No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA* ; Ploidies*

The histogenesis of the myofibroblast continues to be a controversial issue. The most popular view is that the myofibroblast is derived directly from the fibroblast. The important role of myofibroblasts in the synthesis of collagen and in wound contraction was demonstrated initially in granulation tissue in experimental animals. Four settings are recognized in which myofibroblasts are the principal proliferative cells: reparative responses, pseudoneoplastic disorders, stromal response to neoplasia, and true neoplasms, both benign and malignant. To identify of fibroblastic cells with smooth muscle differentiation features in the nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, we examined a variety of histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of 7 cases of granulation tissue, 7 of hypertrophic scar, 10 of chronic persistent hepatitis, 10 of chronic active hepatitis, 7 of liver cirrhosis, 7 of fibromatosis, 42 of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, 14 of microinvasive carcinoma, 14 of invasive carcinoma, 7 of fibroma, 20 of fibrosarcoma and 72 of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were used in a biotin-streptavidin procedures. The results of immunohistochemical and electron microscopical examinations yielded virtually identical findings. The identification of fibroblastic cells with smooth muscle cell differentiation features in the desmoplastic reactions of carcinomas, fibroma, fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma offers also novel diagnostic and prognostic perspectives, that might help in evaluating preneoplastic lesions and malignant lesions. So degree of proliferative myofibroblasts was helpful diagnostic aid in differentiation of chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Animals

"Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) remains limited by restenosis that occurs in 30 to 50% of patients with coronary artery disease. During the last decade, numerous agents have been used to prevent restenosis. Despite positive results in animal models, no pharmacological therapy has been found to significantly decrease the risk of restenosis in humans. These discrepancies between animal models and clinical situation were probably related to an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of restenosis. Neointimal thickening occurs in response to experimental arterial injury with a balloon catheter. Neointimal formation involves different steps: smooth muscle cell activation, proliferation and migration, and the production of extracellular matrix. The factors that control neointimal hyperplasia include growth factors, humoral factors and mechanical factors. Arterial remodeling also plays a major role in the restenosis process. Studies performed in animal and human subjects have established the potentials for "constrictive remodeling" to reduce the post-angioplasty vessel area, thereby indirectly narrowing the vessel lumen and thus contributing to restenosis. The reduction of restenosis rate in patients with intracoronary stent implantation has been attributed to the preventive effect of stent itself for this negative remodeling. In addition to these mechanisms for restenosis, intraluminal or intra-plaque thrombus formation, reendothelialization and apoptosis theories have been introduced and confirmed at least in part.
Angioplasty ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Restenosis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Models, Animal ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Stents ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cytokines* ; Glomerulonephritis*

No abstract available.
Mitochondrial Diseases*

Amyloidosis is a disease characterized by deposition of amorphous and insoluble fibrillar protein in various tissues and organs, but its productive mechanism has not been established yet. Enlargement and functional disturbance of infiltrated organs result in various clinical symptoms. Primary amyloidosis usually involve tongue, heart, nerve, gastrointestinal tract, ligament, skin, and bone marrow without underlying disease. Secondary amyloidosis is associated with chronic inflammatory disease such as tuberculosis, urogenital infection, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic ulcerative colitis, myelitis, 3rd syphilis and leprosy. The authors had experienced a case of secondary amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, especially involving heart. He had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 17 years and admitted because of generalized edema and dyspnea. This case was confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy and immunohistochemical stain showed AA type. We treated him conservatively and he was transferred to other hospital on the 25th day of hospitalization but died suddenly after twelve hours.
Amyloidosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart* ; Hospitalization ; Leprosy ; Ligaments ; Myelitis ; Skin ; Syphilis ; Tongue ; Tuberculosis, Urogenital

No abstract available.

To clarify that the psychosocial factors affect the eye strain of the VDT workers, self-reporting questionnaire about eye strain, critical flicker fusion(CFF), and 12-item version of General Health Questionnaire(GHQ) were carried out to 13 female VDT workers who have done the electronic editing and 10 female controls who were nurses in one hospital. The sum of eye symptoms of VDT workers were significantly higher than controls, but CFF of both groups were not different. And the sum of eye symptoms and CFF were not correlated. High stress group(sum of GHQ > 3) shows significantly more eye symptoms than low stress group. This result suggest that the psychosocial factors could affect the eye strain of VDT workers.
Asthenopia ; Female ; Flicker Fusion* ; Humans ; Psychology ; Word Processing ; Surveys and Questionnaires