Brenner tumors constitute about l.5~2.5% of all primary ovarian neoplasms and are almost always benign. It appears to derive from the surface epithelium of the ovary which undergoes metap1asia to form the urothelial-like components. we experienced a case of malignant Brenner tumor with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma patterns in a 57-year-old woman. It was partly cystic tumor and contained a 4cm-sized gray yellow, lobulated or papillary solid mass, projecting from the cystic wall. Ultrastructurally, the solid mass was composed of malignant urothelial-like cells with focal glandular differentiation.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

Tracheal gaenesis is an extremely rare congenital anomaly and is characterized by totally or partially undeveloped trachea. In many instances, the lesion has been associated with malformations in other organ systems. This anomaly is classified into 3 types based on developmental period of the respiratory tract. We report a case of tracheal agenesis with tracheoesophageal fistula in a 2-hour-old male. Postmortem examination revealed that the upper and mid portion of the trachea was absent but 1 cm segment of the trachea above the carina was present. The proximal end to this trachea opened to the esophagus by a fistula, 1 cm in diameter. The well-formed larynx ended blindly in a fibrous sac at which thyroids and cartilage islands are noted. Associated anomalies were bilobed right lung and single umbilical artery.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma, also known as malignant lymphoepithelial lesion or lymphoepithelioma, is a rare tumor in salivary glands. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma has a characteristic histological findings comprising irregularly-shaped nests of malignant epithelial cells within a lymphocyte-rich stroma, occasionally forming lymphoid follicles. We recently experienced a case of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of parotid gland in a 61-year-old male. The FNAC yielded a hypercellular smear of many irregular clusters of malignant epithelial cells in the background of lymphoid stroma.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Gland* ; Salivary Glands

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) are essential enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis. Among the MMP family, elevated MMP-9 and stromelysin-3(STR-3) expression have been reported to be poor prognostic factors in lung cancer patients. To evaluate the possibility of a molecular diagnosis of lung cancer using peripheral blood, the mRNA expression level of MMP-9 and STR-3 was measured using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Ninety six patients(44 patients with lung cancer, 19 pulmonary infection, and 33 control) were included. To detect MMP-9 and STR-3 mRNA expression, RT-PCR was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ELISA was also used to measure the serum level of MMP-9. RESULTS: MMP-9 was expressed more frequently in patients with a pulmonary infection(18/19, 94.7%) compared to lung cancer patients(26/44, 59.1%) or the controls (23/33, 69.7%) (p=0.018). On the other hand, STR-3 expression was observed more frequently in patients with lung cancer(37/44, 84.1%) compared to the lung infection patients(8/19, 42.1%) or control(20/33, 60.6%) (p=0.003). Among the lung cancer patients, MMP-9 was expressed more frequently when a tumor invaded the lymph nodes(17/24, 70.8%) compared to when a tumor did not(3/13, 23.1%) (p=0.005). The MMP-9 and STR-3 expression levels had no relationship with age, sex, tumor size, distant metastasis, or tumor histology. The serum MMP-9 concentration was not higher in lung cancer patients compared to patients with a pulmonary infection or the control subjects. CONCLUSION: STR-3 may be used as a diagnostic marker in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients using RT-PCR. Further studies to evaluate the clinical significance of elevated STR-3 expression in lung cancer patients is recommended.
Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: To investigate methods of isolating putative corneal epithelial stem cells from cultured limbal tissue. METHODS: Three extraction techniques were compared to identify an efficient method of obtaining a large number of viable corneal epithelial stem cells from the limbus. Limbal tissues were extracted by incubation at 37 degrees C or 4 degrees C for 1 or 16 hours, respectively, with 1.2U/ml dispase/trypsin or by treatment with 0.05% trypsin and 0.01% ethyldiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at 37 degrees C in single procedure. Collected cells were cultured on NIH/3T3-seeded plates, and colony forming efficiency (CFE) was evaluated. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) was performed with a Coulter EPICS 753 after incubation with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide (PI). Hoechst negative cells were obtained using gates exhibiting low Hoechst blue with a 424/44 nm BP filter. Gated cells of each fraction were re-cultured to assess the capability of colony formation. RESULTS: The mean numbers of viable cells obtained from treatment with dispase and trypsin was 3x10(4) cell/ml and 8.06x10(5) cell/ml at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C incubations; the number increased to 1.21x10(6) cell/ml with a trypsin/EDTA treatment (p<0.05). CFE was 9.67+/-2.13% and 6.63+/-2.35% in rabbit and human cells, respectively. Likewise, the Hoechst negative fraction was 3.61+/-0.42% and 5.21+/-4.91% in rabbit and human cells, respectively. The sorted Hoechst negative cells were cultured through four passages, forming small round colonies. In rabbit cells, the CFEs of Hoechst negative and positive fractions after FACS, were 12.67+/-2.24% and 1.17+/-6.13%, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Putative corneal epithelial stem cells were efficiently isolated from limbal tissue using a trypsin/EDTA extraction and FACS. This technique may be very useful in tissue engineered stem cell therapy.
Trypsin/pharmacology ; Stem Cells/*cytology/drug effects ; Rabbits ; Limbus Corneae/*cytology/drug effects ; Humans ; Epithelium, Corneal/*cytology/drug effects ; Edetic Acid/pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Count ; Animals

To compare the stem niche in different culture conditions of limbal epithelial cells, the suspended human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) were seeded on the 3T3-pretreated plates and the other suspended cells were plated on amniotic membranes (AMs) which were either cryo-preserved or freeze-dried. All were cultured for 10 to 12 days. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for ATP-binding casette, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2), p63, cytokeratin 12, and connexin 43 were performed in cultivated HLECs and their expression levels were compared. The mRNA expression of all markers examined showed no statistically significant differences between the cells on cryo-preserved and on freeze-dried AM. The expression of p63 and cytokeratin 12 in cultivated cells on AMs were significantly lower than those in 3T3-cocultured cells on RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. Cultivated HLECs on AMs showed reduced proliferation and differentiation while maintaining stem-property regardless of the preservative method of AM.
3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques/*instrumentation/*methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytological Techniques ; DNA Primers/chemistry ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Keratin-12/metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Phosphoproteins/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells/cytology ; Trans-Activators/metabolism

Schwannoma (neurilemoma) is a benign nerve tumor derived from the nerve sheath. The most common locations are the flexor surfaces of the extremities, and the head and the neck. Schwannoma of the breast is unusual. To our knowledge, few studies have reported the radiologic appearance of schwannoma in the breast and there has been only one report from Korea (1-3). This tumor can be clinically and radiologically considered to be fibroadenoma, which is a common benign tumor of the breast. We describe the mammographic and sonographic findings of a case of schwannoma in the breast.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Extremities ; Fibroadenoma ; Head ; Korea ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma* ; Ultrasonography

The foreign bodies in vagina cause intense inflammation. Genital complaints in patients could indicate the presence of a vaginal foreign object. Vaginal bleeding and blood-stained, foul-smelling discharge are considered to be the main clinical manifestations of vaginal foreign bodies, and toilet tissue reported as the most commonly found foreign body. The insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina is not uncommon but presentation as lower abdominal pain in an gynaecological clinic is rare. The causes of insertion are sexual stimulation, sexual abuse, accident of post-surgery and most cases find a solution after vaginal speculum examination. We describe a case of foreign body in the vagina of a patient presenting with chronic lower abdominal pain but undetectable and unrecognized in general examination.
Abdominal Pain ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sex Offenses ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To analyze the isolating pattern of slow cycling cells as putative limbal epithelial stem cells (PLESCs) using Hoechst exclusive cell sorting. METHODS: Rabbits were injected with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (Brd U) 1 month prior to be sacrificed. After obtaining limbal tissues, fluorescence-activated cells were sorted on a Coulter EPICS 753 after they had been incubated with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide. Two different methods were applied to sort PLESCs. Side-population(Sp) cells were obtained using gates with dichroic mirror to detect low Hoechst blue and red after verapamil was treated. Hoechst negative cells were obtained using gates exhibiting low Hoechst blue with a 424/44 BP filter. Brd U-retaining cells were counted and their sizes were evaluated in each gated sample to compare isolating pattern of PLESCs in each method. RESULTS: The percentages of Sp cells and of the Hoechst negative fraction were 0.96 +/- 0.79% and 16.01 +/- 13.60%, respectively(p=0.021). Homogeneity and density of the small cells were higher in Hoechst negative fraction than in Sp cells. The percentage of Brd U-retaining cells was 47.36 +/- 10.34% and 47.14 +/- 14.94% in Sp cells and Hoechst negative fraction, respectively(p>0.05), and they were 10 times higher than in non-Sp and Hoechst positive fraction(p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Hoechst negative exclusion without verapamil more efficiently isolated PLESCs than Sp did.
Cornea ; Epithelium ; Fluorescein* ; Propidium ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells* ; Verapamil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Screening and early diagnosis for heart failure (HF) are critical. However, conventional screening diagnostic methods have limitations, and electrocardiography (ECG)-based HF identification may be helpful. This study aimed to develop and validate a deep-learning algorithm for ECG-based HF identification (DEHF). METHODS: The study involved 2 hospitals and 55,163 ECGs of 22,765 patients who performed echocardiography within 4 weeks were study subjects. ECGs were divided into derivation and validation data. Demographic and ECG features were used as predictive variables. The primary endpoint was detection of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; ejection fraction [EF]≤40%), and the secondary endpoint was HF with mid-range to reduced EF (≤50%). We developed the DEHF using derivation data and the algorithm representing the risk of HF between 0 and 1. We confirmed accuracy and compared logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) analyses using validation data. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of DEHF for identification of HFrEF were 0.843 (95% confidence interval, 0.840–0.845) and 0.889 (0.887–0.891) for internal and external validation, respectively, and these results significantly outperformed those of LR (0.800 [0.797–0.803], 0.847 [0.844–0.850]) and RF (0.807 [0.804–0.810], 0.853 [0.850–0.855]) analyses. The AUROCs of deep learning for identification of the secondary endpoint was 0.821 (0.819–0.823) and 0.850 (0.848–0.852) for internal and external validation, respectively, and these results significantly outperformed those of LR and RF. CONCLUSIONS The deep-learning algorithm accurately identified HF using ECG features and outperformed other machine-learning methods.