No abstract available.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is thrombin receptor present on the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Because the thrombin-TM complex acts as an anticoagulant, the functional variants or deficiency of TM may lead to increment of thrombotic tendency. In this study, we screened the genetic variants of the TM gene in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and analyzed the genotype to elucidate the effects of genetic variations of TM gene on the development of the MI. We screened a promoter region and coding sequence of the TM gene using single strand conformation polymorphism-heteroduplex analysis and identified three common genetic variants: those were TM G-33A, TM Ala455Val, and TM C1922T. The genotype frequencies were investigated in the patients with MI (n=234) and control subjects (n=291) by the method of allele-specific oligomer hybridization. The frequencies of mutant genotypes (TM -33A, TM 455Val, and TM 1922T) were higher in patient group compared to the control subjects in males while there were no significant differences in females. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, TM 455Val and TM 1922T alleles were independent risk factors for MI (OR[95% CI: 1.799[1.125-2.878] p=0.014 and 5.624[1.019-31.025], p=0.048, respectively) in males. However, the genetic variations were not independent risk factors for MI in females. There were significant linkage disequilibriums among three genetic variants. These linkage disequilibriums explain the similar effects of three genetic variants on the development of MI. To investigate the effect of the TM G-33A mutation on TM promoter activity, the two TM promoter constructs (pTM-355 and pTM-125, bearing TM -33G or TM -33A) containing of firefly luciferase gene were transfected into HepG2, BAE, and CHO cells. The promoter activities were higher in the promoter constructs with TM -33G compared to the constructs with TM -33A in pTM-355. These results suggest the possibility of the positive predisposing effect of TM -33A allele on MI in males. The functional study for TM Ala455Val and TM C1922T should be followed to elucidate the genotype effects of these mutations on the development of MI. In this study, we identified three genetic variants of TM gene and showed the significant associations between genetic variants and MI in males. These results proposed that TM gene is an attractive candidate for genetic risk factor for MI in Koreans.
Alleles ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Clinical Coding ; Cricetinae ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fireflies ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Logistic Models ; Luciferases ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Thrombin ; Risk Factors* ; Thrombomodulin

Papillary and solid epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas from five patients were studied using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to define the cellular origin of this type of tumor. The tumors ranged in diameter form 5.5 to 15 cm Grossly, these were well circumscribed by a firm, gray-white, fibrous capsule and their cut-surface showed mainly area containing mucinous substance with necrotic and hemorrhagic material, with some solid portion. Microscopically, there was a solid and papillary pattern, with uniform cells typically having round to ovoid nuclei containing indistinct nucleoli and eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm. Within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, numerous PAS-positive granules were found. Immunostaining was positive for neuron-specific enolase(three of five cases), alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha1-antichymotrypsin(three of five cases) in the solid and papillary portion of the tumor. But no polypeptide hormone immunoreactive cells were present in all cases except for gastrin which showed focally weak positivity in the papillary area. Ultrastructurally, the papillary and solid epithelial neopasm of the pancreas showed evidence of acinar cell differentiation, because in the cell of one observed some zymogen-like granules and presence of annulate lamellae. But also, abundant typical neurosecretory granules were detected in the tumor cells ultrastructurally. Both facts suggested acinar and islet cell differentiation of the tumor. From the these findings, it concluded that papillary and solid epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas may be originated from a primordial cell which will be able to render both endocrine and exocine component.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the location of leptin and receptors of ovary specimens obtained from patients undergoing hysterectomy by immunohistochemical staining and to determine the effect of leptin on the steroidogenesis of cultured granulosa cells. METHOD: In the culturing process of the granulosa cells, FSH (1 IU/ml)and leptin (50 ng/ml), IGF-I (50 ng/ml) was administered to each study group (Group I: FSH; Group II: FSH, leptin; Group III: FSH, IGF-I, leptin), and the levels of estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione in the culture media was measured by radioimmunoassay. Statistical analysis was conducted by one-way ANOVA with Scheffe test. RESULTS: The results showed that leptin and leptin receptors were both found to be strongly stained in granulosa and theca cells, and also in some interstitial cells. Leptin receptors were also observed in cultured granulosa cells. While there was no statistically significant difference in the androstnedione concentrations between the groups, estradiol concentrations was significantly decreased in Group IV (2202.0+/-151.14 pg/ml) compared to Group III (2859.0+/-122.6 pg/ml), and progesterone concentrations were also significantly decreased in Group II(4696.3+/-190.6 ng/ml) and Group IV (4517+/-206.78 ng/ml) compared to Group III(5546.0+/-179.5 ng/ml). CONCLUSTION: The study result of this study suggest that leptin is directly involved in the regulation of ovarian functions, in particular steroidogenesis.
Androstenedione ; Culture Media ; Estradiol ; Female ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Ovary ; Progesterone ; Radioimmunoassay ; Receptors, Leptin ; Theca Cells

Serum pseudocholinesterase activities, using butyrylthiocholine as substrate, measured in 639 employees of Korea Cancer Center Hospital in 1993. Overall mean value of pseudocholinesterase was 9.38+/-2.10 U/ml, 10.6+/-2.10 U/ml in male, and 8.58+/-1.67 U/ml in female, respectively. Male in the first five decades of life had higher pseudocholinesterase activity than female, and after the age of 50 tbere was no intersexual difference. These findings suggest that adults before the age of 50, male has higher pseudocholinesterase activity than female.
Adult* ; Butyrylthiocholine ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pseudocholinesterase*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Meningitis* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Lactation* ; Postpartum Period*

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Transplants*