The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory role of vitamin A with respect to activation of Ito cells in fibrosis of the rat liver induced by common bile duct ligation(CBDL). The liver was examined by immunohistochemical staining for a-smooth muscle actin,the known marker of activated Ito cells, and light and electron microscopy after CBDL andCBDL with intraperitoneal injection of retinoic acid (Sigma, USA) 1 mg/Kg in 3 times per week. The results were sumrrlerized as follows: After CBDL, the bile ductules were markedly proliferated in the periportal areas extending toterminal hepatic veins. Interstitial fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared, however,cholestasis was minimal. Retinoic acid treatment with CBDL decreased bile ductular proliferationand interstitial fibrosis compared to CBDL only. After CBDL, proliferated and activated Ito ceIs showing positive reaction in smooth muscle actin were present in the periductular andperisinusoidal areas, and areas of increased interstitial fibrosis. Activated ito cells weredecreased in number after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. Electron microscopically,intracytoplasmic fat droplets and the cytoplasmic processes of Ito cells were decreased afterCBDL. Myofibroblasts were frequently appeared in the interstitial fibrosis after CBDL. But,intracytoplasmic fat droplets of Ito cells were well preserved, and myofibroblasts were found lessfrequently after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. The results suggest that vitamin A plays an inbitory role in the activation and fibrogenesis ofIto cells after CBDL.
Rats ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Nevus depigmentosus was first reported in 1884 by Lesser. It is defined as a congenital non-progressive hypopigmented macule or patch that is stable in its relative size and distribution throughout the life of the individual. The etiopathogenesis and histopathological characteristics of nevus depigmentosus are not fully established. OBJECT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics and pathogenesis of nevus depigmentosus. METHODS: Clinieal survey was carried out on forty-nine patients with nevus depigmentosus and two skin biopsies were taken from eighteen patients; from the central part of the depigmented lesion and the border of the lesion including the perilesional normal skin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Fontana-Masson and S-100 protein. The ultrastructural evaluation were also done to detect alternation of melanocytes. RESULTS: The results are as follows ; 1. The lesions were mostly (91.8%) present before the age of three, but some lesions appeared in childhood (8.2%). 2. The lesions were most frequently found on the trunk (42.9%), followed by the face and scalp (20.4%). 3. There were 33 patients (67.3%) with the isolated type, 15 patients (30.6%) with the dermatomal type and one patient with the whorled type. 4. Histopathological studies have shown that the stainability of Fontana-Masson in the lesions of nevus depigmentosus was decreased compared with perilesional nomal skin, but there were no changes in the number of melanocytes. 5. There was a great reduction in the number of melanosomes in melanocytes and keratinocytes of nevus depigmentosus. In keratinocytes, there was some aggregations of melanosomes and some of them showed membrane bound architecture. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the fact that nevus depigmentosus is caused by functional defects of melanocytes and morphological abnonnalities of melanosomes.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes ; Melanosomes ; Membranes ; Nevus* ; S100 Proteins ; Scalp ; Skin

Breast cancer is the third most common malignancy among korean women following uterine cervical and gastric cancers. The incidence of breast cancer is now gradually Increasing. This trend may be seen through early detection from routine check-ups by the clinician and self diagnosis by patients themselves. Other major methods of detection are through the use of mammography and ultrasonography. Breast examinations should be done every month though self examination and every two years by a clinician at ages below 34 and over 65 years old. And women of ages between 35 and 64 years should have a physical examination and mammography screening at intervals one or two years. Sometimes breast ultrasonography is more helpful in younger women and women with dense or postpartum post partum lactating breast. These efforts are helpful for early detection of breast cancer and result in a decreased mortality rate from this cancer.
Aged ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mammography ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Physical Examination ; Postpartum Period ; Self-Examination ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

CT was found to be highly accurate in predicting tumor size and assessing invasion of the surroundingstructures and distant metastasis. Also CT played an important role for determination of operability of esophagealcarcinoma. The CT findings with barium esophagogram in 21 patients with histologically proven esophageal carciomawere reviewed from Feb. 1985 to Feb. 1986 at the department of Radiology, Yonsei University ,College of Medicine.The results were as follows: 1. Number of patients in each stages were: 2 in stage 1, 6 in stage 2, 4 in stage 3,and 9 in stage 4. 2. Peak age distribution was in its 6th decasedes as 9 patiens (42.9%). Overall mean age was 60.8 years. Number of male patients were 19 and 2 of female. 3. Histologic types of esohageal carcinoma were 19cases of epidermoid (90.5%) and 2 cases of adenocarcinoma(9.5%). 4. The tumor location was 1 case in upper, 14cases(66.7%) in middle and 6 cases in lower one-third. 5. Various types of esophageal carcinoma were as follows: 3cases of fungating, 4 cases of infiltrating, 5 cases of ulcerofungating, and 9 cases of ulceroinfiltrating type.6. Average length of involvement in each stages were 4cm in stage 1, 5.5cm in stage 2, 8.8cm in stage 3, and 8.3cmin stage 4. The involved length was longer in advanced cases. In 11 cases(52.4%), the involved length was between4 and 8cm. 7. Angle of periaortic fat plane obliteration of the aortic circumference were as follows: Below 45degrees( 7 cases 33.3%), 45degrees-90degrees (3 cases 14.3%), over 90 degrees(11 cases, 52.4%). 8. Method oftreatment of esophageal carcinoma were as follows: Only radiotherapy in 11 cases(52.4%), radiotherapy withoperation in 5 cases, only operation in 1 cases, and no treatment in 4 cases. 9. Distant metastatic sites were:brain in 1, pericardium in 5, liver in 5, trachea in 2, bronchus in 9, and distant lymph node in 5 cases.
Age Distribution ; Barium ; Bronchi ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pericardium ; Radiotherapy ; Trachea

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This study describes the CT and MR findings of mucoceles occurred in the post-operative maxillary sinuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and/or MR of 19 maxillary mucoceles in 16 patients who had been operated by CaldwelI-Luc procedure were reviewed. CT scans were performed after contrast enhancement in axial and coronal planes with 5mm thickness. Three cases were studied with a 2.0 T or 0.5 T MRI, which demonstrated multi-compartment lesions. RESULTS: The lesions were bilateral in 3 cases. Compartmentalization of the antral cavity was seen in 7 out of 19 involved sinuses. Surgical bone defect of the anterior wall was the most frequent route of extension (11 cases) and extension into the infratemporal fossa with erosion of posterolateral wall was seen in 7 lesions. In 6 cases, the lesions involved orbit. The expansile and erosive bone changes were localized in every case. In one case with multi-compartment lesion, both T1- and T2-weighted MR images showed different signal intensities in each compartment which represented different protein concentration. CONCLUSION: Post-operative maxillary mucocele showed CT findings of localized erosion and bulging most frequently at the anterior wall in which the bone windows were made during the previous surgery. Post-operative compartmentalization of maxillary antrum may cause eccentric expansion of mucocete and each compartment may show different signal intensities on MR.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Mucocele* ; Orbit ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Malignant transformation develops in a little less than 2% of mature cystic teratomas. A wide variety of malignant tumors may arise within benign mature cystic teratomas, and the most common of these is squamous cell carcinoma, which account for 75~85%. In general, the tumors are in an advanced stage and the prognosis is poor as most patients die within a year. However, when the tumor is confined to the ovary, they have a good prognosis and the 5-year survival rate is 63~83%. We experienced three cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma. Two of the carcinomas occurred in postmenopausal women: 58-(case 1) and 66-(case 2) year-old, and were confined to the ovaries. They were alive 37 months and 18 months after the operation, respectively. The third case was a 45-year-old premenopausal woman who had an extraovarian extension of the tumor and early recurrence within two months. Histologically, cases 1 and 3 were conventional well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and case 2 showed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with exuberant proliferating trichilemmal tumor-like areas.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma*

BACKGROUND: The typical Korean diet includes rice, which is usually served in a rice bowl. We investigated the effects of a meal plan using rice bowls of varying sizes on dietary energy intake (EI), body weight (BW), and blood glucose levels. METHODS: Forty-two obese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to use either a 200 mL small rice bowl (SB), a 380 mL regular rice bowl (RB), or to a control group (C). Both intervention groups were asked to reduce their EI by 500 kcal/day for 12 weeks and simple instructions for using the assigned bowl were provided. Dietary EI and proportion of macronutrients (PMN) were estimated from 3-day dietary records. RESULTS: Reduction of EI was more prominent in the SB group compared to the RB and C group, although EI decreased significantly from baseline in all groups. Carbohydrate and fat intakes of the SB group were decreased greater than those of the RB and C group. However, changes in PMN were not significant across the 3 groups. Reduction of BW and HbA1c levels in the SB group was more prominent compared to the C group. Although, BW and HbA1c were decreased significantly from baseline in both bowl groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The small rice bowl-based meal plan was effective at reducing EI, BW, and blood glucose levels, and the observed reductions in EI, carbohydrate, and fat intake were greater than those of the regular rice bowl-based meal plan.
Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, Diabetic ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Meals ; Obesity ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Tissue Expansion Devices*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*