No abstract available.
Colloid Cysts* ; Colloids* ; Lateral Ventricles*

No abstract available.
Skin*

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of mRNA expression of various members of the matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitors in uterine leiomyoma compared with unaffected myometrium. Materials & Method: 30 cases of portions of leiomyoma and myometrium were collected immediately followimg hysterectomy. Thirteen cases were from proliferative phase and seventeen were from secretory phase of menstrual cycle. The mean age was 43.7years old. The level of expression of mRNAs of interstitial collagenase, gelatinase, stromelysin, TIMP-1,-2,-3 was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and normalized to GAPDH(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) mRNA. RESULTS: Myometrium and leiomyoma expressed all the members of above mentioned matrix metalloproteinase family and tissue inhibitors. Leiomyoma expressed a significantly higher level of stromelysin-3 during secretory phase, an extremely lower level of 92kDa gelatinase and a significantly lower level of TIMP-3. The immunohistochemical localization of TIMP-3 was smooth muscle cell and arteriole wall of myometrium and leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: The increased expression of stromelysin-3 in uterine leiomyoma compared with myometrium suggests that this MMP may be involved in the formation of a more fibrous extracellular matrix in leiomyoma. The extremely lower expression of 92kDa gelatinase of leiomyoma means that leiomyoma do not invade myometrium and forms a separated mass. Decreased expression of TIMP-3 of leiomyoma suggests that TIMP-3 is required for differentiation and homeostasis of extracellular matrix of normal myometrium and function as a suppressive role of tumor development
Animals ; Arterioles ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Gelatinases ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ; Menstrual Cycle ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Myometrium* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and preferences of supplementary drinks for very old subjects who are likely to be malnourished. Twenty-five elderly subjects were divided into two groups. The supplemented group(N=15) received 500mls of nutrient supplement(New Care) two times daily for 4 weeks. This resulted in a significant increase in the total calories, protein, minerals and vitamins. Nutritional status was assessed both anthropometrically and biochemically, before and after the study period. A significant improvement in mid arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin were observed in the supplemented group but not in the control group. There is a possibility that most of the elderly were in an anemic state at the beginning of the study since their mean hematologic parameters were within the lower normal range while their mean serum osmolarities was slightly higher than normal,. Although mean serum hemoglobin and hematocrit were not increased significantly, th percentage of the recovery rate from anemia in the supplemented group was higher than in the control group. Total lymphocyte count also showed similar tendency. Sensory evaluation of nutritional supplementary drinks were relatively good and the elderly showed great interest in nutrient supplements. This study suggests that a nutritional status of poorly nourished elderly subjects can be improved by providing them with nutritional supplementations.
Aged* ; Anemia ; Arm ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Minerals ; Nutritional Status ; Osmolar Concentration ; Reference Values ; Serum Albumin ; Skinfold Thickness ; Vitamins

Gestational trophoblastic tumor is one of the curable disease, but metastatic trophoblastic tumor still shows high mortality rate because of resistance to the chemotherapy. Choriocarcinoma may occur after an any type of human pregnancy. The incidence of choriocarcinoma following term pregnancy is very uncommon, and such tumor appears to follow a more aggressive course with more extensive metastatic spread and is less responsive to chemotherapy resulting in a poorer prognosis. Choriocarcinoma presenting as postpartum hemorrhage, and spontaneous tumor perforation with intra-abdominal hemorrhage is even rarer, requiring emergency laparotomy. We had experienced one case of metastatic choriocarcinoma following term pregnancy that required emergency total abdominal hysterectomy due to uterine perforation and hemorrhage. So, we report this case with brief review of literatures.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Drug Therapy ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Laparotomy ; Mortality ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; Uterine Perforation*

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship of perceived health status, leisure satisfaction, loneliness and life satisfaction and to identify predictors of life satisfaction for elders. METHOD: The research design for this study was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sample. Data collection was done using self-report questionnaires with 297 elders from 6 community health practitioner posts. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression with the SPSS Win 18.0 Program. RESULTS: Life satisfaction had significant negative correlations with age (r=-.31, p<.001) and loneliness (r=-.73, p<.001), and positive correlations with monthly spending money (r=.44, p<.001), health status (r=.63, p<.001), and leisure satisfaction (r=.62, p<.001). The explained variance for life satisfaction was 72%. Variables of monthly spending money, health status, leisure satisfaction, and loneliness significantly predicted the degree on life satisfaction of these elders. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of life satisfaction and related factors for elders in Korea. However, further studies with a larger random sample and more detailed research design are necessary.
Aged ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Loneliness ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Design

The gene ftsH encodes a membrane-bound and ATP-dependent protease that is involved in a variety of cellular functions including heat-shock and stress response. Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA encompassing most part of the ftsH gene was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. Due to the unsuccessful cloning as seen in other pneumococcal promoters, the 5'-end of the gene including the upstream promoter region was amplified by inverse polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced by cyclic sequencing. The amino acid sequence that is deduced from the 1,959 bp-long ftsH gene is very similar to FtsH of several gram-positive bacteria and E. coli within the region responsible for the AAA (ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities) function. Except for the N-terminal domain that contains a short extracellular region between two mernbrane-spanning segments, pneumococcal FtsH shows striking sequence similarity to that of a closely related species Lactococcus lactis within the conserved cytoplasmic domain where two ATP-binding motifs, the AAA Signature motif, and a zinc-binding motif are found.
Amino Acid Sequence ; ATP-Dependent Proteases ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Escherichia coli ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Lactococcus lactis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus* ; Strikes, Employee

OBJECTIVES: Fish vitellogenin (VTG) is produced in the female liver during oogenesis through the estradiol cycle and produced in the male liver by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as alkylphenols. In this study, we propose that the VTG concentration in the pale chub could be detected using monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies against vitellin (Vn) in a VTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. METHODS: Monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies were produced using the Vn extracted from the matured ovum of the ovary. The VTG was extracted from the plasma of the male pale chub. The Vn and VTG were confirmed by measuring the molecular weight of their proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the specificity of the antibodies was checked through western blotting methods. The assay system was validated with respect to optimal assay concentrations, specificity, recovery, and intra- and inter-assay variations. RESULTS: The Vn consisted of two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 64 and 37 kDa. The SDS-PAGE indicated protein weights of 146 and 77 kDa in the VTG. The assay range was 15.6 ng/mL to 2,000 ng/mL, and the value of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within 10.0% and 14.7%, respectively. The recovery rate was 99.5+/-5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: A sandwich ELISA was developed that could be used to qualify the VTG of pale chub in screening for EDCs. Pale chub is an ideal species for observing estrogen activity in the environment because of its extensive habitat and extensive food chain. The ELISA developed here would be more favorable than those for other species for determining the effect of long-term food chain accumulation of EDCs in aquatic environments.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blotting, Western ; Cyprinidae* ; Ecosystem ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Food Chain ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Molecular Weight ; Oogenesis ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Platypus* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sodium ; Vitellins* ; Vitellogenins* ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Bone Density* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans