• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.284-290
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• 2006

Purpose: Many previous studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over expression is closely related to angiogenesis. However, few have reported the relationship between COX-2 and lymphangiogenesis which is still unclear, The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymphangiogenetic factor, VEGF-C, in human gastric cancer and to correlate COX-2 and VEGF-C expression with other clinocopathological features to investigate whether COX-2 contributes to lymphangiogenesis and enhances lymph node metastasis. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients who underwent curative radical surgery in Hanyang University hospital from July 1998 to June 2001 were selected. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C were detected by using immunohistochemistry, and the relationships between these two parameters and several clinicopathological factors (gender, stage, lymph node status, tumor location, Lauren classification and angioinvasion) were determined. Results: Increased COX-2 expression was found in 86 of 100 tumor samples (86%) and in 70 of 100 tumor samples (70%) with VEGF-C. A high correlation between VEGF-C expression and lymph node metastasis was observed (P=0.033) along as well as COX-2 expression (P=0.012). Also, there was a significant correlation between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression (P=0.026), yet no correlation were found between COX-2 and VEGF-C expression and other clinicopathological parameters. Conclusion: Our study suggests that COX-2 expression contributes to lymphangiogenesis by mediating VEGF-C and finally promoting lymph node metastasis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.312-315
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• 2008

Purpose: Amelanotic melanoma represents a melanoma with an absence or a small number of melanin pigments and comprises 2% of all melanomas. These melanomas are frequently misdiagnosed, probably because of its nonspecific clinical features and difficulty in diagnosis, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We report a patient with amelanotic melanoma, who underwent surgical treatment with sentinel lymph node biopsy using gamma probe. Methods: A 32-year-old female was presented with a slowly growing ill-defined, hypopigmented nonerythematous lesion with nail defect on right index finger tip. Preoperative punch biopsy was performed, showing an amelanotic melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was done using gamma probe(Crystal probe system, CRYSTAL PHOTONICS GmbH, Germany) and confirmed no evidence of regional lymph node metastases. The patient underwent amputation at the proximal interphalangeal joint. Results: Histopathologic findings showed superficial spreading melanoma. There were no melanin pigments in Hematoxylin & Eosin stain but positive immunohistochemical stainings for S-100 protein and Hmb45, which were consistent with amelanotic melanoma. Patient's postoperative course was uneventful without any complication and had no evidence of recurrence of tumor in 6 months follow-up period. Conclusion: Amelanotic melanoma is extremely rare subtype of malignant melanoma with histopathologic findings of atypical melanocytes without melanin pigments. Early detection is crucial since survival is strongly related to tumor thickness and tissue invasion at the time of diagnosis. Wide excision is the treatment of choice and other conjunctive therapy has not been successful.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2003

Allergic contact dermatitis may be caused by a wide variety of chemicals. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pig models for assessing the contact sensitization potential of chemical. However, there is a need to develop a nonradioisotopic endpoint for the LLNA, because of the radioisotopic method's requiring the use of special facilities. In this study, we investigated the development of a nonradioisotopic endpoint for LLNA using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Female Balb/c mice were treated by the topical application on the dorsum of both ears with four different strong sensitizers, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), oxazolone (OXZ), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and trimellitic anhydride (TMA), and a strong irritant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), once daily for three consecutive days. The proliferation of cells in the auricular Iymph node was analyzed by means of the labelling index (Ll) of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into cells. The weights of the Iymph nodes in the mice treated with allergens, DNCB, OXZ, TDl and TMA were increased compared to the vehicle control. The stimulation index (Sl) of mice treated with DNCB, OXZ, TDl, and TMA was over three-fold increase compared to the vehicle control. However, the S1 of mice exposed to SLS was not significantly increased compared to the vehicle control, while the lymph node weight of SLS was significantly increased. These results suggest that the LLNA modified endpoint using ELISA based on BrdU incorporation could provide a useful method of screening for irritants and allergens.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2009

Purpose: The present study was aimed to examine the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral cancer. Materials and methods: Twenty-two patients who underwent neck dissection to treat oral cancer were subjected for examination. The cervical node metastasis was evaluated by means of clinical examination, CT scan, PET, and histologic examination. By comparing the results of each examination modality with those of histologic examination, it's sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were determined. Results: The oral cancer was more frequent in males with a ratio of 2.14:1. The sixth decade showed the highest incidence in age distribution with mean of $56{\pm}16$. Histologic findings showed that squamous cell carcinoma was the most common (15 patients), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (3), malignant melanoma (2), and adenoid cystic carcinoma and ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (1 each), in order. In most cases, wide surgical excision of the primary cancer and neck dissection was performed, followed by reconstruction with free flaps when necessary. When comparing the results of each examination modality with those of the histologic examination, clinical examination showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value at 11%, 85%, 33%, and 58%, respectively. CT scans showed at 67%, 77%, 67%, and 77%, while $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT at 78%, 77%, 70%, and 83%, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that PET is more useful, compared with clinical examination and CT scans, in the evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 2005

Purpose: The lymph node status assessed by conventional histological examination is the most important prognostic factor in patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma. The presence of lymph node metastasis has a strong adverse impact on patient survival even after extended radical resection. Despite these findings, tumour recurrence is not rare after surgery, even when histological examination shows no lymph node metastasis. Recently, molecular-genetically and immunohistochemically demonstrated micrometastasis to the lymph nodes has been shown to have a significant adverse influence on survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and histologically negative nodes. The present study sought to determine the incidence and clarify the clinical significance of molecular-genetically and immunohistochemically demonstrated nodal micrometastases and to correlate these data with the stage of oral cancer. Methods: Lymph nodes systematically removed from 71 patients who underwent curative resection between 1998 and 2003 with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were examined molecular-genetically to detect cytokeratin 5 mRNA with RT-PCR and immunohistochemically to detect cells that stained positively for cytokeratins with the monoclonal antibody cocktail AE1/AE3. The postoperative course and survival rates were compared among patients with and without micrometastases, after numerical classification of overt metastatic nodes. Results: micrometastases were detected in 43(60%) of 71 patients by RT-PCR and 26(36%) of 71 patients by immunohistochemistry. By RT-PCR analysis, patients exhibiting a positive band for CK 5 mRNA had a significantly worse prognosis than those were RT-PCR negative. By immunohistochemistry, the presence of micrometastasis did not predict patient outcome. Conclusion: Micrometastases detected by RT-PCR may be of clinical value in identifying patients who may be at high risk for recurrence and who are therefore likely to benefit from systemic adjuvant therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1081-1084
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• 1998

Background: Esophageal surgery in esophageal cancer has low curative resection rate and its resut has not improved even after the extended lymphnode dissection. To evaluate the effectiveness of cervical lymph node dissection, we compare the node of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients esophageal cancer. Materials and methods: We studied a series of 32 patients who underwent operation for thoracic esophageal carcinoma at our institution. The 25 patient who underwent curative surgery were divided into two groups. Both groups A and B underwent transthoracic esophagectomies with mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomies only, but group B also underwent bilateral lower neck node dissection. Results: The rate of operative complications did not differ significantly between two groups. No operative and hospital mortalities were noted in either group. However, the mean anesthetic time was significantly longer in group B(mean: 90 minutes). Neck node metastasis was revealed in 27% of group B. Conclusions: Therfore, neck node dissection is meaningful for surgical treatment of the thoracic esophageal carcinoma. The longterm survival rate should be compared later.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 1990

The ultrastructures of the hemal node and the hemolymph node in the Korean native goat were observed by transmission and scanning elelctron microscopies for their morphological features. The sinus of hemal node was lined by endothelial-like reticular cells that had an euchromatin-rich nucleus and many cytoplasmic processes by which reticular fibers were surrounded. In the hemolymph node, the mast cell and the plasma cell were closely contact each other by the cytoplasmic process. The hemal node had venous sinusal-like vessels which were different from the deep sinus, and the hemolymph node had lymph capillaries. The lymph vessels with valves were observed in the capsule of the hemolymph node.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2009

Sinonasal malignant tumors comprise less than 1% of all cancers and 3% of all malignant tumors of the head and neck, which explains a lack of large series addressing the clinical characteristics and management of these tumors. Neck node metastasis occurs in only about 7% to 15% of malignant tumors compared with other head and neck cancers. A 90-yr-old woman presented with left palpable neck mass and right nasal mass occupying nasal cavity. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of left neck mass results in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). PET/CT shows intense FDG uptake in right nasal cavity with bone invasion. Histopathologic examination of excised lesion in the right nasal cavity revealed SCC. We report here on a primary sinonasal SCC with contralateral lymph node metastasis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2013

Esophageal cancer has one of the highest malignant potentials of any type of tumor. The 3-field lymph node dissection is the standard procedure in Japan for surgically curable esophageal cancer in the middle or upper thoracic esophagus. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is being increasingly performed in many countries, and several studies report its feasibility and curability; further, the magnifying effect of the thoracoscope is another distinct advantage. However, few studies have reported that minimally invasive esophagectomy is more beneficial than open esophagectomy. A recent meta-analysis revealed that minimally invasive esophagectomy reduces blood loss, respiratory complications, the total morbidity rate, and hospitalization duration. A randomized study reported that the pulmonary infection rate, pain score, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization duration, and postoperative 6-week quality of life were significantly better with the minimally invasive procedure than with other procedures. In the future, sentinel lymph node mapping might play a significant role by obtaining individualized information to customize the surgical procedure for individual patients' specific needs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 1997

In this study, homogenized mixture of tubercle and pulmonary lymph node showed up tuberculin(PPD) positive dairy cattle was inoculated in experimental animal, and was cultured on medium(Lowenstein Jensen medium, 3% Ogawa). The results obtained through the survey were sumerized as follows ; 1. In experimental animal, goat and rabbits were decreased body weight(25∼28%) and died in 90 days with severe pathogenicity. Rats are slight pathogenicity. 2. Goat, rabbits and rats showed up severe lesions In lung, rabbits was also lesions other organs (kidney, appendix, ileocecum, and I lymph node). 3. Mycobacterium was grown between 5 weeks and 8 weeks on Lowenstein Jensen medium and 3% Ogawa medium. 4. Biochemical test of Mycobacterium cultured on medium was that niacin, nitrate reduction, tween 80 hydrolysis and catalase test were negative, but that urease test was positive. Therefore it was Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).