The cathepsin D is a lysosomal protease secreted in excess by breast cancer cells. The function of this enzyme is degradation of the extracellular matrix and proteoglycan. It is induced by estrogens in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cell lines. On the basis of this, cathepsin D expression in breast cancer cells seems to be correlated with the prognosis. But there is debates in its prognostic significance. Relationship between cathepsin D expression and other prognostic factors of breast cancer was studied. We investigated 51 cases of invasive ductal cell carcinoma of breast removed by open biopsy or mastectomy. All cases were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. We used 46-KD intermediate form of the enzyme for cathepsin D expression on immunohistochemical stain. We observed no significant correlation with age, stage, histologic grade, lymphatic invasion, and estrogen receptor status. Cathepsin D may be an independent factor which is not related with other prognostic factors, especially estrogen receptor status.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms

Fetal teratomas rarely complicate pregnancy,having an incidance of only 20,000:1 to 40,000:1 of live births. Overthere, cervical teratomas are rare and accounts for only 5.5% of all neonatal teratomas. We have experienced a large cervical immature teratoma and present this case with a brief review of literatures.
Live Birth ; Teratoma*

A 69-year old man presented with severe epigastric pain for 1 day. He had early gastric cancer at the antrum and underwent a distal subtotal gastrectomy and Billorth II gastrojejunostomy one month later without any post-operative complications. Radiologic examination revealed a large amount of retroperitoneal free air formation. Because of unremitting pain and unstable vital sign, exploratory laparotomy was followed. During the operation, a perforated duodenal diverticulum at the posterior wall of the 2nd portion of the duodenum was identified. He underwent diverticulectomy and primary closure. He was discharged on the 18th post operative day and has been followed up without any evidence of comlpication for several months.
Aged ; Diverticulum* ; Duodenum ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastric Bypass* ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vital Signs

No abstract available.
Granuloma* ; Intubation*

PURPOSE: Activating mutation of the KRAS oncogene is an established negative predictor for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, KRAS mutation as a prognostic factor of survival outcome remains controversial in CRC, independent of anti-EGFR therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 103 CRC patients who were available for evaluation of KRAS mutation status. None of the patients analyzed had received anti-EGFR therapies. The role of KRAS mutation status was evaluated as a predictive factor for oxaliplatin or irinotecan and as a prognostic factor in CRC patients who did not receive anti-EGFR therapies. RESULTS: Mutations in KRAS were observed in 48.5% of patients. The response for oxaliplatin- (p=0.664) and irinotecan-based (p=0.255) cytotoxic chemotherapy did not differ according to the KRAS mutation status. In addition, no significant difference in progression free survival (PFS; oxaliplatin, p=0.583 and irinotecan, p=0.426) and overall survival (OS; p=0.258) was observed between the wild and mutant type of the KRAS gene. In univariate and multivariate analyses, KRAS mutations did not have a major prognostic value regarding PFS (oxaliplatin: hazard ratio, 0.892; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.590 to 1.347; p=0.586 and irinotecan: hazard ratio, 0.831; 95% CI, 0.524 to 1.319; p=0.433) or OS (hazard ratio, 0.754; 95% CI, 0.460 to 1.236; p=0.263). In addition, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies did not affect PFS to oxaliplatin or irinotecan and OS. CONCLUSION: KRAS mutation is not a prognostic marker for PFS to oxaliplatin or irinotecan and OS in CRC patients who did not receive anti-EGFR therapies.
Camptothecin ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oncogenes ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Mortality*

This study was conducted to investigate the nutrient intakes of subjects by quartile of percent energy intake from cooked rice, consumption of cooked rice mixed with multi-grains and to evaluate rice consumption in relation to the risk of metabolic syndrome. The subjects were 5,830 males and females aged between 20~64 years based on 2007-2008 KNHNES data. Levels of percent energy intake from cooked rice were classified into 4 groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 groups: 25% of each) using data of 24-hour recall method from KNHNES. Using medical examination and questionnaire, subjects were classified according to diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. The subjects with higher age, being married, lower education, lower economic level were more likely to take higher percent energy intake from cooked rice. Quartile Q3 of percent energy intake from cooked rice tended to show higher Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) for fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin A. INQ of protein, dietary fiber, calcium, thiamin, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C by consumption of cooked rice mixed with multi-grains was higher than that by consumption of cooked white rice when adjusted for age. No association with a risk for metabolic syndrome was found for quartile of percent energy intake from cooked rice or cooked rice mixed with multi-grains compared to cooked white rice after adjusting for energy, gender, age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, income and physical activity. In conclusion, consumption of over 54% energy intake from cooked rice or only cooked white rice showed relatively low INQs, but was not associated with a higher risk for metabolic syndrome.
Aged ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Dietary Proteins ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritive Value ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Riboflavin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin A

PURPOSE: To reduce the side effects and improve the effectiveness of standard chemoradiation therapy, many complementary or alternative medicines have been tried. However, little is known about its immunologic effects in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess the immunologic effects of mistletoe extract (Viscum album L., VAE) in patients with early breast cancer after surgery followed by standard adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. METHODS: A total 20 patients with early breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery followed conventional chemoradiation therapy. Ten of these patients received subcutaneous injections of VAE for 7 weeks. IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-beta, and IFN-gamma levels in serum samples were measured in all patients. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta were not significantly changed between before and after VAE treatment in both test and control group. The concentration of IL-6 in the test group was increased from 8.19+/-1.75 pg/mL to 9.86+/-1.46 pg/mL after treatment (p=0.013). The concentration of IFN-gamma in the test group was remarkably increased from 91.76+/-17.16 pg/mL to 167.42+/-66.61 pg/mL after treatment (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Significant increases in the concentration of IL-6 and IFN-gamma were observed after VAE treatment. These results suggest that VAE treatment can stimulate immune responses, especially cell-mediated immunity in immune-compromised patients received the chemoradiation for breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mistletoe ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

PURPOSE: The specific aim of this study is to unravel a DNA copy number alterations, and to search for novel genes that are associated with the development of Korean gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated a DNA copy number changes in 23 gastric adenocarcinomas by array-comparative genomic hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Besides, the expression of UQCRFS1, which shows amplification in array-CGH, was examined in 186 gastric cancer tissues by an immunohistochemistry, and in 9 gastric cancer cell lines, as well as 24 gastric cancer tissues by immunoblotting. RESULTS: We found common gains at 48 different loci, and a common loss at 19 different loci. Amplification of UQCRFS1 gene at 19q12 was found in 5 (21.7%) of the 23 gastric cancers in an array-comparative genomic hybridization and DNA copy number were increased in 5 (20.0%) out of the 25 gastric cancer in quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In immunohistochemistry, the overexpression of the protein was detected in 105 (56.5%) out of the 186 gastric cancer tissues. Statistically, there was no significant relationship between the overexpression of UQCRFS1 and clinicopathologic parameters (P>0.05). In parallel, the overexpression of UQCRFS1 protein was confirmed in 6 (66.7%) of the 9 gastric cancer cell lines, and 12 (50.0%) of the 24 gastric cancer tissues by immunoblotting. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the overexpression of UQCRFS1 gene may contribute to the development and/or progression of gastric cancer, and further supported that mitochondrial change may serve as a potential cancer biomarker.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cell Line ; Coat Protein Complex I ; DNA ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms

It has long been assumed that the immune system plays a role in tumor eradication, however, scant clinical evidence exists to support that hypothesis. In recent years, as the immune system and its specific effector cells are better defined, convincing data supporting immune surveillance is emerging. Several studies have shown that an "immune signature" in the tumor microenvironment is associated with a superior outcome in a variety of cancer types. Moreover, studies have suggested that T cells found in high density within the tumor parenchyma are also correlated with a survival benefit. The type of adaptive immune response implicated in improved cancer outcomes is a type 1 response. That is, adaptive immunity associated with T cells that secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, which can not only support a proliferative antigen specific T cell response but also enhance "cross priming" by activating antigen presenting cells local to the tumor site. There are many methods available that will allow the development of clinical reagents designed to stimulate Th1 immunity; either by in vitro or in vivo manipulation. Clinical trials of a variety of immunotherapeutic strategies indicate that the generation of tumor antigen specific Th1 may be beneficial in inhibiting the growth of common solid tumors.
Adaptive Immunity ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cytokines ; Immune System ; Immunomodulation ; Indicators and Reagents ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Microenvironment