The placenta is a temporary fetomaternal organ capable of supporting fetal growth and development during pregnancy. In particular, abnormal development and dysfunction of the placenta due to cha nges in the proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and invasion of trophoblasts induce several gynecological diseases as well as abnormal fetal development. Autophagy is a catalytic process that maintains cellular structures by recycling building blocks derived from damaged microorganelles or proteins resulting from digestion in lysosomes. Additionally, autophagy is necessary to maintain homeostasis during cellular growth, development, and differentiation, and to protect cells from nutritional deficiencies or factors related to metabolism inhibition. Induced autophagy by various environmental factors has a dual role: it facilitates cellular survival in normal conditions, but the cascade of cellular death is accelerated by over-activated autophagy. Therefore, cellular death by autophagy has been known as programmed cell death type II. Autophagy causes or inhibits cellular death via the other mechanism, apoptosis, which is programmed cell death type I. Recently, it has been reported that autophagy increases in placenta-related obstetrical diseases such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation, although the mechanisms are still unclear. In particular, abnormal autophagic mechanisms prevent trophoblast invasion and inhibit trophoblast functions. Therefore, the objectives of this review are to examine the characteristics and functions of autophagy and to investigate the role of autophagy in the placenta and the trophoblast as a regulator of cell death.
Apoptosis ; Autophagy* ; Cell Death* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cellular Structures ; Digestion ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Homeostasis ; Lysosomes ; Malnutrition ; Metabolism ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Recycling ; Trophoblasts

The traditional treatment of splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is generally surgery and/or transcatheter arterial embolization, but recently, the treatment of SAA using a stent graft has been reported. However, the acute angle of the celiac axis, as well as the tortuous path of the splenic artery makes the use of stent graft difficult for treatment of aneurysms. We report here a case of SAA treated with the technique of double overlapping metallic stents.
Aneurysm* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Splenic Artery* ; Stents*

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report a case of multiple myeloma with gastric involvement occurring in a patient who underwent an upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS), CT and MRI. UGIS depicted a luminal protruding mass, while contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated marked thickening of the gastric wall, with subtle contrast enhancement. At T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, the mass showed iso- and intermediate signal intensity, respectively. After the administration of contrast material, subtle homogeneous enhancement was apparent.
Case Report ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology/*radiography ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: To determine evaluate the clinical effectiveness of low-dose erythromycin (EM) therapy in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), and to correlate the pulmonary function testing (PFT) changes seen at serial high-resolution CT (HRCT) withthe results of post-treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 13 DPB patients [seven men and six women aged 23-68 (mean, 46.2) years] who had undergone PFT, HRCT, and transbronchial or open lung biopsy prior to long-term, low-dose EM therapy (250 mg twice daily for more than six months). The interval between initial and follow-up study ranged from 7 to 32 (mean, 16.6+/-8.0) months, and we compared the changes in HRCT findings and PFT parameters before and after treatment. RESULTS: At HRCT after EM therapy, the extent of centrilobular nodules (p=0.006), peripheral bronchiolar wall thickening (p=0.02), and areas of low attenuation (p=0.011) decreased significantly, while FVC and FEV1 showed significant increases: FVC, from 2.47+/-0.83 to 2.74+/-0.95 (p=0.028); and FEV1, from 1.66+/-0.75 to 1.95+/-0.87 (p=0.02). As the extent of peripheral bronchiolar wall thickening (r=-0.609, p=0.047) and areas of low attenuation (r=-0.687, p=0.041) decreased at serial HRCT, FVC and FEV1 increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up HRCT findings showed that for DPB patients, lowdose EM provides effective treatment. In addition, HRCT appears to be valuable for the objective evaluation of responses to EM therapy.
Biopsy ; Bronchiolitis ; Erythromycin* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Proteins of the Bcl-2 family are intracellular membrane-associated proteins that regulate programmed cell death either positively or negatively by as yet unknown mechanism. Bcl-2 family proteins have an antiapoptotic function, such as the Bcl-2, the long form of Bcl-x and Mcl-l, or a proapoptotic function, like the short form of Bcl-x and Bax. To investigate the potential role of Bcl-2 family proteins in thyroid tumorigenesis, the authors examined the pattern of expression of the Bel-2 family proteins in various thyroid neoplasms. METHODS: Bcl-2 family proteins, including Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Mcl-1 and Bax proteins were immunohistochemically stained in 57 cases of various thyroid neoplasms using formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissues; 18 cases of papillary carcinoma, 6 cases of medullary carcinoma, 4 cases of anaplastic carcinoma, 10 cases of follicular adenoma, 9 cases of adenomatous goiter, and 10 autopsy cases of fetal thyroid galnd. The intensity and frequency of the immunostaining were evaluated with the program of Image-Pro Plus Version 3.0 for image analysis. RESULT: Consistent expression of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bax proteins were present in the surrounding normal thyroid tissue, however the expression of Bcl-x protein was not observed. Compare to the expression patterns of adenomatous goiter, and fetal and surrounding normal thyroid tissues, papillary and anaplastic carcinomas showed the decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bcl-x protein expressions(p (0.05). Medullary carcinoma revealed the increased Bcl-x protein expression only(p 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that combined patterns of decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bcl-x protein expressions may eontribute to the carcinogenesis of thyroid cancers originated from thyroid follicular cells, and an increased expression of Bcl-x protein may be related to the pathogenesis of medullary carcinoma from parafollicular C cells.
Adenoma ; Autopsy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; bcl-X Protein ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Cell Death ; Goiter ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Paraffin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to determine the technical and clinical efficacy of using a PTFE-covered self-expandable nitinol stent for the palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with common bile duct strictures caused by malignant disease were treated by placing a total of 37 nitinol PTFE stents. These stents were covered with PTFE with the exception of the last 5 mm at each end; the stent had an unconstrained diameter of 10 mm and a total length of 50-80 mm. The patient survival rate and stent patency rate were calculated by performing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The bilirubin, serum amylase and lipase levels before and after stent placement were measured and then compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The average follow-up duration was 27.9 weeks (range: 2-81 weeks). RESULTS: Placement was successful in all cases. Seventy-six percent of the patients (28/37) experienced adequate palliative drainage for the remainder of their lives. There were no immediate complications. Three patients demonstrated stent sludge occlusion that required PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage) irrigation. Two patients experienced delayed stent migration with stone formation at 7 and 27 weeks of follow-up, respectively. Stent insertion resulted in acute elevations of the amylase and lipase levels one day after stent insertion in 11 patients in spite of performing endoscopic sphincterotomy (4/6). The bilirubin levels were significantly reduced one week after stent insertion (p < 0.01). The 30-day mortality rate was 8% (3/37), and the survival rates were 49% and 27% at 20 and 50 weeks, respectively. The primary stent patency rates were 85%, and 78% at 20 and 50 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSION: The PTFE-covered self-expandable nitinol stent is safe to use with acceptable complication rates. This study is similar to the previous studies with regard to comparing the patency rates and survival rates.
Adenocarcinoma/*complications ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alloys/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic/etiology/*surgery ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible/*therapeutic use ; Common Bile Duct/radiography/surgery ; Digestive System Neoplasms/*complications ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palliative Care/methods ; Pilot Projects ; Polytetrafluoroethylene/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; *Stents/adverse effects ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

This study was undertaken to compare renal damage, as determined by serum creatinine and degree of apoptosis, caused by iodinated contrast or gadolinium in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Rats were divided into three groups; controls (n=3), a CT contrast medium group (n=9), and an MR contrast medium group (n=9). The CT and MR groups were further subdivided into three groups, namely, low, standard, and high dose subgroups. Renal function was evaluated by determining serum creatinine levels; before ARF, and 48 hr after ARF and contrast administration. Apoptosis was assayed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). No significant creatinine level differences were observed between the CT and MR groups (p=0.116). Degrees of apoptosis in the renal cortex and medulla were more severe in the CT contrast medium group than in the control or MR contrast medium group (p<0.05). The study shows that CT contrast medium did not aggravate renal function more so than MR contrast medium in this ARF rat model. However, apoptosis examination in the renal cortex and medulla indicated that CT contrast medium induced more severe apoptosis than MR contrast medium (p<0.05). We conclude that CT contrast medium can be used for renal imaging studies when subjects are well hydrated and preventive medication is administered.
Animals ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Contrast Media/adverse effects ; Creatine/*blood ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/*adverse effects ; Iohexol/adverse effects/*analogs and derivatives ; Kidney/*drug effects/*pathology ; Kidney Failure, Acute/*blood/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

The estrogen hormone receptor (ER) content of human breast cancer has assumed an important role as a predictor of hormone therapy response and as a prognostic indicator. The conventional technique is the dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method or a ligand-binding assay (LBA) based on the measurement of radiolabeled steroids in cytosolic extracts of tissue homogenate. The recent introduction of monoclonal antibodies with high specificity for human ERs has allowed the application of immunocytochemical assays (ICA) in human cancer tissue. An extension of the ICA technique to cytologic specimens is also widely used. Our aim was to evaluate the reliability of ER-ICAs on fine needle aspirates(FNA) from breast cancer patients by comparing it with ER-ICAs and ER-LBAs performed on surgically removed tissues. During a recent 6-month period, ER-ICAs and ER-LBAs were performed in 83 cases. Among these 83 cases, only the 40 cases for which the ER-ICA and the ER-LBA were performed simultaneously ere included in this study. As positive cutoff values, we assumed 10 fmol/mg protein for the ER-LBAs and a semiquantitative score of 4 for the ER-ICAs. The results were as follows : 1) The ER positive rate was 55% (22/40) for ICAs and 47.5% (19/40) for LBAs. The concordance rate between the ER of ICAs and that of LBAs was 82.5% (33/40). 2) The Pearson correlation coefficient between ER-ICAs of fine needle aspirates and that of surgically removed tissue was good (r=0.94, p<0.005) 3) The Spearman correlation coefficient between ER-ICAs of fine needle aspirates and ER-LBAs of surgically removed tissue was good (r=0.57, p=0.0001) In conclusion, ER determination by using the fine needle aspirate is a reliable method in palpable breast cancer. FNA-ER may be a useful method when it is difficult to take sufficient breast cancer tissue, i.e., in cases of diffusely recurrent cancer, liver metastasis, malignant pleural effusion, etc.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biopsy* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Charcoal ; Cytosol ; Estrogens* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Needles* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Steroids