Shin Kon Kim

Myxoid Liposarcoma of the Spermatic Cord with Multiple Distant Metastasis

Myxoid liposarcoma of the spermatic cord (MLSC) is a rare variant of spermatic sarcoma. Typically, it presents during the sixth decade of life as a painless scrotal or inguinal mass. Although local recurrences are not uncommon, prognosis following complete tumor removal is good because metastases are rare. Although myxoid liposarcoma is common elsewhere in the body, less than 20 cases have been described in the spermatic cord. Distant metastasis with MLSC (e.g., bone, liver, lung) is extremely rare, and no cases have been reported in the English literature. We report one case of MLSC with multiple bone, liver and peritoneal metastasis, incidentally found during inguinal hernia repair.Myxoid liposarcoma of the spermatic cord (MLSC) is a rare variant of spermatic sarcoma. Typically, it presents during the sixth decade of life as a painless scrotal or inguinal mass. Although local recurrences are not uncommon, prognosis following complete tumor removal is good because metastases are rare. Although myxoid liposarcoma is common elsewhere in the body, less than 20 cases have been described in the spermatic cord. Distant metastasis with MLSC (e.g., bone, liver, lung) is extremely rare, and no cases have been reported in the English literature. We report one case of MLSC with multiple bone, liver and peritoneal metastasis, incidentally found during inguinal hernia repair. (J Korean Surg Soc 2009;77:366-369)

Mycophenolic acid-induced apoptotic signal transduction in MOLT-4 T-cell.

Purpose: Mycophenolic acid (MPA), a selective inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), is the active metabolite of the immunosuppressive drug, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF is used to prevent an immune-mediate rejection response following organ transplantation via the inhibition of the IMPDH and GTP biosynthesis pathway. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism by which MPA exerts its cytotoxic effect on human T lymphocytic and monocytic cell lines. Methods: MOLT-4 and U937 cell lines were treated with MPA. Cell viability, expression of family proteins and Fas/Fas-L, effects of antioxidants and intracellular regulating agents and apoptosis were measured using a variety of microscopic and biochemical techniques. Results: MPA induced the death of U937 and MOLT-4 cells in dose and time dependent manners, which was revealed an apoptosis with a characteristic ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation. In addition, BAPTA/AM, an intracellular chelator protected MOLT-4 cells from MPA treated apoptosis, although it did not have an additive with thapsigargin, and increases cytosolic stores. However, antioxidants including reduced glutathione (GSH) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) did not. inhibit the apoptosis of cells by MPA. Furthermore, guanosine suppressed MPA induced apoptosis of MOLT-4 lymphocytes, although adenosine did not. MPA also increased the catalytic activity of caspase family cysteine proteases including caspase-8, 9 and 3 proteases in MOLT-4 cells. Sequential activation indicated that the cleavage of caspase-8 and 9 precedes those of caspase-3. Conclusion: The results suggest that MPA induces the apoptotic death of MOLT-4 lymphocytes via the activations of caspase family proteases and the depletion of GTP.