BACKGROUND: DNA topoisomerase II-alpha is linked with active cell proliferation in mammalian cells. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the expression of DNA topoisomerase II-alpha as a proliferating marker, and the expression of Ki-67 and apoptosis in urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder based on World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) consensus classification. METHODS: 73 urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder after transurethral resection and 25 carcinomas after radical cystectomy were investigated for histologic grading based on WHO and WHO/ISUP consensus classification. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue of 98 specimens from 73 patients were immunohistochemically stained for DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and Ki-67, and in situ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method for evaluation of apoptotic cells was performed. For each case, a DNA topoisomerase II-alpha, Ki-67, and apoptotic indices were determined. RESULTS: The histologic grades of 73 cases based on the WHO grading system were 21.9% (16 cases) in grade 1, 65.8% (48 cases) in grade 2, and 12.3% (9 cases). 5.5% (4 cases) of papillary neoplasm of low malignant potential, 47.9% (35 cases) of urothelial carcinoma of low grade, and 46.6% (34 cases) in urothelial carcinoma of high grade were reclassified using the WHO/ISUP consensus classification. Histologic grades based on two grading systems were correlated to invasion and stage (p<0.05). DNA topoisomerase II-alpha, Ki-67, and apoptotic indices were correlated to histologic grades based on two grading system and invasion. Also, the correlation of DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and Ki-67 indices, and DNA topoisomerase II-alpha and apoptotic indices were significant, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DNA topoisomerase II-alpha appears to be an useful marker for assessing the proliferation potential of urothelial carcinoma of in the urinary bladder.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Proliferation ; Classification* ; Consensus* ; Cystectomy ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I* ; DNA* ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Paraffin ; Pathology* ; Urinary Bladder* ; World Health* ; World Health Organization

No abstract available.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders*

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infant*

A nineteen year-old boy with progressive enlargement of the joints and distal extremities, clubbing, coarse facial features and hyperhidrosis was investigated. In physical examination, thickening of the scalp with furrowing (cutis verticis gyrata) and greasy thickening of skin (pachyderma) was prominent. His endocrine profile was normal. Radiological studies demonstrated bilateral symmetrical periosteal new bone formation with acroosteolysis and incidental microadenoma of pituitay gland. After extensive investigation to exclude systemic and endocrine causes, the patient was diagnosed as pachydermoperiostosis (PDP). PDP is a rare syndrome manifested clinically by finger clubbing, extremity enlargement, hypertrophic skin changes, and periosteal bone formation. The pathogenesis of the disorder has not been clarified though few endocrine abnormalities were seen. To aware of these clinical phenotype would help to differentiate PDP from acromegaly.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Acromegaly ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Joints ; Male* ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Osteogenesis ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Scalp ; Skin ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effect of exercise training on defense mechanism of chronic degenerative disease, aging, and memory impairments of senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)P8 under the hypothesis that "Senile dementia may be prevented by regular exercises". METHODS: To evaluate the effects of exercise training on the defense mechanism of aging and memory impairment, SAMP8 were divided into two groups, the control group and exercise training groups. the exercise training group were performed with low (O2max 25~33%), middle (O2max 50%) and high (O2max 66~75%) intensity exercise. All SAMP8 mice were fed experimental diet ad libitum until 4, 8 months, and dead period. RESULTS: Median lifespan in middle exercise group resulted in a significantly increased (23.5% and 18.7%, respectively), whereas these lifespan in high exercise group resulted in an unexpectedly decreased (13.5% and 12.1%, respectively) compared with control group. Body fat levels in 4 and 8 months of age were significantly decreased 43% to 51% in middle exercise group, whereas were remarkably deceased to 57% in high exercise group compared with control group. It is believed that extended median and maximum lifespan may be effected by calory restriction through the exercise training. Acetylcholine (ACh) levels were significantly increased 6.7% and 8.5% in middle and high exercise groups, and also choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities were significantly increased 10.3% and 11.9% in middle and high exercise groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that proper and regular exercises such as middle group (O2max 50%) may play an effective role in attenuating an oxygen radicals and may play an important role in improving a learning and memory impairments of senile dementia.
Acetylcholine ; Adipose Tissue ; Aging* ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; Dementia ; Diet ; Exercise ; Learning ; Memory* ; Mice ; Reactive Oxygen Species

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula*

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to analyze the MR findings of medulloblastoma, and to evaluate the subarachnoid dissemination and the significance of contrast enhanced MR of brain and spine for tumor.. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative brain MR studies of 18 patients (9 males, 9 females;mean age, 9.4 years) with surgically proved medulloblastomas were retrospectively reviewed to characterize these neoplasms with regard to their location, size, MR signal intensity, appearance after contrast enhancement, presence of cyst and necrosis, subarachnoid dissemination, and other associated findings. In 14 patients postoperative spine MR studies were evaluated for staging and therapeutic planning. RESULTS: The most frequent location of medulloblastoma was the inferior vermis and the mean tumor size was 4.1 x 3.6 x 3.9 cm. On Tl-weighted image, medulloblastomas generally had low to intermediate signal, predominantly hypointense relative to white matter. On T2-weighted image, medulloblastomas showed modetately high signal, hyperintense relative to white matter. Inhomogeneous contrast enhancement was demonstrated in 13 patients(72.2%) after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine(Gadolinium). Cyst and necrosis within the tumor were visualized in 15 patients(83.3%). Subarachnoid disseminations of medulloblastomas were noted in 11 patients(61.1%), of which 6 demonstrated intracranial and 2 intraspinal dissemination. Three had both intracranial and intraspinal dissemination. In nine cases with intracranial lesions, there were intraparenchymal mass formation(7), subarachnoid nodules(5), infundibular lesions(2) and diffuse gyral enhancement(I). In five cases with intraspinal lesions, there were extramedullary intradural small nodules(3), central canal nodules(2), intradural masses(I)and fine nodular and sheet-like leptomeningeal enhancement(1). Other associated findings included intratumoral hemorrhage(11.1%), per/tumoral edema(44.4%), tonsillar herniation(44.4%), hydrocephalus(88.9%) and calcification(44.4%). CONCLUSION: Medulloblastomas revealed low to intermediate signal intensity on Tl-weighted image and intermediate to moderately high signal intensity on T2-weighted image, relative to cerebellar white matter. Medulloblastomas were solid tumors with cystic necrosis, which showed inhomogeneous enhancement and subarachnoid disseminations to the intracranial and intraspinal spaces after Gd-DTPA enhancement. Gd-enhanced MR of brain and spine was an useful diagnostic modality in preoperative diagnosis and in staging of postoperative cases of medulloblastomas, which was superior to postcontrast CT or precontrast MR.
Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Male ; Medulloblastoma ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

Various anatomical defects have been described in the surviving twin who had a stillborn, macerated monozygotic co-twin with Disseminated Intravascular Coargulation. The etiology is thought to be placental transfer of emboli or thromboplastic material through placental vascular anastomoses. We experienced a case of monozygotic twin with deceased co-twin at 30 weeks of gestation and confirmed to have antenatal periventricular germinal matrix and intraventricular hemorrhage, multicystic periventricular leukomalacia and diffuse encephalomalacia by neurosonography on first day of life despite of no clinical evidence of brain damage. The pathologic findings of placenta revealed infarct with massive fibrin deposition. A brief review of related literature is presented.
Brain* ; Encephalomalacia ; Fibrin ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Twins ; Twins, Monozygotic*

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Edema*

Temporomandibular (TM) joint pain results from many etiologic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of Bone SPECT in patients with TM joint pain. The subjects were 34 patients with TM joint pain. All patients underwent plain radiography, planar bone scan, and Bone SPECT. The intensity of radioisotope uptake at TM joint was graded into three; no increased uptake above three background activity as grade 0, uptake similar to occipital bone as grade I, and uptake similar to maxillary sinus as grade II. Clinical findings and therapeutic methods were reviewed. Twenty-seven patients (80%) out of 34 patients with TM joint pain had increased uptake in bone SPECT. Twenty-one (78%) out of 27 patients had increased uptake in the mandibular condyle and remaining six patients (22%) had uptake in the mandibular and maxillary arch, which proved to be dental problem. Seven patients out of 34 were grade as 0, four (12%) were grade I, 23 (68%) were grade II. Four patients with grade I had clicking sound and symptoms which were subsided with medication in all cases. Among 23 patients with grade II, 7 patients had clicking sound and 14 patients underwent medication and decompression therapy. With Planar bone scan, 11 cases (32%) had increased uptake in TM joint area. Plain radiography revealed narrowing, distension, erosion and limitation of TM joint in 16 cases (47%). Bone SPECT can be valuable for screening and managing the patients with TM joint pain. Patients with grade II needed intensive treatment such as joint aspiration. However degree of the radioisotope uptake did not well correlated with clinical symptoms.
Arthralgia ; Decompression ; Humans ; Joints ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mass Screening ; Maxillary Sinus ; Occipital Bone ; Radiography ; Temporomandibular Joint* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*