BACKGROUND: Metallothioneins(MTs) are ubiquitous low molecular weight cytosolic proteins with high contents of cystein that xhibit a selective binding affinity for zinc, copper and other group II heavy metal ions. In additi~on to the sequestration function and detoxification action, MTs probably participate in the cellirlar protection against. ionizing radiation and alkylating agent cytotoxicity and in cellular pn:liferation. OBJECT: The objective of this study was to evaIuate the expression of MTs and to clarify t.heir role in carcinogenesis and/or biological behaviour in the neoplasms of ectoderrnal origin. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical studies on the surgical specimens of rnalignant rnelanoma and squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. The results were compared with the normal skin and mu osa and hair t,issues and raf't-on culture tissues of skin and mucosal keratinocytes. RESULTS: 1) MTs were strongly expressed in epidermal basal cells of the normal skin and raft-on cultured artificial skin They were also rnore weakly expressed in epithelial basal cells of the normal mucosa and raft on cultured artificial mucosa and in matrix cells of the normal hair. 2) In rnalignant melanoma, MTs were meaningfully expressed, i.e., a strong expression was seen in the lesions showing a rapid vertical growth phase with fatal out,comes, but a weak expression in the cases whose precursor lesions were thought as dysplastic nevi, compared to the negative finding of norrnal melanocyt,es. The strong expression in a case of congenit.al rnelanocyt.ic nevus is considered as the activation of nevoid melanocytes. 3) MTs were weakly expressed in squarnous cell carcinoma with a diffuse aattern within the tumor mass. St,rong expression of MTs was particularly apparent in the poorl. differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and at the growing border of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. 4) In basal cell carcinoma, MTs were rather weakly expressed in solid cireumscribed types with a diffuse pattern and in cystic type with a patchy pattern. However they were not expressed in the solid infiltrative type. CONCLUSION: From these resuilts, we concluded that MTs were ubiquitously present in possible stem cells of various epithelial tissues except melanocytes irrespective of normal or artificial skin and/or mucosa including norrnal hair tissues. In the neoplasms of ectodermal origin, MTs might be involved in the invasive growth of tumor cells in the malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It was implied that the role of MTs in basal cell carcinoma might be related to early events of hasal cell carcinogeresis and its down regulating tendency could be possible in its infil trative stage.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Copper ; Cytosol ; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome ; Ectoderm* ; Hair ; Ions ; Keratinocytes ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Metallothionein* ; Molecular Weight ; Mucous Membrane ; Nevus ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Skin ; Skin, Artificial ; Stem Cells ; Zinc

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

No abstract available.
Poliomyelitis*

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare disorder characterized by localized or generalized absence of skin at birth. The various hypothesis and classification are proposed. Type V in Frieden's classification, which is associated with fetus papyraceus or placental infarcts, occurs as a large cutaneous defect on the trunk and extremities. We experienced the patient had skin defect affecting the lower abdomen symmetrically, with no family history of the any disorders or chromosomal anomalies and associated anomalies. A twin fetus was died in utero. We report a case of aplasia cutis congenita associated with fetus papyraceus with the review of the associated literatures.
Abdomen ; Classification ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Extremities ; Fetus ; Humans ; Parturition ; Skin ; Twins

No abstract available.
Hidrocystoma* ; Syringoma*

The levels of pH,pCO,bicarbonate, and base excess in umbillical venous blood were measured at birth of life in 30 normal term infant and 27 high risk infants. The study group was divided into two categories by clinical evaluation: first group of normal term infant without high risk indication and second group of high risk infants. Following results were obiained. 1) The average level of umbilical venous blood pH in normal group was 7.3260.001 and high risk group was 7.3180.002(7.326 versus 7.318,respecitvely,p>0.05) 2) The average Apgar Score in normal group was 9.30.95 and more acidotic high risk group was 7.42.54 3) The average level of pCO in normal group was 43.361.36mmHg and high risk group was 43.952.36mmHg(43.36 respecitively, p>0.05) 4) The average level of pCo in normal group was 21.550.85mmEq/L and high risk group was 20.030.78mEq/L(21.55 versus 20.03mEq/L respectively,p>0.05) 5) The average level of base excess in normal group was -2.610.76mEq/L and high risk group was -3.060.91mEq/L(-2.61 versus -3.06mEq/L respecitively,p?0.05) 6) Relationship between hP and Apgar Score in normal group was False normal (6.7%),False abnormal(10%) and high risk group was False normal (14.8%) False abonromal(7.4%).
Apgar Score ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant* ; Parturition

Primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma is extremely rare tumor. The histologic subtype was divided from malignant Brenner tumor due to it's own histologic characteristics and chemosensitive nature. Most of recent studies revealed that transitional cell carcinoma has a good response to chemotherapy and long-term survival. Recent histopathologic reports show that transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and of the ovary are immunophenotypically different. We experienced a case of primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma, and report this case with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Brenner Tumor ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Ovary ; Urinary Bladder

The incidence of cervical pregnancy and the number of combined intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy seems to be increasing. So the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy should always be considered by every gynecologist, especially those who treat infertility problem. We experience a case of a heterotopic pregnancy coexisting of an intrauterine pregnancy and a cervical pregnancy after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and was successfully managed by transcervical evacuation and resulted in a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Here we present the case with review of literatures.
Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

No abstract available.
Osteoma

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of endometriosis is generally accepted that retrograde menstruation and alterations in the local pelvic immune environment. This study was performed to help elucidate what kind of role various cytokines might play in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. METHOD: Concentrations of peritoneal fluid cytokines were compared in 7 women with normal pelvic finding and 23 women with endometriosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The patterns of cytokine mRNA expression in 8 ovarian endometrioma and 12 superficial pelvic endometriosis lesions were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) amplification method. RESULT: Both IL-6 and IL-10 levels in peritoneal fluid specimens with endometriosis tended to be higher than normal. However, there were no significant differences between peritoneal fluid concentrations of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-5 of women with and without endometriosis. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in peritoneal fluid of women with severe endometriosis compared to women with mild endometriosis. IL-1beta mRNA was expressed in all of 8 deep and 12 superficial endometriosis lesions. IL-5 and IL-6 mRNA were expressed in only two black lesions respectively, however, both were not expressed in the all deep lesions. Expressions of IL-10 mRNA occurred in one red and one black lesion while this was expressed in only one of the deep lesions. TNF-alpha mRNA was expressed in one red and one black lesion of 12 superficial lesions compared with four of the deep lesions. There was the difference between kinds of increased cytokines in the peritoneal fluid and those of expressed cytokines in the endometriotic lesions of patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: This study supports the concept that local immunologic factors may be important in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. The pattern of cytokine mRNA expression of endometriotic lesions would seem to indicate that proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are responsible for the development or progression of endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukin-6 ; Menstruation Disturbances ; RNA, Messenger* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha