OBJECTIVES: Cell adhesion molecules may play a role in integrating amnionic membrane. The objective of this study was to prove E-cadherin mRNA and proteins in cultured human amnionic cells. METHODS: We cultured amnionic cells from 4 women undergoing cesarean section without labor. E-cadherin was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western ligend blotting. To demonstrate E-cadherin mRNA, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed. RESULTS: On immunohistochemistry, E-cadherin was abundantly showed on the cytoplasm of the cells. Western ligend blotting showed clear 120 kDa bands on four specimens, and relatively weak band on one specimen. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed 432 BP bands. CONCLUSION: We proved E-cadherin and its mRNA by immunohistochemistry, Western ligend blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cultured human amnionic cells.
Amnion* ; Cadherins* ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cesarean Section ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available in English.
Transplants

Although the primary repair has been recognized so far, the tendon graft is reported as a primary treatment method for tendon injury in no man's land of Bunnel, judging from the state of injured hand, the ability of operator and the environment of medical operation. The 27 cases of tendon graft that were operated for 11 years from June, 1973 to June, 1984 in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine have been followed up for clinical study. The results were as follows: 1. The Material of this study was composed of 13 males (21 cases) and 5 females (6 cases) whose age were from 8 to 39 years old. 2. The injured fingers were classified with 3 thumbs, 6 index fingers, 7 middle fingers, 8 ring fingers and and 3 little fingers out of 27 cases and all injured parts of fingers were Zone II except that of thumb which was Zone IV of Bunnel. 6 patients were injured more than 2 fingers. 3. The duration from tendon injury to tendon graft which scattered from 1 month to 9 years and averaged out to 28.2 months is supposed to have little relation to post-operative results. 4. The post-operative results showed up 9 excellent, 7 good and 1 fair out of 17 cases in good gmup, 3 good and 6 fair out of 9 cases in cicatrix group, 1 fair out of 1 case in nerve damage group at pre-operative state. 5. The post-operative results of thumb which show up 2 excellent, 1 good out of 3 cases were most successful among those of all fingers. 6. The pre-operative state is supposed to have great relation to post-operative state judging from 94% satisfactory results of good group at pre-operative state. 7. As multiple injury makes little difference from single injury, the injured state of each hand is supposed to an important effect on post-operative results. 8. As all electric bumed injury show up fair except that of thumb, they are supposed to have unsatisfactory results.
Cicatrix ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Multiple Trauma ; Orthopedics ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Thumb ; Transplants

Nine patients with ipsilateral tibial shaft fractures and knee ligament injuries were retrospectively reviewed to determine the methods of the diagnosis and the results of the treatment. The incidence of this combined injuries was 5% in one hundred and eighty two tibial shaft fractures. The injuries of posterior cruciate ligament were combined most freqently. Five of nine patients were open fractures. Bone union was obtained in all cases and the mean duration of bone union was 22.5 weeks. Athroscopy and stress X-ray for the cruciate ligament were helpful to diagnose this combined injures. The ligament injuries were surgically managed in eight and conservatively in one. Better results were obtained when this combined injuries were operated early, but four of nine patients were disabled. The results suggest that the examination of the knee is necessary to document ligamentous injuries that occur with tibial shaft fractures.
Diagnosis ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Retrospective Studies

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is associated with a characteristic neuropathology. The major hallmarks of AD are senile plaques(SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles(NFTs). beta-amyloid protein(Abeta) is derived from the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein(APP) and then converted to SPs. Mature SPs produce cytotoxicity through direct toxic effects and activation of microglia and complement. NFTs are composed of paired helical filaments(PHFs) including abnormally phosphorylated form of the microtubule-associated protein(MAP) tau and increased tau level in cerebrospinal fluid may be observed in most AD. The aggregation of Abeta and tau formation are thought to be a final common pathway of AD. Acetycholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA and their receptors are associated with AD. Especially, decreased nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(nAChRs) in AD are reported. Genetic lesions associated with AD are mutations in the structural genes for the APP located on chromosome 21, presenilin(PSN)1 located on chromosome 14 and PSN2 located on chromosome 1. Also, trisomy 21, Apo-E gene located on chromosome 19, PMF locus, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein and alpha-macroglobulin increase risk of AD. In this article, we will review about the neurobioloby of AD and some newly developed research areas.
Acetylcholine ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Amyloid ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Apolipoproteins E ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Complement System Proteins ; Dopamine ; Down Syndrome ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Genetics ; Lipoproteins ; Microglia ; Neurobiology* ; Proteolysis ; Serotonin

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Knee* ; Synovial Fluid*

No abstract available.

Primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma is extremely rare tumor. The histologic subtype was divided from malignant Brenner tumor due to it's own histologic characteristics and chemosensitive nature. Most of recent studies revealed that transitional cell carcinoma has a good response to chemotherapy and long-term survival. Recent histopathologic reports show that transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and of the ovary are immunophenotypically different. We experienced a case of primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma, and report this case with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Brenner Tumor ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Ovary ; Urinary Bladder

A case of a 21-year old female with Maffucci's syndrome is presented where the patient developed multiple cutaneous spindle-cell hemangioendotheliomas. She had multiple pea to walnut sized, non-tender, normal skin colored or slight bluish nodules and bony mass-like lesions on the left upper extremity and hand. A histological examination of the lesions showed that they were composed of irregularly dilated, thin walled cavernous blood spaces containing phleboliths and collapsed vascular spaces separated by spindled fibroblastic cells. Radiologically, the bony lesions showed radiolucent densities with calcified spots within the second proximal phalanx and metacarpal bone of the left hand, which were consistent with enchondromas.
Chondroma ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Hand ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Humans ; Juglans ; Peas ; Skin Pigmentation ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: There were a lot of problems in the health care system of Korea, which was divided into Western and Korean Traditional Medicine since 1951. In 1976 WHO published program of The promotion and development of traditional medicine. In 1977, Korean Medical Association(KMA) asked unification of health care system to government. But there was no progress because there were the lacks of mutual respect and understanding be-tween doctors of Western and Korean Traditional Medicine. As one health care group competed with the other, so KMA proposed the unification of health system again in 1997. The objectives of this research are to analyze attitude and opinions of western medical doctors on Korean Traditional Medicine and to analyze the opinions on the unification of medical care system in Korea. METHODS: A list of western medical doctor in Seoul and Incheon was obtained from Korean Medical Association. We sampled 937 doctors by stratified random sampling method. We sent them a postal questionnaire with a prepaid return envelope two times during March and April 1997. Of the 937 questionnaire, 266 replies were received. We analyzed the preference score related referral, Korean Traditional Medicine education and unification of medical care system We analyzed the data by Chisquare test, t-test, ANCOVA. RESULTS: This study shows that the western doctors have negative attitude on Korean Traditional Medicine(M=1K8, SD=5.2). They thought Korean Traditional Medicine was not reliable because it was not scientific(79.4%). Doctor, who didn't take oriental medical education, preferred unification of health care system, but it was not statistically significant. Those who experienced oriental medical education used oriental medical treatment more frequently(F=1.17, p=0.04). The more positive attitude they have about Korean Traditional Medicine, the more frequently they refereed the patient to oriental medical doctor(t =3.57, p =0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Western medical doctors have a negative attitude on Korean Traditional Medicine. Doctors, who did not have oriental medical education, preferred unification of health care system, but it was not statistically significant. In summary, the lack of mutual respect and understanding between doctors of the Western and Korean Traditional Medicine prevent unification of medical care system.
Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Medicine, Korean Traditional* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Referral and Consultation ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires