Although causative factors are not completely defined, carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is attributed to multiple genetic alterations. The abnormal expressions of oncogenes are regarded to be responsible for the production of malignant phenotype, subsequent invasion and metastasis. From 63 surgically resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, expression of oncogenes in colorectal cancer tissue was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal antibodies to products of the oncogenes. To evaluate the possibility of oncogenes as a prognostic factor, we studied the relationship between the expression of oncogenes and the clinicopathologic findings which are well known prognostic factors. Rates of expression in colorectal cancer tissue were 27% for c-myc, 74.6% for c-Ha-ras and 77.8% for c-erbB-2 oncogenes. The positive rate of c-erbB-2 oncogene was higher in the well differentiated group than in the poorly differentiated group. The rates of expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes were significantly correlated each other. Expression of these oncogenes in colorectal cancer were not correlated with the pathologic stage, location of cancer, DNA ploidy pattern and histologic differentiation except between c-erbB-2 and histologic differentiation. In conclusion, there seems to be a possibility that c-erbB-2 could be used as a prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. However, further and more intensive study seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes* ; Phenotype ; Ploidies

OBJECTIVES: To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. METHODS: A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Pyrrolidines ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies*

The prognostic significance of vascular (blood and lymphatic vessels) invasion was evaluated in a retrospective review of 27 patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma from January 1985 to December 1993, who underwent a nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection. Vascular invasion was found in 10 patients (37%). The incidence of vascular invasion was well correlated with tumor grade and stage. The incidence of postoperative metastases was significantly higher in the patients with (70%) than without (17.6%) vascular invasion (p<0.05). The survival rate of the patients with vascular invasion was significantly lower than in those without vascular invasion (p<0.01). In multivariate Cox`s regressional analysis the prognostic value of vascular invasion was independent of tumor grade and stage. These results indicate that vascular invasion should predict a more unfavorable outcome in patients with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma as an independent morphological indicator.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphatic Vessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Ceftizoxime* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

OBJECTIVE: This study was aiming at estimating the joint effects of various risk factors associated with uterine cervix cancer in Korea. METHODS: Data obtained from a case-control study were analyzed with a multiplicative model. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and husband's educational attainments, the family history of cervical cancer (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.9), unstable marital status due to separation, by death or divorce, etc. (OR=2.8, 95% CI=1.7-4.6), and a large number of deliveries (> or = 3 vs. nulliparous OR=6.5, 95% CI=1.4-29.9) increased the risk of uterine cervix cancer. Conversely, first sexual intercourse at an older age (> or = 25 years vs. <19 years OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.6) and husband's circumcision (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.5-1.0) decreased the risk. In the multiplicative model, the highest joint risk (OR=39.2, 95% CI 5.9-258.9) was observed in women with a family history of uterine cervical cancer, an unstable marital status, where the ex-husband was not circumcised, with 3 or more delivery experiences, and having her first sexual intercourse when younger than 19 years of age. However, women without a family history of uterine cervix cancer, married to a circumcised husband, having had her first sexual intercourse at 25 years or older, and nulliparous, showed the lowest joint effect (OR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.5). CONCLUSION: As carcinogenesis is a complex action involving various factors, we consider a joint effects approach to be appropriate in an epidemiological study on risk factors for uterine cervix neoplasms.cervix neoplasm.
Carcinogenesis ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervix Uteri* ; Circumcision, Male ; Coitus ; Divorce ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Joints* ; Korea* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Models, Statistical ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

In order to elucidate the biological effects of pulsating magnetic field in in vitro culture system we designed a pulsating magnetic apparatus using 120 Hertz, 24 Volt direct current. It can generate 63~225 Gauss in the experimental area of 90 mm petri dish, and has little thermal effect on the culture media in 37.5oC, 5% CO2. Human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured in the pulsating magnetic field and the nuclear changes of cultured cells were observed routinely by hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic change was detected by ApopTag staining using both peroxidase and fluorescein labelings. Compared to the control group which formed well organized whorling pattern of HOS cell line in 3 days culture, the HOS cells cultured in the pulsating magnetic field for 12 hours or 24 hours grew irregularly and showed increased number of apoptotic cells. When the flow of pulsating magnetic field was interrupted by insertion of strong permanent magnetic bar (1000 Gauss, 5530 mm) beneath the petri dish during in vitro culture, the area of sparse pulsating magnetic field showed active proliferation and aggregation of HOS cells even in 24 hour exposure group. These data suggest that the pulsating magnetic field may play a role in inducing growth retardation and apoptosis of HOS cells. Furthermore, the hazardous effects of pulsating magnetic field can be lessened or nullified by the interruption of pulsating magnetic field with a strong permanent magnetic bar.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fluorescein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Magnetic Fields* ; Osteosarcoma* ; Peroxidase

No abstract available.
Trophoblasts*

Benzene and toluene, which are widely used aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace, are recently proved to cause health hazards due to their toxic effects. This study investigated the influence of toluene on the urinary excretion of benzene metabolite by administering short term exposure limit(STEL) of these compounds(i.e., 13.8mg/kg of benzene and 108.8mg/kg of toluene) intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. After administration, urinary phenol concentration of rat was measured by gas chromatography for every three hours. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods using Kruskal-Wallis multi-sample test and Mann-Whitney U test. The following results were obtained: 1. Administration of STFL-benzene increased urinary phenol concentration in rats. 2. Urinary phenol concentration was increased logarithmically according to the dosage of benzene. 3. Excretion of phenol in urine was decreased when benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously compared with administering benzene alone. In Summary, these results reveal that administration of STEL of toluene has antagonistic effect of urinary excretion of benzene metabolite in rats.
Animals ; Benzene* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Metabolism* ; Phenol ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Threshold Limit Values ; Toluene