BACKGROUND: The integrins comprise a family of transmembrane glycoproteins which mediate cell-cell and cell-matr ix intera ctions, and the bcl-2 oncogene is involved in tumorigenesis by blocking apoptosis. Typical acquired melanocytic nevi appear to follow a life cycle characterized by active growth, maturation, and progressive involution. In contrast, congenital rnelanocytic nevi have a different course and prcgnosis with potential for development of melanoma, and metastatic spread is very common in malignant melanoma. Objective . We investigated the expression of integrins (a2,a3,a) and bcl-2 in congenital and acquired rnelanocytic nevi, and malignant, melanomas by immunohistochemical technique. Methods . Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 7 compound nevi, 7 intradermal nevi, 5 congenital melanocytic nevi, and 5 malignant melanomas were immunolabeled with monoclonal antibodies directed against a2, a3,and a integrin, and bcl-2 protein. RESULTS: All acquired and congenital melanocytic nevi showed a uniform staining for a2, a3, a and bcl-2. In 3 compound nevi which the nevus cells lie mainly within the upper dermis, the nevus cells in the papillary dermis showed weak to negative a expression. Within neurotized are as of intradermal nevus, bcl-2 and a expression became weaker and totally absent. All 5 malig- nant melanomas exhibited strong a2, a3, a, and bcl-2 expression. However, the tumor cells in the lower advancing border failed to express a integrin in 3 of 5 malignant, melanomas. In most malignant melanomas, there was variable intensity of staining for bcl-2 in different areas of the tumor. Conclusion . These findings suggest that the integrins and bcl-2 may be involved in active growth, maturation, and progressive involution of the melanocytic nevi, and seem to be related to metastasis and tumorigenesis of the malignant melanoma.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Dermis ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Integrins* ; Life Cycle Stages ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus ; Nevus, Intradermal ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Oncogenes

OBJECTIVE: Rebamipide is a propionic acid derivative that has an action of the inhibition of superoxide production and removal of hydroxyl radical with the sperm incubation and cryopreservation. In the present study, to investigate whether rebamipide is useful to treat male infertility and sterility, the author observed the antioxidative effects in patient with male infertility and also examined its absorption and distribution in rat genital organ. METHODS: To measure the distribution of rebamipide in reproductive organ in the rat, carbon indicated rebamipide, 14C-OPC-12759, was orally administered to 10 Spraque-Dawley rats and its organ concentration in serum, liver, kidney, stomach, duodenum, colon, urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, epididymis and testicle were measured each time after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours by using HPLC fluorescent method. The concentrations in semen were measured by HPLC fluorescent method in a sample of 50 infertile males who took 900 mg of rebamipide daily for 3 months. To measure the antioxidative effect and fertility rate for 3 months, each month before and after the treatment, sperm motility, vitality, the oxygen free radical formation, level of peroxidation, fetilizing capacity of semen sample which were obtained from infertile male patients by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid method and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Simultaneously in a sample that wanted baby, both pregnancy and delivery were researched. RESULTS: The 14C-OPC-12759 concentration in the body of white rats was highest in gastrointestinal organ like stomach, smal intestine and duodenum and followed by genital organ like seminal vesicle, testis and epididymis. The rebamipide concentration in semen of infertile males was 220.77+/-327.84 ng/mL (SD) which showed a large deviation but it was higher than serum which was 126+/-76 ng/mL (SD). In the infertile males, after the treatment with rebamipide, the level of seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation have significantly decreased in duration of the treatment (p<0.05) and sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity except sperm motility significantly improved on post treatment of 2~3 months (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases who hoped for pregnancy, 15 cases (36.6%) became pregnant and 12 cases had childbrith, 2 cases had miscarriage and one case is ongoing. The side effect was observed in 1 case (2%) which experienced diarrhea but it was lost spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from this study that rebamipide showed relatively high tendancy of absorption and excretion in the genital organ. In infertile males who had elevated ROS in semen, by specifically inhibiting the cell damage from the antioxidation, a way to preserve sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity was confirmed.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Absorption* ; Animals ; Birth Rate ; Carbon ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Colon ; Cryopreservation ; Diarrhea ; Diethylpropion ; Duodenum ; Epididymis ; Female ; Genitalia ; Hope ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Intestines ; Kidney ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Luminescence ; Male ; Masturbation ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Seminal Vesicles ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Stomach ; Superoxides ; Testis ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Humans ; Twins* ; Umbilical Cord*

Bowens disease is generally regarded as a premalignant dermatosis. If untreated, 3% to 5% of patients may develop squamous cell carcinoma. However, sebaciou carcinoma arising from Bowens disease is very rare. We presented a case of quarnous cell carcinoma and sebaceous circ s disease in a 68 year-old male. He had multiple bowenoid skin lesi nsties. A bean-sized nodule as developed on the bowenoid lesion of the he had a large yellow crust.ed exudative tumor on the Rt. thigh. We took a biopsy specimen of these three discrete lesions. The nu lipid stain of frozen section revealed Bowens disease, squarnous concllnoma arising from Bowen on the trunk and extremi Rt. lower abdomen. Almost of routine histology and carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma, respectively.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thigh

In pili torti, the affected Eair shaft is flattened and twisted through 180 degrees on its own axis. The involved hairs are dry, thin, brittle, and break off easily. Congenital pili torti may occur as an isolated phenomenon or may occur in association with other abnormalities. Acquired pili torti is usually associated with some sort of scarring process in the scalp itself. We present a case of congnital pili torti without any other abnormalities in a 14 year-old female. The pedigree of her fariiily was consistent with the inheritance of congenital pili torti as an autosomal dominant trait.
Adolescent ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Scalp ; Wills

Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAPK) is an autosomal dominant dermatosis comprising of reticulate slightly clepessed pigmentation of the extensor surfaces of the hands and feet with palmar pits. It has been suggested that this may be the same disease as Dawling Degos disease (DDD), an autosomal dorninant condition which is characterized by a reticulate pigmentation of flexures, comedo-like lesicns and pitted scars. We present a case of RAPK in a 49-year-old female who had reticulate, brownish, slightly depressed pigmentation on the extremities with t,he involvement of flexures, the predilection sites of DDD.
Cicatrix ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Extremities ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Malignant Atrophic Papulosis ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple*

The gene encoding F protein of CBP-1 strain, a heat-stable Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from the diseased pheasants in Korea, was characterized by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Virus RNA was prepared from the chorioallatoic fluid infected with NDV CBP-1 virus and cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned and sequenced to analyze. The PCR was sensitive as to detect the virus titer above 25 hemagglutination unit. 1.7kb (1,707bp) size of the cDNA was amplified and cloned into BamHI site of pVL1393 Baculo transfer vector. The nucleotide sequences for F protein were determined by dye terminator cyclic sequencing using four pairs of primers, and 553 amino acid sequences were predicted. In comparison of the nucleotide sequence of F gene of CBP-1 with those of other NDV strains, the homology revealed 88.8%, 98.5% and 98.7% with Kyojungwon (KJW), Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. As the deduced 553 amino acid sequences of F protein of CBP-1 were compared with those of other NDV strains, the homology appeared 89.9%, 98.7% and 98.9% with KJW, Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. The putative protease cleavage site (112-116) was R-R-Q-K-R, indicating that CBP-1 strain is velogenic type. The amino acid sequences include 6 sites of N-asparagine-linked glycosylation and 13 cysteine residues. These data indicate that the genotype of CBP-1 strain is more closely associated with the strains of Texas GB and Beaudette C than KJW strain.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Cysteine ; DNA, Complementary ; Genotype ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutination ; Korea ; Newcastle disease virus* ; Newcastle Disease* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Texas ; Viral Load

Clinical study was carried out on the 64 hemodialysis patients(HD) with chronic renal failure who had been treated from December 1992 to July 1993 in Yeungnam University Hospital. The following results were obitained. In hematologic parameters, MCH was 28.8±2.0pg, and MCV was 92.4±4.7fl. Result revealed normochromic and normocytic anemia. Mean values of serum ferritin were 657.4±292.0ng/ml in men and 511.5±370g in women. Mean values of serum iron were 145.5±63.7µg/dl. Mean values of transferrin saturation was 61.6±28.4%. Serum frerritin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were higher in HD group than normal reference. In erythropoeitin treatment group, Hb and Hct were significantly higher than non-erythropoietin treatment group. Amount of transfusion was significantly higher in non-erythropoietin treatment group than erythropoeitin treatment group(p<0.05). Values of iron, transferrin saturation were significantly higher in abnormal liver function test(LFT0 hemodialysis group than normal LFT group(p<0.05). Transfusion amounts revealed positive correlation with ferritin(r=0.4675), transferrin satruation (r=0.3823) and iron(r=0.3386) (p<0.05).
Anemia* ; Clinical Study ; Erythropoietin* ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Liver ; Male ; Renal Dialysis ; Transferrin