Leiomyomas are benign tumors of smooth muscle origin and are very rare in the female genital tract. To date, approximately 35 cases of urethral leiomyoma have been reported in the literature. A 34-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of a mass at the urethral meatus. Physical examination showed 2 x 1.5 cm lump at the urethral meatus, posterior lip. Histologically the tumor was mainly composed of benign cigar shaped smooth muscle izells which were arranged in interlacing fascicles without cellular atypia or mitosis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed leiomyoma with positive staining for vimentin, desmin and muscle specific actin.
Female ; Humans

During tumor progression, a subset of cells acquires metastatic properties, presumably through a series of genetic alterations. CD44 variant glycoproteins containing sequences encoded by exon v6 are related to tumor progression of human colorectal cancer. But their expression in normal colonic epithelium is controversial and studies of CD44 on each step of colorectal carcinogenesis are scanty. We studied CD44v6 expression in the normal colonic mucosa, adenoma, carcinoma in situ, and invasive colorectal carcinomas of different Astler-Coller stages. Endoscopically or surgically resected 36 normal colonic mucosa, 19 adenomas, 8 cases of carcinoma in situ, and 25 cases of carcinoma were selected. After immunohistochemical stain with CD44v6 antibody, positivity was graded as 0 to 4 based on the estimated percentage of positively stained tumor cells. The intensity of positive staining cells was also graded as 0 to 3. In all but one cases (97.2%), normal colorectal mucosa was negative for CD44v6. Positive rates in adenoma, carcinoma in situ, Astler-Coller stage A/B and C/D carcinoma were 73.6%, 88.9% and 87.5%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the positivity between these groups. The staining intensity was significantly higher in the cases of stage C/D carcinoma group than those of adenomas (p<0.05). The percentage of positivity for CD44v6 was higher in stage C/D carcinoma group than adenoma, carcinoma in situ, and stage A/B carcinoma group (p<0.05). Expression of CD44v6 in the normal colonic mucosa was extremely rare and the positivity was increased according to the progression of colorectal tumors. Furthermore, it is more important to interpret the CD44v6 positivity according to the estimated percentage of positively stained tumor cells.
Adenoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Epithelium ; Exons ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Rapid progress in modern medical technology has made it possible to sustain life and/or delay death using 'heroic' treatments. The availability of life-sustaining treatment brings several issues in end-of-life care such as 'dying with dignity' and an radical increase in health care costs. The use of Advance Directives(AD) have been widely heralded by health care providers, gerontologists, and advocacy groups as means of protecting patients' right to accept or refuse life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life care. The use of AD can not only improve patients' autonomy and quality of life but also bring efficiency in distributing health care resources. The proportion of older persons in Korean population has been increasing. Those 65 years of age or over were about 7 percent of the population. Death and dying is not limited to older persons, but it is more prevalent among them. In conjunction with an aging population and the increasing prevalence of death, the issues of death and dying will become crucial in near future in terms of 'dying with dignity', 'autonomy', and 'self-control'. This paper attempts to explode and establish the concept of advance directives (AD) based on literature review. Data sources are computer searches with the MEDLINE database. Due to the lack of prior study on AD for a Korean cases, studies abroad are reviewed. This paper suggests the need for future study on the possibility of the use of AD in Korea.
Advance Directives* ; Aging ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Care Costs ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Rights ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life

An unusual pattern of focal involvement of lymph nodes by Hodgkin's disease is described using the name Interfollicular Hodgkin's Disease. It is characterized by florid reactive follicular hyperplasia which overshadows involvement of the interfollicular zones by Hodgkin's desease. The importance of interfollicular Hodgkin's disease rests on its misdiagnosis as a benign lesion. We report a case of interfollicular Hodgkin's disease in a 34-year-old female patient in the inguinal area. The lymph nodes showed reactive follicular hyperplasia. The focal interfollicular spaces were invaded by Hodgkin's disease. The Reed-Stemberg cells stained positively with CD15 and CD30 antibody in the immunohistochemical stain. An in situ hybridization study looking for EBV was negative in these R-S cells.
Female ; Humans

As the percentage of the elderly in the population increases, research to identify the nutritional and health status of the elderly, to understand the factors influencing on them, and to delay aging have been done actively. It is necessary for these studies to be longitudinal. This study was carried out to assess the change of health-related habits such as dietary behaviors and smoking, alcohol drinking and exercising habit, and health status between previous study(1991/1994) and post study(1998) for middle-aged men and women living in Chonju. For the present study, the data of 63 pairs(23 men and 40 women) were analyzed. They were 11 men and 12 women followed up from 82 men and 100 women surveyed in 1994. Mean ages in the 1991/4 and 1998 studies were 53.6y(range 42-63y) and 59.0y(range 46-72y) respectively. The survey was conducted with interview using a questionnaire including dietary behaviors and health-related habits, and anthropometric measurement and blood test for analyzing biochemical indices in 1991/4 and 1998. To understand these changes over time, chi2-statistics, t-test and paired t-test were analyzed with an SAS package program. As people age, there were significantly decreases in the proportions to eat lightly salted foods and drink alcohol. Significant longitudinal increases in triceps skin fold thickness, gamma-GPT and HDL-cholesterol and significant decrease in hemoglobin value were noted over time in both men and women. In addition a significant decrease in blood glucose level was noted over time in women. Weight, blood glucose and total cholesterol increased significantly with age in those had had breakfast regularly or those had not used more slat at the table in the past. From this study, were found out the subjects of this study had relatively desirable health-related habits. But as improper health-related habits are likely to result in inappropriate health status(eg, increase in WHR, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol), it is recommended that nutrition education in necessary as soon as possible to meet the health elderly.
Aged ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Breakfast ; Cholesterol ; Education ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Male ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The differential diagnosis between Spitz nevus and malignant melanoma is difficult due to similar histologic findings. To obtain the useful aids for the differential diagnosis between two diseases, we studied 13 cases of Spitz nevus, 8 benign nevi of compound and intradermal, and 9 melanomas of primary and metastatic, using the immunohistochemical stain for S-100 protein, HMB.45 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). The staining pattern and intensity of S-100 protein showed homogenously strong positive reactivity in all cases. The frequency of HMB.45 positive cell in Spitz nevus was significantly lower than that in melanoma. When compared with the usual compound and intradermal nevi, Spitz nevi showed more significantly positive reaction in the dermal component of nevus cells. The expression of PCNA was higher in melanoma than in Spitz nevus. The immunohistochemical stains for HMB.45 and PCNA are considered as a useful methods for differentiation between Spitz nevus and melanoma, while stain for S-100 protein is not helpful.
Diagnosis, Differential

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Ultrasonics*

Although there have been many reports about the importance of the spleen's role in hepatic fibrogenesis, the exact mechanism is still uncertain. The author designed this study to evaluate splenic function on hepatic fibrogenesis. The degree of hepatic fibrosis and the population of splenocyte subsets were studied in the experimental animal model with fibrosis produced by injecting normal swine serum intra-peritoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups; group A was subjected to injection of swine serum only, group B swine serum and complete Freund's adjuvant and group C swine serum and cyclosporin A. The experimental hepatic fibrogenesis by swine serum was augumented by coinjection with the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The study of the splenocyte subset revealed increased percentages of spienic B cell and CD4+ cell and a decreased percentage of CD8+ cell, and these changes of splenocyte subset were also augumented by the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The percent of monocytes was not significantly altered, although a tendancy of early decrease by the adjuvant was noted.
Rats ; Animals

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical features, microbiologic results, and the efficacy of perineal hygienic care of pediatric vulvovaginitis. METHODS: Forty-two unselected premenarcheal patients with symptoms or signs of vulvovaginitis who were attended the outpatient pediatric and adolescent gynecology clinic at Pundang CHA General Hospital from August 1997, to September 1999 were systematically interviewed and examined using a standardized format, studied microbiologically, and followed the efficacy of perineal hygienic measures prospectively. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 4.8 years (range 2.9 years to 10.9 years). Vaginal complaints of 42 patients were discharge(79%), genital pain or irritation(31%), odor(17%), pruritus(14%), and vaginal bleeding(7%). On physical examination, vaginal discharge and vulvar erythema were noted in 17(40%) and 22(52%) patients, respectively. Aerobic bacteria or yeast excluding vaginal normal flora were found in 24 of 42 patients(57%). Convincing evidence of specific pathogens was found in 9 of 42 patients(21%) including one case of pinworm infestation. Isolated pathogens were H. influenza(3), S. pyogenes(2), K. pneumonia(2) and N. gonorrhea(1). No patients were found to have chlamydial infection or trichomoniasis. In 14 patients, risk factors were identified such as swimming(14%), bubble bath(5%), sexual abuse(5%), genital trauma(5%) and foreign body(2%). After two weeks instructions of perineal hygienic care, 26(62%) of 42 patients revealed complete resolution of symptoms and signs of vaginitis without antibiotics. Efficacies of perineal hygienic care were 94%(17/18) in the patients with normal flora alone, 60%(9/15) in the patients with organisms suspected for nonspecific infection and 0%(0/9) in the patients with specific pathogens(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Majority(62%) of the pediatric patients with symptoms or signs of vulvovaginitis were cured with perineal hygienic care alone. And the efficacy of hygienic measure were higher in the patients without specific pathogens(79%, 26/33). Therefore, proper physical examination, microbiologic study and appropriate instructions of perineal hygienic care were more important than empirical antibiotic treatment in initial management of pediatric vulvovaginitis.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Enterobius ; Erythema ; Gynecology ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vaginal Discharge ; Vaginitis ; Vulvovaginitis* ; Yeasts

E-cadherin (ECD) is a Ca++ -dependent adhesion molecule which plays a major role in the maintenance of intercellular adhesion in epithelial tissues. The expression pattern of ECD in 77 surgically resected gastric adenocarcinomas was examined by immunohistochemistry, using a rat monoclonal antibody raised against murine E-cadherin (DECAM-1). ECD was strongly expressed uniformly at cell to cell borders in normal gastric epithelium without exception. But, various staining patterns were observed in the cancer tissues. The frequency of tumors with preserved ECD expression (Pre-type) and reduced ECD expression (Rd-type) was 44% and 56%, respectively. Using Lauren's classification, the high frequency of the Pre-type expression in adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinoma of the diffuse type (p<0.05). But, no significant correlation between the ECD expression and the gross type, invasion depth, growth pattern or metastasis was observed. These results suggest that ECD might play a key role in the morphogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Animals ; Cadherins* ; Classification ; Epithelium ; Immunohistochemistry ; Morphogenesis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rats