In 56 breast cancer tissues (infiltrating ductal carcinoma) with a clinical follow-up period of more than 5 years, positivity of estrogen receptor(ER) by enzyme immunoassay and expressions of bcl-2 and p53 oncoproteins by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. The purposes of this study were to determine prevalence of bcl-2 and p53 in breast cancer, the interrelationship between expression of the proteins and estrogen receptor, correlation between histologic grade and the expression of the tumor-related oncogenes, and to explore the biologic bahavior of breast cancer (lymph node metastasis, recurrence rate, and survival) via expression of bcl-2 and p53. Twelve of 56 (21.4%) carcinomas were bcl-2 positive, and seventeen (30.4%) were p53- positive. Eleven of 12 bcl-2 positive tumors (91.7%) were ER-positive, and bcl-2 expression was significantly associated with ER-positivity(P=0.043). Seven of 36 ER-positive tumors (12.5%) were p53 positive, and p53 expression was inversely associated with ER-positivity(P=0.006) significantly. The bcl-2 protein expression showed a significant relationship to low histologic grade of tumor (P=0.0002), and an almost significant relationship to lower recurrence rate (P=0.09). The p53 protein expression showed a significant relationship to high histologic grade of tumor (P=0.002) and an almost significant relationship to lymph node metastasis (P=0.09). Also an almost inverse relationship between bcl-2 and p53 was demonstrated (P=0.057). The bcl-2 expression had a tendency to be associated with longer patient survival(P= 0.09), but p53 immunoreaction was found not to be associated with shorter patient survival(P=0.16). These results provide further evidence that higher incidence of bcl-2 expression is correlated with higher incidence of ER and lower grade of tumor, while p53 expression is correlated with lower incidence of ER and higher grade of tumor. In conclusion, although the biologic function of bcl-2 protein is not yet well understood in breast cancer, our results suggest that bcl-2 and p53 oncoproteins might play significant roles in estrogen receptor and development of breast cancer. But their prognostic significance could not be determined; our results are 'not significant' but 'almost significant'. Thus, contribution of bcl-2 and p53 immunohistochemical phenotyping of breast cancer with ER to the clinical management need verification in larger series.
Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Breast Neoplasms

Reading epilepsy, a form of reflex epilepsy or sensory precipitated epilesy, is known as the most frequent type of language induced epilepsy. Since Bickford presented 6 cases of reading epilepsy for the first time, about 50 cases of primary reading epilepsy have been reported. We present a case of primary reading epilepsy which is confirmed by clinical features and EEG, with a brief review of literature.
Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Reflex*

Local or distant flap surgery has been applied in the soft tissue defect area where bone and tendon are exposed, but there are many pitfalls in these surgeries including limitation of donor site selection, as well as functional and aesthetic dissatisfaction of the donor and recipient site. So these problems have facilitated the development and study of skin substitute (artificial dermis). The history of artificial skin began in the 1980s with the invention of Stage I membrane by Yannas and Burke. Since then it has been developed and applied to chinical cases of extensive burn injury and soft tissue defect. In 1989, and artificial dermis (Terudermis) composed of fibrillar collagen and heat denaturated atelocollagen was developed by Konish. It has the advantage of allowing early-incorporation of cellular and vascular components into its collagen sponge, as well as dehydrothermal cross-linking, which is very weak. This study included 18 consecutive cases which underwent application of artificial dermis on bone and tendon from January 1997 to November 1998. The exposed areas were the result of trauma in 10 cases, postoperative complications in 2 cases, and other causes in 6 cases. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 18 months, averaging 11 months. A week after wound debridement and Terudermis application, neovascularization had begun and granulation tissue appeared aften 2-3 weeks. Then the split or full -thickness skin graft was secondarily applied resulting in the production of sufficient skin. In conclusion, Terudermis application to an area of exposed bone and tendon is a very useful method, especially when primary local or distant flap surgery cannot be used. This method is very simple, convenient and reliable.
Burns ; Collagen ; Debridement ; Dermis ; Fibrillar Collagens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulation Tissue ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Inventions ; Membranes ; Porifera ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin ; Skin, Artificial ; Tendons* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans

In humans, the major stimulus for cutaneous pigmentation is ultraviolet radiation. Little is known about the mechanism underlying this response, in part, because of the complexity of the interactions involving the whole epidermis. The present stucy was undertake to evaluate the effects of a single exposure of UVB on cultured normal melanocytes. Melanocytes were exposed to UVB from 5.1 mJ/cm to 203 mJ/cm. The results were as follows : 1. The main morphologic changes in UVB-exposed groups w re larger sized cells, more blunted dendrites, and shorter dendrites than in the control group. These cells increased sized according to the increased doses of VVB, but above 101.5 mJ/cm, the melanocytes shrunk and were destroyed. 2. From 20.3 mJ/cm of UVB, the proliferation of melanocyte was decreased, Especially, there was statistical!y significant difference above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. The antiproliferativo effect increased with the passage of tirie after UVB exposure. So, cell count could not be done in 101.5 mJ/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the third day, and in 50.8 mJ/cm, 101.5 m J/cm and 203 mJ/cm on the seventh day. 4. Statistically the melanin content per well was significantl dicreased to 11-28% of each control group with dose above 50.8 mJ/cm (p<0.05, p<0.01). The melanin content per cell was increased to 107-128% of each control group when doses were below 20.3 mJ/cm and decreased to 49-79% of each control group when above 0.8 mJ/cm on the third day, but there was no statistically significant difference. In summary, when melarocytes were exposed to UVB, morphclogic changes progressed to cell differentiation. The results also suggested that a low or dose of UVB has an antiproliferative arid mild melanogenic effect, and a higher dose of UVB has a direct cytotoxic effect.
Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendrites ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Pigmentation

No abstract available.
Pancreas*

Contrast arteriography and phlebography remain the standard diagnostic techniques for evaluation of peripheral arterial and venous diseases. However, invasive angiographic techniques involve expense, time, discomfort, and potential risks to the patient which preclude their use as routine screening and followup procedures. In order to obtain accurate, objective information to complement the clinical diagnosis of peripheral vascular diseases, many noninvasive diagnostic techniques have recently become available to the clinican. Among these techniques, photoplethysmograph (PPG), strain gauge plethysmograph (SPG), and doppler ultrasound were adopted for our study. Fourty young volunteers were studied as a control group, and twenty peripheral vascular disease patients were studied as a patient group. We obtained average values of PPGa, blood flow, maximum PRT venous reflux folw (MVRF), maximum venous outflow (MVOF), pulse reappearance time (PRT), PRT/2 and pulsatility idex(PI) for control group. Results for patient group were analysed and compared with those of control group. 1. Normal PPGa wave has a steep upslope, a relatively narrow peak, and a dicrotic wave on the downslope which is concave toward the baseline. PPGa reflected skin blood flow sensitively than any other technique. 2. Average forearm blood flow by means of SPG was 5.7±2.0, and that of calf was 3.7±1.4ml/min/100cc tissue. MVOF of forearm was 32.9±10.4, and that of calf was 18.0±7.0ml/min/100cc tissue. Blood flow measurement was not useful for detection of arterial occlusive disease, but MV OF was useful for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. 3. PRT, PRT/2, over shooting reaction time by means of SPG have low diagnostic value and PI by means of doppler ultrasound was useful for localization of arterial narrowing or obstruction. 4. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques including PPG, SPG and doppler ultrasound are useful for screening and follow-up procedures in diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease. They are also valuable to supplement angiographic or physical findings.
Angiography ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Phlebography ; Reaction Time ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Diseases ; Venous Thrombosis ; Volunteers

An analysis and CT findings in 21 adult patients of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma(SICH) mixed with CSF who were admitted to the Fatima Hospital from December 1986 to May 1989. The following results were obtained; 1) We could differentiated SICH that have inhomogenous density and thought that it is composed of blood, CSF and blood-CSF mixture. 2) Previously reported pathways that intracerebral hematoma rupture into the ventricle are caudate nucleus and thalamus but intracerebral hematoma can be mixed with CSF through the subarachnoid space of Sylvian fissure as an another route. 3) Intracerebral hematoma mixed with CSF was removed easily, safely and enoughly with simple aspiration method as like resoluted hematoma in subacute or chronic phase. 4) The prognosis of patients with SICH mixed with CSF was very good unlike to that of patients with pure intracerebral hematoma and/or ventricular hemorrhage.
Adult ; Caudate Nucleus ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Space ; Thalamus

No abstract available.
Gestational Sac* ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive mechanisms in response to an increased cardiac work load. Alterations in gene expression play an important role in this adaptive process. Recent investigations have indicated that the alpha-1 adrenergic stimulation in vitro induces hypertrophic change of neonatal cardiomyocytes. The signalling mechanisms of this alpha-1 agonist induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy are largely unknown. however, recent evidence favors an effector pathway that involves phospholipase C(PLC) mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,50 bisphosphate. It should be recognized that the demonstration of enhanced phosphoinositol turnover in the presence of alpha-1 adrenergic agonist in vitro does not necessarily imply that a similar response is operative in vivo. Furthermore, the role of subtypes of phospholipase C in this system should be determined. In this context, we produced in vivo cardiac hypertrophy by repeated injection of alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine, and tried to evaluate any change of phospholipase C subtypes by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting technique and also measured the phosphatidylinositol hydrolyzing activity of the enzyme. METHOD: To produce cardiac hypertrophy, we injected phenylephrine 12mg/kg i.p. to the 28 female S-D rats weighing 150-250g daily for 5 days. This measures produced 22% increase of heart weight/body weight ratio. After 5 days. rats were sacrificed and hearts were rapid excised and freezed for next procedure. The immunohistochemical stainings of myocardium were carried out using monoclonal antibodies against PLC-beta1,-gamma1,-delta1 with Avidine-Biotin Complex method. Immunoblotting was done with monoclonal anti-PLC-gamma1 antibody after immnoprecipitation. The activity of PLC-gamma1 was determined in the assay mixture containing [3H] phosphatidylinositol of 20,000 cpm. The reaction was performed by incubating with resuspended immunoprecipttol of 20,000 cpm. The reaction was performed by incubating with resuspended immunoprecipitate for 10 min and supernatant was collected for -scintillation counting. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated increased staining of PLC-gamma1 in the phenylephrine induced hypertrophied heart as compared with normal control heart. PLC-beta1 and-o1 did not showed any change. Elghteen out of 20 hypertrophied cardiac tissue(90%) demonstrated increased expression of the PLC-gamma1 compared with control heart tissue in immunoblotting. [3H] PI hydrolyzing activity of PLC-gamma1 in the immunoprecipitates of the hypertrophied hearts(4650+/-614 cpm) were increased consistently in 6 samples as compared with control normal hearts (2387+/-651 cpm). CONCLUSION: In the present experiments we demonstrated that Phospholipase C-gamma1 was overexpressed compared with control normal heart of rat by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting technique and showed that the activity of this isoenzyme was elevated. Our findings of increased PLC-gamma1 expression in the alpha1-adrenergic agonist induced cardiac hypertrophy tissue suggest that the phosphatidylinositol signalling pathway is important in the genesis of cardiac hypertrophy and the isoenzyme of PLC-gamma1 may play a central role in this mechanism.
Adrenergic Agonists ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cardiomegaly* ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Heart ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Hypertrophy ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Phenylephrine* ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Phospholipases* ; Rats* ; Signal Transduction ; Type C Phospholipases