Angiogenesis is an essential process in tumor growth and metastasis. VEGF has been considered a leading candidate inducing tumor angiogenesis. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node matastasis, and prognosis of cancers of various parts of body. However, little has been known about the correlation between VEGF expression and clinicopathologic parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to correlate VEGF expression with the clinicopathological parameters and microvessel density. Forty six oral squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed using immunohistochemical method with primary antibodies to VEGF and CD31. VEGF expression was detected in 33 (71.7%) of the 46 cases. The microvessel density was significantly correlated with VEGF expression (P=0.002). There was no correlation between microvessel density and tumour size, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression did not correlate with the histological grade of tumour differentiation, tumour size, and clinical stages. The VEGF-positive rate seemed to be higher in patients with cervical lymph nodal metastasis than in those without it, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the overexpression of VEGF in the oral squamous cell carcinoma seemed to be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. Further study is necessary to define the role of VEGF in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

BACKGROUND: All though the cause of alopecia areata is not known, many studies have recenty focused on the autoimmunity of alopecia areata. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to detect autoantibodies against hair follicular antigens and compare the autoantibody level before and after treatment of alopecia areata. METHODS: We collected serum from: (a) 7 alopecia areata patients with good therapeutic responses, (b) 5 alopecia areata patients with poor therapeutic responses (c) 5 normal control people. First, we detected the antigens of hair follicles with SDS-PAGE. Secondly we reacted the antigens with the patients' and normal control serums by Western blotting. RESULTS: The follicular antigens were seen in the range of 44kD-57kD. Autoantibodies obviously apparent in patients of alopecia areata but not in the normal control. High concentrations of were Autoantibodies against follicular antigens seemed to be present in the patients with good therapeutic responses and as they had been treated well, the level of autoantiboies has decreased. Autoantibodies, however, were present in small amounts and were almost an changed between before and after treatment in the patients with poor therapeutic responses except for one case. CONCLUSION: There are kinds of autoantibodies against hair follicles in the serums of alopecia areata patients, and the titers of antibodies may be correlated with therapeutic responses.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmunity ; Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study examined hemodynamic variables, oxygen delivery, extraction, and consumption in response to acute progressive hypoxia and hypercarbia in the setting of apnea. METHODS: Apnea was induced in 9 healthy mongrel dogs by disconnecting animals from mechanical ventilation of 30 minutes with pure oxygen. Hemodynamic variables, oxygen transport, extraction, and consumption were rapidly and repeatedly measured using pulmonary arterial and arterial catheters until cardiac output was undetectable. RESULTS: The baseline PaO2, PaCO2, pH, base excess were 318 +/- 137 mm Hg, 36 +/- 3.5 mm Hg, 7.30 +/- 0.06, 6.81 +/- 2.65 mmol/l respectively. Hypercarbia and hypoxemia (76 +/- 33 mm Hg) was first noted at 1 and 4 minute respectively. Base excess was not changed. Indices of preload (PCWP and CVP) were increased early in the time course (p<0.05). In contrast, indices of afterload (SVR) increased later, just before cardiac decompensation began (p<0.05). No significant reduction of cardiac output, oxygen delivery, extraction, and consumption was detected just until abrupt cardiac decompensation started, 5 minute. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the early increase in preload was primarily due to hypercarbia whereas the late increase in afterload was due to hypoxemia, but the main cause of acute cardiac decompensation was a critical decrease in arterial oxygen tension with some contribution of increased preload and afterload.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Apnea* ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Dogs* ; Hemodynamics* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oxygen* ; Respiration, Artificial

Central 30-2 threshold tests were performed in 124 eyes of 62 normal subjects with Humphrey Field Analyzer. The average value of foveal threshold, mean deviation(MD), pattern standard deviation(PSD), shor-term fluctuation(SF) and corrected pattern standard deviation(CPSD) were 34.3+/-2.6dB, -1.96+/-1.31dB, 2.25+/-0.88dB, 1.38+/-0.52dB and 1.41+/-1.10dB, respectively. The frequency of abnormal value on automated perimetry(p<5%) was 25.5% in foveal threshold and 19.1% in MD, which was higher than fundamental data of perimetry. As the age increased, foveal threshold decreased (r=-0.729), PSD and CPSD increased (r=0.422) and 0.385, respectively) ; these are statistically significant correlations(p<0.05). This study has the limitation that test was performed on single session and had small study group. Therefore, further study is needed with comparative analysis following repeated test and larger group of visual field examination.
Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields*

We report a case of disseminated cutaneous metastatic carcinoma from stomach carcinoma in a 66-year-old male who complained chiefly of widespread cutaneous nodules. He had been admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine for stomach carcinoma. A radiological examination revealed a diffuse stomach wall thickening from the fundus to the antrum, and enlargement of paraaortic and pericaval lymph nodes during an abodominal CT scan. The clinical findings manifested above may suggest cutaneous metastasis from stomach carcinoma. A histological examination of the skin and stomach biopsies showed atypical cells with pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei and bubble-like cytoplasm, which are consistent with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical stainings showed that these cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and low molecular weight cytokeratin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Mucin-1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Ear* ; Humans ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants*

Twenty-nail dystrophy is an idiopathic nail dystrophy in which all twenty nails are uniformly and simultaneously affected with excess longitudinal ridging and loss of lustre. The pathogenesis is controversial, and the treatment is unsuccessful. It is thought to have a self-limiting and reversible nature when it develops in childhood, but in adults, it is unusual and exists persistently. We re-port here two cases of adult patients with dystrophy of all twenty nails, whose ages were 58 and 55. The disease had been present for one year and may be associated with alopecia areata in the 58 year old and an idiopathic condition in the 55 year old. Negative results were obtained on mycological studies. Biopsies taken from the nail bed revealed marked hyperkeratosis consistent with nail dystrophy.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Alopecia Areata ; Biopsy ; Humans

Orbital varix is a relatively rare disease that causes exophthalmos due to increase of cerebral venous pressure. We experienced a forty-two-year-old male patient, who complained of intermittent exophthalmos and blurred vision. The diagnosis was based on clinical manifestation and various radiologic studies including computed tomography(CT), venography, and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MRI is a useful and safe diagnostic study through which we could observe the orbital varix and assess the relationship between the varix and the orbital structure. In this case, the varix is huge and attached to superior rectus muscle. There being many surgical risks, he has been followed up without surgical treatment and educated to modify the life pattern for prevention of increase of carotid venous presure.
Diagnosis ; Exophthalmos ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Orbit* ; Phlebography ; Rare Diseases ; Varicose Veins* ; Venous Pressure

We report herein a case of acral lentiginous melanoma in a 65-year-old female. An about 2x3cm sized erythematous to brownish mass with central ulceration was located on the left heel accompanied by enlargement of the left inguinal lymph nodes. Histopathologic findings showed lentiginous proliferation of atypical melanocytes with pseudoepithliomatous hyperplasia and invasion of tumor cells from the epidermis into the dermis. Focal pigmented melanocytes were also noted. Complete surgical excision and chemotherapy with DTIC were done. Marked edematous swelling on the left lower leg was developed after 8 months and 1 month later she was expired.
Aged ; Dacarbazine ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Epidermis ; Female ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Ulcer

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreally removing the crystalline lens completely dislocated into the vitreous cavity with intact capsule, we reviewed the patients undergone pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of intravitreal crystalline lens. The crystalline lenses were spontaneously dislocated in 4 and traumatically dislocated in 10 of all 14 eyes. Combined ocular conditions were 10 eyes of cataract, 5 of vitreous hemorrhage, 5 of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and 2 of iridodialysis. All 14 eyes had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, intravitreal removal of the crystalline lens and scleral fixation of the intraocular lens whereas 3 had undergone trabeculectomy, 2 retinal cryopexy and injection of sulfur hexafluoride intraocular gas, and 1 iridoplasty. The lens was aspirated only with vitrectomy cutter in 1 eye; phacofragmentor was used in 13 eyes and perfluorocarbone liquid was injected in 5 eyes. Mean follow-up time was 7.42 months. On the last follow-up, visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 11 eyes and counting fingers in 1 eye with optic nerve atrophy. Retinal detachment was never found, and increased IOP sustained in 1 eye. The result suggests intravitreal removal of the crystalline lens combined with pars plana vitrectomy seems effective and safe.
Atrophy ; Cataract ; Crystallins* ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens Subluxation ; Lens, Crystalline* ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Optic Nerve ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage