New measurement method for Sp factors (Phantom Scatter Factors) is presented. The theoretical development of the approach is disscused showing that Sp factors can be obtained from three measurements of ionnization in a blocked, reference field and open field. This method has been tested using 60Co gamma rays. The results were within 1% deviation between the theory and the experiment for the Sp facter. The new method does not need air measurement, and we could determine the Sp p factors with a small piece of block.
Gamma Rays ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor*

No abstract available.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor* ; Hepatocytes* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia*

Total scatter factor (Scp), head scatter factor (Sc) and phantom scatter factor (Sp) are very important for accurate radiation therapy at stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with irregular field shape using micro-MLC and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) including many small field sizes. In this study we measured and compared Scp with reference ion chamber, pinpoint chamber and diode detector and adapted the resuls form diode detector. Head scatter factors for small field sizes were also measured with diode detector covered 1.5 cm-thick solid water build-up cap. Some errors like as electron contamination of 1~3% were included in the values of Sc but trend of total results of Sc was coincided with basic theory. Phantom scatter factors for small field sizes were calculated form Scp and Sc. The results of Sp were compared and were well-agreed with those of other authors.
Electrons ; Head ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Radiosurgery ; Water

PURPOSE: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a modulator of epithelial cell proliferation and motility. In this study, we measured the level of HGF in sera and tumor extracts of gastric adenocarcinoma using an enzyme-linked immunoassay and evaluated its association with tumor progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of HGF in the sera of seventy-five patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and in the tumor extracts of forty-two tumors were examined in this study. The level of HGF was determined by an Immunis HGF EIA kit (Institute of Immunology). RESULTS: The mean level of HGF in the sera of patients was 0.26+/-0.19 ng/ml, which was significantly higher than in those of healthy controls (0.14+/-0.07 ng/ml, p<0.05); the levels of HGF in the sera of patients increased according to the progression of the stage of cancer (p<0.05). The mean level of HGF in tumor extracts was 8.22+/-9.27 microgram/g protein, which was significantly higher than in those of healthy controls (1.95+/-1.45 microgram/g protein, p<0.05); the levels of HGF in the tumor extracts were correlated significantly with the progression of the tumor stage (p<0.05). The mean level of HGF in the tumors of diffuse type was 11.28+/-11.74 microgram/g protein, which was significantly higher than in those of intestinal type (5.16+/-4.31 microgram/g protein, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HGF may play an important role in the progression and differentiation of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Epithelial Cells ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor* ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Immunoassay

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor angiogenesis and angiogenic factors such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-met in renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining on HGF, c-met expression and angiogenesis was performed in 35 renal cell carcinoma tissues and 18 benign renal tissues. HGF and c-met were identified with specific corresponding antibodies. Cases were considered positive when HGF and c-met expression were seen in more than one third of cells. To evaluate the angiogenesis, the microvessels were determined by anti-CD31 immunohistochemistry. We compaired HGF, c-met and microvessel count with clinicopathologic characteristics such as stage, nuclear grade and histology in renal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Among 35 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 16 patients (45.7%) showed positive stain for HGF and c-met. HGF, c-met overexpression and microvessel count were significantly correlated with tumor stage and nuclear grade of renal cell carcinoma (p<0.05), but not correlated with cell type of renal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggested that both HGF and c-met overexpression and angiogenesis measured by microvessels count could be significant prognostic indicators of renal cell carcinoma.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor* ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of hepatocyte growth factor on the proliferation of dental pulp cell.

METHODSThe 4th generation dental pulp cell cultured in vitro was used as target cell. 1- 200 microg/L hepatocyte growth factor was added in the test group while the pure cell culture DMEM as control. The MTT method and flowcytometry were applied to assay the proliferation and cell cycle of dental pulp cell of different groups.

RESULTS1-200 microg/L hepatocyte growth factor showed promoting effect to the proliferation of pulp cell since the 5th day (P < 0.05). 100 microg/L was found to be the optimal concentration. Also on the 5th day, 100 microg/L hepatocyte growth factor decreased the G1 subcycle and increased the S subcycle of dental pulp cell ( P < 0.05). While on the 3rd day, it had no effect on the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONHepatocyte growth factor had positive effect on the proliferation of dental pulp cell, with 100 microg/L as the optimal concentration.

BACKGROUNDMyopia is a common disorder and the incidence has increased yearly, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met in the development of lens-induced myopia in guinea pigs.

METHODSSixty one-week-old guinea pigs were chosen. The right eyes were treated with -10.0 diopters (D) lenses as the lens-induced myopia group; the left eyes remained untreated as the control group. Six weeks later, refractive status and axial length were determined by streak retinoscopy and A-scan ultrasonography, respectively. The guinea pigs were killed and both eyes collected. Morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression levels of HGF, c-Met, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) mRNA and protein in the posterior sclera were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe lens-induced myopia group became myopic with a significant increase in axial length and a significant decrease in refraction. Compared with the control group, the posterior retina and sclera were thinner in the lens-induced myopia group. The expression levels of HGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein and of phosphorylated c-Met protein were significantly higher in the posterior sclera of the lens-induced myopia group than in the control group (all P < 0.05). In the lens-induced myopia group, the expression level of MMP-2 in the posterior sclera positively correlated with the expression level of HGF (r = 0.902, P < 0.05) and phosphorylated c-Met (r = 0.885, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHGF/c-Met might play a role in the development of lens-induced myopia in guinea pigs by upregulating the expression of MMP-2.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Postoperative Period

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-met expression as well as tumor angiogenesis in endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. METHOD: By means of immunohistochemical staining, HGF, c-met expression, and angiogenesis were investigated in total of 49 patients (19 endometrial hyperplasia, 30 endometrial adenocarcinoma). HGF and c-met were identified with specific corresponding antibodies. To evaluate angiogenesis, the microvessels were highlighted by staining their endothelial cells immunohistochemically for anti-CD31. Areas close to the deepest myometrial invasion or those with the highest grade of endometrial hyperplasia and the highest angiogenic intensity were selected. Three fields of 400 magnification were selected for each slide, and the mean microvessel count was obtained. RESULTS: Diffuse staining for HGF was demonstrated in normal, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinoma tissue in 45.5, 52.6 and 63.3 percent, respectively, while that for c-met was demonstrated in 9.1, 36.8 and 60.0 percent, respectively. c-Met overexpression was significantly correlated with high surgical stage as well as poor cellular differentiation. There were significant differences in microvessel count among normal, complex endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma (median 5, 9 vs. 22) and was between simple and complex endometrial hyperplasia (median 6 vs. 9). The microvessel counts were also significantly correlated with high surgical stage, poor cellular differentiation, lymph node involvement and deep myometrial invasion. CONCLUSION: This results suggested that both c-met overexpression and angiogenesis measured by microvessel count could be significantly important prognostic indicators for the prognosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Antibodies ; Endometrial Hyperplasia* ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor* ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Prognosis

Animals ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; Serine Endopeptidases