"To evaluate whether different qualifications of a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) predict a greater or lesser likelihood of tissue diagnosis of uterine cervix, we compared different cytologic qualifications of ASCUS with the tissue diagnosis. One hundred twenty-two con- secutive Papanicolaou smears showing ASCUS in women who had undergone cervical biopsy within nearest 30 days were collected. The 122 smears were qualified as ""favor reactive (25%), favor low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (24%), favor squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (16%), favor high grade squa- mous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (16%), and not otherwise specified (19%). Squamous intraepithelial or invasive lesion was pathologically confirmed by cervical biopsy in 13% of the favor reactive, 27% in favor LSIL, 70% in ""favor SIL, 75% in favor HSIL, and 35% in not otherwise specified smears. There were significant associations between the favor reactive smear and the benign biopsy finding and between the favor SIL smear and the biopsy showing a squamous intraepithelial or more severe lesion. Nevertheless, rnost of favor LSIL smears exhibit reactive process in tissue biopsy. Conclusively, qualified ASCUS stratifies women into different risk groups for SIL. The cytopathologist should make the cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS, favor LSIL circumspectly."
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Papanicolaou Test ; Venous Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mast cell is a key cell in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. It is expected that apoptosis of mast cell is an important step that can lead to treatment of allergic rhinitis. Meanwhile, the cyclosporin A (CsA) is immunosuppresant agent to inhibit the action of various immune cells. The purpose of this study is to identify whether CsA directly induces apoptosis of mast cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHOD: After the culture of p815 cells, mouse mastocytoma cells, the cells were treated with 1 micrometer, 2 micrometer, 5 micrometer, and 10 micrometer CsA, and then LD50 of p815 cells were calculated by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay. For identification of apoptosis of p815 cells, electrophoresis and flow cytometry after CsA treatment were done and morphological changes in light microscope was observed. We also quantified apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay and Hoechst stain. RESULTS: The LD50 of p815 cells is 9.87 micrometer after CsA treatment during 24 hours, 6.11 micrometer during 48 hours and 6.21 micrometer during 72 hours. With the higher concentration of CsA treatment, the greater effect on apoptosis of p815 cells was revealed. We observed laddering pattern for DNA fragmentation in electrophoresis. Nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation of p815 cells was observed under the light microscope. Results of flow cytometry were similar to the MTT assay results. Quantification of apoptotic p185 cells by TUNEL assay and Hoechst stain were calculated. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of mast cells can be induced by CsA treatment in vitro.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Chromatin ; Cyclosporine* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis ; Flow Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mast Cells* ; Mastocytoma ; Mice ; Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Tumor invasion and metastasis are known to be extremely important factors in the prognosis of cancer patients. Although recent studies have demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in various cancers including gastric cancer, the mechanisms underlying the contribution of COX-2 to tumorigenesis and tumor promotion remain unclear. METHODS: In order to determine the role of COX-2 in tumor growth and metastasis, we investigated COX-2 expression, apoptosis and the expression of E-cadherin, CD44v6, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in gastric cancer xenografts treated with meloxicam (a selective COX-2 inhibitor). RESULTS: Cells from the MKN45 gastric cancer cell line that overexpress COX-2 were inoculated subcutaneously into athymic mice. Oral administration with meloxicam reduced the tumor volume (P<0.01), induced apoptosis of cancer cells (P<0.01), suppressed the proliferation rates (P<0.01), increased the expression of E-cadhrin (P<0.05) and reduced the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. CONCLUSION: The above data showed that COX-2 inhibitors can inhibit tumor growth and suppress metastatic potential by expression of adhesion molecules and suppression of metalloproteinases, suggesting that this inhibitor can be used as an additive anti-cancer drug in cases of stomach cancer with radical resection, although further evaluation is required.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadherins ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; Heterografts* ; Humans ; Metalloproteases ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare neoplasm and it has been found in only 1.8% of the surgically resected HCC patients, and in only 3.4~9.4% of the autopsied HCC cases. The pathogenesis of this tumor has't yet been thoroughly clarified, and such a tumor has been variously referred to as spindle cell carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcoma, or carcinosarcoma. There is only a little difference between the clinical characteristics of the sarcomatoid HCC and those of ordinary HCC. The diagnosis of the sarcomatoid HCC is made by pathological and immunohistochemical techniques after surgical resection, biopsy, or autopsy. METHODS: We reviewed the 10 cases of pathologically confirmed sarcomatoid HCC that were registered at the Yonsei University Medical Center from 1992 to 2004. RESULTS: Surgical operation was performed in seven cases, and curative resection was done only in five. Three patients were treated with chemotherapy or transarterial chemoem-bolization (TACE) with or without concurrent radiotherapy after the diagnosis of sarcomatoid HCC by liver biopsy. Six patients expired within 4 months after the diagnosis. The 6 month and 12 month survival rates for sarcomatoid HCC were 40% and 20%, respectively. The 6 month survival rates for radical resection and non-radical resection were 60% and 0%, respectively. The difference in cumulative survival according to the treatment of sarcomatoid HCC was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of sarcomatoid HCC is very poor; therefore, curative resection, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and close follow-up are necessary for patients suffering with sarcomatoid HCC.
Academic Medical Centers ; Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinosarcoma ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: In general, tumor growth is dependent on angiogenesis. COX, known as modulator of angiogenesis, consists of two at least isozymes constitutive COX-1 and stress- induced COX-2. The latter is known in case of gastric cancer to be overexpressed in neoplastic tissue but not in adjacent normal tissue. To clarify the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on tumor growth and angiogenesis, we investigated the effects of Meloxicam (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) on gastric cancer xenograft in nude mise that overexpress COX-2. METHODS: MKN45 gastric cancer cell lines that overexpress COX-2 were inoculated subcutaneously into athymic mice. The mean tumor volume, apoptotic index, proliferative index, microvessel count and angiogenic factors (VEGF and bFGF) were measured in the control group (12 cases) and the meloxicam treated group (23 cases). RESULTS: There was no significant difference of COX-2 expression between the control and meloxicam treated groups in mRNA level as measured by RT-PCR, nor in protein level by Western blotting. However, in the meloxicam treated group, apoptosis was increased to a statistically significant degree (P<0.01) while the proliferation index as measured by Ki-67, the mean tumor volume and angiogenesis were all significantly decreased, as compared with the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The possible suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth in gastric cancer xenograft by meloxicam suggests potentially. Novel and promising applications of COX-2 inhibitors in the adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. However, further clinical study will be needed to determine its efficacy in such treatment modalities.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; Heterografts* ; Humans* ; Isoenzymes ; Mice ; Mice, Nude* ; Microvessels ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tumor Burden