PURPOSE: TGF-beta is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Among the TGF-beta responses, cell migration is closely associated with the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, we determined which MMPs are regulated by TGF-beta and examined the TGF-beta signaling involved in this event, focusing on Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) METHODS: First we examined the expression of MMPs in rat lens explant culture treated with TGF-beta and LECs attached to the anterior capsules of patients with nuclear (N), anterior polar (AP) cataracts using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. It was examined whether the expression of MMPs is regulated by SFKs. RESULTS: The study using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed the expression of MMP-2 and -14 in explants and the expression of MMP-14 LECs of AP cataracts. The expression of MMP-2 and -14 was blocked by PP2 in explants. Furthermore, the activated form of SFKs was observed in LECs of AP cataracts by immunofluorescence staining. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a novel role of SFKs signaling in the expression of MMP-14 induced by TGF-beta.
Animals ; Capsules ; Cataract ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Rats ; src-Family Kinases ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

No abstract available.
Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Turner Syndrome* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Membranes* ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture*

Tumor DNA content measured by flow cytometry may be a predictor in the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer, but the results have been inconsistent. It is recognized that these conflicting results are at least partly due to the variation of DNA content between the samples from the same patient(i.e., intratumoral DNA heterogeneity). The purposes of this retrospective study were to investigate the frequency and the nature of DNA heterogeneity in epithelial ovarian cancer and to evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA heterogenetiy itself. Thirty-two patients with stage II to IV epithelial ovarian cancer who were managed at Asan Medical Center between May 1993 and April 1996 were analysed. Measurements of the nuclear DNA content were performed on samples from primary and metastatic lesion using paraffin embedded archival tissues by Epics(Coulter Inc.) flow cytometry. In two cases, the metastatic tumor was minute and did not reveal a separable peak on repeated examination. DNA heterogeneity was defined as different ploidy pattern or difference of the DNA indices than 0.15 between primary and metastatic tumors. DNA heterogeneity was found in 11 cases(36.7%), and the number of cases with homogeneous diploid and that with homogeneous aneuploid tumor were 5(16.7%) and 14(46.7%) respectively. In evaluation of prognostic significance of DNA heterogeneity using correlation with serum CA 125 level after second course of chemotherapy and residual tumor size after cytoreductive surgery among these three groups, the patients with DNA heterogeneity were considered to show intermediate prognosis between those with homogeneous diploid and homogeneous aneuploid tumor. In conclusion, DNA heterogeneity in epithelial ovarian cancer is considerable in frequency and may have prognostic value.
Aneuploidy ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diploidy ; DNA* ; Drug Therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Paraffin ; Ploidies* ; Population Characteristics* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Nephritis, Hereditary*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pepsinogen A*

Fungal infection has been observed with increasing frequency in recent years because the use of combinations of broad spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressive agents, and antineoplastic agents is increasing and the survival rate of premature baby is increasing. We experienced a 3 month old male infant with anuria due to bilateral ureteropelvic fungus balls. He was born at 31 weeks gestation period and had been treated with broad spectrum antibiotics for 5 weeks after birth. We removed fungus balls surgically and made nephrostomy bilaterally. And then irrigation of amphotericn B through nephrostomy and systemic amphotercin B injection had performed for 3 weeks. Thereafter fungus balls completely disappeared.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Anuria* ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Infant* ; Male ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Antigen-Antibody Complex* ; Syphilis*

PURPOSE: Knee IVIR images were repeatedly obtained after intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine to evaluate the arthrographic effect and to determine the optimal scan timing and technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal Tl-weighted (650/15) sequences were repeated before and after intravenous gadolinium enhancement in 26 patients who were divided into exercise (14/26) and nonexercise (12/26) groups. Fourteen patients in exercise group were allowed to move the affected knee joint actively for 10 minutes immediately after the first post-enhancement scan and before repeating scans. The signal intensities in central and peripheral portions of the joint were measured and compared between these two groups. RESULTS: In all cases, enhancement of joint fluid began at peripheral portion and progressed toward central portion. The diffusion rate in exercise group was far faster than that in nonexercise group and homogeneous arthrographic image was revealed within 10 minutes after completion of joint movement. The arthrographic effect continued and the rate of signal decrease was quite slow. CONCLUSION: MR arthrographic image of knee joint can be obtained within 10 minutes after completion of a few minute exercise following intravenous injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Intravenous MR arthrography is expected to become an useful method as a convenient alternative to direct MR arthrography.
Administration, Intravenous ; Arthrography* ; Diffusion ; Gadolinium ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee*