We report a rare case of carcinosarcoma arising in the stomach. The tumor is presented in the posterior wall of the gastric lower body and antrum of a 56-year-old man. Grossly the tumor has polypoid appearance with diffuse surface ulceration and measures 5.5 cm in diameter. The tumor is accompanied with three separate well differentiated early gastric adenocarcinomas (two EGC type IIc & IIa). Microscopically, the tumor consists of moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma in the periphery, and lobulated sarcomatous areas in the center, which shows chondroid differentiation. Transitional areas between adenocarcinoma and chondrosarcoma are evident. Immunohistochemical studies show positivity for cytokeratin and carcinoembryonic antigen in the epithelial component, and for vimentin and S-100 in the sarcomatous component. The transitional areas are positive in carcinoembryonic antigen, vimentin, S-100, and cytokeratin. The tumor extended to the subserosa and showed metastasis of only adenocarcinomatous component in six out of 47 dissected perigastric lymph nodes.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Carcinosarcoma* ; Chondrosarcoma ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Vimentin

In vivo animal models are limited in their ability to mimic the extremely complex systems of the human body, and there is increasing disquiet about the ethics of animal research. Many authorities in different geographical areas are considering implementing a ban on animal testing, including testing for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, there is a need for research into systems that can replicate the responses of laboratory animals and simulate environments similar to the human body in a laboratory. An in vitro two-dimensional cell culture model is widely used, because such a system is relatively inexpensive, easy to implement, and can gather considerable amounts of reference data. However, these models lack a real physiological extracellular environment. Recent advances in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication techniques have facilitated the development of various 3D cell culture models. These include multicellular spheroids, organoids, and organs-on-chips, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. Organoids are organ-specific cell clusters created by aggregating cells derived from pluripotent, adult, and cancer stem cells. Patient-derived organoids can be used as models of human disease in a culture dish. Biomimetic organ chips are models that replicate the physiological and mechanical functions of human organs. Many organoids and organ-on-a-chips have been developed for drug screening and testing, so competition for patents between countries is also intensifying. We analyzed the scientific and technological trends underlying these cutting-edge models, which are developed for use as non-animal models for testing safety and efficacy at the nonclinical stages of drug development.

In vivo animal models are limited in their ability to mimic the extremely complex systems of the human body, and there is increasing disquiet about the ethics of animal research. Many authorities in different geographical areas are considering implementing a ban on animal testing, including testing for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, there is a need for research into systems that can replicate the responses of laboratory animals and simulate environments similar to the human body in a laboratory. An in vitro two-dimensional cell culture model is widely used, because such a system is relatively inexpensive, easy to implement, and can gather considerable amounts of reference data. However, these models lack a real physiological extracellular environment. Recent advances in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication techniques have facilitated the development of various 3D cell culture models. These include multicellular spheroids, organoids, and organs-on-chips, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. Organoids are organ-specific cell clusters created by aggregating cells derived from pluripotent, adult, and cancer stem cells. Patient-derived organoids can be used as models of human disease in a culture dish. Biomimetic organ chips are models that replicate the physiological and mechanical functions of human organs. Many organoids and organ-on-a-chips have been developed for drug screening and testing, so competition for patents between countries is also intensifying. We analyzed the scientific and technological trends underlying these cutting-edge models, which are developed for use as non-animal models for testing safety and efficacy at the nonclinical stages of drug development.

Use of non-selective drugs to kill cancer cells means that healthy cells will inevitably be damaged and many patients will suffer severe side-effects. New therapies are continuously being sought to reduce the mortality from cancer. The targeted cancer therapy has been developed with advances in molecular biology and technology. Over the last several decades, a wealth of knowledge has emerged regarding the molecular events involved in human cancer. Understanding the molecular events in tumorigenesis and mechanism would provide knowledge in searching for novel targets.Through our understanding of signaling pathways regulating cellular growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis, numerous targets for anticancer agents have emerged. The targets usually include EGFR, transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, farnesyl transferase, angiogenesis, and metalloproteinase. It has become clear that targeted therapy is the important novel strategy for treatment of cancer through preclinical clinical trials.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Molecular Targeted Therapy* ; Mortality ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Transferases

PURPOSE: We studied 32 children with myasthenia gravis to evaluate clinical features and outcomes. Also, we tried to compare between seropositive and seronegative juvenile myasthenia gravis, and validate the clinical correlation between acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and clinical severity in childhood myasthenia gravis. METHODS: The childhood myasthenia gravis patients were diagnosed and treated in Samsung Medical Center from Oct. 1994 to Aug. 2004. RESULTS: The overall clinical features, responses to treatment and outcomes were nearly same as those of other previous reports in Korea as well as the other countries. The mean age at onset was 5.3+/-3.4 years, and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.3. Ocular types were 78.1%, and generalized types were 21.9%. There were significantly lower mean acetylcholine receptor antibody titers in the ocular groups. There were no significant differences in clinical features and outcomes between seropositive and seronegative groups. However, there was a significant correlation between clinical severity and acetylcholine receptor antibody titers. Steroid add-on treatment was required in 78.6% of the patients. Thymectomy was done in 4 patients, all of whom were in partial remission. Overall, the complete remission rate was 37.5%. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in clinical features between seropositve & seronegative groups. However, there was a significant correlation between clinical severity and acetylcholine receptor antibody titers.
Acetylcholine* ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymectomy

Acute hepatitis A is generally a mild, self-limiting disease of the liver. Acute renal failure is extremely rare in patients with acute non-fulminant hepatitis A. Acute tubular necrosis is the most common form of renal injury found in such patients. The 27 years old male patient visited our hospital with complaint of fatigue, nausea and vomiting. He was diagnosed with acute renal failure associated with acute non-fulminant hepatitis A. The renal biopsy demonstrates tubulointerstitial nephritis with focal tubular necrosis on light microscopy. We report here on a case of acute renal failure associated with non-fulminant hepatitis A, and we include a review of the literature.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Biopsy ; Fatigue ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A ; Humans ; Light ; Liver ; Male ; Microscopy ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Klotho mutant mice showed abnormal calcium and vitamin D metabolism, hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification. We observed the frequencies of klotho gene polymorphism and investigated their relation with some clinical parameters including serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: Total 88 patients (mean age 58+/-13 years, male:female=47:41) on maintenance HD were enrolled. The genotypings for G-395A in promoter and C1818T in exon 4 of klotho gene were performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. We measured blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase, hs-CRP, lipid profiles and OPG. RESULTS: In G-395A in promoter, the distribution of genotypes was GG 66% (n=58), GA 23% (n=20) and AA 11% (n=10), respectively and the allele frequencies were 0.773 for G allele and 0.227 for A allele. In C1818T in exon 4, the distribution of genotypes was CC 63% (n=55), CT 30% (n=26), and TT 7% (n=7), and the frequencies were 0.773 for C allele and 0.227 for T allele. G-395A shows correlations with BMI and HDL-cholesterol (p<0.005). G-395A and C1818T in klotho gene show no statistical correlation with other clinical parameters of vascular calcification including OPG. CONCLUSION: Klotho G-395A and C1818T polymorphisms are not correlated with OPG in maintenance HD patients. Further research needs for the other klotho polymorphisms on chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Alleles ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; Exons ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glucuronidase ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Mice ; Osteoprotegerin ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phosphorus ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Vascular Calcification ; Vitamin D

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tissue response in applying of various bone substitutes included toothash-plaster mixture, resorbable hydroxylapatite (HA) and demineralized freeze-dried bone and to show the clinical usefulness of toothash-plaster mixture for the repair of craniomaxillofacial bone defect. For this experiment, 100 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200gm or more were used. There were four experimental groups: group I, toothash-plaster mixture; group II, demineralized freeze-dried bone; group III, resorbable HA; and group IV, control group. A full thickness, round bone defect measuring 10mm in diameter was created in the midcranium, and the substitutes cited above were embedded in the experimental rats based on their group assignment. Blood clot was filled in the rats assigned to the control group. Experimental rats were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th and 24th week after implantation and stained with the hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's Trichrome, using Van Gieson's stain method, and were examined under light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In all the groups, prominent inflammatory reaction and the infiltration of multinucleated giant cells were noted during the early stage. Gradual healing decreased this reaction. 2. Among the rats in the experimental group II, which were given demineralized freeze-dried bone implants, active formation of new bone traveculae manifested. Chondroid tissues appeared, and it was suggested that the defect was filled with newly formed bone by virtue of osteoinductive activity. On the 12th week after the experiments, most of the defect was filled with newly formed bone trabeculae. 3. In experimental groups I and III, it was noted that HA manifested a healing process similar to that characterized by the toothash-plaster mixture, but inflammatory reaction was more prominent in experimental group I. Active osteoblasts were observed along the periphery of osteoid tissues, while newly formed bone trabeculae appeared adjacent to the implanted materials three weeks later. Formation increased to the extent that newly formed bone trabeculae fused directly with the host bone. Increase in new bone ingrowth into the filling materials was revealed by both experimental groups. 4. In the control group, new bone formation adjacent to the host bone was observed, but most of the defect was filled with mature connective tissue 24 weeks after the experiments.
Animals ; Bone Substitutes* ; Connective Tissue ; Durapatite ; Giant Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Virtues

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors in the early laboratory findings for cardiac sequelae in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODES: A retrospective review of the records was conducted of all children with KD who were admitted to the Ulsan Dongkang General Hospital, Masan Samsung Hospital, and Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 1995 and December 1999. We analyzed and compared the early laboratory findings between the patients with and without coronary artery dilatation. RESULTS: A total of 981 patients were divided into two groups : 826 patients(84.3%) with normal coronary artery and 155 patients(15.7%) with coronary artery dilatation. Age and sex were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean serum C-reactive protein(CRP) in the coronary artery dilatation group and in the normal coronary artery group were 5.0 mg/dl(+/-5.3) and 4.1 mg/dl(+/-5.0), respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05), whereas the other early laboratory findings had no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the early serum CRP was higher in patients with KD who had coronary artery dilatation than in those with normal coronary artery. There may be a strong possibility of cardiac sequelae at a high level of serum CRP. However, the cut-off value of serum CRP could not be determined for the prediction of cardiac sequelae in patients with KD.
Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcal Protein A* ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy* ; Reflex*