The current classification of pituitary adenomas is based on cell type, largely ascertained by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. In an application of immunohistochemistry, pathologists have some problems in judging the results. An immunostaining result does not always correspond with a serum hormone level. It is also difficult to determine the nature of a tumor when a few cells are positive. We performed the immunohistochemical stains on 34 pituitary adenomas using polyclonal antibodies to six pituitary hormones [PRL (prolactin), GH (growth hormone), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)] and compared with serum hormone level. The serum hormone level was increased in 14 cases (41.2%) of PRL, 7 cases (20.6%) of PRL & GH, 6 pleurihormonal cases (17.6%), 4 nonfunctioning cases (11.8%), 2 cases (5.9%) of FSH, and 1 case (2.9%) of GH. The most common immunohistochemical type of pituitary adenoma was 10 prolactinoma cases (38.5%), followed by 7 pleurihormonal cases (26.9%), 4 null cell cases (15.4%), 3 cases of mixed PRL & GH (11.5%), 1 case of ACTH (3.8%) and 1 FSH & LH case (3.8%). The corresponding rates of the serum hormone level and immunostaining results were 94.1% in GH, 88.9% in TSH, 85.7% in LH, 82.4% in ACTH, 66.7% FSH, and 61.8% in PRL. In the immunostaining for FSH, 12 cases showed less than 5% positivity and most of them exhibited the normal serum hormone level. In conclusion, the most common elevated serum hormone and immunohistochemical type of pituitary adenoma was prolactinoma. The corresponding rate of the serum hormone level and immunostaining result was the highest in GH cell adenoma and was the lowest in prolactinoma. The cells showing less than 5% positivity seem to be entrapped normal cells.
Adenoma ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Antibodies ; Classification ; Coloring Agents* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Lymphocytes, Null ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pituitary Hormones ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Prolactinoma

No abstract available.
Ichthyosis, Lamellar*

No abstract available.
Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital*

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of 3 domains of continuing education (CE) for healthcare managers. METHODS: A group of 20 healthcare managers, attending 3 levels of CE, were the subjects. The data were collected by structured questionnaires before and after each education. The data were analyzed by Friedman test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranked Test, and Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: After completing CE, there was significant improvement on the scores of knowledge, attitude, and skills. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that CE for healthcare managers is an effective strategy to promote the competency of healthcare managers, who take care of the chronically ill patients.
Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education, Continuing ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of numerous eosinophils in subcutaneous fat, and has been identified in patients with a variety of associated clinical conditions. A case of eosinophilic panniculitis in a 20-year-old woman with a history of atopic dermatitis is reported. She later developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and we stress the importance of systemic evaluations in patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Panniculitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superior Sagittal Sinus* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan

We report 2 cases of pediatric DNTs which presented with intractable seizures and no other associated neurologic abnormalities. They showed typical appearance of DNTs on neuroimaging and histopathology. Most patients with DNT can be cured by surgical treatment with exellent outcome and do not need ratio- or chemotheraphy. This study indicates that it is quite important to consider DNTs as one of differential diagnoses in patients with intractable seizures especially when they present only with seizures without other neurologic symptoms.
Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Seizures*

Core decompression is still widely used in avascular necrosis of the femoral head but the results are unpredictable and the indications are not settled yet. The reparative process of the decompressed femoral head is poorly understood. Seven cases in 5 patients were undertaken THRA following failed decompression and these were studied for the radiological and pathological changes of the core tracts. The lesions of failed cases were involved more than 1/3 of femoral head on MRI and all cases were stage II A or B. The extent of the necrotic area in MRI was enlarged with crack, sclerosis and sometimes gas collection. Depression of the subchondral plates were also observed. Capillary ingrowth or neovascularization was not found at all and there were only fibrosis, inflammatory response and foreign body reactions.
Capillaries ; Decompression* ; Depression ; Fibrosis ; Foreign Bodies ; Head* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis* ; Sclerosis

Three patients with complex partial seizures had dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET) in temporal lobe. In all cases, longterm video-EEG monitoring showed epileptogenic focus in left temporal lobe where small mass lesion was located. For further seizure localization and functional mapping, subdural grids were placed on left temporal lobe including lesions. Lateral temporal lobectomy with lesionectomy was performed in two cases. Lateral temporal lobe resection and amygdalohippocampectomy was done in one case. The pathological findings of all lesions were characterized by intracortical location, multiple nodular architecture, foci of dysplastic cortical disorganization and the presence of a specific glioneuronal element. All patients have been seizure free.
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

To overcome the difficulty of controlling stem cell fate and function in applications to regenerative medicine, a number of alternative approaches have been made. Recent reports demonstrate that a non-cellular niche modulating the biophysical microenvironment with chemical factors can support stem cell self-renewal. In our previous studies, early establishment was executed to optimize biophysical factors and it was subsequently found that the microgeometry of the extracellular matrix made huge differences in stem cell behavior and phenotype. We review here a three-dimensional, non-cellular niche designed to support stem cell self-renewal. The characteristics of stem cells under the designed system are further discussed.
Extracellular Matrix ; Phenotype ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells