BACKGROUND: Mitotic arrest deficiency protein 2 (MAD2) is a key component of spindle assembly checkpoint function, which mediates cell apoptosis through microtubule kinetics. Aberrant expression of MAD2 is believed to be associated with the development of chromosome instability. MAD2 also has a signihicant role in cellular drug resistance to taxane chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Expression of MAD2 and p53 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in 85 cases of ovarian carcinomas. Clinicopathological data including progression-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant (p=.035) association was observed between the grade of serous carcinoma and the expression level of MAD2. While low-grade serous carcinoma showed a low-level expression of MAD2, high-grade serous carcinoma showed a high-level expression of MAD2. We also determined that low-level expression of MAD2 was associated with reduced progression-free survival (PFS) (p=.016) in high-grade serous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: MAD2 expression in ovarian carcinoma is related to the grade of serous carcinoma and PFS of high-grade serous carcinoma. Expression level of MAD2 detected by immunohistochemistry may serve as an indicator in predicting the response of microtubule-interfering chemotherapeutic agents.
Apoptosis ; Bridged Compounds ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Chromosomal Instability ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Resistance ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kinetics ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Microtubules ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Repressor Proteins ; Taxoids

Congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia (CPL) is very rare. It shows diffuse pulmonary lymphatic dilatation without lymphatic proliferation. CPL can occur as a primary disorder or arise secondarily from other diseases such as the obstruction of pulmonary veins or lymphatics. The prognosis of CPL is very poor. Approximately 50% of infants are stillborn and most others usually die within the first day of life. The present case showed diffuse lymphangiectasia in the subpleural, interlobular, and peribronchovascular areas. The flat lining cells were immunohistochemically positive for D2-40 and CD31. CPL is usually diagnosed by clinicoradiological or postmortem examinations. However, our case was diagnosed by an antemortem lung biopsy. We report a case of CPL with total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Veins ; Scimitar Syndrome

Fracture of the proximal humerus metaphysis with coexistent dislocation of the shoulder in children is a rare injury. The injury often occurs as a consequence of high velocity trauma. Most fractures of the proximal humerus commonly associated with the epiphysis in children can be treated with closed reduction. We presented a case of 5-year-old girl who sustained this type of fracture- dislocation of the shoulder. Open reduction and internal fixation with multiple smooth K-wires was performed. At two years follow-up, the patient was pain free and regained full range of motion.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Shoulder Dislocation ; complications ; therapy ; Shoulder Fractures ; complications ; surgery

A previously healthy, 16-month-old boy was admitted to hospital due to fever, vomiting, and persistent gross hematuria for 2 weeks. His imaging studies showed an inhomogeneous mass, in a left dilated renal pelvis and proximal ureter, which was suggestive of a kidney neoplasm. A stage I Wilms tumor limited to the nephrectomised kidney was diagnosed by histology. The margin of ureter and renal vessels were clear. There was no evidence of anaplasia, angiolymphatic invasion, or skeletal muscle differentiation. In addition, there were polypoid protrusions of tumor into the pelvicaliceal system, resulting in such a 'botryoid' appearance. The patient had been treated with adjuvant chemotherapy using 7 cycles of intravenous actinomycin-D and vincristine (NWTS regimen EE4A) for 5 months. During a 22-month follow-up period, there has been no evidence of tumor recurrence.
Anaplasia ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Kidney Pelvis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Recurrence ; Ureter ; Vincristine ; Vomiting ; Wilms Tumor

PURPOSE: 1) to construct cohorts according to risk scores calculated with the Gail Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (Gail et al., 1989) (Gail) and the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal (Lee et al,. 2003) (Lee) 2) to identify the distribution of risk factors and preventive behavior stages between the cohorts 3) to identify abnormal breast conditions in risk cohort. METHOD: Using convenience sampling, 775 rural women were selected. Risk appraisal was scored using Gail and Lee. Preventive behavior stages for BSE (Breast self examination) and mammography were measured using 4 stages of the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983). RESULTS: 1) The risk cohort according to Gail was 12.3% (n=95), and Lee, 3.1% (n=24). 2) There were significant differences in the distribution of risk factors (age, family history, age at 1st live birth, age at menarche, number of breast biopsy, history of breast disease, and breast-feeding) between cohorts. 3) There was a significant difference in the distribution of the stage of BSE according to Lee. 4) Six women in the risk group detected masses or nodules and physician consultation and ultrasonography were recommended. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the constructed cohorts, further longitudinal studies of cohorts are recommended with interventions according to characteristics of cohorts.
Biopsy ; Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cohort Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Mammography ; Menarche ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the only established genetic resk factor for emphysema. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of the genotypes of A1AT genotypes in healthy Koreans. METHOD: The study population consisted of 380 healthy Koreans enrolled at the Health Promotion Center in Kyungpook National University Hospital. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphim (RFLP) for detecting the A1AT variants M1(Ala), M1(Val), M2, S and Z were used. RESULTS: The genotypes of subjects were as follows : M1(Val)/M1(Val), 254(66.8%) ; M1(Val)/M2, 105(27.6%) ; M2/M2, 19 (5.0%) ; and M1(Val)/M1(Ala), 2 (0.5%). There was no case with 'deficiency' alleles such as S and Z found in this study. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that A1AT deficient alleles are either extremely rare or not present in Koreans.
Alleles ; Emphysema ; Genotype* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Promotion ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND: Being a subjective symptom, an objective evaluation of pain and severity is important in the diagnosis and detection of treatment outcome. This study examined the usefulness of infrared thermography for the objective evaluation of pain, irrespective of the original disease. METHODS: Patients with unilateral pain who underwent nerve block were randomly selected. Infrared thermography was performed and subjective pain site and severity were assessed before and after nerve block. RESULTS: The temperature difference between the pain site and the contralateral site was significantly correlated with subjective pain severity before and after block (P < 0.01). Improvements in VAS were correlated with temperature difference decrement between both sides after nerve block (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Infrared thermal imaging can demonstrate subjective pain objectively. Thermal differences between the pain sites and the contralateral sites are an indicator of pain scale in a patient with ipsilateral pain. Moreover the thermal difference may be a useful means of determining outcome.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Thermography* ; Treatment Outcome

We report a case of 29-year-old, morbidly obese, diabetic primigravida who had undergone previously primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent placement for an inferior wall myocardial infarction at 10 weeks of gestation. She remained asymptomatic with medication during the remainder of her pregnancy, but preoperative echocardiography revealed left ventricular dilation and a restrictive diastolic dysfunction with a preserved ejection fraction (46%). She developed acute pulmonary edema associated with hypertension after an elective Cesarean delivery under continuous epidural anesthesia despite the meticulous restriction of fluid.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Cesarean Section ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Edema ; Stents

BACKGROUND: A prospective, double blind study was performed to compare the clinical effect of vertical infraclavicular and supraclavicular brachial plexus block using a nerve stimulator for upper limb surgery. METHODS: One hundred patients receiving upper limb surgery under infraclavicular or supraclavicular brachial plexus block were enrolled in this study. The infraclavicular brachial plexus block was performed using the vertical technique with 30 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine. The supraclavicular brachial plexus block was performed using the plumb bob technique with 30 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine. The block performance-related pain was evaluated. This study observed which nerve type was stimulated, and scored the sensory and motor block. The quality of the block was assessed intra-operatively. The duration of the sensory and motor block as well as the complications were assessed. The patient's satisfaction with the anesthetic technique was assessed after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the block performance-related pain, frequency of the stimulated nerve type, evolution of sensory and motor block quality, or the success of the block. There were no significant differences in the duration of the sensory and motor block. There was a significant difference in the incidence of Horner's syndrome. Two patients had a pneumothorax in the supraclavicular approach. There were no significant differences in the patient's satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Both infraclavicular and supraclavicular brachial plexus block had similar effects. The infraclavicular approach may be preferred to the supraclavicular approach when considering the complications.
Amides ; Brachial Plexus ; Double-Blind Method ; Horner Syndrome ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pneumothorax ; Prospective Studies ; Upper Extremity

Dentures ; Epithelium ; Fascia ; Keratinocytes ; Laminin ; Mastication ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane ; Oral Hygiene ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rabbits ; Rehabilitation ; Skin ; Transplants