• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.4
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• pp.191-194
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• 2013

Mycobacterium chelonae lung disease is very rare. We report a case of lung disease caused by M. chelonae in a previously healthy woman. A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of hemoptysis. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed bronchiolitis associated with bronchiectasis in the lingular division of the left upper lobe. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were isolated three times from sputum specimens. All isolates were identified as M. chelonae by various molecular methods that characterized rpoB and hsp65 gene sequences. Although some new lesions including bronchiolitis in the superior segment of the left lower lobe developed on the chest CT scan 35 months after diagnosis, she has been followed up without antibiotic therapy because of her mild symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of M. chelonae lung disease in Korea in which the etiologic organisms were confirmed using molecular techniques.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1028-1032
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• 2002

Subcutaneous pannicultis-like T cell lymphoma is a rare cutaneous T cell lymphoma. It presents with multiple subcutaneous nodules or plaques involving the extremities or trunk, and with constitutional symptoms that include fever, malaise, fatigue, myalgia, chills and weight loss. Histologically, the lesions of this disease are reminiscent of panniculitis and are composed of a mixture of small and large atypical lymphoid cells infiltrating between adipocytes. The optimal treatment for this disease is undefined and prognosis of this disease is poor, even when treated with multiagent chemotherapy regimens considered optimal for agressive lymphoma of other types. Poor prognosis factors include clinical features such as anemia, leukocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and coagulopathy, which are suggestive of hemophagocytosis. Much of the mortality of this disease is due not to disseminated lymphoma with organ failure, but rather to complications of the cytopenias associated with the hemophagocytic syndrome. We report a case of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma in a 12 year-old boy who presented with initial complaints of fever and multiple subcutaneous nodules, and briefly review the related literature.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.335-339
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• 2011

Purpose: Hyperhomocysteinemia is known as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Preclinical arteriosclerosis is noted and premature atherosclerosis is known to be accelerated in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. Genetic polymorphisms in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene result in elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations and are known to be associated with the development of coronary artery disease. Our hypothesis is that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MTHFR gene are related to the development of KD and coronary artery lesions (CALs). Methods: For this study, we selected 3 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2274976, rs1801131, and rs1801133) of MTHFR. These SNPs are located on chromosome 1p36.3. We included 101 KD patients and 306 healthy adults as controls in this study. CALs were seen in 38 patients. Genotypes of the selected SNPs were determined by direct sequencing and analyzed with SNPAlyze. Results: The genetic distribution and allelic frequency of the 3 MTHFR SNPs (rs2274976, rs1801131, and rs1801133) were not significantly different in patients with KD compared to the control group (P=0.71, 0.17, and 0.96, respectively). There was no difference in the genetic distribution of the MTHFR SNPs between the normal control group and the CAL group (P=0.43, 0.39, 0.52 respectively). Conclusion: The genetic distribution of the MTHFR SNPs (rs2274976, rs1801131, and rs1801133) was not different in the KD group compared to the control group. In addition, the genetic distribution of these SNPs was not different in the CAL group compared to the control group in the Korean population.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.73-76
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• 2011

Purpose: Congenital midline upper lip sinus is a rare lesion. There are two postulates that can account for the formation of the upper lip sinus based on two major theories of the development of the face: the fusion theory and the merging theory. However, congenital midline lower lip sinus is very rarely reported and described. We report a case of a congenital midline sinus of the lower lip in a 6-year-old female. Methods: A 6-year-old girl presented with a nipple like swelling on the midline lower lip. Physical examination revealed about $5{\times}5$ mm protruding round mass with a just small opening that was non-tender to palpation. The mass was not associated with any skin changes. It umbilicated at the apex and contains a fistulous tract, discharging clear fluid. Only, simple radiologic finding shows bony spur on the lower one third of mandibular symphsis. Results: A small transverse ellipse is made around the opening and elevated mass with sharpe dissection. The tract is excised using the probe and dye as the guide. The tract was extended to periosteum of the lower one third of the mandible. The tract and involved periosteum were excised en bloc, and removed protrusion of the mandibular bone using diamond burr. Microscopic examination of the resected sinus revealed the fistulous tract itself, consisting of fibrous connective tissue covered with cornified stratified squamous epithelium, was observed in the center of the sample. In 6 months follow-up, This patient had a good result was obtained by the method of fistulectomy alone. Conclusion: Midline cranoifacial fistulas represent rare lesions resulting from abnormal fusion of embryologic structures. Our case report describes the excision of a congenital midline sinus of the lower lip in a 6-year-old female. This case represents the first report of a lower lip sinus presenting in a girl as a mass in the skin of the chin with extension to the midline of the mandible. However, the etiology of this rare congenital sinus remains obscure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6447-6453
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• 2012

Background: The mucin components of the gastric gel layer function as a protective and lubricating factor against luminal acid and proteolytic enzymes. Alteration of mucin expression in gastric preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions has suggested potential roles in neoplastic processes. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of MUC-2, MUC-4 and MUC-5AC in Japanese gastric cancer. Methods: Expression of MUC-2, -4 and -5AC was evaluated on tissue microarrays of gastric carcinomas and adjacent non-cancerous mucosa specimens by immunohistochemistry and compared with clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients. Results: The three mucins were found to be expressed to a lesser extent in gastric carcinomas in comparison with non-cancerous mucosa (p<0.05). MUC-2 expression was negatively correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion, and TNM staging of gastric cancer (p<0.05), while that of MUC-5AC was negatively associated with the depth of invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (p<0.05), but positively with MUC-4 and MUC-2 expression (p<0.05). There was higher MUC-2 expression in intestinal- than diffuse-type carcinomas (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated no relationship between expression of the three mucins and the cumulative survival rate of patients, even stratified according to the depth of invasion (p>0.05). Conclusion: Down-regulated expression of MUC-2, -4 and -5AC may be involved in pathogenesis, invasion, metastasis or differentiation of gastric carcinoma. Their altered expression might therefore be employed as an indicator of pathobiological behavior.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 2009

Idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia is one of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which has a relatively aggressive course and poor prognosis. It is characterized by diffuse centrilobular nodules radiologically with mainly bronchiolocentric inflammation and fibrosis associated with patchy alveolitis lacking interstitial granuloma histologically. This disorder is a recently classified disease category, and to our knowledge, there is no case report in Korea. We present a case of idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia. A 62-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea with a 1 month duration. The radiological findings showed extensive centrilobular lesions at both lungs. The surgical lung biopsy specimen demonstrated a centrilobular inflammatory process with small airway fibrosis and inflammation partially radiating into the interstitium. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia. He was treated with immunosuppressants including steroids and azathioprine. However, his symptoms did not improve and he expired 7 months later due to an acute exacerbation of the interstitial pneumonia and probable infectious pneumonia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3773-3778
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• 2014

Background: The study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in northern Thailand and the clinicopathological difference with regard to HPV infection status. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of vulvar SCC diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2012 were collected. HPV infection was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers MY09/11 and GP5+/6+. HPV genotyping was performed using the Linear Array Genotyping Test, followed by type-specific PCR targeting the E6/E7 region of HPV16/18/52 if the Linear Array test was negative. The histologic slides of vulvar lesions and the medical records were reviewed. Results: There were 47 cases of vulvar SCC included in the study (mean patient age $57.9{\pm}13.2$ years). HPV infection was detected in 29 cases (62%), all of which had single HPV infections. HPV16 accounted for 23 (49%). The patients with HPV-positive SCC had a significantly younger mean age than those with HPV-negative tumors (52.7 years vs 66.2 years, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in tumor stage distribution with regard to the status of HPV infection. The presence of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) of usual type (basaloid or warty) was significantly more frequent in HPV-positive cases compared with HPV-negative cases (62% vs 6%, p<0.001), whereas differentiated-type VIN was more common in HPV-negative cases (24% vs 0%, p=0.019). Conclusions: HPV infection was detected in 62% of vulvar SCC in northern Thailand. HPV16 was the predominant genotype similar to the data reported from other regions. HPV-positive SCC occurred in younger patients compared with HPV-negative SCC, and was associated with usual-type VIN. Vaccination against HPV16/18 may potentially prevent almost one half of vulvar SCC in northern Thailand.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1983-1988
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• 2012

High temperature- and pressure-treated garlic (HTPG) has been shown to have enhanced antioxidative activity and polyphenol contents. Previously, we reported that HTPG inhibited 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced mucin depleted foci (premalignant lesions) and $O^6$-methylguanine DNA adduct formation in the rat colorectum. In the present study, we investigated the modifying effects of HTPG on N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG)-induced pyloric stomach and small intestinal carcinogenesis in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were given ENNG (100 mg/l) in drinking water for the first 4 weeks, then a basal diet or diet containing 2% or 5% HTPG for 30 weeks. The incidence and multiplicity of pyloric stomach and small intestinal (duodenal and jejunal) tumors in the 2% HTPG group (but not in the 5% HTPG group) were significantly lower than those in the control group. Cell proliferation of normal-appearing duodenal mucosa was assessed by MIB-5 immunohistochemistry and shown to be significantly lower with 2% HTPG (but again not 5% HTPG) than in controls. These results in dicate that HTPG, at 2% in the diet, inhibited ENNG-induced pyloric stomach and small intestinal (especially duodenal) tumorigenesis in mice, associated with suppression of cell proliferation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5183-5188
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• 2012

Colorectal cancer remains one of the most widespread malignancies in the world. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies considering colorectal cancer risk factors among Russian populations, particularly in Siberia. The aim of this investigation was to determine the impact of various lifestyle, dietary, family, and socioeconomical factors on colorectal cancer risk in South-East Siberia. We recruited 185 Russian colorectal cancer cases and 210 gender-, age-, and ethnicity-matched asymptomatic controls with no history of any malignant tumor, using a specially designed questionnaire to obtain relevant information. After the statistical analysis, we defined several significant factors affecting colorectal cancer risk. Among these were smoking (OR=2.13, 95%CI=1.4-3.24, P=0.0004), being overweight (BMI between 25-30, OR=2.45, 95%CI=1.49-4.03, P=0.0004), alcohol drinking (OR=8.73, 95%CI=5.49-13.87, P<0.0001), beer drinking (OR=9.24, 95%CI=5.14-16.61, P<0.0001), consumption of hard liquor (OR=9.37, 95%CI=5.92-14.82, P<0.0001), excessive red meat consumption (P<0.0001), excessive intake of red meat products (P<0.0001), excessive intake of dairy products (P<0.0001), excessive sour cream and cheese consumption (P<0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively), spicy food consumption (OR=2.87, 95%CI=1.9-4.33, P<0.0001), family history of gastrointestinal malignant tumors (OR=3.99, 95%CI=2.09-7.59, P<0.0001), and income exceeding twice the subsistence minimum (OR=5.34, 95%CI=3.35-8.53, P<0.0001). Certain factors, such as high concentration of salt in the food and precancerous colonic lesions, demonstrated borderline significance (OR=3.45, 95%CI=1.68-7.1, P=0.0008, and OR=5.25, 95%CI=1.94-14.22, P=0.001, respectively). Some factors were established as protective, like consumption of rye bread and both rye and wheat bread (OR=0.32, 95%CI=0.21-0.5, P<0,0001, and OR=0.07, 95%CI=0.02-0.21, P<0.0001, respectively), and also low concentration of salt in the food, although this was of borderline significance (OR=0.43, 95%CI=0.26-0.69, P=0.0006). ABO and Rhesus blood antigens were not associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. These results should be definitely applied for elaboration of programs of colorectal cancer prevention in Russia, particularly in Siberia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3357-3362
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• 2013

The human skeleton is the most common organ to be affected by metastatic cancer and bone metastases are a major cause of cancer morbidity. The five most frequent cancers in Malaysia among males includes prostate whereas breast cancer is among those in females, both being associated with skeletal lesions. Bone metastases weaken bone structure, causing a range of symptoms and complications thus developing skeletal-related events (SRE). Patients with SRE may require palliative radiotherapy or surgery to bone for pain, having hypercalcaemia, pathologic fractures, and spinal cord compression. These complications contribute to a decline in patient healthrelated quality of life. The multidimensional assessment of health-related quality of life for those patients is important other than considering a beneficial treatment impact on patient survival, since the side effects of treatment and disease symptoms can significantly impact health-related quality of life. Cancer treatment could contribute to significant financial implications for the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to assess the health-related quality of life and treatment cost, among prostate and breast cancer patients in countries like Malaysia to rationalized cost-effective way for budget allocation or utilization of health care resources, hence helping in providing more personalized treatment for cancer patients.