The grading of astrocytoma has traditionally relied on histological assessment, but there are some differences in their parameters, application, and reproducibility. Recently, numerous studies have attempted to correlate biological aggresiveness with tumor proliferation index using new immunohistochemical methods. The purpose of this study is to correlate the histopathological grades of astrocytoma with the expression of Ki-67, PCNA, p53 protein and AgNORs. The paraffin sections of 41 consecutive cases of astrocytomas were examined. Histologically the tumors were graded as three groups under the St. Anne-Mayo system and showed 14 cases in grade II, 15 cases in grade III and 12 cases in grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme). As a result, the Ki-67 labelling index and p53 protein expression tended to increase with increasing grade of malignancy. But the univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the tumor grades (p>0.05). The PCNA labelling index and number of AgNORs revealed striking differences between the grade II and grade III astrocytomas (p<0.05). We concluded that the PCNA labelling index and AgNORs counting are useful markers for differentiation between grade II and III astrocytomas.
Astrocytoma* ; Paraffin ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Strikes, Employee

Membranous obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava(MOVC)is one of the common causes of Budd-Chiari syndrome. The aim of this study is to ascertain and compare the characteristic sonographic and CT findings of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC. We studied 10 patients of Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by MOVC through sonography and CT. MOVC was confirmed by operation and/or inferior vena cavography. The cases included 9 men and one woman. With sonography. IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 9 cases. The cause of IVC obstruction was web in 5 cases and fibrous cord in 3 cases. The cause was unspecified in on case. Obliteration of the hepatic veins and intrahepatic collateral vessels were delineated in 9 cases. With color doppler sonography, the directions of blood flow of the hepatic veins through the intervenous communication were fairly well demonstrated in all 5 cases. With CT, IVC obstruction was diagnosed in 7 cases. The obliteration of the hepatic segment of the IVC were segmental in 6 cases and diffuse in one case. Ct demonstrated communicating vessels between the hepatic veins in 3 cases. Furthermore. Systemic collateral vessls(azygos and hemiazygos veins. Veins along the abdominal wall, and internal mammary veins)were demonstrated in all cases. Liver cirrhosis was combined in all cases and hepatoma developed in 4 cases. Sonography is useful to detect the MOVC and to demonstrate hepatic venous obstruction and intrahepatic collateral vessels. Color doppler sonography is easily performed to show the direction of the blood flow through interconnecting vessels. CT shows the obliterated segment of the IVC clearly and multiple prominent systemic coliaterals. In conclusion, and Budd-Chiai syndrome caused by MOVC is accurately diagnosed by combined color doppler sonography and CT.
Abdominal Wall ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Female ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

No abstract available.
Blepharoptosis*

PURPOSE: Authors retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of superselective renal arterial emboliation in 5 patients with symptomatic renal angiomyolipoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five Patients with renal angiomyolipoma who had been treated with superselective renal arterial embolization were analysed retrospectively. Two patients who had multiple bilateral lesions were associated with tuberous sclerosis. The mbolic materials used were absolute alcohol in 6 sessions, absolute alcohol mixed with lipiodol in one session, and polyvinyl alcohol in one session. RESULTS: We could observe devascularization of the tumor on the post-embolization arteriograms. The symptoms such as flank pain were improved in all patients during the follow-up period of 3 months to 3years. CONCLUSION: Superselective renal arterial embolization is an effective and safe procedure in the management of renal angiomyolipomas.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Ethanol ; Ethiodized Oil ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberous Sclerosis

The findings of upper gastrointestinal series(UGI), computed tomography (CT), and sonography(US) of ten duodenal adenocarcinoma confirmed by surgery (n=7) and endoscopic biopsy (n=3) were retrospectively analyzed. We performed US in all cases, CT and UGI in 8 out of 10 cases. UGI showed 4 cases of ulcerating type, 3 of stenotic type, and one failed to visualize duodenum due to previous gastrojejunostomy. UGI was more accurate in depicting the mucosal changes such as ulcer, however, it played a limited role in the evaluation of extraluminal extension. US showed 4 cases of hypocchoic wall thickening, 3 of hypoechoic extraluminal mass, and one of polypoid intraluminal mass but 2 were not detected on US. US accurately detected hepatic and pancreatic metastasis, however, it played a limited role in the evaluation of direct colonic invasion. CT showed was eccentric wall thickening in 4 cases, large extraluminal mass in 2, and low density intraluminal mass in but one was missed on CT. CT was the most accurate modality to determine the extent of the lesion and adjacent or distant metastasis but it could be misdiagnosed as submucosal tumor if the extraluminal component is large. UGI, CT and US can be used complementary for accurate diagnosis of a duodenal cancer. US may be used as a screening tool for detecting duodenal cancer.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; Duodenum* ; Gastric Bypass ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulcer

In an attempt to evaluate the immune competence of urologic cancer patients, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) were performed in thirty-four patients and same numbers of age and sex matched normal controls. Also we compared of the level of ADCC before and after the operation. Concomittantly the values of ADCC were examined by histological grading and clinical staging. We used 51Cr-labelled chicken erythrocytes sensitized with 7s rabbit anti-chicken erythrocytes antibody as target cells and patient peripheral mononuclear cells as effector cells. 1. Effector cells of the patients with the urologic cancer showed significantly lower ADCC than those of normal controls. 1) All urologic cancer. Controls 41.4+/-6.0% (n=34) Preoperation 22.1+/-6.8% (n=34) 2) Transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and the bladder. Controls 41.7+/-6.1% (n=28) Preoperation 22.5+/-6.3% (n=28) 3)Non-transitional cell carcinoma(renal cell Ca. prostate ca. penis ca. seminoma). Controls 40.2+/-5.9% (n=6) Preoperation 20.6+/-4.6% (n=6) 2. In the patients with the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and the renal pelvis, highly graded patients had tendency to have lower response of ADCC. Grade I 27.3+/-4.0% (n=14) Grade II 19.9+/-4.l% (n=7) Grade III 15.5+/-3.2% (n=7) 3. In the patients with bladder carcinoma highly staged patients had tendency have lower response of ADDC. Stage T
Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Chickens ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Mental Competency ; Penis ; Prostate ; Tumor Burden ; Urinary Bladder ; Urologic Neoplasms*

Indirect composite resin are used as an popular effective esthetic material in prosthetic dentistry, often with metallic substructure that provides support for restorations. Recently, new indirect composite resins as a substitute of ceramic have been developed. These resins provide good esthetics, with a wide range of hue and chroma. And the flexural strength of those is in the range of 120-150MPa, which is higher than that of feldspathic ceramic, and similar tot hat of Dicor. Although it has many merits, one of the major clinical problems of composite resins is the bond failure between metal and resin due to insufficient interfacial bond strength. The purpose of this study was to evaluate shear bond strength of the reinforced indirect composite resin to dental alloys. Three different composite resin systems(Artglass . Sculpture , Targis ) as test groups and ceramic(VMK 68 ) as control group were bonded to Ni-Cr-Be alloy(Rexillium III ) and gold alloy(Dave 4). All specimens were stored at 37degrees C distilled water for 24 hours and the half of specimens were thermocycled 2000 times at temperature from 5degrees C to 60degrees C. The shear bond strengths of reinforced indirect composite resins to dental alloys were measured by using the universal testing machine, and modes of debonding were observed by stereoscope and scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows : 1. The shear bond strengths of reinforced indirect composit resins to dental alloys were approximately half those of ceramic to dental alloys(P<0.01). 2. There was no significant difference between the shear bond strength of several reinforced indirect composite resins to metal. 3. Alloy type did not affect on the shear bond strengths of resin to metal, but the shear bond strengths of ceramic to gold alloys were higher than those of ceramic to Ni-Cr alloys(P<0.05). 4. The shear bond strenghts of Artglass and Targis to gold alloys were significantly decreased after thermocycling treatment(P<0.01). 5. Sculpture showed cohesive, adhesive, and mixed failure modes, but Artglass and Targis showed adhesive or mixed failures. And ceramic showed cohesive and mixed failures.
Adhesives ; Alloys ; Ceramics ; Composite Resins* ; Dental Alloys* ; Dentistry ; Esthetics ; Gold Alloys ; Sculpture ; Water

The amino acid L-glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in central nervous system of vertebrates. NMDA( n-methyl-d-aspartate) is one of the L-glutamate receptor subtypes. During a critical period of early postnatal development, the visual cortex is susceptible to experience-dependent modification of neuronal response. Recently, the activation of NMDA receptors has been supposed as an prerequisite for the induction of such modification We therefore investigated developmental changes of NMDA receptors in rat visual cortex and questioned whether they could be related to the visual development. We assessed the density of [3H] NMDA receptor in visual cortex of normally reared rats (Group I) and visually deprivated rats (Group II) using quantitative autoradiography. The density of [3H] NMDA receptor was increased rapidly by postnatal 1 week and decreased after postnatal 5 weeks, and was significantly lower in Group II than Group I during early postnatal period. These results suggest that NMDA receptors may have a role in neuronal development in visual cortex.
Animals ; Autoradiography ; Central Nervous System ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Glutamic Acid ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate* ; Vertebrates ; Visual Cortex*

PURPOSE: To determine the significance of anomalous position of the gallbladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with anomalous position of the gallbladder were evaluated for analysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography(15 patients) and oral cholecystography(1patient). Among those, six patients underwent CT scan and a patient had 99mTc-DISIDA scan. The images were analysed with respect to the location of the GB and configuration and associated abnormality of the liver and hepatobiliary systems. Medical records of each patient were also reviewed. RESULTS: Among 16 patients having an anomalous position of the gallbladder, nine had retrodisplaced gallbladder, four had left-sided gallbaldder, two had suprahepatic gallbladder, and one had floating gallbladder. Except for one patient, fifteen had abnormality in the liver such as focal atrophic or hypoplastic change and liver cirrhosis. Intrahepatic stones were demonstrated in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that anomalous position of the gallbladder was commonly associated with atrophy or hypoplasia of the liver rather than congenital in origin. The possiblity of an anomalous location of gallbladder should be kept in mind when GB is not in its normal location.
Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medical Records ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

this study was undertaken to compare the riboflavin status of rural women with different physical activity intensity and to determine factors influencing biochemical fiboflavin status. The study was carried out over three different farming seasons : planting (June), harvest(October) and interim(February) in two rural regions of Korea. One was a traditional farming region, the other a commercial farming region with heavier work intensity. Twenty women in the traditional region and eighteen women in the commercial region were involved. The intensity of physical activity was determined by a daily activity record. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedence. Dietary riboflavin intake was measured by the food frequency method. Riboflavin biochemical status was assessed by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC) and ruinary riboflavin excretion. The results from the EGR AC and urinary riboflavin excretion during the period showed the overall riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly worse than that of the traditional farming women(EGR AC p<0.0001, urinary riboflavin excretion p<0.05). The traditional farming group had about 40% with risk of riboflavin deficiency, whereas the commercial farming group had about 70%. Overall mean nutrient intake was not significantly different between the two groups, however, overall mean percent lean body mass representing long term physical activity was significantly higher in the commercial farming group (<0.005). It appears that the biochemical riboflavin status of traditional farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and crude nitrogen balance while the biochemical riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and percent of lean body mass over the three seasons.
Body Composition ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Glutathione Reductase ; Humans ; Korea* ; Motor Activity ; Nitrogen ; Plants ; Riboflavin Deficiency ; Riboflavin* ; Seasons