BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may play an important role in such a wide spectrum of human neoplasia. Recently, peripheral T cell lymphomas and particularly, angiocentric lymphomas (ACL), increasingly are reported to be associated with EBV.Nasal-type and nasal T/NK cell lymphoma (TNKL) have recently been reported to comprise most of ACLs. The prognosis of these tumors has been extremely poor. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate EBV association in primary or secondary cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and to identify any prognostic association. METHODS: Thirty six patients with primary or secondary cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative (CTCL) disorders were examined to evaluate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus using in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER). RESULTS: EBER was detected in tumor cells in one third of the total cases (13/36); 4/4 secondary skin lymphoma from nasal TNKL, 8/8 primary cutaneous nasal type TNKLs and 1/5 mycosis fungoides (MF).EBER was not detected in the following disease: 6 cases of anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) including 2 cases of probable NK-like T cell lineage, 3 lymphomatoid papulosis, 2 CD56 (-) T cell ACLs and 7 subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphomas (SPTL) by Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) classification and recent concept of further classification into NK-cell lineage. One case of T-cell pseudolymphoma as a negative control was also negative in EBER. CONCLUSION: High incidence of EBV was observed in primary or secondary CTCLs in Koreans, with predilection for nasal and nasal type TNKL. In MFs, an erythrodermic MF with fatal outcome was associated with EBV and the EBV detection might reflect worse prognosis in MFs as seen in an aggressive course of nasal and nasal type TNKLs.
Cell Lineage ; Classification ; Fatal Outcome ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Incidence ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders* ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Prognosis ; Pseudolymphoma ; RNA* ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes*

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the relationship between age and the mandibular cortical bone thickness on panoramic radiograph. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of 360 patients (180 men and 180 women) over 20 years old, who visited the Chonbuk National University Hospital from January to December in 2007, were assessed. The subjects were divided into 5 age groups. Five indices such as cortical bone thickness at the gonion (GI), antegonion (AI), and below the mental foramen (MI), the panoramic mandibular index (PMI), the mandibular cortical index (MCI) were measured on panoramic radiographs. RESULTS: All five indices including GI, AI, MI, PMI, and MCI showed significant differences between third decade and over 8 decade groups (p<0.05). PMI, MI and GI showed significant differences with gender statistically (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mandibular cortical bone thickness showed negative correlation with age, and the value of the thickness (PMI, MI, and GI) was greater in men than in women.
Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Radiography, Panoramic

Living-Related-Liver-Transplantation(LRLT) has been established as a reliable method of treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease when the scarcity of cadaveric organ donor was considered. But the hepatic artery is high at risk in thrombosis(HAT) following LRLT. So microsurgical technique was introduced in anastomosis of hepatic artery. This study was aimed at using microsurgical technique in LRLT and presenting some technical details of the procedures. From December 1994 to November 1997, a sereis of 41 LRLTs on patients with end-stage liver disease was performed with follow-up period of 5 to 40 months(mean,15.6 months). Organs were donated by living-related donors(n=36) and living-nonrelated ones(n=5). Hepatic artery was reconstructed with microsurgical technique by plastic surgeon. All hepatic arteries were patent intraoperatively and postoperatively except one case, which had leakage at anastomosed site on the postoperative fourth day.Hepatic artery is high at risk in thrombosis(HAT) following LRLT due to the caliber discrepancy and technical difficulties. To overcome these risks, microsurgical technique was introduced. The technique has greatly reduced arterial complication. However, there are some difficulties in microsurgery of LRLT, which are somewhat different from those in other microsurgery fields: the first difficulty is to obtain a good operative field and a sufficient view through the microscope. The second one is to overcome arterial caliber discrepancy. And the last is to achieve a stable posture in narrow and deep operating field against the respiratory movement and heartbeat.With the persistent team approach of plastic and general surgeons in the field of LRLT, we could have reduced the HAT and have had better outcome after LRLT.
Arteries ; Cadaver ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Microsurgery ; Posture ; Tissue Donors*

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical outcomes of orthogonal locking compression plate fixation for distal humeral intraarticular fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 18 patients presenting a distal humeral intraarticular fracture who were treated with orthogonal locking compression plate fixation. According to the AO/OTA classification, there were eight C2 and ten C3 fractures. We evaluated radiologic outcomes, clinical results with range of motion, operation-related complications, and functional score by Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS). RESULTS: The a verage u nion t ime was 3.5 months, and there was no c ase of r eduction l oss of a rticular f racture at t he last follow-up. Additional surgical procedures were needed in the three cases of C3 fractures. There was one case of heterotrophic ossification and one case of K-wire irritation. The average range of motion of elbow joint was 7° to 122°, and functional results were graded as 14 excellent, three good, and one fair by MEPS. CONCLUSION: Anatomical reduction and internal fixation with orthogonal locking compression plate could provide satisfactory surgical outcomes for the treatment of distal humeral intraarticular fracture.
Classification ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Intra-Articular Fractures* ; Range of Motion, Articular

In order to clarify the genetic relationship between Koreans and Akha, Lahu native tribes around the mountain area in Northern Thailand, authors examined the metric and non-metric mophological variations of the maxillary anterior teeth. The subjects were 54 in Akha tribe (25 males, 29 female) and 114 in Lahu tribe (57 males, 57 females), and their ages were 20 to 65 (mean age 34). The prevalence of the shovel-shaped incisor in maxillary anterior teeth was 85% in Lahu tribe. Among the another non-metric variations, the prevalence of the peg lateralis was 3 cases in Akha female and 8 cases in Lahu tribe (4 males, 4 females). And the supernumernary tooth located between the right and left maxillary central incisors was observed in 2 cases, the congenital missings of the maxillary lateral incisor were in 2 cases(1 Akha, 1 Lahu tribe), and the congenital missings of the maxillary canine were in 3 cases(1 Akha, 2 Lahu tribe). The maximal mesio-distal diameters of the maxillary anterior teeth in Akha and Lahu tribes showed no discrepancy with regard to those of koreans and the dental measurements of the male were larger than the female (p<0.05). The dental measurements of the Lahu tribe were more closer to Korean than those of Akha Tribe were. Especlally, the mean mesio-distal diameter of the maxillary anterior teeth in Lahu female had no difference to Korean adult female (p<0.05). On the basis of the above results, authors thought that the anthropological similarity to Koreans was higher in Lahu than Akha tribe with respect to the dentition, but the further anthropological studies such as the height, body proportion, and finger print should be needed.
Adult ; Body Height ; Dentition ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Population Groups* ; Prevalence ; Thailand* ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vitro response of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells to X-ray in the presence and absence of 2 deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and quercetin (QCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in an alpha-MEM supplemented with 5 mM 2-DG or 10 micrometer QCT and then the cells were incubated for 12 h prior to irradiation with 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy using a linear accelerator (Mevaprimus, Germany) delivered at a rate of 1.5 Gy/min. At various times after the irradiation, the cells were processed for the analyses of proliferation, viability, cytotoxicity, and mineralization. RESULTS: Exposure of the cells to X-ray inhibited the tritium incorporation, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl-)-2, 5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reducing activity, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and caused cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner of the X-ray. This effect was further apparent on day 3 and 7 after the irradiation. RA+2-DG showed the decrease of DNA content, cell viability, and increase of cytotoxicity rather than RA. ALP activity increased on day 7 and subsequently its activity dropped to a lower level. 2-DG suppressed the calcium concentration, but visual difference of number of calcified nodules between RA and RA+2-DG was not noticed. RA+QCT showed the increase of DNA content, cell viability, but decrease of cytotoxicity and subG1 stage cells in the cell cycle, and increased calcified nodules in von Kossa staining rather than the RA. ALP activity showed significant increases on day 7 and subsequently its activity dropped to a lower level. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the 2-DG acted as a radiosensitizing agent and QCT acted as a radioprotective agent respectively in the irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Survival ; Deoxyglucose* ; DNA ; Osteoblasts* ; Particle Accelerators ; Quercetin* ; Tritium

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: A growing body of research has documented that occupational stress is closely associated with increased risk of fatigue. This study was conducted in an effort to assess the relationship of occupational stress to self-perceived fatigue among Korean white collar employees. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress (NSDSOS Project, 2002-2004). Among them, a total of 4,502 white collar employees were recruited. A structured questionnaire was employed to evaluate the participants' sociodemographics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, occupational stress, and self-perceived fatigue. Occupational stress and self-perceived fatigue were assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short form (KOSS-SF) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS), respectively. RESULTS: In logistic regression analyses, occupational stress was associated with an increased risk of fatigue, and some domains of occupational stress had different effects on fatigue by gender (job demand, job insecurity, and lack of reward for men, job demand, lack of reward, and discomfort in occupational climate for women), which indicates that occupational stress may perform a slightly different role in increasing the risk of fatigue by gender. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that occupational stress is a determinant predictor of selfperceived fatigue. Thus, a stress management program for the reduction of occupational stress, and the promotion of white collar worker's health and quality of life is strongly recommended. Some limitations of this study and considerations for future studies were also discussed.
Climate ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Reward

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric proliferative vascular tumor involving the skin and other organs. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in KS lesions and is considered the putative causative agent of KS. The relationship between chronic renal failure, HHV-8, and KS is not clear. KS appears to develop in association with renal transplantation, but is unlikely with dialysis, and there have been few reports on this. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old man, who underwent peritoneal dialysis to treat chronic renal failure, and presented with multiple brownish plaques on his soles. On histopathological examination, abnormally proliferated vessels, vascular slits, and spindle-shaped cells were seen in the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining for HHV-8 was positive. This case is another example in which factors other than immunosuppression contributed to the development of KS, due to activation of HHV-8.
Dermis ; Dialysis* ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin

Cheilitis granulomatosa as a monosymtomatic form of the Melkersson-Rosenthal sydrome, was charaterized by reccurrent or persistent edema in the orofacial lesion that could not be explained on the basis of infections, systemic, malignant, or connective tissue disorders. Herein we report two cases of cheilitis granulomatosa which have been treated with triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection, hydroxychloroquine 400mg per day. After a short course of systemic steroids the swelling of the lip improved.
Cheilitis* ; Connective Tissue ; Edema ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lip ; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome* ; Steroids ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

BACKGROUND: It is important to distinguish trichoepitheliomas from basal cell carcinomas because, despite the similarity of clinical and histological findings, the treatments and prognoses are different. bcl-2 is a newly characterized protooncogene that has been shown to suppress programmed cell death(apoptosis), which is involved in tumorigenesis, and its expression has been demonstrated within tumor cells in a variety of neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the staining pattern of bcl-2 protooncogene in basal cell carcinomas and trichoepitheliomas. METHODS: We examined cases of basal cell carcinomas and trichoepitheliomas with the immunohistochemical method of labelled streptavidin-biotin complex in paraffin-embedded sections using the antigen retrieval method. RESULTS: 1. The bcl-2 staining pattern in basal cell carcinomas was diffuse throughout the tumor lobules, but multifocal absences of bcl-2 staining were identified in sites of follicular differentiation. Also, inhomogeneous staining patterns were observed around the cystic, glandular structure of several subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. 2. The trichoepitheliomas showed staining of tumor cells limited to the outer layers of the tumor lobules. 3. Normal skin showed staining of basal keratinocytes, rnelanocytes in the epidermis, and eccrine gland secretory cells, basal layer of follicular structures, and dermal hair papilla in the dermis. CONCLUSION: The immunohistcchemical bcl-2 staining is helpful for the differentiation of basal cell carcinomas from trichoepitheliomas particularly in borderline cases and the explanation of different biologic courses for the two diseases. Further investigation of bcl-2 staining in other malignant skin diseases should be undertaken, and its practical adaptation should be more widely used in borderline cases.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Epidermis ; Hair ; Keratinocytes ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Skin Diseases