No abstract available.
Hysterectomy* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Evoked Potentials, Motor*

Activities of enzymes involved in the metabolism of various carcinogenic xenobiotics is one of the most important host factors for cancer occurrence. N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) are enzymes which reduce the toxicity of activated carcinogenic metabolites. Slow N-acetylation and lack of GST mu (GSTM1) were reported as risk factors of bladder cancer. GST theta (GSTT1), which is another type of GST, was reported to be deleted at higher proportion among Koreans. Since cause of bladder cancer is not fully explained by single risk factor, many kinds of enzymes would be involved in the metabolism of carcinogens excreted in urine. This study was performed to investigate whether the polymorphisms of NAT2, GSTM1 and GSTT1 are risk factors of bladder cancer and to evaluate the effects of their interaction on bladder cancer development. Sixty-seven bladder cancer and 67 age- and sex-matched non-cancer patients hospitalized in Chungbuk National University Hospital from March to December 1996, are the subjects of this case-control study. Questionnaire interview was done and the genotypes of NAT2, GSTM1 and GSTT1 were identified using PCR methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. The effects of the polymorphism of NAT2 and GSTM1 and their interaction on bladder cancer were statistically tested after controlling the other risk factors. The frequencies of slow, intermediate, and rapid acetylators were 3.0%, 38.8%, and 58.2% for the cases, and 7.6%, 40.9%, and 51.5% for the controls, respectively. The risk of bladder cancer was not associated with the increase of NAT2 activity(x(2) trend=l.18, P-value>0.05). GSTM1 was deleted in 68.7% of the cases and 49.3% of the controls (x(2)=5.21, P-value<0.05), and the odds ratio (95% CI) was 2.23 (l.12 - 4.56). GSTT1 deletion, the rate of which were 26.9% for the bladder cancer patients and 43.3% for the controls, was a significant protective factor against bladder cancer. Smoking history, turned out to be insignificant as a risk factor of bladder cancer (OR=l.85, 95% CI: 0.85 - 4.03), and occupation could not be tested because of the extremely small number of occupational history related to the increase of bladder cancer. In multiple logistic analysis controlling the effects of other risk factors, GSTM1 deletion was the only significant risk factor for bladder cancer (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: l.22-5.36, P-value<0.05), but slow acetylation and GSTT1 deletion were not. These results suggest that GSTM1 deletion may, be a significant risk factor of bladder cancer. Since there have been much debates on causal relationship between slow acetylation and GSTT1 deletion, and bladder cancer, further studies are needed.
Acetylation ; Carcinogens ; Case-Control Studies* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; DNA ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Xenobiotics

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma is a rare disease that histologically shows features of a benign tumor; however it can metastasize to the lung or other organs. We report here on a case of a 53-year-old woman with benign metastasizing leiomyoma, and she was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of coughing for 2 months; she showed multiple diffuse nodular opacities of both lungs on a chest radiograph. She had undergone hysterectomy for leiomyoma of the uterus 13 years previously. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed to rule out metastatic lung cancer. The pulmonary nodules appeared benign with a very low mitotic rate and they consisted of smooth muscle cells. The pathologic findings of the pulmonary nodules were consistent with benign metastasizing leiomyoma. The patient has been followed up closely without any specific therapy.
Biopsy ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rare Diseases ; Thorax ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between umbilical plasma erythropoietin(epo) concentrations and umbilical cord pH in high risk pregnancies. METHODS: We measured epo concentrations and gas in 103 cases of cord blood obtained from 88 cesarean section (15 of twin) composed of 39 cases of normal control (12 of normal twins), 45 cases of high risk pregnancies and 4 cases of unclassified group using an RIA kit from december,1998 to December, 1999. Statistical analysis was performed using the student's t test and regression analysis. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Umbilcal plasma epo concentrations revealed significant inverse correlation (P<0.05) with umbilical acidosis and cord blood epo levels, and it were significantly higher in GDM and IUGR than normal pregnancies (control: 1.60 1.15, n=39 versus GDM: 7.78 7.18, n=11 versus IUGR: 64.77 90.57 n=10, p<0.05), but 11 cases of fetal distress and 13 cases of preeclampsia did not differ significantly from umbilical plasma epo of normal control. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated epo concentrations in cord blood indicate fetal hypoxia and It is significantly increased in IUGR and GDM, these findings show that cord blood epo may serve as a clinically useful marker for chronic fetal hypoxia.
Acidosis ; Cesarean Section ; Erythropoietin* ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Distress ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetal Hypoxia ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Umbilical Cord

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fragmented care in nephrology can cause treatment delays. Nephrologists are qualified to perform vascular access-related procedures because they understand the pathophysiology of renal disease and perform physical examination for vascular access. We compared treatment delays associated with tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) placement between interventional radiologists and nephrologists. METHODS: We collected data by radiologists from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 and by nephrologists from since July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. We compared the duration from the hemodialysis decision to TDC placement (D-P duration) and hemodialysis initiation (D-H duration), catheter success and the complication rate, and the frequency and the usage time of non-tunneled hemodialysis catheters (NDCs) before TDC placement. RESULTS: The study analyzed 483 placed TDCs: 280 TDCs placed by radiologists and 203 by nephrologists. The D-P durations were 319 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 180 to 1,057) in the radiologist group and 140 minutes (IQR, 0 to 792) in the nephrologist group. Additionally, the D-H durations were 415 minutes (IQR,260 to 1,091) and 275 minutes (IQR, 123 to 598), respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.00). The TDC success rate (95.3% vs. 94.5%, respectively; p = 0.32) and complication rate (16.2% vs. 11%, respectively; p = 0.11) did not differ between the groups. The frequency (24.5 vs. 26%, respectively; p = 0.72) and the usage time of NDC (8,451 vs. 8,416 minutes, respectively; p = 0.91) before TDC placement were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Trained interventional nephrologists could perform TDC placement safely, minimizing treatment delays.
Catheters* ; Nephrology ; Physical Examination ; Renal Dialysis* ; Vascular Access Devices

No abstract available.
Humans ; Surgery, Plastic*

OBJECTIVE: beta ig-h3 is an extracellular matrix protein, which is overexpressed in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) similar to adhesive glycoproteins. We sought to evaluate the compensatory role of beta ig-h3 with adhesive glycoproteins in mediating the adhesion of fibroblast- like synoviocytes (FLS) and to confirm the inhibitory effect of YH18 peptide of the 2nd fas-1 domain in beta ig-h3-mediated adhesion. METHODS: The adhesion of FLS isolated from synovial tissues of RA, was evaluated in 96 well microtiter plate coated with matrix proteins. Inhibitory effect of YH18 peptides from the 2nd and 4th fas-1 domains was estimated in beta ig-h3-mediated adhesion of FLS. RESULTS: The adhesion of FLS on beta ig-h3 was weaker than that of fibronectin and vitronectin. The beta ig-h3-mediated adhesion was enhanced by the stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but not by cytokines and growth factors. Combination of fibronectin with beta ig-h3 synergistically enhanced the adhesion of FLS, in contrast to the additive effect of vitronectin combined with beta ig-h3. YH18 peptide of the 2nd fas-1 domain did not block the beta ig-h3-mediated adhesion of FLS. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that beta ig-h3 may regulate the adhesion of FLS through the interaction with adhesive glycoproteins and confirm that the essential motifs mediating adhesion on beta ig-h3 are different according to the type of cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pneumatic dilation is the most effective non-surgical treatment option for the patients with achalasia. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of outcome after pnematic dilation in patients with primary achalasia. METHODS: Thrity-five patients with primary achalasia between May 1996 and April 2001 were included. They were divided into two groups; responder and nonresponder. Esophageal manometry, scintigraphy and barium esophagogram was performed before dilation and 4 weeks after dilation. RESULTS: Seven patients having symptomatic relapse were treated with repeated pneumatic dilation. Remaining 28 patients (83%) had no recurrence during follow-up period (mean duration 16 month, range 6~43 month). Among the factors evaluated in the initial examination, only young age affected outcome (p=0.039). The post treatment retention fraction at 5, 20 minutes were the most valuable factors for predicting the clinical response (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older patients are more likely to have sustained response. Radionuclide esophageal emptying test remains a useful objective study evaluating esophageal transit before and after pneumatic dilation in the patients with achalasia and may have an important role in the follow-up evaluation of treatment for achalasia.
Barium ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Manometry ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is classified as one of the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor. Great strides have been made in understanding the genomic and molecular underpinnings of GBM, which translated into development of new therapeutic approaches to combat such deadly disease. However, there are only few therapeutic agents that can effectively inhibit GBM invasion in a clinical framework. In an effort to address such challenges, we have generated anti-SEMA3A monoclonal antibody as a potential therapeutic antibody against GBM progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed public glioma datasets, Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data and The Cancer Genome Atlas, to analyze SEMA3A mRNA expression in human GBM specimens. We also evaluated for protein expression level of SEMA3A via tissue microarray (TMA) analysis. Cell migration and proliferation kinetics were assessed in various GBM patient-derived cells (PDCs) and U87-MG cell-line for SEMA3A antibody efficacy. GBM patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were generated to evaluate tumor inhibitory effect of anti-SEMA3A antibody in vivo. RESULTS: By combining bioinformatics and TMA analysis, we discovered that SEMA3A is highly expressed in human GBM specimens compared to non-neoplastic tissues. We developed three different anti-SEMA3A antibodies, in fully human IgG form, through screening phage-displayed synthetic antibody library using a classical panning method. Neutralization of SEMA3A significantly reduced migration and proliferation capabilities of PDCs and U87-MG cell line in vitro. In PDX models, treatment with anti-SEMA3A antibody exhibited notable tumor inhibitory effect through down-regulation of cellular proliferative kinetics and tumor-associated macrophages recruitment. CONCLUSION: In present study, we demonstrated tumor inhibitory effect of SEMA3A antibody in GBM progression and present its potential relevance as a therapeutic agent in a clinical framework.
Antibodies ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; Computational Biology ; Dataset ; Down-Regulation ; Genome ; Glioblastoma* ; Glioma ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kinetics ; Macrophages ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; RNA, Messenger ; Semaphorin-3A