No abstract available.
Erythropoietin*

No abstract available.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Female ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy

Melanosis coli is characterized by a dark brownish discoloration of the colonic mucosa. Its pathogenesis is still unknown. Recently it was proposed that the apoptosis of mucosal epithelium due to habitual use of laxatives play an important role for induction of melanosis coli. We studied clinicopathologic aspects of 12 cases of melanosis coli and analysed the histochemical and immunohistochemical characteristics of them. Results are as follows. : Mean patient's age was 53.5, and the male:female ratio was 4:8. Nine patients had a history of constipation, and all of these had administrated various kinds of laxatives. The severity of discoloration was correlated with the duration of constipation and age. There was no difference of anatomical distribution in colon. Other remarkable mucosal lesions were not accompanied. On pathologic examination, all cases showed frequent yellow-brown pigment laden cells in lamina propria. These pigments were positive for periodic acid Schiff stains, Fontana Masson stains, and Victoria blue stains, however they were negative for prussian blue stain. On immunohistochemical stainings pigmented cells were positive for CD68, and negative for S-100 protein and neuron specific enolase. These results indicate that they are macrophages. On ultrastructural examination pigmented cytoplasms were filled with variable sized electron dense granules including irregulary round deformed membranous structures, lipid vacuoles. Apoptosis of mucosal epithelium was noted in 5 cases. These findings suggest that apoptosis is the significant pathologic process in the progression of some cases of melanosis coli.
Female ; Male ; Humans

Sialosyl Tn mucin antigen (STn) is a carbohydrate antigen of tumor associated mucin formed by the premature 2~6 sialation of N-acetylgalactosamine. STn has been expressed in several tumor types and showed prognostic significance in colonic carcinoma. The authors evaluated the expression of STn immunohistochemically and correlated its expression with clinicopathologic variables in 100 gastric cancers. In early gastric cancer, STn was expressed in 24 cases out of 50 cases (48%). In advanced gastric cancer, STn was expressed in 48 of 50 (96%). The difference in STn expression between advanced gastric cancer and early gastric cancer was statistically significant. The difference in STn expression between tumors with lymph node metastasis and those without lymph node metastasis, between tubular adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma, and between intestinal type and diffuse type adenocarcinoma was statistically insignificant in early or advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. These results suggest that the STn expression plays a role in the tumor progression in both early and advanced gastric adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Colon ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

Taxol is an active chemotherapeutic agent against a variety of solid tumors and a potentially useful drug for augmenting the cytotoxic action of radiotherapy against certain cancers. Taxol blocks cells in the mitotic phase of cell cycle. The aim of this study was to define the in vivo response of rapidly dividing cells of the small intestinal mucosa to taxol. We studied the numbers of apoptotic and mitotic cells and the expression of bcl-2 and p53 in rat jejunal crypt cells at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours and 3 and 5 days after intraperitoneal injection of taxol. Mitosis peaked at 2 and 4 hours and 12 and 16 hours. Apoptosis peaked at 16 hours and returned to normal after five days. The glands in crypts showed marked distortion with atypical lining cells after three days, which returned to normal at 5 days. bcl-2 expression was markedly decreased at 8 to 24 hours and subnormally recovered after three to five days. p53 showed no significant changes throughout. The histopathological changes in small intestine due to taxol were transient with complete recovery. bcl-2 expression was inversely corresponded to numbers of apoptosis. The changes were p53 independent. Further studies to understand the conditions that maximize the cell-cycle modulating effects of taxol cl-may greatly enhance its anti-tumor effectiveness.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestine, Small* ; Mitosis ; Paclitaxel ; Radiotherapy ; Rats*

Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes. There have been numerous theories to explain the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy in fallopian tubes. The most commonly held view is that the passage of the fertilized ovum through the fallopian tube is delayed or hindered by chronic inflammation and its sequelae. We designed a study to evaluate the details of histopathologic changes and the location of implantation and how they relate to the clinical history. 182 fallopian tube specimens from patients who had undergone total or partial salpingectomy were examined. A high incidence of non-specific inflammation of plicae and wall of tube (31.9%) and salpingitis isthmica nodosa (12.6%) were observed. Other associated findings included acute salpingitis, complex plicae or complex hyperplasia of tubal epithelium, fibrous adhesion with ovary, endometriosis, and calcification. History of previous ectopic tubal pregnancy was found in 8 cases. The cases with serum beta-HCG value above 2,500 I.U./L (group I, n=97) were more frequently noted in those exhibiting myosalpingeal invasion of trophoblast (67 cases) than in those without invasion (30 cases). Of the 182 tubal pregnancies, 117 (64.3%) cases were found in the ampulla and 47 (25.8%) cases in isthmic location. In 117 ampullary pregnancies, the products of conception were found intraluminally in 71 cases (60.7%), and extraluminally in 34 (29.1%) cases, of which the products of conception were found entirely extraluminal. The products of conception, found both within and outside the tubal lumen, were found in 12 cases (10.2%). Of 47 tubes with isthmic pregnancies, 33 cases were intraluminal (70.2%), 12 cases were extraluminal (25.5%), and two cases were mixed (4.3%). In conclusion, significant histopathologic abnormalities accompany a majority of ectopic tubal pregnancy, and myosalpingeal invasion of trophoblast is correlated with high serum beta-HCG. Thus, it is necessary to confirm not only the ectopic placental tissue but also the accompanying details of the other histopathologic findings or the pathologic evaluation of ectopic tubal pregnancy.
Endometriosis ; Epithelium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Salpingectomy ; Salpingitis ; Trophoblasts ; Zygote

Familial juvenile polyposis is a rare intestinal polyposis characterized by the occurrence of multiple juvenile polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of familial juvenile polyposis in a 17-year-old man with a review of the literature. This patient underwent total colectomy due to a 6 years history of rectal bleeding. Grossly, the colon showed 36 variable sized pedunculated polyps, measuring 2.5cm x 2cm from the largest size and 0.2cm x 0.2cm to the smallest size. Histologically, the polyps consisted of cystically dilated glands, lined by normal colonic epithelial cells, scattered in loose, edematous stroma containing inflammatory cell infiltration. There were no areas of tubular adenoma or malignancy in any of the polyp.
Adenoma ; Adolescent ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Epithelial Cells ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Polyposis ; Polyps

PURPOSE: This study was to develop a nursing education program for mothers with a young child undergoing cardiac surgery and determine effects of the program on her knowledge, anxiety and coping behavior. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. 18 mothers were assigned to the experimental group and 18 to the control group. The effects were evaluated by measuring knowledge, anxiety, and coping behavior. The collected data was analyzed through independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA respectively using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The point of knowledge in the experimental group was significantly increased tan that in the control group. The point of subjective, physiological, and behavior anxiety in the experimental group was significantly decreased than that in the control group by time change. The point of coping behavior in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: The nursing educational program for a young child with cardiac surgery is expected to be clinically applied as an intervention program for mothers with a young child undergoing cardiac surgery.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Anxiety ; Child ; Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Mothers ; Research Design ; Thoracic Surgery ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide (NO) is a major endothelium dependent vasomediator and growth inhibitor. NO synthesis is catalyzed by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and NO can also produce peroxynitrite, which activates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The purpose of this study was to determine the gene expression of eNOS and MMP-2 in the lungs of a rat model of pulmonary hypertension after bosentan treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated as follows: control group, subcutaneous (sc) injection of saline; monocrotaline (MCT) group, sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg); and bosentan group, sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) plus 20 mg/day bosentan orally. The rats were sacrificed after 1, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days. RESULTS: The right ventricle/(left ventricle+septum) ratio significantly increased in the MCT group compared to the control group on day 14 and 28. The expression of eNOS messenger ribonucleic acid was significantly increased in the MCT group compared to the control group on day 28. MMP-2 gene expression was significantly increased in the MCT-treated rats compared to the control group on day 5 and 28. Following bosentan treatment to reduce pulmonary hypertension, the expression levels of MMP-2 gene were significantly decreased on day 7 and 28. eNOS and tissue inhibitor of MMPs genes were also significantly decreased on day 28 after bosentan treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that elevated eNOS expression may be responsible for MMP-2 activation. The causal relationship between eNOS and MMP-2 and their role in pulmonary hypertension require further investigations.
Animals ; Endothelium ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Monocrotaline ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; Sulfonamides

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide (NO) is a major endothelium dependent vasomediator and growth inhibitor. NO synthesis is catalyzed by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and NO can also produce peroxynitrite, which activates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The purpose of this study was to determine the gene expression of eNOS and MMP-2 in the lungs of a rat model of pulmonary hypertension after bosentan treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated as follows: control group, subcutaneous (sc) injection of saline; monocrotaline (MCT) group, sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg); and bosentan group, sc injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) plus 20 mg/day bosentan orally. The rats were sacrificed after 1, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days. RESULTS: The right ventricle/(left ventricle+septum) ratio significantly increased in the MCT group compared to the control group on day 14 and 28. The expression of eNOS messenger ribonucleic acid was significantly increased in the MCT group compared to the control group on day 28. MMP-2 gene expression was significantly increased in the MCT-treated rats compared to the control group on day 5 and 28. Following bosentan treatment to reduce pulmonary hypertension, the expression levels of MMP-2 gene were significantly decreased on day 7 and 28. eNOS and tissue inhibitor of MMPs genes were also significantly decreased on day 28 after bosentan treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that elevated eNOS expression may be responsible for MMP-2 activation. The causal relationship between eNOS and MMP-2 and their role in pulmonary hypertension require further investigations.
Animals ; Endothelium ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Monocrotaline ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; Sulfonamides