Plexiform schwannoma is a rare benign tumor arising from the peripheral nerve sheath and characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern. This tumor usually arises sporadically. In rare cases, plexiform schwannomas have been associated with neurofibromatosis type 2. Plexiform schwannoma should be differentiated from plexiform neurofibroma, because the latter is pathognomonic tumor of neurofibromatosis type 1 and has a potential of malignant transformation. We report a case of multiple plexiform schwannomas associated with bilateral acoustic neuromas and meningioma.
Meningioma ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Peripheral Nerves

Background : It has been suggested that thrombospondin (TSP) is a p53-dependent negative regulator of tumor angiogenesis. TSP expression and localization in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and its association with overexpression of p53 protein were investigated. Methods : TSP-1 and -2 expressions were examined in 40 HCC specimens by immunohistochemical staining and in 4 HCC cell lines by Western blotting. In addition, p53 protein expression and microvessel density (MVD) were correlated with the TSP expression. Results : Strong immu- nopositivity for TSP-1 was observed in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and some vas- cular smooth muscle cells of the stroma in 18 cases (45%), and in tumor cells in 3 cases (7.5%) of 40 cases of HCC. Immunoreactivity for TSP-2 was observed in only the sinusoidal lining cells of the tumor in 15 cases (46%), and in tumor cells in 2 cases (6%) of 32 cases of HCC. TSP-1 expression was inversely correlated with MVD (p=0.028), but TSP-2 expression did not show any correlation with MVD. Although p53 was overexpressed in 17 cases, there was no significant correlation between TSP and p53 expressions. None of the HCC cell lines expressed TSP-1 or -2. Conclusions : These findings indicate that TSP-1 is mainly derived from nonparenchymal cells, and may decrease tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Microvessels ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

Scars on anterior chest after operative correction of funnel chest have been the challenging problem despite introduction of refined techiniques by numerous authors. From December 1996 to September 1998, the authors have performed prefabricated silicone implant insertion in eight female patients presenting funnel chest, using transaxillary approaches instead of substernal or inframammary incisions. In two of eight patients, augmentation mammaplasty was performed simultaneously. Except one case of seroma occurred in early stages, all eight cases of pectus excavatum were satisfactorily reconstructed by this technique. All eight patients expressed their satisfaction with the results during the follow-up visits made between 3 months and 3 years. In conclusion, endoscopic transaxillary approach for the scarless anterior chest can be useful technique in aesthetic correction of the funnel chest.
Cicatrix ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Funnel Chest* ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Seroma ; Silicones* ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Hypertension*

Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant, small, round cell tumor that usually affects long bones. The acral part of the extremities is a very rare primary site for this neo plasm. A fifteen-year-old girl was seen for a lobulated, dome-shaped, 2.7cm diameter, denuded mass on the distal phalanx of the right middle finger which had increased in size over a 14-month period. The radiological featuies of the hand showed a cortical brick of distal phalanx and surrounding soft tissue mass. Histologically, the biopsy specimen showed sheets of small round to oval cells with scanty cytoplasm, that were closely packed and separated into lobules by trands of fibrous tissue. A periodic acid-Schiff stain demonsirated glycogen in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Electron microscopy showed large aggregates of glycogen in the cytoplasm of the neoaplastic cells. Immunohistochemical stains revealed positive staining for vimentin, glial fibrillary acid potein, and neuron specific enolase, stains for S-100, Factor VIII, and cytokeratin were negative.
Biopsy ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Extremities ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Fingers ; Glycogen ; Hand ; Humans ; Keratins ; Microscopy, Electron ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Sarcoma* ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; Vimentin

Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant, small, round cell tumor that usually affects long bones. The acral part of the extremities is a very rare primary site for this neo plasm. A fifteen-year-old girl was seen for a lobulated, dome-shaped, 2.7cm diameter, denuded mass on the distal phalanx of the right middle finger which had increased in size over a 14-month period. The radiological featuies of the hand showed a cortical brick of distal phalanx and surrounding soft tissue mass. Histologically, the biopsy specimen showed sheets of small round to oval cells with scanty cytoplasm, that were closely packed and separated into lobules by trands of fibrous tissue. A periodic acid-Schiff stain demonsirated glycogen in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Electron microscopy showed large aggregates of glycogen in the cytoplasm of the neoaplastic cells. Immunohistochemical stains revealed positive staining for vimentin, glial fibrillary acid potein, and neuron specific enolase, stains for S-100, Factor VIII, and cytokeratin were negative.
Biopsy ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Extremities ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Fingers ; Glycogen ; Hand ; Humans ; Keratins ; Microscopy, Electron ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Sarcoma* ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was aimed to examine if FB1 induced-hepatotoxicity involves apoptosis, and cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CS) pre-treatment would selectively interfere with FB1 induced-apoptosis of hepatocytes. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenousely injected with FB1 (1.25 mg/kg/day) for two days, and were sacrificed at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after injection. Another experiment group was composed of rats with pretreatment of CS (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) before FB1 injection. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that administration of hepatotoxic dose of FB1 to Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in liver injury leading to cell death by apoptosis. FB1-induced apoptosis was preceded by early elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol, and appearance of injured pre-apoptotic cells at 12 hours was followed by massive fragmentation and margination of heterochromatin at 24 hours. CS pre-treatment prior to FB1 injection ameliorated serum biochemistry and hepatic injury with apoptosis, demonstrated by histological, ultrastructural and TUNEL (terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling) methods. In addition, there was remarkable decrease in number of PCNA (proliferative cell nuclear antigen)-positive proliferating hepatocytes compared to that of FB1 treated group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that apoptosis significantly contributes to FB1-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo, and pre-exposure of rat to CS prevents FB1-induced hepatic apoptosis and proliferation.
Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biochemistry ; Cell Death ; Cholesterol ; Hepatocytes* ; Heterochromatin ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Ear, Middle*