BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of thyroid nodular diseases is critical in clinical management. Fine needle aspiration cytology and ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy are widely considered as diagnostic techniques in assessment of thyroid nodular diseases. Because of the histological similarity of follicular patterned thyroid lesions, the differential diagnosis between some thyroid lesions is often difficult to determine, even with permanent sections. For this reason, we assessed diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical staining for the three potential markers of malignant thyroid nodule, Galectin-3, MUC1 and EGFR (Epidermal growth factor receptor) in the tissue obtained by surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The immunohistochemical expression of galectin-3, MUC1 and EGFR was evaluated in 76 thyroid lesions obtained by surgery to assess their potential as markers in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodule. The following were studied: 20 cases of papillary carcinoma, 16 cases of follicular carcinoma, 20 cases of follicular adenoma and 20 cases of adenomatous goiter. RESULTS: The expression of Galectin-3 was stronger in malignant thyroid nodules, especially in papillary carcinoma, than in benign thyroid nodules. However, there were no significant differences in the expression rates of MUC1 and EGFR between malignant thyroid nodules and benign thyroid nodules. The expression of MUC1 and EGFR was weaker in follicular neoplasm than in other thyroid nodules. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 was a reliable marker for papillary carcinoma. The expression of MUC1 and EGFR was increased in the papillary carcinoma and goiter, so if we could selectively identify cytoplasm MUC1, we could distinguish papillary carcinoma from the goiter.
Adenoma ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Galectin 3 ; Goiter ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a class of proteolytic enzymes that digest collagen type IV and other components of the basement membrane. It plays a key role in the local invasion and the formation of distant metastases by various malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of MMP-2 and its significance as a prognostic marker in resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study we obtained fresh-frozen samples of tumor and non-tumor tissues from 34 patients with stage I NSCLC who underwent resection without preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. After the extraction of total protein from tissue samples, MMP-2 activities were assessed by gelatin-substrate-zymography. The activities were divided into the higher or lower groups. RESULT: The MMP-2 activities were higher in tumor tissues than in non-tumor tissues. The MMP-2 activity of non-tumor tissues in recurrent group was higher than in non-recurrent group (p<0.01). Also the patients with higher MMP-2 activity of non-tumor tissues showed poor 5 year survival (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This result indicates that the higher level of MMP-2 activity in the non-tumor tissue is associated with the recurrence and survival after the resection of stage I NSCLC. Therefore, MMP-2 activity in the non-tumor tissue could be used as a potential prognostic marker for the resected stage I-NSCLC.
Basement Membrane ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Collagen Type IV ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence

As chorion and amnion fusion usually occurs between 14 and 16 weeks of gestation, sonographic identification of chorion and amniotic membrane separation is a normal finding before 14 weeks. However, persistent separation after 16 weeks of gestation is considered rare and abnormal findings. Complete chorioamniotic membrane separation (CMS) may occur spontaneously, but has also been described as a complication of all invasive intrauterine procedures, including amniocentesis. Complete CMS have a significant morbidity and mortality due to intrauterine fetal death, cord complications, and preterm delivery. Aggressive treatment with hospitalization is necessary. We now report 2 cases of complete CMS identified by prenatal ultrasound; 1 in spontaneous complete CMS diagnosed at 24 weeks of gestation, and health premature child was born at 29+3 weeks of gestation, who was alive and well at present; 1 in complete CMS diagnosed at 21 weeks of gestation after amniocentesis, and fetal demise at 24 weeks of gestation due to cord strangulation by an amniotic band. We experienced two cases of complete CMS and report with a brief review of literatures.
Amniocentesis ; Amnion ; Amniotic Band Syndrome ; Child ; Chorion ; Fetal Death ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membranes ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. We previously reported the identification of a new genetic marker, cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2), in lung cancer tissues. The aim of this study was to assess plasma levels of CRABP2 from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Blood samples that were collected from 122 patients with NSCLC between September 2009 and September 2013 were selected for the analysis, along with samples from age- (± 5 years), sex-, and cigarette smoking history (± 10 pack-years [PY])-matched controls from the Korea Biobank Network. The control specimens were from patients who were without malignancies or pulmonary diseases. We measured plasma levels of CRABP2 using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The mean age of the NSCLC patients was 71.8 ± 8.9 years, and the median cigarette smoking history was 32 PY (range, 0–150 PY). Plasma CRABP2 levels were significantly higher in patients with NSCLC than in the matched controls (37.63 ± 28.71 ng/mL vs. 24.09 ± 21.09 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Higher plasma CRABP2 levels were also correlated with lower survival rates in NSCLC patients (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Plasma CRABP2 levels might be a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker in NSCLC.
Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carrier Proteins ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mortality ; Plasma* ; Smoking ; Survival Rate ; Tretinoin

Background: Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) improves long-term outcomes after cancer surgery compared with inhalation anesthesia. However, its effect on patients undergoing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery remains unclear. We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of TIVA and inhalation anesthesia after curative resection of early-stage NSCLC. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with stage I or II NSCLC who underwent curative resection at a tertiary university hospital between January 2010 and December 2017. The primary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) according to anesthesia type. Results: We included 1,508 patients with stage I/II NSCLC. The patients were divided into the TIVA (n = 980) and Inhalation (n = 528) groups. The two groups were well-balanced in terms of baseline clinical characteristics. The TIVA group demonstrated significantly improved RFS (7.7 years, 95% CI [7.37, 8.02]) compared with the Inhalation group (6.8 years, 95% CI [6.30, 7.22], P = 0.003). Similarly, TIVA was superior to inhalation agents with respect to OS (median OS; 8.4 years, 95% CI [8.08, 8.69] vs. 7.3 years, 95% CI [6.81, 7.71]; P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that TIVA was an independent prognostic factor related to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.24, 95% CI [1.04, 1.47], P = 0.014) and OS (HR: 1.39, 95% CI [1.12, 1.72], P = 0.002). Conclusions Propofol-based TIVA was associated with better RFS and OS than inhalation anesthesia in patients with stage I/II NSCLC who underwent curative resection.

Placental abruption is defined as the early separation a normal placenta from the wall of the uterus before delivery of the fetus. The incidence of it is known 1% of all pregnancies and perinatal mortality rates from abruption range from 20% to 40% in recent studies. The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding. The causes are associated with preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders, and premature rupture of membranes. It is diagnosed by clinical symptom, sign, and ultrasonography. Recently we have experienced a case of placental abruption diagnosed at 31 weeks by ultrasonography in bicornuate uterus with a brief review of the literature.
Abruptio Placentae ; Female ; Fetus ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Perinatal Mortality ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

PURPOSE: Palivizumab prophylaxis has been used in the high risk groups of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, especially with the prematures, infants with chronic lung diseases or hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Substantial variations in timing of RSV outbreaks presents a challenge for the optimized use of palivizumab prophylaxis. This study investigates the epidemiologic characteristics of RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children, to help guide in the application of palivizumab prophylaxis in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. We performed RSV culture or multiplex RT-PCR from children under 60 months of age admitted for LRTI at three hospitals in the capital area of Korea from May 2008 to April 2011. The study identified RSV infection and analyzed the RSV detection rates. RESULTS: RSV detection rate was 18.8% (1,721/9,178). The RSV season of 2008-2009 is from the second week of August to the fourth week of March and, that of 2009-2010 is from the first week of October to the third week of Apirl and that of 2010-2011 is from the third week of September to the third week of March. The RSV detection rate in preterms and low birth weight infants were significantly higher during the RSV season and non-RSV season. CONCLUSION: The RSV seasons were shown to have variations in onset, offset, and durations in each year. Physicains should determine the timing of the first and final doses of palivizumab on the basis of information about the RSV season in their own area. The real-time surveillance systems to analyze the variations of RSV seasons are necessary for the effective and economical preventions of RSV infections in high risk groups.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Palivizumab

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) transplantation has been known to improve ventricular function, the potential proarrhythmic effects have not yet been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We monitored the heart rhythm of 6 dogs for 4 weeks after transplantation of hMSC (1x10(7), epicardial injection) (hMSC group) and in 5 Sham dogs after the injection of the vehicle alone. Cardiac sympathetic nerve sprouting {nerve growth factor (NGF)-beta; tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)} and gap junction expression {connexin (Cx) 43} were evaluated in 10 dogs (5 hMSC and 5 Sham) that survived longer than 4 weeks. RESULTS: The hMSC group expressed higher levels of NGF-beta messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) (56.0+/-66.8 fold; p<0.01) with TH+ sympathetic nerves (0.51+/-0.40 vs. 0.15+/-0.13% area; p<0.03) than the Sham control. In contrast, the hMSC group expressed lower levels of Cx43 mRNA (0.59+/-0.29 fold, p<0.001) and Cx43+ (1.64+/-1.79 vs. 2.12+/-1.07% area, p<0.001) than the Sham control. The incidences of ventricular fibrillation were 33.3% and 0% in the hMSC group and Sham control, respectively. One of the dogs with ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the hMSC group died suddenly. CONCLUSION: hMSC transplantation may be proarrhythmic since NGF-beta expression increased with cardiac sympathetic hyperinnervation and the expression of Cx43 and the gap junction decreased.
Animals ; Connexin 43 ; Dogs ; Gap Junctions ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Nerve Growth Factor ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Salicylamides ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Transplants ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Ventricular Function

Collision tumor means the coexistence of two adjacent, but histologically distinct tumors without histologic admixture in the same tissue and is rare incidence involving ovary. Because of their incidence of occurrence, benign cystic teratomas often occur coincidentally with other abnormalities of the ovary. Most common histologic combination of collision tumor in the ovary is coexistence of teratoma with mucinous tumors. But its association with serous tumor has been noted rare and incidence is unknown. We have experienced a case laparoscopic treatment of a huge serous cystadenoma combined with ovarian benign cystic teratoma in right ovary, and report it with a brief review of literature.
Cystadenoma, Serous ; Dermoid Cyst ; Female ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Mucins ; Ovary ; Teratoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have found that the measurement of fecal calprotectin is useful for the early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We compared the effectiveness of three different fecal calprotectin kits for initial diagnosis in patients with suspected IBD. METHODS: We enrolled 31 patients with IBD (18 Crohn's disease [CD], 11 ulcerative colitis [UC], and two intestinal Behçet's disease), five with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and five with other colitis (four infectious colitis and one intestinal tuberculosis). Diagnosis was based on clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic examinations. Fecal samples were obtained at the first diagnosis and calprotectin levels were measured using three different kits (Quantum Blue® Calprotectin, EliA™ Calprotectin, and RIDASCREEN® Calprotectin). RESULTS: The overall accuracy for differentiating IBD from IBS or other colitis was 94% and 91%, respectively, for Quantum Blue® (cutoff, 50 µg/g); 92% and 89%, respectively, for EliA™ (cutoff, 50 µg/g); and 82% and 76%, respectively, for RIDASCREEN® (cutoff, 50 µg/g). In patients with CD, the results of Quantum Blue® Calprotectin and EliA™ Calprotectin correlated significantly with levels of the Crohn's disease activity index (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, r=0.66 and r=0.49, respectively). In patients with UC, the results of EliA™ Calprotectin correlated significantly with the Mayo score (r=0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Fecal calprotectin measurement is useful for the identification of IBD. The overall accuracies of the three fecal calprotectin kits are comparable.
Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex*