Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common head and neck cancer, shows poor prognosis as a result of frequent local invasion and lymph node metastasis that is mediated by multiple proteolytic enzymes and angiogenesis. In recent reports, angiogenesis is known to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of angiogenesis in OSCCs, particularly with respect to the invasive and the metastatic potential. The microvessel density (CD31) in 34 human OSCC cases were investigated by immunohistochemistry, and reviewed with respect to the invasiveness and the presence of lymph node metastasis and following results were obtained. The blood vessel density (28.8+/-7.9) in the strong invasive cases were significantly higher than those (23.3+/-6.9) in the weak invasive cases. (p < 0.05) In the 14 cases with lymph node metastasis, the average blood vessel density was 28.5+/-9.6. On the other hand, in the 20 cases without lymph node metastasis, the blood vessel density was 25.2+/-6.4. The blood vessel density was not statistically related to lymph node metastasis. (p > 0.05) These results suggest that angiogenesis may be related to the local invasion of OSCC and further research will be needed to investigate the possibility that antiangiogenic agent can be used as an anticancer agent for OSCC.
Blood Vessels ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Hand ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Prognosis

Holoprosencephaly is a rare malformation complex or development defect including different degrees of incomplete cleavages of the embryonic prosencephalon and varying degrees of the midface defects, resulting from the defect of prechordal mesoderm, migrating forward into the area anterior to the notochord during the third week of fetal development. Early antenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly is important to find out its severity, to predict its prognosis, and to determine proper management according to its prognosis and severity. The possibility of early antenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly by ultrasound has been suggested, but occasionally missed and rarely confirmed. We present one case of lobar holoprosencephaly, diagnosed postnatally and one case of alobar holoprosencephaly, diagnosed antenatally in our hospitals.
Fetal Development ; Holoprosencephaly* ; Mesoderm ; Notochord ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Prosencephalon ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: HLA-DR typing kits using reverse-SSO (sequence specific oligonucleotide) method show considerable ambiguities in HLA-DRB1 generic typing. We analyzed the ambiguities of the Dynal RELI(TM) SSO HLA-DRB test (Dynal DRB test) and developed an 'Interpretation Program for Koreans'. METHODS: A total of 3,000 Koreans were typed for HLA-DRB1/B3/B4/B5 using the 36 probe Dynal DRB test and all of the cases showing ambiguities in HLA-DRB1 generic typing were subjected to confirmatory typing using the PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) method. On the basis of these results, an 'Interpretation Program for Koreans'was developed for the 45 probe Dynal DRB test. RESULTS: Among 3,000 Koreans tested by the 36 probe Dynal DRB test, 456 cases (15.2%) showed ambiguities. In 95% of the ambiguity cases (433/456) and 99.2% of the total cases tested (433/3,000), the'most probable type'could be expected from the DRB1 gene frequencies and DRB1-B3/B4/B5 associations in Koreans and these results were in accordance with the confirmatory typing results as well as the results given by the 'Interpretation Program for Koreans'. Similarly, the 'Most Probable'could be assigned by the program in 99.4% (348/350) of the cases tested with the 45 probe Dynal DRB test. CONCLUSIONS: Ambiguity in the Dynal DRB test was observed in >15% of the Korean samples tested. The majority (95%) of the ambiguities could be resolved on the basis of HLA-DRB1 gene frequencies and DRB1-B3/B4/B5 associations in Koreans. Furthermore, using the program developed in this study, the correct assignment of DRB1 generic types was possible without additional typing in the majority (>99%) of the cases tested.
Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; HLA-DRB1 Chains

Small cell carcinoma of ovary is extremely rare. This neoplasms compose predominantly or exclusively of small round cells with scant cytoplasm. There are two types of primary small cell carcinoma of ovary described in the literature : the hypercalcemic type and the pulmonary type. The first 11 patients with a primary ovarian small cell carcinoma of the pulmonary type were described by Eichorn et al. in 1992. The prognosis of this tumor is very poor and only limited data on the treatment of this tumor type are available. In the present case report, we describe a patient with the pulmonary type of small cell carcinoma associated with huge mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Mucins ; Ovary ; Prognosis

Objective: The number of elderly patients in Korea has been on the rise recently, and hence the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) elderly patients is also rising. The causes of cardiac arrest for the elderly vary, and, it is difficult to predict the recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in OHCA patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the predictive value of arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) results in achieving ROSC in the elderly. Methods: A retrospective analysis of emergency department patients with OHCA was performed at the Kangwon National University Hospital, Korea from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019. The initial ABGA results were compared between two patient groups, those who had achieved a return of spontaneous circulation and those who had not. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to elucidate the factors associated with ROSC. Results: Overall, 229 OHCA patients were included in the final analysis. The lactate level was independently related to ROSC. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was plotted to obtain the best cutoff value. The lactate level <9.85 mmol/L showed the largest area under the ROC curve (AUC) to predict ROSC (AUC, 0.666; 95% confidence interval, 0.588-0.743). Multiple regression analysis was performed using the cutoff value, which was a lactate level of 9.85 (odds ratio, 2.907; 95% confidence interval, 1.432-5.902; P=0.003). Conclusion The ABGA results during the cardiopulmonary resuscitation of OHCA patients, showed that the lactate level was an independent factor associated with ROSC. The lactate cutoff value was 9.85 mmol/L.

Objective: The number of elderly patients in Korea has been on the rise recently, and hence the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) elderly patients is also rising. The causes of cardiac arrest for the elderly vary, and, it is difficult to predict the recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in OHCA patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the predictive value of arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) results in achieving ROSC in the elderly. Methods: A retrospective analysis of emergency department patients with OHCA was performed at the Kangwon National University Hospital, Korea from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019. The initial ABGA results were compared between two patient groups, those who had achieved a return of spontaneous circulation and those who had not. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to elucidate the factors associated with ROSC. Results: Overall, 229 OHCA patients were included in the final analysis. The lactate level was independently related to ROSC. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was plotted to obtain the best cutoff value. The lactate level <9.85 mmol/L showed the largest area under the ROC curve (AUC) to predict ROSC (AUC, 0.666; 95% confidence interval, 0.588-0.743). Multiple regression analysis was performed using the cutoff value, which was a lactate level of 9.85 (odds ratio, 2.907; 95% confidence interval, 1.432-5.902; P=0.003). Conclusion The ABGA results during the cardiopulmonary resuscitation of OHCA patients, showed that the lactate level was an independent factor associated with ROSC. The lactate cutoff value was 9.85 mmol/L.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Renal aging-related changes are characterized by oxidative stress. SIRT1 regulates cellular conditions by activating Nrf2. The present study investigated the processes of renal changes by antioxidant enzymes and the relationship between SIRT1 and Nrf2. METHODS: We used male 2-, 12-, and 24-month-old C57BL/6 mice. We measured renal function, histological changes, oxidative stress, and expression of SIRT1–Nrf2 signaling in the kidneys. RESULTS: 24-month-old mice exhibited increased albuminuria and serum creatinine. Creatinine clearance was decreased in 24-month-old mice compared with 12-month-old mice. There were increases in mesangial volume and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 24-month-old mice. Moreover, oxidative stress marker, 3-Nitrotyrosine, expression and apoptosis were increased in 24-month-old mice. The 24 h urinary 8-isoprostane and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine excretion increased with aging. The levels of expression of SIRT1 and nuclear Nrf2 were decreased in 24-month-old mice. The antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO-1 were down-regulated in 24-month-old mice. Another antioxidant enzyme, SOD2, was decreased in 24-month-old mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that SIRT1 was down-regulated with aging, and this may be related to changes in the expression of target molecules including Nrf2. As a result, oxidative stress was induced. The pharmacological targeting of these signaling molecules may reduce the pathological changes associated with aging in the kidney.
Aging ; Albuminuria ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Child, Preschool ; Creatinine ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney* ; Male ; Mice ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Oxidative Stress ; Sirtuin 1

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Kidney*

PURPOSE: Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein family, and it is involved in the regulation of cell division. The over-expression of survivin has been reported to be associated with the parameters for a poor prognosis in most human cancers, including lung, breast, colon, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, etc. In this study, we examined the expression of a member of a novel IAP protein family, survivin, in breast cancer and its association with tumor cell apoptosis and the overall prognosis. METHODS: 80 cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue were immunostained with, using polyclonal survivin (Novus Biologicals, Littleton, USA), monoclonal bcl-2 (DAKO, Carpinteria, USA), and monoclonal p53 antibodies (DAKO, Carpinteria, USA). The histochemical method used for the analysis of apoptosis was based on ApopTag. Peroxidase In Situ OligoLigation (ISOL) Apoptosis Detection Kit (CHEMICON International Inc. Temecula, USA). RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that cytoplasmic survivin expression was positive in 43 of 80 cases (53.8%) of breast carcinomas and it was positive for 70% of the cases that showed a bcl-2 expression tumors. Statistical analysis revealed that the survivin expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis, the tumor stage, and the histological grade. Although the survivin expression was not correlated with p53 mutations, the survivin positive cases were associated with a bcl-2 expression (p=0.015) and a reduced apoptotic index (p=0.024). On the Cox proportional hazard model analysis, the apoptotic index was not identified as a significant independent predictor of overall survival (p=0.072), although the patients with a low apoptotic index (<0.2%) had a worse survival rates than those patient in the group with a high apoptotic index (> or =0.2%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that apoptosis inhibition of apoptosis by survivin may be a prognostic parameter for a worse outcome in breast carcinoma patients.
Antibodies ; Apoptosis* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Division ; Colon ; Cytoplasm ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Peroxidase ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Stomach ; Survival Rate