Since the blastocyst is broken and spreads out on a flat plastic culture dish (two dimensional culture) during in vitro development, it has been difficult to study the implantation process. It also has been difficult to analyse the interactions between endometrial epithelial and stromal cells because of the lack of a long-term in vitro model which can stimulate in vivo characteristics, as these cells eventually fail to proliferate or cease to express differentiated functions. Recently nontransformed cell lines, CUE-P and CUS-V2, derived from rat endometrial epithelium and stroma were reported. In this study, morphology of CUE-P and CUS-V2 was examined and oxytocin gene expression by CUE-P cells was demonstrated by RT-PCR. The CUE-P cells have a cuboidal morphology and CUS-V2 cells resemble fibroblast and exhibit a spindle-like morphology. In RT-PCR, same size of PCR products of oxytocin gene at hypothalamus, uterus and CUE-P cells were demonstrated. These results showed three dimensional culture system could be made by using the new cell lines.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Line* ; Epithelium* ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Hypothalamus ; Oxytocin ; Plastics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; Stromal Cells ; Uterus

Most infants with repaired gastroschisis develop normally and remain in good health. About 10% of patients with gastroschisis have other malformations. We report a case of choledocholithiasis and intestinal malrotation in an adolescent with repaired gastroschisis. A 17-year-old girl presented with fever, jaundice, and abdominal pain. She had undergone an operation to repair gastroschisis at birth. Physical examination revealed icteric sclera, a tight abdominal wall, and a longitudinal surgical scar at the midline. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a round calcifying lesion near the pancreas and a midline-positioned liver and gallbladder. Absence of the retroperitoneal duodenum and the anterior and left-sided position of the superior mesenteric vein compared with the superior mesenteric artery were observed. Results of abarium examination revealed intestinal malrotation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed diffuse dilatation of the biliary trees and a malpositioned gallbladder. A single stone was removed by using a basket. The clinical symptoms improved after the patient underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Adolescent* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis* ; Cicatrix ; Dilatation ; Duodenum ; Female ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Gastroschisis* ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesenteric Veins ; Pancreas ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Sclera

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic colitis has a clinical spectrum ranging from mild reversible colitis to an acute fulminant course. Early and accurate diagnosis is therefore mandatory for a good clinical outcome. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a colonoscopy and histological examination with biopsy in the early and accurate diagnosis of ischemic colitis. METHODS: We investigated the clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings with the histopathology of 89 cases of ischemic colitis from October 2002 to August 2012 in a tertiary-care hospital. All patients underwent a colonoscopy with biopsy within a few days of the onset of symptoms, and the histological features from the biopsy specimens were reviewed. In addition, the occurrence of complications by colonoscopy with biopsy was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 65.8+/-12.6 years (male:female, 1:2.2). The major combined disorders were hypertension (51.7%), diabetes (31.5%), and arrhythmia (19.1%). The clinical features usually presented with hematochezia (83.1%), abdominal pain (77.5%), and diarrhea (60.7%). The involved patterns were the left colon (56.2%), right colon (39.3%), and pancolon (4.5%). Based on the main histological features of ischemic colitis, including glandular atrophy (67.4%), hemorrhage (61.8%), capillary thrombi (42.7%), and coagulative necrosis of mucosa (29.2%), 67 of the 89 cases (75.3%) could be confirmed with ischemic colitis. There were no serious complications such as bowel perforation or major bleeding following the colonoscopy with biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: A colonoscopy with biopsy is beneficial and safe for the early and precise diagnosis of ischemic colitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis