Female pelvic tuberculosis is almost invariably secondary to disease elsewhere, usually in the lungs. It is difficult to diagnose pelvic tuberculosis, because it is often a disease with absent or few non-specific symptoms. Pelvic tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all ovarian mass and pelvic malignancy. We report a case of retroperitoneal tuberculous lymphadenopathy that may be mistaken for pelvic malignancy, because of the nonspecific clinical features and radiologic findings. The diagnosis was made post-operatively by histopathology.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Tuberculosis

The influence of thyroxine upon n the cardiac uptake of catecholamines was investigated in rabbits. A single injection of thyroxine(1.0m/kg) into rabbits did not affect the concentration of myocardial catecholamines. However, this dose of thyroxine greatly increased the cardiac uptake of catecholamine following injection of 2.0mg of norepinephrine as compared to that of untreated normal animals and it remained elevated for several hours. Similarly thyroxine also enhanced the accumulation of myocardial catecholamines following administration of dopa(60-80mg/kg) and epinephrine(1.0-1.5mg/kg).
Animal ; Catecholamines/metabolism* ; Epinephrine/metabolism ; Heart/drug effects* ; Male ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/metabolism ; Rabbits ; Thyroxine/pharmacology* ; Tritium

Neuromuscular complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are rarely reported. We report one male patient with ophthalmoplegia, flaccid paralysis, and hyporeflexia after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). A cerebrospinal fluid study showed albuminocytologic dissociation, and nerve conduction studies revealed demyelinating polyneuropathies. Intravenous immunoglobulin was tried following a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). After 11 months he was able to walk alone with a walker. This is probably the first report of GBS related to PBSCT in Korea.
Dissociative Disorders ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Korea ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Paralysis ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Polyneuropathies ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Walkers

Leukotriene B4(LTB4), derived from arachidonic acid, is a potent chemotactic agent and activating factor for hematopoietic cells. In addition to host defense in vivo, several eicosanoids have been reported to be involved in stem cell differentiation or proliferation. In this study, we investigated the effect of LTB4 on human cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). LTB4 was shown to induce proliferation of HSC and exert anti-apoptotic effect on the stem cells. Blockade of interaction between LTB4 and its receptor enhanced self-renewal of the stem cells. Effect of LTB4 on differentiation of CD34+ HSCs were confirmed by clonogenic assays, and induction of the expression of BLT2 (the low- affinity LTB4 receptor), during the ex vivo expansion was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR. Our results suggest that LTB4-BLT2 interaction is involved in the cytokine-induced differentiation and ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.
Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Fetal Blood/cytology/drug effects ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Leukotriene B4/*pharmacology ; Receptors, Leukotriene B4/genetics/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Signal Transduction

The pathogenesis and origin of vulvar cyst lined by a ciliated columnar epithelium is unknown. But it is suggested that origins of the epithelium of cyst are Mullerian or Wolffian duct or urogenital sinus, while heterotopia (sequestration and migration of tissue) or dysontogenesis (defective embryonic development) or prosoplasia (abnormal development resulting in a "higher state" of organization) or metaplasia have also been suggested. We experienced one case of Mullerian cyst of vulva. So we report above the case with a brief review of literature.
Epithelium ; Metaplasia ; Vulva* ; Wolffian Ducts

The pathogenesis and origin of vulvar cyst lined by a ciliated columnar epithelium is unknown. But it is suggested that origins of the epithelium of cyst are Mullerian or Wolffian duct or urogenital sinus, while heterotopia (sequestration and migration of tissue) or dysontogenesis (defective embryonic development) or prosoplasia (abnormal development resulting in a "higher state" of organization) or metaplasia have also been suggested. We experienced one case of Mullerian cyst of vulva. So we report above the case with a brief review of literature.
Epithelium ; Metaplasia ; Vulva* ; Wolffian Ducts

Epidermal inclusion cyst is the one of the common benign tumors of vulvar area. It can result from vulvar skin trauma such as vaginal wall sling operation and female mutilation etc. causing an invagination of squamous epithelium, which then desquamates into a closed space to form a cystic mass. We have experienced one case of huge epidermal inclusion cyst at rectovaginal and posterior coccygeal area considered of huge retroperitoneal mass, which is presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Skin

This is the first case report of a patient with a large serous cystadenoma accompanied by a juvenile granulosa cell tumor that was discovered in the remaining ovarian tissue. A 25-year-old female was presented with constipation and amenorrhea. Ultrasonography revealed a large cystic mass in the left ovary with a normal uterus. The remaining ovarian tissue seemed normal at first look after cystectomy, but showed abnormal consistency on palpation. The remaining ovarian tissue was removed and granulosa cell tumor was confirmed by pathologic examination. The patient has been followed up for 30 months without evidence of recurrence. We would like to emphasize the importance of inspection, and palpation of remaining ovarian tissue during operation to avoid risks of remaining ovarian pathology.
Adult ; Amenorrhea ; Constipation ; Cystadenoma, Serous* ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor* ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary* ; Palpation ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: Chimerism analysis used to be one of the most valuable methods for monitoring patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The relationship between the mixed chimerism status and the risk of relapse has been controversial. We analysed the clinical significance of mixed chimerism for the prediction of relapse after SCT. METHODS: Between October 2000 and January 2002, 16 patients with haematologic malignancies treated with SCT were included in this study. The median follow-up periods were 11.5 months (range 5-32 months) after SCT. For chimerism analysis, STR (D13S317, D5S818, D7S820) and VNTR (D1S80, D17S30) loci were amplified by PCR. Patients who exhibited complete donor hematopoiesis at all times during the follow-up period were defined as CCG (complete chimerism group) and those who showed mixed chimerism at least once at any time were definded as the MCG (mixed chimerism group). Relapse was considered based on clinical, hematologic and cytogenetic findings. RESULTS: MCG was 63% (10/16). Relapse was observed in 80% (8/10) of MCG and none of CCG (P>0.05). Among 8 relapsed patients, two patients showed MC 1 month prior to relapse and 4 patients changed to MC from CC at relapse status. The remaining 1 patient continued to show CC. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed chimerism seems to be associated with a high risk of relapse. For early detection of relapse, chimerism analysis may need to be performed at shorter time intervals than once a month.
Chimerism* ; Cytogenetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Tissue Donors

Pancreatic endocrine tumors are low-to-intermediate-grade neoplasms arising from the pancreatic islets that produce various hormones. These tumors account for a minority of pancreatic tumors and are generally considered functional if they are associated with a hormonal syndrome. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting tumors (ACTHomas) are very rare and require special clinical consideration. Patients with ACTH-secreting tumors usually present with Cushing's syndrome, due to ectopic ACTH production. ACTHomas have a poor prognosis because of early metastasis and difficulty controlling corticosteroid production. We report a 62-year-old male with an ACTH-secreting metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, who did not respond to somatostatin analogs and died.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Cushing Syndrome ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Prognosis ; Somatostatin