A Novel Dorsal Slit Approached Non-Ischemic Partial Nephrectomy Method for a Renal Tissue Regeneration in a Mouse Model

BACKGROUND: Kidney ischemia-reperfusion (IR) via laparotomy is a conventional method for kidney surgery in a mouse model. However, IR, an invasive procedure, can cause serious acute and chronic complications through apoptotic and inflammatory pathways. To avoid these adverse responses, a Non-IR and dorsal slit approach was designed for kidney surgery. METHODS: Animals were divided into three groups, 1) sham-operated control; 2) IR, Kidney IR via laparotomy; and 3) Non-IR, Non-IR and dorsal slit. The effects of Non-IR method on renal surgery outcomes were verified with respect to animal viability, renal function, apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, renal regeneration, and systemic response using histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, serum chemistry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and Masson's trichrome staining. RESULTS: The Non-IR group showed 100% viability with mild elevation of serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values at day 1 after surgery, whereas the IR group showed 20% viability and lethal functional abnormality. Histologically, renal tubule epithelial cell injury was evident on day 1 in the IR group, and cellular apoptosis enhanced TUNEL-positive cell number and Fas/caspase-3 and KIM-1/NGAL expression. Inflammation and fibrosis were high in the IR group, with enhanced CD4/CD8-positive T cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and Masson's trichrome stain-positive cell numbers. The Non-IR group showed a suitable microenvironment for renal regeneration with enhanced host cell migration, reduced immune cell influx, and increased expression of renal differentiation-related genes and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The local renal IR influenced distal organ apoptosis and inflammation by releasing circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION: The Non-IR and dorsal slit method for kidney surgery in a mouse model can be an alternative surgical approach for researchers without adverse reactions such as apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, functional impairment, and systemic reactions.

Case of Sarcoidosis-Related Hypercalcemia with Normal Serum 1,25(OH)2D / 대한내과학회지

Diagnosing hypercalcemia is often challenging because a wide spectrum of diseases-such as malignancy, granulomatous disease, and primary hyperparathyroidism-should be considered. Sarcoidosis is a rare cause of hypercalcemia. The case of a 77-year-old male presenting with sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcemia whose serum 1,25(OH)2D level was normal is reported here. Despite a normal 1,25(OH)2D level and minimally enlarged hilar lymphadenopathy, the serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level was increased. Mediastinoscopic biopsy of the right lower paratracheal lymph node revealed pathological findings compatible with sarcoidosis. Treatment with 30 mg/day oral prednisone was started. Currently, the patient is being treated with a tapered dose of oral prednisone and small doses of vitamin D and calcium. Despite its low incidence, sarcoidosis should be considered a cause of hypercalcemia. The important diagnostic factors are not only serum calcitriol levels but also serum ACE levels and pathological findings.

An Approach to Diagnosing Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Using Immunohistochemistry of c-kit and PDGFRA with Molecular Analysis

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, many methods for the diagnosis of GIST have been developed including molecular diagnosis. METHODS: We selected 90 cases of GIST that had presented at Kyungpook National University Hospital between 1998 and 2007. Tissue microarrays were made using core areas of tumor tissues. Immunohistochemical staining for c-kit, protein kinase C-theta, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) was done. Direct sequencing of hot spot exonal areas for c-kit and PDGFRA were done using extracted DNAs of all 90 paraffin block tissues. RESULTS: Among the 90 cases, 83.3% (75/90) were c-kit positive, 16.6% (15/90) were c-kit negative, 93.3% (84/90) were PDGFRA positive, and 6.6% (6/90) cases were PDGFRA negative. Fifteen cases of c-kit negative GIST included 1 case of PDGFRA negative and 5 cases of PDGFRA negative GIST were ckit positive. The one case in which both c-kit and PDGFRA were negative, showed a c-kit mutation in exon 11. CONCLUSIONS: Combined immunohistochemical staining of c-kit, discovered on GIST 1 (DOG1) and PDGFRA is helpful for the diagnosis of GIST. When all staining tests are negative for immunoreactivity, c-kit mutation analysis for exon 11, 9 should be done. Genotyping of kit and PDGFRA do not need to be examined initially, if it is only for the diagnosis of GIST.

Manual Liquid-Based Cytology (Liqui-PREPtrade mark) in Breast Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: Comparison with the Conventional Smears / 대한세포병리학회지

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of the breast is a useful method for diagnosing breast lesions. Yet making the definite diagnosis with performing FNA is limited by some problems, such as the low cellularity, the poor preservation and the obscuring background. Recent studies have found that liquid-based cytology solves such problems, but it is an expensive method and it is limited by the loss of the background information. The purpose of this study is to compare the Liqui-PREP(TM), a new manual liquid-based method of cytology, and the conventional smears for analyzing breast FNA cytology materials. A total of 31 randomized FNA specimens of breast were studied. In each case, both the conventional smears and the Liqui-PREP(TM) method were performed, and the smears were evaluated for cellularity, cellular preservation, the background, the cytologic features and the architectural arrangement. The cellularity and architectural arrangement were equal for both preparations. The Liqui-PREP(TM) specimens showed better cellular preservation, loss of the obscuring background, no overlapping of cells and a smaller area to screen compared with the conventional smears. Moreover, it has the potential advantages of being able to use the remaining specimens for immunohistochemical study and ploidy analysis, and it can reduce the costs for preparation compared with the other liquid-based methods of cytology. But some background information is lost in the Liqui-PREP(TM) specimens, the same as the other liquid-based methods of cytology. In conclusion, the Liqui-PREP(TM) and conventional smears showed good correlation, but they have their respective advantages and disadvantages. These results suggest that Liqui-PREP(TM) can contribute to making the accurate diagnosis with performing breast FNA cytology when it is used along with other methods.

Three Cases Showing Combined Features of Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum andTubular Apocrine Adenoma Superimposed on Nevus Sebaceus / 대한피부과학회지

Both syringocystadenoma papilliferum and tubular apocrine adenoma are benign skin appendage tumors of apocrine differentiation. They may be isolated and easily discernible, but in some cases, it is difficult to differentiate them into separate entities or diseases with overlapping features. We herein report three cases showing features of both syringocystadenoma papilliferum and tubular apocrine adenoma simultaneously. They presented as a 20-year-old woman with linear verrucous erythematous plaque with grouped papules on the left sideburn area, a 64-year-old man with verrucous plaque on the right temporal scalp, a 48-year-old man with verrucous erythematous patch on the occipital scalp and commonly showed syringocystadenoma and tubular apocrine adenoma. All cases had been present since birth and also showed similar histopathologic features as follows; occasional fetal hair germ-like immature pilosebaceous structures or somewhat hypertrophied sebaceous glands directly connecting to surface epidermis, suggesting the association with nevus sebaceus in a variable degree.

Diffuse Ganglioneuromatosis of Appendix associated with Von Recklinghausen;s Disease

Gastrointestinal ganglioneuromatosis is a rare neoplastic condition that can occur in association with von Recklinghausen's disease with multiple endocrine neoplasia type II B. The main locations are the ileum, colon, and appendix. We report a case of diffuse ganglioneuromatosis of the appendix associated with a mesenteric and ileocecal plexiform neurofibroma in von Recklinghausen's disease.