Rare Frequency of Mutations in Pituitary Transcription Factor Genes in Combined Pituitary Hormone or Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiencies in Korea

PURPOSE: Congenital hypopituitarism is caused by mutations in pituitary transcription factors involved in the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Mutation frequencies of genes involved in congenital hypopituitarism are extremely low and vary substantially between ethnicities. This study was undertaken to compare the clinical, endocrinological, and radiological features of patients with an isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 27 patients with sporadic IGHD and CPHD. A mutation analysis of the POU1F1, PROP1, LHX3, LHX4, and HESX1 genes was performed using genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes. RESULTS: IGHD and CPHD were observed in 4 and 23 patients, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 8.28±7.25 years for IGHD and 13.48±10.46 years for CPHD (p=0.37). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and peak growth hormone (GH) levels following GH stimulation tests were significantly lower in patients with CPHD than in those with IGHD (p<0.05). Sellar MRI findings revealed structural abnormalities in 3 patients with IGHD (75%) and 21 patients with CPHD (91.3%) (p=0.62). A mutation analysis identified homozygous p.R109Q mutations in HESX1 in a patient with CPHD. Patients with CPHD had more severe GHD than those with IGHD. CONCLUSION: The frequency of defects in the genes encoding pituitary transcription factors was extremely low in Korean patients with congenital hypopituitarism. Environmental factors and the impact of other causative genes may contribute to this clinical phenotype.

A Case of adrenocortical oncocytoma Presenting with Peripheral Precocious Puberty

Adrenocortical oncocytoma is a rare adrenal gland tumor, and in most cases, benign and non-functioning. Functional adrenocortical oncocytoma has only been reported in eleven cases worldwide, including three children. These cases all showed clinical symptoms and signs, such as virilization, feminization, Cushing syndrome and Conn syndrome, as a result of overproduction of adrenal steroid hormones. We report a 2-year-old girl who presented with precocious puberty with premature pubarche. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and testosterone levels were elevated and a 1.9 cm right adrenocortical oncocytoma was found. After tumor resection, her hormone levels were normalized.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Gaucher disease according to phenotypic subgroups / 소아과

PURPOSE: Gaucher disease is caused by a beta-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) deficiency. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics according to subtypes of Gaucher disease in the Korean population. METHODS: Clinical findings at diagnosis, GBA mutations, and clinical courses were reviewed in 20 patients diagnosed with Gaucher disease. RESULTS: Eleven patients were diagnosed with non-neuronopathic type, 2 with acute neuronopathic type, and 7 with chronic neuronopathic type. Most patients presented with hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and short stature. In the neuronopathic group, variable neurological features, such as seizure, tremor, gaze palsy, and hypotonia, were noted at age 8.7+/-4.3 years. B cell lymphoma, protein-losing enteropathy, and hydrops fetalis were the atypical manifestations. Biomarkers, including chitotriosidase, acid phosphatase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, increased at the initial evaluation and subsequently decreased with enzyme replacement treatment (ERT). The clinical findings, including hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and skeletal findings, improved following ERT, except for the neurological manifestations. L444P was the most common mutation in our cohort. One novel mutation, R277C, was found. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical outcome for Gaucher disease improved remarkably following ERT, the outcome differed according to subtype. Considering the high proportion of the neuronopathic form in the Korean population, new therapeutic strategies targeting the central nervous system are needed, with the development of a new scoring system and biomarkers representing clinical courses in a more comprehensive manner.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Gaucher disease according to phenotypic subgroups / 소아과

PURPOSE: Gaucher disease is caused by a beta-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) deficiency. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics according to subtypes of Gaucher disease in the Korean population. METHODS: Clinical findings at diagnosis, GBA mutations, and clinical courses were reviewed in 20 patients diagnosed with Gaucher disease. RESULTS: Eleven patients were diagnosed with non-neuronopathic type, 2 with acute neuronopathic type, and 7 with chronic neuronopathic type. Most patients presented with hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and short stature. In the neuronopathic group, variable neurological features, such as seizure, tremor, gaze palsy, and hypotonia, were noted at age 8.7+/-4.3 years. B cell lymphoma, protein-losing enteropathy, and hydrops fetalis were the atypical manifestations. Biomarkers, including chitotriosidase, acid phosphatase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, increased at the initial evaluation and subsequently decreased with enzyme replacement treatment (ERT). The clinical findings, including hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and skeletal findings, improved following ERT, except for the neurological manifestations. L444P was the most common mutation in our cohort. One novel mutation, R277C, was found. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical outcome for Gaucher disease improved remarkably following ERT, the outcome differed according to subtype. Considering the high proportion of the neuronopathic form in the Korean population, new therapeutic strategies targeting the central nervous system are needed, with the development of a new scoring system and biomarkers representing clinical courses in a more comprehensive manner.

A Case of Stickler Syndrome Type I Caused by a Novel Variant of COL2A1 Gene

Stickler syndrome is a very rare connective tissue disorder. The authors of the present study describe an 11-month-old girl with high myopia, retinal abnormalities, flat nose, cleft palate, retrognathia, micrognathia, short stature and arthrogryposis. Radiological evaluation also showed irregularity of the epiphysis of the femur and tibia and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Genetic analysis using a peripheral blood sample revealed a novel variant c.787G>A (p.Gly246Asp) mutation of the COL2A1 gene. This is the first Korean case with Stickler syndrome confirmed by genetic testing.

Mutation-Free Expression of c-Kit and PDGFRA in Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Phyllodes tumors (PTs) of the breast have been classified as benign, borderline, or malignant based on their histopathologic features. However, predicting clinical behavior based on these features has proven to be difficult given that local recurrence occurs in both benign and malignant PTs. Recurrence has been shown to mirror the histologic pattern of the primary tumor or to show dedifferentiation. The aim of this study was to assess the value of the histopathologic parameters, expression or mutation of c-Kit and platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) in predicting tumor recurrence. METHODS: Representative areas from 39 benign, 16 borderline, and 12 malignant PTs were selected for construction of tissue microarrays. Immunohistochemical analyses for p53, Ki-67, c-Kit, and PDGFRA were performed and SSCP-PCR analysis was carried out to identify mutations in exons 9, 11, 13, and 17 of the c-Kit gene and exons 12 and 18 of the PDGFRA gene. Clinicopathologic features, including tumor recurrence and margin status, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 67 PTs, 11 cases (16.4%) recurred from 3 to 92 months following initial diagnosis (4 benign, 2 borderline, and 5 malignant). One benign PT case recurred as a borderline tumor and two borderline PT cases recurred as malignancies. Three patients died of malignant PT. No mutations of the c-Kit or PDGFRA genes were found and there was no statistically significant association of either p53 or p16 immunostaining with recurrent disease (p>0.05). However, histologic grade (p=0.033), margin status (p<0.001), Ki-67 (p=0.012), c-Kit (p=0.002), and PDGFRA (p=0.007) stromal immunopositivity were significantly correlated with recurrence. CONCLUSION: Even though positive or close margins were significantly associated with tumor recurrence, stromal c-Kit, PDGFRA positivity, and the Ki-67 index were useful for predicting recurrent PTs. Despite this, no c-Kit or PDGFRA mutations were found.

A Case of Congenital Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Diagnosed in an Infant with Recurrent Hemoptysis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Congenital pulmonary vein stenosis is a rare cardiac malformation with a poor prognosis and is not easy to diagnose, because symptoms emerge in infants accompanying progressively worsening pulmonary hypertension. A nine-month-old infant visited our hospital due to recurrent respiratory infections and hemoptysis. He was diagnosed with congenital pulmonary vein stenosis by cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization findings revealed that two pulmonary veins were stenotic and one pulmonary vein was occluded. Pulmonary artery catheterization showed the evidence of severe pulmonary hypertension with a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 55 mmHg and a pulmonary artery wedge pressure of 30 mmHg. Due to the aggravation of pulmonary hypertension symptoms, we performed sutureless pericardial marsupialization to reduce the obstruction and the restenosis, but he died a week. In cases of infants with recurrent hemoptysis, we should rule out congenital pulmonary vein stenosis.

Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Liver Grafts Obtained from HBsAb and HBcAb Positive Organ Donors / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: It has recently been reported that de novo HBV infection following liver transplantation is caused by grafts from HBcAb positive donors, and this phenomenon has been observed in one third of the liver transplant patients in our center. Therefore, we investigated the presence of HBV virus DNA in liver tissues obtained from HBcAb positive donors to determine the mechanism by which de novo HBV infection occurs. METHODS: This study was conducted on 6 patients that were HBsAg negative, HBsAb positive, and HBcAb positive who were donors for liver transplantation between November 1997 and November 1998 at Asan Medical Center. We isolated DNA from a portion of liver biopsy tissues that were obtained during the operation, and then identified the surface and core region of HBV DNA using nested PCR. In addition, four children who received liver grafts from these donors were monitored to determine if they became afflicted with non-HBV related diseases while receiving prophylaxis consisting of short-term HBIG treatment and long-term treatment with an antiviral agent. RESULTS: The surface antigen region was identified in all 6 donors and the core antigen region was observed in 4 of the 6 donors. However, no episodes of de novo HBV infection with prophylaxis were observed. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the results of previous studies, which indicated that HBV infection may be the main cause of de novo HBV infection in patients that receive HBsAb positive and HBcAb positive donor grafts.

Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Liver Grafts Obtained from HBsAb and HBcAb Positive Organ Donors / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: It has recently been reported that de novo HBV infection following liver transplantation is caused by grafts from HBcAb positive donors, and this phenomenon has been observed in one third of the liver transplant patients in our center. Therefore, we investigated the presence of HBV virus DNA in liver tissues obtained from HBcAb positive donors to determine the mechanism by which de novo HBV infection occurs. METHODS: This study was conducted on 6 patients that were HBsAg negative, HBsAb positive, and HBcAb positive who were donors for liver transplantation between November 1997 and November 1998 at Asan Medical Center. We isolated DNA from a portion of liver biopsy tissues that were obtained during the operation, and then identified the surface and core region of HBV DNA using nested PCR. In addition, four children who received liver grafts from these donors were monitored to determine if they became afflicted with non-HBV related diseases while receiving prophylaxis consisting of short-term HBIG treatment and long-term treatment with an antiviral agent. RESULTS: The surface antigen region was identified in all 6 donors and the core antigen region was observed in 4 of the 6 donors. However, no episodes of de novo HBV infection with prophylaxis were observed. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the results of previous studies, which indicated that HBV infection may be the main cause of de novo HBV infection in patients that receive HBsAb positive and HBcAb positive donor grafts.

Mandibular reconstruction with particulate cancellous bone and marrow

A retrospective study was made of 10 consecutive patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with PCBM from December 1994 to July 1996. Free autogenous iliac bone in the from of particulate cancellous bone and marrow was densely packed into the crib that was adapted to bridge the mandibular discontinuity defect. Frozen-treated autogenous mandibular bone, splitted autogenous rib, and titanium mesh(Dumbach, Leibinger) were used as cribs carrying the PCBM. All ten cases underwent successful healing with the formation of a continuous bony union with the remaining mandible. The rate of resorption was assessed by sequential panoramic radiographs. The mean horizontal dimension of the madibular defects was 44mm and the mean vertical dimension of the reconstructed segments was 23mm. The bony height of the reconstructed segments retained about 90% of the bony height of over a 1-year period. We confirmed that PCBM grafts were the most successful and predictable grafts in mandibular discontinuity reconstruction.

Preliminary study about the safety and effects of prophylactic intra -peritoneal hyperthermo-chemotherapeutic perfusion combined with surgery in far-advanced stomach cancers

No abstract available.