ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Meckel's diverticulum (MD) has various clinical manifestations, and diagnosis or selectection of proper diagnostic tools is not easy. This study was conducted in order to assess the clinical differences of MD diagnosed by scintigraphic and non-scintigraphic methods and to find the proper diagnostic tools. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review ofthe clinical, surgical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of 34 children with symptomatic MD, who were admitted to Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Inha University Hospital, and The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital between January 2000 and December 2012. The patients were evaluated according to scintigraphic (12 cases; group 1) and non-scintigraphic (22 cases; group 2) diagnosis. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 7.5 : 1. The most frequent chief complaint was lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in group 1 and nonspecific abdominal pain in group 2, respectively. The most frequent pre-operative diagnosis was MD in both groups. Red blood cell (RBC) index was significantly lower in group 1. MD was located at 7 cm to 85 cm from the ileocecal valve. Four patients in group 1 had ectopic gastric tissues causing lower GI bleeding. The most frequent treatment modality was diverticulectomy in group 1 and ileal resection in group 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: To diagnose MD might be delayed unless proper diagnostic tools are considered. It is important to understand indications of scintigraphic and non-scintigraphic methods according to clinical and hematologic features of MD. Scintigraphy would be weighed in patients with anemia as well as GI symptoms.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Abdominal Pain , Anemia , Erythrocytes , Hemorrhage , Ileocecal Valve , Korea , Meckel Diverticulum , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This survey assessed the prevalence and type of sexual dysfunction in middle-aged women regarding sexually related personal distress and examined the prevalence of perceived sexual dysfunction and perceived partners' dysfunction by women. METHODS: One-hundred ten healthy community-based middle-aged women participated voluntarily, and validated question- naires of the Female Sexual Function Index(FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Score(FSDS) were used. RESULTS: The percentage of women having sexual dysfunction and sexual distress were 67% and 32% respectively according to the cut-off of FSFI and FSDS. The average score of FSFI was 23.5(s.d.=5.7), which was lower than the cut-off of FSFI, while the average score of FSDS was 13.2, which was in range of a normal score. When considering the two concepts simultaneously, the women were categorized into 4 groups: sexually stressed dysfunction group (24.8%), sexually depressed group(42.2%), sexually healthy group(25.7%), and sexually hyperactive group (7.3%). The percentage of women reporting sexual problems was 24.3%, while the percentage of women reporting sexual dysfunction in their partner was 29.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a high rate of sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in middle-aged women. However, considering the relationships between sexual dysfunction and sexual distress, almost two thirds were in the sexually depressed group among the women having sexual dysfunction.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , PrevalenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Liquid-based cytology is currently known as an effective method, and cervical cytology has been shown to be especially effective from of malignancy detection. In our study, the cytological detection rates of the Thinprep (Liquid-based cytology) and conventional cytology (bronchial washing & brushing) for endobronchial lesions were compared. METHODS: Between July 2005 and September 2005, the data from 30 patients with respiration symptom, who had shown abnormal lesion on bronchoscopy, were collected. RESULTS: The bronchoscopic biopsy group was consisted of 30 cytodiagnosis specimens, 24 of which were confirmed to be malignant. The others were tuberculosis (4), bronchiectasis and bronchopulmonary fistula (1 each). Of the 24 malignant case, cancer or atypical cells were detected in 19, 17 and 12 of the Thinprep, brushing cytology and washing cytology cases, respectively. None one of the methods detected cancer cells in the non-malignant specimens. Washing cytology has shown sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 50, 100, 100 and 33.3% respectively. Brushing cytology has shown sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 70.8, 100, 100 and 46.2%, respectively. Thinprep has shown sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 79.2, 100, 100 and 54%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Thinprep (liquid-based cytology) showed better sensitivity and negative predictive values for the evaluation of lung cancer than conventional cytology. However a large-scale study will be needed in the future.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopsy , Bronchiectasis , Bronchoscopy , Cytodiagnosis , Fistula , Lung Neoplasms , Respiration , TuberculosisABSTRACT
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon, tumorlike lesion that occurs at a number of body sites. Although the lung is the best known and most commonly organ, IMT has been found in diverse extrapulmonary locations, including the breast.Despite the performance of breast biopsy, the finding of IMT of the breast is exceedingly rare. IMT is a benign lesion and excision is the treatment of choice, but there is a relatively high rate of recurrence. We describe here two cases of IMT of the breast that occurred in a 21-year-old woman and a 28-year-old woman.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Young Adult , Biopsy , Breast , Lung , Myofibroblasts , RecurrenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Fatty Acids , Immunohistochemistry , Medical Records , Ovary , Prognosis , Prostatic Neoplasms , RecurrenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Fatty Acids , Immunohistochemistry , Medical Records , Ovary , Prognosis , Prostatic Neoplasms , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Granulomatous Mastitis (GM) is a rare chronic inflammatory lesion of the breast that clinically simulate carcinoma. The purpose of this report is to review the clinicopathological features of this clinical entity in a series of 5 cases that were diagnosed at our institute. Mammography, ultrasonography, and fine needle aspiration were performed in all cases. The treatment of choice for granulomatous mastitis is unclear. Of the 5 cases, one case underwent steroid therapy, two cases underwent anti-tuberculosis medication, and the others underwent only excision. There were no complications for the 5 cases during the follow-up periods. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of granulomatous mastitis should be determined on a case by case basis, by the clinician considering the various case results that have been reported on.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Breast , Diagnosis , Follow-Up Studies , Granulomatous Mastitis , Mammography , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the transcriptional expression and translational localization of c-Src and Csk, related to signal transduction of cell growth, differentiation, death, and DNA synthesis in the human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle. METHODS: The specimens were obtained from the hysterectomized uterus and endometrial biopsies that showed no endometrial pathology. The mRNA level of c-Src and Csk were examined by RT-PCR and the expression of these proteins were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The c-Src mRNA was strongly expressed at all phases, except in late secretory phase. The Csk mRNA was highly expressed at all phases. In stromal cells and glandular cells, immunohistochemical expression of c-Src protein was moderate in proliferative phase and was strong in the secretory phase. The expression of Csk protein was strong at all phases and more intensive in glandular cell than stromal cell. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that c-Src may play an important role in the signaling of the differentiation of the human endometrium and the Csk may modulate the c-Src kinase activity.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Biopsy , DNA , Endometrium , Immunohistochemistry , Menstrual Cycle , Pathology , Phosphotransferases , RNA, Messenger , Signal Transduction , Stromal Cells , UterusABSTRACT
The authors report a 7-year-old boy with neuroblastoma complicated by severe hypertension and pulmonary edema. Abdominal computed tomographic scan revealed a huge mass surrounding the aorta. After administration of cancer treatment, there was a marked increase in serum catecholamines level and hypertension, which resulted in pulmonary edema and heart failure. Alpha adrenergic blocking agents (prazocin, terazocin) were administrated, successfully controlling the hypertension. The tumor differentiated to ganglioneuroblastoma after chemotherapy. The catecholamine production of the residual neuroblastoma must have increased because the treatment induced differentiation. It is important to watch for the development of hypertension during the treatment of neuroblastoma.