BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) generally has a highly favorable prognosis, however reports show a 30-65% prevalence of subclinical central lymph node metastasis. Therefore, the role of elective central neck dissection in PTMC treatment remains controversial. Our study focused on preoperative features of clinically lymph node negative and intracapsular (cT1aN0) PTMC and the correlation of these features with subclinical central lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 584 PTC patients who underwent thyroidectomy at the Kosin University Gospel Hospital from January 2009 to July 2011, 219 patients with cT1aN0 PTMC were reviewed retrospectively. Pathologic results were reviewed and various clinicopathologic prognostic factors were investigated. RESULTS: Postoperative pathology report revealed capsular invasion of primary tumor in 77 patients (35.2%) and subclinical central lymph node metastasis in 62 patients (28.3%). Tumor of the isthmic location was an independent predictor of subclinical central lymph node metastasis by multivariate analysis while multifocality showed borderline significance. The presence of extrathyroidal extension (ETE), multifocality, and cervical lymph node metastasis were significantly related to PTMC of isthmus. Seven of the 14 subjects with PTMC of the isthmus (50%) had pretracheal lymph node metastasis showing significant correlation (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the absence of ETE and lymph node metastasis in the preoperative imaging studies, higher risk of subclinical central lymph node metastasis should be considered in PTMC with multifocality and tumor of the isthmus.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. METHODS: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. RESULTS: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of > or =75.0 nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). CONCLUSION: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.
Asthma ; Bronchiolitis ; Cohort Studies* ; Croup ; Fetal Blood* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Nasopharyngitis ; Otitis Media ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory System Abnormalities* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Seasons ; Specialization ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Vitamin D

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a metalloprotease that cleaves SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), a specific cellular protein essential for neurotransmitter release. As well as mouse bioassay to detect BoNT/A, various assay methods based on its endopeptidase activity have been developed. In this study, we tried to develop a BoNT/A assay system using recombinant SNAP-25 with glutathione S-transferase (GST) tags at both termini as substrate. The recombinant GST-SNAP-25-GST with 70 kDa was expressed and purified in E. coli and synthesized N-terminal 50 kDa and C-terminal 25 kDa fragment after cleavage at the Gln(197)-Arg(198) bond by BoNT/A. To detect both fragments, we obtained rabbit antisera against peptides corresponding to the cleaved ends of each fragment. In the western blotting, the N-terminal fragment was detected by the antibody specifically recognizing the newly exposed C-terminus (corresponding to amino acid residue 191-197). This assay system was able to detect until 3.125 ng of BoNT/A, which corresponded to about 90 fold LD50 in mice. These results suggest that the in vitro endopeptidase assay developed in this study would replace others to detect BoNT/A.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Blotting, Western ; Glutathione Transferase ; Immune Sera ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mice ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peptides

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a metalloprotease that cleaves SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), a specific cellular protein essential for neurotransmitter release. As well as mouse bioassay to detect BoNT/A, various assay methods based on its endopeptidase activity have been developed. In this study, we tried to develop a BoNT/A assay system using recombinant SNAP-25 with glutathione S-transferase (GST) tags at both termini as substrate. The recombinant GST-SNAP-25-GST with 70 kDa was expressed and purified in E. coli and synthesized N-terminal 50 kDa and C-terminal 25 kDa fragment after cleavage at the Gln(197)-Arg(198) bond by BoNT/A. To detect both fragments, we obtained rabbit antisera against peptides corresponding to the cleaved ends of each fragment. In the western blotting, the N-terminal fragment was detected by the antibody specifically recognizing the newly exposed C-terminus (corresponding to amino acid residue 191-197). This assay system was able to detect until 3.125 ng of BoNT/A, which corresponded to about 90 fold LD50 in mice. These results suggest that the in vitro endopeptidase assay developed in this study would replace others to detect BoNT/A.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Blotting, Western ; Glutathione Transferase ; Immune Sera ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mice ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peptides

PURPOSE: To investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of centipede bite injuries. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of clinical manifestations in patients who were identified between April 2005 to April 2007 as having suffered from centipede bites. Factors evaluated included sex, age, location and time of bite, part of body affected, clinical signs and symptoms, treatment modalities and complications. RESULTS: A total of 179 cases of centipede bite were identified. Centipede bites occurred between spring and autumn. 69.3% of bites happened at night. All patients were bitten on an exposed body parts, and the digit of both the handsand feet were the sites most often involved. Pain, swelling, erythema were the most frequent symptoms and signs. Most cases showed minor manifestations but, three patients needed to be admitted because of anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Centipede bites are relatively common in the summer season in rural and island areas, especially at night. Though the clinical symptoms of centipede bites are generally minor symptoms, emergency physicians need to possess accurate knowledge of the clinical manifestations in order to properly identify severe cases.
Anaphylaxis ; Arthropods ; Bites and Stings ; Emergencies ; Erythema ; Foot ; Human Body ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of citric acid on the change of implant surface microstructure according to application time. Implants with pure titanium machined surface, and HA coated surface were utilized. Pure titanium machined surface and HA coated surface were rubbed with pH 1 citric acid for 30s., 45s., 60s., 90s., and 120s. respectively. Then, the specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopic observation. The following results were obtained. 1. The specimens showed a few shallow grooves and ridges in pure titanium machined surface implants. The roughness of surfaces conditioned with pH 1 citric acid was slightly increased. 2. In HA-coated surfaces, round particles were deposited irregularly. The specimens were not significant differences within 45s. But, began to be changed from 60s. The roughness of surfaces was lessened and the surface dissolution was increased relative to the application time. In conclusion, pure titanium machined surface implants and HA coated surface implants can be treated with pH 1 citric acid for peri-implantitis treatment if the detoxification of these surfaces could be evaluated.
Citric Acid* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Peri-Implantitis ; Titanium

A carcinoid tumor is a slow growing, rare neoplasm arising from enterochromaffin cells with a malignant potential. A primary carcinoid tumor of the stomach and duodenum is uncommon. However, their prevalence has been increasing due to the widespread use of endoscopy. Recently, the use of endoscopic resection for the treatment of small carcinoid tumors is gradually increasing. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of synchronous carcinoid tumors in the stomach and duodenum. We report a case of small, multiple carcinoid tumors of the stomach and duodenum in a 58-year-old man that was endoscopically removed with a snare.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Duodenum* ; Endoscopy* ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; SNARE Proteins ; Stomach*

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare benign tumor that can be located anywhere throughout the body, but it is uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, and especially in the colon and rectum. A 41-year-old man visited our hospital with a three-month history of intermittent abdominal discomfort at the left lower quadrant area. Colonoscopic examination revealed a hemispheric, submucosal lesion, about 1.5 x 1.2 cm in size, on the opposite side of the ileocecal valve in the proximal ascending colon. The tumor was removed by an endoscopic snare without any immediate complication. The pathologic findings revealed spindled or polygonal large cells that were positive for S-100, neuron-specific enolase and vimentin, and they were negative for smooth muscle actin and desmin, which was consistent with granular cell tumor. We report here on a case of granular cell tumor of the colon that was successfully treated with endoscopic polypectomy.
Actins ; Adult ; Colon* ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonoscopy* ; Desmin ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Muscle, Smooth ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Rectum ; SNARE Proteins ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Absence of CD34-positive fibroblasts was reported within the stroma associated with invasive carcinomas. Conversely, tumor-associated desmoplastic stroma is characterized by the presence of smooth muscle actin (SMA)-reactive myofibroblasts. The present study was undertaken in order to elucidate whether the different distributions of stromal CD34-positive fibroblasts and SMA-reactive myofibroblasts are sensitive or specific markers of tumor invasion in small lung adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stainings for CD34 and SMA were done in 37 peripheral adenocarcinomas less than 3.0 cm in diameter, including 16 adenocarcinomas with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and invasive components (mixed), and 21 invasive adenocarcinomas without BAC components (invasive). RESULTS: The fibroblasts within the BAC components of the mixed group were mainly CD34-positive (81.2%) and preferentially SMA-negative (56.3%). In contrast, the fibroblasts within the invasive components of the mixed group were mainly CD34-negative (75.0%) and SMApositive (87.5%). The stromal cells of the invasive group were mostly negative for CD34 (90.5%) and positive for SMA (95.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The loss of CD34 and the acquisition of SMA in the stromal cells within the tumor were related to tumor invasion (p<0.05). Thus, expression patterns of CD34 and SMA can be used to detect small foci of early stromal invasion in adenocarcinomas of the lung.
Actins* ; Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; Fibroblasts ; Lung* ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myofibroblasts ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Stromal Cells

BACKGROUND: Microbial receptors play an important role in host defense. Microbial receptors- Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD14, CD11b, and CD18-mediate the responsiveness to Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The host response to LPS is characterized by an influx of inflammatory cells into host tissues, which is mediated, in part, by localized production of cytokines. Although the expression of microbial receptors and production of cytokines in macrophages are well studied, the functional responses of keratinocytes to stimulation with LPS are not well known. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the expression of microbial receptors and production of cytokine in response to LPS in mouse keratinocytes. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells, mouse macrophage cell line, were used as a positive control. Balbc/mk and PAM212 cells, mouse keratinocyte cell lines, were checked for the expression of microbial receptors and production of cytokine in response to LPS stimulation by flow cytometry and ELISA. RESULTS: RAW264.7 cells constitutively expressed high levels of TLR4, CD14, CD11b, and CD18. Balbc/mk and PAM212 cells also constitutively expressed high levels of CD14 and TLR4 similarily with RAW264.7 cells, but the levels of CD11b and CD18 expression was constitutively low. LPS stimulation resulted in increased production of TNF-alpha in RAW264.7 cells and mouse KC in mouse keratinocytes. In addition, LPS stimulation induced up-regulation of TLR4, CD14, CD11b, and CD18 in RAW264.7 cells, and TLR4 and CD14 in mouse keratinocytes. Anti-receptor specific antibodies efficiently blocked mouse KC production in mouse keratinocytes stimulated by low-dose LPS (100ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results indicate that mouse keratinocytes constitutively express microbial receptors and produce cytokine in response to LPS stimulation. Therefore, keratinocytes can actively participate in innate immunity against pathogens by secreting inflammatory cytokines through microbial receptor recognition.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunity, Innate ; Keratinocytes* ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation