The First Evaluation of Proteinase K-Resistant Prion Protein (PrPSc) in Korean Appendix Specimens.

Background and Objectives: Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the abnormal proteinase K-resistant prion protein (PrPSc). Since variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was first reported in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1996, the occurrence of variant CJD has been reported in over 10 countries. To date, variant CJD has not been reported in Korea. However, the E211K somatic mutation in the prion protein gene (PRNP), which is related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), was reported in Korean Holstein cattle, and atypical BSE, which is supposed to be sporadic BSE, has been occurring in many countries, including Japan and the USA. These results suggest that BSE may occur naturally in Korea. Thus, we performed a preemptive PrPSc test in appendix specimens to diagnose variant CJD in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we investigated CJD-related mutations and polymorphisms of the PRNP gene and carried out an examination on PrPSc in appendix specimens of Korean patients after appendectomy. Results: In all Korean appendix specimens tested, PrPSc bands were not detected. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this was the first evaluation of PrPSc in Korean appendix specimens.

Desmoid type fibromatosis of the distal pancreas: A case report.

A 23-year-old Korean female presented epigastric pain of two-months' duration. She had a laparoscopic ovarian cyst excision 8 months previously. Clinical examination was normal. An abdominal computed tomogram (CT) demonstrated a 10-cm solid mass in the distal pancreas, with signs of splenic artery and vein occlusion, gastric and transverse colon invasion. Operative findings showed a mass involving distal pancreas, invasive to the posterior wall of the antrum of the stomach and transverse colon and 4th portion of the duodenum without lymph node involvement. The surgery consisted of a distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and combined partial resection of the stomach, transverse colon and 4th portion of the duodenum. The immunohistochemistry and histopathological features were consistent with a confirmed diagnosis of intra-abdominal desmoid type fibromatosis (DTF). The prognosis of pancreatic DTF is not known and she showed no recurrence or distant metastasis during a 3 year follow-up. Herein we report a rare case with an isolated, sporadic, and non-trauma-related DTF, located at the pancreatic body and tail.