Authors reviewed mammographic ultrasonographic and MRI findings a patient with breast cysticerocosis, which was operated and pathologically proved. Mammography showed a 1 cm sized round radioopaque lesion with curvilinear calification, which was located near the pectoralis major muscle. Ultrasonograiphic findings showed heterogenous hypoechoic cystic lesion with internal hyperechoic nodule and posterior acoustic shadowing. T2Wl and proton density MR image showed low signal intensity with cresentic high signal intensity portion. 2D-FLASH dynamic MRI showed intermediate signal intensity and peripheral signal void area, which was not enhanced with Gd-DPTA. The possibility of cysticercosis can be considered be considered when a cytic lesion is discovered near the pectoralis muscle in a patient living in an endemic area.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Cysticercosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Protons ; Shadowing (Histology)

BACKGROUND: Becker's mealanosis is not an uncommon entity, and many cases are probably not reported because the diagnosis is usually made clinically and the condition is benign with cosmetic significance only. the etiology remains obscure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to establish the clinicopathologic characteristics of Becker's melanosis in Korean. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with Becker's melanosis were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The clinical and histopathologic findings observed in our cases were similar to previous reports except for the following. Nine patients(25%) had abnormal findings in their hair follicles : dilatation of the infundibular portion filled with abnormal keratin, Pityrosporum orbiculare and bacteria(19.4%); formation of intrafollicular cyst(5.6%). Three patients(8.3%) had granulomatous infiltration. Twenty-two patients(61.1%) had increased smooth muscle bundles. CONCLUSION: The findings associated with dermal hair follicles may be related to the pathogenesis of Becker's melanosis.
Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Melanosis* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis(CRP) is still unknown, although many theories have been suggested. It is stressed that abnormal host response to colonization of pityrosporum orbiculare might play a role in the pathogenesis of CRP, but is not completely understood. Frequently, we have observed bacterial colonies in the stratum corneum and, especially, within the hair follicles from biopsy specimens of patients with CRP. In addition, successful treatment for CRP with minocycline, a derivative of tetracyclines, has been reported continuously. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document the possible association of bacterial factors in the pathogenesis of CRP and to elucidate the effectiveness of minocycline. METHODS: We performed Brown and Brenn gram staining in 12 biopsy specimens, bacterial cultures, identification of microorganisms and antibiotics sensitivity testing including minocycline. We administered oral minocycline with an initial dose of 100mg per day for 1 to 3 months and a maintenance dose 50mg per day for I to 2 months, then evaluated the response of treatment. RESULTS: 1. On Brown and Brenn staining, the gram positive bacterial colonies that stained dark bluish or nearly black were observed within the infundibulum of hair follicles in 10 out of 12 biopsy specimens(83.3%) and on the keratotic invagination of stratum corneum in 11 out of 12 biopsy specimens(91.7%). 2. Histological features of regions where bacterial colonies were observed showed, hyperkeratosis and keratotic invagination on the stratum corneum in all cases. Hyperkeratosis(66.7%), parakeratosis(16.7%), inflammatory cell infiltration(25.0%), perifollicular fibrosis(33.3%), and abnormal keratin in sebaceous ducts(50.0%) were shown in hair follicles. 3. In anaerobic cultures, no bacteria was grown. In aerobic cultures, staphylococcus species were identified in 6 cases, streptococcus viridans in one case, sternotrophomonas maltophilia in one case. In the susceptibiliity test, minocycline was sensitive in 7 from 8 cases. 4. The therapeutic response to minocycline was observed within one month in all cases, and the time to clear the lesions was 1/2 month in 2 cases, 1 month in 4 cases, 2 months in 5 cases, 3 months in one case, respectively. CONCLUSION: Form these results, we suggest that bacterial factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRP and that the action mechanism of minocycline in the treatment of CRP may be due to antibacterial effects.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Minocycline ; Papilloma* ; Staphylococcus ; Tetracyclines ; Viridans Streptococci

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen, as shown by mammographic changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the mammograms of 20 breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen (20mg/day) and 20 patients treated with tamoxifen (20mg/day) in combination with chemothrapy. Control groups consisted of 20 breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and 20 healthy women; the patterns of age distribution and menstrual cycle among these participants were similar to these of the study groups. Two radiologists determined parenchymal changes as seen on follow-up mammogram, of the contralateral breast in patients with breast cancer, and of the left breast in healthy women. RESULTS: Follow-up mammogram showed decreased breast parenchyma in 75% of patients treated with tamoxifen, and in 70% of patients treated with tamoxifen and chemotherapy. Mammographic changes were not noted in 85% of patients treated with chemotherapy and in 90% of healthy women. CONCLUSION: On follow-up mammogram, breast parenchyma was seen to have been decreased by tamoxifen, used to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer and forits antiproliferative effect. Mammography might be a suitable method for determining the effect of tamoxifen.
Age Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammography ; Menstrual Cycle ; Recurrence ; Tamoxifen*

Bacteroides fragilis is a Gram negative nonsporulating anaerobic rod bacterium that makes up about 1 to 2% of the norrnal human colonic microflora. In 1984, Myer et al. reported that some strains of B. fragilis produce enterotoxin and cause diarrheal disease in cattle and human. Since then it has been termed enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF). In this study, we tried to detect enterotoxin gene from 37 B. fragilis strains, isolated in Korean patients, to confirm the existence of ETBF and usefulness of PCR as a rapid diagnosis method. By this method, we identified 9 ETBF strains and confirmed their pathogenesis by cytotoxicity test. No significant cross- reactivity with other anaerobes or aerobes was observed. Thus, the PCR method may be considered useful for the sensitive and rapid detection of anaerobic infections. And the entire amplified PCR mixture was ligated into a pT7Blue T-vector and transformed into E. coli. When the nucleotide sequences of cloned PCR products were compared with reported enterotoxin gene, pBF529 inserted DNA sequence was nearly in good agreement with it but pBF570 inserted DNA sequence showed some difference at nucleotide 270-300. A search for nucleotide sequence homologies revealed that pBF529 exhibited 99%, but pBF570 indicated only 90% identity with reported enterotoxin gene. According to these results, it was suggested that ETBF toxin can be differentiated into at least 2 subtypes.
Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis* ; Bacteroides* ; Base Sequence ; Cattle ; Clone Cells ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Enterotoxins* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: AT-1 cells have been derived from the left atrial tissue in which the ANF promoter targeted SV40 large T antigen expression. When cultured, clusters of spontaneously contracting cells were observed after 4-5 days and contiguous sheets of synchronously beating cardiomyocytes were formed after 10 days. In this study, expression of several cell cycle regulatory genes were monitored through Northern blot analyses in AT-1 cells during beating and after formation of beating sheets (BS). MATERIALS AND METHOD: AT-1 RNAs were obtained in 3 days after plating, during beating and after formation of BS, and used for Northern blot analyses. RESULTS: alpha-Cardiac myosin heavy chain expression was prominent in beating cells, as would be expected for this contractile protein isoform but ANF was decreased after beating. Gax was not expressed in cultured AT-1 cells but in AT-1 tumor and murine heart. p53 and p21 were decreased after beating which indicate transcription level of p53 and p21 correlated well in AT-1 cells. In contrast, pRB and p107 were increased after beating but p68 (2.4 kb) which arose by alternative splicing of p107 and lacks the pocket domain B was decreased in beating cells. pTCS2, murine tuberous sclerosis gene, represented similar levels during beating but a little was decreased after formation of BS. mRAD50, the murine homologue of yeast DNA recombinational repair gene RAD50, was increased in beating cells, a similar pattern to p107 and pRB. But the p50 arose by alternative splicing of mRAD50 and has 3' half of mRAD50 had unexpectedly appeared and maintained after beating. CONCLUSION: The expression of cell cycle regulatory genes after beating and formation of BS in AT-1 cells showed gene-specific pattern and the p50 which has homology to the mRAD50 may participate in differentiation of cardiomyocytes.
Alternative Splicing ; Antigens, Viral, Tumor ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Cycle* ; Genes, Regulator* ; Heart ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; Recombinational DNA Repair ; RNA ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Yeasts

Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma, eccrine-pilar angiomatous hamartoma and sudoriparous angioma represent the same disease entity, a hamartoma showing hyperplasia of the eccrine sweat apparatus and of vascular elements in the same lesion histologically. We present a case of eccrine angiomatous hamartoma on the medial side of the right thigh in a 3-year-old male patient and review 16 cases reported in Korea.
Child, Preschool ; Hamartoma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Male ; Sweat ; Thigh

Multiple endocrine neoplasi~a type 3 is a rare, heritable or sporadic, multiple neoplastic disorder that is charracterized by thyroid medullary careinoma, pheochromocytoma, multiple mucosal neuroma, and marfanoid habitus. The most important disorder of the syndrome is mucosal neuroma that is an early diagnostic sign of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3. Early diagnosis of MEN type 3 determines prognosis of the disease. We present a case of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3 of the sporadic pattern in a 27-year-old man who had typical medullary thyroid carcinoma, mucosal neuroma, marfanoid habitus, and megacolon.
Adult ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Megacolon ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Neuroma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

The purpose of this study was to compare the fitness of the IPS Empress ceramic crowns according to margin type such as bevel, shoulder, rounded shoulder, shoulder with bevel, rounded shoulder with bevel and grooved bevel. After 10 experimental dies were constructed for each group, the IPS Empress ceramic crowns were fabricated on the dies, cemented with resin cement(Bistite resin cement, Tokuyama Soda Co. Ltd., Japan) and embeded in clear epoxy resin. Each specimen was sectioned with a low speed diamond saw in both the faciopalatal and the mesiodistal direction. The cement film thickness was measured with a measuring microscope. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The fitness at the external margin was good in the following order: rounded shoulder(28.99), shoulder with bevel(31.33), grooved bevel(31.79), rounded shoulder with bevel(34.65), bevel(35.02) and shoulder(35.08). However there is no significant statistical difference. 2. The fitness at the internal margin of bevel(25.75), rounded shoulder(31.24), shoulder with bevel(32.07) and rounded shoulder with bevel(34.45) was better than that of shoulder(47.98). 3. The fitness at the axial surface of bevel(26.58) was better than that of shoulder(49.59). 4. The fitness at the central fossa was good in the following order: shoulder with bevel(38.88), grooved bevel(40.46) rounded shoulder with shoulder(46.29), shoulder(48.91), bevel(49.47) and rounded bevel(52.07). However there is no significant statistical difference. 5. Overall fitness of bevel(29.71), rounded shoulder(32.49) and shoulder with bevel(34.47) was better than that of shoulder(44.73).
Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Diamond ; Resin Cements ; Shoulder