OBJECTIVES: The hippocampal atrophy has been known to be an important biological marker for the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aims of this study are to disclose the differerence in the interuncal distance (IUD) between MCI, dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and healthy aged controls, and to identify the affecting factors. METHODS: In transaxial plane, the IUDs at the level of the suprasellar cistern on the T1-weighted images on the brain MRI were measured in patients with MCI (N=30), those with DAT (N=34), and healthy aged controls (N=20). Furthermore, demographic data about age, sex, educational level as well as cerebrovascular factors were obtained by structured interviews and medical records, and the severity of cognitive disorders were assessed using the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). RESULTS: 1) The mean (+/-S.D.) IUD of DAT group (26.52+/-3.37 mm) was significantly different from that of healthy aged controls (24.35+/-2.91 mm)(p=0.044). However, there were no significant differences between IUD of MCI group (25.60+/-2.66 mm) and that of DAT group (p=0.483) as well as that of healthy aged controls and that of MCI group (p=0.363). 2) Variables such as age, sex, educational level, cerebrovascular risk factors and severity of cognitive disorder were not related to the IUD. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of IUD on the brain MRI did not seem to be a helpful biological marker for the early detection of MCI in clinical practice.
Atrophy ; Biomarkers ; Brain ; Dementia ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Risk Factors

Cathepsin L is a kind of cystein proteases which are known to facilitate the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by degrading the components of basement membrane and extracellular matrix. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of cathepsin L by Northern blot analysis with radiolabeled cDNA specific for cathepsin L in six normal tissues, two osteosarcoma cell lines, MG-63 and Saos-2, six primary bone tumors and six metastatic bone tumors. In six normal tissues, the highest level of cathepsin L was expressed in liver with the descending order of liver > lung > thymus > ovary > kidney > esophagus. One of the two osteosarcoma cell lines established from the primary sites expressed a high level of cathepsin L mRNA. Out of six primary bone tumors, three (50%) expressed cathepsin L mRNA, while all (100%) of six metastatic bone tumors expressed the mRNA. These results demonstrating the higher frequency of expression of cathepsin L in metastatic bone tumors suggest that cathepsin L may participate in tumor invasion and metastasis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms/*genetics/*secondary ; Case-Control Studies ; Cathepsins/*metabolism ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/*metabolism ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics ; Osteosarcoma/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

PURPOSE: To evaluate potential correlation between the extent and site of avascular necrosis (AVN), as determined by preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the development of femoral head collapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using clinical, radiographic and MR imaging criteria, twenty hips in 15 patients were selected for core decompression. Preoperative MR results were classified into three categories: group A, less than 15% involvement of the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head; group B, 15%-30% involvement; group C, more than 30% involvement, according to ARCO staging. We also established three groups according to site of involvement of the femoral head, namely medial, middle and lateral. RESULTS: Of 20 cases, three were stage Ia; two, Ib; four, Ic; three, IIa; two, IIb; and 6, IIc. Ten cases of Ia, Ib, IIa or IIb showed no femoral head collapse during follow-up of at least 24 months, while ten cases of Ic or IIc showed femoral head collapse. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of core decompression in patients with early AVN is related to the area of lesion in the femoral head.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis ; Weight-Bearing