No abstract available.
Alleles* ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; HLA-DR Antigens

Mazabraud's syndrome, the etiology of which is unknown, is a rare benign disease, characterized by theas-sociation of intramuscular myxoma and fibrous dysplasia of bone, usually polyostotic. We describe a case ofMazabraud's syndrome in which with two intramuscular myxomas of the forearm were associated with polyostoticfibrous dysplasia.
Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone ; Forearm ; Myxoma

Obstructive jaundice associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an uncommon symptom caused by intraductal tumor growth, the migration of tumor necrosis, blood clots within the biliary tract, or compression of the biliary tract by the tumor. Most cases of icteric-type HCC involve a main tumor in the liver parenchyma. Bile duct HCC without a primary hepatic tumor is extremely rare, but because it shows similar clinical manifestations and imaging results to extrahepatic bile duct cancer, it is possible to misdiagnose this condition as a primary bile duct tumor or choldocholithiasis. Recently, we experienced a case of obstructive jaundice associated with an extrahepatic bile duct tumor in a 69-year-old woman. Upon radiologic studies and endoscopic cholangiography, the cause of obstructive jaundice was initially attributed to the bile duct tumor itself. However, subsequent analysis indicated that the condition was, in fact, due to bile duct thrombi associated with extrahepatic bile duct HCC.
Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiography ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore genetic relation between schizophrenia and COMT gene which plays an important role in metabolizing dopamine, one of the most intriguing neuro-transmitters for schizophrenia. METHODS: 1) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) on exons of COMT gene was searched by F-CSGE (Fluorescent-Conformation Sensitive Gel Electrophoresis) method with 50 patients with schizophrenia to look for any SNP unique to Korean patients with schizophrenia. 2) Genotyping was done for five SNPs on COMT gene for 218 patients with schizophrenia and 199 normal controls by SNaPShot method. Allele frequencies, genotype frequencies and simulated haplotype frequencies were compared between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. RESULTS: 1) No unique SNPs for Koreans was found on exons of COMT gene and seven SNPs were found, all of them are already reported to be found in other ethnic groups. 2) No significant difference between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls in terms of allele frequencies, genotype frequencies and haplotype frequencies was found in our sample. CONCLUSION: Genetic association between five SNPs on COMT gene and DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia among Koreans was not able to be found in this study.
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Dopamine ; Ethnic Groups ; Exons ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide* ; Schizophrenia*

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. Intestinal hamartomatous polyps in association with melanocytic pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes characterize PJS. Patients with PJS often have complications associated with the polyps, such as intestinal obstruction, intussusception, acute or chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, and the development of various types of cancer. Enteroclysis, small bowel follow-through, and push enteroscopy are generally used to identify the presence and location of small bowel polyps. Wireless capsule endoscopy (CE) has been confirmed as a feasible, safe, and sensitive test for the surveillance of small bowel polyps in patients with PJS and could replace radiographic small bowel surveillance. Here, a case of PJS newly diagnosed by CE is reported. The patient, a 30-year-old man who had developed rectal polyps associated with anal extrusion 7 years previously, had six episodes of hematochezia.
Adult ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Mucous Membrane ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation ; Polyps ; Skin

PURPOSE: In this study, natural pulmonary surfactant was extracted from bovine lung lavage and its surface activity was determined. To investigate the usefulness of synthetic peptides reconstituted with phospholipid as artificial surfactant, truncated peptides from surfactant protein (SP)-B were synthesized and restored the surface tension lowering activities when appropriately recombined with phospholipid. METHODS: Crude natural surfactant (CNS) was isolated from lung lavage by centrifugation and organic solvent for the extraction of pulmonary surfactant was selected to satisfy the in vitro physical properties. Two truncated peptides derived from C-terminal end of bovine SP-B hydrophobic protein were selected and synthesized. To prepare artificial surfactant, synthetic peptides was added to the phospholipid mixture. The various surfactant mixtures were assayed for in vitro physical activity with the Wilhemly plate method and were determined by surface spreading rate, surface adsorption rate and surface tension-area diagram. RESULTS: CNS-chloroform methanol (CM) displayed efficient surface activity compared with clinically used Surfacten but CNS-BuOH did not. The artificial surfactants containing phospholipid mixture and synthetic peptide were analyzed for their surface activities and displayed significant surfactant properties. CONCLUSION: 1-Butanol or CM (3:1) was used as an extraction solvent for CNS. CNS-CM showed more efficient surface activity than CNS-BuOH. Two synthetic peptides composing artificial pulmonary surfactant were designed and mixing ratio of peptide and phospholipid was established. Artificial surfactant dispalyed weaker surface activity than natural surfactant but significant surfactant activity.
1-Butanol ; Adsorption ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Centrifugation ; Methanol ; Motor Activity* ; Peptides ; Pulmonary Surfactants* ; Surface Tension ; Surface-Active Agents

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic and mammographic findings of cases of nodular adenosis. MATERIALS and METHODS: We evaluated 22 lesions with a pathologically proven nodular adenosis from five hospitals for three years. We excluded adenosis cases combined with other breast diseases. The findings of ultrasonography and mammography were retrospectively interpreted in consensus by two radiologists that were experienced in breast imaging according to the BI-RADS criteria. RESULTS: The age of the patients was 29-56 years with a mean age of 43.4 years. Ten lesions were biopsied with a 14-gauge core needle, seven lesions were biopsied with an 11-gauge vacuum-assisted mammotome and five lesions were removed by surgical excision. Mammography was performed in 15 patients and distinct abnormalities were seen in seven cases. These abnormalities consisted of an indistinct irregular mass, three circumscribed masses and three focal asymmetries. Calcifications were not seen in all of the masses. Ultrasonography was performed in 22 patients, revealing 13 irregular shaped lesions 8 oval shaped lesions and one round shape lesion. The margin was either circumscribed (n = 7) and not circumscribed (n = 15) in the lesions. The orientation of mass was parallel in 13 lesions and not parallel in 9 lesions. The boundary was an abrupt interface in all of the cases. The echogenecity of the mass was hypoechoic in 15 cases, isoechoic in 4 cases, hyperechoic in 2 cases and complex echogenic in one case. Nineteen of the cases showed no posterior feature and one case showed combined features. The final categories by the BI-RADS criteria were category 3 in three cases and category 4 in 19 cases (C4a 11, C4b 8). CONCLUSION: Nodular adenosis mostly presents as category 4 on ultrasonography. Therefore, a differential diagnosis with malignancy is difficult to determine. However, the findings of lesions highly suggestive of being malignant such as a spiculation or echogenic halo, are rare. On mammography, it is commonly obscured.
Breast ; Breast Diseases ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mammography ; Needles ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

We describe a case of Streptococcus pyogenes pneumonia in a 63-year-old man presenting with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. The patient completely recovered following treatment with mechanical ventilation, continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration, and intravenous antimicrobial agents.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Hemodiafiltration ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

We describe a case of Streptococcus pyogenes pneumonia in a 63-year-old man presenting with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. The patient completely recovered following treatment with mechanical ventilation, continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration, and intravenous antimicrobial agents.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Hemodiafiltration ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

Purpose: To investigate ocular surface diseases and changes in the quality of life of patients using glaucoma medications. Methods: Participants were divided into the normal (31 individuals, 62 eyes) and glaucoma medication (30 patients, 60 eyes) groups. Changes in tear break-up time, lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25) score were assessed for 1 year. Results: The change in mean LLT was lower in glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes (p = 0.019) after 1 year. The results of OSDI deteriorated (p’ = 0.008), but conjunctival staining and Schirmer test results showed improvement in glaucomatous eyes compared to those in control eyes (p’ =0.035 and 0.009, respectively). The average LLT decreased at 6 and 12 months, but there was no change at 24 months. In pairwise analysis, the decrease in LLT over the first 6 months was statistically significant (p < 0.001) and remained unchanged until 24 months. Among the VFQ items, scores for near activity and social function deteriorated over 1 year in the medication group (p’ = 0.033 and 0.015, respectively). However, there was no difference in the total VFQ score. Conclusions Significant reduction in LLT and deterioration of OSDI were observed in the medication group compared to the control group. However, this deterioration was observed only in the first 6 months. There was no significant difference in the VFQ total score. Nonetheless, there were significant differences in near activity and social function between the control and medication groups. Therefore, the results of this study showed that although glaucoma medication worsened eye dryness, the change was limited and did not worsen the quality of life. Glaucoma medication should be used with the consideration that they can limit near activity and social functioning.