No Abstract Available.
Natriuretic Peptides*

No abstract available.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*

Leiomyoma Cutis is an unusual benign tumor of smooth muscle derivecl either from the arrector pili muscle, from the media of blood vesseles, or from smooth muscles of scrotum, labia or nipple. Two casea of leiomyoma cutis confirmed by H&E stain and Massons stain is presented, one with lesion on the left thigh and the ather with lesion of the left ankle. The first case was a 49 year-old female with solitary pinhead sized subcutaneous firm mass with intermittent pain and tenderess for 10 months, The second case waa a 36 year-old female with painful solitary peanut sized firm nodule which had pinkish center of 1 year duration.
Adult ; Ankle ; Blood Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nipples ; Scrotum ; Thigh

Since human listeriosis was firstly described by Nyfeldt in 1929, Listeria monocytogenes as a cause of septic abortion has been well known. It primarily affects pregnant woman and neonates, the elderly, and persons with immune-system dysfunction due to immunosuppressive drugs, malignant tumors or AIDS. Although several large epidemic listeriosis have been reported in the English literatures, it is still an underdiagnosed and underreported cause of congenital sepsis and septic abortion, because it is not always easy to isolate the organism in culture. There are 17 cases reports of Listeria monocytogenes infection in Korea, however, most of which were described about the bascteriologically proven cases. We describe placental findings of a septic abortion caused by Listeria monocytogenes at 15 weeks gestation in a 23-year-old primigravida woman. Placental examination showed characteristic and relatively specific patterns of granulomatous microabscesses composed of necrotic nuclear debris in the center and surrounding epithelioid histocytes enmeshed in fibrin between the acutely inflamed villi. There were numerous gram positive bacilli on Brown-Brenn stain.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: It is debatable whether an anterior oblique fracture orientation is really a contraindication to anterior odontoid screw fixation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of anterior odontoid screw fixation of type II and rostral shallow type III fracture with an anterior oblique fracture orientation. METHODS: The authors evaluated 16 patients with type II and rostral shallow type III odontoid fracture with an anterior oblique fracture orientation. Of these 16 patients, 8 (group 1) were treated by anterior odontoid screw fixation, and 8 (group 2) by a posterior C1-2 arthrodesis. RESULTS: Of the 8 patients in group 1, seven patients achieved solid bone fusion (87.5%), and one experienced screw back-out of the C-2 body two months after anterior screw fixation. All patients treated by posterior C1-C2 fusion in group 2 achieved successful bone fusion. Mean fracture displacements and fracture gaps were not significantly different in two groups. (p=0.075 and 0.782). However, mean fracture orientation angles were 15.3+/-3.2 degrees in group 1, and 28.6+8.1 degrees in group 2 (p=0.002), and mean fragment angulations were 3.2+/-2.1 degrees in group 1, and 14.8+/-6.7 degrees in group 2 (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Even when the fracture lines of type II and rostral shallow type III fractures are oriented in an anterior oblique direction, anterior odontoid screw fixation can be feasible in carefully selected patients with a relatively small fracture orientation angle and relatively small fragment angulation.
Humans ; Odontoid Process ; Orientation

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids (GC) are the most potent medications used to control airway inflammation associated with asthma. The aim of this study was to see whether alterations in GC receptor binding contribute to poor response to GC therapy in severe asthma. METHODS: Seventeen patients with severe persistent bronchial asthma were studied. Patients were classified as GC sensitive if their morning FEV1 increased >15% after a 1-week course of systemic GC (>prednisolone 40mg/day) and GC-resistant if they failed to increase >15%. GC receptor binding affinity for dexamethasone of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by using a radioligand binding assay and Scatchard analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of age, serum IgE levels, peripheral blood eosinophils and atopic states between GC-resistant (n=10) and GC-responsive (n=7) groups. GC-resistant patients had significantly decreased GC receptor binding affinity (Kd=24.3+/-9.55) compared to the GC sensitive patients (Kd=13.5+/-1.48) and normal controls (n=6, Kd=4.24+/-1.09). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that decreased binding affinity of GC receptor is an important factor in clinical GC resistance in chronic severe asthma.
Asthma* ; Dexamethasone ; Eosinophils ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid*

We experienced a case of congenital rubella syndrome manifesting patent ductus arteriosus, petechiae, microcephaly, intrauterine growth retardation, and hepatomegaly in one-day-old female newborn infant. Congenital rubella syndrome was confirmed by positive results of anti-rubella IgM in the sera of patient. Anti-rubella IgM was negative in the sera of mother, while anti-rubella IgG was positive.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant, Newborn ; Microcephaly ; Mothers ; Purpura ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital*

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis, Mikulicz disease or Kuttner tumor has been recently recognized as a spectrum of IgG4-related sclerosing disease. IgG4-related disease is characterized by a high serum IgG4 level and tissue infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes. We report three cases of chronic sclerosing sialadenitis with variably associated systemic involvement. All patients presented with a submandibular mass or swelling, and all the resected submandibular glands showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, lymphoid follicles, and septal fibrosis. Two of the specimens revealed numerous IgG-positive plasma cells, most of which were IgG4-positive on immunohistochemical staining. One of them was associated with dacryoadenitis and hypophysitis. The other patient had ureterorenal lesions. Immunohistochemical study was unavailable in remaining one case, but the histologic features along with elevated IgG level and associated pancreatitis supported the diagnosis. All patients received steroid therapy postoperatively and are doing well. Salivary gland involvement in IgG4-related fibrosclerosis should be recognized in systemic medical pathology.
Dacryocystitis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mikulicz' Disease ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma Cells ; Salivary Glands ; Sialadenitis ; Submandibular Gland

c-erbB-2 oncogene is a normal cellular proto-oncogene coding transmembrane glycoprotein structurally similar to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Amplification of this oncogene in a variety of human adenocarcinomas has been reported and is particularly well documented in breast carcinoma. It has been suggested that amplification of this oncogene is indicative of poor prognosis and is valuable only second to the lymph node status. Using immunohistochemical staining for the c-erbB-2 protein, overexpression of this protein was analysed in 228 primary breast cancer specimens and the frequency of overexpression and the relationship between overexpression and the other established prognostic variables are evaluated. Ninty three cases out of 228 cases(40.8%) show postive oncoprotein overexpression and using the chi-squared test for a trend, a significant correlation was found between c-erbB-2 protein staining and the histological grade, lymph node status, and estrogen receptor status(P<0.05). No significant association was found between staining and the patient's age and tumor size. Most of the tumors with histological types known to have good prognosis showed negative expression. Above findings strongly suggest that expression of c-erbB-2 oncogene is another independent indicator of poor prognosis in breast carcinoma.
Humans ; Adenocarcinoma ; Breast Neoplasms

The purpose of this study was to determine the most accurate technique measuring the apical pulse rate, using three counting duration 15, 30 and 60 seconds, and two methods start '0' and start '1'. The instrument used in the study was the EKG moniter, stethoscope and stopwatch. Data was analyzed by utilizing SPSSWIN program. General characteristics of the subjects were analyzed by frequency, percentile, mean, SD. The subject of this research is made up of 46 children and 20 nurses. The children were infants, & under the age of 5. They were hospitalised in PICU & NICU in 2 tertiary hospitals in seoul from Jan. 1. 1998 to Sep. 10. 1998. The measurement of starting 1 & measurement of starting '0' used the T-test to find out the measurement error. Apical pulse duration of 15, 30, 60 seconds were used to find out measurement error, the measurement error depend on experience of Nurse were analyzed by using ANOVA. The result of this study are as follows : 1. When comparing the starting poin of apical pulse 0 & 1, starting with 1 the measurement error is less, but not statically significant. 2. When counting the apical pulse by 15, 30, 60 sec. 60 seconds counting duration was more accurate, but not statistically significant. 3. The mean of measure error : Group under 100/ min, is 10.33 : from 100 or 119/min, is 8.30 : from 120 to 139/min, is 4.76 ; from 140 to 159/min, is 6.09 : above 160, is 17.83. The differences of these groups are statistically significant. When 60sec were counted, under 140/min the mean of measurement error is 3.4. Also when 30 seconds were counted from 140/min to 159/min the measurement error is 7.14, above 160/min the measurement error is 16.4. That measurement mean is the smallest than the other durations. During the 15 sec. count the measurement error was the largest of them all. 4. By the experience of the nurses, the apical pulse count measurement error was discovered. Under a year experience this measurement error was the largest(11.09), 1 year to under 3 years, the error is the smallest(4.86). 3 year to under 6 years the error is 8.33, 5 years above the error is 6.11 but this is not statistical significant. Under a year experience when counting 15, 30, 60 seconds the error is the largest. The group of the nurses from a year to under 3 years, the measurement error is the smallest of all the groups. The result of the study is to determine the technique measuring the apical pulse rate, Hargest (1974), starting point '0' is not proved. When the pulse rate increases the 30 sec measurement rate is accurate. Under 140/min the 60 sec measurement rate is the most accurate. Depending on the nurses experiences, there is a variable difference to the apical pulse rate measurement. Especially new nurses training courses should enforce the children's pulse rate count and the basic vital signs.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Seoul ; Stethoscopes ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vital Signs ; Child Health