No abstract available.
Carbon* ; Knee*

A case of calcifying synovial sarcoma, occuring in the deep muscle fascia of the left thigh is reported. The presence of extensive calcification in synovial sarcoma is a favorable sign for prognosis. The patient was a 31-year-old female. The tumor mass had been present for 3 years, accompanying local tenderness. X-ray revealed a soft tissue tumor with central calcification, which was located between the adductor magnus and brevis of the left thigh. The tumor size was 7 x 5.5 cm. There was no connection with the knee joint or the femur. Grossly, the tumor was a relatively well circumscribed hard tumor with massive calcification. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of predominantly spindle cells with accompanying hyalinization, numerous spherical concretions and ossification. The epithelial component was not clearly noted. Mitotic figures were rarely noted in the densely cellular area. Immunohistochemical staining for EMA, S-100, vimentin, and carcinoembryonic antigen was negative while vimentin and cytokeratin were weakly and focally positive. EM study revealed multiple desmosome-like calcification intercellular junctions with a slit-like lumen and an incomplete basal lamina, which suggest that tumor show these cells were undergoing epithelia] differentiation. Above evidence suggest that this tumor is a synovial sarcoma associated with a large area of calcification, a so called calcifying synovial sarcoma. No recurrence was noted in one and half years of follow up.
Female ; Humans

To elucidate the developmental sequence of the eccrine sweat gland, a morphologic and a morphometric observation were done using developing human embryos and fetuses. Five embryos and sixty four fetuses from the 9th to the 38th week of the gestational age were studied. The skin was sampled in eight different areas, i.e., scalp, forehead, face, chest, abdomen, back, palm and sole. Routine histological sections were made for histological evaluation and morphometric analysis. The results obtained were as follows : The primordia of the eccrine sweat glands appeared first as regular undulation of the basal cells in the palm and the sole in the 13th week of getation. Subsequently, elongation and coiling of the cell cords were noted from the 16th to the 18th weeks. Intraductal lumen formation was first noted in the 20th week. Secretory segment of the eccrine sweat glands were noted from the distal part of the coiling intradermal sweat duct in the 22nd week of the gestational age. The eccrine sweat glands became fully developed by the 28th week of gestation and this included the clear cell, the dark cell and the myoepithelial cell. In the morphometric analysis, the number of eccrine epithelial buddings were decreased with aging and the highest were in the palm and the sole. The diameter of the eccrine sweat duct showed no significant change by gestational age or in the different sites observed. Straight and coiled eccrine sweat ducts or glands were lengthened into the deep reticular dermis and upper portion of the subcutaneous adipose tissue with an increase of the gestational age. The above results suggest that developmental stage and the number of eccrine glands of the skin in the fetal stage is different from other areas of the body, especially in the palm and the sole.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Forehead ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Thorax

To elucidate the developmental sequence of the eccrine sweat gland, a morphologic and a morphometric observation were done using developing human embryos and fetuses. Five embryos and sixty four fetuses from the 9th to the 38th week of the gestational age were studied. The skin was sampled in eight different areas, i.e., scalp, forehead, face, chest, abdomen, back, palm and sole. Routine histological sections were made for histological evaluation and morphometric analysis. The results obtained were as follows : The primordia of the eccrine sweat glands appeared first as regular undulation of the basal cells in the palm and the sole in the 13th week of getation. Subsequently, elongation and coiling of the cell cords were noted from the 16th to the 18th weeks. Intraductal lumen formation was first noted in the 20th week. Secretory segment of the eccrine sweat glands were noted from the distal part of the coiling intradermal sweat duct in the 22nd week of the gestational age. The eccrine sweat glands became fully developed by the 28th week of gestation and this included the clear cell, the dark cell and the myoepithelial cell. In the morphometric analysis, the number of eccrine epithelial buddings were decreased with aging and the highest were in the palm and the sole. The diameter of the eccrine sweat duct showed no significant change by gestational age or in the different sites observed. Straight and coiled eccrine sweat ducts or glands were lengthened into the deep reticular dermis and upper portion of the subcutaneous adipose tissue with an increase of the gestational age. The above results suggest that developmental stage and the number of eccrine glands of the skin in the fetal stage is different from other areas of the body, especially in the palm and the sole.
Abdomen ; Aging ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Forehead ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Leptospirosis*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Leptospirosis*

This report concerns a rare malignant smooth muscle neoplasm of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue, which was examined immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. It occured in a 48-year-old female patient who had suffered from painful nodules on the left shoulder. The nodules were removed and diagnosed as a benign fibrohistiocytic tumor. One year after local excision, multiple nodules were detected by physical examination at the previous operation site. Grossly, thirteen well-defined small nodules had spread in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue, of which nine were located from lower dermis to the subcutaneous tissue and four were in the subcutaneous tissue. Histologically, each nodule consisted mainly of epithelioid tumor cells having eosinophilic or clear plump cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei with small nucleoli, and some peripheral spindle tumor cells. The tumor cells were negative for PAS reaction with and without diastase digestion or alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin and vimentin. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed actin filaments and dense bodies in cytoplasm. This case was diagnosed as an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue with local metastasis one year after local excision.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actins ; Alcian Blue ; Amylases ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Digestion ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction ; Physical Examination ; Shoulder ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Vimentin

The cystic mesothelioma is a very rare tumor which has a clinically and histologically benign nature. Here in reported is the case of a cystic mesothelioma presented as a palpable mass of the inguinal area in a 28-year-old male. Ultrasound showed a cystic tumor at the inguinal canal, and the other physical and laboratory examinations were within normal limits. Grossly, the tumor consisted of cysts containing clear serous fluid and focally solid areas. Microscopically, the tumor was encapsulated with fibrocollagenous wall, and the tumor cells were cuboidal or polygonal epithelial cells with single or multiple layers and had clear cytoplasm. Some areas showed thyroid follicle-like structures. The content of follicle-like structures showed eosinophilia in the H&E section, but positive in mucin stain. Neither cytologic atypia nor mitoses were present. Immunohistochemical staining revealed positive reaction for keratins of low molecular weight, while negative for the thyroglobulin and CEA. These findings suggested mesothelial in origin. We concluded that this tumor was primary rather than metastatic, because he had no evidence of a tumor in gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts and scrotum.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophilia ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; Male ; Mesothelioma, Cystic* ; Mitosis ; Molecular Weight ; Mucins ; Scrotum ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: There have been conflicting reports on vascular response to Panax ginseng. The conflicting reports may be due to difference of ingredient of Panax ginseng. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of saponin, the main ingredient of Panax ginseng, on the vascular contractility. METHODS: The rabbit aortic rings were cut and mounted on the force transducer to record an isometric tension on polygraph. To elucidate the mechanism of saponin effect on vascular smooth muscle, the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle were measured under varying experimental condition. RESULTS: 1) When the aortic rings were precontracted with norepinephrine, saponin caused biphasic(initial relaxation-sustained contraction) dose-response in the endothelium dependent manner. But saponin had no effect on the resting tension. 2) When EDRF inhibitors such as methylene blue(10(-5)M), hemoglobin(10(-5)M), N-omega-nitro-L-arginine(100microM) were added to precontracted ring with norepinephrine, the initial relaxation caused by 2mg% saponin was inhibited. 3) When Ca(2+)-channel blocker, nifedipine(5x10(-7)M), was added to precontracted rings with norepinephrine, the sustsined contraction by saponin was inhibited. 4) When hemoglobin(10(-5)M) was added to precontracted rings with norepinephrine, the contractility by norepinephrine was increased and this effect was further augmented by 2mg% saponin. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, it may be concluded that saponin stimulated the release of both an endothelium-dependent relaxing factor and endothelium-dependent contracting factor.
Endothelium ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Norepinephrine ; Panax ; Relaxation ; Saponins* ; Transducers

Working towards the compression of morbidity, we attempted to find the way to contribute to desirable aging and/or healthy old age. By looking into the factors affecting nutrient intake in middle-aged adults, we sought to find ways to improve their health status, Two hundred and fifty middle-aged adults from 40 to 60 years of age residing in Seoul and its vicinity were recruited for the survey. Subjects were interviewed for general characteristics, dietary habits lifestyle, status and food intake by a trained interviewer. Two -day food record was included in addition to the 1 -day 24 hr recall. Date were analyzed for the relationship among nutrient intake, health status, socio-economic status dietary habits and lifestyle using a statistical program (SAS) Although the mean energy intake of the subjects did not reach the recommenced dietary allowances(RDA), mean protein intake was well above the RAD for both sex groups(111.2% and 129.1% for men and women, respectively) The caloric contribution of fat was 15 to 20 % of total energy intake among different groups. Riboflavin was the most deficient nutrient and its mean intake reached only 71.0% of RDA for mean This seemed to be due to the lower intake of milk and dairy products among middle-aged Koreans who are more accustomed to traditional meals. Income and exercise habit were the most important factors influencing the nutrient intake of middle-age adults. Also, BMI, smoking habit, level of education regularity of meal, and hours of sleeping influenced the nutrient intake, In conclusion, middle-age adults appeared to have similar problems with the elderly in terms of nutrient intake and this age group should to included when considering nutritionally vulnerable groups in addition to the elderly and young children. The improvement in the nutrition status of middle-age adults is even more important because that could lead into the better health the elderly.
Adult* ; Aged ; Aging ; Child ; Dairy Products ; Eating ; Education ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Nutritional Status ; Riboflavin ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking