No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Meta-Analysis as Topic

OBJECTIVE: Some growth factors may promote tumor growth by affecting tumor angiogenesis. Midkine(MK) are polypeptides that belong to a new family of heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor and has also been reported to be angiogenic. In various tumor tissues, MK was highly expressed between tumor and normal tissues; however, the pattern of MK expression in normal cervix and cervical cancer has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine the MK mRNA expression in cervical cancer. And we questioned whether its expression is related to cancer stages and prognostic factors. METHODS: The cervical and cervical cancer tissues were taken from patients; healthy women(n=15), and the patients with cervical cancer(n=29). The MK mRNA expression was examined by quantative competitive PCR after polymerase chain reaction amplification of reverse transcriptase copies of RNA transcripts(RT-PCR). RESULTS: The cervical cancer expressed higher levels of MK mRNA than normal cervix(p<0.05). The MK mRNA expression was not correlated with the cervical cancer stage and histopathologic type(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that increased MK mRNA expression is associated with the development of cervical cancer.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Atherosclerosis* ; Hyperuricemia* ; Risk Factors*

Sonographic detection of ureteral jets entering the urinary bladder is a well-known procedure. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to image the ureteral jets in 28 patients with unilateral ureteral calculi proved by intravenous urography. Three major findings of ureteral jets were obtained in the affected ureter with a stone: less frequency (26 patients), weak reflection (20 patients), and lower grade in length (27 patients) that were significantly different from the unaffected side in the same patient. No significant differences were found between the ureteral jets and the degree of hydronephrosis or the location of a stone. In conclusion, these results suggest that ureteral jets should be checked routinely during the procedure of color Doppler ultrasonogram in patients with possible unilateral ureteral obstruction. Color Doppler examination of ureteral jets may be a important adjunct in routine pelvic ultrasonogram especially in patients who have absolute or relative contraindications of intravenous urography.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi* ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder ; Urography

Sonographic detection of ureteral jets entering the urinary bladder is a well-known procedure. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to image the ureteral jets in 28 patients with unilateral ureteral calculi proved by intravenous urography. Three major findings of ureteral jets were obtained in the affected ureter with a stone: less frequency (26 patients), weak reflection (20 patients), and lower grade in length (27 patients) that were significantly different from the unaffected side in the same patient. No significant differences were found between the ureteral jets and the degree of hydronephrosis or the location of a stone. In conclusion, these results suggest that ureteral jets should be checked routinely during the procedure of color Doppler ultrasonogram in patients with possible unilateral ureteral obstruction. Color Doppler examination of ureteral jets may be a important adjunct in routine pelvic ultrasonogram especially in patients who have absolute or relative contraindications of intravenous urography.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi* ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder ; Urography

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*

No abstract available.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND: The regional fat distribution is known to be related with some cardiovasular risk factors independently to total body fat amount. Regional fat distribution pattern can be assessed by waist to-hip ratio(WHR). WHR distribution patterns depend on age, sex, race and show regional difference. But, our own unique data are inadequate, so we tried to investigate distribution patterns, cut off points and related factors of WHR in middle aged men and women among Korean. METHODS: The study population were middle aged men and women above 40 years old who visited our hospital for routine check up from April to July, 1996. We measured height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference, fasting blood sugar and total cholesterol in 1,000 persons. We gathered data about diet habits, exercise, smoking and drinking status by standard questionnaire. We analized above data by using SAS for Window 6.10. RESULTS: The study population numbers of men and women were 494 and 499, and average ages of men and women were 49.3 and 50.5 years respectively. For men, the average WHRs as a whole were 0.895, and 0.893, 0.893 and 0.911 in their forties, fifties and above sixties respectively. For women, the average WHRs as a whole were 0.827, and 0.816, 0.837 and 0.850 in their forties, fifties and above sixties respectively. The percentage above WHR 1.0, 0.95, and 0.90 in men were 2.4%, 11.7% and 46% and the percentage above WHR 0.90, 0.85, and 0.80 in women were 8.2%, 32.9% and 68.7%. Adjusting by age, body mass index, WHR was significantly correlated with weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure in men only. For men, WHR was associated with alcohol drinking positively and with exercise negatively. For women, WHR was associated with alcohol drinking and smoking status positively. CONCLUSIONS: The WHR had a tendency to increase according to age. The 90th percentile points in men and women were 0.957 and 0.894 respectively. WHR was related with several cardiovascular risk factors and several life styles.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Continental Population Groups ; Drinking ; Fasting ; Female ; Food Habits ; Hip ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Lymphangioma

Juvenile dermatomyositis is an uncommon autoimmune disease with classic heliotrope discoloration of eyelids, erythematous skin rash of joints and proximal muscle weakness. Quite different from adults, malignancy is rarely accompanied in juvenile dermatomyositis. However vasculitis, muscle atrophy, calcification and gastrointestinal involvement are often observed in juvenile dermatomyositis. A six year old boy was admitted with chief complaints of general weakness and skin rash. Muscle biopsy was performed which was consistent with dermatomyositis. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, steroid, methotrexate and physiotherapy. We report a case of juvenile dermatomyositis.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Dermatomyositis* ; Exanthema ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Joints ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Atrophy ; Vasculitis