PURPOSE: bcl-2 and p53 are known to act as a regulator of apoptosis in prostatic cancer and we evaluated the significance of these gene expressions and correlation with prognostic factors in prostatic cancer MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of histologically confirmed prostatic cancer, examined using immunohistochemical staining for the two gene products and the expression related to the grade and stage. RESULTS: We found that positive staining for bel-2 was 46.7%(21/45) and p53 was 31.8%(17/45). As compared to the Gleason grade, positive staining for bel-2 and p53 was 14.3%(2/14), 7.1%(1/14) at low grade, 40.0%(6/15), 40.0% (6/15) at intermediate grade, 81.3%(13/16), 62.5%(10/16) at high grade, respectively. It was significant difference(p<0.05). And, as compared to the stage, positive staining for bel-2 and p53 was 0%(0/7), 0%(0/7) at stage A, 33.3%(4/12), 16.7%(2/12) at stage B, 54.5%(6/11), 45.5%(5/11) at stage C, 73.3%(11/15), 66.7%(10/l5) at stage D, respectively. It was significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that bcl-2 and p53 expression are associated with the grade and stage of prostatic cancer, and to use them as the prognostic factor of prostatic canecr, further study is needed at the molecular level.
Apoptosis ; Gene Expression ; Prostatic Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate an immunoassay for urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) as an indicator for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of subjects attended the trial of NMP22. First group was 27 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, second group was 24 patients with other urinary cancer consisted of prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma, and third group was 24 healthy volunteers. NMP22 was determined using a commercial test kit, which is based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In normal healthy volunteers and other urinary cancer group median NMP22 levels were 2.24 and 3.27 U/ml, respectively. Median urinary NMP22 levels in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were 54.30 U/ml. It was significantly greater than other two groups. Median NMP22 levels according to the tumor stage and the tumor grade did not show the significant difference statistically. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary NMP22 is a useful marker that is more specific for bladder cancer thsn for other urinary cancer. Further tests are required to clarify the influence of other spe- cific conditions, such as urinary tract infection, and intravesical drug instillation or procedure.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Instillation, Drug ; Nuclear Matrix* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Tract Infections

Approaching to high lumbar level, the width of laminar decrease and conventional laminectomy for the management of L1-2 or L2-3 disc herniation may cause fracture of inferior articular facets of L1 or L2 vertebrae. We performed anterolateral approach to preserve posterior elements(destruction of which may cause later spinal instability), for the management of high lumbar disc herniation.
Laminectomy ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies of vascular remodeling in the pulmonary arteries have been performed actively. These models required a persistent vascular insult for intimal injury induced by chronic hypoxia, monocrotaline intoxication or chronic air embolism and characterized medial hypertrophy and neointimal formation by active synthesis of the extracellular matrix protein. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of pulmonary vascular remodeling after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Obstruction of the right pulmonary vein with a metal clip was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats (352+/-18 g, n=10) to cause pulmonary vascular disease. Fifteen days later, experimental studies were done and finally the both lungs and hearts were extirpated for experimental measurement. Pulmonary arterial pressure, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) and ventricular septum (S) (RV/LV+S weight ratio), and pulmonary artery morphology (percent wall thickness, %WT) were evaluated and compared with normal control groups. RESULT: Pulmonary hypertension (38+/-12 mmHg vs 13+/-4 mmHg; p<0.05) and right ventricular hypertrophy (right ventricular/left ventricular and septal weight ratio, 0.52+/-0.07 vs 0.35+/-0.04; p<0.05) with hypertrophy of the muscular layer of the pulmonary arterial wall (percent wall thickness, 22.4+/-6.7% vs 6.7+/-3.4%; p<0.05) were developed by 15 days after obstruction of the pulmonary vein. CONCLUSION: Obstruction of the pulmonary vein developed elevation of pulmonary blood pressure and medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary artery. These results are a part of the characteristic vascular remodeling. Theses results demonstrate that obstruction of the pulmonary vein can develope not only high pulmoanry blood flow of contralateral lung but also intima injury inducing vascular remodeling.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Embolism, Air ; Extracellular Matrix ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Lung* ; Monocrotaline ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Diseases ; Ventricular Septum

The number of workers with noise induced hearing loss which comprise 56.9% in the total number of workers with work-related diseases in Korea of 1994, are becoming in position of the most serious problem. Periodic health examination system which was introduced for health care of workers on hazardous workplace has played important role in health care and the prevention of work-related diseases. The goal of periodic health examination may be obtained when we not only discover occupational disease, but also control them effectively. To study the post-examination health status of workers with noise induced hearing loss diagnosed from 1991 to 1994 in the periodic health examination, all 154 workers in 102 manufacturing factories in Banwol and Siwha industrial complex were reviewed. ' 1. Among 154 workers, 87 workers (56.5%) were changed to different department, 67 workers (43. 5%) remained in the same department. 2. Among 102 workplaces, only 23 workplaces (22.9%) 'had changed their working environment while 79 workplaces (77.1%) did not. 3. In this study, post-examination health care of the workers diagnosed as noise induced-hearing loss had significant correlated with the presence of health care manager, Industrial Health and Safety Committee in workplace and size of industry. The improvement of working environment is also closely related with the presence of health care manager in workplace. 4. Among 154 respondents, 3 Wkers(l. 9%) had received! compensationwhile 151; workers(98.1%) did not. 5. The reasons for not requesting the compensation were that 117 workers (77.5^) were ignorant of the administrative procedure for compensation, 30 workers (19.9%) were not sure of receiving compensation, 4 workers (2.6%) were busy. Considering the result of this study, we must establish the guide of management or contents of post management for noise induced hearing loss. To prevent the noise induced hearing loss, and protect the workers with noise induced hearing loss, education about post management is much required for employer and employee.
Compensation and Redress ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Korea ; Noise* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health

The number of workers with noise induced hearing loss which comprise 56.9% in the total number of workers with work-related diseases in Korea of 1994, are becoming in position of the most serious problem. Periodic health examination system which was introduced for health care of workers on hazardous workplace has played important role in health care and the prevention of work-related diseases. The goal of periodic health examination may be obtained when we not only discover occupational disease, but also control them effectively. To study the post-examination health status of workers with noise induced hearing loss diagnosed from 1991 to 1994 in the periodic health examination, all 154 workers in 102 manufacturing factories in Banwol and Siwha industrial complex were reviewed. ' 1. Among 154 workers, 87 workers (56.5%) were changed to different department, 67 workers (43. 5%) remained in the same department. 2. Among 102 workplaces, only 23 workplaces (22.9%) 'had changed their working environment while 79 workplaces (77.1%) did not. 3. In this study, post-examination health care of the workers diagnosed as noise induced-hearing loss had significant correlated with the presence of health care manager, Industrial Health and Safety Committee in workplace and size of industry. The improvement of working environment is also closely related with the presence of health care manager in workplace. 4. Among 154 respondents, 3 Wkers(l. 9%) had received! compensationwhile 151; workers(98.1%) did not. 5. The reasons for not requesting the compensation were that 117 workers (77.5^) were ignorant of the administrative procedure for compensation, 30 workers (19.9%) were not sure of receiving compensation, 4 workers (2.6%) were busy. Considering the result of this study, we must establish the guide of management or contents of post management for noise induced hearing loss. To prevent the noise induced hearing loss, and protect the workers with noise induced hearing loss, education about post management is much required for employer and employee.
Compensation and Redress ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Korea ; Noise* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health

BACKGROUND: Urinary bladder cancer has been diagnosed by urine cytology and cystoscopy with biopsy. Recently, in vitro noninvasive diagnostic tests, measuring urinary nuclear matrix protein22(NMP22) and bladder tumor antigen(BTA), were introduced. We analyzed the usefulness of the NMP22 and BTA tests for diagnosing bladder cancer and compared those with voided urine cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single voided urine specimens were obtained from 27 patients with bladder cancer and 23 healthy volunteers. The urine specimens were assayed by enzyme immunoassay(NMP22, Matrietech(R), Newton, MA.) and latex immunoassay(BTA, Bard, USA). Urine cytology was performed in patients with bladder cancer. RESULTS: Mean urinary NMP22 level of patients with bladder cancer(144.6 U/mL) was significantly higher than those of normal controls(2.9 U/mL, P<0.01). The sensitivities were 89% and 74% for NMP22 and BTA tests, respectively, compared with 41% for voided urine cytology. The sensitivities of NMP22 and BTA tests were 88%, 63% at grade 1(G1), 82%, 73% at G2, and 100%, 88% at G3, respectively(P<0.01; NMP22, P=0.580; BTA). According to tumor stage, the sensitivities of NMP22 and BTA tests were both 79% at superficial, and 100% and 69% at invasive cancer, respectively(P=0.110; NMP22, P=0.678; BTA). The sensitivities of urine NMP22 and BTA tests combined with urine cytology were both 96%. In following of transitional cell carcinoma patients, agreement between urine cytology and BTA test was 75%(24/32). Among the various urologic disease, false positive rate for BTA test was 17%(8/47). CONCLUSION: Urinary NMP22 and BTA tests were more sensitive than voided urine cytology regardless of tumor grade and stage, so these noninvasive and simple tests can be used as screening tests for urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Cystoscopy ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Latex ; Mass Screening* ; Nuclear Matrix ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urologic Diseases

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia continues to be the most common major infection in trauma patients. Despite the advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for pneumonia, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this retrospective study is to identify the risk factors and clinical features of ventilator-associated pneumonia among chest trauma patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study population consisted of 78 mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the ICU of Chonnam National University Hospital between January, 2001, and December, 2006. The patients were divided into two groups: those with pneumonia (Group I) and without pneumonia (Group II). Clinical predictors of the occurrence and mortality for ventilator associated pneumonia were analyzed. RESULT: There were 57 men and 21 women, with a mean age of 48.3+/-19.9 years. Almost half of the patients, 48.7% (38 of 78), had pneumonia. The mortality rate was 21.0% (8 of 38) in Group I and 2.5% (1 of 40) in Group II. The predictors of ventilator-associated pneumonia were the duration of mechanical ventilation (17.4 days vs 6.5 days, p<0.001), the mean stay in the ICU (21.7 days vs 9.7 days, p<0.001), the use of inotropics due to hemodynamic instability (63.1% vs 25.0%, p=0.001), and the serum level of CRP (11.3+/-7.8 vs 6.4+/-7.3, p= 0.006). CONCLUSION: Posttraumatic ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly related with the duration of mechanical ventilation, the mean stay in ICU, and the use of inotropics due to hemodynamic instability. The serum level of CRP at admission was higher in the pneumonia group. Morbidity and mortality can be reduced by early identification of predictive factors for developing pneumonia in chest trauma patients.
Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: Epigallocatethin gallate(EGCG) is a major green tea polyphenol and is known to have potent antioxidative and antiproliferative actions. This study is performed to investigate the antioxidative effect of EGCG on the various oxidative insults in mouse cerebral cortical cell cultures. METHODS: Mixed cortical cell cultures containing both neuron and glia prepared by plating fetal mice cortical cells on to an established glia of 24 well vessels. At 13-15 days in vitro, oxidative neuronal deaths were induced by the addition of oxidants into the cortical cultures. Iron ion(FeCl2), copper ion(CuCl2), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and buthionine sulfoximine(BSO, a glutathione depletor) were used as oxidants. Cell death was assessed by LDH assay after microscopic examination. RESULTS: All four oxidants induced neuronal cell death associated with cell body swelling, which was markedly inhibited by Trolox(100muM), a vitamin E analog. EGCG(1-10muM) markedly inhibited the neuronal cell death induced by 20muM CuCl2, 1muM SNP, or 1mM BSO. Unexpectedly the neuronal cell death induced by 20muM FeCl2 was augmented by treatment with 1 or 3muM EGCG. EGCG itself induced concentration- and exposure time-dependent cell death at more than 30muM concentrations. EGCG(30, 100muM) injured not only neuronal cells but glial cells after 48 hour exposure. The EGCG-induced cytotoxicity was partially inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide(0.1 or 1mug/ml) and emetine (1mug/ml) or high potassium media(10 or 25mM) but was not affected by Trolox. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the dual antioxidative-cytotoxic actions of EGCG are concentration-dependent and that the antioxidative aciton depends on the kind of oxidative insults, and that the EGCG-induced cytotoxicity be relevant to protein synthesis and/or membrane depolarization.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Cell Death ; Copper ; Emetine ; Glutathione ; Iron ; Membranes ; Mice ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oxidants ; Potassium ; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors ; Sodium ; Tea ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins