No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Ultrasonics*

The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used for the assessment of right and left ventricular function, valvular structure and function, regional wall motion abnormalities and localization of intravascular catheters, cannular and prosthesis. We inserted the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) under the guidance of intraoperative TEE because of the difficulty of placing PAC with the pressure tracing method in two patients. The PAC was inserted from right atrium to right ventricle with the basal four chamber view and advanced to pulmonary artery through pulmonary valve with the longitudinal view of TEE. We observed typical pulmonary arterial wave form to confirm the correct position. We suggest that the TEE can be used for successful placement of a PAC to facilitate manipulation of the catheter as an alternative method in the patients whose PAC can not be positioned with the pressure tracing method.
Catheters* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Valve ; Ventricular Function, Left

PURPOSE: To classify the cavernous sinus lesions, to describe their radiological findings, and to assess the usefulness of MR compared to CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fourty-five patients with lesions involving the cavernous sinus proved by histological and/or clinical and imaging methods were studied retrospectively and classified into neoplastic, vascular, and inflammatory lesions. CT and MR findings were compared in 21 patients evaluated by both modalities simultaneously according to these 4 categories. RESULTS: Pitiutary macroadenoma was the most common cavernous sinus lesion(42%). Diffuse convex bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was the most frequent radiological finding(84%), and the others were encasement of the cavernous carotid artery(49%), remodelling of the surrounding bones(44%), and complete obliteration of Meckel's cave(38%), in descending order of frequency. Bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was equally well demonstrated on both modalities, but encasement or displacement of the cavernous carotid artery and complete or partial obliteration of Meckel's cave were much better delineated on MR than on CT with the ratio of 3.8:1 and 4.6: 1, respectively. Only bone changes were much better demonstrated on CTthan on MR with the ratio of 3.8: 1. CONCLUSION: MR issuperior to CTin demonstrating thecavernouscarotid artery encasement and obliteration of Meckel's cave, but CT is much better than MR in demonstrating bone changes.
Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

This is a retrospective study of 161 ovarian neoplasms, all of which were surgically removed and had preoperative sonographic examinations. They were evaluated respect to age, tumor size and its echogenicity. The results were as follows: 1. Of all 161 tumors, physiologic lesions were 67 cases (41.6%), germ cell tumors were 28 cases (17.4%) and serous tumors were 19 cases (11.8%). 2. Of all 161 tumors, right ovarian lesions were 82 cases (50.9%), left were 59 cases (36.7%), and bilateral lesions were 20 cases(12.4%). 3. The most characteristic findings of tumors were as follows: 1) Physiologic tumors were 2-9cm sized (88.1%), anechoice-5% echogenic (79.1%), and developed during 4th & 5th decades (91.0%). 2) Inflammatory tumors were 2-9cm sized (94.1%), 50%-totally echogenic (76.5%), and during 4th & 5th decades (94.1%). 3) Serous tumors were 2-9cm sized (60.3%), anechoic-5% echogenic (89.5%), and during 3rd & 4th decades (84.2%). 4) Mucinous tumors were 5-19 cm sized (77.8%), anechoic-5% echogenic (77.8%), during 2nd-8th decades with diffuse distribution. 5) Endometrioid tumors were 5-14cm sized (100.0%), variable echogenic, and during 3rd & 4th decades (90.9%). 6) Germ cell tumors were 5-14cm sized (75.0%), variable echogenic, during 3rd & 4th decades (82.1%). 7) Parovarian cysts were 2-14cm sized (90.0%), anechoic-5% echogenic (100.0%), with diffuse age distribution. 4. The malignant and borderline malignant tumors were 9 caseswith more than 10cm sized (77.8%), and developed during older than 4th decade (100.0%). Anechoic 3 cases, 1-5% echogenic 2 cases, and totally echogenic 4 cases were found.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Mucins ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Parovarian Cyst ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

S100A6 (calcyclin) is a member of the S100 family and has been originally isolated from the cDNA library of Syrian baby hamster kidney cells. The S100A6 gene expression is reported to remain high throughout the cell cycle following induction by serum or growth factors, suggesting that the gene may be required for cell cycle progression. Nevertheless, the role that S100A6 may play in tumor progression remains unknown. In this study, we have explored the expression patterns of S100A6 gene in human thyroid tissues by northern blot analysis. Using the S100A6 monoclonal antibody, we carried out the immunohistochemical staining to determine the distribution/localization of S100A6 protein within tumor or non-tumorous cells of the thyroid. To modulate the regulation of endogenously expressed S100A6 protein in the intracellular level, overexpressed or anti-sense treated transfectant was constructed by using the eukaryotic expression vector. As a result, immunohistochemistry for S100A6 showed a strong positivity in the malignant tumors of thyroid and a high expression level of S100A6 protein affected cell proliferation in the overexpressed transfectant. These findings suggest that S100A6 may be involved in the tumor pathogenesis and provides another parameter for the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions. A well defined monoclonal antibody against S100A6 protein is now available for the immunohistochemical studies of the various thyroid tissues.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cricetinae ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Kidney ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Granuloma, Lethal Midline*

Background: Angiolipoma is a disorder characterized by the development of distinct, encapsulated subcutaneous tumors. Unlike lipoma, angiolipoma is distinctively accompanied by tenderness, which does not respond to general painkillers. Additionally, the reason for the pain has not been elucidated yet. Objective: This study aims to investigate platelet aggregation as the potential cause of tenderness in angiolipoma. Methods: Twenty-three patients diagnosed with angiolipoma and lipoma were enrolled. Platelet aggregation was visualized by CD61 immunohistochemical staining. The area of platelet aggregation and vessel lumen in a high power field were measured with the QuPath software. The ratio between the area of platelet aggregation and vessel lumen (p/v ratio) was calculated from the captured images. Results: Eleven of 46 patients complained of tenderness (9/23 angiolipoma [39.1%], 2/23 lipoma [8.7%]).Angiolipoma demonstrated a higher p/v ratio than that observed in lipoma (0.27 vs. 0.09, p＜0.001). Furthermore, the mean p/v ratio was high in patients with tenderness (0.44 vs. 0.09, p＜0.01). Patients were divided into three groups according to the aggregation pattern, highly clustered, mixed, and particulated. Nine patients with angiolipoma presented a highly clustered pattern, meanwhile, only three patients with lipoma exhibited a highly clustered pattern. Moreover, the number of patients with tenderness was significant in the highly clustered group (63.6%). Additionally, among the highly clustered group, the mean p/v ratio was higher in patients with tenderness (0.52 vs. 0.24, p＜0.01). Conclusion As clustered platelet aggregation with a high p/v ratio demonstrated relevance to tenderness, medications inhibiting platelet aggregation could mitigate tenderness in patients with angiolipoma.

Purpuric bullous amyloidosis is rare skin manifestation of primary systemic amyloidosis. We present a case of 59-year-old female with multiple myeloma who only presented with symptoms of amyloidosis. The patient presented with ill-defined, yellowish, flaccid bullous patches with multiple purpuric macules in intertriginous areas for 5 years.Necrobiotic xanthogranulomas and xanthoma disseminatum were considered based on their appearance, but histopathological examination ruled them out. The examination revealed loose dermal collagen bundles and elastic fiber fragmentation. Amyloidosis could not be definitively excluded due to presence of amorphous eosinophilic material around the vessels. Electron microscopy confirmed presence of amyloid deposits by demonstrating non-branching, randomly ordered fibrils within 10 nm in diameter. Although systemic symptoms were insufficient to raise suspicion for multiple myeloma, bone marrow biopsy and whole skeletal computed tomography scan revealed early-stage multiple myeloma. This case highlights how uncovering amyloidosis can be the first clue leading to diagnosing inconspicuous multiple myeloma.

Background: Angiolipoma is a disorder characterized by the development of distinct, encapsulated subcutaneous tumors. Unlike lipoma, angiolipoma is distinctively accompanied by tenderness, which does not respond to general painkillers. Additionally, the reason for the pain has not been elucidated yet. Objective: This study aims to investigate platelet aggregation as the potential cause of tenderness in angiolipoma. Methods: Twenty-three patients diagnosed with angiolipoma and lipoma were enrolled. Platelet aggregation was visualized by CD61 immunohistochemical staining. The area of platelet aggregation and vessel lumen in a high power field were measured with the QuPath software. The ratio between the area of platelet aggregation and vessel lumen (p/v ratio) was calculated from the captured images. Results: Eleven of 46 patients complained of tenderness (9/23 angiolipoma [39.1%], 2/23 lipoma [8.7%]).Angiolipoma demonstrated a higher p/v ratio than that observed in lipoma (0.27 vs. 0.09, p＜0.001). Furthermore, the mean p/v ratio was high in patients with tenderness (0.44 vs. 0.09, p＜0.01). Patients were divided into three groups according to the aggregation pattern, highly clustered, mixed, and particulated. Nine patients with angiolipoma presented a highly clustered pattern, meanwhile, only three patients with lipoma exhibited a highly clustered pattern. Moreover, the number of patients with tenderness was significant in the highly clustered group (63.6%). Additionally, among the highly clustered group, the mean p/v ratio was higher in patients with tenderness (0.52 vs. 0.24, p＜0.01). Conclusion As clustered platelet aggregation with a high p/v ratio demonstrated relevance to tenderness, medications inhibiting platelet aggregation could mitigate tenderness in patients with angiolipoma.