Serial T1 mapping of right ventricle in pulmonary hypertension: comparison with histology in an animal study.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) free wall fibrosis is an important component of adverse remodeling with RV dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, no previous reports have compared cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings and histological analysis for RV free wall fibrosis in PH. We aimed to assess the feasibility of CMR T1 mapping with extracellular volume fraction (ECV) for evaluating the progression of RV free wall fibrosis in PH, and compared imaging findings to histological collagen density through an animal study.

Tumor perfusion-related parameter of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with histological microvessel density.

Purpose: We obtained intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters through biexponential analysis on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) using multiple b values. Correlation was evaluated between these parameters and histological microvessel density (MVD) for the possibility of noninvasive evaluation of MVD with DWI.

Methods: Twenty-five nude mice with the HT29 colorectal cancer cells implanted were analyzed after undergoing DWI with multiple b values (0, 50, 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 s/mm(2)).

TGF-β1 T869C polymorphism may affect susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and disease severity.

Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine that plays a critical role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The genotypes of T869C polymorphism may be associated with the susceptibility to fibrotic lung disease.

Methods: We investigated a single-nucleotide polymorphism at exon 1 nucleotide position 29 (T → C) of the TGF-β1 gene.

Diffuse interstitial infiltrative lung metastasis of malignant melanoma: a case report.

A diffuse interstitial infiltrative pattern of lung metastasis in a patient with malignant melanoma is rare and can be confused with benign conditions such as pulmonary edema or drug-induced pneumonitis. We experienced a case of diffuse interstitial infiltrative lung metastasis in malignant melanoma in a 37-year-old man. This case was confirmed by a transbronchial lung biopsy.

Detection of sexually transmitted infection and human papillomavirus in negative cytology by multiplex-PCR.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and 15 species that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in negative cytology. In addition, we compared the diagnostic performance of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with widely available techniques used to detect HPV.

Methods: We recruited 235 women of reproductive age who had negative cytology findings in a liquid-based cervical smear.

A phase I study of nimotuzumab in combination with radiotherapy in stages IIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer unsuitable for radical therapy: Korean results.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine safety and tolerability of nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody, in combination with radiotherapy in stages IIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are unsuitable for radical therapy or chemotherapy.

Methods: Nimotuzumab (100mg, 200mg and 400mg) was administered weekly from week 1 to week 8 with palliative radiotherapy (30-36 Gy, 3 Gy/day). If tumor control was achieved, nimotuzumab was continued every 2 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Dose effect of cigarette smoking on frequency and spectrum of epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations in Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the dose effect of smoking on the mutational frequency and spectrum of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in Korean non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Detailed smoking histories were obtained from 324 consecutively enrolled Korean NSCLC patients. Mutational status of EGFR (exon 18-21) was determined using nested polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Expression of androgen receptors and inhibin/activin alpha and betaA subunits in breast apocrine lesions.

The importance of androgens and their receptors inhibin and activin remains unknown for mammary epithelial cells. We investigated the role of these hormones in breast apocrine lesions (BAL) using immunohistochemistry to study androgen receptors (AR) and the inhibin/activin alpha and betaA subunits. Forty-two cases of BAL were evaluated, including 22 cases of fibrocystic disease (FCD) showing prominent apocrine changes, 10 intraductal papillomas with extensive apocrine metaplasia, 5 cases of apocrine carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 5 cases of apocrine carcinoma.

Malignant glomus tumor of the urinary bladder.

We present a case of a malignant glomus tumor arising in the urinary bladder of a 57-year-old woman with metastatic pulmonary nodules who died 2 months later. Pathologically and clinically confirmed malignant glomus tumors are exceedingly rare, especially those that arise in the visceral organs. The present case retained its architectural similarity to a benign glomus tumor and consisted of sheets of highly malignant round cells showing cytoplasmic positivity for smooth muscle actin.

Estrogen receptor is significantly associated with the epithelioid variants of renal angiomyolipoma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 67 cases.

Perivascular epithelioid cells (PEC) in angiomyolipoma (AML) were recently proposed to be its most common progenitor cells. Histologically, triphasic components were present in various proportions, but were overwhelmingly myogenic in epithelioid variants of AML. Despite histological discrimination, the immunophenotypic profiles between triphasic and epithelioid AML have never been compared.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 correlates with poor prognostic variables in renal cell carcinoma.

Background: MMP2 and MMP9 are two gelatinolytic enzymes, which are key regulators of tumor invasion and metastasis. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of MMP2 and MMP9 with particular regard to their transcript levels, enzymatic activities in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs).

Materials And Methods: Through cDNA array, the differential expression of the MMP superfamily was evaluated in RCC.