BACKGROUND: The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a potent mediator of brain tumor angio-genesis, vascular permeablity, and glioma growth. This study was designed to study the balance between growth and death signals in different grades of astrocytic tumors. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, the relationship between the expression of VEGF and microvessel count and density were evaluated in 62 cases of astrocytic tumors including 33 low grade astrocytomas, 6 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 23 glioblastomas. In order to determine the apoptotic index (AI), the in situ end-labeling method was applied. RESULTS: VEGF was expressed on the tumor cell cytoplasm. Of 62 tumors, 44 (77%) were weak to strong postive for VEGF, but 18 cases were not reactive. VEGF positivity was correlat-ed with WHO grades of the astrocytic tumors; low grade astrocytomas (52%), anaplastic astrocytomas (83%), and glioblastomas (96%). Mean microvessel count and density were significantly higher in VEGF-positive tumors (75.7 and 4.1%) than in VEGF-negative tumors (43.9 and 2.5%). Apoptotic cells were readily found in the astrocytic tumors; the highest value of AI was observed in glioblastomas (8.6%) and the lowest in anaplastic astrocytomas (1.9%). It seemed that the grade of malignancy was not related with AI values. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that VEGF promotes angiogenesis with tumor cell growth against apoptotic cell death in the human astrocytomas.
Apoptosis* ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Death ; Cytoplasm ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

The coronal sectional image of computerized tomography creates an image that is similar to an excretory urogram. It also provides more clearly delineated renal image and image of adjacent organs than an excretory urogram. Further more, the number, extent, and content of renal mats lesions used to discriminate density difference can be determined with relatively great accuracy. This image of computerized tomography is useful to understand and make a diagnosis of renal disease. Coronal sectional image of computerized tomography is more informative in evaluation of retroperitoneum space than conventional radiography. Recently we observed several cases of renal disease-renal cell ca, simple renal cyst, angiomyolipoma, retroperitoneal teratoma, pheochromocytoma, hydronephrosis which could be detected with coronal sectional image of computerized tomography.
Angiomyolipoma ; Diagnosis ; Hydronephrosis ; Pheochromocytoma ; Radiography ; Teratoma

To evaluate the usefulness of brain SPECT as a tool with diagnostic and prognostic values m patients with acute cerebral infarction, twenty-four patients who were diagnosed as embolic(n=12) or thrombotic(n7-12) infarction by clinical manifestation and brain CT or MRI were selected. Both 99mTc-HMPAO & 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT were performed for each patients within 1 week after the attack Asymmetric index(Al) in both hemispheres was calculated as 200(l(right-left)l/(right+left)). Activities of daily livmg(ADL) was scored by Barthel Index on the admission day and the 21st day after the attack. The relationshiop between ADL index and Al of two types of brain SPECT was analysed by calculating correlation coefficient. 1.In embolic infarction, the Al of 99mTc-DTPA SPECT was markedly higher than that of 99mTc-HMPAO spect, but there was no difference in thrombotic type. 2. The AI of 99m'Tc-DTPA SPECT in embohc infarction was sigiuficantly higher than that m thrombotic type(p valu=.001), but the Al of 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT was similar in both types of infarction. 3.The correlation coefficient Al of 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT and ADL m the 21st day after stroke was statistically significated. These results suggested that the 99mTc-DTPA brain SPECT should be useful not only for the differemtial diagnosis between thrombotic and embolic infarctions but also for the prediction of prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*