Animals ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Hardness ; Hardness Tests ; Homicide ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Skull ; Stress, Mechanical

A case of myositis ossificans progressiva is reported. The patient, a 22-year -old progressive ossification for 16 years with severe motion limitation. Bone CT and MRI, bone scanning and muscle biopsy showed multiple ossifying lesions in the connective tissue. All labolatory findings are normal. But serum alkaline pbosphatase become worse with disodium etidronate(EHDP) therapy. The case is presented with the review of literatures.
Biopsy ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myositis Ossificans* ; Myositis*

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion is one of most common clinical mainifestations associated with a variety of pulmonary disease such as malignancy, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. However, there are no useful laboratory tests to determine the specific cause of pleural effusion. Therefore, an attempt was made to analyze the various types of pleural effusion and search for useful laboratory tests for pleural effusion in order to differentiate between the disease, especially between a malignant pleural effusion and a non-malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: 93 patients with a pleural effusion, who visited the Severance hospital from January 1998 to August 1999, were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was done and a confirmational diagnosis was made by a gram stain, bacterial culture, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a mycobacterial culture, a pleural biopsy and cytology. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 56:37 and the average age was 47.1±21.8 years. There were 16 cases with a malignant effusion, 12 cases with a para-malignant effusion, 36 cases with tuberculosis, 22 cases with a para-pneumonic effusion, and 7 cases with transudate. The LDH2 fraction was significantly higher in the para-malignant effusion group compared to the para-pneumonic effusion group [30.6±64.% and 20.2±7.5%, respectively (p<0.05)] and both the LDH and LDH2 fraction was significantly in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [16.4±7.2% vs. 7.6±4.7%, and 30.6±6.4% vs. 17.6±6.3% respectively (p<0.05)]. The pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [1.5±0.8 vs. 2.1±0.6, respectively (p<0.05)]. The LDH4 fraction and the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [17.0±5.8% vs. 23.5±4.6% and 1.3±0.4 vs. 2.1±0.6, respectively(p<0.05)]. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the LDH isoenzyme was the only useful biochemical test for a differential diagnosis of the various disease. In particular, the most useful test was the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio to distinguish between a para-malignant effusion and a tuberculous effusion.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Pneumonia ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been recognized as an immunosuppressive disease. Various mechanisms have been proposed for immune escape, including dysregulation of immune checkpoints such as the PD-1:PD-L1 pathway. We investigated the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in HPV-negative and HPV-positive OSCC to determine its prevalence and prognostic relevance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, 133 cases of OSCC were evaluated for expression of PD-L1. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples were stained with monoclonal antibody (clone 5H1) to PD-L1. PD-L1 positivity was defined as membrane staining in ≥20% of tumor cells. Correlations between PD-L1 expression and HPV status and survival parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 133 patients, 68% showed PD-L1 expression, and 67% of patients were positive for p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. No significant difference in PD-L1 expression was observed between HPV(-) and HPV(+) tumors (61% vs. 71%, p=0.274). No significant difference in age, gender, smoking history, location of tumor origin, or stage was observed according to PD-L1 status. With a median follow-up period of 44 months, older age (≥65) (p=0.017) and T3-4 stage (p<0.001) were associated with poor overall survival (OS), whereas PD-L1 expression did not affect OS in univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression was observed in the majority of OSCC patients regardless of HPV status. Further large prospective studies are required to determine the role of PD-L1 expression as a prognostic or predictive biomarker, and clinical studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors in OCSS are warranted regardless of HPV status.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; United Nations

PURPOSE: Numerous investigations have been conducted in order to determine the potential carcinogenic or chemopreventive activity of capsaicin. The aim of this study is to characterize the effects of capsaicin on colon cancer cells, and provide valuable information concerning the application of capsaicin in chemoprevention as well as for therapeutic purposes. METHODS: CoLo320DM and LoVo cells (human colon cancer cell line) were treated with capsaicin. In order to access cell viability and altered morphology, an MTT assay was performed and the cells were microscopically examined. Decreasing DNA staining was accessed by FACS. The cells were stained with FITC labeled annexin V and analyzed by FACS to detect cellular membrane alteration during apoptosis. The cells were stained with DiOC6(3) and Hydroethidine and analyzed by FACS in order to access ROS and dleta psi m. RESULTS: Capsaicin decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Capsaicin produced a cell morphology corresponding to the apoptotic features including cell shrinkage and chromatic condensation. Capsaicin treated cells induced a loss of nuclear DNA leading to hypoploidy in a dose-dependent manner. Cells were excluded by double staining with PI and FITC labeled annexin v and detected by FACS. We show that treatment of CoLo320DM, L0Vo cells with increasing concentrations of capsaicin parallel an increase in the percentage of red fluorescent cells (HE-->Eth) that reflect ROS hypergeneration and a decrease in the percentage of green fluorescent cells that reflect delta psi m disruption. CONCLUSION: These results clearly demonstrate that capsaicin-induced colon cancer cell death is apoptotic.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis* ; Capsaicin ; Cell Death ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; Chemoprevention ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Humans* ; Membranes

In patients with primary aldosteronism who have bilateral adrenal incidentalomas, it is important to identify which adrenal gland is secreting excess aldosterone. Traditionally, adrenal vein sampling (AVS) has been performed for lateralization despite its invasiveness. Here we report a case of bilateral adrenal incidentaloma in which 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) was used to identify the functional adrenal mass. A 53-yr-old man was referred to our clinic due to bilateral adrenal incidentalomas (right: 1 cm, left: 2.5 cm) on computed tomography (CT). Given his history of colon cancer, FDG-PET/CT scanning was used to rule out metastasis. Although there was focal hot uptake lesion in the right adrenal gland, the patient was suspected primary aldosteronism clinically more than metastasis because of the patient's underlying hypertension with hypokalemia. It was consistent with the results of AVS. Based on these findings, we propose that FDG-PET/CT can be used instead of AVS to identify the source of primary aldosteronism between two bilateral adrenal incidentalomas.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radionuclide imaging ; Adrenal Glands/pathology/surgery ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/*diagnosis/pathology ; Hypertension/diagnosis ; Hypokalemia/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Wall shear stress contributes to atherosclerosis progression and plaque rupture. There are limited studies for statin as a major contributing factor on whole blood viscosity (WBV) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study investigates the effect of statin on WBV in ACS patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 189 consecutive patients (mean age, 61.3±10.9 years; 132 males; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=52; non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, n=84; unstable angina n=53). Patients were divided into two groups (group I: previous use of statins for at least 3 months, n=51; group II: statin-naïve patients, n=138). Blood viscosities at shear rates of 1 s-1 (diastolic blood viscosity; DBV) and 300 s-1 (systolic blood viscosity; SBV) were measured at baseline and one month after statin treatment. Rosuvastatin was administered to patients after enrollment (mean daily dose, 16.2±4.9 mg). RESULTS: Baseline WBV was significantly higher in group II ([SBV: group I vs group II, 40.8±5.9 mP vs. 44.2±7.4 mP, p=0.003], [DBV: 262.2±67.8 mP vs. 296.9±76.0 mP, p=0.002]). WBV in group II was significantly lower one month after statin treatment ([SBV: 42.0±4.7 mP, p=0.012, DBV: 281.4±52.6 mP, p=0.044]). However, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was not associated with WBV in both baseline (SBV: R2=0.074, p=0.326; DBV: R2=0.073, p=0.337) and after one month follow up (SBV: R2=0.104, p=0.265; DBV: R2=0.112, p=0.232). CONCLUSION: Previous statin medication is an important determinant in lowering WBV in patients with ACS. However, one month of rosuvastatin decreased WBV in statin-naïve ACS patients.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Viscosity* ; Cholesterol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prospective Studies ; Rheology ; Rupture ; Rosuvastatin Calcium

A 47-year-old male with recurrent abnormal behavior for ten years was referred to our clinic. He was diagnosed with insulinoma and cognitive dysfunction. Persistent hypoglycemia leads to a high risk of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic patients. However, cognitive dysfunction associated with insulinoma is rare. In this case study, cognitive dysfunction was confirmed by neurological testing.
Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulinoma ; Male

Tinea incognito (TI) is a dermatophytic infection which has lost its typical clinical appearance because of improper use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of TI is increasing nowadays. We conducted retrospective review on 283 patients with TI from 25 dermatology training hospitals in Korea from 2002-2010 to investigate the demographical, clinical, and mycological characteristics of TI, and to determine the associated risk factors. More than half (59.3%) patients were previously treated by non-dermatologists or self-treated. The mean duration of TI was 15.0 +/- 25.3 months. The most common clinical manifestations were eczema-like lesion, psoriasis-like, and lupus erythematosus-like lesion. The trunk and face were frequently involved, and 91 patients (32.2%) also had coexisting fungal infections. Among 67 isolated strains, Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently detected (73.1%). This is the largest study of TI reported to date and the first investigational report concerning TI in Korea. We suggest that doctors should consider TI when a patient has intractable eczema-like lesions accompanied by tinea pedis/unguium. Furthermore, there should be a policy change, which would make over-the-counter high-potency topical steroids less accessible in some countries, including Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Demography ; Eczema/pathology ; Face/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/pathology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tinea/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Trichophyton/isolation & purification ; Young Adult