Leiomyomas are common benign uterine tumors. However, the incidence of vaginal myoma is very rare and may be confused with a variety of vaginal tumors. We report a case of 43-year-old nulligravida who presented with a protruding painful vaginal mass for 7 days. The mass had initially appeared 3 years prior, as 2 to 3 cm that had not subsequently increased. However suddenly, there was rapid severe enlargement over the course of 7 days. Physical exam revealed a monstrous shaped, black color with focal necrosis, odorous protruding vaginal mass about 7 cm in size. The vaginal mass was infected and degenerated. And vaginal wall was also destroyed by the enlarged mass. Because of the clinical features and radiologic findings, the preoperative diagnosis was a vaginal malignancy. We reported an extremely rare case of vaginal myoma that had several characteristics of malignancy, with a brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma* ; Myoma ; Necrosis ; Odors

We studied the morphologic changes and the expression of cytokines of major organs by blocking CD14 and CD11c/CD18, which are known to be receptors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in the LPS induced endotoxemic mice. In 2 and 8 hours after initial intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg of LPS into the mice, 500 microgram/kg of anti-CD14 antibody (Ab) and/or the same dosage of the anti-CD11c/CD18 Ab were administered intravenously, respectively or concomitantly. Under the light microscope, the LPS only and the LPS with the anti-CD14 Ab injected groups (group 1 and 2) showed marked acute inflammation in the organs, especially in the lung and liver, but the LPS with the anti-CD11c/CD18 Ab only or with both anti-CD14 and anti-CD11c Abs injected groups (group 3 and 4) revealed only mild acute inflammation. Under the electron microscope, there was marked inflammation in the group 1 and 2 such as marked infiltration of neutrophils, monocytes/ macrophages, lymphocytes, aggregation of platelets, and marked edematous change of endothelial cells with separation from the basement membrane. However in the group 3 and 4, there was only mild inflammation such as mild infiltration of neutrophils in the tissue or aggregation of neutrophils in the capillaries and sinusoids with mild endothelial swelling. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), detected by RT-PCR method, was remarkable in the group 2, but minimal in the group 3 and 4. We conclude that blocking the CD11c/CD18 with anti-CD11C/CD18 Ab is effective for the prohibition of biologic reactions and diminution of the inflammation induced by the LPS, even in the LPS induced endotoxemia.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Capillaries ; Cytokines ; Endothelial Cells ; Endotoxemia* ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The automation in autopsy data recording, particularly in the reporting and encoding system using computers requires well designed databases. This system employed multimedia computer techniques to design a database system with application programs along with the standardized autopsy data management flow. The benefit of the present development was verified by practical application into the autopsies performed in the department of forensic medicine, Kyungpook National University. The standardized medical information of forensic autopsy data provides mutual exchange of information between the institutions and information to law enforcement agencies. Statistics on autopsy data could be used not only for medical education and research, but also as a template for policy determination concerning forensic medicine in Korea. It is necessary to standardize information between the institutions.
Automation ; Autopsy* ; Education, Medical ; Forensic Medicine ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Korea ; Law Enforcement ; Multimedia

This is a report revealing statical cause of death brought to the department of forensic medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine based on the result of autopsy. The summary of result is as follows. 1. The number of autopsy made during 1998 were 356, of these 225 cases (63.2%) were male, and 131 (36.8%) were female. 2. 30's, 40's, 20's and 50's was the order according to the number of violent death, and in case of natural death, 30's, 50's, 40's was the oder. 3. August is the period during which autopsies are made most, with December placing second, and the other months are similar. 4. In distributing deaths by cases, violent deaths were 241 cases (67.7%), natural deaths were 105 (29.5%) and unknown cases were 10 (2.8%). 5. For the violent deaths, deaths due to injury were 128 cases (53.1%), asphyxia were 63 (26.1%), intoxications were 30 (12.4%) and abnormal temperature were 19 (7.9%). According to relationship with deaths, homicide is outstanding with 101 cases (41.9%), while suicide and accidental death was the same with 62 cases (25.7%). 6. For death due to injury, death due to blunt injury were 48 cases, sharp force injury which was used most in case of homicide were 43. 7. For the asphyxia, drowning is the most 20 cases, 13 cases of which is accidental death. 8. The deaths of intoxication is the largest part of suicide, and most of intoxication were involved in agrochemical. 9. Of 105 cases of natural death, deaths due to the disease of cardiovascular system were 51 cases (48.6%), of which deaths due to myocardial infraction were 35 cases. 10. Of all autopsy, alcohol intake were checked out in 90 cases and 21 cases of medical controversy took places. 11. Of all violent deaths, the cases involved in the discord between man and woman occupied percentage of 9.6. Of these, homicides were 18 cases, with all sacrificed being females, and of 16 cases of suicide, 13 cases were female.
Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Cardiovascular System ; Cause of Death ; Daegu* ; Drowning ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Homicide ; Humans ; Male ; Suicide ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Ventriculitis is one of the most serious complication of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which may cause intelligence deterioration in children. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of the neural damage in lipopolysacciride(LPS)-induced ventriculitis in rat. Ventriculitis was induced by intraventricular injection of 1mg/Kg LPS in rat. H & E and Tunel stains were done on the day 1, 2 and 14 to access the microscopic changes of the periventricular tissue and apoptosis, respectively. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA expressions were studied using RT-PCR. HRP was injected into the femoral vein and electron microscopic examinations were performed to access the BBB changes. Light microscopic examination one day after LPS injection revealed neutrophilic infiltration, which diminished on day 4, and disappeared on 14. Tunel stain revealed apoptosis on day 1 and 4. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were expressed on day 1, and diminished progressively thereafter. HRP histochemical electron microscopic examination revealed accumulation of HRP reaction in the interstitial space around the brain parenchyma. These findings suggest the opening of the BBB and increased capillary permeability in the periventricular tissue in the LPS induced ventriculitis. This can possibly damage the periventricular neural tissue. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta seemed to play an important role in the opening of the BBB.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Capillary Permeability ; Child ; Coloring Agents ; Femoral Vein ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Injections, Intraventricular* ; Intelligence ; Interleukin-1 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

This study was carried out to elucidate the cytokine mRNAs expression and morphological features according to a microglial proliferation and apoptosis in a rat lumbar spinal cord, after a right sciatic nerve transection. The control group was composed of 5 rats (Spraque-Dawley) and the experimental group was composed of 70 rats. On post operation day (pod) 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 eight rats were sacrificed on those days. On pod 10 five rats were sacrificed as well as five rats sacrificed on post operation weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. On light microscopy, activated microglia were often found in a perineuronal position around motoneurons in the ventral gray matter and more randomly distributed throughout the neuropil in the dorsal gray matter of lumbar spinal cord. GSA I-B4-positive microglia began to increase from 1 day after transection, and reached peak at 2~3 days and it persisted at 5~7 days and decreased thereafter. TUNEL-positive microglia was not observed in control group and began to increase from 5 days after transection and increased gradually until 3 weeks and decreased thereafter. On in situ RT-PCR, the positive signal for IL-1alpha and IL-6 mRNA was found mainly in the cytoplasm of the activated microglia and astrocytes at 1 day after transection and showed stronger signal at 3 days and decreased gradually until 10 days. TNF-alpha mRNA was detected 1 day after transection and remained for 7 days and localized to activated microglia as well as probably some astrocytes. The signal intensity of IL-1alpha and IL-6 mRNA was generally stronger than TNF-alpha mRNA. On transmission electron microscopy, there were chromatin condensation with margination toward nuclear membrane and condensation of cytoplasm at 3 days after transection. Apoptotic bodies were found after 5 days and increased gradually until 3 weeks. According to the above findings, it is concluded that apoptosis appears to be one mechanism by which activated microglia are gradually eliminated and cytokine expression seems to played an active role in the microglial turnover.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Astrocytes ; Chromatin ; Cytokines ; Cytoplasm ; Interleukin-6 ; Microglia ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neuropil ; Nuclear Envelope ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Spinal Cord* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.

This study was carried out to determine whether the autolytic changes of the hair, nail, and cornea were useful marker to estimate the postmortem interval. The hairs and nails obained from variable aged men and corneas from rabbits were placed in variable temperatures (10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees)and humidities (50%, 75%, 100%) and periodically investigated by electrom microscopy. The results were as follows. The hairs and nails were not significantly changed to 21 days after cut in variable temperatures and humidities. The cornea showed epithelial desquamation from the first day and endothelial desquamation from the third day. However, Bowman's membrane, stroma, and endothelial changes of the cornea were irregular on case. From the above results, it is concluded that the autolytic changes of the hair, nail and cornea were not useful to estimate the posmortem interval within a few weeks.
Bowman Membrane ; Cornea ; Hair* ; Humans ; Humidity ; Male ; Microscopy ; Rabbits

Most autopsy cases of fetus or infants in Korea are deaths of prematurity or death after birth arising medical dispute. It is natural to closely examine the all organs at autopsy. Thorough investigation of the lungs of infants is important to distinguishing the live birth and stillbirth. Forensic pathologists in Korea are not frequently experienced infant autopsy. So it is necessary to review the pediatric forensic pathology. And the author summarized the forensic pathology of the lungs in fetus and infants and its significance.
Autopsy ; Dissent and Disputes ; Fetus* ; Forensic Pathology* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Lung* ; Parturition ; Stillbirth

Tracheopathia osteoplastica is a rare disease characterized by submucosal cartilaginous or bony projections into tracheobroncheal lumen with sparing of the posterior membranous portion of tracheobroncheal tree. The cause of this disorder is unknown. In the past, a majority of the cases were discovered incidentally at autopsy. But recently, antemortem diagnosis is increasingly reported after the introduction of computed tomography and bronchoscopy. We report a case of extensive tracheopathia osteoplastica diagnosed antemortem by computed tomography, bronchoscopic examination and biopsy.
Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Bronchoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Rare Diseases ; Trees