The differential diagnosis between Spitz nevus and malignant melanoma is difficult due to similar histologic findings. To obtain the useful aids for the differential diagnosis between two diseases, we studied 13 cases of Spitz nevus, 8 benign nevi of compound and intradermal, and 9 melanomas of primary and metastatic, using the immunohistochemical stain for S-100 protein, HMB.45 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). The staining pattern and intensity of S-100 protein showed homogenously strong positive reactivity in all cases. The frequency of HMB.45 positive cell in Spitz nevus was significantly lower than that in melanoma. When compared with the usual compound and intradermal nevi, Spitz nevi showed more significantly positive reaction in the dermal component of nevus cells. The expression of PCNA was higher in melanoma than in Spitz nevus. The immunohistochemical stains for HMB.45 and PCNA are considered as a useful methods for differentiation between Spitz nevus and melanoma, while stain for S-100 protein is not helpful.
Diagnosis, Differential

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify whether total mesorectal excision (TME) is a valid prognostic factor for recurrence following curative surgery for rectal carcinoma. METHODS: For 110 high-risk rectal carcinoma patients, recurrence rate and patterns of recurrence were compared between patients undergoing TME and those with classical dissection. RESULTS: Both local recurrence and distant metastasis were significantly lower in TME group than those in classical dissection group. Time interval from operation to the initial recurrence was also significantly delayed in TME group. By comaparing with other prognostic variables, TME was found to be a significant prognostic factor for the recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: We think TME is an important prognostic factor for the recurrence following curative resection in rectal carcinoma.
Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence*

No abstract available.
Hidrocystoma*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Caveolin 1*

This is a case report of a 50-year-old female who presented to our clinic with headache and left temporal pulsatile mass. Aneurysm was revealed incidentally on a computed tomography angiography of her head. Open surgical resection with aneurysmal trapping was performed under local anesthesia. Histological examination demonstrated a true aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery. There was loss of normal elastin in the internal elastin layer. This case report describes the rare entity along with a review of the literature.
Anesthesia, Local ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Elastin ; Female ; Head ; Headache ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Temporal Arteries

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course of discordant fetal growth and perinatal outcome in relation to dichorionic and monochorionic twin for different degrees of birth weight difference. METHODS: Between Jan. 1992 and Dec, 1997, 154 twin pairs were born at Yonsei medical center and there were 36 pairs of twins which had 20% or more birth weight difference. The placental examination were performed routinely on all multiple births and 13 pairs of dichorionic twins and 23 pairs of monochorionic twins were consisted of the study population. These twin pairs were divided into three groups based on birth weight difference: 20-29%(as group A), 30-39%(as group B), and 40% or more(as group C). Gestational age, birth weight, gender and perinatal outcomes were observed for each twin pairs. RESULTS: The perinatal death in the monochorionic twin pairs showed 9(34.6%) as group A, 4(50%) as group B, and 5(41,7%) as group C and in the dichorionic twin paus 1(10.0%) as youp A, 0 as group B and 5(62.5%) as group C. Up to 40% of birth weight difference, dichorionic twin pairs showed good perinatal outcomes compared with monochorionic twin pairs but over 40% or more of birth weight diffaence, however there were no significant difference of perinatal outcomes by chorionicity. In the monochorionic twin pairs, the cause of perinatal death showed 3 cases of prematurity, 2 cases of congenital anomalies and 2 cases of IIOC and 2 cases of cord lesions in group A whenas in the group B and C 3 cases of prematurity and 6 cases of congenital anomalies. In the dichorionic twin pairs, different-sex twin pairs showed no perinatal death in all three groups but in same-sex twin pairs there were 6 perinatal deaths. CONCLUSION: More recent improved fetal ultrasonographic surveillance such as determination of chorionicity, identification of fetal sex and evaluation of fetal anomalies help to make a clinical decision in growth discordant twin up to 40% of weight difference each other.
Birth Weight ; Chorion ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Multiple Birth Offspring ; Pregnancy, Twin

BACKGROUND: Cord blood transplantation has generated much enthusiasm because of the low incidence of GVHD(graft-versus-host disease), even in HLA(Human Leukocyte Antigen) mismatched situations, owing to intrinsic defects in mature T cell functions, and human cord blood is a constantly and easily obtainable source for hematopoietic stem cell. This study was undertaken to elucidate the possible mechanisms of low GVHD incidence observed when cord blood is used for stem cell transplantation. Based on current knowledge of the phenotypic correlates with functional subtypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes, we evaluated lymphocyte subpopulation in cord blood. METHODS: The 25 cord blood and 20 peripheral blood of adult control were included in this study. Monoclonal antibodies(MAb) conjugated with fluorescein-isothiocynate(FITC), phycoerythrin(PE) were used in this study. Heparinized whole blood was stained with mAbs using the whole blood lysis method. We used FACScan flow cytometer with argon laser tuned at 488 nm. Analysis was done by either Simulset or lysis II research software. RESULT: 1) The means of WBC and lymphocyte content were higher in cord blood than in adult blood(p<0.05). 2) The overall percentages of cord blood T(CD3+) cells, B(CD19+) cells, NK(natural killer)(CD16+/CD56+) cells were not different from adult controls. 3) The CD4+ : CD8+ ratio of cord blood was higher than thar of adult controls(2.7 in cord bloods versus 1.8 in adults). 4) The majority of the cord blood cells, both CD4+ and CD8+, co-expressed the CD45RA+ (naive) molecule. 5) The CD57, an antigen present on a subpopulation of NK cells, is absent in cord blood. CONCLUSION: We determined that cord blood contained mainly naive T lymphocytes to be predominantly suppressor cells. We found reduced alloproliferative, allostimulatory and allocytotoxic capacity of cord blood lymphocytes. Therefore, the GVHD may be less readily induced in cord blood transplantation, even in the face of HLA difference.
Adult ; Argon ; Fetal Blood* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Heparin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Phenotype ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes

Fusariosis is a rare infectious disease caused by species of the genus Fusarium that has been increasingly documented as an emerging agent of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and, occasionally, immunocompetent hosts. We describe an 18-year-old Korean male, previously diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia, presented with 2~4 cm-sized erythematous to necrotic papulonodules on the trunk and extremities for a week. White blood cell count was 200 cells/L and biopsy specimen showed structures resembling fungal elements in the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Cultures from a biopsy sample growing whitish cottony colonies contained fusoid multiseptated macroconidia. He was diagnosed as fusariosis and treated with intravenous amphotericin B. But white blood cell count and clinical symptoms didn't improve and he was expired after 6 days of treatment.
Adolescent ; Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermis ; Extremities ; Fusariosis ; Fusarium* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Opportunistic Infections ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Subcutaneous Fat

To investigate the factors which affecting the cognitive impairment of the 60 or more age group, the authors surveyed for the subjects in some area of Kyungnam Province. 201 studied subjects were tested for cognitive function with mini-mental state examination(MMSE). Information on demographic characteristics and life style has been collected through direct interview. The concentration of Al and Ca of subject's drinking water, which might be related with cognition, was measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment was 18.4% in male and 45.2% in female and this sexual difference was statistically significant(p=0.03). And the uneducated or illiterated showed significantly high prevalence rate of cognitive impairment(p=0.02). 2. In stratified analysis by sex and education year, we can not see significant trend indicating the neurotoxic effects of aluminum and protective effects of calcium to the cognitive function(p>0.05). 3. The correlation between the concentration of aluminum in drinking water and the MMSE score in whole subjects showed weak negative relationship(r=-0.066). But there was no statistical significance(p=0.434).
Aged* ; Aluminum ; Argon ; Calcium ; Cognition ; Drinking Water ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Plasma ; Prevalence

No abstract available.
Neural Tube Defects* ; Neural Tube* ; Prenatal Diagnosis*