A case of renal synovial sarcoma: complete remission was induced by chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide.

We experienced a case of primary renal synovial sarcoma in a 32 year-old woman. On admission, she complained of intermittent abdominal pain. On radiologic examination, a 12 x 10 cm-sized soft tissue mass was detected on the left kidney.

Immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in thyroid nodules.

Background: Recent evidence indicates that elevated COX-2 expression is associated with the carcinogenesis of numerous neoplasms. In this study, we investigated COX-2 expression in various thyroid specimens in order to elucidate its physiological role in pathologic conditions, and to evaluate the efficiency of COX-2 protein expression as a molecular marker of malignancy in the thyroid gland.

Methods: COX-2 expression was studied immunohistochemically in 19 papillary carcinomas, 8 follicular carcinomas, 14 follicular adenomas, 2 Hürthle cell carcinomas, 4 Hürthle cell adenomas, 8 nodular hyperplasias, 3 Graves' diseases, 3 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 2 medullary carcinomas, 1 anaplastic carcinoma, and 20 normal thyroid tissues.

A case of refractory Henoch-Schönlein purpura treated with thalidomide.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is an acute, self-limited vasculitis syndrome which shows characteristic skin, joint, renal and gastrointestinal manifestations. It is common in childhood and may also occur in adults with fatal complications such as nephritis and gastrointestinal bleeding. We experienced a case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with palpable purpura and severe arthritis.

Helicobacter pylori and telomerase activity in intestinal metaplasia of the stomach.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been considered a definitive carcinogen in gastric cancer. Telomerase is activated in gastric cancer and some premalignant gastric lesions, including intestinal metaplasia (IM).

Improvement of endothelial function by amlodipine and vitamin C in essential hypertension.

Background: The effects of antihypertensive agents on endothelial function have not been fully evaluated in human hypertension and data on the forearm circulation of humans are controversial. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the endothelial function in hypertensive patients (2) to investigate whether vitamin C administration has any benefit on the endothelial function and (3) to determine whether treatment with calcium antagonist improves endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Methods: The endothelial function was estimated using venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) in 8 hypertensive patients and 8 healthy volunteers.