To clarify the characteristics of HBV-associated renal lesions, renal biopsies obtained from 22 HBsAg seropositive patients(M:F=32:1) were studied. Other than two(age 4 and 12), all were adults(17-77 y.o.). Twelve of the patients had nephrotic syndrome(NS), 5 NS and hematuria(H), 10 proteinuria and H, one gross H, one microscopic H, and 4 normal urinalysis at the time of biopsy. Light microscopy showed minimal change lesion(MCL) in 9 cases, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis(MSPGN) in 6, MPGN type I in 7, MPGN type III in 6, and mebranous nephropathy(MGN) in 5 cases. There were variable immunofluorescent(IF) findings of 25 cases studied; IF staining were predominant with IgG in 10 cases, with IgA in 5 and with IgM in 2 cases. Complements tended to be more strong for C1 &/or C4 than C3. In electron microscopic(EM) studies of MCL group, rare mesangial deposits were noted(3/5). In MSPGN, aside from mesangial deposits, there were occasional subendothelia(2/4) or subepithelial(1/4) deposits. In MPGN type I, in addition to the usual EM features of MPGN, some subepithelial deposits were also observed in 5 cases. In MGN, 3 out of 4 showed subendothelial deposits. Among 7 cases stained for HBsAg all were negative with IF and 2 were positive with PAP method. It is concluded that clinico-pathological findings of HBV-associated nephropathy are variable and partly show lupus-like features, different from primary glomerulopathy.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Biopsy

No abstract available.
Reference Values*

No abstract available.
Peritoneal Dialysis*

No abstract available.

Midtrimester genetic amniocentesis has been a gold standard for prenatal diagnosis in antenatal care since last 25 years. After the triple serum marker test was introduced as a prenatal screening method for Down syndrome, the frequency of genetic amniocentesis was increased. OBJECTIVE: To determine the complication, risk of amniocentesis and detection rate of chromosomal abnormality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis of 1,064 midtrimester genetic amnicentesis in IL Sin Christian Hospital antenatal clinic from Jan 1995 to Dec 1997. Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Amnicentesis were significantly increased in the age of 35-39 yrs and 40yrs over. And also the incidence of chromosomal abnormality was higher than younger age group. The indications of amnicentesis were screen positive of triple marker test(43%), advanced maternal age(20.8%), abnormal beta-hCG level, past history of chromosome abnormality or malformed baby and abnormal alpha-FP level in order. Total number of chromosomal abnormalities was 30 and the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 2.8%(30/1,064). The complications were developed in 13 cases and fetal loss rate was 0.78%(9/1,064). CONCLUSION: The detection rate of chromosomal abnormality in midtrimester amnicentesis for prenatal diagnosis was high and relatively safe procedure but, we should be attention to more careful manipulation.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

The glomus tumor is a distinct neoplasm composed of modified perivascular smooth-muscle cells identical to those described in the glomus body. Malignant glomus tumor, also referred to as glomangiosarcoma, is exceedingly rare. It has been subdivided into locally infiltrative glomus tumor, glomangiosarcoma arising in a benign glomus tumor, and glomangiosarcoma arising in de novo. A few cases of malignant glomus tumor arising in a benign glomus tumor have been reported. A 55-year-old man underwent resection of a solitary nodule in the right shoulder area. The tumor was biphasic with a typical benign glomus tumor at the periphery and the central sarcomatous area composed of oval to elongated pleomorphic cells with a single prominent nucleolus and occasional mitotic figures. Both tumor components showed intense staining for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and muscle specific actin. Herein, we report a case of a malignant glomus tumor arising in a benign glomus tumor with an immunohistochemical study and a review of literatures.
Actins ; Glomus Tumor* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Shoulder ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the valuability of dipstick IgE detection method as a screening test for allergic diseases, we compared the results of dipstick test to that of RAST and skin prick test. METHODS: Twenty children who visited to pediatric allergy clinic in Soon Chun Hyang University were enrolled to comparative study of dipstick IgE detection method to Skin prick test and RAST. Dipstick IgE detection method was performed by using AllergodipR(Allergopharma Joachim Ganzer KG). We compared the sensitivity and specificity of dipstick IgE detection method to RASt and skin prick test. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of AllergodipR for inhalant allergen(D.pteronyssinus) to RAST were 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AllergodipR for inhalant allergen(D. pteronyssinus) to skin prick test were 77.8% and 90.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AllergodipR for food allergen to RAST were 0% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AllergodipR for inhalant allergen(D. pteronyssinus) to skin prick test were 0% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The dipstick method(AllergodipR) can be used as a screening test for detection of specific IgE to inhalant allergen.
Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

Cerebral infarction is caused by decreased perfusion to the brain. In the evaluation of the infarction, CT has been widely used but MRI ans SPECT recently tend to increase in use. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of MR imaging with that of 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine(HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) in the patients with cerebral infarction in the points of (1) number of detected lesion, (2) size of the lesion, and (3) correlation with clinical neurologic deficits. Sixty-one patients with cerebral infarctions(acute: 23, subacute:30, chronic:8) were reviewed. In all patients, MRI and corresponding 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT examinations were performed within a reasonable time span. We analyzed the fiadings of (1) clinical neurologic examination, (2) MR and, (3) Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT independently they were compared later on. The lesion of SPECT was larger than the seen on MRI in 9 of 23 acute cases, 13 of 30 subacute cases, and 3 of 8 chronic cases. The lesion on MRI was larger than that on SPECT in seven acute cases, six subacute, and only one case in chronic stage. In the remaining cases, the size of the lesion was similar to that on both SPECT and MRI. For the detection of lesion, MRI was superior to SPECT in 15 acute cases, 13 subacute cases, and four chronic cases, while SPECT was super or to MRI in four of 30 cases at subacute stage, and one of 8 cases at chronic stage. In conclusion, there was a tendency that the detection rate of the lesion was higher on MRI but the lesion was larger on SPECT. The lesions detected on both MRI and SPECT correlated well with clinical symptoms.
Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Perfusion ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: Even though the importance of micrometastases (MMS) and isolated tumor cells (ITC) has been brought up by many physicians, its impact on the prognosis in stage II colorectal cancer is uncertain. In this research, we tried to investigate the clinical features of MMS and ITC and to prove any correlation with prognosis. METHODS: The research pool was 124 colorectal cancer patients who underwent a curative resection from April 2005 to November 2009. A total of 2,379 lymph nodes (LNs) were examined, and all retrieved LNs were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytokeratin antibody panel. Clinicopathologic parameters and survival rates were compared based on the presence of MMS or ITC and on the micrometastatic lymph node ratio (mmLNR), which is defined as the number of micrometastatic LNs divided by the number of retrieved LNs. RESULTS: Out of 124 patients (26.6%) 33 were found to have MMS or ITC. There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic features, such as gender, tumor location and size, depth of invasion, histologic grade, except for age (P = 0.04). The three-year disease-free survival rate for the MMS or ITC positive group was 85.7%, and that for MMS and ITC negative group was 92.8% (P = 0.209). The three-year disease-free survival rate for the mmLNR > 0.25 group was 73.3%, and that for the mmLNR < or = 0.25 group was 92.9% (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The presence of MMS or ITC was not closely correlated to the prognosis. However, mmLNR is thought to be a valuable marker of prognosis in cases of stage II colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable polymers have increasingly been recognized for various biological applications in recent years. Here we examined the immunostimulatory activities of the novel poly(aspartic acid) conjugated with L-lysine (PLA). METHODS: PLA was synthesized by conjugating L-lysine to aspartic acid polymer. PLA-nanoliposomes (PLA-NLs) were prepared from PLA using a microfluidizer. The immunostimulatory activities of PLA-NLs were examined in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs). RESULTS: PLA-NLs increased the number of BM-DCs when added to cultures of GM-CSF-induced DC generation on day 4 after the initiation of cultures. Examination of the phenotypic properties showed that BM-DCs generated in the presence of PLA-NLs are more mature in terms of the expression of MHC class II molecules and major co-stimulatory molecules than BM-DCs generated in the absence of PLA-NLs. In addition, the BM-DCs exhibited enhanced capability to produce cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions also confirmed that the BMDCs were more stimulatory on allogeneic T cells. PLA- NL also induced further growth of immature BM-DCs that were harvested on day 8. CONCLUSION: These results show that PLA-NLs induce the generation and functional activities of BM-DCs, and suggest that PLA-NLs could be immunostimulating agents that target DCs.
Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells ; Immunomodulation ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lysine ; Mice ; Polymers ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha