BACKGROUND: Cell-cell adhesion in tissue is mainly regulated by hornotypic interaction of cadherin molecules, which are anchored to the cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic proteins, including a-and / 3-catenin. Loss of E-cadherin and catenin have been attributed a pathogenetic role in tumor invasion. METHODS: We examined the expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin in human thyroid carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Normal tissue strongly expressed E-cadherin and a-catenin. However, E-cadherin and a-catenin expression were frequently reduced in thyroid carcinoma (E-cadherin: 62.5%, a-catenin: 81.3%). But the expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin in tumors with metastatic spreading were not different with tumors without metastasis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that reduced E-eadherin and a-catenin expression may be a sensitive marker for disturbance in the adhesive function of the junctional complex, but further evaluation with more cases is needed for confirmation of the result of the same degree of expression in tumors with metastasis.
Adhesives ; Cadherins* ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoskeleton ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Pelvic Floor* ; Urinary Incontinence*

A case of isolated Crohn's disease of appendix is reported. It is a rare disease which commonly mimics the symptoms of acute appendicitis. Review of 221 identical cases previously reported in the world literature revealed slight male predominance(1.17:1) and peak age of incidence in the third decade(24.3 yrs). In contrast to typical Crohn's disease, the rate of postoperative fistula and recurrence was minimal; 1.0% and 3.8%, respectively. Due to these differences, many consider it to be a separate disease entity from Crohn, and a new diagnostic term - "Idiopathic Granulomatous Appendicitis" - has gained wide acceptance in recent years.
Appendicitis* ; Appendix* ; Crohn Disease* ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence

A 53-year-old woman presented with dyspnea. She had undergone extended thymectomy for an invasive thymoma two months prior. CT revealed numerous small nodules in the lung. After that, she deteriorated owing to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and the vascular surgeon planned veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During percutaneous cannulation through the left femoral vein, a vascular injury was suspected, and the patient’s vital signs became unstable. Diagnostic angiography showed a ruptured left common iliac vein, and the bleeding was stopped by placement of a stent-graft. May-Thurner syndrome was diagnosed on abdominal CT. Here, we report a rare case of ECMO-related vascular injury in a patient with an unrecognized anatomical variant, May-Thurner syndrome.

Nineteen patients (twenty knees) with degenerative arthritis of knee treated by arthroscopic curettage were reviewed. Of the nineteen patients, there were eighteen females and one male ranging in age from 49 to 68 years (mean, 57 years). The mean follow up period was 18.2 months (range, 12 months to 21 months). Simple standing roentgenorgram and 99m-Tc bone scintigraphy were used to select the patients with medial compartment involvement only, less than 5 degree of varus deformity and sparing of patello-femoral joint. Knee scoring by Hospital for Special Surgery Formula showed improvement from the preoperative average 68 points to postoperative average 89.6 points (21.6 points increase) and 84.1 points (16.1 points increase) at 6 months and one year respectively. Arthroscopic curettage of knee, if done early in degenerative arthritis, not only can shorten hospital days and immobilization period but also can defer other major surgical treatments by promoting natural healing process and symptomatic relief.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Radionuclide Imaging

Terbinafine is now widely used for the treatment of dermatophytic infections of the skin and nails. Cutaneous side effects of terbinafine are rare and mild. They includes erythema, pruritus, urticaria, desqumation, and macular exanthem. In addition, fixed drug eruption, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and erythema annulare centrifugum-like psoriatic drug eruption were recently described in the literatures. Herein, we reported a case of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by terbinafine.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis* ; Drug Eruptions ; Erythema ; Erythema Multiforme ; Exanthema ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Urticaria

Since the first report by Berberich and Hirsch in 1923, conventional angiography had been playing essential roles in diagnosis and treatment in the field of Orthopedic Surgery. Angiography is still the most definitive method for evaluating arterial disease, and is also an invaluable aid in the diagnosis of certain abnormalities which characteristically alter the normal vascular pattern. But the clinical use of conventional angiography as a routine diagnostic study has been limited by the risk associated with arterial catheterization cost, and poor patient acceptance. With improvement of radionuclide angiography and development of the methods for the identification and amplification of signals from small quantities of intravascular administered iodinated contrast agent and their combination with image subtraction (so called digital subtraction angiography, DSA), we have partially substituted the DSA and Radionuclide angiography for conventional angiography in diagnosis and post-operative evaluation of orthopedic patients. We have analyzed and compared the 197 cases who had taken conventional angiography from August, 1981 to July, 1985, and 16 cases who had taken radionuclide angiography from January, 1983 to July, 1985, and 21 cases who had taken DSA from October, 1983 to July, 1985 in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. The results were as follow: 1. Conventional angiography is the most reliable and most widely used method in diagnosis of peri pheral arterial disease and evaluating the distribution of peripheral circulation of patient who need arterial reconstruction. But the clinical use of the angiography has been limited by the risk of complications. 2. DSA is simple, relatively non-invasive and can be done in out-patient basis. DSA is particulary useful and can replace the conventional angiography in post-operative assessment of peripheral vascular reconstruction, in the assessment of blunt and penetrating peripheral arterial trauma, and in the evaluation of peripheral aneurysm and vascular malformation. 3. Radionuclide angiography is also simple, and has no morbidity and useful in the patients who may be allergic to the contrast medium. Radionuclide angiography is useful in the evaluation of obstruction of major artery, deep vein thrombosis, and in repeated post-operative evaluation of arterial reconstruction.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Humans ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Outpatients ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Seoul ; Vascular Malformations ; Venous Thrombosis

Trichoadenoma is a rare tumor with differentiation towards the infundibular portion of the pilosebaceous canal. Clinically, it is a nodular growth, usually on the face and buttock. Histologically, it is characterized by numerous horn cysts lined with squamous epithelium in the dermis. In this report, we describe a 44-year-old man who developed trichoadenoma on his right shin. Anti-CD34 antibody stained spindle-shaped cells in the stroma just adjacent to the peripheral layers of keratinous cysts and solid masses of squamous epithelial cells. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an occurrence of trichoadenoma in the lower leg and the first to use immunohistochemical staining to know the CD34 staining pattern.
Adult ; Animals ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Horns ; Humans ; Leg

BACKGROUND: The SF-6D, derived from the SF-36, is a preference-based instrument measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Using this tool, we measured the HRQOL of persons disabled by stroke dwelling in Gyeongju city and identified factors affecting the HRQOL. METHODS: As of March 2008, 991 persons who had had a stroke and were aged 50 and over were identified on the Gyeongju city disabled registry. Interviewers specifically trained for this face-to-face survey gathered pertinent information including general and clinical characteristics from June to October 2008. In addition, the health status was measured using the Modified Rankin Scale, the Barthel ADL index, and the SF-36. The SF-6D index was derived from the SF-36. We analyzed the known-group construct validity and convergent validity. Finally, we performed multiple regression analyses to identify factors affecting the HRQOL. RESULTS: Of the 991 potential subjects, 498 persons participated in the interviews (response rate: 50.3%). The SF-6D indices for females and those aged 70 and over were lower than indices for males and those aged 60 and less. Correlation coefficients between the Modified Rankin Scale, the Barthel index, and the SF-6D index were relatively high (-0.533 and 0.555, respectively) and statistically significant (P<0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that sex, age, smoking, alcohol use, comorbidity, the Modified Rankin Scale, and the Barthel index had an effect on the SF-6D index of persons with stroke, and the Barthel index was the most important factor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the SF-6D can be a valid tool for evaluating health states of persons disabled by stroke, and functional limitation was the main factor affecting the HRQOL.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Comorbidity ; Disabled Persons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Value of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized on direct immunofluorescence of perilesional skin by the linear deposition of IgA at the basement membrane zone. The pathogenesis of LABD is not known, but rar ely some cases of LABD have been reported in association with drug exposure. We report a case of drug-induced LABD showing linear deposits of IgA and IgG at the basement membrane zone on direct immunofluorescence of perilesional skin as well as typical clinical and histologic characteristics, although the causative agent could not be specified.
Basement Membrane ; Blister ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis* ; Skin