No abstract available.

We evaluated the antitumor activity and toxicity of recombinant human interferon gamma (LBD -001) as a new modality for advanced renal cell carcinoma from March, 1988 to August, 1989 at the Department of Urology, St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Eleven patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were given recombinant gamma interferon at dose of 5.0-7.6 x 106U/day, subcutaneously three days per week. Among eleven patients, only one achieved partial response. Major adverse effects included fever, fatigue, myalgia and leukopenia, but no life threatening side effects were found. Although recombinant human interferon gamma have an antitumor activity against advanced renal cell carcinoma, further study is necessary to define the optimal treatment regimen.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Humans ; Interferons* ; Leukopenia ; Myalgia ; Urology

OBJECTIVES: Cord blood stem cells have been widely used as donor cells for bone marrow transplantation recently. These cells can give rise to a variety of hematopoietic lineages to repopulate the blood. Recent observations reveal that some bone marrow cells and bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs) can grow to become either neurons or glial cells. It is, however, unclear whether or not there exists stems cells which can differentiate into neurons in the blood during the early stages of postnatal life. METHODS: Human cord blood stem cells were prepared from human placenta after full term delivery. To induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells, beta-mercaptoethanol was treated. To confirm the neuro-glial characteristics of differentiated stem cells, immunocytochemical stain for NeuN, neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), microtubule associated protein2(MAP2) was performed. RT-PCR was performed for detecting nestin mRNA and MAP2 mRNA. RESULTS: We showed in this experiment that neuro-glial markers(NeuN, neurofilament, MAP2, GFAP) were expressed and axon-like cytoplasmic processes are elaborated in the cultured human cord blood stem cells prepared from new born placenta after full term delivery. Nestin mRNA was also detected in fresh cord blood monocytes. Conclusions: These results suggest that human cord blood derived stem cells may be potential sources of neurons in early postnatal life.
Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cytoplasm ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans* ; Microtubules ; Monocytes ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Placenta ; RNA, Messenger ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors ; Umbilical Cord*

Gastric lymphoma occupies about 1-7% of gastric cancer and is the most common type of extranodal lymphoma. To evaluate the endoscopic morphologic characteristics of gastric lymphoma, we analysed the endoscopic findings in 45 patients with pathologically-proven gastric lymphoma. (continue...)
Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.

Morphometry of nuclei of the benign and malignant prostatic lesions was performed to study the relationship between nuclear size and shape and the prognosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Fifty one cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma and 13 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia were included to evaluate area, perimeter, Dmax, Dmin, and 5 form factors of the nuclei by image analyzer (Zeiss Ibas 2000) using hematoxylin-eosin stained slides. All analytic factors of nuclear size and shape were significantly different between benign lesions and adenocarcinomas. Increased nuclear size was associated with nu- clear irregularity, presence of metastasis, advanced clinical stage, and high Gleason's grade and score of prostatic adenocarcinoma. On Kaplan-Meier method, survival was decreased with older age, no hormonal treatment, stage D, high Gleason's grade and stage as well as with larger size and irregular shape of the nuclei. In conclusion, morphometry of nuclei of the prostate can be a helpful tool to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Nuclear morphology is thought to be associated with prognosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast ; Fibroadenoma ; Hepatitis B e Antigens* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia

The deformity of hallux valgus is associated with three hasic prohlems: a prominent rnedial eminence, contracted soft-tissue structures on the lateral side of the great toe, and an altered intermetatarsal angle between the first and second metatarsal. We retrospectively have reviewed the results for thirty-one patients(47 feet) in whom a hallux vaigus deformity had heen conected with the release of the distal soft tissues, excision of the medial eminence, plication of the medial part of the capsule, and proximal crescentic osteotomy of the first metatarsal. The patients were followed for an average of twenty months(range, twelve to twenty-eight months). There were nine cases with mild defoimity, twenty-nine cases with moderate deformity, nine cases with severe deformity. The preoperative hallux valgus angle averaged 38.1 degrees, and the immediate postoperative angle averaged 6.7 degrees. The preoperative intermetatarsal angle averaged 17.1 degrees, and the immediate postoperative angle, 7.6 degrees. At the latest follow-up, the hallux valgus angle averaged 19.3 degrees, the intermetatarsal angle averaged 9.9 degrees. We found that the more the deformity, the lesser the congruency. 74.5% of the patients were satisfied with the result of the procedure. They stated that, eiven the same circumstances, they would have the operation again. The most common complication was recurrence of the nallux valgus, which occurred in nine feet(five patients). The other complications included pain under a fibular sesamoid in one foot, severe hypoesthesia on the medial aspect ot the big toe in one foot, and superficial wound infection in one foot.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Metatarsal Bones* ; Osteotomy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Toes ; Wound Infection

Melanosis coli is the brownish black discoloration of the colon due to accumulation of pigment containing macrophages in lamina propria. The nature and source of this pigment is controversial but many studies have suggested that the pigment is related to lipofuscin. Melanosis coli has been reported to be closely associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone purgatives. But this condition is sometimes associated with colonic polyp colon cancer, rediation therapy or non-anthraquinone purgatives administration. Moreover the fact that melanosis coli could be found in subjects who never used purgatives suggested that, even though chronic consumption of anthraquinone purgatives seems to play a major role, other factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of melanosis coli. We presented a case of melanosis Coli in a 47-year-old female with history of rectal instillation of petroleum for control of hemorrhoids.
Administration, Rectal* ; Cathartics ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps ; Female ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Macrophages ; Melanosis* ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Petroleum*

A clinical observation was made with particular attention to radiologic diagnosis, complication and management on 69 patients of renal injury admitted to the Catholic Medical Center during the last 10 years. The results were as follows: 1. Minor renal injury was in 49 cases (71%), major renal injury in 19 cases (27.5%) and pedicle injury in 1 case (1.5%) according to Scott's classification. 2. IVU was performed in 68 cases for initial diagnostic study and 18 cases (31%) needed additional radiologic study for accurate staging. 3. CT was performed in 14 cases and its diagnostic accuracy was 93%. 4. Renal angiography was performed in 6 cases. Angioinfarction was performed in 1 case due to continuous bleeding and the other 5 cases showed localized parenchymal infarction or normal finding. 5. Sonography was performed in 6 cases for initial diagnostic study and in 3 cases for follow up study. 6. In major renal injury patients, the group which decided treatment after CT study revealed 16 7% of complication rate but the group which decided treatment without CT study revealed 38 5% of complication rate. 7. In major renal injury or pedicle injury patients, initial operative treatment group resulted in kidney loss in 70% of cases without complication but initial conservative treatment group resulted in kidney loss in 60% of cases and the delay of operation resulted in 70% of complication rate.From these results, CT is the choice of additional staging technique after initial IVU and initial surgical operation is adequate treatment procedure in major renal injury or pedicle injury patients.
Angiography ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Kidney

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been a few national population-based epidemiological studies of myasthenia gravis (MG) with wide variation of incidence and prevalence rates worldwide. Herein we report the first nationwide population-based epidemiological study of MG in Korea. METHODS: We attempted to estimate the incidence and prevalence rates of MG using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database for 2010 to 2013. Cases with MG were defined as those having claim records with a principal diagnosis of MG and the prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids and azathioprine within 2 years after the diagnosis. The year 2010 was set as a washout period, such that patients were defined as incident cases if their first records of MG were observed in 2011. RESULTS: In 2011 there were 1,236 incident cases, and the standardized incidence rate was 2.44 per 100,000 person-years. The standardized prevalence rates were 9.67 and 10.66 per 100,000 persons in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The incidence and prevalence rates peaked in the elderly population aged 60 to 69 years for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest national population-based epidemiological studies of MG, and it has confirmed the high incidence and prevalence rates of MG in the elderly population of South Korea.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Azathioprine ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence* ; Korea* ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; National Health Programs* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence*