Verrucous carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma that is more often seen in the oral cavity and larynx, but extremely rare in the paranasal sinus. In establishing the diagnosis, close cooperation is required between the clinician and pathologist, since the lesion appears obviously malignant on clinical examination but on pathologic study it may be reported as hyperplastic or papillomatous or as hyperkeratotic benign squamous epithelium. Verrucous carcinoma should be treated by surgical excision because there is evidence to suggest that the lesion may become more aggressive after radiotherapy and surgery gives better survival rates than radiotherapy. We experienced a case in which the patient presented with a history of right nasal obstruction and intermittent facial pain for about 4 months and was ultimately diagnosed as having verrucous carcinoma of maxillary sinus. Caldwell-Luc's operation was performed. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carcinoma, Verrucous* ; Diagnosis ; Epithelium ; Facial Pain ; Humans ; Larynx ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Mouth ; Nasal Obstruction ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

Four hundred and sixty five randomly selected clones from a cDNA library of Blattella germanica were partially sequenced and searched using BLAST as a means of analyzing the transcribed sequences of its genome. A total of 363 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from 465 clones after editing and trimming the vector and ambiguous sequences. About 42% (154/363) of these clones showed significant homology with other data base registered genes. These new B. germanica genes constituted a broad range of transcripts distributed among ribosomal proteins, energy metabolism, allergens, proteases, protease inhibitors, enzymes, translation, cell signaling pathways, and proteins of unknown function. Eighty clones were not well-matched by database searches, and these represent new B. germanica-specific ESTs. Some genes which drew our attention are discussed. The information obtained increases our understanding of the B. germanica genome.
Sequence Alignment ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Male ; Female ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Animals

BACKGROUND: It is reported that abnormal eating behavior is more frequent in the group of weight control than those of no control. Repeated and chronic binge eating behavior has associations with impaired work and social functioning, overconcerns with body shape and weight. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of abnormal eating behavior according to weight management, depression level and obesity. METHODS: From June 1999 to July 1999, we collected self record questionnaire including body mass index(BMI), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Eating Attitude Test(EAT) from 1292 students of one girl's high school in Seoul. Study subjects were divided by BMI, the set point was 25 kg/m2. EAT score associated with weight control, BMI, BDI, smoking and alcohol was assessed by multiple linear regression. Study subjects were also grouped by the existence of the history of weight management behavoir, then BMI, EAT score and BDI in each subgroups was assessed by t test. RESULTS: Obese students were 42, whereas those of BMI under 25 kg/m2 were 1191. BDI score ranging from 5 to 20 were 940, 21 to 63 were 179. The EAT score has significant relevance to the history of weight control, BMI, and BDI score in order. The EAT score and BMI were higher in the subjects who experienced various modes of weight control (48.41+/-14.47 vs 33.63+/-12.52 in EAT, 20.34+/-2.26 vs 18.72+/-1.89)(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: EAT score was associated with weight control, BMI and BDI. EAT score and BMI were higher in weight control samples.
Bulimia ; Depression* ; Eating ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a cysteine proteinase of the Acanthamoeba healyi OC-3A strain isolated from the brain of a granulomatous amoebic encephalitis patient. A DNA probe for an A. healyi cDNA library screening was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of conserved amino acids franking the active sites of cysteine and asparagine residues that are conserved in the eukaryotic cysteine proteinases. Cysteine proteinase gene of A. healyi (AhCP1) was composed of 330 amino acids with signal sequence, a proposed pro-domain and a predicted active site made up of the catalytic residues, Cys(25), His(159), and Asn(175). Deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicated that AhCP1 belongs to ERFNIN subfamily of C1 peptidases. By Northern blot analysis, no direct correlation was observed between AhCP1 mRNA expression and virulence of Acanthamoeba, but the gene was expressed at higher level in amoebae isolated from soil than those from clinical samples. These findings raise the possibility that Ahcp1 protein may play a role in protein metabolism and digestion of phagocytosed bacteria or host tissue debris rather than in invasion of amoebae into host tissue.
Acanthamoeba/*enzymology/genetics/pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/parasitology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cathepsins/*genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Encephalitis/parasitology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Protozoan ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Virulence

Neurilemmoma is a benign, solitary tumor which may occur from the nerve sheath of the peripheral, sympathetic and cranial nerves. Although it occurs most frequently in the head and neck region, especially in the acoustic nerve and the vagus nerve, the neurilemmoma of the brachial plexus is rare. We have experienced a case of neurilemmoma in the brachial plexus. Surgical excision was performed by anterior supraclavicular approach. The mass was removed completely, sparing the nerve function. We report this case with literature review.
Brachial Plexus* ; Cochlear Nerve ; Cranial Nerves ; Head ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma* ; Vagus Nerve

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The authors performed seven removal operations cerebellopontine angle tumor, six of which were acoustic neuroma. The purpose of this research is to analyze different cases of cerebellopontine angle tumor, determine their clinical characteristics, and evaluate the efficacy of various surgical approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed neurotological analysis of both clinical characteristics and the results of each surgical approach for seven patients who have been treated for cerebellopontine angle tumor. RESULTS: The most frequent symptom was the complaint of hearing disturbance, where the mean PTAs measured were 66 dB, and the mean speech discrimination score was 35%. The average size of tumors measured by MRI was 3.9 cm. The following surgical approaches were used: translabyrinthine in 4 cases, modified translabyrinthine in 2 cases, transcochlear in one case. Complete removal of the tumor was possible in six patients. Facial nerve was preserved anatomically in six patients, and hearing preservation was possible in one patient for whom we performed the modified translabyrinthine approach. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment is important in order to improve the facial nerve function after the operation. The modified translabyrinthine approach is worth performing for hearing preservation.
Cerebellopontine Angle* ; Early Diagnosis ; Facial Nerve ; Hearing ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Speech Perception

Hepatocellular carcinoma usually metastasizes to lung, breast, lymph node, GI tract, bone, kindey, and adrenal gland. Up to now, only few cases of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as a metastatic ethmoid sinus tumor could be found in the literature. If a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma complains epistaxis, and if expansile, osteolytic, and hypervascular lesions are observed in a radiologic examination, nasal cavity and sinus tumor should be confirmed through biopsy. We report, along with the review of appropriate literature, a case of histollogically confirmed metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the ethmoid sinus of a 56 year old man.
Adrenal Glands ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Epistaxis ; Ethmoid Sinus* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the currently available diagnostic procedure, hearing impaired children are diagnosed at an early age and hearing aids are fitted soon thereafter. Thus, appropriateness of using available correction methods for adult ears and ear models for determining and predicting hearing aid characteristics for these children need to be examined. The objectives of this study are to create a database of resonance frequency and length of external auditory canal (EAC) in all age groups and to adjust the peak frequency response of hearing aid system to take account of the changing resonance peak frequency as child gets older. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We studied 437 ears with no age limitation. We measured rear ear unaided response (REUR) with Rastronics frequency response analyzer and external ear canal length using silastic tube under microscopic or otoscopic finding. Statistical analyses were performed to determine age differences. RESULTS: Ear canal length increased with age, and an adult value was achieved by the age of 14 years. Resonance frequency decreased with age, and reached to an adult value by the age of 9 years. There was significant relationship between ear canal length and resonance frequency. CONCLUSION: Alteration in resonance frequency with age may have practical implications by affecting the insertion gain of hearing aid system in children. The data may be used as useful adjustment factors to correct the current hearing aid system in children.
Adult ; Child ; Ear ; Ear Canal* ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) of the head and neck was treated with radiotherapy traditionally, but the results were not satisfactory. Although chemotherapy or combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was tried recently, prognostic factors and treatment of choice has not been described yet. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to investigate the prognostic factors of NHL and the differences of treatment outcomes among chemotherapy, radiotherapy and combined therapy for NHL of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjects are 50 patients with NHL localized in the head and neck, who were treated at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from January 1988 to January 1996. We analyzed clinical datas retrospectively. RESULTS: Five year overall survival rate was 41% in the patients whose primary lesion was Waldeyer's ring and 78.3% in patients who present with primary lesion in cervical node(p<0.05). Five year overall survival rate of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combined therapy was 50.8%, 20%, 77% respectively(statistically not significant). These results suggest that location of primary site, pathologic type and response rate to treatment may be significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy are more effective for the patients with NHL presenting in the head and neck.
Drug Therapy ; Head* ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Neck* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The serine protease allergens have been known as one of the most important inhalent allergens of insects as well as house dust mites. There is no known serine protease allergen of German cockroach, which is a well-known etiological agent of allergic diseases. We identified the serine protease genes of cockroach, Blattella germanica, and examined its possibility as an allergen. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We have isolated three partial genes, Bg3, Bg5 and Bg6, of serine protease from the Blattella germanica cDNA library using the degenerate oligonucleotide PCR primers specific for the conserved regions. RESULTS: The genes, Bg3, Bg5 and Bg6, were composed of 396 bp 131 amino acids, 513 bp 170 amino acids, and 410 bp 136 amino acids, respectively. Northern hybridization analysis indicated that the size of Bg5 and Bg6 transcripts was approximately 0.7 kb. The gene, Bg5, was also identified as a multiple gene by the Southern blot analysis. The gene, Bg3, showed significant homology to trypsin-like serine protease of various insects. The deduced amino acids sequence of the gene Bg5 was matched to the mite group III allergen as well as various species of insect serine protease sequences. The gene Bg6 also showed high homology to the amino acids sequences of insect serine proteases and mite group III allergens. Three Blattella germanica serine protease gene fragments revealed close genetic relationships with Dermatophagoides farinae group III allergen in the phylogenetic analysis. CONCLUSION: The high homology and close phylogenetic relationship raise the possibility of three serine protease genes as being an allergen of German cockroach.
Allergens ; Amino Acids ; Blattellidae ; Blotting, Southern ; Chimera ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Cockroaches ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Insects ; Mites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyroglyphidae ; Serine ; Serine Endopeptidases ; Serine Proteases