No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

No abstract available.
Nephritis, Interstitial*

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent with potent microtubule stabilizing activity that arrests cells in G2-M phase. Because G2 and M are the most radiosensitive phase of the cell cycle, paclitaxel has potential role as a cell-cycle specific radiosensitizer. This study was performed to see the effects of paclitaxel on the radiation-induced damage of gastric mucosa of the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were divided into the three groups i.e., paclitaxel alone group, radiation alone group and, a combination of paclitaxel and radiation in combined group. A single intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (10 mg/kg) was done in paclitaxel alone group. In radiation alone group, a single fraction of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen and, a combination of a single fraction of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen was given 24 hrs after paclitaxel infusion in combined group of paclitaxel and radiation. The incidence of mitosis and apoptosis as well as histologic changes of the gastric mucosa were evaluated at 6 hrs, 24 hrs, 3 days and 5 days after treatment. RESULTS: The number of the mitosis was not increased by paclitaxel infusion. The incidence of the apoptosis was similar from 6 hrs to 3 days after paclitaxel infusion and was decreased at 5 days. Paclitaxel induced minimal glandular dilatation and cellular atypia of gastric mucosa at 24 hrs and 3 days. In irradiation group, the incidence of apoptosis was 6.0% in 6 hrs and 1.25% in 24 hrs after irradiation and minimal glandular dilatation and cellular atypia were noted throughout the experimental period. The incidence of apoptosis in the combined group of paclitaxel and irradiation (4.5%) was significantly higher than irradiation alone group (1.25%) at 3 days (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel had no effect on mitotic arrest in gastric mucosa of the rat. Increased number of apoptosis in combined paclitaxel and irradiation group suggested the additive effects of paclitaxel on irradiation.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Dilatation ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Incidence ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Microtubules ; Mitosis ; Paclitaxel* ; Rats* ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Primary Myelofibrosis*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Cyclosporine* ; Humans ; Nephrosis, Lipoid*

To clarify the exact role of endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnosis and monitoring of adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and to observe the actual relationship between pathologic changes and cardiac dysfunction, a cross-sectional clinical study was conducted. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac dysfunction in 18 patients who had received chemotherapy including adriamycin(mean dose : 410mg/m2 of B.S.A.) without clinical evidence of congestive heart failure, and in 19 normal controls. Six patients receiving adriamycin underwent 7 transfemoral endomyocardial biopsy procedures, and the specimens were evaluated by light and electron microscopy for evidence of drug-related cardiotoxicity. Indexes of cardiac systolic function obtained by M-mode echocardiography(left ventricular dimension, excursion of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall, shortening fraction and ejection fracton) did not show any statistically significant difference between patients who received adriamycin and normal controls. In transmitral flow-velocity curves recorded by Doppler echocardiography with a 2.25MHz probe, the patients showed less E peak velocity and decreased E/A ratio compared with normal controls, which suggests left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the patients who received adriamycin. All the specimens of the endomyocardial biopsy showed significant pathologic changes of adriamycin indnced cardiotoxicity which was characterized by myofibrillar loss and vacuolization of the cytoplasm. In 2 specimens, pathologic grade was II, while 5 specimens showed pathologic changes of grade III and further chemotherapy with adriamycine was not done in thse 5 cases. From these results it is suggested that pathologic changes precede the clinical onset of congestive cardiomyopathy in the patients receiving adriamycin and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction occurrs before ejection fraction falls to subnormal levels. We conclude that sequential endomyocardial biopsy is absolutely indicated for exact diagnosis and monitoring of adrinamycin-induced cardiotoxicity to prevent the development of irreversible and often fatal cardiomyopathy.
Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron

PURPOSE: Captopril (angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor) is known to have a radioprotective effect in the lungs, intestines and skin, but its effect in the heart is unclear. To investigate the radioprotective effect and mechanism of captopril in the heart, the histopathological changes and immunohistochemical stains were compared with radiation alone, and radiation combined with captopril, in the rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The histopathological changes and immunohistochemical stains (TNF alpha, TGFbeta1, PDGF and FGF2) were examined in the radiation alone and the combined captopril and radiation groups, 2 and 8 weeks after irradiation. Each group consisted of 8 to 10 rats (Sprague-Dawley). Irradiation (12.5 Gy) was given to the left hemithorax in a single fraction. Captopril (50 mg/Kg/d) mixed with water, was given orally and continuously from the first week prior to, up to the 8th week of the experiment. RESULTS: In the radiation alone group, the ventricle at 2 weeks after irradiation showed prominent edema (p=0.082) and fibrin deposit (p=0.018) compared to the control group. At 8 weeks, the edema was decreased and fibrosis increased compared to those at 2 weeks. The histopathological changes of the combined group were similar to those of the control group, due to the reduced radiation toxicity at 2 and 8 weeks. The endocardial fibrin deposit (p=0.047) in the atrium, and the interstitial fibrin deposit (p=0.019) and edema (p=0.042) of the ventricle were reduced significantly in the combined group compared to those in the radiation alone group at 2 weeks. The expressions of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, PDGF and FGF-2 in the radiation alone group were more increased than in the control group, especially in the pericardium and endocardium of the atrium at 2 weeks. At 8 weeks, the pericardial TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in the radiation alone group continuously increased. The expressions of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1 and PDGF were decreased in the combined group at 2 weeks. At 8 weeks, the expressions of TNF-alpha in the atrial and ventricular pericardia were markedly reduced (p=0.049, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the early heart damage induced by radiation can be reduced by the addition of captopril in a rat model. The expressions of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1 and PDGF were further decreased in the combined compared to the radiation alone group at both 2 and 8 weeks. From these results, it may be concluded that these cytokines probably play roles in the radioprotective mechanism of captopril from the radiation-induced heart toxicity, similarly to in other organs.
Animals ; Captopril* ; Coloring Agents ; Cytokines ; Edema ; Endocardium ; Fibrin ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Intestines ; Lung ; Models, Animal ; Pericardium ; Rats* ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water

No abstract available.

In the case of IIc type of early gastric cancer occuring from the area of ulcer sear, endoscopic differentiation between it and beoign ulcer scar is occasionally very difficult, due to the absence of characteristic malignant features. The presence of the irregular granular mucosal changes on the area of ulcer scar may be very helpful in the differential diagnosis between early gastric cancer and benign ulcer sear. And underetanding of the malignant cycle of early gaetric cancer is very important for the diagnosis of the depressed forms of early gastric cancer, We experienced and report a cases of IIc type of early gastric cancer diagnosed before operation by the endoscopic finding of irregular granular mucoeal changes on the area of ulcer scar and showing part of malignant cycle.
Cicatrix* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer*