E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent epithelial adhesion molecule which plays a role in the initial step of invasion of cancer cells. The step that follows the migration of separated tumor cells is a proteolytic lysis of basement membrane and extracellular matrix by protease of epithelial and endothelial cells such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be an endothelial cell-specific powerful mitogen as well as a vascular permeability factor. This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between expression of these factors and pathologic or clinical variables and the roles and prognostic significance of those factors in squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Immunohistochemical stains were performed for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 90 patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Mean age of the patients was 59.7 years. Histologic type was categorized into 56 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 34 cases of adenocarcinoma. Mean survival period of the 35 patients was 54 months. The immunohistochemical stains for E-cadherin, MMP-2, and VEGF revealed positive reaction in 67 cases (74.4%), 43 cases (47.8%), and 34 cases (37.8%), respectively. The expression of E-cadherin was higher in adenocarcinoma (82.4%) than in squamous cell carcinoma (69.6%). MMP-2 was expressed in the tumor cells, especially those invading into the surrounding stroma. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the survival rate (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF in the tumor cells was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the expression of MMP-2 and VEGF predict poor prognosis of patients with squmous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung and that VEGF may play a role in tumor metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Basement Membrane ; Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Coloring Agents ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Fibronectins* ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of the propofol and midazolam against ROS in the isolated rabbit thoracic aortic endothelium. METHODS: Eighteen white male rabbits (weighing 2.0-2.5 kg) were used. The thoracic aorta was dissected free and cut into rings (3-4 mm) and then suspended in a organ bath filled with 10 ml Krebs solution bubbled with 5% CO2 95% O2 at 37 degrees C. Aortic rings were then equilibrated for 90 min, and a resting tension of 1.5 g was applied. The Krebs solution was changed every 15 min. Isometric tension was recorded with transducer coupled to a data acqusition system (Biopac Inc. USA) on a PC. After precontraction with norepinephrine (NE, 10(-6)M), changes in tension were measured following the cumulative administration of acetylcholine (ACh 3x10(-7), 10(-6) and 3x10(-6)M) and nitroglycerin (NTG, 10(-5)M). Data are expressed as percentage of the 10 5 M NTG-induced relaxation (ACh/NTG). The ACh/NTG, before and after electrolysis were defined as the control and the experimental groups. The aortic rings were pretreated with propofol (3x10(-5), 10(-4), 3x10(-4) and 5.7x10(-4) M, n = 8, 10, 15, 13), midazolam (10(-4)M, n = 7), catalase (1,000 U/ml, n = 12), mannitol (3x10(-4)M, n = 5) or not pretreated group (Free, n = 6). After 30 minutes, the aortic rings were exposed to ROS generated by electrolysis (DC 9 V, 20 mA, aortic rings 1 cm away from electrode) in Krebs solution for 2 minutes, which was then changed for physiologic buffered salt solution. The aortic rings were precontracted with NE and vasorelaxation was induced with ACh and NTG at the above mentioned concentrations. RESULTS: Propofol produced vasorelaxation of NE-precontracted thoracic aorta in a dose-dependent fashion in all groups of propofol (3x10(-5), 10(-4), 3x10(-4) and 5.7x10(-4)M) even after ROS attack (P < 0.05 vs control value). Catalase produced vasorelaxation after ROS attack (P < 0.05 vs control value).On the other hand, ACh-induced significant endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation were not observed in the midazolam or mannitol pretreated group or the non-pretreated group (P <0.05 vs control group). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that propofol and catalase preserve ACh induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and that propofol has a concentration dependent ROS scavenging effect like catalase.
Acetylcholine ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Baths ; Catalase ; Electrolysis ; Endothelium ; Hand ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Mannitol ; Midazolam ; Nitroglycerin ; Norepinephrine ; Propofol* ; Rabbits ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Relaxation ; Transducers ; Vasodilation

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effects of problem solving group counseling on the index of obesity and health habits for obese children. METHOD: Forty seven obese children participated in the study(Exp.=22, Cont.=25). Children were recruited from the forth and fifth grade withhigher than 20% of the obesity degree. The problem solving counseling lasted for 10 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of counseling, physical characteristics and health habits were measured three times; pretest, posttest, and at 10 weeks follow-up. The obtained data was analyzed by Chi-squared-test, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA, using the SPSS WIN 10.0program. RESULT: Problem solving group counseling was effective on the physical characteristics(BMI, obesity degree, body fat ratio, waist measurement) and health habits over time. Children in the experimental group controlled their body weight better and reported lower scores in the index of obesity than children in the control group at 10 weeks follow-up. CONCLUSION: This counseling program helped obese children modify their health habits so that they could decrease their scores in the obesity index. It can be concluded that problem-solving counseling enhanced problem-solving abilities of obese children, which could help modify their ordinary health habits.
Child ; *Counseling ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/*nursing ; *Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of aspheric hydrophilic acrylic EYELIKE® (Koryo Eyetech Co., Seoul, Korea) intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 176 consecutive eyes of 160 patients who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of aspheric EYELIKE® IOLs. The following preoperative measurements were collected: slit-lamp examination, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), automatic and manual keratometry, fundus examination, corneal topography, and specular microscopy. The UCDVA, CDVA, IOP, refraction, and slit-lamp examination were evaluated postoperatively at 1 week and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Specular microscopy was also postoperatively conducted at 1 month. RESULTS: At the 6-month postoperative visit, the mean UCDVA was 0.15 ± 0.23, and the mean CDVA was 0.03 ± 0.07 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR). No statistically significant differences were observed among the four groups (postoperative 1 week, postoperative 1 month, postoperative 3 months, and postoperative 6 months) in the manifest spherical equivalent. In total, 74% of IOL Master700 and 54% of A-scan measurements were within ± 0.5 diopters (D) difference from the target refraction, and 95% and 77%, respectively, were within ± 1.0 D from the target refraction. With regard to complications, one case of CME and posterior capsule opacification with decreased visual acuity was detected at month 3 postoperatively; in this case, the CDVA recovered to 0 logMAR with conventional treatment and yttrium aluminium garnetlaser posterior capsulotomy after postoperative 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Domestically produced EYELIKE® IOLs had high refraction predictability and stability.

The CYP11A1 gene encodes for the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), which initiates steroid hormone biosynthesis. Defective P450scc activity results in severe glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies. We describe a case of P450scc deficiency due to a novel homozygous CYP11A1 variant inherited from the mother with a possibility of uniparental disomy (UPD). The patient was a female, had no family history of endocrine disease, and showed adrenal insufficiency at 13 days of age. Hormonal analysis with an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test showed both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies, presumed to be a defect of the early stage of steroidogenesis. Exome sequencing reported a novel homozygous frameshift variant of CYP11A1 (c.284_285del, p.Asn95Serfs*10), which was inherited from the mother.Additionally, homozygosity in 15q22.31q26.2, which included CYP11A1, was identified using a chromosomal microarray. It was suggested that the possibility of maternal UPD was involved as the cause of a P450scc deficiency by unmasking the maternally derived affected allele. To our understanding, P450scc deficiency associated with UPD encompassing CYP11A1 had not been reported in Korea before. Genetic analysis can help diagnose rare causes of primary adrenal insufficiency, including P450scc deficiency.

No abstract available.
Female ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Uterine Prolapse*

The majority of cardiac myxoma occur sporadically as isolated lesions in the left atrium of middle-aged women. However, a familial form and a syndrome form of this lesion have also been identified. The syndrome myxoma can present itself with pigmented skin lesions and peripheral or endocrine neoplasms. The familial and syndrome forms of cardiac myxomas can usually be distinguished from the sporadic form by their occurrences at younger ages, their unusual locations, the multicentricity of the lesions, and the presence of rare pathological conditions. In addition, a higher rate of recurrent lesions is usually associated with the familial and syndrome forms of this disease. We present a case of complex cardiac myxoma with pigmented skin lesions and breast myxoma and report it with a review of literature.
Breast ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Myxoma* ; Nipples* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity in precancerous conditions of lung adenocarcinomas has not been well studied. This study is designed to investigate the role of telomerase in premalignant lesions of urethane-induced mouse lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We harvested A/J mouse lung tissues at 3, 6, 9, 12, 28, 41, and 48 weeks after intraperitoneal urethane treatment, and classified each lesion in terms of histologic findings. We examined telomerase activity using a modified version of the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay using both gel-based and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods. An immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was performed. RESULTS: In urethane-induced mouse lung tissues, it was sequentially developed from hyperplasia, adenoma, and eventually to adenocarcinoma. Telomerase activity began to show a positive level in tissues with no histologically visible nodule after urethane administration. It revealed a statistically significant increase in hyperplasia compared to the "control" lung tissue (p<0.05), which was proportionally elevated relative to adenoma and adenocarcinoma. There was a direct correlation between telomerase activity and the PCNA labeling index (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of telomerase activity in normal-appearing lung lesions is thought to be a possible marker of early detection of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Animals ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hyperplasia ; Lung ; Mice ; Precancerous Conditions ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Telomerase ; Urethane

BACKGROUND: Despite remarkable progress of understanding the pathophysiology and therapy of bronchial asthma, asthma morbidity and mortality are on the rise. Also hospitalization and attending rates of emergency department for asthma have been increasing gradually. We analyzed clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients who visited emergency room due to asthma attack in order to define clinical characteristics of these group of patients. METHOD: We reviewed 105 adult asthmatic patients who attended emergency department of Korea University Hospital between August 1995 and July 1996, retrospectively. RESULTS: 103 patients(56 female, 47 males, mean age : 48.6 years) attended-68 self referral, 18 practitioner referral and 17 OPD transfer- and 86 patients(83.5%) were admitted. Attending emergncy department was clearly more frequent in December(13.6%) and May(12.6%). Time lag between onset of asthmatic attack and arrival at the hospital was 14.2 15.5 hour and initial peak expiratory flow rate was 166.7 68.3L/min.(43.3% predicted) The commonest cause for visiting emergency room was aggravation of asthma due to upper respiratory tract infection in mild asthmatics. About half of them had history of previous ER visits. Their prognosis was not bad, but after discharge, about half of patients escaped from OPD follow-up. CONCLUSION: As a group they merit detailed attention and follow up arrangement. Clinician need to monitor and review the treatment plans, the medications, the patient's management technique, and the level of asthma control. For this group, plans for longer term treatment, including asthma education program and adjustment of overall treatment plan should be made.
Adult ; Asthma ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; United Nations