Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an instrument devised for slit-lamp examination of donor corneas suspended in preservation medium. Methods: The study examined two donor corneas received at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital in February 2023 and March 2023. The instrument has three main components: a plastic holder to hold the preservation medium bottle, a cube with a mirror for reflecting the slit beam, and a stand to attach the device to the slit-lamp. Using the instrument, the donor corneas were examined via slit-lamp: microscopy with the endothelium facing upward and downward. Specular microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) were also performed on the preserved donor corneas. Results: Slit-lamp examination of donor corneas in preservation medium using the instrument showed overall corneal buttoning and optical sections of the donor cornea. Using specular reflection and retroillumination, the endothelial layer was partially visible. However, specular microscopy and anterior segment OCT could not examine the donor cornea in preservation medium using the instrument. Conclusions The devised instrument facilitates slit-lamp examination of donor corneas in preservation medium, enabling a qualitative assessment of donor corneas before corneal transplantation surgery.

This study investigated effect of extract containing quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside from Rumex Aquaticus Herba (ECQ) against chronic gastritis in rats. To produce chronic gastritis, the animals received a daily intra-gastric administration of 0.1 ml of 0.15% iodoacetamide (IA) solution for 7 days. Daily exposure of the gastric mucosa to IA induced both gastric lesions and significant reductions of body weight and food and water intake. These reductions recovered with treatment with ECQ for 7 days. ECQ significantly inhibited the elevation of the malondialdehyde levels and myeloperoxidase activity, which were used as indices of lipid peroxidation and neutrophil infiltration. ECQ recovered the level of glutathione, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and expression of SOD-2. The increased levels of total NO concentration and iNOS expression in the IA-induced chronic gastritis were significantly reduced by treatment with ECQ. These results suggest that the ECQ has a therapeutic effect on chronic gastritis in rats by inhibitory actions on neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation and various steps of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Drinking ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis* ; Glutathione ; Iodoacetamide* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Peroxidase ; Quercetin* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rumex ; Superoxide Dismutase

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the speed of contrast-enhancement in hepatic hemangiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine hepatic hemangiomas (> or = 1 cm) were evaluated with DWI, by using multiple b values (b = 50, 400, 800 s/mm2), followed by a gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MRI. The lesions were classified into three groups, according to the speed of contrast-enhancement on the portal phase. ADCs were measured on the ADC map automatically, and were calculated by using the two different b values (mADC50-400 with b values = 50 and 400; mADC400-800 with b values = 400 and 800 s/mm2). RESULTS: The mean ADCs (x 10-3 mm2/s) were significantly higher in the rapid group (1.9 +/- 0.44) than in the intermediate (1.7 +/- 0.35, p = 0.046) or the slow groups (1.4 +/- 0.34, p = 0.002). There were significant differences between the rapid and the slow groups in mADC50-400 (2.12 vs. 1.48; p = 0.008) and mADC400-800 (1.68 vs. 1.22, p = 0.010), and between the rapid and the intermediate groups in mADC50-400 (2.12 vs. 1.79, p = 0.049). Comparing mADC50-400 with mADC400-800, there was a significant difference only in the rapid group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher ADCs of rapidly-enhancing hemangiomas may be related to richer intralesional vascular perfusion. Also, the restricted diffusion may be attributed to the difference of structural characteristics of hemangioma.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; *Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/diagnostic use ; Hemangioma, Cavernous/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: To describe normal anatomy and compare the differences of external genital organs and urethra on MR imaging in pre- and postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 pre- and 18 postmenopausal healthy women underwent pelvis MR imaging at 1.5 T. Two radiologists retrospectively scored and compared the image quality of female external genitalia and urethra on axial T2-weighted images (T2WI) and axial fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (FSCE-T1WI) by using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. The radiologists compared the wall thickness or size of external genital organs and urethra on FSCE-T1WI between two groups by using Student t test. RESULTS: Image quality was better with FSCE-T1WI than with T2WI in all subjects (p < 0.05). The vestibular bulb, clitoris and labium minor were more clearly visualized on FSCE-T1WI in premenopausal subjects rather than in postmenopausal subjects (p < 0.05). The urethra had a target-like appearance with three layers in premenopausal and postmenopausal subjects. Postmenopausal subjects were observed to have significantly smaller vaginal wall thickness, urethral wall thickness and vestibular bulb width than premenopausal subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The anatomy and morphologic changes of female external genital organs and urethra were well discernible on FSCE-T1WI.
Clitoris ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Urethra

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratoses (AK) have been recognized as precancerous lesions, they have been recently considered to be an early in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, there have been few studies to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of AK, and especially in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of 80 cases of AK in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: The authors evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of 80 patients with AK at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan from January 1998 to December 2008. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:4.7. The age distribution ranged from 42 to 93 years old. Single lesions are more common than multiple lesions. The duration of lesions was variable with a mean duration of 25.1 months. The most commonly involved sites were the face and especially the cheek. The color was erythematous in 63.3% of the cases, brownish in 24.5%, dark-brownish in 9.5% and gray in 2.7%. Crust and scale were noted in 37.4% and 22.4% of the cases, respectively. SCC was associated with AK in 6.3% of the cases, basal cell carcinoma was associated with AK in 1.3%, and keratoacanthoma in 1.3%. The most common histopathological types of AK were atrophic types in 20.6%, and this was followed by the hypertrophic types in 18.6% of the cases and the hypertrophic and atrophic types in 14.7% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Our results are similar to those of the previous reports. In addition, we observed a consistently higher incidence in females than males in the Korean reports and a more frequent incidence of single lesions than multiple lesions in the Asian reports. We found that AK is not easily distinguishable from SCC both clinically and cytologically. Thus, we suggest that biopsies and active treatments should be performed on AK lesions.
Actins ; Age Distribution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Male

BACKGROUND: Actinic keratoses (AK) have been recognized as precancerous lesions, they have been recently considered to be an early in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, there have been few studies to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of AK, and especially in the Province of Chungcheongnam-do. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of 80 cases of AK in the province of Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: The authors evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of 80 patients with AK at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan from January 1998 to December 2008. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:4.7. The age distribution ranged from 42 to 93 years old. Single lesions are more common than multiple lesions. The duration of lesions was variable with a mean duration of 25.1 months. The most commonly involved sites were the face and especially the cheek. The color was erythematous in 63.3% of the cases, brownish in 24.5%, dark-brownish in 9.5% and gray in 2.7%. Crust and scale were noted in 37.4% and 22.4% of the cases, respectively. SCC was associated with AK in 6.3% of the cases, basal cell carcinoma was associated with AK in 1.3%, and keratoacanthoma in 1.3%. The most common histopathological types of AK were atrophic types in 20.6%, and this was followed by the hypertrophic types in 18.6% of the cases and the hypertrophic and atrophic types in 14.7% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Our results are similar to those of the previous reports. In addition, we observed a consistently higher incidence in females than males in the Korean reports and a more frequent incidence of single lesions than multiple lesions in the Asian reports. We found that AK is not easily distinguishable from SCC both clinically and cytologically. Thus, we suggest that biopsies and active treatments should be performed on AK lesions.
Actins ; Age Distribution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Male

BACKGROUND: Spitz nevus and malignant melanoma have common features clinically and histologically, and in some cases it is impossible to distinguish between the two. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) serve to protect cells, and are activated by cell injury. Some HSPs are shown to be elevated in many types of cancers. Previous studies have reported the expression of heat shock protein in association with melanoma; however, a similar relationship with Spitz nevi has never been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to measure the expression pattern of HSP 105 in both Spitz nevi and melanomas. METHODS: The specimens of 4 of Spitz nevi and 10 of malignant melanomas were analyzed for heat shock protein 105 expression through immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical examination of HSP 105 showed strong expression in malignant melanoma specimens. On the other hand, weak expression was observed in Spitz nevus specimens. The degree of expression of HSP 105 showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings provide the possibility of using HSP 105 as a effective marker for differentiating between Spitz nevi and malignant melanomas. In support of this, HSP 105 is considered to be a tumor-associated antigen of malignant melanoma.
Hand ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas are rare tumors of the pituitary gland and represent 1~2% of all pituitary adenomas. A TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma shows as a normal or elevated thyrotropin level in a hyperthyroid patient. We present a 32-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a TSH-secreting pituitary microadenoma. She had a high free T4, with a normal TSH and alpha-subunit. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) was done to confirm the alpha-subunit secreting adenoma, and the concentration of the alpha-subunit was high on the tumor side. The pituitary microadenoma was removed, and her TSH and free T4 levels decreased to normal. IPSS may help give an accurate diagnosis in the patient with a normal alpha-subunit.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Petrosal Sinus Sampling ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Thyrotropin

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the clinical usefulness of CT colonography (CTC) after incomplete conventional colonoscopy (CC) for occlusive colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the tumor location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with occlusive CRC underwent subsequent CTC immediately after incomplete CC. Fifty-nine patients had distal CRC and 16 had proximal colon cancer. Experienced radiologists prospectively analyzed the location, length, and TNM staging of the main tumor. The colorectal polyps in the remaining colorectum and additional extraluminal findings were also recorded. Sixty-seven patients underwent colorectal resection. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcome and correlated CTC and CC findings. RESULTS: The overall accuracies of tumor staging were: T staging, 86%; N staging (nodal positivity), 70% (80%); and intra-abdominal M staging, 94%. Additional colonic polyps were found in 23 patients. Six synchronous carcinomas were detected (9%); three in the proximal colon and three in the distal colon of occlusion. Clinically significant localization errors at CC were noted in 8 patients (12%, 5 proximal colon cancers and 3 distal CRCs) and were corrected by CTC. After CTC, the surgeons modified the initial surgical plan in 11 cases (16%). CONCLUSION: In occlusive CRC, CTC is not only useful in the evaluation of the proximal bowel, but can also provide surgeons with accurate information about staging and tumor localization. CTC is recommended when endoscopists encounter occlusive CRC, regardless of tumor location.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic/*methods ; Colonoscopy/*methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of MR imaging in evaluating the prognostic factors for a local recurrence of rectal cancer following a curative resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative MR images obtained from 17 patients with a local recurrence and 54 patients without a local recurrence, who had undergone a curative resection, were independently evaluated by three radiologists. The following findings were analyzed: the direct invasion of the perirectal fat by the primary rectal carcinoma, involvement of the perirectal lymph nodes, perirectal spiculate nodules, perivascular encasement, and an enlargement of the pelvic wall lymph nodes. The clinical and surgical profiles were obtained from the patients' medical records. The association of a local recurrence with the MR findings and the clinicosurgical variables was statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Of the MR findings, the presence of perivascular encasement (p = 0.001) and perirectal spiculate nodules (p = 0.001) were found to be significant prognostic factors for a local recurrence. Of the clinicosurgical profiles, the presence of a microscopic vascular invasion (p = 0.005) and the involvement of the regional lymph nodes (p = 0.006) were associated with a local recurrence. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of perirectal spiculate nodules was an independent predictor of a local recurrence (odds ratio, 7.382; 95% confidence interval, 1.438, 37.889; p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The presence of perirectal spiculate nodules and perivascular encasement on the preoperative MR images are significant predictors of a local recurrence after curative surgery for a rectal carcinoma. This suggests that preoperative MR imaging can provide useful information to help in the planning of preoperative adjuvant therapy.
Adult ; Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Preoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery