No abstract available.
Humans

PURPOSE: The sentinel lymph node is defined as the first draining node from a primary tumor and reflects the histologic feature of the remainder of the lymphatic basin status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative radioguided gamma probe for identification and removal of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphy was performed preoperatively in 15 patients with biopsy proven primary breast cancer. Tc-99m antimony sulfide colloid was injected intradermally at four points around the tumor. Imaging acquisition included dynamic imaging, followed by early and late static images at 2 hours. The sentinel lymph node criteria on lymphoscintigraphy is the first node of the highest uptake in early and late static images. We tagged the node emitting the highest activity both in vivo and ex vivo. Histologic study for sentinel and axillary lymph node investigation was done by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. RESULTS: On lymphoscintigraphy, three of 15 patients had clear lymphatic vessels in dynamic images, and 11 of 15 patients showed sentinel lymph node in early static image and three in late static 2 hours image. Mean detection time of sentinel lymph node on lymphoscintigraphy was 33.5+/-48.4 minutes. The sentinel lymph node localization and removal by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe were successful in 14 of 15 patients (detection rate: 93.3%). On lymphoscintigraphy, 14 of 15 patients showed 2.47+/-2.00 sentinel lymph nodes. On intraoperative gamma probe, 2.36+/-1.96 sentinel lymph nodes were detected. In 7 patients with positive results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, 5 patients showed positive results of axillary lymph node (sensitivity: 72%) but two did not. In 7 patients with negative results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, all axillary nodes were free of disease (specificity: 100%). CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy with lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe is a reliable method to predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided.
Antimony ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Colloids ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Lymphoscintigraphy* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the adequate cutoff value of the neonatal screening test to decrease recall and false-positive rates. METHODS: During the period of January 1999 through December in Asan Medical Center, newborn screening tests for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and galactosemia were performed in 3,775, 3,707, 3,783, and 3,806 newborns respectively using commercial ELISA kits. We reviewed and analyzed the recall rate at currently used cutoff values. RESULTS: 1)In neonatal screening test for congenital hypothyroidism, using a current cutoff value, 17 microIU/mL, the recall rate was 0.9% and using a 99.7% cutoff value, 21.3 microIU/mL, the predictive recall rate was 0.4%. There were no significant differences in the other reports that suggest adequate recall rate. 2)In neonatal screening test for phenylketonuria, using a current cutoff value, 3.6 mg/dL, the recall rate was 1.5% which was no significant difference compared with expected presumptive positive rate, 1.44%. 3)In neonatal screening test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia and galactosemia, the recall rate was high when using current cutoff value. But all results were within normal limits in reevaluation. CONCLUSION: The cutoff values of screening test which are currently recommended by manufacturers of commercial kits for congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and galactosemia, are needed to be reset to decrease the recall rate by false-positive results on the basis of data from an individual newborn screening laboratory.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Galactosemias ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening ; Neonatal Screening* ; Phenylketonurias

No abstract available.
Mesenteric Artery, Superior

Daily administration of glucocorticoids for 10 days to dogs resulted in a significant increase in the hepatic bile secretion in response to secretory stimulants. The response of hepatic bile in testosterone-treated animals was not changed and the response was increased in DOCA--treated animals. A significant increase of liver weight was induced by the animals receiving glucocorticoids. Other organ weight was not changed; however, a slight reduction of kidney weight was seen in prednisolone, dexamethasone, and DOCA treated animals and also in animals supplemented with cortisone following adrenalectomy. The presence of large areas of ballooning and vesicular changes of liver cells was seen in glucocorticoid treated animals, particularly in cases of dexamethasone and prednisolone. Both vesicular changes of liver cell and its glycogen content were increased by the repeated administration of prednisolone and reduced by the cessation of treatment. Special stain and liver glycogen determination demonstrated the material distending the liver cell was glycogen. These findings indicate that long term administration of glucocorticoids results in an increase of liver weight and hepatic glycogen content as well as increased bile secretion.
Animal ; Bile/secretion* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism ; Bilirubin/secretion ; Cholagogues and Choleretics/pharmacology ; Dogs ; Glucocorticoids/pharmacology* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Glycogen/metabolism ; Organ Weight ; Substances: ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Cholagogues and Choleretics ; Glucocorticoids ; Liver Glycogen ; Bilirubin

The gross tissue specimens are a valuable aid to the teaching of pathology and anatomy. However, traditional methods for storage and handling of them are discouragingly difficult and, recently, minimal surgical resections as well as preoperative interventions make it more difficult to have instructive gross specimens. Plastination is a process of tissue preservation by impregnation with silicone polymers or epoxy resins. The process in our study involves dehydration by cryosubstitution in aceton, defatting, forced impregnation of silicon polymer in a vacuum, curing and finishing. We submitted 40 surgically resected specimens to plastination. The resulting specimens are odorless, relatively dry, durable, life-like, non-hazardous, maintenance-free, and do not deteriorate with time. Plastinated specimens are a useful adjunct to the teaching of pathology, particularly suited for use in small groups, and appropriate method of tissue preservation. They are much preferred to wet preparation and conventional pots by both students and teachers owing to their accessibility, superior illustrative powers, and comparative ease of interpretation.
Dehydration ; Epoxy Resins ; Humans ; Pathology* ; Polymers ; Silicones ; Tissue Preservation ; Vacuum

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare functional status and the level of health care needs in elderly Koreans in health care institutions. METHODS: Data were collected from 2,521 elderly patients admitted in 50 health care institutions (hospitals, oriental hospitals, geriatric hospitals, and health care facilities) selected through proportional stratified sampling in 2008. We used a long-term care (LTC) assessment tool developed by the government, which consists of 52 items with 5 subscales. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected in functional status and the level of health care needs among the subjects in different health care institutions. Of the sample population in geriatric hospitals, 48.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.9% for Category 2, and 17.2% for Category 3, and 13.1% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. Of the sample population in health care facilities, 29.9% were eligible for LTC Category 1, 20.5% for Category 2, and 21.8% for Category 3, and 27.0% of the subjects were not eligible for any of the categories. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the necessity of the development of an evaluation system that helps determine whether a subject is eligible for LTC.
Aged* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Health Status* ; Humans ; Institutionalization ; Long-Term Care

No abstract available.
Aging* ; Endocrine Cells* ; Neurons*

The corpus callosum consists of white fibers connecting the cerebral hemispheres. Agenesis of the corpus callosum is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is easily diagnosed in the postnatal period by ultrasound and computed tomographic scan or MRI, but its prenatal sonographic diagnosis is difficult because of fetal head positioning and limiting trans-axial scans. We experienced a case of agenesis of the corpus callusum with chromosomal anomaly. The prenatal sonographic findings are ventricular abnormalities that demonstrated dilatation of lateral ventricles and disproportionate enlargement of the occipital horns, which were suggestive findings for the corpus callosal agenesis. We could confim the diagnosis of the corpus callosal agenesis with chromosome anomaly by postnatal MRI and chromosome analysis.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum* ; Animals ; Cerebrum ; Corpus Callosum ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Head ; Horns ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

Changes in the levels of biogenic amines in different brain regions and the cerebrospinal fluid in rats were measured after acute or chronic treatment with tricyclic antidepressants. After single or 3 weeks' treatment with imipramine or desipramine, blocks of tissues were obtained from seven regions of the brain (frontal cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra and cerebellum) immediately after collection of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the cisterna magna. The concentrations of biogenic amines and their metabolites (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)) in brain tissues and the CSF were measured using the high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection system (HPLC-ECD). Treatment with desipramine or imipramine caused major alterations in the concentrations of central norepinephrine or 5-HT and its metabolite, respectively. Brain regional responses were variable according to the kind of tricyclic antidepressants and the duration of treatment. It is noteworthy that chronic treatment with both desipramine and imipramine caused altered hippocampal concentrations of norepinephrine and/or 5-HT and its metabolites. Striatal DOPAC concentrations were also changed after acute or chronic treatment with both drugs. These results suggest that tricyclic antidepressants altered neurotransmission according to the brain region, and the hippocampal norepinephrine and 5-HT and/or the striatal dopamine may have a significant role for the expression of antidepressant action of tricyclic antidepressants.
Animal ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/*pharmacology ; Biogenic Monoamines/*metabolism ; Brain/*drug effects/metabolism ; Desipramine/pharmacology ; Imipramine/pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley