The bcl-2 proto-oncogene was first described as a result of the chromosomal translocation t(14:18) seen in a large number of follicular B-cell lines. Bcl-2 is so far unique a proto-oncogene in that it codes for an inner mitochondrial membrane protein. This protein regulates the programmed cell death called apoptosis. This study was designed to investigate expression of bcl-2 protein in 81 human breast cancer by using immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibody of bcl-2 protein. Also this factor was compared with established clinicopathological prognostic factors and hormone receptors. The bcl-2 protein expression was positive in 38(47%) cases and was negative in 43(53%) cases. There was significant correlation between bcl-2 protein expression and histologic grade(p=0.014). Positive expression of bcl-2 protein was correlated with positive estrogen(p=0.051) and progesterone(p=0.059) receptors, but this correlation was not significant. Bcl-2 expression failed to show its prognostic role for overall(p=0.115) and disease free(p=0.214) survival. In conclusion, the bcl-2 protein is often expressed in half of breast cancer, and its expression is associated with histologic grade and hormone receptor status, but the overall and disease free survival of breast cancer patient do not appear to be influenced by bcl-2 protein expression.
Apoptosis ; B-Lymphocytes ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Death ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Translocation, Genetic

Sclerosing peritonitis is an uncommon complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and can lead to small bowel dysfunction involving abdominal pain, progressive loss of ultrafiltration, and small intestinal obstruction. Peritoneal thickening, in which calcification can develop, often starts as a small plaque which gradually becomes larger. We report a case of CAPD-related calcifying peritonitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis* ; Ultrafiltration

The bone scanning has been routinely used for initial report in 1970s showed a high incidence of positive-up to 45%-results in preoperative assessment of these patients. But recent reports have questioned the routine use of bone scanning in preoperative basis by the result of much lower positive result as rate less than 1%. On this point, we analyzed 224 cases of breast cancer, which were operatively managed in the period from January 1990 to January 1995 at the department of surgery, Korea university medical center. All the cases were performed bone scanning preoperatively and followed up more than 3 months. The analytic evaluation was done about age, stage of disease, serum alkaline phosphatase level according to menopausal status and its correlation to the result of bone scanning. The result was 14 positive cases(6.3%) from bone scanning in 224 breast cancer cases, but only 8 cases(3.6%) were true positive with bone metastasis. While 35 stage I cases and 69 stage IIa ones had no true positive, 1 among 63 stage IIb cases(1.6%), 5 among 46 stage IIIa cases(10.9%) and 2 among 11 of stage IIIb ones(18.2%) had true positive. There were high bone metastasis rate in premenopausal patients(5/108 cases, 4.6%) than postmenopausal patients(3/116, 2.6%) (p<0.05). The alkaline phosphatase level shows no significant differences between true positive and other groups(p>0.05). All true positive patients' alkaline phosphatase level shows within normal limits. According to this result, we think that preoperative bone scanning is unnecessary as a routine procedure in Stage I and IIa breast cancer patients. Stage IIb needs more and further study for confirming the indication of bone scanning as combinations with other predictive indicator or symptoms. About Stage III disease, we conclude the bone scanning is absolutely helpful.
Academic Medical Centers ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

PURPOSE: Oncogen or growth factor receptor such as phospholipase C isoenzyme gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Her-2/neu which related with tyrosin kinasemay and then regulating vell proliferation may have a role as prognostic factors for breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: With assumption that expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene has close relationship with prognosis of breast cancer, 59 breast cancer patients who were operated upon at Korea University Hospital during a period of 6 years starting June 1988 to May 1994 were selected for this study. This study was carried out by comparing between expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene and patient's survival rate. These expression were also compared with TNM system, estrogen and progesterone receptor and at same time these expressions were compared with each other to see whether there are any relationship among these expression. RESULTS: Expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu were present in 42% (25/59), 46% (27/59) and 20% (12/59). The expression of PLC gamma-1 was closely related with the expression of EGFR (p<0.05) and Her-2/neu (p<0.05), but there were no relationship between the expression of PLC gamma-1 and hormonal receptors and TNM stage (p>0.05). The expression of EGFR was closely related with the expression of Her-2/neu (p<0.05) and hormone receptors (p<0.05), but there were no relationship between the expression of EGFR and pathologic TNM stage (p>0.05). The expression of Her-2/neu was not closely related with hormone receptors and TNM stage except axillary lymph node metastasis. There were close relationship between overall and disease free survival and PLC gamma-1 and Her-2/neu. But EGFR had only related with disease free survival rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene in human breast cancer may be useful prognostic factors independently and it may potentiated its individual value as a prognostic factors if use them together.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Estrogens ; Humans* ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Phospholipases* ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Survival Rate ; Type C Phospholipases*

We report the delayed sequelae arising in a case of electrical injury, reviewing the literature on the subject and focusing on the MRI findings of the brain. A 23-year-old male suffered burns to the left parietal scalp, both feet, and the anterior chest wall. Neurological symptoms and MRI abnormalities appeared 14 days after the insult and continued for about three months. T1-weighted MR images demonstrated homogeneous hypointensity, while T2-weighted images depicted hyperintense finger-like projections. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images demonstrated strong band-like enhancement, indicating meningeal hyperemia. Follow-up MR imaging showed that the lesion had disappeared, indicating that the cerebral edema and meningeal hyperemia were reversible.
Brain Edema ; Brain* ; Burns* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Rabeprazole ; Scalp ; Thoracic Wall ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: IL-18 was originally cloned as a IFN-gamma inducing factor in primed T cells. In synergy with IL-12, IL-18 has been shown to induce strikingly high levels of IFN-gamma production by T cells and to enhance Th1 development. Also this cytokine exerts induction of Th2 development through IL-4 induction. METHODS: Resting CD4+ T cells were sorted by negative selection and activated by anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 Ab. Expression of IL-12 binding sites, IL-18 binding sites, IL-18Ralpha, and GATA-3 mRNA were analysed by FACS and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Resting CD4+ T cells expressed IL-18Ralpha chain but not IL-18 binding sites, suggesting a lack of IL-18Rbeta expression. IL-18Ralpha was maintained on the Th1 and Th2 committed cells. IL-18 binding sites were induced on the Th1 but not Th2 cells. Exposure of these cells to IL-18 led to up-regulation of GATA-3 mRNA expression only in Th2 committed cells. To elucidate the relationship between IL-18Ralpha expression and GATA-3 induction by IL-18, Th1 and Th2 committed cells were further cultured in medium with or without IL-12 for 2 days. IL-12 binding sites were maintained on the Th1 and Th2 cells regardless of IL-12 treatment, but IL-18Ralpha expression was rapidly down-regulated on the IL- 12-untreated Th2 cells which did not induce GATA-3 mRNA expression followed by IL-18 stimulation. CONCLUSION: IL-12 supports expression of IL-18Ralpha and GATA-3 mRNA expression was induced by IL-18 through IL-18Ralpha without expression of IL-18 binding site in Th2 cells.
Binding Sites ; Clone Cells ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-18 ; Interleukin-4 ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th2 Cells* ; Up-Regulation

Postappendectomy bleeding is a rare and occasionally catastrophic phenomenon. Bleed-ing in the gastrointestinal tract may occur early or late. The cause of late bleeding included ulceration, vascular malformation or granuloma. We experienced a case of delayed appen-diceal stump ulceration and bleeding who underwent an appendectomy 1 year ago. The patient was admitted due to melena. A colonoscopy showed a well-circumscribed deep ulcer containing of silk suture material at the base of appendiceal stump. Biopsy revealed only granulation tissue with nonspecific inflammation. The silk was removed by biopsy forcep and sulfasalazine was tried. A repeat colonoscopy showed the complete ulcer heal-ing 3 months later. We report this case with a review of literatures.
Appendectomy* ; Biopsy ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granulation Tissue ; Granuloma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Melena ; Silk ; Sulfasalazine ; Surgical Instruments ; Sutures ; Ulcer* ; Vascular Malformations

We describe a newly-made murine monoclonal antibody to the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA), named SHB-10. The antigen detected by SHB-10 has a molecular weight of about 105 kDa. This antibody is very similar to that of conventional anti-CD10 Ab on indirect flowcytometric analysis using lymphoid malignant cell lines and peripheral lymphocytes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. The binding of anti-CD10 to Daudi cell and peripheral lymphocytes of ALL patients is blocked by SHB-10. Thus this monoclonal antibody is thought to detect the CALLA. The distribution of antigen detected by SHB-10 on several cell lines of neuroectodermal tumor and lymphoid malignancy was analysed and a slight difference in their cell surface expression is observed when compared with that by conventional anti-CD10. Further biochemical analysis is now under way for a better characterization of this antigen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*immunology ; Antigens, Differentiation/*analysis/immunology ; Antigens, Neoplasm/*analysis/immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes/analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasms/*immunology ; Neprilysin ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*analysis

This report supports interactions between phenytoin and both enteral feeding products and nasogastric feeding tube. Five patients in ICU were treated with intravenous phenytoin, which yield detectable therapeutic serum concentrations. After switching to a comparable phenytoin capsule administered by nasogastric feeding tube, their serum phenytoin concentration fell to below assay sensitivity concentrations. Two of them experienced seizures. They were administered by intravenous phenytoin again or another antiepileptic drug, so the seizures were controlled. Some fact of decreased phenytoin absorption in enteral feeding patients is that phenytoin interact enteral feeding product and adhere the nasogastric feeding tube itself. We conclude that it is necessary to use phenytoin with caution in enteral feeding patients.
Absorption* ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Phenytoin* ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to analyze the influences of ICU patients' experiences in the ICU setting and the effect of ICU patient families' stress derived from their needs and daily life stress on the patients' quality of life. METHODS: ICU patients' quality of life was evaluated with KQOLS surveying 144 patients alive. The data was classified into 2 groups according to severity of illness and analyzed with an ANOVA. With a t-test, comparative analysis was made to examine deficiency of responses on patient families' needs and patients' quality of life. RESULTS: The patients in the group of higher severity of illness showed lower quality of life. The APACHEII score had a negative correlation with all domains except health status change domain, health status perception domain, and spiritual domain. There was a negative correlation between patients' age and three domains of physical function, role limitation, and social function and a positive correlation between patients' hospital LOS and health status change domain. The families in the group of lower severity of illness showed higher level of deficiency of responses on their needs for medical treatment and nursing information, and emotional support. Also, patients' quality of life in lower daily life stress group was higher than that in higher stress group especially in psychological health domain. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that ICU patients `quality of life was influenced by not only medical factors but also psychosocial factors and suggest that multidimensional intervention plans are required for improving patients' quality of life and recovering their health.
Humans ; Critical Care ; Nursing ; Psychology ; Quality of Life* ; Stress, Psychological