No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Ecthyma* ; Humans ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The pulmonary cytology has reached a high level of accuracy. By the examination of the sputum and/or bronchial brushings, it is now possible to make a diagnosis in 70% to 90% of patients with cancer. Primary melanoma of the lung is very rare and there have been reported about 20 cases in the world literature. We present a case of primary malignant melanoma of the lung in a 61-year-old male diagnosed by cytologic examination of sputum, bronchial brushing and aspirated pleural fluid. Histologic examination of bronchoscopic biopsy and examination of the skin and other primary sites confirmed the diagnosis.
Male ; Humans ; Biopsy

Accurate estimation of the exposure-response relationship between ambient urban particulate matters (PM) and public health is important for regulatory perspective of ambient urban particulate matters (PM). Ambient PM contains various transition metals and organic compounds. PM10 (aerodynamic diameter less than 10 microgram) is known to induce diverse diseases such as chronic cough, bronchitis, chest illness, etc. However, recent evaluation of PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 microgram) against health outcomes has suggested that the fine particles may be more closely associated with adverse respiratory health effects than particles of larger size. This study was performed to evaluate PM2.5-induced oxidative stress in rat lung epithelial cell in order to provide basic data for the risk assessment of PM2.5. PM2.5 showed higher cytotoxicity than PM10. Also, PM 2.5 induced more malondialdehyde (MDA) formation than PM10. In Hoechst 33258 dye staining and DNA fragmentation assay, apopotic changes were clearly detected in PM2.5 treated cells in compared to PM10. Expression of catalase mRNA was increased by PM2.5 rather than PM10. PM2.5 induced higher Mth1 mRNA than PM10. In pBR322 DNA treated with PM2.5, production of single strand breakage of DNA was higher than that of PM10. In Western blot analysis, PM2.5 induced more Nrf-2 protein, associated with diverse transcriptional and anti-oxidative stress enzymes, compared to PM10. Our data suggest that PM2.5 rather than PM10 may be responsible for PM-induced toxicity. Additional efforts are needed to establish the environmental standard of PM2.5.
Air Pollutants/chemistry/*toxicity ; Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology ; Benzimidazoles/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival/physiology ; DNA Fragmentation/physiology ; DNA Repair Enzymes/genetics/metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/enzymology/pathology ; Formazans/metabolism ; GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor ; Lipid Peroxides/metabolism ; Lung Diseases/*chemically induced/enzymology/pathology ; Oxidative Stress/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetrazolium Salts/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism

The term 'primary melanocytic neoplasm' covers a wide disease spectrum, from well differentiated meningeal melanocytoma to malignant melanoma, its most aggressive malignant counterpart. Previous reports have shown that due to the paramagnetic effect of melanin, melanocytic neoplasms show high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and very low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, with relatively homogeneous contrast enhancement. The differentiation of leptomeningeal malignant melanoma from benign melanocytoma is important because of their different prognosis but on the basis of imaging findings alone is difficult. Ultrastructural immunohistochemical analysis is a possible alternative. We report the imaging findings of rare primary malignant melanoma, revealed by noncontrast-enhanced CT as a high-density mass, and demonstrating high signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and very low signal intensity on T2WI, with relatively good contrast enhancement.
Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Prognosis

Viral proteins of gamma-2 herpesviruses, such as LMP2A of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Tip of herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) dysregulate lymphocyte signaling by interacting with Src family kinases. K15 open reading frame of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), located at the right end of the viral genome, encodes several splicing variants differing in numbers of transmembrane domains. Previously, we demonstrated that the cytoplasmic tail of the K15 protein interfered with B cell receptor signal transduction to cellular tyrosine phosphorylation and calcium mobilization. However, the detailed mechanism underlying this phenomenon was not understood. In the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of K15, putative binding domains for Src-SH2 and -SH3 were identified. In this study, we attempted to characterize these modular elements and cellular binding protein(s) by GST pull down and co-immunoprecipitation assays. These studies revealed that K15 interacted with the major B cell tyrosine kinase Lyn. In vitro kinase and transient co-expression assays showed that the expression of K15 protein resulted in activation of Lyn kinase activity. In addition, GST pull down assay suggested that the SH2 domain of Lyn alone was necessary for interaction with the C-terminal SH2B (YEEV) of K15, but the addition of Lyn SH3 to the SH2 domain increases the binding affinity to K15 protein. The data from luciferase assays indicate that K15 expression in BJAB cells induced NFAT and AP1 activities. The tyrosine residue in the C-terminal end of K15 required for the Lyn interaction appeared to be essential for NFAT/AP1 activation, highlighting the significance of the C-terminal SH2B of K15 as a modular element in interfering with B lymphocyte signaling through interaction with Lyn kinase.
Cell Line ; Herpesvirus 8, Human/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology ; Transcription Factor AP-1/genetics/*metabolism ; Transfection ; Viral Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; src-Family Kinases/genetics/*metabolism

Contrast extravasation on computed tomography angiography (CTA) is rare but becoming more common, with increasing use of CTA for various cerebral vascular diseases. We report on two cases of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in which the CTA showed a saccular lesion of the upper basilar trunk suggesting a ruptured aneurysm. However, no vascular lesion was observed on immediate subsequent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In one case, repeated follow up DSA was also negative. The patient was treated conservatively and discharged with no neurologic deficit. In the other case, the patient showed sudden mental deterioration on the third hospital day and her brain CT showed rebleeding. The immediate follow up DSA showed contrast stagnation in the vicinity of the upper basilar artery, suggestive of pseudoaneurysm. Double stent deployment at the disease segment was performed. Due to the frequent use of CTA, contrast extravasation is an increasingly common observation. Physicians should be aware that basilar artery extravasation can mimic the appearance of an aneurysm.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography* ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Basilar Artery* ; Brain ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Stents ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vascular Diseases

PURPOSE: The management of local recurrence after curative surgery of the rectal cancer remains difficult clinical problems to surgeons. This study was performed to analyze the outcomes of patients with local pelvic recurrence according to its recurrence type. METHODS: A total 109 patients with local recurrence were evaluated. Among the 109 patients 62 were local recurrence alone and 47 were both local and systemic recurrence. The recurrence type was classified as Central, Anterior, Posterior, Lateral and Perineal recurrence according to the relation of the tumor location and either intra pelvic organ and/or fixed pelvic structure. RESULTS: Only 26 (23.9%) of the 109 patients had curative resection and the remaining 83 (76.1%) patients had palliative exploration or nonsurgical procedure. The resectability according to the recurrence type showed that the Central and Anterior type was higher than other type of recurrences (P=0.001). When the primary operation was Abdominoperineal Resection (APR) the resectability was poorer than Low Anterior Resection (LAR) (P=0.0001). When comparing the patients with local recurrence alone, the 5 year survival rate was significantly higher patients treated by curative resection than palliative or non-resection group (P=0.002). Mean follow up period was 44.2+/-30.0 months and mean recurrence time between primary operation and recurrence was 26.0+/-22.7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Resection for central type of the recurrent is potentially curative, however treatment failure was common when the recurrence invaded fixed pelvic structure. Our data suggest that local pelvic recurrence should be treated with radical resection as can as possible.
Classification* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis* ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence* ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure

PURPOSE: To determine the anatomic variations that can lead to optic nerve damage during the sugical treatment of posterior paranasal sinus lesions MATERIALS AND METHODS: two hundred optic nerves of 100 persons were examined using ostiomeatal unit CT (OMU CT). The anatomical features of this nerve and posterior paranasal sinuses were classified into four types : the optic nerve adjacent to the sphenoid sinus without indentation of the sinus wall (type 1); the optic nerve adjacent to the sphenoid sinus, causing indentation of the sinus wall (type 2); the optic nerve passing through the sphenoid sinus (type 3); and the optic nerve adjacent to the sphenoid sinus and posterior ethmoid sinus (type 4). Bony dehiscence around the optic nerve and pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process were also evaluated. RESULTS: The anatomical classification of the optic nerve and posterior paranasal sinuses was as follows : type 1, 1326 (66%); type 2, 60 (30%); type 3, 6 (3%), and type 4, 2 (1%). Bony dehiscence around the optic nerve had developed in 58 cases (29%) and pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process in 13 (6.5%). These conditions were most common in type 3 optic nerve, and second most common in type 2. CONCLUSION: The 2 and 3 optic nerve, bony dehiscence around the optic nerve and pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process are the anatomic variations that can lead to optic nerve damage during the surgical treatment of posterior paranasal sinus lesions. To prevent optic nerve damage, these factors should be carefully evaluated by OMU CT.
Classification ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Humans ; Optic Nerve* ; Paranasal Sinuses* ; Sphenoid Sinus

About three percent of all skin cancers occur on the helix of the ear. Excision of the cancer results in a defect of the helical rim. Primary closure and wedge excision may produce cupping and helical notching deformities, except in small defects. In 1967, Antia and Buch described a chondrocutaneous advancement flap for marginal defects of the ear. This technique provides a reliable, single-stage procedure an excellent cosmetic result. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma on the helical rim, of which the surgical defect was repaired with a chondrocutaneous advancement flap.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ear* ; Skin Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The standard treatment for aortic aneurysms is surgical replacement with a prosthetic graft. Currently there is great interest in endoluminal intervention for treatment of aortic aneurysm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endoluminally placed Stent-graft for the treatment of aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transluminal endovascular Stent-graft placements were attempted in 9 patients with infra-renal aortic aneurysms(n=6), thoracic aortic aneurysm(n=l), and aortic dissection(n=2). The endovascular Stent-grafts were custom-designed for each patient and were constructed of self-expandable modified Gianturco Stents covered with polytetrafluroethylene. The Stent-grafts were introduced through a 16-18 french sheath and expanded to 17-30mm in diameter. The endovascular therapy was performed using a common femoral artery cutdown with local anesthesia. RESULTS: The endovascular Stent-graft deployment was achieved in 7 of 9 patients. Two cases failed deployment of the Stent-graft due to lilac artery stenosis and tortousity. There were complete thrombosis of the thoracic and infra-renal aortic aneurysm surround the Stent-graft in 3 patients, and persistent leak with partial thrombosis in 2. Two patients with aortic dissection were successfully treated by obliteration of entry tears. There were no major complication associated with Stent-graft placement. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results show that transluminal endovascular Stent-grafts offer great promise and good results. Further investigation is needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy.
Anesthesia, Local ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants