• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.131-137
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• 2013

Purpose: We evaluated treatment outcomes of thymic carcinomas to determine prognostic factors for survival. Materials and Methods: Between May 1988 and May 2009, 41 patients had pathologic diagnosis of thymic carcinoma in Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Of these, 40 patients were followed up to 188 months after treatment. The mean age of all patients was 58.3 years and male to female ratio was 23 to 17. Results: Among 30 patients who underwent surgical resection, 26 achieved R0 resection and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) was performed in 22 patients (73%). Various chemotherapeutic regimens were given with local treatment modalities, surgery and/or radiotherapy, in 12 patients. The 5-year locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were 79.4%, 53.0%, 42.6%, and 63.6%, respectively. Patients with Masaoka stage I or II showed excellent prognosis of 5-year PFS around 90%. In advanced stages, invasion of the great vessels or atrium by thymic carcinomas was negative prognostic factor for PFS in univariate analysis. Lymph node involvement was statistically significant factor for LRC and PFS. Local or regional recurrence was infrequent after surgical resection followed by PORT, while distant metastasis was the major component of treatment failure. Conclusion: Complete resection followed by PORT provided remarkable local control without severe acute toxicities in patients with stage II and favorable stage III thymic carcinoma. Invasion of the great vessels or atrium was statistically significant prognostic factor for PFS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.67-70
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• 2007

흉선암종은 드문 종격동의 악성 종양으로서 흉선상피세포에서 기원하지만 흉선종과는 조직학적 특징이 다르다. 흉선종이 자가면역질환을 종종 동반하는데 반해 흉선암종에서 자가면역질환이 동반되는 예는 드물다. 국내에서는 흉선암종과 자가면역질환이 동반된 예가 보고된 적이 없는데 저자들은 전신 근육통을 주소로 내원한 49세 남자 환자가 전신홍반루프스와 흉선암종을 동시에 진단받고 항암치료를 시작한 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.242-248
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• 2016

Thymic atrophy is a complication that results from exposure to many environmental stressors, disease treatments, and microbial challenges. Such acute stress-associated thymic loss can have a dramatic impact on the host's ability to replenish the necessary naïve T cell output to reconstitute the peripheral T cell numbers and repertoire to respond to new antigenic challenges. We have previously reported that treatment with the orexigenic hormone ghrelin results in an increase in the number and proliferation of thymocytes after dexamethasone challenge, suggesting a role for ghrelin in restraint stress-induced thymic involution and cell apoptosis and its potential use as a thymostimulatory agent. In an effort to understand how ghrelin suppresses thymic T cell apoptosis, we have examined the various signaling pathways induced by receptor-specific ghrelin stimulation using a restraint stress mouse model. In this model, stress-induced apoptosis in thymocytes was effectively blocked by ghrelin. Western blot analysis demonstrated that ghrelin prevents the cleavage of pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bim, Caspase-3, and PARP. In addition, ghrelin stimulation activates the Akt and Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways in a time/dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we also revealed the involvement of the FoxO3a pathway in the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Together, these findings suggest that ghrelin inhibits apoptosis by modulating the stress-induced apoptotic signal pathway in the restraint-induced thymic apoptosis.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.1067-1072
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• 2009

성체흰쥐의 경우 항암제인 싸이클로포스파마이드(CY)처리로 퇴축된 가슴샘은 2주 후에 정상조직으로 재생된다. 가슴샘 발생과정에서 이미 알려진 SDF-1 신호전달의 중요성과는 달리 성체의 가슴샘 재생과정에서 그 역할에 관해서는 알려진 바 전혀 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 발생중인 가슴샘에서 발현이 증가된다고 이미 알려져 있는 SDF-1이 성체의 가슴샘재생과정에서 어떤 발현 양상을 보이는지를 조사하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 사이클로포스파마이(cyclophosphamide: CY)를 투여하여 가슴샘의 급성 퇴축을 유발시킨 후, 가슴샘 재생과정동안 SDF-1의 발현 특성을 면역조직화학, 이중면역염색 형광법, 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응법을 이용하여 조사하였다. 그 결과, SDF-1은 가슴샘의 급성 퇴축 이후 7일째 되는 시기에 mRNA와 단백질의 양이 급격히 증가하였으며, 이중면역염색 형광법을 통해 큰포식 세포와 위치적 분포가 일치함을 확인하였다. 따라서, 본 연구 결과들을 통해 SDF-1은 가슴샘의 급성 퇴축 초기 과정에서 나타나는 손상된 세포를 처리하는 큰포식 세포의 기능 조절에 관여할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.41-44
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• 1972

Thymic cyst is a relatively uncommon,usually asymptomatic benign lesion situated in the anterior mediastinum or in the neck,and sometimes in both regions. This is a report of two cases of congenital thymlc cyst in a 18 year old girl and a 43 tear old man. Those were treated with extirpation of the cystic lesion by thoracotomy successfully and had good postoperative results.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2015

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a significant role in establishing self-tolerance through their ability to present self-antigens to developing T cells in the thymus. DCs are predominantly localized in the medullary region of thymus and present a broad range of self-antigens, which include tissue-restricted antigens expressed and transferred from medullary thymic epithelial cells, circulating antigens directly captured by thymic DCs through coticomedullary junction blood vessels, and peripheral tissue antigens captured and transported by peripheral tissue DCs homing to the thymus. When antigen-presenting DCs make a high affinity interaction with antigen-specific thymocytes, this interaction drives the interacting thymocytes to death, a process often referred to as negative selection, which fundamentally blocks the self-reactive thymocytes from differentiating into mature T cells. Alternatively, the interacting thymocytes differentiate into the regulatory T (Treg) cells, a distinct T cell subset with potent immune suppressive activities. The specific mechanisms by which thymic DCs differentiate Treg cells have been proposed by several laboratories. Here, we review the literatures that elucidate the contribution of thymic DCs to negative selection and Treg cell differentiation, and discusses its potential mechanisms and future directions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제78권2호
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• pp.112-119
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• 2015

Primary thymic adenocarcinoma is a very rare malignancy of the anterior mediastinum with no standardized treatment. A 36-year-old male patient presented with hoarseness over the past 3 months. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed an infiltrative mass to the proximal vessels and aortic arch in left upper mediastinum ($4.1{\times}3.1{\times}5.4cm$). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed focal lesions, suggesting metastasis in the left frontal lobe. A thoracoscopic biopsy of the mediastinal mass confirmed a primary thymic adenocarcinoma forming a glandular structure with atypia of tumor cells. The patient received four cycles of systemic chemotherapy, consisting of etoposide and cisplatin, with concurrent radiotherapy (6,000 cGy/30 fractions) to the mediastinal lesion and the metastatic brain lesion (4,200 cGy/12 fractions). A follow-up chest CT scan and brain MRI showed a decrease in the size of the left upper mediastinal mass and brain lesion. We report a rare case of the primary thymic adenocarcinoma with a literature review.

• 생약학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.286-292
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• 1997

We studied the screening condition for immune regulatory responsor. We focused on the T-lymphocytes leer this purpose. Mouse fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) system and flow cytometric analysis were mainly used in this experiment. Even if FTOC is carried out in vivo condition, the pattern of thymic development in the condition of FTOC is similar to that of in vivo condition. In this regard, FTOC system might be very powerful tool to screen the immune regulator, especially concerning on T cells. To establish the optimum condition of FTOC to screen the Immune regulator, we focused on the optimum amount of dose and culture period. The cell number and surface antigens on T cells were also analysed by using hemacytometer and flow cytometer. To monitor the differentiation event, anti-CD3, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies were used. Alkoxyglycerol and Phellodendri Cortex were used fur positive and negative control, respectively. Astragalus membranceus was used as test sample. From our analysis, we reached to conclusions that the best dose of extract is $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of culture medium, the best culture period is for 9 days, and ethanol used as solvent has no toxicity to FTOC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.771-774
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• 2016

Thymic tumors are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Total resection is the main treatment and predictor of longer survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy is recommended with incomplete excision or advanced disease. Thirty seven patients with thymic tumors were included in this retrospective study from January 2001 till December 2012. They were studied regarding age, sex, performance status, tumor size and invasion, stage, pathology, treatment given, overall and progression free survival. Myasthenia gravis was present in 18.1% of the patients. Masaoka stage III was diagnosed in 40.5% of the cases followed by stage II in 24.3% and the other stages with lower percentages. Pathology type B3 was the most frequent followed by B2 and B1 with percentages of 27, 24.3 and 21.7 respectively. Complete resection was conducted in 11 cases (29.75%). Partial resection or debulking was done in 15 (40.5%) and a biopsy was taken in 11 cases (29.8%) Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 14 patients (37.8%) and neoadjuvant to 13 (35.2%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was given to 17 patients (46%) and neoadjuvant to 14 (37.8%). The 5-year overall survival by was 83% for stage I, 71% for stage II, 60% for stage III, and 44% for stage IV (p=0.0426). Five year progression free survival was 71% for stage I, 62% stage II, 42% stage III, and 37% for stage IV (p=0.0532). In conclusion with the rare thymic tumors early stage and complete resection have the highest impact on overall and progression free survival.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-46
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• 1997

Ultrastructure of mouse thymus was evaluated, following the administration of potassium dichromate and mercuric chloride, the heavy metals of evironmental pollutants. Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg) or mercuric chloride solutions (10 mg/kg) were subcutanously injected to the mice. Six hours, three days and two weeks after the injections, animals were sacrificed. Thymic tissues were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solutions. The procedure was followed by the fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide solutions. Washed and dehydrated tissue-blocks were embedded in the araldite mixture. Ultra-thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate-lead citrate solutions. Results observed were as follows: 1. In electron microscopy, cortical population of thymocytes in the thymus of experimental groups were reduced. especially in the outer cortex. Subcapsular cortices of potassium dichromate treated mice were filled with many epithelial reticular cells, whereas the similar area of mercuric chloride-treated mice exhibited large intercellular spaces. 2. In the thymus of mercuric chloride treated group, large intercellular spaces were formed by shrinkage of epithelial reticular cells, and the space was invaded by numerous cytoplasmic projections of macrophages. Thymocytes nuded out from the shrunken cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells, presented numerous microvilli. 3. In the thymus of potassium dicromate treated group, many activated macrophages and plasma cells migrated into thymic cortices. 4. In the perivascular spaces of thymic cortices of potassium dichromate- and mercuric chloride-treated mice, activated macrophages. plasma cells, collagen fibrils, and flocculent substance of exudated materials were exhibited. From the above findifgs, it was concluded that potassium dichromate or mercuric chloride could disturb the normal differentiation or 'education' of T cells in the thymic cortex. In turn, these heavy metals may hurt the immunological defense mechanism.