Among the efficient cancer treatments, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the therapies inducing rapid apoptosis of cancer cells while causing minimal damage to surrounding normal tissue. We studied the effect of PDT on the adenocarcinoma in BALB/-c mice of homograft model, and the following results were obtained. Apoptosis occurred up to 3 mm in depth from the surface in the first 1 hour after PDT applied, and subsequently the counts were increased in the deeper portion. A remarkable apoptosis observed up to 6 mm in depth shows that the light in use could not penetrate more than 6 mm of tissue. Tissue necrosis was identified in the deeper area of the tumor 6 hours later or thereafter. This necrosis seemed to occur as an indirect effect of vascular obstruction resulting from the damage of endothelial cells which was induced by selective collection of photosensitizer in the endothelial cells of newly forming vessels as well as in the cancer cells. These results indicate that the effective depth of PDT is greater than the depth of light penetration.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Allografts* ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Endothelial Cells ; Mice* ; Necrosis ; Photochemotherapy*

This study was carried out to evaluate the immunohistochemical expressions of p53, E-cadherin, and nm23 proteins in 114 cases of metastatic carcinoma of the neck lymph node (MTLNCA) and corresponding primary carcinoma (PRCA). The positive expressions of p53, E-cadherin, and nm23 proteins were 62.3%, 58.8% and 64.0%, respectively in PRCA, and 40.4%, 38.6%, and 43.9%, respectively in MTLNCA with significant down-regulation from PRCA to MTLNCA (p<0.05). The down-regulation was correlated with female gender, moderate and poor differentiation, and adenocarcinoma in p53 protein, female gender, respiratory and gastrointestinal carcinoma in E-cadherin protein, and female gender, respiratory carcinoma, moderate differentiation, and squamous cell carcinoma in nm23 protein (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship among expressions of p53, E-cadherin, and nm23 proteins (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that the expressions of p53, E-cadherin, and nm23 proteins seem to be down-regulated from PRCA to MTLNCA and this down-regulation may play a role in invasion and metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: The artificial erection is critical to chordee repair. We report the use of a natural erection induced by prostaglandin E(1)(PGE1) in the diagnosis and treatment of penile curvatu re as an alternative to artificial erection in children and adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacological erection was induced 14 children with a mean age of 5 years (range 1-10) and 8 adults with a mean age of 33 years (range 18-58) to diagnose and repair anomalies, such as simple penile curvature, chordee with or without hypospadias, webbed penis and Peyronie's disease. Alprostadil (1-16ng) as a agent for induce erection was used exclusively, but no agents were routinely given to reverse the erection was used exclusively, but no agents were routinely given to reverse the erections. The dose injected intracavernosally was dependent on the patient's age, penile size and response, and ranged from 0.5 to 10 micrograms. Time to and adequacy of erection, detumescence, changes in blood pressure and pulse rate were monitored. RESULTS: A dilatation of erectile tissue was achieved within 8 minutes and was judged adequate in 2 and excellent in 20. The mean duration of erection was 107 minutes, while a prolonged erection, for up to 2.5 hours, occured on 2 patients who were treated conservatively. Detumescence were occurred when the corpora were opened, but re-erected penis after closure of corpora in 7 cases who treated with Nesbit's corporeal plication or fibrous plaque excision and dermal graft. Although there were the impression of increased bleeding, there were no specific changes in blood pressure or pulse rate. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological erection in penile curvature is effective and reliable with no significant complications. Although PGE1 is expensive and induced slightly increased bleeding, pharmacological erection has the advantage of tumescence of the entire penis and consequently a constant and natural representation of chordee without corporeal or urethral injury. Therefore, the erection achieved by injecting PGE1 into the corpora cavemosa is a useful alternative to artificial erection in the diagnosis and treatment of penile anomalies.
Adult ; Alprostadil ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; Male ; Penile Induration ; Penis ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive*

Short umbilical cord syndrome, also known as the limb-body wall malformation complex and the body stalk anomaly, is a poorly defined sporadic group of congenital anomaly charaterized by a complex set of disruptive abnormalities having in common the failured closure of the ventral body wall. This disorder is charaterized by a short or absent umbilical cord and disruption of the lateral body wall, spine, limbs, face, and cranium, isolated or in combination. Recently, we present a case of short umbilical cord syndrome which found in a term baby, so we report a case of short umbilical cord syndrome with brief review of literature.
Extremities ; Skull ; Spine ; Umbilical Cord*

No abstract available.
Priapism*

No abstract available.
Priapism*

OBJETIVE: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used after treated with IsolateR gradient before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm parameters and membrane integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2001 to July 2001, ten normal male partner of couples who were visited in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. the semens were treated with IsolateR gradient before cryopreservation, spermatozoa was incubated with progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer), or both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer) for 30 min. RESULTS: There were no differences in sperm parameters and vital stain among isolate only treated group, progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer) and both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer). But, in high concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer) treated group, sperm parameters and vital stain were decreased. The statistical method was used ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) and p value was <0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Neither progesterone nor acetyl-L-carnitine show to be protective effect on the cryodamage assessed by sperm parameters and vital stain (eosin-Y stain) in normal sperm. High concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer), however, was harmful effect on cryoprevention.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes* ; Progesterone ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

Nine patients of mean age 47.8 years, with suspected sinus node dysfunction, underwent extensive electrophysiological studies. Sinus bradycardia(6the electrophysiological study, AH and HV intervals were prolonged in 2/9 and 1/9 patients, respectively. Maximal sinus node recovery times were prolonged in 7/9 patients, ranging from 1,330 msec to 12,330msec. Sinoatrial conduction times measured by atrial premature stimulation technique were prolonged in 5/7 patients, ranging from 137msec to 310 msec. And sinoatrial conduction time measured by continuous pacing technique also revealed prolonged value in 4/6 patients ranging from 140 msec to 195 msec. The effective refractory periods, of atrium were prolonged in 6/8 patients (320 msec to 470 msec). The effective and functional refractory periods of AV node were prolonged in 3/8 patients (440 csec to 490 msec) and 4/8 patients (530 msec to 560 msec), respectively. Retrograde VA conduction could be observed in 3/7 patients and ventricular effective refractory periods were normal in 7/7 patients. Atrial flutter was induced in 1/9 patients by electric stimulation during electrophysiological study. Above data suggest that the electrophysiological study is very useful in assessing the sinus node function and other electrophysiological properties in sick sinus syndrome patients and also suggest that the data could be utilized in choosing the proper mode of artificial pacemaker for each patient.
Atrial Flutter ; Atrioventricular Node ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Sick Sinus Syndrome* ; Sinoatrial Node

The differentiation between reactive mesothelial and carcinoma cells in serous effusion cytology can be a diagnostic challenge based on morphology alone. The expression of some cell adhesion molecules may be helpful in the differential diagnosis. This study evaluated the usefulness of E-cadherin immunocytochemistry for discrimination of carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells. Alcohol fixed, paraffin embedded cell blocks taken from 42 reactive and 102 malignant serous effusions with histologically confirmed diagnoses were immunostained with monoclonal antibody to E-cadherin by LSAB method. E-cadherin expression was identified in only 2 benign reactive serous effusions(5%) whereas 91 malignant serous effusions(89%) expressed E-cadherin. The differences in immunostaining for E-cadherin between reactive and malignant serous effusions were statistically significant(p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the E-cadherin immunostaining for carcinoma cells were 89% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, E-cadherin is a useful diagnostic adjunct for differentiation between reactive mesothelial and carcinoma cells in serous effusions.
Cadherins* ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Immunohistochemistry ; Paraffin ; Sensitivity and Specificity