OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the progression of solid tumors. The mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia, however, are not well defined. Our study was aimed to determine the expression of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), its receptor(KDR), and TGF-beta1(Transforming Growth Factor-beta1) in cervical neoplasia, to determine the role of these angiogenic factors in preinvasive(dysplastic) process and the progression of cervical cancer and to investigate the progression of angiogenesis in the transition from normal cervix to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The cervical lesions of 76 patients were punch biopsied and paraffin embedded. Among these, 5 were normal cervix, 36 were cervical intraepithelial lesion I-III, and the other 35 were invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The tissues were immunostained with antiVEGF, antiKDR, and antiTGF-beta1 polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 in CIN III was stronger than those of CIN I(p<0.01). Their expression were not significantly different among the each staged cervical cancers(p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 are important angiogenic factors in cervical neoplasia, especially in an early event to neoplastic transformation of cervical tissues, but these angiogenic factors are not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Phosphotransferases* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Sex typing may become the start point in investigations that are usually performed through amelogenin typing. In cases involving genotype-phenotype discrepancy, amelogenin typing could yield misleading results. The rare XX male syndrome is characterized by a phenotypic male with a 46, XX female karyotype. In this point, this case report would help understand the importance of genotype-phenotype discrepancy.
Amelogenin ; Female ; Genes, sry ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; Male ; Y Chromosome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of subretinal hemorrhage after photodynamic therapy in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for 267 eyes of 243 patients who had undergone PDT for the treatment of ARMD between January 2005 and December 2006. Best corrected visual acuity, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and ICG angiography were performed before and after treatment. We followed up the patients at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment and at 3-month intervals thereafter. RESULTS: Postoperative subretinal hemorrhage was seen in 36 (13.4%) of 267 eyes. The pretreatment and post-treatment mean visual acuities were logMAR 0.80 and logMAR 1.05 respectively, representing a decrease of 2.05 lines. On FAG, two eyes were predominantly classic, four eyes were minimally classic, and 30 eyes were occult. The laser irradiation spot size was under 3,000 micrometer in one case and from 3,000 micrometer to 5,000 micrometer in 19 cases and over 5,000 micrometer in 16 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Subretinal hemorrhage after PDT for ARMD can be a common complication in patients who have been treated for larger irradiation spot sizes and for pigment epithelial detachment (PED), so doctors should be aware of the risk of serious hemorrhagic complications in such situations.
Angiography ; Eye ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Photochemotherapy ; Photography ; Retrospective Studies ; Triazenes ; Visual Acuity

Recently, it has been reported that transfused patients can generate admixture-like genetic profiles. As genetic material of the donor can survive for a reasonable time after transfusion, the recipient's genomic DNA is likely to have a mixture pattern. An autopsy case of a man transfused perimortem generated a mixture patterned short tandem repeat profile. Notably, the patient was transfused mostly with nuclear-deficient cells, limiting the donor genetic material available for the recipient. As a result, mixture-like patterns were observed consistently, regardless of change in input DNA content; the sample DNA content, which was serially diluted, ranged from 1 ng to 0.0625 ng. The distributions of foreign peaks appeared to be irreproducible, showing stochastic behaviors throughout the genotyped results. This study suggests that a cautious approach is required when genotyping of a patient who has undergone recent transfusion. One must consider the possibility of obtaining a mixture patterned profile in such patients, and therefore, choose parenchymal organs or tissues for reliable results.
Autopsy ; Blood Transfusion ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Tissue Donors

Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) using human externally visible characteristics (EVCs) is an emerging new technique that allows for the prediction of phenotypic traits of a person of interest using relevant sets of genetic markers. This technique predicts not only physical appearances, but also the behavioral characteristics as well as biogeographical information, serving as a powerful supplementary tool to narrow down the investigative pool in various forensic cases. Over the past few years, many countries, Europe and America being at the forefront, have conducted significant research to identify related markers for predicting pigmentation traits such as eye, hair, and skin color. Furthermore, some commercial platforms are now available for practical use in forensic cases. Korea and other Asian countries have also dedicated remarkable research to identify relevant markers to utilize FDP in forensic investigations. However, a slightly different approach is needed because Asians have limited phenotypic variations than Western populations. Thus, medically irrelevant and simple propensity traits such as smoking and alcohol consumption could be used to compensate for the limited phenotypic variations. This article is intended to inform readers about the progress and worldwide trends in EVC research, as well as the whereabouts and future prospects of FDP-related research in Korea. Although various legal and ethical disputes must be resolved beforehand, employing an FDP system can certainly be a powerful complementary tool for providing additional clues in forensic investigations.
Alcohol Drinking ; Americas ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dissent and Disputes ; DNA* ; Europe ; Genetic Markers ; Hair ; Humans ; Investigative Techniques ; Korea ; Phenotype ; Pigmentation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Skin Pigmentation ; Smoke ; Smoking

We have been testing familial relationships based on short tandem repeats (STRs) in families who requested it either voluntarily or by order of the court. Here, we present a summary of our 5-year experience of autosomal STR-based paternity tests. A total of 1,431 individuals from 588 cases were tested, including 878 pairs of either of the parent, and a child. Among these 588 cases, genetic information about the other parent was available only for 135 cases. Five hundred eighteen pairs were concluded to be parent-child relations, for which the median paternity index (PI) was 72,826, and the median decimal logarithm was 4.860. Autosomal mutation was observed in nine pairs (1.74%), and the pairs harbored only one mismatched locus among the 15 standard loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, and FGA). The number of mismatched loci did not increase even after additional loci were included in the study. The observed mutation rates were D13S317 (0.193%), D18S51 (0.193%), D19S433 (0.193%), FGA (0.193%), vWA (0.386%), Penta D (0.387%), and Penta E (0.193%). There were 14 pairs with two mismatched loci, which we excluded through additional tests on either autosomal or X chromosomal STRs, and mitochondrial sequencing. Although PI is useful for determining parent-child relation, it provides indirect information; it is an interpretation of the test results that is based on probability. Additional genotyping on sex chromosome and mitochondrial DNA, or participation of other family members might be beneficial for a reliable conclusion.
Child ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mutation Rate ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; Paternity* ; Sex Chromosomes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocarcinogenesis of microscopically altered foci could be shown to be progressed into a trabecular pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma. And it is reported that down-regulation of TGF beta II receptor and up-regulation of TGF alpha and c-myc reveal the progression of diethylnitrosamine-induced foci into liver cell cancer. Up-regulation of TGF beta II receptor, however, causes apoptosis of foci. To determine characteristic morphology and growth kinetics of putatively precancerous y glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) positive foci and hyperplastic nodules, a stereological quantification was attempted in the Peraino's neonatal rat model initiated by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by phenobarbital. MATERIALS/METHODS: Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were I.p. injected with 0.15 pmole/g of body weight of diethylnitrosamine mixed in corn oil at one day after birth. From weaning at 4 weeks of life, the rats were continuously fed 0.035% phenobarbital in drinking water and sacrified 5 rats at each time point of 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 32 weeks. Teklad standard diet was fed after weaning. The livers obtained were fixed in freshly prepared, cold ethanol-acetic acid (99:1 vo1%). For the GGT histochemical staining, Rutenberg's method was modified, and counterstained with H & E or toluidine blue. For the stereological analysis GGT positive foci and nodules were traced in 200 consecutive tissue sections and quantified the 3 dimensional volumes by computer assisted planimetry. Either spheroidal or non-spheroidal morphology was determined by parabola 2nd degree equation ' y=ax+bx+c (sphere a=-P,). RESULTS: Thirty nine (55.71%) out of 70 representative lesions were nonspheroidal. Especially at 8 weeks, the 28 out of 40 GGT positive foci were irregular, nonspheroidal shape. Later times, however, GGT positive foci and reprogrammed nodular lesions were become spheroidal. Lilliefors probabilities test for spheroidal frequency was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Stereologically non-spheroidal characteristics of the early GGT positive foci limit growth kinetic estimation by 3 dimensional volume quantitation but permit in later times in spheroidal, GGT positive foci and reprogrammed nodules showing fade-out of GGT activity. In other words, GGT positive foci may be clonally selected for growing into hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma or regressed by apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Corn Oil ; Diet ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Down-Regulation ; Drinking Water ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Kinetics ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Parturition ; Phenobarbital ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Tolonium Chloride ; Up-Regulation ; Weaning

Herpes simplex virus esophagitis and candidal esophagitis can be found in immunocompromised patients. But it rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. Diagnosis is usually established with an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The lesions of herpes simplex virus esophagitis involves the squamous mucosa, where the earlist manifestation is a vesicle, rarely. We report a case of herpes simplex virus esophagitis who, being immunologically healthy, presented with substernal pain and dysphagia and showed vesicle formation on endoscopy. The patient also showed whitish patch and spot on esophageal mucosae. The patient showed loss of symptom and improvement of endoscopic finding after conservative management and antifungal therapy.
Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophagitis* ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mucous Membrane ; Simplexvirus*

BACKGROUND/AIM: A significant correlation between HBV DNA and liver damage was found in precore mutant strains but there was no significant association between viral replication and liver damage in HBeAg positive patients. Laboratory tests are often requested to predict hepatitis activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage) in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. We assessed ALT, AST, and HBV-branched DNA to find which is the best for predicting hepatitis activity and fibrosis. METHODS: Routine biochemical liver function tests and HBV DNA in sera were assessed in 119 young patients positive with HBsAg and HBeAg. The mean age of patients was 21+/-2 years. All patients were male. By logistic regression analysis the relationships between laboratory data, hepatitis activity, fibrosis, or risk of chronic active hepatitis were analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between aminotransferase (AST, ALT) and hepatitis activity/ fibrosis. A significant inverse relationship between the HBV bDNA and hepatitis activity was demonstrated (Pearson's correlation coefficient: lobular activity,-0.305; porto-periportal activity, -0.410). But HBV bDNA was not correlated with severity of fibrosis. AST and HBV bDNA was the important test for predicting the more severe hepatitis activity (lobular activity and porto-periportal activity: score> or =3, respectively) CONCLUSION: The higher AST, but the lower HBV bDNA, in sera shows the more severe hepatitis activity. AST and HBV bDNA could be helpful for assessing the hepatitis activity in young male patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B if proper reference values are used.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; DNA, Viral/*analysis ; English Abstract ; Enzyme Tests ; Hepatitis B Virus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis/*pathology/virology ; Human ; Liver/pathology ; Male

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increasing the susceptibility of young populations to HAV infection could result in an outbreak in a high-risk group. The author investigated the characteristics of hepatitis A outbreaks among Korean military personnel to obtain the fundamental data for determining the necessity for selective HAV vaccination. METHODS: A case was defined as a person who had an onset of an illness compatible with acute viral hepatitis A between 4 February and 6 April 1998. RESULTS: A widespread outbreak of hepatitis A affected 102 military personnel. The epidemic curve indicated a common-source exposure in the initial stage. At the end of the first month of the initial onset, the occurrence was specific to the location of the military post. Investigation suggested that contamination most likely occurred prior to the local distribution of food. The mean age was 23 years. The overall attack rate was 91 cases per 10000 persons at risk. All cases were jaundiced. The most frequently reported symptoms included icteric sclerae, dark urine, anorexia, malaise and fatigue, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, upper respiratory symptoms, vomiting, itching, diarrhea, light-colored stools, myalgia, arthralgia, and skin rash. The laboratory test showed the serum total bilirubin of 5.5 mg/dL, AST of 344 IU/L, and ALT of 868 IU/L (mean value). CONCLUSION: All patients were clinically apparently diseased with jaundice and were completely recovered. The outbreak was food borne common-source exposure. The changing epidemiology hepatitis A in Korea calls for the economic evaluation of costs and benefits for selective HAV vaccination in high risk adult groups including military personnel.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anorexia ; Arthralgia ; Bilirubin ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Exanthema ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Headache ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Korea ; Military Personnel* ; Myalgia ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Sclera ; Vaccination ; Vomiting