Chromosome 18q alteration plays a key role in colorectal tumorigenesis, and loss of heterozygosity at 18q is associated with a poor prognosis in colon cancer. DCC(Deleted in Colorectal Cancer) is a putative tumor- suppressor gene at 18q21 that encodes a transmembrane protein with structural similarity to neural cell adhesion molecule that is involved in both epithelial and neuronal cell differentiation. DCC is implicated in regulation of cell growth, survival and proliferation. Thus, tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer correlates with downregulation of DCC expression. The mechanism for DCC suppression is associated with hypermethylation of the DCC gene promoter region. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify the promoter methylation responsible for the down-regulation of DCC expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. 12 of tissue specimens for the study are excised and gathered from 12 patients who are diagnosed as SCC in department of OMS, dental hospital, dankook university. To find expression of DCC in each tissue samples, immunohistochemical staining, RT-PCR gene analysis and methylation specific PCR are processed. The results are as follows. 1. In the DCC gene RT-PCR analysis, 5(41.6%) of 12 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma did not expressed DCC gene. 2. In the promoter methylation specific PCR analysis, 5(41.6%) of 12 specimens showed promoter methylation of DCC gene. 3. In the immunohistochemical staining of poor differentiated and invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma, loss of DCC expression was observed. These findings suggest that methylation of the DCC gene may play a role in loss of gene expression in invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Genes, DCC ; Genes, Suppressor ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Methylation ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Neurons ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms

Interests in the microanatomy of the proximal segment of the internal carotid artery(ICA) have been increased due to the anatomical complexity of this region and the potential sites of the aneurysmal formation. In this study, microanatomical dissections were performed in 70 specimens obtained from 35 formalin-fixed human cadaveric heads to examine the superior hypophyseal arteries(SHAs), ophthalmic artery, and the carotid cave. In our study, 54(77%) carotid caves were presented in 70 specimens. Twenty-five(71%, 50 caves) cadavers harbored the carotid caves on both sides, 4(11%, 4 caves) cadavers only on the one side and the remaining 6(17%) didn't have the caval structure. Total of 162 SHAs which have showen to arise from the medial or posterior aspect of the ophthalmic(C6) segment of the ICA in all cases were identified: 108(67%) arose from the proximal half of the C6 segment and 54(33%) from the distal half. Interestingly, in 54 specimens which had the carotid caves, one to four SHAs arose from the part of the C6 segment within the cave in the 43(80%) specimens. Total number of the SHAs originated within the carotid cave were 51. Sixty-four(91%) of ophthalmic arteries have shown to arise just distal to the distal dural ring on C6 segment, whereas 4(6%) from the clinoid(C5) segment and in 2(3%) cases, the ophthalmic artery arose just at the insertion of the distal dural ring level. The authors describe the microanatomical relationships between the SHA and the carotid cave, and the origin of the SHA and the ophthalmic artery. We hope to get better knowledge of the vascular relationship and the possible mechanism of the SHA aneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Arteries* ; Cadaver ; Caves ; Head ; Hope ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Artery

BACKGROUND: Introduction of automation instruments for the blood bank is essential in order to reduce inspection error and minimize workload. We compared the results of ABO-RhD blood type and antibody screening tests using the manual method and those using the automation instruments AutoVue Innova (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA) and QWALYS-3 (DIAGAST, Loos Cedex, France). METHODS: ABO-RhD blood type tests using the slide method, the tube method, and the instruments were performed with 200 selected samples. Antibody screening tests using the Ortho BioVue system (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA), which is used in our laboratory, and the two instruments were performed with 188 specimens and 12 antibody positive samples that were kept in the laboratory. We evaluated the concordance rate of the results, applying CLSI guideline EP12-A2. RESULTS: The concordance rate of ABO-RhD blood type results between the manual methods and the two instruments was 100%. On antibody screening tests, a concordance rate of 100% was observed between the manual method and AutoVue Innova, which uses the gel card manufactured by the company making the gel card used for the manual method. However, using QWALYS-3 in performance of antibody screening tests, the concordance rate was 97.5%, because of discordance in five specimens. CONCLUSION: The concordance rate of ABO-RhD blood type by use of two automation instruments was 100%, however, that of the antibody screening test was 97.5%. Thus, there was a difference in positive rate on the antibody screening test, depending on the instrument. Therefore, introduction of an instrument, considering the pros and cons for each instrument, is necessary. In addition, further discussion of standardized guidelines for quality control is needed.
Automation ; Blood Banks ; Cephalosporins ; Mass Screening ; Quality Control

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy, usually occurs in patients with severe emotional or physiologic stress. The prognosis is favorable, and the wall motion abnormlities normalize within weeks. However, stress-induced cardiomyopathy is rarely assosicated with left ventricular thrombus and thromboembolic complications. Here, we report a case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy with left ventricular thrombus that embolized to cause cerebral infarction.
Cardiomyopathies ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Thrombosis

The intracranial hematoma following cerebral aneurysmal rupture makes patient's clinical status and outcome worse by pressure effect on the brain structure. It's incidence has varied with authors between 5-30% of patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Several authors emphasized the importance of early operation to obtain better results by early removal of hematoma and reducing intracranial pressure. The authors retrospectively evaluated seventy-six patients with intracranial hematomas in 370 patients with ruptured aneurysms from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1992. The incidence of hematoma resulting from ruptured aneurysm was 20.5%. The most frequent site of aneurysm which was accompanied by intracranial hematoma was the middle cerebral artery, and the next was the anterior cerebral artery. The amount of hematoma and/or evidence of midline shift were the important factors in predicting the clinical outcome. The most favorable outcome was found in cases with intracerebral hematoma only, and the worst was in cases with intracerebral hematoma associated with intraventricular hemorrhage. Fifty out of 76 patients with intracranial hematomas were operated on. Their outcomes were more favorable than in the patients who were not operated on. Aggressive surgical intervention was especially effective in patients with poor Hunt & Hess grades(IV or V) .
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Brain ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intracranial Pressure ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

PURPOSE: A hybrid-dynamic conformal arc therapy (HDCAT) technique consisting of a single half-rotated dynamic conformal arc beam and static field-in-field beams in two directions was designed and evaluated in terms of dosimetric benefits for radiotherapy of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This planning study was performed in 20 lung cancer cases treated with the VERO system (BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany). Dosimetric parameters of HDCAT plans were compared with those of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) plans in terms of target volume coverage, dose conformity, and sparing of organs at risk. RESULTS: HDCAT showed better dose conformity compared with 3D-CRT (conformity index: 0.74 ± 0.06 vs. 0.62 ± 0.06, p < 0.001). HDCAT significantly reduced the lung volume receiving more than 20 Gy (V20: 21.4% ± 8.2% vs. 24.5% ± 8.8%, p < 0.001; V30: 14.2% ± 6.1% vs. 15.1% ± 6.4%, p = 0.02; V40: 8.8% ± 3.9% vs. 10.3% ± 4.5%, p < 0.001; and V50: 5.7% ± 2.7% vs. 7.1% ± 3.2%, p < 0.001), V40 and V50 of the heart (V40: 5.2 ± 3.9 Gy vs. 7.6 ± 5.5 Gy, p < 0.001; V50: 1.8 ± 1.6 Gy vs. 3.1 ± 2.8 Gy, p = 0.001), and the maximum spinal cord dose (34.8 ± 9.4 Gy vs. 42.5 ± 7.8 Gy, p < 0.001) compared with 3D-CRT. CONCLUSIONS: HDCAT could achieve highly conformal target coverage and reduce the doses to critical organs such as the lung, heart, and spinal cord compared to 3D-CRT for the treatment of lung cancer patients.
Heart ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Organs at Risk ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVES: A prospective study was performed to find out the correlation between neutrophil, eosinophil and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP)-the granular protein in eosinophil- and smoking history and pulmonary function change, METHODS: In this study there were seventy smokers and seventy lifetime nonsmokers. None of them had the history of atopy, or the evidence of parasitic infestation. Smoking history, spirometric pulmonary function test and blood samples for CBC, serum ECP were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) Eosinophil and neutophil count was elevated in the smokers compared with the nonsmokers. 2) Serum ECP was elevated in smokers and the magnitude of this increase was greater than that of eosinophil count. 3) In the smokers, there was a direct proportional correlation between serum ECP and FEV1, but inverse proportional correlation between neutophil count and FEV. 4) In the smokers, neutrophil count was elevated regardless of FEV value. 5) The level of serum ECP well correlated with the daily tobacco consumption but not with the duration of smoking or pack-year consumption. CONCLUSION: Incresed neutrophil count, decreased eosinophil count and decreased serum ECP level could be useful in the understanding of pathophysiology of lung parenchymal destruction in smokers.
Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Lung ; Neutrophils* ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Use