PURPOSE: Angiogenesis is a critical determinant of tumor growth and the development of metastasis. Angiostatin and endostatin have been used in a variety of in vitro and in vivo animal models as effective inhibitors of angiogenesis. However, human angiostatin and endostatin have not been tested against an intact human tissue target in vitro to determine its ability to achieve an antiangiogenic response. We performed our study to determine if human angiostatin and endostatin would inhibit the development of an angiogenic response (initiation) and to determine the subsequent growth (angiogenic index) of human vessels in a dose-dependent manner with a human placental vein angiogenesis model (HPVAM). METHODS: We used full thickness human placental vein discs cultured in three-dimensional fibrin-thrombin clots with an overlay of liquid media. Human angiostatin and endostatin were evaluated in concentrations ranging from 10-9 M to 10-4 M. A positive control containing 20% fetal bovine serum and a negative control using heparin and hydrocortisone 21-phosphate were also tested. RESULTS: Human angiostatin did not inhibit the initiation of an angiogenic response and the subsequent development of the angiogenic response (angiogenic index) at any concentration. Human endostatin significantly inhibited the initiation rate of an angiogenic response at a concentration of 10-4 M (p<0.001) and the subsequent development of an angiogenic response (angiogenic index) from a concentrations of 10-5 M to 10-4 M (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: We conclude that a very high concentration of human endostatin can inhibit the angiogenic response in human vascular tissue and that human angiostatin will not inhibit angiogenesis of normal human blood vessels in vitroThese results suggest that human endostatin has a more powerful antiangiogenic effect than human angiostatin, but we need further investigations of human angiostatin against an intact human tissue target.
Angiostatins* ; Blood Vessels ; Endostatins* ; Heparin ; Humans* ; Hydrocortisone ; Models, Animal ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Veins

The chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (abbreviated CFIDS or CFS) is a disorder characterized by debilitating fatigue(over 6 months), along with cognitive, musculoskeletal, and sleep abnormalities. The etiology of this illness is unlikely to be a single agent. Findings to date suggest that physiological and psychological factors work together to predispose and perpetuate the illness. Diagnosis is made difficult by the nonspecific clinical findings and no available diagnostic testing. With no known cause or cure for the chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, treatment is based on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life of affected patients. There is emerging evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome may be familial. In the future, studies will examine the extent to which genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. Most patients with CFS have psychiatric problems such as a generalized anxiety disorder, or major or minor depression, therefore, these mental health disorders may be correlated with the pathophysiology of the CFS. The treatment for CFS must be individualized, due to the heterogeneity of the CFS population. Also the treatment of CFS is built on a foundation of patient-physician relationship, respect and advocacy.
Anxiety Disorders ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Fatigue ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Population Characteristics ; Psychology ; Quality of Life

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disorder, is a condition of reduced bone density and increased susceptibility to fractures. Osteoporosis is a major public health problem and a significant cause of morbidity in postmenopausal women. Therefore family physicians as primary care physicians are in a key position for preventing and treating this disorder. So we studied the factors affecting to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 136 spontaneous postmenopausal women were participated in the study. They have measured spinal bone mineral density by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry from January 1992 to June 1995 at Yeungnam University Hospital. Age, height, weight, age at menarche and menopause, number of child and breast feeding child, history of oral pill ingestion, family history of osteoporosis, amount of milk and coffee ingestion, consumption of tobacco and alcohol and physical activity were assessed by qustionnaire and medical records. RESULTS: physical activity and weight were significant contributors. Physical activity is most the largest contributor. CONCLUSIONS: Among factors affecting to BMD in postmenopausal women, physical activity and weight were more important factors. Therefore continuous physical activity is significant factor to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Coffee ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Menarche ; Menopause ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Physicians, Family ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Public Health ; Tobacco

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle*

Locally advanced cancer of the uterine cervix is a major cause of death worldwide. Standard treatment with rdiolherepy for locally advanced cancer of the uterine cnvix has a response rate of less than 50%. Resently concurrent chcmoradirothcrpay has been introduced but with some contvovesy. Interferon and retinoic acid are inducible proteins which posses many hiologic activities such as, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. Combination of interferon and retinoic acid has produced high response rates especially for patients with squamous cell carcinoma . And they may potentiate the radiation cytotoxicity as adiosensitizer. This study was underaken to assess the clinical efficacy of combination regimen with interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy from Dec. 1988 to Dex. 1994 at Severance hospital Yonsei uniersity. Twenty seven patients of locally advanced squamous cell carcionma of the uterine cervix enrolled in this study are evaluated for response and toxicity. The results were as follow: 1. Preliminary results of interferon-alpha2a 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy are 46.7% of response rate(33.3% complete response)and those of concurrent chemoradiotherapy are 41.7% of response rate(46.7% complete response). 2. Major toxicity of interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy is fever(60.0%), and only case of grade 2 anemia and one case of grade 1 AST/ALT elevation was noted. There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Systemic interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoc acid and radiotherapy is highly active, well tolerated therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.
Anemia ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cause of Death ; Cervix Uteri* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interferons ; Isotretinoin* ; Radiotherapy* ; Tretinoin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Locally advanced cancer of the uterine cervix is a major cause of death worldwide. Standard treatment with rdiolherepy for locally advanced cancer of the uterine cnvix has a response rate of less than 50%. Resently concurrent chcmoradirothcrpay has been introduced but with some contvovesy. Interferon and retinoic acid are inducible proteins which posses many hiologic activities such as, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. Combination of interferon and retinoic acid has produced high response rates especially for patients with squamous cell carcinoma . And they may potentiate the radiation cytotoxicity as adiosensitizer. This study was underaken to assess the clinical efficacy of combination regimen with interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy from Dec. 1988 to Dex. 1994 at Severance hospital Yonsei uniersity. Twenty seven patients of locally advanced squamous cell carcionma of the uterine cervix enrolled in this study are evaluated for response and toxicity. The results were as follow: 1. Preliminary results of interferon-alpha2a 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy are 46.7% of response rate(33.3% complete response)and those of concurrent chemoradiotherapy are 41.7% of response rate(46.7% complete response). 2. Major toxicity of interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy is fever(60.0%), and only case of grade 2 anemia and one case of grade 1 AST/ALT elevation was noted. There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Systemic interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoc acid and radiotherapy is highly active, well tolerated therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.
Anemia ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cause of Death ; Cervix Uteri* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interferons ; Isotretinoin* ; Radiotherapy* ; Tretinoin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Cytologic findings from five cases with variable types of Hodgkin' disease were reviewed with special emphasis on the Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells and their variants. Typical R-S and Hodgkin's cells were mono- or binucleated, and nuclei had rounded smooth contour. Acidophilic prominent nucleoli with perinucleolar halo were conspicuous. In comparison to typical Reed-Sternberg cells, L & H (lymphocytic and histiocytic) cells in the lymphocyte predominant type tended to show pop-corn like irregular nuclear contour and to lack the prominent nucleoli. Lacunar cells in the nodular sclerosis type had multilobated nuclei with prominent acidophilic nucleoli. There was no prominent perinucleolar halo in L & H and lacunar cells. In conjuction with the number of Reed-Sternberg cells and back ground findings observed on the smears, the characteristic features of R-S cells and their variants allowed to make typing of Hodgkin's disease.
Hodgkin Disease* ; Lymphocytes ; Reed-Sternberg Cells* ; Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: The changes of the production of nitric oxide in preeclampsia are still controversial. To determine the changes of nitric oxide production in preeclamptic pregnancies, NOS activity and eNOS and iNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were compared with those in normal placentae, and to determine the changes of nitirc oxide production according to the sites of placenta, NOS activity and eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae were also compared with those in normal placentae. METHODS: Human placentae were obtained from 15 normal and 15 preeclamptic pregnant women at the time of cesarean section. NOS activity was assessed by measuring the conversion of [3H]-arginine into [3H]-citrulline. The eNOS and iNOS expression were assessed by using western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by Student t-test and paired t-test where appropriate. RESULTS: The NOS activity(judged by measurement of [3H]-citrulline production) was significantly increased in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(P<0.05). In normal and preeclamptic pregnant placentae, the NOS activity in main stem villi was increased compared to that in terminal villi. However, the difference of NOS activity between main stem villi and terminal villi was not significant(P>0.05). Quantification of the autoradiographic images demonstrated that the integrated optical density of the immunoreactive bands of eNOS were significantly lower in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). Conversely, the integrated optical densities of the bands of iNOS were significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae compared to normal(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the eNOS expression in preeclamptic placentae was lower than that in normal placentae, the NOS activity was significantly higher in preeclamptic placentae than that in normal in this study. These are result from increased production of iNOS in the compensatory mechanisms for the decreased nitric oxide production in pre-eclamptic placentae.
Blotting, Western ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans

Fibrosarcoma in newborns and infants, designated as congenital, infantile, or juvenile fibrosarcoma is an uncommon soft tissue neoplasm occurring most frequently during the first year of life. Infantile fibrosarcoma is associated with favorable clinical behavior that is markedly different from that of adult fibrosarcoma., We report a case of infantile fibrosarcoma occured in a 3-year-old boy presenting as a palpable mass in the left lower extremity since 3 months of life. Histologic findings of the tumor are similar to those of f ibrosarcomas in adult.
Infant ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans