Malignant acanthosis nigricans is very rare disease. The disease is related with internal malignancy, especially gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Reported occurrence rate of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated internal malignancies are 64% of stomach adenocarcinoma, 27% of other organs of abdomen (liver, gall bladder, small intestine, rectum, uterus, ovary), 9% of non-abdominal organs(breast, lung). We report a case of malignant acanthosis nigricans associated with stomach adenocarcinoma from 20-year-old female and discuss review of literature on a acanthosis nigricans briefly.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with various skeletal lesions underwent fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsies. The targets were long bones in 16 cases, pelvic bones in 7 cases, spines in 6 cases, and ribs in the rest 2 cases. RESULTS: The overall accuracy was 71%(22/31). The accuracy was 100% in case of primary sarcoma and multiple myeloma. But it was low in malignant lymphoma(1/4), malignant fibrous histiocytoma(0/1), and nonossifying fibroma(0/1). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsy is a simple, safe, not-expensive, and rather accurate diagnostic procedure in evaluation of bone tumors. In addition to that, it is useful in the managment planning and fllow-up of the patients.
Biopsy* ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pelvic Bones ; Ribs ; Sarcoma ; Spine

Immunohistochemical studies of the molecules associated with gastric tumor progression and metastasis were done to evaluate their relationship with known prognostic factors and their usefulness in assessment of the progression of gastric carcinoma in 127 gastric carcinoma tissues. The 4 antibodies used in this study were CD44H, CD44v6, erbB-2, and p53. The CD44H expression was detected in 76 (59.8%), CD44v6 in 63 (49.6%), erbB-2 in 18 (14.2%), and mutant p53 in 98 (77.2%) out of 127 cases of gastric carcinomas. There was no significant correlation between the expression rates of each four proteins. The expression rates of all 4 proteins were not significantly correlated with age and sex of the patients and lymph node metastasis, but the correlation between CD44v6 expression and the depth of tumor invasion and tumor stage was significant (p<0.05). These results suggest that CD44v6 is closely associated with tumor invasion, and high levels of CD44H, erbB-2 and p53 are associated with tumorigenesis of the stomach as they are highly expressed in early as well as in advanced gastric carcinomas. The findings also support the conclusion that the loss of control of alternative CD44 mRNA splicing resulted in production of CD44v6 splicing variant in tumor cell facilitates tissue invasion by increased adherence of the tumor cell to an extracellular matrix or by tumor cell migration. It can be expected that CD44v6 overexpression in tumor cells appears to be an important prognostic indicator for gastric tumor progression.
Neoplasm Metastasis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Stomach Neoplasms

We present a case with congenital absence of the infrarenal portion of inferior vena cava and lilac venous system, showing unusual venous collaterals including the left ovarian venous collateral via parametrial venous complex, and a mesenteric-periureteric venous connection. The venous collateral pathways were demonstrated by computed tomography and venography.
Phlebography ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Objective: To examine the effects of Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) extract on the modulation of calcium channels to evaluate its use in topical agents for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Methods: The 70% methanol extract of T. terrestris was prepared. Human HEK293T cells with over-expressed calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, or transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) were treated with T. terrestris extract. Modulation of ion channels was measured using a conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results: T. terrestris extract (100 mg/mL) significantly inhibited Orai1 activity in Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1 co-overexpressed HEK293T cells. In addition, T. terrestris extract significantly increased the TRPV3 activity compared with 2-Aminoethyl diphe-nylborinate (100 mmol/L), which induces the full activation of TRPV3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that T. terrestris extract may have a therapeutic po-tential for recovery of abnormal skin barrier pathologies in atopic dermatitis through modulating the activities of calcium ion channels, Orai1 and TRPV3. This is the first study to report the modulatory effect of a medicinal plant on the function of ion channels in skin barrier.

A 36-year-old female patient with aplastic anemia developed massive hemoptysis and was placed on ventilator support. However, airway obstruction by blood clots triggered desaturation and ventilator malfunction. Manual ventilation was initiated to improve oxy-genation, and emergency flexible bronchoscopy was performed to clear the airway. Nevertheless, the patient developed extensive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Barotrauma* ; Bronchoscopy ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumothorax ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Ventilation* ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Regeneration of Periodontium with PRP does not only improve regeneration rate and density of bone but have a possibility to estimate faster healing process for soft tissue. And also, synthetic bone and xenogenic bone graft are effective on regeneration of periodontium. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic bone (Biogran(R)) and xenogenic bone (BBP(R)) grafts with the PRP technique on regeneration of periodontium. 52 Generally healthy Pt. who had pocket depth 5mm at any of 6 surfaces of the teeth were in the study at Dept. of Perio. in Dankook Dental Hospital. Open Flap was treated for 18 infra-bony pockets as control group, Biogran(R) with PRP was inserted for 25 infrabony pockets as first test group, and BBP(R) with PRP was inserted for 22 infrabony pockets as 2nd test group. Then evaluation was made after 3 and 6 months 1. 6 months after surgery, each difference of average probing pocket depth was 2.61+/-0.23 for control, 3.40+/-0.33 for 1st test, and 3.45+/-0.37 for 2nd test group. 2. 6 months after surgery, each difference of clinical probing attachment level was 1.39+/-0.12 for control, 2.88+/-0.24 for 1st, and 2.86+/-0.27 for 2nd test group. 3. 6 months after surgery, each difference of Maximal probing attachment level was 1.11+/-0.16 for control, 3.28+/-0.30 for 1st, and 3.27+/-0.35 for 2nd test group. 4. There were significant differences for clinical change of each three group which were between average probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level of 3, 6 months and minimal and maximal attachment level after 6 months 5. There were significant differences for average probing pocket depth which were only at control group and 2nd test group between 1 and 6months. For clinical attachment level and minimal and maximal proving attachment level, there was a significant difference after 6month of surgery. 6. There was no significant difference between two test groups for average probing depth, clinical attachment level, and minimal and maximal probing attachment level. As the result, PRP with bone graft is very effective for regeneration of periodontium and there is no difference between xenogenic bone and synthetic bone.
Periodontium ; Regeneration* ; Tooth ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most common genetic defect in all human tumors. Because of the widespread mutations and polymorphism in the p53 gene, the conventional screening methods cannot distinguish between polymorphisms or functionally silent mutations and inactivating mutations. It is well known that plasmids can be generated by homologous recombination in vivo in the yeast by cotransforming the PCR product with a linearized yeast expression vector encoding part of a gene and a selectable marker gene. The aim of this study is to develop more easy and reliable method for functional assay of p53 mutation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed a gap vector which can reliably and conveniently be used to screen p53 mutations in a simple yeast growth assay. The gap vector was constructed as follows: About 100 bp DNA fragments containing parts of N- and C- terminal portion of p53 were cloned into XbaI/SmaI and HindIII/XhoI sites of yeast expressing vector, respectively. The gap vector was obtained by double cutting with SmaI and HindIII followed by gel elution. Yeast was transformed with the reporter vector containing three tandem copies of the consensus p53 binding site by lithium acetate-mediated method. RT-PCR amplification of p53 transcripts from cell lines or tumor tissues was carried out. To investigate whether p53 gene is mutated or not, yeast containing reporter gene was cotransformed with PCR product and linearized gap vector, plated on SD medium minus histidine, and incubated for 3 days. The colonies on selective media were isolated and characterized. RESULTS: The tumor tissues examined were one hepatocellular carcinoma, three breast cancers, two stomach cancers and two colon cancers. One hepatocellular carcinoma tissue had mutation in both alleles of the p53 gene, and 7 cancer tissues had heterozygous mutations in the p53 gene. The result of functional assay was well correlated with mutational analysis by sequencing. CONCLUSION: p53 functional assay system might be easy and reliable method for functional screening of p53 on tumor tissues and this might be used for screening of other mutated gene. This technique, FASAY, requires only a few steps, can be automated readily and should permit screening for germline or somatic heterozygous mutations in any gene whose function can be monitored in yeast.
Alleles ; Binding Sites ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Consensus ; DNA ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Reporter ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, vif ; Histidine ; Homologous Recombination ; Humans ; Lithium ; Mass Screening ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Yeasts*

OBJECTIVES: CagA or cytotoxin-positive H. pylori may be associated with gastroduodenal diseases. However, controversies about this association also exist. Moreover, there could be geographic differences in the prevalence of virulence factors such as cagA or cytotoxin. In H. pylori infection, the gastric mucosa shows acute and chronic inflammation. However, the pathogenesis of such as an inflammation by H. pylori is not well elucidated. We performed this study 1) to determine prevalence of the genes of virulence factor such as cagA and cytotoxin in H. pylori, 2) to assess the correlation of their presence with clinical findings, and 3) to test whether the vacuolating cytotoxin of H. pylori could evoke proinflammatory cytokine gene expression in gastric epithelial cells. METHODS: 1) The prevalence of the cagA, vacA and adhesin genes in H. pylori strains isolated from Koreans was determined by PCR analysis. 2) H. pylori was cultured in Brucella broth containing 10% fetal bovine serum for 3 days using a shaker in a microaerophilic condition. Cytotoxin assay was performed by determining whether addition of the concentrated culture supernatants is able to cause vacuolization of HeLa cells. 3) After human gastric epithelial cells, Hs746T and AGS were incubated with the culture supernatants containing vacuolating cytotoxin, each RNAs were extracted from the gastric epithelial cells. And then various cytokine gene expression were assessed using RT-PCR. The expressed cytokine transcripts were quantified by RT-PCR and standard synthetic RNA. Among cytokines, IL-8 proteins were also measured by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) More than 95% of H. pylori isolates from Korean adults possessed cagA, vacA and adhesin genes. And 80.6% of H. pylori strains have expressed vacuolating cytotoxicity against HeLa cells within 24 hours. 2) There was no correlation between the virulence factors of H. pylori strains and clinical findings. 3) Cytotoxin-positive culture supernatants also caused vacuolization in gastric epithelial cells, both Hs746T and AGS. 4) Expression of mRNA for proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1alpha: IL-8, MCP-1 and GM-CSF was much more upregulated by vacuolating cytotoxin-positive culture supernatants than cytotoxin-negative ones in both Hs746T and AGS cells. Number of molecules of the expressed IL-8 transcripts was parallel to the amounts of IL-8 protein secreted from gastric epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that virulence factors of H. pylori may not be factors determining disease entitiy in Korean patients infected with H. pylori. In addition, vacuolating cytotoxin secreted from H. pylori could give rise to vacuolization in gastric epithelial cells as well as induce proinflammatory cytokines from the cells.
Adult ; Brucella ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gene Expression* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; HeLa Cells ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*

BACKGROUND: Mitral and pulmonary venous(PV) flow velocity variables are being used for the indirect evaluation of left ventricular(LV) diastolic function. However, these flow velocities are influenced by age, loading conditions and other factors. This study was designed to evaluate usefulness of left atrial size and function in addition to the relation of mitral and PV flow velocity variables in the estimation of LV filling pressures. METHODS: Mitral and PV flow velocity variables. left artial size and function were assessed just before a cardiac catherization in 31 patients. According to the LV filling pressures, patients were divided into two subgroups and echocardiographic variables were compared. RESULTS: 1) LV end-diastolic pressure was related to the duration of reverse flow in the PV at atrial contraction(r=0.58) and difference in mitral and PV flow velocity duration at atrial contraction(r=0.54), and the similar findings were observed in other left ventricular filling pressures. 2) Left atrial size and volumes were greater in the subgroup of abnormal LV filling pressures(P < 0.05), but left atrial ejection fraction was not different between subgroups. CONCLUSION: In addition to variables of the mitral and PV flow velocities, left atrial size and volume may provide an additive value in the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans