No abstract available.
Humans* ; Retroviridae*

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a potent inducer of polyclonal B lymphocyte proliferation and a tool for the establishment of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCLs), which have proven useful for several human immunologic applications. B-LCLs serve as efficient antibody-producing cells and antigen-presenting cells. In spite of these advantages, the cloning efficiency of B-LCLs is less than 1%. In order to generate clones of B-LCLs, we cultured B-LCLs with and without canine stromal cell line, DO64, as feeder cell which was immortalized by transduction of retrovirus encoding E6 and E7 of the human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16), which was defined to produce various cytokines including stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin- 6 (IL-6). After 3 weeks of B-LCLs cultured with DO64, 8.3% and 37.5% in 1 cell and 3 cells per well were efficiently cloned, respectively. There was no significant effect on growing of 8-LCLs without DO64 cells and on high concentration of FBS. The cloning efficiency of B-LCLs transduced by retrovirus cultured with and without DO64 cells was 4.2% and 0% in 3 cells per well, respectively, while that of stable transfectant 33.3% and 8.3% in 1 cell per well, respectively. Our results suggest that the use of DO64 cells as feeder cells might permit the cloning of B-LCLs. This efficient cloning of B-LCLs could be used for the convenient source of autologous antigen-presenting cells expressing foreign antigen for the study of human immune responses in vitro, and for a variety of additional purposes, such as the production of human monoclonal antibodies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibody-Producing Cells ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Cell Line* ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Cytokines ; Feeder Cells* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes ; Papilloma ; Retroviridae ; Stem Cell Factor ; Stromal Cells*

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

Twenty seven patients with known rectal cancer were evaluated with CT and CT findings were correlated with surgical and pathologic results on the aspect of perirectal fat infiltration and lymph node involvement. The accuracy in assessment of perirectal fat infiltration was 77.8% (21 of 27); sensitivity, 73.3% (11 of 13); specificity, 83.3% (10 of 12). In the detection of lymph node involvement, lymph nodes were divided into five groups according to the arterial teritories. Overall accuracy in the evaluation of lymph node involvement was 86.7%. Accuracy of peritumoral lymph node involvement was 51.9% (14 of 27); sensitivity, 42.9%(9 of 21); specificity 83.3% (5 of 6). Accuracy of internal iliac lymph node involvement was 88.9% (24 of 27); sensitivity, 85.7% (6 of 7); specificity, 90.0% (18 of 20). Of the common and external iliac lymph node, accuracy was 100% (27 of 27); sensitivity, 100% (2 of 2); specificity, 100% (25 of 25). Of the aortic bifurcation and mid sacral lymph node, accuracy was 92.6% (25 of 27); sensitivity, 50% (2 of 4); specificity, 100% (23 of 23). In regard to the inferior mesenteric lymph node, no lymphadenopathy was found on CT and pathologic results. In conclusion, CT has limited value in evaluating rectal cancer but with the satisfactory outcome in assessment of perirectal fat infiltration and lymph node, involvement except peritumoral node preoperative CT is useful in the evaluation of rectal cancer.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Melanocytes grown in pure monolayer culure lack many of the cellular interactions that exist in vivo. This can be partially overcome by growing melanocytes together with other epidermal cells in skin equivalent models. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to grow human melanocytes in human epidermis reconstructed on dermal substrates in vitro and to examine their response to UV radiation. METHODS: The skin equivalents were prepared by seeding cultured human keratinocytes together with cultured human melanocytes(in a ratio of 5%) onto de-epidermized dermis. After 7 days of culture, they were exposed to UVB irradiation(total 150m J/cm over 5days). On day 12 of air exposure the sections of the skin equivalents were prepared for histology. The structure of the skin equivalents was studied following staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Melanocytes were characterized by DOPA staining and by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Melanocytes were localized singly within the basal layer of the reconstructs. Melanin was also visible both in the melanocytes and in neighboring keratinocytes. There was an increase in melanocyte size and dendricity following UV irradiation. Melanocytes became positive to staining with HMB-45 antibody following UV irradiation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that melanocytes grown in reconstructed human epidermis are functional and capable of responding to UV irradiation.
Dermis ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermis* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Skin

Even though the value of computed tomography (CT) used to detect the colon carcinoma with minimal invasion is limited, its usefulnes sin the evaluation of the extent of disease such as hepatic metastasis or distant lymph node invasion has been emphasized. To examine the role of CT in the evaluation of colon carcinoma, CT scans obtained during the past 2 years in 56 patients with surgically proven colon carcinoma were reviewed and the findings correlated with pathologic results. The sensitivity and accuracy of CT for pericolic fat infiltration were 86, 58 and 80% respectively. Those of regional node were 60, 83 and 75% and distant node 67, 100 and 95%. Liver metastases showed sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 83, 98, 96% and peritoneal metastases 67, 94 and 89% respectively. CT detected local invasion with fair degree of accuracy but the true value of CT lie in the detection of distant invasions such as liver and distant lymph node metastases thereby leading to preclusion of unnecessary procedures and implementation of appropriate precedures.
Colon* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Unnecessary Procedures

Klinefelter's syndrome (KFS) is a gonosomal aberration disease that occurs in males, and is characterized by 47, XXY karyotype, hypogonadism and a lack of secondary sexual characteristics. A potential link between this hormonally deficient syndrome and autoimmune disease, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), has been reported. On the other hand, KFS is rarely reported to be accompanied by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and there are no Korean cases reported. We report the first Korean case of a KFS patient with sero-positive RA and discuss the role of the pathogenesis of RA with KFS.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Carbonates ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Karyotype ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Male ; X Chromosome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathologic variables that are important for predicting residual disease after cervical conization in hysterectomy specimens. METHODS: We performed retrospective review of 125 patients who had undergone cervical conization and endocervical curettage followed by subsequent hysterectomy. Pathologic findings of the cone margins, endocervical curettage samples, and residual lesions in the postcone hysterectomy specimens were recorded for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of positive cone margins increased with higher severity of cervical neoplasia. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of residual disease in hysterectomy specimens between patients with positive endocervical margins on cone biopsy(67.3%) and those with negative margins(11.8%) (p<0.01). Most residual lesions in the postcone hysterectomy specimens were similar to cone pathology, however the possibility of more advanced lesions in the uterus was present in patients with positive cone margins. Residual disease was significantly more frequently found in patients with positive endocervical curettage(82.4%)(p<0.01). Especially, when both the endocervical margin and endocervical curettage were positive, residual disease was present in 25 of 28 (89.3%) hysterectomy specimens. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we concluded that the status of endocervical margin and endocervical curettage have significant predictive value with respect to the presence or absence of residual disease, and final decision in regard to subsequent management should be based on histologic finding of the cone margins and endocervical curettage as well as the patient's age and desire to retain reproductive capability.
Conization* ; Curettage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterus

Arterial restenosis frequently develops after open or endovascular surgery due to intimal hyperplasia. Since tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is known to involve in fibrosis, wound healing, and extracellular matrix remodeling, we examined the role of TG2 in the process of intimal hyperplasia using TG2-null mice. The neointimal formation was compared between TG2-null and wild-type (C57BL/6) mice by two different injury models; carotid ligation and carotid loop injury. In ligation model, there was no difference in intimal thickness between two groups. In loop injury model, intimal hyperplasia developed in both groups and the intimal/medial area ratio was significantly reduced in TG2-null mice (P = 0.007). TG2 was intensely stained in neointimal cells in 2 weeks. In situ activity of TG2 in the injured arteries steadily increased until 4 weeks compared to uninjured arteries. Taken together, intimal hyperplasia was significantly reduced in TG2-null mice, indicating that TG2 has an important role in the development of intimal hyperplasia. This suggests that TG2 may be a novel target to prevent the arterial restenosis after vascular surgery.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries/pathology/*surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; GTP-Binding Proteins/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Hyperplasia ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transglutaminases/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Tunica Intima/*pathology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristic CT and cerebral angiographic findings in patients with acutespontaneous subdural hematomas and correlate these imaging findings with causes of bleeding and clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with nontraumatic acute spontaneous subdural hematoma presentingduring the last five years underwent CT scanning and cerebral angiography was performed in twelve. To determinethe cause of bleeding, CT and angiographic findings were retrospectively analysed. Clinical history, laboratoryand operative findings, and final clinical outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: The 21 cases of acute spontaneoussubdural hematomas were caused by cerebral vascular abnormalities(n=10), infantile hemorrhagic disease(n=5), orwere of unknown origin(n=6). All ten cases of cerebral vascular abnormality were confirmed angiographically; sixwere aneurysms, three were arteriovenous malformations, and one was moyamoya disease. On CT, subarachnoidhemorrhage was seen to be associated with aneurysms, intracerebral hemorrhage with arteriovenous malformations,and intraventricular hemorrhage with moyamoya disease. All five patients with hemorrhagic disease were infantsaged 1-17 months ; characteristic diffuse distribution of subdural hematoma in both temporoparietal-occipitalregions is typical. The average overall mortality rate was 52.4%(11/21). In patients with cerebral vascularabnormalities, mortality was as low as 20%(2/10), but in hemorrhagic disease was high (60%). In cases of unknownorigin it was 100%. CONCLUSION: Acute spontaneous subdural hematoma is a rare condition, and the mortality rateis high. In patients with acute spontaneous subdural hematoma, as seen on CT, associated subarachnoid orintracerebral hemorrhage is strongly indicative of intracerebral vascular abnormalities such as aneurysm andarteriovenous malformation, and cerebral angiography is necessary. To ensure proper treatment and thus morkedlyreduce mortality, the causes of bleeding should be prompty determined by means of cerebral angiography.
Aneurysm ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Mortality ; Moyamoya Disease ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed