Either increased cellular proliferation or decreased death might result in an expansion of their numbers in the oncogenic process. Cellular apoptosis represents an autonomous suicide pathway that helps to restrict the cell number. However bcl-2 and mutant p53 inhibit programmed cell death. To determine whether the bcl-2 gene is activated during colorectal tumorigenesis and whether it has any relationship with p53 and apoptosis, we studied the expression of bcl-2 and p53 in the normal colonic mucosa, in the adenomatous polyps and in the adenocarcinomas using the immunohistochemical method. Also we evaluated the status of apoptosis using the in situ end labeling method. The bcl-2 immunoreactivity was restricted to the basal epithelial cells of all normal colonic mucosa and they were expressed in all adenomas and 86% of adenocarcinomas, especially in the superficial lesion of some tumors. Mutations of p53 were not found in the normal colonic mucosa, but they were present in dysplastic cells of adenomas (52%) and in cancer cells of the adenocarcinomas (47%). Apoptosis was confined to the tips of the normal colonic mucosa. It was more easily detected in the p53-positive adenomas than in the p53-negative adenomas (p=0.010). In the adenocarcinomas, the findings of apoptotic process are not related with p53 mutation (p=0.3) and bcl-2 expression (p=0.187). p53 and bcl-2 are probably one step of several apoptotic processes in the adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma* ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Mucous Membrane ; Suicide

PURPOSE: MEN1 gene mutation causes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. It also suggests that somatic MEN1 gene mutation plays a role in sporadic endocrine tumor. In this study, we examined whether somatic mutations of MEN1 gene are responsible for sporadic parathyroid tumors and correlate with clinical manifestations of parathyroid tumors. METHODS: Somatic mutation of MEN1 gene in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded parathyroid tumor tissue from 8 adenomas, 2 carcinomas and 1 hyperplasia were analyzed by direct sequencing. Clinicopathological parameters were reviewed from medical records and compared with the mutational data. RESULTS: Eight of eleven (73%) sporadic parathyroid tumors had somatic MEN1 mutations of 14 different types. In the 14 types, 13 were a point mutation which is composed of 8 missense mutations, 2 nonsense mutations and 3 silent mutations. One of 14 types is a frameshift deletion of 27 base pairs in exon 2. Somatic mutation was frequent in the exon 2 and exon 10. Four types of polymorphism were found. There was no correlation between the presence of mutations and clinicopathological phenotype of parathyroid tumors. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that somatic mutation of MEN1 gene plays a definite role in sporadic parathyroid tumor formation.
Adenoma ; Base Pairing ; Codon, Nonsense ; Exons ; Hyperplasia ; Medical Records ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation

BACKGROUND: Elecsys 2010 immunoassay system is based on the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using a ruthenium (II) tris (bipyridyl) label. Since it was the first time to use the system in our laboratory, we would like to evaluate the analytical performances (precision, linearity and recovery rate) and correlation with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) methods. METHODS: We used precicontrol tumor marker (TM1, TM2) for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Precicontrol universal (Ul, U2) for triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), Precicontrol-TSH for thyrotropin (TSH) and pooled serum for the evaluation of precision and recovery rate. Patients' sera were used for the linearity and comparison study. RESULTS: The coefficients of variatron of Imprecision study were below; 4.0%, 8.7% and 10.2%, respectively in the within-run, within-day and between-day analysis. The recovery rates were 100.5%, 96.1% and 102.5%, respectively in T4, TSH, and AFP. The linearity were y=1.02x-0.182(r=0.99) for T4, y=1.01x+0.12 (r=0.99) for TSH and y=1.01x+0.54(r=1.00) for AFP. T3, T4, TSH, CEA and PSA results showed good correlation with RIA (r>0.90), but AFP showed r=0.88. Also, AFP, CEA and PSA results showed excellent correlation with AxSYM (r>0.99). CONCLUSION: Elecsys 2010 immunoassay system showed excellent precision, recovery rate, clinically acceptable linearity and good correlation with the results obtained by RIA and MEIA methods.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Immunoassay* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Radioimmunoassay ; Ruthenium ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Unlike screw-retention type, fixture-abutment retention in Locking taper connection depends on frictional force so it has possibility of abutment to sink. PURPOSE: In this study, Bicon(R) Implant System, one of the conical internal connection implant system, was used with applying loading force to the abutments connected to the fixture. Then the amount of sinking was measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 Bicon(R) implant fixtures were used. First, the abutment was connected to the fixture with finger force. Then it was tapped with a mallet for 3 times and loads of 20 kg corresponding to masticatory force using loading application instrument were applied successively. The abutment state, slightly connected to the fixture without pressure was considered as a reference length, and every new abutment length was measured after each load's step was added. The amount of abutment sinking (mm) was gained by subtracting the length of abutment-fixture under each loading condition from reference length. RESULTS: It was evident, that the amount of abutment sinking in Bicon(R) Implant System increased as loads were added. When loads of 20 kg were applied more than 5 - 7 times, sinking stopped at 0.45 +/- 0.09 mm. CONCLUSION: Even though locking taper connection type implant shows good adaption to occlusal force, it has potential for abutment sinking as loads are given. When locking taper connection type implant is used, satisfactory loads are recommended for precise abutment location.
Bite Force ; Fingers ; Friction ; Retention (Psychology)

No abstract available.
Atrophy* ; Brain*

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is currently used as a degreasing agent in the jewelry manufacturing industry. The characteristic sign arising after the exposure of TCE are hepatitis and contact dermatitis. The incidence of toxicity is relatively rare, therefore, the mechanism of occurrence is considered as hypersensitivity. A previously healthy 21-year-old male began to work at jewelry industry. The solvent used in that place was TCE. Over the next month, he experienced symptoms of weakness, fever, dry skin, red rash and bumps, peeling face, and jaundice. At that time, he had marked liver enzyme elevation with evidence of cholestasis. After two weeks of avoidance of TCE exposure, his liver enzymes showed a marked reduction in ALT from a peak of 1132 to 131 IU/L. The total bilirubin reduced from 9.3 to 4.6 mg/dL. Tests for hepatitis A, B, and C, CMV, HIV were all negative. The patch test showed primary irritant reaction to TCE and its metabolite, trichloroethanol. This is the second report of TCE induced hepatotoxicity in Korea. We consider this case as a TCE induced hepatotoxicity due to possibly hypersensitivity mechanism.
Bilirubin ; Cholestasis ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis* ; HIV ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Jewelry ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Occupational Exposure* ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Trichloroethylene ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of a multicultural course on nursing students' multicultural acceptability and competency. METHODS: The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized pre- and post-test. The experimental group (n=28) took 13 weeks of the multicultural course, while the control group (n=28) received only regular classes over the same period. Pre- and post-tests were done to identify the effects of the program. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using the PASW 18.0 program. RESULTS: All indices of multicultural acceptability and competency in the experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group after the program, except for two: universality (a measure of multicultural acceptability) and multicultural awareness (a measure of multicultural competency). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the multicultural course was effective in elevating the level of multicultural acceptability and competency among nursing students.
Cultural Competency ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing*

BACKGROUND: There are only a few studies regarding the causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the causes of intractable tuberculosis. METHODS: M.tuberculosis, differentiated MOTT (Tycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis) were isolated, and the RFLP (Restriction fragments length polymorphisms) pattern was analyzed from 204 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 53 suffering from neck tuberculosis. The IL-1β, IL-12, *1 IFNγ and *2 TNFαblood levels were measured. All patients were regularly followed for 18 months after treatment. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the RFLP patterns of M.tuberculosis treatment failure. From the 204 cases, 31.9% were intractable. The characteristics of patients with intractable tuberculosis were old age, being male and recurrent cases. The causes of treatment failure were identified as follows ; a decrease in the IL-12(59.4%) concentration, drug resistant strain(54.7%), irregular medication(15.4%), MOTT(6.2%) and a heavy infection(4.6%). The causes of all cases of intractable tuberculosis could be investigated. The IL-12 concentration in the blood was significantly lower in the intractable cases, where it disclosed a maximum sensitivity(64.7%) and specificity(75.4%) at 165.0 pg/ml. Most of the 53 cases on neck node tuberculosis were treated successfully. Therefore, we were unable to analyze the cause of treatment failure. CONCLUSION: A decrease in the blood IL-12 concentration and drug resistant strains were identified as the most significant causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. In Korea, infection by clusters were prevalent, but no difference in the clinical course between clusters and non-clusters could be found.
Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Korea ; Male ; Neck* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Treatment Failure* ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: The increased expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been implicated in the development and progression of human cancers. We investigated COX-2 expression in normal, gastric adenomas and adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COX-2 protein was assayed in gastrectomy and biopsy specimens, from 68 gastric adenocarcinomas, 40 gastric adenomas and 35 normal gastric tissues, by immunohistochemistry, and 32 specimens of normal and adenocarcinomas by western blot analysis. Correlation between COX-2 expression and various clinicopathological factors were studied in the gastric adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: COX-2 protein expression in epithelial cells was increased in 6/40 (15%) of the adenomas and 55/68 (80.9 %) of the adenocarcinomas, while normal mucosa was not expressed. COX-2 expression was increased in differ-entiated gastric carcinomas compared with those in the undifferentiated group (p<0.05). The expression of COX-2 protein was unrelated to tumor size, depth of tumor invasion and the presence of lymphatic or vascular invasions. Western blot analysis showed the enhanced expression of the COX-2 protein (23 out of 32)(71%) in gastric carcinomas compared to that of normal gastric mucosal epithelium. CONCLUSION: The above results indicated that the expression of COX-2 protein occurs in dysplastic epithelium and gastric carcinomas, which suggests COX-2 expression may contribute to tumor formation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Humans* ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Urinary Bladder*