OBJECTIVES: The TGF-Beta1 (transforming growth factor-Beta1 ), which has been shown to inhibit cellular proliferation in vitro as a growth regulator, has been demonstrated to enhance tumori-genicity in vivo. The proteolytic processes of cancer are thought to be the crucial point in tumor invasion and metastasis, mainly by matrix metalloproteinases.(MMPs) We investigated the serum TGF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels in patients with cervical cancer in contrast to those of normal, patients with benign myoma, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). And we questioned whether these serum levels are different according to the therapy of cancer or not. METHODS: We measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 concentrations by ELISA in 34 patients with cervical cancer, as well as 5 normal volunteers, 14 patients with benign myoma and 23 patients with CIN. Especially in 7 patients with cervical cancer, we measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 levels before and after therapy. RESULTS: The serum TGF-Beta1 levels in patients with cervical lancer(37.8 +/-15.4pg/ml) were significantly lower than those of the patients with CIN(46.2+/-9.2pg/ml)(p<0.05). But there is no differences among the serum MMP-2 levels in the patients with cervical cancers(680.30+/-116.6pg/ml), CIN(715.2+/-150.0pg/ml), and benign myoma(682.4+/-112.5pg/ml)(p>0.05). Patients undergoing cancer therapy did not have different values of serum TCF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels as those without cancer therapy.(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: So we suggest that serum TGF-Beta1 may be helpful in differential diagnosing cervical cancers from CIN.
Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Myoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

The one event on signaling mechanism is the cleavage by adenyl cyclase of ATP into second messenger, cyclic AMP. The other transfer system of inositol metabolism, it is widely recognized that hydrolysis of the minor membrane lipid phosphoinositide bisphosphate (PIP₂) initiated by occupation of certain receptors and catalyzed by phospholipase C, lead to toe generation of the two intracellular messengers, inositol triphosphate (IP₃) and diacylglycerol (DG). IP₃ is converted to inositol tetrakisphosphate (IP₄) by IP₃ kinase. In the present study, it is that purification of calmodulin is used by phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B chromatography, it's molecular weigh, 17,000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In order to observe the affinity between calmodulin (CaM)-Affigel 15 and IP₃ kinase, and isolated IP₃ kinase, was applied in CaM-Affigel with Ca²⁺ equilibrium buffer and EGTA equilibrium buffer. We compared with binding and elution effect of IP₃ kinase in several condition of buffer. In affinity of binding, Ca²⁺ equilibrium buffer was in the most proper condition, and elution, CaM/Ca²⁺buffer (CE 1 10.36, CE2 12.76pM/min/mg of protein) was effected much more than EGTA buffer (E2 1.48, E 2.43pM/min/mg of protein), but CaM/Ca²⁺stimulate the activity of IP₃ kinase. And then, several detergents such as sodium deoxycholate, tween 20, cholic acid, polyethylene glycol, chaps were applied. The 0.2% chaps buffer (E2 23.19, E3 8.05pnM/min/mg of protein) was the most effective in elution of IP3 kinase.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adenylyl Cyclases ; Brain* ; Calmodulin ; Cholic Acid ; Chromatography ; Cyclic AMP ; Deoxycholic Acid ; Detergents ; Egtazic Acid ; Electrophoresis ; Hydrolysis ; Inositol* ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Occupations ; Phosphotransferases* ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Polysorbates ; Second Messenger Systems ; Toes ; Type C Phospholipases

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Male* ; Shock, Septic*

OBJECTIVES: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the growth, progression, and metastatic spread of solid tumors. Angiogenic factors are soluble molecules released by the tumor itself and are able to induce an angiogenic response. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been shown to be an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum VEGF levels in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. And we questioned whether the serum VEGF levels are related to cancer stages and prognosis of patients. METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 85 patients; healthy women(n=15), the patients with benign ovarian cyst(n=36), and the patients with ovarian cancer(n=34). The concentration of VEGF, CA-125, and CA 19-9 were determined in the serum of each patients before and after treatment with an enzyme linked immunoassay(EIA), RESULTS: There are statistical differences among the serum VEGF levels in patients with ovarian cancer(491.5+/-335.6 pg/ml), and benign ovarian cyst (247.7+/-183.6 pg/ml)(p<0.05). The patients undergoing cancer therapy had lower values than those without cancer therapy(p<0.05). The serum VEGF levels were not correlated with the cancer stages and histologic types(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: The serum VEGF level appears to be a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer and may help in predicting the therapeutic effects of patients with ovarian cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

In comparison with normal cervix, mitosis occur more frequently in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and are seen at high levels, suggesting that CIN may be associated with a progressive dysfunction in proliferative activity of cervical cells. This study aims that expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) was examined to determine proliferative activity at the cell of CIN. Sixty four colposcopic biopsies from patients with cytologically and/or colposcopically dtagnosed condyloma and CIN. The cases were classified as follows ; 19 as normal cervix and condyloma, 15 as CIN I, 16 as CIN II and 14 as CIN III. Immunohistochemical detection of PCNA was performed on paraffin sections by the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method using the monoclonal antibody PC10. There was a statisically significant correlation between the CIN grade and the PCNA grade(p<0.05). In addition, the PCNA grade showed significant correlation with mitotic grade(p<0.05) and the CIN grade was also observed(p<0.05). This study suggests that the cell proliferation index as detected immunohistochemically using PCNA may be a useful adjunct to histopathological diagnosis of various grades of CIN.
Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mitosis ; Paraffin ; Peroxidase ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

BACKGROUND: EGF and TGF-a are ligands for the EGF-receptor and act as mitogens for a variety of tissues. TGF-a, in particular, has been implicated as an autocrine growth factor for several cancer cell lines. TGF-B exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth of most epithelial cell types, and the loss of responsiveness to this growth inhibition has been implicated in the development of a variety of human cancers. In the present study, we evaluate whether EGF, TGF-a and TGF-B modulate apoptosis and cell cycle progression in cervical cancer cell lines. MATERIALS & METHODS: The effect of EGF, TGF-a and TGF-B on apoptosis and cell cycle such as CaSki and HeLa cell lines was analysed by flow cytometry RESULTS: 1. TGF-B did not induce apoptosis in CaSki and HeLa cell lines. 2. TGF-B as well as EGF, TGF-a, did not affect the process of apoptosis significantly. 3. The time to occur apoptosis was different between CaSki and HeLa cells treated by growth factots. 4. G1 phase was the checkpoint in CaSki and HeLa cells treated with TGF-B. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TGF-B as well as EGF, TGF-a does not induce apoptosis and cell growth inhibition.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints* ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Line* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; G1 Phase ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Ligands ; Mitogens ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the uterus, and although they can occur at any site in the genitourinary tract, they very rarely originate from the urinary bladder. We report a case in which a leiomyoma occurred at that site, deseribing the US, CT, and MRI findings.
Leiomyoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Uterus

Ocular rosacea is the eye manifestations of rosacea, which involves the lids, conjunctiva, and cornea. A recent study revealed that all patients with cutaneous rosacea had some degree of ocular involvement which is often undiagnosed. It is difficult to make a diagnosis of ocular rosacea because it lacks clinical or pathological hallmarks. However, early diagnosis and treatment are emphasized to decrease morbidity and prevent potential blindness. We report a case of ocular rosacea in a 49 year-old man who showed blepharoconjunctivitis, keratitis, and cutaneous manifestations of persistent erythema, telangiectasia, and papules. The ocular symptoms and signs had improved significantly with tetracycline therapy.
Blindness ; Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Erythema ; Eye Manifestations ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Middle Aged ; Rosacea* ; Telangiectasis ; Tetracycline

We studied the incidence and morphological variation of the metopic suture in Korean. Ninety-six adult Korean dried skulls and 141 cases of antero-posterior skull roentgenograms from age of 1 month to 80years old. We divided metopic suture into complete and incomplete type. Incidence of complete type was 8.3% in dried skulls. In roentgenograms the incidence was decreased according to aging, especially around 6-8 years old, and over 20 years old age group the incidence was 4.0%. The incidence of incomplete type was 32.3%.
Adult ; Aging ; Humans ; Incidence ; Skull ; Sutures*

This is to report the histo-pathologic findings of the degenerated inferior alveolar nerves(IAN) causing uncontrollable neuralgia persisted for over 3 years. The patients had sufferred from frequent attack of unbearable pain along the mandibular branches of the Vth nerve. The pain arised spontaneously 5-10 times a day and lasted for 2-5 minutes. The medications including Tegretol were neither so effective to alleviate the pain level, nor enough to keep free from pain all days. The peripheral neurectomies were preceded by diagnostic nerve block, and partial resection of the IAN in the mandibular canals were approached by sagittal split osteomy of the ramus. The histopathologic findings of the resected IAN were as follows ; 1. Special staining with Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) and Masson Trichrome (MT) disclosed marked degeneration of the axons, decreased in number and fibrosis between the nerve fibers. 2. EM study revealed destruction of myelin continuity surrounding axons, degeneration of Schwann cell and endoneureal sheath, and coarse collagen between the destructed axons. 3. The 3 of 6 patients presented again with recurred pain in 2-3 years after the peripheral neurectomies. Excisional biopsy of the retromolarpterygomandibular softtissues disclosed the collateralization neuropathy beside the long-buccal nerves and their neuromatous findings.
Axons ; Biopsy ; Carbamazepine ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Mandibular Nerve* ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Block ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuralgia ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*