OBJECTIVE: Several water channels (aquapoins; AQP) that belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family have identified. In the selected tissues including red blood cells or renal tubules, water movements are abundant and/or physiologically important. Unexpectedly, a high water permeability of human and ram sperm has been reported. Recent studies showed that AQP7 and AQP8 are present in testes so that the high water permeability of human sperm suggested to be mediated by AQPs. METHOD: To identify the identity of aquaporins expressed in testes, RT-PCR was performed using degenerative primers, which were designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences surrounding the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs in the aquaporins. New expressed AQP series were reconfirmed by immunohistochemical study using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. RESULTS: DNA sequencing of PCR products revealed that AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA as well as AQP7 and AQP8 are expressed in human and rat testes, AQP2 are expressed in spermatozoa, interstitial cells and myofibroblasts and AQP3 are expressed in myofibroblasts of semineferous tubules on immunocytochemical stain. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that multiple aquaporins are expressed in testes, and that they may have important roles in the spermatogenesis and the germ cell function of testis.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Aquaporins* ; Conserved Sequence ; Erythrocytes ; Germ Cells ; Humans* ; Myofibroblasts ; Permeability ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis* ; Water Movements

A patient with extraskeletal cervical epidural Ewing's sarcoma who presented with cervical radiculopathy is reported. A 58-year-old woman presented with right posterolateral neck pain and upper extremity radiculopathy. The computed tomography myelography showed epidural and paravertebral masses on right side, with widening of the ipsilateral neural foramina at the C2-C3 level. On magnetic resonance images, the mass was isointense to soft tissue on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images, and showed diffuse enhancement on GdTA enhanced T1-weighted images. The staged, combined posterior and anterior approach were done and the tumor mass was subtotally removed. During postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with Cytoxane, Adriamycin, Vincristine, Prednisolone regimen, the patient died of severe compression of upper cervical cord by recurrent, extended tumor mass in the spinal canal.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myelography ; Neck Pain ; Prednisolone ; Radiculopathy ; Sarcoma, Ewing* ; Spinal Canal ; Upper Extremity ; Vincristine

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of focal organizing pneumonia and to correlate them with pathologic findings to help differentiating from lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated radiologic and pathologic findings of five patients with solitary pulmonary nodule which were confirmed as focal organizing pneumonia pathologically. RESULTS: On CT scan, focal organizing pneumonia had irregular margin contacting the pleura in all five cases. The shape of the nodules were spherical to wedge or elliptical and the size from 3.5cm to 5.5cm (average 4.2cm) in largest diameter. On postcontrast CT scan, all nodules showed enhancement and four cases showed central low density components. Two nodules contained air within the nodule. In four cases, pleural changes such as effusion and/or focal thickening were noted. No lymphadenopathy was found in all cases. Pathologically, the enhancing portion on CT showed findings of organizing pneumonia such as granulation tissue with fibroblast proliferation in alveolar space and interstitial thickening. The central low density areas on CT were due to ischemic necrosis, abscess and exudate, transudate and infiltration of foamy histiocyte. CONCLUSION: The possibility of focal organizing pneumonia should be considered when peripherally located solitary pulmonary nodule had enhancing component with no combined lymphadenopathy on CT scan.
Abscess ; Exudates and Transudates ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Necrosis ; Pleura ; Pneumonia* ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The lacrimal fossa can be invovled by a wide specturm of orbital pathology. The correct diagnosis is importantto avoid unnecessary procedure and to do appropriate management. 14 patients with mass lesions in the lacrimalfossa were evaluated with CT and clinical findings. The results were as follows: 1. Final diagnosis of 14 caseswith lacrimal fossa tumors was pleomorphic adenoma in 3 cases, adenoid cystic carcinoma in 1 case, pseudotumor incases, lymphoma in 2 cases, neurofibroma in 1 case, chloroma in 1 case and metastatic adenocarcinoma in 1 case. 2.The duration of symptoms of pleumorphic adenoma was more than 1 year and characteristic CT findings were globularmasses with pressure erosion of the adjacent bone. Patient wih adenoid cystic carcinoma had a short history ofsymptoms. CT showed a fusiform mass but intracranial extension with frank destruction of sphenoid bone. 3.Patients wtih pseudotumor and lymphoma had symptoms for less than 1 year. The CT findings were ill-definedinfiltrative patterns with scleral thickening and the differential diagnosis of them was difficult. 4. The marginsof neurofibroma and chloroma were well defined while that of the metastatic adenocarcinoma was ill-defined. 5. Thedegree and the extent of the contrast enhancement gave no benefit in the differential diagnosis of each diseaseentities and even of the benign and malignant lesions.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Neurofibroma ; Orbit ; Pathology ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Sphenoid Bone ; Unnecessary Procedures

Menetrier's disease is a rare cause of thickened gastric wall. The differential diagnosis of diffuse gastricwall thickening such as lymphoma and adenocarcinoma should be expanded to include Menetrier's disease. The authorsexperienced a case of Menetrier's disease accompanied deep vein thrombosis, which was proved by operation andpathology. We carried out double cntrast upper G-I series and computed tomography , and report with review ofliteratures.
Adenocarcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic ; Iliac Vein ; Lymphoma ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

Authors experienced a rare adenocarcinoma arising in presacral sacrococcygeal teratoma in a adult and herein reported. The patient was a 52 year old female admitted because of lower abdominal pain for 5 to 6 months. Past and familial history were unremarkable. On rectal examination a mass was palpated 3 cm above the anal verge. The large bowel was displaced by an extrinsic mass but there was no evidence of intrinsic tumor lesion on barium enema, CT was done and showed a large presacral tumor attached to the sacrum. Clinical impression was sacrococcygeal teratoma. Resected tumor mass was a relatively well circumscribed cystic mass, measuring 11 x 11 cm and the cystic content was previously evacuated. Inner surface showed ragged appearance, and focal nodular solid area was noted. On microscopic examination, the tumor revealed the derivatives of three germ layers and main components were tissues of respiratory tract. Sections from the solid area showed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma and with stromal, capsular and perineural invasion. Borderline malignant epithelial lesions are also noted suggesting the pathogenesis and progression of this tumor. There was no recurrence for one year after surgery in the follow up.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

We report a case of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in a 73 year-old woman, who had 19-year history of idiopathic myelofibrosis. There were esophageal varix, splenomegaly, and ascites. The biopsied liver showed irregular sinusoidal/ perisinusoidal fibrosis and occasional central-to-central fibrous connection. In areas with extensive fibrosis, coarse collagen fibers filled the sinusoidal spaces and compressed hepatocytes. However, nodular regeneration was absent. Double immunohistochemical stain for smooth muscle actin and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) revealed diffusely activated stellate cells, some of which showed nuclear PCNA staining. There was also extramedullary hematopoiesis with bizarre megakaryocytes. The portal vein and its branches were patent. Idiopathic myelofibrosis is a rare cause of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: the portal hypertension was considered to be the result of sinusoidal/perisinusoidal fibrosis in this case.
Actins ; Aged ; Ascites ; Collagen ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Liver ; Megakaryocytes ; Muscle, Smooth ; Portal Vein ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Regeneration ; Splenomegaly

Frey's syndrome is a fairly common sequelae of surgery, trauma and inflammation of the parotid gland. Some patients with Frey's syndrome may be socially compromised by their gustatory sweating and flushing. In the past three decades, a variety of surgical and pharmacological methods have been unsuccessful in alleviating these symptoms. And since misdirection of auriculotemporal secretomotor nerve fibers has been found to play an important role in the development of the syndrome, a study was initiated to attempt mechnical interference with regenerating nerve fibers. Therefore, the recent trend in management of Frey's syndrome has been the use of prophylactic procedures performed at the time of parotidectomy to prevent its symptoms postoperatively. An additional benefit of this approach is prevention of the typical cheek contour deformity after parotidectomy We reviewed our experience with interposition of a vascularized temporoparietal fascial flap between the parotid bed and overlying skin immediately after complete superficial parotidectomies to prevent Frey's syndrome and hollow contour defects. The result of seven consecutive attempts revealed it to be an effective technique, achieving both goals in all patients with minimal morbidity.
Cheek ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Flushing ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nerve Fibers ; Parotid Gland ; Skin ; Sweating, Gustatory

Tumor suppressive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated, especially focusing on glutatione transferase and transglutaminase with aptosis in the carcinogenesis. The chemical hepatocarcinogenic procedure of Solt-Farber method was used on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental groups were divided into AA group treated by the standard Solt-Farber regimen of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetamidofluorene (AAF) and AD group treated with DHEA simultaneously with AAF and the AAD group treated by DHEA after treatment with AAF. Each group was divided by time sequence further into four subgroups, GI (8wk), G2 (16wk), G3 (28wk), and G4 (36wk). For neoplastic lesion, the immuno histochemical study with anti GSTP antibody was carried out, while the activity and expression of TGase was compared at the same time. The results were summarized as follows; GST-P positive foci detected in AD groups were significantly more suppressed by DHEA treatment than AA groups (P<0.05). AD groups. AD group showed higher activities of TGase than AA groups (P<0.05), which was confirmed by Western and Northern blot analysis. But the number of apoptotic bodies was not correlated with activity and expression of TGase in the nodule. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of DHEA on the murine hepatocellular carcinogenesis might be operating on the promotion process of carcinogenesis rather than regression process of transformed hyperplastic nodules.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular