PURPOSE: With the process of neoangiogenesis being linked to the growth and metastasis of various tumors, anticancer therapeutics with a basis in the suppression of neoangiogenesis has recently been receiving attention. In this study, we tried to clarify the immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), major angiogenic inducer and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), major angiogenic inhibitor in human Wilms' tumor and its clinicopathological significance. MATERAILS AND METHODS: Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, we assessed the immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 in archival tissues of 29 Wilms' tumors and 25 normal kidneys. Also, we assessed the relationship between expression of each factor and clinicopathological parameters in 29 cases of Wilms' tumors. RESULTS: Immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 were detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the tubular cells in normal kidneys. In Wilms' tumors, whereas VEGF was detected in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and peritumoral stromal tissues, but TSP-1 only in the peritumoral stromal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression patterns of each factor were divided into two groups according to the area of immunoreactivity (negative:<10%, positive: > OR =10%). VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 25 (100%) normal kidneys and in 20 (69%) Wilms' tumors. However, TSP-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 24 (97%) normal kidneys and in 3 (10%) Wilms' tumors. Therefore, although no significant difference was observed between the expressions of VEGF and TSP-1 in normal kidney, the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors. A relatively higher rate of positive expression of TSP-1 was observed in the patients with no demonstrable lymph node metastasis. Also, as for the VEGF, maximal diameter of the tumor was larger in the positive expression group. However, it proved otherwise for TSP-1 as the negative expression group demonstrated tumors with larger maximal diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors, and disease progression has a tendency to be found in the VEGF-positive cases and TSP-1 negative cases. We suggest that the growth and metastasis of Wilms' tumor may be influenced mainly by TSP-1 decrease rather than VEGF increase.
Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wilms Tumor*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prognosis*

Serological prenatal screening tests are widely used to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities such as Down and Edward syndromes. Amniocentesis is conducted as a confirmatory test in the screening-positive case. After discovering of presence of fetal cell-free DNA in maternal blood, non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) coupled with next generation sequencing are performed in abroad. Results of genomics-based NIPT results supplied to Labgenomics laborotory from June, 2013 to August, 2014 were analyzed. Maternal blood samples were collected into specific Cell-Free DNA BCT tube and were transported. The samples were then delivered to Ariosa Diagnostics by FEDEX. Fetal cell-free DNA samples were analyzed using the Harmony test with sequencing of relevant chromosomes and by using the FORTE (fetal-fraction optimized risk of trisomy evaluation) algorism at Ariosa Diagnostics. In all, 149 cases from 28 medical clinics were analyzed. Six subjects were required recollection of samples because of a low fetal DNA fraction in the initially obtained samples. Of these 6 subjects, no sample could be collected from one. Of the remaining 148 cases, 144 had a low risk of trisomy, and 4 had a high risk for Down syndrome, thus providing a positivity percentage of 2.7%. Fetal DNA fraction in the maternal blood samples ranged from 4.2% to 23.7% with a mean value of 12.0%. We have experienced cases with a high risk for Down syndrome with genomics-based NIPT referred to abroad.
Amniocentesis ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA ; Down Syndrome ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy

The limitation so direct or indirect laryngoscopy and laryngogram in detemining the exact site and anatomiclocation of laryngeal carcinoma were well documented by many authors. As compared with laryngoscopy and laryngogram, CT study for laryngeal cancer is more exact and accurate method demonstrating anatomic sites of involvement, invasion into deep soft tissue spaces of endolarynx, destruction of laryngeal cartilages and cervical metastasis. Fourteen laryngeal cancer patients proven by laryngoscopic biopsy were further examined by computed tomography for staging. The authors compared laryngoscopic findings with those of computed tomography, and their clinical, surgical and computed tomographic findings were analysed. The results were as follows; 1. All patients were proved as squamous cell carcinoma. They were 12 males and 2 females aged over 50 yrs. 2. Common clinical symptoms were hoarseness, dysphagia and swallowing difficulty. The pirmary anatomic sites determined by CT were 8 transglottic, 2 glottic, 2 supraglottic and 1 pyriform sinus respectively. They were 2 T1. 7 T2, 1 T3, 3 T4 by TNM systems, respectivly. (One case was difficult to evaluate exactly). 3. Invasion into deep soft tissue spaces of endolarynx, cartilage destruction, and neck metastasis were relatively predominant in transglottic caracinomas. 4.CT was superior in evaluating tumor invasion, especially into deep soft tissue spaces of endolarynx, laryngeal cartilages and metastasis ot soft tissue and lymph nodes of neck. However CT had some limitation in determining primary site of laryngeal cancer.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cartilage ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Female ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Laryngeal Cartilages ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Laryngoscopy ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Methods ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pyriform Sinus

PURPOSE: The Fas-associated death domain (FADD) constitutes a novel protein that specifically associates with the cytoplasmic death domain of Fas, and induces apoptosis. FADD is composed of a death effector domain (DED) and a death domain. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo antitumor effect of the FADD, or FADD-DED, gene in renal cell carcinoma cells, using a plasmid vector expressing the human FADD and FADD-DED genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cDNA of the human FADD and FADD-DED genes were amplified by RT-PCR, and cloned to the pCR(R) 3.1. The expressions of the cloned FADD and FADD-DED (pCR(R)3.1-FADD and pCR3.1-FADD-DED) were observed by Western blot analysis. The efficacy of the growth inhibition by the cloned FADD and FADD-DED genes was tested, in vitro, on A498 and Caki-1 human renal cell carcinoma cell lines using the MTT assay. To evaluate the apoptosis, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 assays were performed. RESULTS: Expressions of the FADD protein, and the FADD-DED, of the transfected A498 and Caki-1 cells had increased by 48 and 24 hours, respectively, compared with the control cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the pCR3.1-FADD and pCR3.1-FADD-DED on the A498 and Caki-1 cells significantly increased compared to the empty vector. The increased cytotoxicity of the FADD- or FADD-DED-transfected cell lines was associated with enhanced apoptosis, as assessed by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 assays. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the cloned FADD or FADD-DED expression plasmid vector efficiently inhibited the growth of A498 and Caki-1 human renal cell carcinoma cell lines. These data suggest that the exogenous FADD or FADD-DED expressions may have therapeutic applications in renal cell carcinomas.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Cytoplasm ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Plasmids

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated in vitro whether the anti-sense transfection that was targeted against Bcl-xL would induce cytotoxicity via apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: cDNA of the human Bcl-xL gene was obtained by RT-PCR amplification, and the anti-sense Bcl-xL mRNA plasmid was generated using the pCR 3.1 TOPO plasmid vector. The function of the cloned anti-sense Bcl-xL plasmid vector (pCR3.1-AS-Bcl-xL) was evaluated by the Western blot analysis. Using the MTT assay, the efficacy of growth inhibition by transfection with pCR3.1-AS-Bcl-xL was tested in vitro on PC-3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cell lines. Immunoblot analyses of Bax and caspase-9 were also performed. To evaluate the apoptosis, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 assay were performed. RESULTS: Bcl-xL expression after transfection with pCR3.1-AS-Bcl-xL was gradually decreased in PC-3 cells and was continuously decreased in DU145 cells, compared to the parent cells. Bax protein was not expressed in DU145 cells, and the levels of Bax protein expression was not altered in the transfected PC-3 cells compared to the parent cells. The cytotoxicity of pCR3.1-AS-Bcl-xL on PC-3 and DU145 cells increased significantly compared to the empty vector, pCR3.1. This increased cytotoxicity was associated with enhanced apoptosis as assessed by the DNA fragmentation assay and the caspase-3 assay. The expression of the active caspase-9 was increased in the PC-3 cells but not in the DU145 cells after transfection with pCR3.1-AS-Bcl-xL. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the suppression of Bcl-xL by anti-sense transfection efficiently inhibited the growth of PC-3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cell lines. The inhibition of Bcl-xL expression can possibly be a novel therapeutic alternative in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate carcinoma.
Apoptosis* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; bcl-X Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 9 ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA, Antisense ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Parents ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of breast MRI in analysis of papillomas of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1996 to 2004, 94 patients underwent surgery due to papillomas of the breast. Among them, 21 patients underwent 3D fast low angle shot (FLASH) dynamic breast MRI. Eight masses were palpable and 11 of 21 patients had nipple discharge. Two radiologists indifferently analyzed the location, size of the lesions and shape, margin of the masses, multiplicity and ductal relation. The MRI findings were categorized according to breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) lexicon. The amount and pattern of enhancement and associated findings were also evaluated according to BI-RADS. We then compared the MRI findings with galactography, mammography and breast ultrasonography (US) and examined histopathologic correlation. RESULTS: On breast MRI, the lesion size was 0.4-1.59 cm, and 18 patients showed subareolar location. On 4.25 cm (mean 1.54) dynamic enhanced images, imaging findings showed mass (n = 10), intracystic mass (n = 3), focus (n = 5), ductal enhancement (n = 2), and segmental enhancement (n = 1). In cases of the masses, the shapes of the masses were round (n = 4), lobulated (n = 3), and irregular (n = 6), and margins were circumscribed (n = 6), microlobulated (n = 5), and indistinct (n = 2). The enhancement patterns were homogeneous enhancement (n = 7), heterogeneous (n = 3) or rim enhancement (n = 3). CONCLUSION: The contrast enhanced dynamic breast MRI was highly sensitive for diagnosis of breast papillomas. MRI could play a key role in the pre-operative work-up for multiple papillomas and papillomatosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma, Intraductal/*diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity