Vaccinia virus is the prototype orthopoxvirus that has been used as a vaccine strain for small pox. This virus has been used to express a variety of cellular and viral genes in mammalian cells at high levels. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been found to stimulate the proliferation of T cells and enhance the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. To test the immunotherapeutic potential of IL-4 delivered in vivo by poxvirus, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the murine IL-4 gene (RVVmIL-4) was constructed. A high level of IL-4 production was confirmed by infecting HeLa cells and measuring IL-4 in cell culture supernatant by ELISA. As a tumor model, two cell lines were used: the murine T leukemic line P388 and the murine breast cancer line TS/A. CDF1 mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 1 x 105 cells of P388. Mice were injected at the same site with 5 x 105 PFU of recombinant vaccinia virus; first, 3 days after the injection of tumor cells and thereafter once every week for 3 weeks. Intraperitoneal injections of RVVmIL-4 significantly prolonged the survival time of mice inoculated with tumor cells. All mice injected with RVVmIL-4 remained alive for 30 days after the postinoculation of tumor cells, while 100% and 70% of the animals injected with saline or wild type vaccinia virus died, respectively. In another tumor model using TS/A, tumor was established by subcutaneously inoculating 2 x 105 tumor cells to BALB/c mice. After tumor formation was confirmed on day 4 in all mice, 5 x 106 PFU of RVVmIL-4 was inoculated subcutaneously three times, once every week for 3 weeks. The TS/A tumor was eradicated in two of the nine mice. Seven of the nine mice treated with RVVmIL-4 developed a tumor, but tumor growth was significantly delayed compared to those treated with saline or wild type vaccinia virus. These results indicate that recombinant vaccinia viruses may be used as a convenient tool for delivering immunomodulator genes to a variety of tumors.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genes, Viral ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-4* ; Interleukins* ; Mice ; Orthopoxvirus ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; Vaccinia virus* ; Vaccinia*

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Purpose: To evaluate the proportion of bevacizumab and the reason for its usage in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for 1,541 patients who received ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab injection to treat wet AMD. The proportion of bevacizumab among the entire set of injections was identified. The reason for selecting bevacizumab was additionally identified. Results: During the study period, a total of 2,929 anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections were performed; 2,236 (76.3%) were ranibizumab or aflibercept injections and 693 (23.7%) were bevacizumab injections. The most common reason for bevacizumab usage was ‘having a 0.1 or worse best-corrected visual acuity or being unable to assure reimbursement due to the development of extensive scarring or geographic atrophy’ (297 bevacizumab injections, 42.9%). The second most common reason was ‘the inability to assure reimbursement such as extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or early CNV without definite fluid in the foveal region’ (201 bevacizumab injections, 29.0%). Conclusions Bevacizumab was used in 23.7% of the anti-VEGF injections to treat wet AMD. When analyzing patients’ treatment burden and financial impact, the results of the present study may provide useful information. Further multi-center studies are required to evaluate more precisely the usage of anti-VEGF drugs.

Male breast cancer is a rare disease, representing approximately 1% of breast cancer and less than 1.5% of malignant tumors occurring in men. We report a case of cuaneous metastasis of male breast cances. a 64-year-old male who presented with multiple nodules and erythematous plaque on the right anterior chest and enlargement of the right axillary lymplinodes. The histopathologic findings of the nodule showed atypical tumor cells with a somew eat gland-like pattern. The cells showed potive reactions in PAS, DPAS and alcian blue stains, and also positive for estrogen and roiesterone receptors. Biopsy specimens taken from the plaque showed cellular arrangement in show line, referred to as Indian filing, between thiclenecin collagen bundles. He was treated not, tamoxifen, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and megestrol acetate. 5 months after nitiation of the treatment, the skin lesions were improved vvith a decreased number and size or dules and decreased intensity of erythema.
Alcian Blue ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms, Male* ; Collagen ; Coloring Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Erythema ; Estrogens ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Male ; Male* ; Megestrol Acetate ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Rare Diseases ; Skin ; Tamoxifen ; Thorax

It is known in general that neoplasms of smooth mucsle appear very rarely in the oral region, probaly because in the oral region with histopathologic investigations have been reported. This report presents an unusual case of angioleiomyoma that developed on the lower lip of a 48-year the course of one year and the immunohistochemical findings of the angioleiomyyoma are described.
Angiomyoma* ; Lip*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anatomic anal stenosis in patients with chronic anal fissure (CAF) and ascertain the results of lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) using a new calibrator. METHODS: Ninety-eight adults with CAF and a control group of 40 normal adults underwent anal calibration under spinal anesthesia. The calibrator was a conical design and the diameter was scaled in increments of 1 mm. The calibration was standardized and the reliability of it was assessed by two independent examiners for the same group (n=45). Confounding effects of age, sex, body weight, and height on the anal caliber were studied. The internal sphincter was divided to the level of the dentate line during LIS. RESULTS: The anal caliber was 34.6 +/- 1.4 mm (mean +/- SD) in the control group and 28.7 +/- 3.0 mm (mean +/- SD) in patients with CAF. Excellent correlation was obtained between the two examiners (r=0.958). The confounding effects of age, sex, body weight, and height were not significant. Therefore, anal stenosis was defined as when the measurement was 31 mm or below (mean-2SD of control value). Stenosis was present in 82 of 98 patients (84%) with CAF. Patients with stenosis had an anal caliber of 27.9 +/- 2.5 mm, with a range of 21 to 31 mm. Following LIS, 91 of 98 patients (93%) with CAF attained the normal range, two patients still had stenosis, and five patients had an anal caliber exceeding the normal value. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic anal stenosis was found in 84% of the patients with CAF. Ninety three percent of these patients attained a normal anal caliber, 2 percent of the patients still had stenosis and 5 percent of the patients had an anal caliber exceeding the normal value after LIS.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Body Weight ; Calibration ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Fissure in Ano* ; Humans ; Prevalence* ; Reference Values

We report an extremely rare case in which two tuberculids, papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema nodosum, occurred together. A 16-year-old girl had two types of clinically distinct lesions; asymptomatic necrotic papules on the upper and lower extremities and painful subcutaneous nodules on the legs. A Mantoux test showed a strong positive reaction. Histopathologic findings of the necrotic papule and subcutaneous nodule were consistent with papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema nodosum, respectively. There was no extracutaneous focus of tuberculosis. Polymerase chain reaction for tuberculous bacilli in the papulonecrotic tuberculid lesion revealed a negative result. Antituberculous therapy brought a rapid clinical improvement of both lesions.
Adolescent ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous*

We report a case of multiple Bowen's disease associated with leprosy. A 68-year-old man was seen because of slightly pruritic multiple erythematous scaly patches and plaques on the trunk and the both extremities for 5 years. He has been treated for leprosy with many kinds of drugs consisting of the herb medications for over 40 years. He also showed decreased cell-mediated immunity in skin tests. It is considered that depressed cellular immunity may be an important predisposing factor in the development of mutiple Bowen's disease in this case, .although arsenics can not be completetly excluded.
Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; Causality ; Extremities ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Leprosy* ; Skin Tests

A 31-year-old woman had a livedo reticularis of reticulated, bluish discoloration on both arms and legs for 18 months with a burning pain in the right hand and numbness in both lower legs. The findings of the electromyography were consistent with mononeuropathy multiplex and bilateral ulnar-median nerve anastomosis. A biopsy specimen from the right sural nerve showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration and occasional myelin digestion chambers, which were consistent with vasculitic neuropathy. We present a patient with livedo reticularis idiopathica associated with mononeuropathy multiplex syndrome who also has bilateral ulnar-median nerve anastomosis.
Adult ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Burns ; Digestion ; Electromyography ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Livedo Reticularis* ; Mononeuropathies* ; Myelin Sheath ; Sural Nerve

OBJECTIVES: This paper presents the information on the incidence of cancer from the population-based cancer resistry in Kangwha County. Material and METHODS: This investigation is based on Kangwha cancer registry. The data included cases of cancer diagnosed from 1986 through 1992. The diagnosis of cancer was confirmed by a team of physicians and nurses with the medical records kept in the clinics and hospitals based on the diagnostic criteria recommended by WHO. Home visitings were also made to cancer patients confirmed in every 6 months for the follow up and for the collection of relevant information directly from the patients. RESULTS: A total of 992 cancer cases were registered during 1986 - 1992. The age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of all site is 201.7 in men and 110.7 in women. The most common cancer is the stomach cancer in both sexes. The age-adjusted incidence rate of the stomach cancer is 65.9 in men and 25.0 in women per 100,000 population. The lung cancer(33.8) and liver cancer(27.7) are next common cancers in men. The cervical cancer(21.8) and lung cancer(8.4) are next in women. CONCLUSION: The most common cancer is the stomach cancer in both sexes. The annual age-adjusted incidence rate of the stomach cancer is 65.9 in men and 25.0 in women per 100,000 population.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; House Calls ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Medical Records ; Stomach Neoplasms