The Changes of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Serum according to the Reperfusion Time after Ischemia of Left Common Iliac Artery in Mice / 체질인류학회지

Ischemia-reperfusion injury arises from the restoration of blood supply after ischemia. Both reactive oxygen species and various cytokines produced by activated immune cells are the primary causal risk factors for ischemic injury. Cytokines are intercellular signaling substances for regulating any infection, immune reactions and inflammation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines adversely affect any diseases through an increase in inflammatory reaction. This study was conducted to investigate whether the periods of reperfusion after ischemia result in any changes of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, Eotaxin, MCP-1, MDC, MIP-1α, RANTES, TARC, IFNδ. A total of 96 male mice aged at 12 weeks was used in this study, and the groups of ischemia were divided into the following three different groups: 2-hour, 4-hour, and 6-hour ischemia groups. For the object of ischemic injury, the left common iliac artery was clamped by vascular clamp, each ischemia group was subdivided into 5 different groups according to the periods of reperfusion: 0-, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-hour reperfusion time. Blood samples after general anesthesia were collected from the mice hearts, and the serum was separated from them. The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, Eotaxin, MCP-1, MDC, MIP-1α, RANTES, TARC, IFNδ) in the serum was measured by ELISA, and the following results were acquired. The concentrations of the 13 pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly different in accordance with the periods of ischemia and the reperfusion time. In 2-hour ischemia group, IL-1α and IL-3 were increaed compared to normal control group, and 12 cytokines were increased followed by reperfusion except for MIP-1α. MCP-1 and TARC were expressed as the highest concentration in the 16-hour reperfusion time. In 4-hour ischemia group, TARC was significant differences with normal control group, and the concentration of 13 cytokines were decreased after 4-hour reperfusion time. In 6-hour ischemia group, IL-2, IL-3, MCP-1 and TARC were increased, compared to normal control group, and IL-3 and MCP-1 were increased in 16-hour reperfusion time. To sum up, ischemia increased the pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to normal control group and in the 2-hour and 6-hour ischemia groups, IL-1α, IL-3, MCP-1 and TARC were increased until the late reperfusion time.

Prognostic Significance of HER2 Gene Amplification According to Stage of Breast Cancer

It is well known that the amplification of the HER2 gene is closely associated with poor prognosis of breast cancer. However, there is controversy about the clinical significance of HER2 according to lymph node status in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the differences in the prognostic significance of HER2 gene amplification according to the stages of breast cancer. We prepared a tissue array for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with breast cancer specimens from the surgery in 1994 to 1999. Total 338 cases of breast cancer were enrolled and the median follow-up period was 6.3 yr. The detection rates of HER2 gene amplification were as follows: 10.3% in stage I, 22.3% in stage II, and 43.8% in stage III. On survival analyses HER2-positive groups showed worse prognosis in stage III of breast cancer, but not in stage I or II. Multivariate analyses with a Cox-regression model also revealed that HER2 amplification was an independent prognostic factor only in stage III breast cancer. Regarding HER2 gene amplification as a prognostic factor of breast cancer, the clinical significance of the gene was found to be confined to advanced breast cancer.

Obstructive Colitis Proximal to Obstructive Lesion of the Colon Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Obstructive colitis is a rare inflammatory condition that occurs in a dilated segment of the colon proximal to an obstructing lesion. A 69-year-old patient presented with abdominal pain and distension. The colonoscopy findings revealed a near total obstruction from sigmoid colon cancer. The mucosa of the obstructive lesion was erythematous and hemorrhagic but normal mucosa was found immediately above the 3 cm long obstructive lesion. The proximal bowel of the normal mucosa showed colitis with hemorrhagic mucosal changes and yellowish exudative plaques. Surgery was performed as a segmental resection after placing a metallic stent to decompress the proximal colonic loop. In conclusion, obstructive colitis should be considered if an ulcero-inflammatory lesion with a colonic obstruction and a skip lesion in the proximal colon are detected.

Tissue Microarray Analysis of the Expression of p53, c-kit and CD34 in Sarcomas

BACKGROUND: Our objectives in this study were to (1) evaluate the possible role of p53, c-kit and CD34 proteins in sarcomas and to determine their potential relationship; (2) use a tissue microarray to compare the immunohistochemical staining results on both the tissue microarrays and the corresponding whole tissue sections. METHODS: Whole sections from 85 sarcomas were studied for the immunohistochemical expression of p53, c-kit and CD34. Tissue microarrays consisting of triplicate 2 mm cores from the corresponding blocks were constructed and stained according to the same protocols as those used for the whole sections. RESULTS: On whole section analysis, p53 protein was expressed in 25 cases (29.4%). Expression of c-kit was observed in 31 specimens (36.5%), whereas CD34 expression was noted in 11 tumors (12.9%). The overall concordance between triplicates was 96% (217/226). The consensus score from the combined triplicates agreed with the results on the whole sections at 91.4% (233/255). The correlations between p53 and CD34, and between c-kit and CD34, were statistically significant (p=.028 and p=.010 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: p53 and c-kit express relatively frequently in sarcomas. Tissue microarrays are an effective alternative to whole sections; however, the presence of triplicate punches seems to improve the yield but not the concordance of data.

P53 Overexpression and Outcome of Radiation Therapy in Head & Neck Cancers / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: Experimental studies have implicated the wild type p53 in cellular response to radiation. Whether altered p53 function can lead to changes in clinical radiocurability remains an area of ongoing study. This study was performed to investigate whether any correlation between change of p53 and outcome of curative radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancers. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis with a mouse monoclonal antibody (D0-7) specific for human p53 was used to detect to overexpression of protein in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor sample from 55 head and neck cancer patients treated with curative radiation therapy (median dose of 7020 cGy) from February 1988 to March 1996 at St. Mary's Hospital. Overexpression of p53 was correlated with locoregional control and survival using Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed that included all clinical variables and status of p53 expression. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (67.2%) patients showed overexpression of p53 by immunohistochemical staining in their tumor. One hundred percent of oral cavity, 76% of laryngeal, 66.7% of oropharyngeal, 66.7% of hypopharyngeal cancer showed p53 overexpression (P=0.05). The status of p53 had significant relationship with stage of disease (P=0.03) and history of smoking (P=0.001). The overexpression of p53 was not predictive of response rate to radiation therapy. The locoregional control was not significantly affected by p53 status. Overexpression of p53 didn't have any prognostic implication for disease free survival and overall survival. Primary site and stage of disease were significant prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: The p53 overexpression as detected by immunohistochemical staining had significant correaltion with stage, primary site of disease and smoking habit of patients. The p53 overexpression didn't have any predictive value for outcome of curative radiation therapy in a group of head and neck cancers.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytoloy of Poorly Differentiated "Insular" Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Case Report / 대한세포병리학회지

Cytologic features of a poorly differentiated "insular" carcinoma of the thyroid are presented. In fine needle aspiration cytology, the aspirates were highly cellular and tumor cells were arranged in loose clusters or singly dispersed on focally necrotic background. Occasional microfollicles were evident. The tumor cells had poorly defined, scanty cytoplasm and most of the nuclei were fairly uniform with coarse chromatin pattern. A few large pleomorphic cells were also noted. The cytologic findings of the present case were correlated well with the histologic findings, which showed typical insular pattern and the presence of uniform cells with occasional pleomorphism.

A Case of Carbamazepine- Induced- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis / 신경정신의학

The authors reported one case of toxic epidermal necrolysis that occurred in the carbamazepine treatment in a 47-year old male patient with aggressive organic mental disorder. This case developed toxic epidermal necrolysis while taking carbamazepine with a dose of 600mg/day. Toxic epidermal necrolysis did not improve after discontiuation of carbamazepine. We reviewed incidence and the natural history of toxic epidermal necrolysis.

A clinical evaluation of spontaneous pneumothorax: A review of 612 cases / 대한흉부외과학회지

No abstract available.