BACKGROUND: A medulloblastoma is a primitive neuroepithelial tumor of the cerebellum that occurs in children and metastasizes through the cerebrospinal fluid. It is highly malignant and invasive, and the 5-year survival rate is only 60%. Surgical resection techniques, radiation, and chemotherapy have improved the overall survival but the patients suffer life-long cognitive dysfunctions or endocrine abnormalities as the side effects of treatment. Therefore it is essential to identify prognostic markers to determine the appropriate treatment strategy in order to minimize the side effects. METHODS: This study evaluated the immunohistochemical differentiation and survival rate with synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin and primitive neuroepithelial marker nestin of 55 paraffin-embedded medulloblastomas, using a tissue microarray. The expression of survivin, the apoptotic inhibitor, and the survival rate with regard to the proliferation index of Ki-67 were also investigated. RESULTS: The group testing positive to vimentin, a mesenchymal differentiation marker, had a worse prognosis and there was a strong correlation between vimentin expression and nestin expression. Patients with a survivin expression rate >35% had a significantly poorer clinical course and there was a correlation between the survivin expression rate and Ki-67 expression rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, vimentin and survivin are negative prognostic markers in medulloblastomas.
Cerebellum ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Drug Therapy ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma* ; Mucin-1 ; Nestin ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Synaptophysin ; Vimentin*

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the effects of root canal debridement following rotary Ni-Ti instruments with positive versus negative rake angle. Seventy sound, extracted human anterior teeth & premolars were randomly divided into four groups. The used rotary instruments were Ni-Ti HERO 642(Micro-Mega in France, 20 specimen), Ni-Ti ProFile(Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland, 20 specimen), stainless steel engine reamer(Mani, Matsutani Seisakusho Co.,Japan, 20 specimen) and negative control group(10 specimen) was only extirpated with barbed broach(Mani, Matsutani Seisakusho Co.,Japan) Group 1 & 2 teeth were prepared to a #40 at the apex followed by 1 mm using crown-down technique. Group 3 teeth were instrumented from a #15 to a #40 in sequential order. After preparation and final irrigation, the roots split longitudinally into a bucco-lingual direction. Root halves were cross-sectioned in apical third portion again. all root specimens were prepared for SEM investigation & photographed. Separate evaluations were undertaken for smear layer on prepared walls with a five score-index for each using reference photograph in root halves. the penetration depth of smear layer into dentinal tubules was also estimated in the other halves. the following results were obtained : 1. Smear layer was observed on all the prepared walls with three experimental groups except negative control group 2. Smear layer characteristics 1) HERO 642 groups showed snowy & dusty appearance & were observed only few some dentinal tubuli open on the prepared walls, and the penetration depth of it into dentinal tubules may be 1-2 microm thick. 2) ProFile groups showed shiny & burnished appearance & complete root canal wall covered by a homogenous smear layer with no open dentinal tubuli and penetration depth of it into dentinal tubules may be 1-2 microm thick. 3) Engine reamer groups showed obviously file's passed tracks on the prepared walls & were observed complete root canal wall covered by a homogenous smear layer with no open dentinal tubuli. The results revealed that a completely clean root canal could not be achieved regardless of positive & negative rake angle, which is in accordance with the majority of studies on root canal cleanliness. In conclusion, throughout irrigation with antibacterial solutions or chelating agents is recommended to remove the smear layer on prepared canal walls.
Bicuspid ; Chelating Agents ; Debridement ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dentin ; Electrons ; France ; Humans ; Nickel ; Smear Layer ; Stainless Steel ; Switzerland ; Titanium ; Tooth ; Track and Field

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the posterolateral fusion in degenerative spondylolisthesis. OBJECTIVES: Posterolateral fusion has been performed for patients about Meyerding grade1, 2 with degenerative spondylolisthesis in L4-5. We evaluated the prognostic factors of posterolateral fusion, alone for degenerative spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: It is reported that posterolateral fusion has almost equal postoperative clinical and radiographic results with the interbody or circumferential fusion for spondylolisthesis. However, there have been some unsatisfactory results after posterolateral fusion alone and the causes are yet unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2002 to July 2008, we analyzed postoperative clinical outcomes of 42 patients who were diagnosed with Meyerding 1 or 2 grade degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4-5. All the patients were classified into group I and group II, based on the clinical outcome evaluation method by Kirkaldy-Willis. Ten patients (Group I) were found to have poor or fair clinical outcomes, while 32 patients (Group II) were found to have excellent or good clinical outcomes. The mean duration of the follow up was 16.3 (12-23) months. We looked into postoperative body mass index and bone mass density, and found degenrative lumbar disc through preoperative MRI, retrospectively. We measured angular motion by dynamic radiographs and preoperative slip angle through a Taillard method. RESULTS: In group I, the average preoperative BMI was 25.7 (21.2~31.4) and the average T score of bone density was -3.0 (-1.9~-4.2). There was 1 case of Grade 3, 3 cases of Grade 4 and 6 cases of Grade 5 by preoperative Pfirmann classification. The average angular motion was 11.8 (9.1~14.2) and the average preoperative slip angle was 8.4 (6.9-9.6). In group II, the average preoperative BMI was 24.3 (20.72~28.1) and the average T score of bone density was -2.1 (-0.9~-3.1). There were 26 cases of Grade 3, 5 cases of Grade 4 and 1 case of Grade 5 by preoperative Pfirmann classification. The average angular motion was 8.8 (6.2~12.1) and the average preoperative slip angle was 6.2 (3.6-7.9). There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in BMI, stage of disc degeneration, preoperative angular motion, and slip angle. (p=0.04, 0.04, 0.05, 0.03, respectively) CONCLUSION: We concluded that posterolateral fusion has exhibited worse clinical results in cases of BMI less than -2.8, disc degeneration greater than grade 4, angular motion greater than 9.4 degrees, and slip angle greater than 7.1 degrees; as such, we need to consider other surgical methods.
Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

Malignant schwannomas arising from the peripheral nerve sheath of the foot are very rare. We encountered a case of malignant schwannoma of the great toe in a 60-year-old woman with painful swelling and exudative ulceration, and report the findings of MR imaging and review the literature.
Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Toes* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a multifactorial autoimmune skin disease with a pathogenesis that has remained obscure. Recently, T cells bearing natural killer receptors (NKRs) were precisely and strongly targeted as new putative pathogenic immunocytes in psoriasis. Among NKRs, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) is the major molecule recognizing HLA class I allotypes and might be closely related to psoriasis. METHODS: To investigate the association of KIR genotype and patients with psoriasis in Korean, we defined the 14 KIR genotypes in 96 patients with psoriasis and 86 healthy controls using PCR-SSP methods. RESULTS: The frequencies of KIR2DS4 and KIR3DL1 were significantly decreased in psoriasis compared with controls (RR=0.21, p<0.02). When patients were divided into two subgroups at the age of onset, type I (<30 years) and type II (> or =30 years) respectively, these phenomena were similarly observed independent of groups divided (type I: RR=0.26, p<0.005; type II: RR=0.14, p<0.0006). When the patients were divided into subgroups according to the age of onset and family history, the frequencies of KIR2DS4, KIR3DL1, and KIR2DS3 were significantly decreased in type I compared with type II psoriasis (3DL1, 2DS4: p<0.004; 2DS3: p<0.04) and were significantly decreased in psoriasis without family history compared to with family history (3DL1, 2DS4: p<0.007; 2DS3: p<0.05). The frequency of haplotype combination BB was significantly increased in psoriasis compared with controls (RR=2.74, p<0.009). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that KIR genotype is a factor for the occurrence and development of psoriasis and in future how combinations of HLA and KIR genes influence psoriasis needs to be defined.
Age of Onset ; Genotype* ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Psoriasis* ; Receptors, KIR ; Skin Diseases ; T-Lymphocytes

Evans syndrome is the combination of direct Coombs' positive hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura, in the absence of a known underlying etiology. Being reported rarely in pediatric patients, the syndrome is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation with viable responses to therapy. Management of the disease remains a challenge despite a variety of therapeutic trials. We experienced a 11-years old male patient of Evans syndrome who was initially presented as having an autoimmune hemolytic anemia 17 months before. Over the 5 years of follow-up, he had a chronic, relapsing courses, showing partial responses to a variety of therapeutic trials, including IVIG, oral prednisolone, methylprednisolone pulse therapy, cyclosporine A and vincristine. A brief review of the literature ensues with the case report.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Child ; Cyclosporine ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Prednisolone ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Vincristine

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative CT appearance, complications and potential pitfalls of radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 46 patients [43 men and 3 women aged 34-72 (mean, 56.7) years] who had undergone neobladder reconstruction (ileocolic neobladder in 25 patients and ileal-W neobladder in 21). The CT scans were assessed in terms of their depiction of normal anatomy, namely the shape, location and internal architecture of the neobladder, the location of bladder bases, and the ureteral course. Early and late complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The characteristics of ileocolic neobadder were a right-side location, a lobulated outer margin, internal projections due to haustra or plication, a base in the retropubis, and right-side insertion of both ureters. In contrast, the characteristics of an ileal-W neobladder were a central location, an ovoid shape, nodular thickening at the ureteral insertion site, internal projections due to plication, and a retropubic bladder base. Early complications included hematoma with abscess formation (n=2), and postoperative peritonitis (n=1), while late complications were hydronephrosis due to stricture at the ureteral anastomotic site (n=16), tumor recurrence at this site (n=1), distal ureteral stone (n=1), mucus urinary retention (n=1), incisional hernia (n=2), tumor recurrence in the pelvic side wall (n=1), carcinomatosis peritonei (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=2). CONCLUSION: A knowledge of normal anatomic changes is essential for the accurate interpretation of CT scans. CT is a useful modality for the evaluation of postoperative change and the complications occurring in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy with othotopic neobladder reconstruction.
Abscess ; Carcinoma ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Liver ; Male ; Mucus ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritonitis ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Retention

BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is one of the major causes of allograft dysfunction in kidney transplant (KT) patients. We compared BKVAN combined with acute rejection (BKVAN/AR) with BKVAN alone in KT patients. We retrospectively analyzed biopsy-proven BKVAN in KT patients from 2000 to 2011 at Seoul National University Hospital. Among 414 biopsies from 951 patients, biopsy-proven BKVAN was found in 14 patients. Nine patients had BKVAN alone, while 5 patients had both BKVAN and acute cellular rejection. BKVAN in the BKVAN alone group was detected later than in BKVAN/AR group (21.77 vs 6.39 months after transplantation, P=0.03). Serum creatinine at diagnosis was similar (2.09 vs 2.00 mg/dL). Histological grade was more advanced in the BKVAN/AR group (P=0.034). Serum load of BKV, dose of immunosuppressants, and tacrolimus level showed a higher tendency in the BKVAN alone group; however it was not statistically significant. After anti-rejection therapy, immunosuppression was reduced in the BKVAN/AR group. Renal functional deterioration over 1 yr after BKVAN diagnosis was similar between the two groups (P=0.665). These findings suggest that the prognosis of BKVAN/AR after anti-rejection therapy followed by anti-BKV therapy might be similar to that of BKVAN alone after anti-BKV therapy.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; BK Virus/*physiology ; Creatinine/blood ; Female ; *Graft Rejection/diagnosis/virology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage ; Kidney/*virology ; Kidney Diseases/pathology/surgery/*virology ; *Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyomavirus Infections/drug therapy/*etiology/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus/administration & dosage ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous/adverse effects ; Tumor Virus Infections/drug therapy/*etiology/pathology

Many types of glomerulonephritis are associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We present a case of a 50-year-old Korean man with an HIV infection, who developed nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal failure. Renal biopsy showed lupus-like glomerulonephritis without clinical or serologic evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. After the administration of antiretroviral agents and steroids, there was reduction in the amount of proteinuria and improvement in renal function.
AIDS-Associated Nephropathy ; Anti-Retroviral Agents ; Biopsy ; Glomerulonephritis ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Steroids

Many types of glomerulonephritis are associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We present a case of a 50-year-old Korean man with an HIV infection, who developed nephrotic syndrome and progressive renal failure. Renal biopsy showed lupus-like glomerulonephritis without clinical or serologic evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. After the administration of antiretroviral agents and steroids, there was reduction in the amount of proteinuria and improvement in renal function.
AIDS-Associated Nephropathy ; Anti-Retroviral Agents ; Biopsy ; Glomerulonephritis ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Steroids