OBJECTIVES: The TGF-Beta1 (transforming growth factor-Beta1 ), which has been shown to inhibit cellular proliferation in vitro as a growth regulator, has been demonstrated to enhance tumori-genicity in vivo. The proteolytic processes of cancer are thought to be the crucial point in tumor invasion and metastasis, mainly by matrix metalloproteinases.(MMPs) We investigated the serum TGF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels in patients with cervical cancer in contrast to those of normal, patients with benign myoma, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). And we questioned whether these serum levels are different according to the therapy of cancer or not. METHODS: We measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 concentrations by ELISA in 34 patients with cervical cancer, as well as 5 normal volunteers, 14 patients with benign myoma and 23 patients with CIN. Especially in 7 patients with cervical cancer, we measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 levels before and after therapy. RESULTS: The serum TGF-Beta1 levels in patients with cervical lancer(37.8 +/-15.4pg/ml) were significantly lower than those of the patients with CIN(46.2+/-9.2pg/ml)(p<0.05). But there is no differences among the serum MMP-2 levels in the patients with cervical cancers(680.30+/-116.6pg/ml), CIN(715.2+/-150.0pg/ml), and benign myoma(682.4+/-112.5pg/ml)(p>0.05). Patients undergoing cancer therapy did not have different values of serum TCF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels as those without cancer therapy.(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: So we suggest that serum TGF-Beta1 may be helpful in differential diagnosing cervical cancers from CIN.
Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Myoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the growth, progression, and metastatic spread of solid tumors. Angiogenic factors are soluble molecules released by the tumor itself and are able to induce an angiogenic response. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been shown to be an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum VEGF levels in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. And we questioned whether the serum VEGF levels are related to cancer stages and prognosis of patients. METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 85 patients; healthy women(n=15), the patients with benign ovarian cyst(n=36), and the patients with ovarian cancer(n=34). The concentration of VEGF, CA-125, and CA 19-9 were determined in the serum of each patients before and after treatment with an enzyme linked immunoassay(EIA), RESULTS: There are statistical differences among the serum VEGF levels in patients with ovarian cancer(491.5+/-335.6 pg/ml), and benign ovarian cyst (247.7+/-183.6 pg/ml)(p<0.05). The patients undergoing cancer therapy had lower values than those without cancer therapy(p<0.05). The serum VEGF levels were not correlated with the cancer stages and histologic types(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: The serum VEGF level appears to be a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer and may help in predicting the therapeutic effects of patients with ovarian cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

This study aimed to differentiate gastric mucosal lesions such as the inflammatory gastric mucosa, gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, using the CEA(carcinoembryonic antigen), AgNORS(Nucleolar organizer regions) and PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) stains. The tissue samples were taken from 30 cases of inflammatory gastric mucosa (19 gastritis and 11 regenerative hyperplasia), 28 cases of gastric dysplasia (9 mild dysplasia, 10 moderate dysplasia and 9 severe dysplasia) and 21 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma. The CEA was expressed in 16 of 21 adenocarcinomas(76%), but in neither inflammatory nor dysplastic gastric mucosae. The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus was 1.54 in inflammatory gastric mucosa, 1.80 in gastric dysplasia, and 1.88 in adenocarcinoma. The number of AgNORs was increased in dysplasia and adenocarcinoma compared to the inflammatory gastric mucosa without statistical significance. The percentage of the PCN A positive cells was 35.2% in inflammatory gastric mucosa, 44.1 % in gastric dysplasia, and 69.0% in gastric adenocarcinoma. The positivity of the PCNA was significantly increased in adenocarcinoma compared to the inflammatory gastric mucosa and dysplasia. In conclusion, the frequency of the CEA positive staining was increased in the gastric adenocarcinoma, and so CEA stain will be able to provide an additive method for the differential diagnosis between severe dysplasia and adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Adenocarcinoma

No abstract available.
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Thorax*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Microcomputers* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Although drug eruption refers to a common dermatologieal condition, there are numerous setbacks in the diagnosis. In addition there are no annual average prevalence rates of drug eruptions according to time sequence in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to detme the clinical features and causative drugs of drug eruptions, the diagnostic value of various skin tests and to evaluate the dome,stic annual average prevalence rate of drug eruptions according to time sequence. METHOD: 270 patients with drug eruptions were reviewed clinically. In 103 patients, intradennal, patch and scratch-patch tests were performed using suspected drugs. The annual average prevalence rate of drug eruptions was calculated from 10 different general hositals in Korea. RESULT: Exanthematous eruptions(49.3), fixed drug eruptions(30.1), and urticaria(10.0%) were the common types of drug eruptions. The common causative agents were antibiotics/antimicrobials, antipyretics(NSAIDs, and CNS depressants. 52 patients out of 103 had positive results after at least one skin test with suspected drugs. CONCLUSION: In our study, we were ahle to obtain somewhat meaningful results basnl on data from the combination of various skin tests. As a result, physicians need to prescrible drugs with care.
Central Nervous System Depressants ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Skin Tests* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Pneumothorax* ; Thorax*

In comparison with normal cervix, mitosis occur more frequently in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and are seen at high levels, suggesting that CIN may be associated with a progressive dysfunction in proliferative activity of cervical cells. This study aims that expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) was examined to determine proliferative activity at the cell of CIN. Sixty four colposcopic biopsies from patients with cytologically and/or colposcopically dtagnosed condyloma and CIN. The cases were classified as follows ; 19 as normal cervix and condyloma, 15 as CIN I, 16 as CIN II and 14 as CIN III. Immunohistochemical detection of PCNA was performed on paraffin sections by the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method using the monoclonal antibody PC10. There was a statisically significant correlation between the CIN grade and the PCNA grade(p<0.05). In addition, the PCNA grade showed significant correlation with mitotic grade(p<0.05) and the CIN grade was also observed(p<0.05). This study suggests that the cell proliferation index as detected immunohistochemically using PCNA may be a useful adjunct to histopathological diagnosis of various grades of CIN.
Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mitosis ; Paraffin ; Peroxidase ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

OBJECTIVE: SCC-Ag(Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen) is a tumor marker for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. It has shown that the SCC-Ag was well related with the response of cancer therapy and course of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of pelvic lymph node metstasis can be predicted by the measurement of the preoperative SCC-Ag levels in the patients with early staged squamous cell carcinoma of cervix. METHODS: The preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels were measured in 45 patients with stage I-II squamous cell carcinoma of cervix undergoing radical hysterectomy from September 1995 to December 1997. The serum SCC-Ag levels were analyzed for the clinicopathologic characteristics and other prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The serum SCC-Ag levels of the patients exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis were above 4.8ng/ml. An elevated preoperative serum SCC-Ag level, and tumor size were independent predictors for the presence of lymph node metastasis(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of the preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels provides a new prognostic factor in early staged cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Fracture of the femur during total hip arthroplasty presents the simultaneous problems of prosthetic stability and fracture treatment. The treatment of such fractures can be complex and is one of the major challenges and this complication is associated with a high morbidity and a significant delay in convalescence. Among the 237 cases, who were treated by cementless total hip arthroplasty from Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1992, 13 cases of femoral fracture were experienced. They usually occured during insertion of prosthesis and preparation of the medullary canal. There were 6 cases of type II fracture, 1 case of type III fracture, 5 cases of type IV fracture and 1 case of type V fracture according to AAOS classification. All of the fracture healed, but the prognosis of these cases must be determined by follow up. We recommend that femoral fractures can be prevented by accurate preoperative evaluation of the size of the femoral canal, identification and management of the predisposing factors for intraoperative fractures.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Causality ; Classification ; Convalescence ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Prognosis ; Prostheses and Implants