PURPOSE: When Managing metastatic bladder tumors, to overcome the resistance mechanism of cisplatin is a main problem to be solved. The objective is to confirm the changes of general and ultrastructural morph ology with the induction of cisplatin resistance from the bladder cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples of this investigation are 2ng/ml-cisplatin resistant human bladder cell lines T24R2 established by SNUH Urology and the drug resistant bladder cell lines T24 was obtained from ATCC, as a control group. We cultured the resistant cell line on the slide and observed it using light microscopy to see the general morphology. For the ultrastructural morphology, we fixed cultured cells, made an epon block, sliced an ultrathin section and observed it using H-71000 EM. RESULTS: Under light microscopy, the cytoplasm of the resistant cell line shows a plumper pattern than that of the parent cell. Under electronmicroscopy, the chromatin of the resistant cell line has a relatively finely dispersed chromatin pattern when compared to the parent cell line, which shows a coarse and aggregated chromatin pattern. Within the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial volume, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, polyribosomes and ribosomes are moderately increased in the resistant cell line when compared to the parent cell line. In particular, we found a great amount of double membrane vesicle near the cell surface and pinocytic vesicles on the surface, which are seldom observed within the parent cells. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the cisplatin resistant human bladder cell lines (T24R2) underwent a morphological change with the induction of cisplatin resistance, and we hypothesize that the resistant cell's ultrastructure, which shows morphological change, will be involved in the drug resistance mechanism. Regarding this matter, further research will be needed.
Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromatin ; Cisplatin* ; Cytoplasm ; Drug Resistance ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Mitochondrial Size ; Parents ; Polyribosomes ; Ribosomes ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urology

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of pesticide poisoning in South Korea and the relevant epidemiologic characteristics. During the period of 1996-2005, an approximate average of twenty-five hundred fatalities occurred per year due to pesticide poisoning, while age-standardized mortality rates by pesticide poisoning significantly increased from 4.42 to 6.42 per 100,000 population. Intentional self-poisoning was the primary cause of death due to pesticides (84.8% of total pesticide poisoning deaths). The prevalence of non-fatal pesticide poisoning among farmers varied from 5.7% to 86.7%. Paraquat was the leading causative agent for pesticide poisoning, followed by organophosphate insecticides. A variety of work-related factors such as pesticide usage, pesticide application days, hazardous practices and poor personal hygiene were significantly related with pesticide poisoning. The majority of the poisoned were male, elderly individuals possessing low levels of education and residing in rural areas. The number of pesticide poisoning cases was the highest during the growing season of May to August. Further evaluation of the incidence and risk factors of pesticide poisoning at the national level in South Korea is warranted to reduce the number of victims of pesticide poisoning.
Pesticides ; Poisoning aspects ; South Korea ; seconds ; Poisoning

The carpal tunnel syndromes is one of the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. The typical symptoms are pain, numbness and paresthesia in the median nerve territory of the hand. Recently, it is widely recognized that occupational factor is regarded as the important cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome. Clinical study is performed in the 42 female workers who is repetitively working at packing department in a rayon manufacturing factory from November 1991 till March 1992. The study included a questionnaire, physical examinations, and the neurophysiological test. The summary of the results obtained was as follows: 1. Among 42 packing workers, 9 workers(21.4%) were diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome by electromyography. The affected side was bilateral in 4 workers(9.5%), right in 4 workers(9.5%), and left in one worker(2.4%). 2. Among 42 subjects, 28 workers(66.7%) complained the clinical symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome, 11 workers(26.2%) showed positive Phalen sign, and 7 workers(16.7%) showed positive Tinel sign. 3. Researchers regard electromyographic finding as the gold standard for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical symptoms to diagnose the carpal tunnel syndrome were 0.89, 0.39 respectively. If the carpal tunnel syndrome is diagnosed by the combination of the positive findings of the symptoms and the physical examinations, either Tinel of Phalen sign, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.67 and 0.76 respectively. Considering above results, though this small number of worker is not adequate for epidemiologic conclusions, carpal tunnel syndrome seems to be an important occupational disorder among packing workers in a rayon manufacturing factory.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Median Nerve ; Occupations ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A Histologic finding of the Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita( CMTC) is non-specific, but dilated capillaries and increased number of vessels are often observed. Capillary hemangioma, mostly represented by strawberry nevus, may show various clinical manifestations. We report a case of Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita, which may be an unusual clinical presentation of capillary hemangioma.
Capillaries* ; Fragaria ; Hemangioma, Capillary* ; Nevus

A forty-seven-year-old male miner complained of paresthesia over right hypothenar area and ring and little fiugers for 3 months. On physical examination and electromyography, ulnar nerve dysfunction below elbow was noted. Intraoperatively, an anomalous muscle, the epitrochleoanconeus muscle, was found between the triceps muscle and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, but it was clearly distinguished from them. Resection of the muscle and medial epicondylectomy were performed. The epitrochleoanconeus muscle is an anomalous muscle which arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and inserts into the medial border of the olecranon. The reports on ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome by this muscle were rare. On 14 months follow up, the symptoms and signs were improved.
Elbow ; Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Male ; Miners ; Olecranon Process ; Paresthesia ; Physical Examination ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Nerve

PURPOSE: With the process of neoangiogenesis being linked to the growth and metastasis of various tumors, anticancer therapeutics with a basis in the suppression of neoangiogenesis has recently been receiving attention. In this study, we tried to clarify the immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), major angiogenic inducer and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), major angiogenic inhibitor in human Wilms' tumor and its clinicopathological significance. MATERAILS AND METHODS: Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, we assessed the immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 in archival tissues of 29 Wilms' tumors and 25 normal kidneys. Also, we assessed the relationship between expression of each factor and clinicopathological parameters in 29 cases of Wilms' tumors. RESULTS: Immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 were detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the tubular cells in normal kidneys. In Wilms' tumors, whereas VEGF was detected in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and peritumoral stromal tissues, but TSP-1 only in the peritumoral stromal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression patterns of each factor were divided into two groups according to the area of immunoreactivity (negative:<10%, positive: > OR =10%). VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 25 (100%) normal kidneys and in 20 (69%) Wilms' tumors. However, TSP-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 24 (97%) normal kidneys and in 3 (10%) Wilms' tumors. Therefore, although no significant difference was observed between the expressions of VEGF and TSP-1 in normal kidney, the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors. A relatively higher rate of positive expression of TSP-1 was observed in the patients with no demonstrable lymph node metastasis. Also, as for the VEGF, maximal diameter of the tumor was larger in the positive expression group. However, it proved otherwise for TSP-1 as the negative expression group demonstrated tumors with larger maximal diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors, and disease progression has a tendency to be found in the VEGF-positive cases and TSP-1 negative cases. We suggest that the growth and metastasis of Wilms' tumor may be influenced mainly by TSP-1 decrease rather than VEGF increase.
Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wilms Tumor*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Immunocompromised Host* ; Trichosporon*

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma may present with a variety of radiographic and clinical appearances. The authors reviewed the radiographs of 17 patients with pathologically proven bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, retrospectively. Seven cases were of the localized form. Among the seven five showed a localized mass and two showed localized consolidation. Ten cases were of the diffuse form. Among the ten, three showed diffuse nodules, two showed diffuse consolidation, and five showed a combined pattern of nodules and consolidations. Progression of disease was observed in 9 patients. In these cases, localized forms progressed to a diffuse forms and nodular patterns progressed to a consolidation pattern. Seven cases of the diffuse form were given antituberculous medications on hospital admission. In summary, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma has varied radiographic patterns, and often mimicks other pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar* ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Chromosome Aberrations* ; Ethylene Oxide* ; Lymphocytes* ; Transferases*