right-back inflammatory mass containing spilled gallstones was revealed by computed tomography. Under fluoroscopic control, a percutaneous drainage catheter was placed within the abscess and pus was aspirated. The spilled gallstones were successfully retrieved with basket forceps, thereafter. The patient was discharged without significant complications on the 9th day after the percutaneous stone removal.
Abscess ; Bile ; Catheters ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Drainage ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Suppuration ; Surgical Instruments