OBJECTIVES: As one of the possible mechanisms of viral evasion in the HPV-infected cervical cancer cells, the role of amino acid sequence change in epitope region has not been reported yet. In this study, sequence variations of HPV 16 E6, E7 gene, especially focused on epitope region, were analysed, the status of immunomodulatory factors were documented, and finally the possible correlation between the sequence variations and the loss of HLA class I expression was examined. METHODS: The entire ORF(open reading frame)s of HPV 16 E6, E7 were sequenced by the fluorescent dideoxy termination method. In addition proteins and transcripts of HLA-ABC, beta2-microglobulin(beta2-m), TAP (transporter associated with antigen processing), and LMP(large multi-functional proteasome) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively in 40 clinical specimens of primary cervical cancer and 6 cervical cancer cell-lines. Medical records including pathologic reports were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 27 cases confirmed as harboring HPV 16 DNA, only one(3.7%) found as a prototype. Among 11 kind of variants identified in total, 4 variants(5 nucleotide sites) which were never reported before has been found, registered firstly to GenBank. The most frequently found one(16 cases, 59.3%) contains D25E, N29S in E6, E7 region, respectively and the most common variation in E6, E7 ORFs found concurrently(p<0.05). Down-regulation of HLA-ABC and beta2-m was identified in 32(86.5%) and 35 cases(89.7%), respectively and transcripts of TAP, LMP were identified in over 85% of cases. However, there was no significant difference in HPV 16 infection, D25E in E6 and so on between HLA-ABC, beta2-m positive and negative groups. The well-known clinicopathologic parameters did not correlate with sequence variations and immunomodulatory factors. Five sequence variations in HPV 16 E6, E7 ORFs that were not previously reported worldwide were found, registered firstly to GenBank. CONCLUSION: It seems that multiple mechanisms are operated in down-regulation of HLA class I molecules and the phenotypic profile of immunomodulatory factors seems to be unrelated in vivo to the naturally occurring HPV 16 E6, E7 variations in epitope region.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA ; Down-Regulation ; Ecthyma, Contagious ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Open Reading Frames ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans

Nowday, ionizing radiation is one of the methods eradicating the uterine cervical malignancy. However radiation alone or in combination with surgery have an effect on normal tissue as well as the malignant cells, and their changes have been well described in other countries. Unfortunately, the history of radiation modality for cancer treatment is relatively short and the reports about radiation induced changes are limited in our country. We evaluated the radiation-induced changes in cervico-vaginal smears of 107 uterine cervical cancer patients obtained from March, 1985 to October, 1987. Most patients had been received 5,400 Rads of external radiation and intracavitary radiation. Patient's age ranged from 30 to 67 years old. Of 107 cases, 24 cases were normal, 72 cases showed benign radiation changes, 7 cases revealed radiation dysplasia, and residual and recurrent carcinomas found in one and 3 cases, respectively. Cytoplasmic and nuclear enlargement were the most common and noted in 57 and 38 cases, respectively. Vacuolization and polychromasia of the cytoplasm were identified in 43 and 30 cases, respectively. The most common histiocytic change was multinucleation, which was found in about one third. The radiation changes of the cytoplasm and nuclear enlargement persisted for a long time after completion of radiation, however, nuclear degeneration and multinucleation gradually disappeared after 6 months. The inflammation in background prolonged for a long time but degeneration disappeared after 6 months. The biologic significance of post-radiation dysplasia could not evaluated because of short follow up period.

Nowday, ionizing radiation is one of the methods eradicating the uterine cervical malignancy. However radiation alone or in combination with surgery have an effect on normal tissue as well as the malignant cells, and their changes have been well described in other countries. Unfortunately, the history of radiation modality for cancer treatment is relatively short and the reports about radiation induced changes are limited in our country. We evaluated the radiation-induced changes in cervico-vaginal smears of 107 uterine cervical cancer patients obtained from March, 1985 to October, 1987. Most patients had been received 5,400 Rads of external radiation and intracavitary radiation. Patient's age ranged from 30 to 67 years old. Of 107 cases, 24 cases were normal, 72 cases showed benign radiation changes, 7 cases revealed radiation dysplasia, and residual and recurrent carcinomas found in one and 3 cases, respectively. Cytoplasmic and nuclear enlargement were the most common and noted in 57 and 38 cases, respectively. Vacuolization and polychromasia of the cytoplasm were identified in 43 and 30 cases, respectively. The most common histiocytic change was multinucleation, which was found in about one third. The radiation changes of the cytoplasm and nuclear enlargement persisted for a long time after completion of radiation, however, nuclear degeneration and multinucleation gradually disappeared after 6 months. The inflammation in background prolonged for a long time but degeneration disappeared after 6 months. The biologic significance of post-radiation dysplasia could not evaluated because of short follow up period.

No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst ; Pilomatrixoma

BACKGROUND: A fully automated enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) analyzer, Enzymun System, ES-300 (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) uses streptavidin technology and performs single test or panels of up to 12 tests per run. We evaluated the results of ES-300 for anti-HCV by comparing the results with microplate-EIA, radioimmunoassay (RIA), and confirmatory test. METHODS: Total 79 sera (51 positive, 24 negative, 4 indeterminate results confirmed by Lucky HCD Confirm) were analysed. ES-300 with Enzymun-Test(R) Anti-HCV (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) and microplate-EIA (Green Cross Center Innotest HCV 3.0(R)) were used. Fifty one sera were examined additionally by 2nd-generation RIA method, NANBDINE 125C(General Biologicals Corp., R.O.C.). And all results were compared to the results of Lucky HCD Confirm. RESULTS: The overall concordance rate of ES-300 and Innotest(R) was 72/79 (91.1%). The results of Lucky HCD Confirm on seven discrepant samples were five negative and two indeterminate. The results of ES-300 and NANBDINE 125C showed concordance rate of 90.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of ES-300 with regard to Lucky HCD Confirm were 94.5%, and 87.5%, respectively, and that of Innotest(R) were 98.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Clear distinction of positive and negative results by signal/cut off ratio was available in both EIAs. The positive predictive values of ES-300 and Innotest(R) were 94.5%, and 87.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ES-300 showed relatively good results in sensitivity and positive predictive value with regard to confirmatory test. In EIA-positive persons, however, follow-up study would be necessary for reliable evaluation of HCV infection.
Humans ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptavidin

A clinical observation was made on 412 cases of diabetes mellitus who were admitted to Eul Ji General Hospital, Seoul, Korea, during the period from January 1980 to June 1983 with regard to urogenital compilations. The results were as follows: 1. The incidence rate of urogenital complications among 412 cases of D.M. was found in 21.1% (87 cases). 2. Concerning the frequency of genitourinary complications (87 cases) in each disease, urinary infection was found in 70 cases (80.5%), nephrotic syndrome in 7cases (8%), Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome in 5 cases (5.8%), neurogenic bladder in 3 cases (3.4%). 3. The most .frequent age distribution of urogenital complications of D.M. showed more than 50 years of age with 75% (65 cases). 4. The longer the duration of the diabetes was, the higher the incidence rate of urogenital complications. 5. Complications of D.M. except genitourinary tract were hypertension; 18.5%, pulmonary T.B.; 11.9%, retinopathy 10.4%, respiratory infection; 6.1%, neuropathy; 5.8%.
Age Distribution ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Hospitals, General ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Seoul ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

Hepatoblastoma is a rare malignant liver tumor found in children. Its biological characteristics and prognostic factors have not been well known. We investigated 29 cases of hepatoblastoma, registered in university hospitals in Seoul from 1984 to 1996. By the immunohistochemical method, p53, Waf-1 (p21), bcl-2, heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), c-jun, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) expressions were studied. Those data were compared with clinico-pathologic features; age, sex, tumor size, tumor stage and histologic subtypes. Expression of p53 and bcl-2 were each observed separately in single cases. Expression of c-jun was more frequently noted in patients at higher stages. Expression of TGF-alpha decreased in the order of pure fetal, mixed, embryonal and small cell anaplastic subtypes. Cumulative survival rate was lower in females than in males and in patients with a higher tumor stage. According to histologic subtypes, survival rates decreased in the order of pure fetal, mixed, embryonal and small cell anaplastic subtypes. Survival rate was lower in patients with c-jun expression. Group of TGF-alpha labelling index under 19 showed a lower survival rate than that over 19. In conclusion, we found that tumor associated proteins, c-jun and TGF-alpha, are closely related to the prognosis of hepatoblastoma but p53 and bcl-2 may not be related to it.
Child ; Female ; Hepatoblastoma* ; Hospitals, University ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is one of the treatment options used for patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), although its effectiveness is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ESWT in the treatment of MPS in terms of pain relief and functional improvements. METHODS: We assessed 93 patients with MPS who underwent ESWT from March 2009 to July 2014. After exclusion of 25 patients with shoulder diseases, 68 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months (± 4.2 weeks), and the average duration of symptoms was 5 months (range, 2-16 months). ESWT was applied to intramuscular taut bands and referred pain areas once a week for 3 weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were obtained at an initial assessment and at the 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up assessments. RESULTS: VAS pain scores and ASES scores improved significantly after 3 sessions of ESWT (p<0.05). Both scores were improved, although not significantly, after 6 weeks (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ESWT is an effective treatment option for patients with MPS.
Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Pain, Referred ; Shock* ; Shoulder ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the parent-child relationship of adolescents with depression and those without depression, by using Parent-Child Relationship Instrument (PCRI), Family Relationship Scale (FRS), and Parenting Attitude Test-Youth (PAT-Y). We also investigated the association between the parent-child relationship and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Twenty-five adolescents with depression (age 15.0+/-2.1 years, 8 boys) and 24 adolescents without depression (age 13.7+/-1.3 years, 16 boys) completed the Adolescent-General Behavior Inventory (A-GBI), Adolescent-Mood Disorder Questionnaire (A-MDQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), PCRI, and PAT-Y. The parents of subjects completed the Child Behavior Checklist, Parent-General Behavior Inventory 10-item Mania Scale (P-GBI-10M), Parent-Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and FRS. Independent t-tests, analysis of covariance, and partial correlation analysis were used. RESULTS: The Intimacy (p=.002) and Respect (p=.029) scores of the PCRI were significantly higher in adolescents without depression compared to those with depression. The Intimacy scores of the PCRI showed negative correlation with the BDI and P-GBI-10M and the Strictness scores of the PCRI showed positive correlation with the A-GBI, A-MDQ, and BDI. The Inconsistency, Punishment, and Excessive Expectation scores of the PAT-Y showed positive correlation with the A-GBI and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a possible association of the parent-children relationship and parenting attitude with adolescents' depressive symptoms.
Adolescent* ; Bipolar Disorder ; Checklist ; Child ; Child Behavior ; Depression* ; Family Relations ; Humans ; Parent-Child Relations* ; Parenting ; Parents ; Punishment ; Surveys and Questionnaires