No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent epithelial adhesion molecule which plays a role in the initial step of invasion of cancer cells. The step that follows the migration of separated tumor cells is a proteolytic lysis of basement membrane and extracellular matrix by protease of epithelial and endothelial cells such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be an endothelial cell-specific powerful mitogen as well as a vascular permeability factor. This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between expression of these factors and pathologic or clinical variables and the roles and prognostic significance of those factors in squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 90 patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Mean age of the patients was 59.7 years. Histologic type was categorized into 56 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 34 cases of adenocarcinoma. Mean survival period of the 35 patients was 54 months. The immunohistochemical stains for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF revealed positive reaction in 67 cases (74.4%), 43 cases (47.8%), and 34 cases (37.8%), respectively. The expression of E-cadherin was higher in adenocarcinoma (82.4%) than in squamous cell carcinoma (69.6%). MMP-2 was expressed in the tumor cells, especially those invading into the surrounding stroma. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the survival rate (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF in the tumor cells was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF predict poor prognosis of patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung and that VEGF may play a role in tumor metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Basement Membrane ; Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

A case of a 58-year-old man with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the right ventricle is reported light and electron microscopically. This is the first case of MFH of the heart in the Korean literature. A tendency for malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the heart to occur in the left atrium of young women is suggested; this sarcoma's usual location is in the soft tissue of elderly men. The tumor consisted of spindle cells arranged in a focal storiform patterns, clusters or sheets of histocyte-like cells, benign and malignant giant cells, inflammatory cells, scattered mitotic figures and anaplasia of stromal cells. In ultrastructure the constituent of cells of the tumor are primitive mesenchymal cells, histiocytoid cells and fibroblast like cells including giant cells.
Female ; Male ; Humans

No abstract available.
Paragonimiasis*

Turner's syndrome results from complete or partial monosomy of the X chromosome and is characterized by hypogonadism or related other congenital anomalies in phenotypic females. In these patients, there are failure to develop normal secondary sex characteristics, amenorrhea, or short stature at puberty and the ovaries are reduced to atrophic fibrous strands devoid of ova and follicles(streak gonads). Individuals with this condition are particularly prone to the development of gonadoblastoma. For this reason, the gonads should be early removed and supplemental estrogen therapy given. We experienced a case of Turner's syndrome, 45, XO/46, XY karyotype in a 20-year-old phenotypic female complained an amenorrhea. On the exploratory laparotomy, the right gonadal mass is sevearly adhered to the adjacent organs and measures 8 x 5 x 5 cm in dimension and 75gm in weight and shows multiple foci of hemorrhage with necrosis. The left streak gonad measures 3.5 x 2 x 1.5 cm in dimension and shows multiple foci of calcification. Microscopically, the right gonadal mass reveals malignant mixed germ cell tumor, composed of endodermal sinus tumor, composed of endodermal sinus tumor with dysgerminoma and gonadoblastoma. The left streak gonad consists of mainly dense fibrous connective tissue and shows some foci of calcification associated with gonadoblastoma. On immunohistochemical and special stainings, the cytoplasm and hyalin droplets of the endodermal sinus tumor component reveal strong positivity to the a-fetoprotein and PAS. After removal of both gonads, the serum level of the a-fetoprotein is markedly down from 1742ng/ml to 2.6 ng/ml.
Female ; Humans

We report the case of a rectal teratoma. A 62-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of a rectal mass. She had a 3-month history of rectal bleeding and constipation. No palpable mass was detected using digital rectal examination. Colonoscopic examination demonstrated a protruding mass with a broad stalk in the posterior wall about 12 cm from the anal verge. A computed tomography scan showed a mass, which contained calcifications and fatty components, protruding into the rectal lumen. On operation, the mass was located in the upper rectum, and the right lateral portion of the upper rectum was adhesed to the right ovary. Thus, she had undergone a low anterior resection and right oophorectomy. The pathologic results confirmed a teratoma arising in the muscularis mucosa and the submucosa of the rectal wall.
Constipation ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; Rectum ; Teratoma*

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is a protein module of approximately 100 amino acids, that has been found in signaling molecules, including serinelthreonine kinase, GTPase-activating protein, phospholipase, and some cytoskeletal proteins. Although the specific function of PH domain has not been defined yet, it is believed that this domain is involved in the regulation of signal transduction pathway. The expression plasmids of human PLCg PH domains were constructed to see the roles of them in IL-6 signal transduction. When these expression plasmids are transfected into B9 cells, only N-terminal of PH domain inhibited IL-6-induced B9 cell proliferation. These results suggest that N-terminal of PH domain is critical for IL-6 signal transduction in B9 cells. To search the binding proteins associated PH domains of PLCy1 in B9 cells, Glutathione S-trnaferase (GST) fusion proteins containg PH domains were expressed in E. coli. Then, IL-6-dependent B9 cells were treated with 10 unit/ml IL-6 and the cell lysates were immunoprecipited with GST-PH doman fusion proteins. In vitro kinase assay of immune complex demonstrated that p38 (38 KDa) protein was coprecipitated with NC fusion protein, but IL-6 had no additional effect on it. When S-methaionine labelled cell lysates were used for immunoprecipitation, the same result was observed, conforming the association of p38 with NC motive of PH domain.
Amino Acids ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; Glutathione ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoprecipitation ; Interleukin-6 ; Phospholipases ; Phosphotransferases ; Plasmids ; Signal Transduction

Amyloidosis is a disease complex associated with deposition of insoluble filbrillar protein in various tissues of the body. Cutaneous lesions are present in up to 40 % of patients with primary and myeloma associated systemic amyloidosis. We present a case of systemic amyloidosis associated with multiple myleoma occuring in 54-year-old male who had waxy papules with petechiae on nasola bial fold, postauricular area, and cheek. The diagnosis was confirmed by Congo red stain, electron microscope, immunelectrophoresis, Bence-Jones proteinuria, immunoperoxidase stain, and bone marow biopsy.
Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Congo Red ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Proteinuria ; Purpura

An endodermal sinus tumor is a malignant germ cell tumor that usually arises in the gonads, but on rare occasion occurs in extragonadal locations. Our case was that of a 3 year old girl who complained of a rapid growing orbital mass. On histologic examination it revealed the typical picture of an endodermal sinus tumor and it also disclosed a positive reaction for alphafetoprotein using an immunoperoxidase technique. An orbital exenteration was performed followed by chemotheraphy, but the patient died 5 months after the onset of the disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the causes of recurrent conductive hearing loss following stapedotomy, and then the final hearing results. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study was a retrospective chart review of 6 patients who underwent revision stapedotomy for recurrent or persistent conductive hearing loss after primary stapedotomy. The intraoperative findings, surgical outcome including audiologic data and complications were noted. RESULTS: Obstruction of oval window fenestration was demonstrated in 5 patients (83.3%), short prosthesis in 4 patients (66.7%), incus erosion in two patients (33.3%) and granulation around prosthesis and stapes in one patient. Successful hearing improvements, air-bone gap (ABG) reduced to 20 dB or less, were achieved in 5 ears (83.3%). There were no patients who noted sensorineural hearing loss and other significant complications after surgery. CONCLUSION: More than 83% of revision stapedotomy cases have had successful closure of their ABG. The most common problem was obstruction of oval window fenestration (83.3%).
Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Incus ; Prostheses and Implants ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stapes ; Stapes Surgery