PURPOSE: Recently, it has been reported that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with some gastric cancers. But EBVs role in EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs) has not been fully elucidated. This study was undertaken to evaluate the characteristics of EBVaGCs and to compare those with non-EBVaGCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EBV infection was studied using paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 119 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs). In EBVaGCs and non-EBVaGCs, molecular characteristics were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for latent membrane protein (LMP)-1, p53 protein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). RESULTS: EBERs were detected in 12 cases (10.1%) of 119 gastric adenocarcinomas. LMP-1 was negative in all carcinomas tested, p53 protein was positive in 7 cases (58.3%) of 12 EBVaGCs and in 51 (47.7%) of 107 non-EBVaGCs, the difference between two groups being not significant. Mean PCNA index was 38.2+-26.1% in EBVaGCs and 22.8 +- 20.0% in non-EBVaGCs. The index was significantly higher in the former than in the latter. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that neoplastic progression in EBVaGCs was implicated with high expression of PCNA, but not consistently with overexpression of p53 protein or LMP-1.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; In Situ Hybridization ; Membrane Proteins ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; RNA ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To evaluate surface configuration of intervertebral disc on three dimensional CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three dimensional surface images reconstructed from CTscans(1 mm thick) of 20discs in 14 healthy adults were reviewed. Disc surface was classified into peripheral and central zones in contact with consecutive peripheral ring and central endplate. Local irregularity incidence, pattern in radial, concentric, or mixed form, size, location, and extension were observed. Incidence and severity ranges in 4 grades of general irregularity, and peripheral width relative to central radius were evaluated. RESULTS: Normal disc mostly showed smooth surface with few display of small local irregularity(6/20) which was mainly radial in pattern(4/5), posterolaterally located(4/6), and confined within peripheral zone(5/6). General irregularity displayed(5/20) was all grade I and peripheral width was 0.82 of central radius. CONCLUSION: Normal disc shows smooth surface but few may display small local irregularity maybe due to very early degenerative change.
Adult ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Radius

Cerebral CT findings were described in twenty-six cases with the late sequelae of acute carbon monoxidepoisoning and were compared with the neurological symptoms and signs. The CT findins include symmetricalperiventricular white matter low density in five cases, globus pallidus low denstiy in six cases, ventriculardilatation in seven cases, ventircular dilatation and sulci widening in three cases, and normal findings in tencases. Only one case showed low densities in both periventricular white matter and globus pallidus, Late sequelaeof the interval form of carbon monoxide poisoning were clinically categorized as cortical dysfunction,parkinsonian feature, and cerebellar dysfunction. The severity of the clinical symptoms and sings of neurologialsequelae is generally correlated with presence and multiplicity of abnormal brain CT findings. But CT. Anothercase showing small unilateral low density of globus pallidus had no parkinsonian feature but showed mild corticaldysfunction.
Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Carbon Monoxide ; Carbon ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Dilatation ; Globus Pallidus ; White Matter

Inhibin is a glycoprotein usually produced by granulosa cell of ovary and is known as regulator of FSH secretion. Inhibin is consisted of two heterodimeric subunit of a, B . There are two distinct molecular forms of the B subunit that exist (BA and BB) and when combined with an a subunit, form inhibin A, and inhibin B, respectively. Ovarian reserve describes women's reproductive potential, which usually decreased according to chronological age. Because useful markers claimed for the prediction of ovarian response during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET have not been always successful, new biomarker has been investigated. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in serum and ovarian follicular inhibin A concentration during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET program and to evaluate the clinical significance of inhibin A as a prognostic marker for assisted reproductive technology outcomes. From Jan 1996 to Dec 1996, 48 patients who underwent IVF-ET were included. In each patient, the Day 3 FSH, LH, E2q were measured in the first month of cycle before commencing GnRH agonist administration, In the stimulation period after pituitary down regulation, blood samples for inhibin A were collected at the day 3, day 7, day of hCG injection, day of oocytes aspiration, and day of embryo transfer. Ovarian follicular inhibin A was collected at the day of oocyte aspiration. Inhibin A concentration was measured using test kit for inhibin A (INHIBIN-EASIA (code 40.134.00), Belgium Medgenix). The changes in serum inhibin A, E2 concentration during IVF-ET program showed increasing pattern throughout controlled ovarian hyperstimulation periods. If the cut-off value of day 3 serum inhibin A determined to 0.28 U/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.0%, 75.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. If the cut-off value of peak serum E determined to 1316 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.0%, 100.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. In conclusion, measurement of serum inhibin A concentration on the day of starting stimulation (day 3) could be used as a useful marker for predicting the ovarian response in IVF-ET program.
Belgium ; Down-Regulation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) and to investigate the prognostic significance of the factors in them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for factor VIII related antigen, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and PCNA was performed using paraffin embedded blocks of 57 NSCLC cases. The results were correlated with some clinicopathologic parameters, including age, sex, TNM-T status, TNM-N status, stage, and histologic type. RESULTS: Microvessel count (MC) was higher in squamous cell carcinoma group than in non-squamous cell carcinoma one (18.4+/-7.3 vs 14.6+/-9.9, p=0.043). PCNA index was higher in lymph node metastasis group than in non-metastasis one (42.1+/-8.9% vs 36.4+/- 14.6%, p=0.043). But the factors were not correlated with other clinicopathologic parameters. The relationship between VEGF expression and MC was significantly recognized (p=0.02), but that between VEGF expression and PCNA index was not. MC was positively correlated with PCNA index (r=0.547, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both MC and PCNA index can be acted as useful indicators of prognosis in NSCLC, but tumor cell proliferation in NSCLC may be more concerned with any growth factor other than VEGF.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; von Willebrand Factor

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Vibration*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to demonstrate the potential therapeutic advantage of 3-dimensional (3-D) treatment planning over the conventional 2-dimensional (2-D) approach in patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The two techniques were compared both qualitatively and quantitatively for the boost portion of the treatment (19.8 Gy of a total 70.2 Gy treatment schedule) in patient with T4. The comparisons between 2-D and 3-D plans were made using dose statistics, dose-volume histogram, tumor control probabilities, and normal tissue complication probabilities. RESULTS: The 3-D treatment planning improved the dose homogeneity in the planning target volume. In addition, it caused the mean dose of the planning target volume to increase by 15.2% over 2-D planning. The mean dose to normal structures such as the temporal lobe, brain stem, parotid gland, and temporomandibular joint was reduced with the 3-D plan. The probability of tumor control was increased by 6% with 3-D treatment planning compared to the 2-D planning, while the probability of normal tissue complication was reduced. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the potential advantage of increasing the tumor control by using 3-D planning, but prospective studies are required to define the true clinical benefit.
Brain Stem ; Humans ; Nasopharynx* ; Parotid Gland ; Temporal Lobe ; Temporomandibular Joint

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the outcome between interlocking IM nailing and LCP fixation in the treatment of distal metaphyseal tibial fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2007, 17 patient were treated by interlocking IM nail and 13 patient were treated by LCP fixation for distal metaphyseal tibial fracture. RESULTS: According to AO classification, there were 2 type A1 fracture (12%), 6 type A2 fracture (36%), 3 type A3 fracture (18%), 4 type B1 fracture (24%), 1 type B3 fracture (6%), 1 type C1 fracture (6%) in interlocking IM nailing group and 1 type A2 fracture (7.7%), 2 type A3 fracture (15.4%), 3 type B1 fracture (23%), 3 type B2 fracture (23%), 3 type C1 fracture (23%), 1 type C2 fracture (7.7%) in LCP fixation group. The clinical functional outcome (according to AOFAS score) is 75.6 point in IM nailing group and 81.5 point in LCP fixation group. In IM nailing group, 65% of patient showed satisfactory result and In LCP fixation group, 77% of patient showed satisfactory result. CONCLUSION: There is no difference on clinical results between IM nailing and MIPPO (minimal invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis) group in the treatment of distal tibia fracture. But MIPPO group have higher subjective satisfactory score and less complication rate. The weakness of our study is a small case number and limited follow-up and we believe a better designed prospective study will be needed.
Animals ; Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nails ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures

Using lipid bilayer reconstitution technique, we investigated the oxidation effect of t-butyl hydrogen peroxide (tBHP) on the single channel activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channels isolated from canine latissimus dorsi muscles. When 0.7% tBHP was added in the cytosolic side, the channel activity became suppressed (n = 7), and it was recovered by changing the solution to the control solution. The suppression was due to the change in the gating mode of the channel: before tBHP the channel opened to four sub-conductance levels, but it opened to only one level after tBHP. These effects by tBHP were different from the previous finding using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which may be explained by different oxidation patterns between the two oxidants.
Animal ; Calcium Channels/drug effects* ; Dogs ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Peroxides/pharmacology* ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/drug effects* ; tert-Butylhydroperoxide