No abstract available.
Angiofibroma*

No abstract available.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Bevacizumab

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that synthesizes telomere repeats. It has been reported that activation of telomerase was associtated with immortalization, proliferative activity and carcinogenesis. Recently, telomerase activity has been extensively studied in many kinds of malignant tumors for clinical diagnostic and/or prognostic utilities. In neuroblastoma, breast carcinoma,gastric carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, close relationship has been reported between high telomerase activity and lymph node metastasis, tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to to investigate the clinical implication of telomerase activity assay as an adjunctive factor in decision-making on neck node management, speedy pre-operative judging on histologic malignancy grading. Thus we performed semi-quantitative assay of telomerase activity using Telomerase PCR ELISA kit(Boeringer Manheim , Germany) and evaluated correlation between telomerase activity and tumor size, neck node metastasis, Anneroth malignancy score and influence of pre-operative chemotherapy on its activity in 27 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas and 18 cases of normal oral epithelium. Also, correlation between telomerase activities and PCNA indices was evaluated. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The telomerase activities were detected in 24 specimens out of 27 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens (88.9%) and in 5 specimens out of 18 normal oral epithelium specimens (27.8%). The mean value of telomerase activities was 0.9793+/-0.3428 in 24 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens and 0.4855+/-0.1117 in 5 normal oral epithelium specimens. The positivity rate and mean value of telomerase activities in oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens were significantly higher than those of normal oral epithelium specimens (p<0.05). 2. There was no significant correlation between total Anneroth malignancy score and telomerase activity (p>0.05), but points of mitosis index and depth of invasion were significantly correlated with telomerase activities (p<0.05). 3. The positive immunohistochemical staining for PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was observed in 26 specimens out of 27 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens and mean value of PCNA indices of 26 specimens was 53.67+/-26.46. PCNA indices were significantly correlated with telomerase activities (p<0.05). 4. The mean value of telomerase activities was significantly higher in pathologic T3/T4 group than in T1/T2 group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference of mean value of telomerase activities between pathologic neck node positive group and negative group (p> 0.05). Pre-operative chemotherapy significantly lowered the telomerase activities (p<0.05). The above results suggested telomerase activity could be used as diagnostic marker and adjunctive parameter for judging on histologic malignancy in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Breast ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelium ; Lymph Nodes ; Mitosis ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Ribonucleoproteins ; Telomerase* ; Telomere

BACKGROUND: Although postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy is known to reduce cardiovascular mortality, the mechanism is not clear yet. Furthermore, the effect of estrogen on vascular tonus is reportedly variable according to the animal models, vascular beds and agonists used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Bilateral ovariectomies were performed in 12 week-old, 18 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and 18 normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Rats were divided into three groups according to the dose of 17beta-estradiol (E 2 ) pellets implanted subcutaneously two weeks after ovariectomy: control (no implantation), low-dose (0.5 mg) and high-dose (5 mg) E 2 replacement group. Two weeks after pellet implantation, organ bath experiments were performed using descending thoracic aortae. For endothelium-dependent relaxation, acetylcholine (10(-9) -3x10(-6) M) was cumulatively added into the vessels precontracted with 10(-7) M norepinephrine (NE). For vasoconstrictor responses, cumulative concentration-contraction curves were constructed in quiescent vessels using NE (10(-9) -10(-5) M), U46619 (10(-9) -3x10(-6) M), endothelin-1 (10(-10) -10(-7) M). In addition, contraction to angiotensin II (10(-7) M) was also obtained. Serum 17beta-estradiol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff method in some SHRs before ovariectomy and after placebo/E 2 replacement. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was impaired in WKY treated with 5 mg E 2 (pIC 50 : control vs 5mg E 2 : 7.75+/-0.13 vs 7.27+/-0.16: n=6: p<0.05). No significant effect was noted in SHR. Contraction to angiotensin II was inhibited by low-dose E 2 in WKY and high-dose E 2 in SHR (% of the contraction to 60 mM KCl: WKY: control vs 0.5 mg E 2 : 39+/-5 vs 25+/-2: SHR: control vs 5 mg E 2 : 34+/-4 vs 22+/-2: n=6 and p<0.05 in WKY and SHR). In contrast, NE-induced contraction was enhanced by E 2 replacement (both low- and high-dose) in WKY and SHR (WKY: control vs 0.5 mg E 2 vs 5 mg E 2 : AUC: 280+/-24 vs 387+/-26 vs 374+/-25: maximal contraction: 137+/-8 vs 166+/-8 vs 162+/-3: pD 2 : 7.63+/-0.11 vs 8.17+/-0.13 vs 8.13+/-0.13: SHR: control vs 0.5 mg E 2 vs 5 mg E 2 : AUC: 265+/-17 vs 349+/-16 vs 406+/-19: maximal contraction: 152+/-6 vs 181+/-9 vs 203+/-16: pD 2 : 7.45+/-0.13 vs 7.91+/-0.08 vs 8.04+/-0.04: n=6 and p<0.05 between control and treated groups in WKY and SHR for all parameters). Contraction to U46619 was enhanced by E 2 replacement in SHR (control vs 0.5 mg E 2 : AUC: 478+/-30 vs 574+/-23: maximal contraction: 181+/-9 vs 230+/-10: n=6: p<0.05 for both parameters). Maximal contractile response to endothelin-1 was also enhanced in SHR (control vs 0.5 mg E 2 vs 5 mg E 2 : maximal contraction: 165+/-7 vs 189+/-7 vs 199+/-8: n=6 and p<0.05 between control and treated groups) but not in WKY. Blood pressure was not different between placebo and E 2- treated SHR (171+/-2 vs 174+/-4 mmHg). CONCLUSION: In WKY, chronic high-dose estrogen replacement impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine.: low-dose estrogen replacement does not affect endothelium-dependent relaxation in SHR and WKY. Estrogen replacement enhances the contraction to most of the contractile agonists tested except angiotensin II in both WKY and SHR. These results suggest that estrogen replacement affect the vascular tonus differently according to the vasoactive substances and/or hormones without significant effect on blood pressure.
15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid ; Acetylcholine ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Area Under Curve ; Baths ; Blood Pressure ; Endothelin-1 ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Norepinephrine ; Ovariectomy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR* ; Relaxation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prognostic factors and appropriate treatment in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to ruptured middle cerebral artery(MCA) aneurysms. METHODS: Among 120 cases with ruptured MCA aneurysms during last 9 years from 1993 to 2002, 85 cases was analyzed according to hematoma distribution. All cases were included in one of three groups Group A(15 cases) having an intraparenchymal hematoma(IPH) larger than 5cc with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). Group B(25 cases) having an intrasylvian hematoma(ISH) with or without SAH. Group C(45 cases) having a diffuse SAH without localized hematoma. Prognosis was evaluated postoperatively by applying Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) at discharge. RESULTS: In Group A, hypertension and Hunt-Hess(H-H) grade on admission, hematoma volume larger than 15cc and postoperative edema were corrleated with poor outcome. In Group B, old age, postoperative edema and delayed ischemic neurologic deficit(DIND) were related to poor outcome. Group C revealed better consciousness on admission and favourable outcome than Group A and B. CONCLUSION: We suggest that therapeutic consideration in Group A is focused on postoperative edema after early surgical intervention and in Group B is focused on postoperative edema with DIND after removal of residual clot in sylvian fisssure as much as possible by irrigation and suction.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Consciousness ; Edema ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Prognosis ; Suction

PURPOSE: As vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) could lead to renal functional deterioration when combined with urinary tract infection, we need to decide whether operative anti-reflux treatment should be performed at the time of diagnosis of VUR. Predictive value of radioisotope voiding cystography (RIVCG) for renal outcome was tested. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 35 children (18 males, 17 females), radiologic voiding cystourethrography (VCU), RIVCG and DMSA scan were performed. Change in renal function was evaluated using the follow-up DMSA scan, ultrasonography, and clinical information. Discriminant analysis was performed using individual or integrated variables such as reflux amount and extent at each phase of voiding on RIVCG, in addition to age, gender and cortical defect on DMSA scan at the time of diagnosis. Discriminant function was composed and its performance was examined. RESULTS: Reflux extent at the filling phase and reflux amount and extent at postvoiding phase had a significant prognostic value. Total reflux amount was a composite variable to predict prognosis. Discriminant function composed of reflux extent at the filling phase and reflux amount and extent at postvoiding phase showed better positive predictive value and specificity than conventional reflux grading. CONCLUSION: RIVCG could predict renal outcome by disclosing characteristic reflux pattern during various voiding phases.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of radioiodine treatment for metastatic thyroid carcinoma, we reviewed results of radioactive iodine treatment in patients with functional lung or bone metastases. MATERIALS ANF METHODS: Of 760 patients who were treated for differentiated thyroid cancer between 1984 and 1998, we detected pulmonary metastases and bone metastases in 76 patients (10.0%) and 20 patients (2.6%), respectively. Among them, we could evaluate the effectiveness of I-131 therapy in 53 patients with lung metastases and 15 patients with bone metastases. RESULTS:Of 53 patients who received I-131 therapy with a mean cumulative dose of 26.2 GBq (1.1-84.4 GBq) for pulmonary metastases, metastatic lung lesions completely resolved in 19 patients (35.8%) and improved in 22 patients (41.5%). In 13 of 19 patients with complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the total accumulated dose of I-131 was less than 18.5 GBq. We found 43 sites of metastatic bone lesions in 15 patients with bone metastases. Of 29 lesions which received I-131 therapy, metastatic lesions improved in 14 sites (48.3%), but did not change or progress in 15 sites (51.7%) despite the I-131 therapy. Three lesions were completely cured with a combination treatment of surgery(+/- external radiotherapy) and I-131 therapy, and the other 11 lesions improved. CONCLUSION: Radioactive iodine treatment gives favorable results for pulmonary metastases. However, for bone metastases, there might be a need to use combination therapy including I-131 and surgery or external irradiation.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Humans ; Iodine ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandibular Fractures ; Medical Records ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Mondor's disease is a uncommon disorder characterized by superficial thrombophlbitis, classically of thoracoabdominal wall. In about 50%-60% of cases, the cause is not determined, whereas in the others it is due to primary or secondary hypercoagulation requiring careful investigation. A 30-year- old woman presented a cord-like tender subcutaneous lesion on the left thoracoabdominal wall and histologic finding reveals thrombophlebitis. We found no evidence for primary and secondary hypercoagulable states.
Female ; Humans ; Thrombophlebitis

Intracranial schwannomas preferentially arise from the vestibular branch of the eighth nerve, and rarely from the trigeminal nerve, facial nerve, and lower cranial nerves. Anterior cranial fossa schwannomas are extremely uncommon and few details about them have been reported. The patient was a 39-year-old woman whose chief complaints were anosmia and frontal headache for 2 years. The gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extra-axial mass from ethmoid sinus to right frontal base region near the midline, with solid enhancement in lower portion and multicystic formation in upper portion. The tumor was totally resected via basal subfrontal approach. At operation, the tumor had cystic portion with marginal calcification and the anterior skull base was destructed by the tumor. The olfactory bulb was involved, and the tumor capsule did not contain neoplastic cells. The histopathological diagnosis was schwannoma. We report a rare case of anterior cranial fossa schwannoma with literature review.
Adult ; Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Cranial Nerves ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurilemmoma ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Bulb ; Olfactory Nerve ; Skull Base ; Trigeminal Nerve