BACKGROUND: Numerous studies demonstrated that genistein induced the decrease of proliferation and apoptosis in a variety of cells. However, there is no report about the effect of genistein on proliferation and demise of mast cells. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate genistein-induced aoptosis of mast cells as it pertains to both its basic drug mechanism and the potential therapeutics of the pathologic conditions accompanying mast cell proliferation. METHODS: p815 murine mastcytoma cell line was used to assess the effects of genistein treatment including viability and proliferation, morphlolgic study, DNA electrophoresis, the effect of caspase inhibitor, western blotting, and mitochondrial event. RESULTS: Genistein indeced many apoptotic manifestations as evidenced by changes in cell morphology, generation of DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase 3, and DNA hypoploidy. The reduction of mitochondrial membrae potential and the release of cytochrome c to cytosol were also demonstrated. However, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release were not prevented by caspase inhibitors zVAD-fmk and BocD.fmk, or PTP(permeability transition pore) blockers such as bongkrekic acid and cyclosporin A. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study suggests that pathologic increases in mast cell number possibly be regulated in vivo by therapeutic strategy enhancing apoptosis by treatment of genistein.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Bongkrekic Acid ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Cell Line ; Cyclosporine ; Cytochromes c ; Cytosol ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis ; Genistein ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytoma* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial

BACKGROUND: The population is aging and life expectancy is increasing. It is important to evaluate the functional ability of elderly for optimal care for elderly. This study was conducted to assess functional disability of elderly and to find out the factors having an effect on the disability. METHODS: It surveyed 1,541 individuals aged 65 years and older in Cluing-Yang province. Six ADL categories (bathing, dressing, feeding, transferring, toileting, and walking) were assessed and related factors were analyzed. RESULTS: ADL was independent in 85.2% of elderly and dependent in 14.8% of elderly. 55.1% of dependent elders were living without family. Bathing was the most common disable AI)L category. The factors having an effect on the disability of ADL were brain disease, self-rated health status, dyspnea, constipation, heart disease, diabetic mellitus, and living status. CONCLUSION: In a rural area, special prevention programs for brain disease, heart disease, and diabetic mellitus and a rehabilitation health service may improve ADL status of elders.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Aged* ; Aging ; Bandages ; Baths ; Brain Diseases ; Constipation ; Dyspnea ; Health Services ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Rehabilitation

This report deals with a 49-year-old male farmer who had a pathological fraeture. of the right femoral shaft due to metastatic carcinoma from the middle lobe of the right lung. The lesion of the femur was resected en-bloc and bone stabilization of the fractured bone was obtained by an intramedullary Kiintscher nail plus cement fixation. Two weeks later, a right middle and lower lobectomy was done. Microscopic examination of both specimens from right femur and lung revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The postoperative course was satisfactory with no recurrence for period of 26 months.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Farmers ; Femur ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Methylmethacrylate ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

BACKGROUNDS: Antiphospholipid antibodies which are frquently found in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid syndrome are associated with recurrent abortions and thromboembolism. In this study the authors investigated whether antiphospholipid antibodies are found in Graves disease, a representative organ-specific autoimmune disease and what is the clinical implication of the antiphospholipid antibodies if they appear in Graves disease. METHODS: Anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant activity were measured in 57 untreated hyperthyroid Graves patients. 42 euthyroid patients with thyroid nodules served as controls. RESULTS: Eight of the 57 patients with Graves disease had anticardiolipin antibody which was significantly more frequent than in control group. Six of the eight patients who had anticardiolipin antibody had IgM type antibody and two had IgG type antibody. All their antibody activity declined with several months of antithyroid drug therapy and finally disappeared when the patients became euthyroid. Presence of anticardiolipin antibody had no relationship with clinical events such as spontaneous abrtion and thromboembolism. CONCLUSION: Anticardiolipin antibody is frequently found in patients with Graves disease. They seem to appear as an epiphenomenon of autoimmunity and they seem not to have any clinical implications.
Abortion, Habitual ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Pregnancy ; Thromboembolism ; Thyroid Nodule

The authors present a 3-year-old boy showing generalized migratory erythema with doubleedged scaling broders since 3 month after birth, Histologic examination revealed an acanthotic epidermis with hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis and papillomatosis. The PAS-positive, diastase-resistant amorphous materials were found in th space of parakeratoric scales and cytoplasms of spinous cells just below the parakeraroric lesion. On clectron microscopy, we could observe the round dense bodise in the upper spinous cells and a number of lipoid granules in the horny layer. Our patient showed characteristic clinical, clinical, microscopic and ultrastructural gearures of ichthyosis linearis citcumflexa(ILC). However, he showed no hair shaft abnormalities, which is the common finding of Metherthon/sysdrome(NS) along with ILC and atopic deathesis.
Child, Preschool ; Cytoplasm ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Hair ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Male ; Microscopy ; Papilloma ; Parakeratosis ; Parturition ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: It is well known that excessive thyroid hormone in the body is associated with bone loss. However, the mechanism by which thyroid hormone affects bone cell metabolism remains unclear. It has been shown that thyroid hormones stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption indirectly via some unknown mediators secreted by osteoblasts, This study was undertaken to determine if interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-11 (IL-l1) could be the mediator (s) of thyroid hormone-induced bone loss. METHODS: We treated primary cultured human bone rnarrow stromal cells with 3,5,3-triiodo-thyronine (T) and measured basal and interleukin-l (IL-1)-stimulated IL-6/IL-ll production. We also investigated the possible modulating effect of 17B-estradiol (17B-E2.) on thyroid hormone action. RESULTS: T3 at 10 (-12) ~ 10 (-8) M concentration, significantly increased the basal IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner, and also potentiated the stimulatory effect of IL-1 on IL-6 production. However, T failed to elicit a detectable effect on basal or IL-1-stimulated IL-11 production. Treat#ment with l7B-E2. inhibited IL-1-stimulated IL-6 production, but the effects of T3 on IL-6 production were not affected by 17/B-E. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that thyroid hormone may increase bone resorption by increasing basal IL-6 production and potentiating IL-1-induced IL-6 production from osteoblast-lineage cells, and these effects were independent of estrogen status.
Bone Marrow* ; Bone Resorption ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-11* ; Interleukin-6* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Stromal Cells ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Sparganosis* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Nevus*

No abstract available.
Methotrexate* ; Skin*

No abstract available.