No abstract available.
Animals* ; Brain* ; Hypothermia* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling* ; Models, Animal*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of placental apoptosis and the expression of their mediator in preeclampsia women. METHODS: Placental tissues from 10 cases of preeclampsia and 15 cases of normal pregnancy were analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling(TUNEL) staining. Expressions of bcl-2, bax, caspase-3 was also assessed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In TUNEL staining, the number of apoptotic nuclei were significantly increased in the trophoblast of preeclampsia than normal pregnancy. Bcl-2 was mainly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast and bax was mainly expressed in cytotrophoblast. Bcl-2 expression was decreased and bax expression was increased in the preeclampsia than normal, but the difference was not significant. Caspase-3 was mainly expressed in the cytotrophoblast and expression was significantly increased in the preeclampsia than normal pregnancy(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Placental apoptosis, especially accompanied with increased expression of caspase-3 in cytotrophoblast, might be related with in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3 ; Deoxyuridine ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts

The authorsinvestigated the effects of UV-B and amniotic membrane graft about PRK induced inflammatory cell infiltration into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Total 20 white rabbits were divided into 5 groups; 1)mechanical epithelial removal, 2)epithelial removal and UV-B irradiation, 3)PRK only, 4) PRK and UV-B irradiation, 5)Amniotic membrane graft after PRK and UV-B irradiation. All corneas were harvested after 24hrs. H & E stain for PMNs infiltration, MDA immunohistochemical stain for lipid peroxidation and TUNEL stain for keratocyte apoptosis were performed. UV-B had little effect on infiltration of inflammatory cell into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Amniotic membrane suppressed infiltration of PMNs into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Environmental UV-B exposure should not be avoided after PRK. Amniotic membrane graft is beneficial to reduce keratocyte apoptosis and related corneal haze.
Amnion* ; Apoptosis* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Membranes ; Rabbits ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Although immunohistochemically detectable metallothionein (MT) overexpression has been described in proliferation epithelial tumor cells, the clinical significance of the expression remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the present article is focused on evaluating the possible significance of MT expression in colonic adenocarcinoma and its relationship with p53 overexpression, Topoisomerase II-alpha as new cell proliferating marker and apoptosis. METHODS: The following formalin-fixed paraffin embedded surgical or biopsied samples were immunohistochemically stained for MT, p53 and topoisomerase II-alpha, and performed in situ TUNEL method for evaluation of apoptotic cell ; normal control mucosa (78 cases), tubular adenomas (20 cases) and adenocarcinomas with various degree of differentiation (78 cases). RESULTS: The MT immunohistochmical reactivity was decreased in colonic adenocarcinoma than that of normal glandular epithelial and tubular adenoma, with the frequency of MT expression in colonic adenocarcinoma depending upon tumor differentiation only. But the frequency of p53 expression was correlated with T-stage, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging, while topoisomerase II-alpha expression and apoptosis in colonic adenocarcinoma were correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical staging. The immunohistochemical expression of MT and p53 expression in colonic adenocarcinoma was inversely correlated. Also, the inverse correlation between MT expression and expression of toposiomerase II-alpha indices and apoptotic indices were noted. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that MT expression may play a role in proliferative activity and apoptosis in colonic adenocarcinoma. Although MT expression is correlated to tumor differentiation, further studies of a possibility of prognostic factor, such as p53, are required for the determination of significant relationships in other clinicinopathologic indices.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Apoptosis* ; Colon* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymph Nodes ; Metallothionein* ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Fas-L expression is associated with increased apoptotic induction of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in human gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The author analysed 38 cases of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) and 61 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC) who received gastric resection, in whom the number of diffuse type was 38 cases and the number of intestinal type was 61 cases. The author used immunohistochemical staining for Fas, Fas-L and CD45, and TUNEL in situ apoptosis detection kit. TIL were detected by CD45 and apoptosis of TIL were detected by CD45 expression and TUNEL positivity on serial histologic sections. RESULTS: Fas-L was localized to neoplastic cells in 61% (23/38) of EGC group and 66% (40/61) of AGC group. The extent of Fas-L expression was variable, with both Fas-L positive and negative neoplastic region occuring within tumors. TIL adjacent to Fas-L expressing tumor region were decreased in number and TIL adjacent to FasL-negative tumor region were increased in number; apoptotic induction of TIL showed just the opposite pattern (p<0.05). Fas expression was found essentially homogeneously throughout the tumor mass independent of tumor stage. Fas expression showed 64% (39/61) of intestinal type and 68% (26/38) of diffuse type. Labeling indices for tumoral apoptosis in EGC and AGC were 6.72% and 7.13%, respectively and this difference was statistically insignificant. Co-expression of Fas-L and Fas, which occurred over large areas of the tumors, did not result in an enhanced rate of tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, factors such as tumor stage and other prognostic factors were not concerned in Fas and Fas-L expression, number of TIL and apoptotic induction. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest Fas-mediated apoptotic depletion of TIL in response to Fas-L expression by stomach cancers, and provide the evidence to support the Fas counterattack as a mechanism of immune escape in gastric cancer. In addition, gastric carcinoma cells of the intestinal and diffuse type did not differ in their expression of the apoptotic receptor Fas.
Apoptosis* ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Stomach Neoplasms ; United Nations

BACKGROUND: The studies on cryopreserved arterial allograft have been focused on cooling methods, pre-treatment, cryoprotectant agents, and preservation temperature. But recently, several studies have reported that thawing methods also play an important role in the occurrence of macroscopic and microscopic cracks. This study was designed to investigate the cell injury after thawing, using a rabbit model to clarify the effect of thawing methods on cryopreserved arteries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Segments of the rabbit aorta were obtained and divided into 3 groups (n=60) according to whether the specimens were fresh (control, n=20), cryopreserved and rapidly thawed (RT) at 37oC (n=20), or cryopreserved and subjected to controlled, automated slow thawing (ST)(n=20). Cell damage was established using the TUNEL method and the morphological changes were also evaluated. RESULT: In the group that was rapidly thawed, the expression of TUNEL (+) cells increased significantly more than in the slowly thawed group. In addition, the endothelial denudation, microvesicles and edema were significant in the rapidly thawed group compared with those changes in the slowly thawed group. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the rapid thawing method may be one of the major causes of cellular damage and delayed rupture in cryopreserved arterial allografts. The expression of TUNEL (+) cells and structural changes were significantly low in the slowly thawed group, which might have contributed to the improvement of graft failure after transplantation.
Allografts ; Aorta* ; Arteries ; Cryopreservation ; Edema ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Rupture ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Genistein and daidzein are two major soybean isoflavones. They have received increasing attention because of their possible roles for cancer prevention. However, their mechanisms of action and molecular targets on the human colon cancer cells are not fully understood. METHODS: Human colon cancer HCT-116 cells were treated with genistein and daidzein to investigate their effects on the cell growth and this was analyzed with MTT assay. TUNEL assay and Hoechst33342 stain were carried out to identify apotosis. RESULTS: Daidzein was able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of the HCT-116 cells, but genistein didn't affect the cell growth. The ER antagonist ICI182780 didn't attenuate the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of daidzein: this means the effect of daidzein on the HCT-116 cells may not be dependent on the ER pathway. The other soybean isoflavone, genistein, attenuated the effects of daidzein on the HCT-116 cells and its mechanism should be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that daidzein may act as a preventive agent on human colon cancer, and its mechanism of action doesn't involve the ER-dependent pathway.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Genistein* ; HCT116 Cells* ; Humans* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Isoflavones ; Soybeans

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to evaluate changes in the stromal keratocyte after ablation of 50 micrometer and 100 micrometer with use of photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). METHODS: At 4 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days and 1 month after PRK, each group of rabbits including normal control group was treated with terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling(TUNEL) staining using ApopTag(R) kit in vivo, then apoptotic keratocytes were evaluated with light microscope. RESULTS: There was no response with TUNEL staining of the epithelial cells, stromal keratocyte, and endothelium in normal cornea. In the ablation group, however, regardless of the depth of photorefractive ablation, the TUNEL signal was maximal after 4 hours, and it decreased with time. The signal was more intense in 100 micrometer ablation group than 50 micrometer ablation group, although the signal was not observed at the endothelial cells in both groups. The number of apoptotic stromal keratocytes at each time point of 4 hr, 24 hr, 72 hr, and 1 week was 57+/-8.9, 49+/-7.5, 36+/-5.1, and 12+/-1.3 cells/field in 100 micrometer ablation group, and 31+/-4.4, 28+/-4.6, 21+/-3.9, and 5+/-1.1 cells/field in 50 micrometer ablation group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The more the amount of ablation with photorefractive keratectomy, the stronger the apoptotic response. The postoperative apoptotic response was observed especially within 1 week. These findings suggest that early suppression of postoperative apoptosis within 1 week will influence on the prognosis of visual quality after photorefractive keratectomy, and more studies will be needed in the future.
Apoptosis* ; Cornea ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Epithelial Cells ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Prognosis ; Rabbits

We have studied morphologic characteristics and apoptosis on the fetal brain of the trisomy 16 mouse, a model for human trisomy 21 syndrome. This study was based on serial sections of the whole brain from a sample of sixteen trisomy 16 mice and forty-six age-matched control littermates from embryonic day (ED) 12 to ED 18. Trisomy 16 brains showed a reduction of telencephalic size and abnormal cortical development. At ED 13 trisomy 16 and control brains appeared similar. By ED 14 difference in the cortical thickness and telencephalic growth became evident, and by ED 16 a marked size difference had developed between the trisomy 16 and control brains. By ED 18, however, the thickness of the trisomy 16 cortex had increased considerably and was not significantly different with respect to the thickness and cross-sectional areas of the pallium and its constituent cortical layers. The cell density of the trisomy 16 cortex had persistently decreased before ED 17, when the cell density of control and trisomy 16 corteces was similar within each layer. At ED 18 cell density of trisomy 16 cortex in each layer increased. There was inverse relationship between a number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells and cell density in the trisomy 16 brains. Our results suggest that developmental abnormalities of the trisomy 16 brain indicated developmental delay of the telencephalon growth, which may be caused by apoptosis rather than by a proliferation defect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Brain* ; Cell Count ; Down Syndrome ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mice* ; Telencephalon ; Trisomy*

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of an amniotic membrane contact lens on corneal epithelial wound healing. METHODS: We made a model with a corneal epithelial wound by applying 6 mm round filter paper soaked with 1 N NaOHonto the central cornea in 24 eyes of 12 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups: AMCL (amniotic membrane contact lens), T-AMT (temporary amniotic membrane transplantation) and the control group. We evaluated corneal wound healing every postoperative day using a digital photo slitlamp and fluorescein dye. The corneas were harvested for histopathologic studies after seven days and analyzed with hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) stain and TUNEL staining. RESULTS: The average wound healing time was similar between the amniotic membrane contact lens and the temporary amniotic membrane transplantation group. The number of the infiltrated PMNs (polymorphonuclear cells) was 8.8+/-2.58, 8.6+/-2.19 and 48.6+/-7.12 in the AMCL, T-AMT and control groups, respectively. Apoptotic keratocytes were 3.8+/-1.1, 3.6+/-1.09 and 23.2+/-5.06 in the AMCL, T-AMT and control groups, respectively. In the AMCL and T-AMT groups, the number of infiltrated PMNs and apoptotic keratocytes were significantly less than those the control group (p<0.05). There were not significant differences in the number of PMNs and apoptotic cells in the AMCL and the T-AMT groups. CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane contact lenses have the benefits of being an easily applied method and having a wound healing ability comparable to that possible with conventional suture methods.
Amnion ; Contact Lenses ; Cornea ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Membranes ; Rabbits ; Sutures ; Transplants ; Wound Healing