OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-risk HPV DNA test using Hybrid Capture System in the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neo- plasia(CIN II, III) from patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS) or a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(LGSIL) on referral Papanicolaou smear. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-four patients referred to our hospital with a Papanicolaou smear report of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion underwent repeat Papanicolaou smear, cervical colposcopy and directed cervical biopsy. In addition, high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV) test by Hybrid Capture System was done. A comparison of detection rate of the high-grade CIN between positive and negative results of HPV test according to repeat Papanicolaou smear report was done. Biopsy result according to HPV test result in total patients was also compared. RESULTS: HPV of high-risk type was detected in 22 of 54 women(40.7%) by Hybrid Capture System. Prevalence rate of high-risk HPV in no CIN, CIN I, and CIN II, III was 13.6%, 18.2% and 68.2% respectively. As expected, high-risk HPV was detected with greater frequency in relation to increasing severity of CIN. In 18 women, the repeat smear obtained in our clinic was reported as negative. High-risk HPV types were found in 16.7% of theses women. In the HPV-negative women, 40% had CIN II or III confirmed on cervical biopsy. In comparison, 66.7% of those with a positive result of the HPV test had CIN II or III on biopsy(P<0.05). Among the women with ASCUS or LGSIL on repeat smear, there was no significant difference in the frequency of biopsy-proved CIN II or III between positive and negative results of high-risk HPV test. In total patients, the group that had positive results for high-risk HPV showed higher incidence of CIN II or III than group with negative results(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: From these results testing women with Papanicolaou smears showing ASCUS or LGSIL for infection with high-risk HPV types would identify the patients who are at risk for HGSIL or invasive carcinoma and who require aggressive intervention. High-risk HPV DNA test using Hybrid Capture System may be a usefule method in supplement the pitfalls of cervical cytology. This test might also have prgnostic value in the management of patients with cervical intraepithelial lesions.
Biopsy ; Colposcopy ; Female ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests ; Humans* ; Incidence ; Papanicolaou Test ; Papilloma* ; Prevalence ; Referral and Consultation

No abstract available.
Neurothekeoma*

Kinship testing in forensic casework is largely based on a likelihood ratio (LR) approach with short tandem repeat (STR) markers; however, in order to efficiently identify potential relatives in a specific population, the threshold values for kinship prediction should be determined by analyzing the kinship index distributions of the population in question. In this study, 250,000 DNA profiles were simulated using allele frequencies at 20 autosomal STR loci in Koreans, then the LRs were calculated for true close relatives and unrelated pairs. The LR distributions in related and unrelated pairs under a given relationship were compared in 2 sets of 13 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and 20 STR profiles. Using 13 CODIS STRs, true relatives in parent/child and full-sibling relationships were sufficiently discriminated from unrelated pairs with LR thresholds of 1,000 and 100, respectively. However, the CODIS STRs lacked the discriminatory power to differentiate between related and unrelated pairs in uncle/nephew and first cousin relationships due to high false-positive and false-negative rates with a LR threshold of 10. Increasing the number of STR loci to 20 increased discrimination of close relatives, but high false results remained in uncle/nephew and first cousin relationships. The kinship index data from this study will help make decisions on various kinship testing and familial searching in Koreans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of TGF-beta on proliferation, collagen synthesis, migration, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion of human RPE cells in vitro. METHODS: The cultured human RPE cells were treated with either TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2 in concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml respectively. The cell number was measured in 3, 6, 9 days, and the collagen synthesis and cell migration was measured. [3H]-thimidine uptake assay was done to evaluate the change of DNA synthesis. And the secretions of MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, TIMP1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase), and TIMP2 were measured by electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of RPE cells in a concentration -and time-dependent manner (p<0.05). [3H]-thymidine uptake was decreased by TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in a concentration-dependant manner. The collagen synthesis of RPE cells was significantly increased by high concentration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta 2. However, the migration of RPE cells was not affected by TGF-beta. As the concentration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 increased, the secretions of MMP1, MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 decreased, while the secretion of TIMP1 and TIMP2 increased after 72 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 may have critical effect on the development of PVR and provide clues to possible therapeutic solutions for controlling PVR process.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Movement ; Collagen* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

An unequivocal diagnosis of mesothelioma during life, on the basis of limited biopsy tissue or cytological specimens, is frequently difficult and requires distinction from inflammatory mesothelial hyperplasia on the one hand and secondary neoplasms, especially adenocarcinoma on the other. Although some studies have produced conflicting results, it is generally believed that immunohistochemical methods can aid in this distinction. To obtain comparable and reproducible results, 23 metastatic carcinoma of the pleura and 2 unequivocal malignant epiehtlial mesotheliomas were studied by the peroxidase-antiperoxedase method on paraffin-embedded cell blocks, and commercially available antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), keratin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were used. Nineteen metastaic adenocarcinoma (73%) and two mesotheliomas (100%) reacted with keratin and EMA antibodies. Nineteen matastatic adenocarcinomas (73%) reacted with EMA antibodies. Nineteen metastatic adenocarcinoma (73%) reacted with CEA antibody; no mesotheliomas stained for CEA. Two cases of reactive mesothlial hyperplasia showed positive for keratin, but negative reaction for EMA and CEA. Noen of the antibodies used in this study was specific for mesothelioma, but CEA was found to be the most useful marker for differentiating between mesothelioma and metastatic carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

An unequivocal diagnosis of mesothelioma during life, on the basis of limited biopsy tissue or cytological specimens, is frequently difficult and requires distinction from inflammatory mesothelial hyperplasia on the one hand and secondary neoplasms, especially adenocarcinoma on the other. Although some studies have produced conflicting results, it is generally believed that immunohistochemical methods can aid in this distinction. To obtain comparable and reproducible results, 23 metastatic carcinoma of the pleura and 2 unequivocal malignant epiehtlial mesotheliomas were studied by the peroxidase-antiperoxedase method on paraffin-embedded cell blocks, and commercially available antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), keratin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were used. Nineteen metastaic adenocarcinoma (73%) and two mesotheliomas (100%) reacted with keratin and EMA antibodies. Nineteen matastatic adenocarcinomas (73%) reacted with EMA antibodies. Nineteen metastatic adenocarcinoma (73%) reacted with CEA antibody; no mesotheliomas stained for CEA. Two cases of reactive mesothlial hyperplasia showed positive for keratin, but negative reaction for EMA and CEA. Noen of the antibodies used in this study was specific for mesothelioma, but CEA was found to be the most useful marker for differentiating between mesothelioma and metastatic carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

OBJECTIVE: To obtain clinically useful data regarding prenatal diagnosis, proper antepartum counseling and obstetric management in pregnancies with fetal dysplastic kidney disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 13 cases of MCDK(Multicystic dysplastic kidney) and PCDK(Polycystic dysplastic kidney), diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound and delivered from June 1994 through July 1999 at Ajou University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with regard to prenatal ultrasonographic findings, perinatal outcomes, maternal complications and associated fetal anomalies. RESULTS: The incidence of MCDK and PCDK was one in 1,066 and one in 2,398 births, respectively. Of the 9 cases of MCDK, one case was terminated due to severely associated anomaly, and 6 cases were delivered by spontaneous labor or pitocin induction at term, of which 1 case was delivered by pitocin induction at 36 weeks gestation due to intrauterine fetal death. Two cases were delivered by cesarean section. There were no neonatal deaths in 7 cases of MCDK and they have been followed up to date, and alive. Of the 4 cases of PCDK, 3 cases were terminated by induced abortion or induced vaginal delivery, and 1 case was delivered by cesarean section, which was combined with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the baby died within 24 hours after birth. Perinatal complications consisted of small for gestational age, urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, periventricular hemorrhage and laryngomalacia in the neonatal period. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that antenatal ultrasonography and genetic analysis to evaluate accurate diagnosis and associated anomalies should be performed to manage and councel properly the pregnancies with fetal dysplastic kidney disease.
Abortion, Induced ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cesarean Section ; Counseling ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Gestational Age ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney Diseases* ; Kidney* ; Laryngomalacia ; Obstetrics ; Oxytocin ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections

The Bcl-2 protein has been shown to block apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. We have performed the experiments which cell death can be blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene under moderate(50-100mM) or high ethanol treatment(400-600mM). As a result of morphological changes, and MTT assay, cell death was blocked by Bcl-2 under 100mM ethanol. However, the results of DNA fragmentation and RT-PCR(ICE, and CPP32), immunoblotting(CPP32, and PARP) for SK-pcDNA3 cells(vector only) and SK-Bcl-2 cells(stably expressed bcl-2 gene) were showen to be no significant differences between two cell lines. These result suggested that cell death induced by ethanol was not followed by apoptosis mechanism, and was blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene with moderate ethanol.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death* ; Cell Line ; DNA Fragmentation ; Ethanol* ; Ice ; Proto-Oncogenes*

Aggregatibacter aphrophilus is a facultatively anaerobic gram-negative coccobacillus or bacillus that grows with no dependence on X factor and variable requirement for V factor. The organism is normal flora in the human oral cavity and upper respiratory tract and, rarely, causes invasive infections such as bacteremia, endocarditis, brain abscess, or osteomyelitis. We report a case of septic peripheral embolism in left leg from A. aphrophilus endocarditis. A 49-year-old man with known hypertension presented with acute muscle pain in the left leg. On physical examination, a regular heartbeat with a pansystolic murmur was heard. There were decreased pulses in the left popliteal and dorsalis pedis arteries and coldness of the left foot, although sensory and motor functions were intact. Angiography revealed an embolus in a branch of the left femoral artery. He underwent emergency embolectomy, and gram-negative bacilli grew in the embolus cultures. The same microorganism was isolated in two pairs of blood culturs and subsequently identified as A. aphrophilus. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed mitral regurgitation and multiple vegetations on the mitral valve. The patient was treated with a third-generation cephalosporin for 4 weeks and mitral valve replacement in view of the diagnosis of infective endocarditis and septic peripheral embolism.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Bacillus ; Bacteremia ; Brain Abscess ; Cold Temperature ; Echocardiography ; Embolectomy ; Embolism ; Embolism and Thrombosis ; Emergencies ; Endocarditis ; Femoral Artery ; Foot ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mouth ; Muscles ; Osteomyelitis ; Physical Examination ; Respiratory System

No abstract available.
Female ; HELLP Syndrome* ; Pregnancy