No abstract available.
Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

This study was carried out to investigate the morphological changes in the exocrine and endocrine glands of rat pancreas treated with endotoxin. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats, maintained on a stock diet, weight 200.0 gm. average. were divided into two experimental groups. Group 1. Control group. Five rats. Intraperitoneal infections of 0.3 ml normal saline only. Group 2. Endotoxin-treated group. Thirty rats. 7.6 mg of endotoxin per kg. of body weight was administered intraperitoneally. Each of 5 experimental animal was sacrificed 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after endotoxin treatment, followed by examinations of histochemical, light and electron microscopy of both transmission and scanning modes. The results were as follows: A. Light microscopic findings: A mild interstitial edema and hyperemia were noted 1-hour after endotoxin treatment. Cytoplasmic vacuolization at 2-hour level(2-hours after endotoxin administration), diminished staining quality of both endocrine and exocrine cells at 6-hour level. B. Electron microscopic examination: a. Transmission electron microscopy. The acinar cells of pancreas showed a mildly increased pre-lysosome at 30-minute level. At 1-hour level, appearance of secondary lysosome was noted in addition to the findings of mitochondrial swelling and decreased cristae; disarray and vacuolization of the RER; vacuolar change of Golgi apparatus. At 6-hour level, post-lysosomes. The changes in the endocrine glands were similar to the findings of exocrine glands just described with time lag of 1 to 2 hours. The endothelial cells of capillaries show swelling and pinocytotic vesicle formation, protrusion of the cytoplasmic processes into the capillary lumen and increased heterochromatin at 1-hour level. These findings became more prominent as time lapses. The lumen of the endothelium tends to be narrowed, filled with fibrin and other blood cell components which later terminated with occasional complete occlusion by the formation of thrombi. b. Histochemical study: Primary lysosomes of the control group revealed a strong reaction of the acid phosphatase whereas the endotoxin treated group with less reactivity limited in the peripheral zones of the lysosomes. Secondary lysosomes with partial reactions. However, the pre-lysosomes and post-lysosomes failed to demonstrate any acid phosphatase activity at all. c. Scanning electron microscopy. The endothelial cells of the capillaries, arterioles and venules demonstrated increased microvillous activity, broad bled formation, cytoplasmic protrusion into the luminal spaces and microthrombi formation at 1-hour level. Six-hour level onward there noted a junctional disruption and partial detachment from the subendothelium of the wall. It can be concluded, therefore: When the endotoxin enters the blood stream, it elicits endothelial injury followed by both exudation with resultant edema of the surrounding tissue and concomitant vascular occlusions due to thrombosis. This vascular occlusion, in turn, causes ischemic degenerative change of the cells of exocrine and endocrine glands of the pancreas which are followed by digestions of degradational materials from the injured cells through the lysosomal phagocytic system. Besides the above pathogenetic pathway, one can not rule out the possibility of the direct effects of the endotoxin to the cells of exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas also so rendered.
Male ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Salivary Glands*

Signet ring cell carcinoma has been previously described in many organs, most frequently in the stomach, and rarely in the colon, rectum, gallbladder, pancreas, breast, nadsal cavity, prostate, urinary bladder and ureter. Signet ring cell carcinomas in the lung, especially, when examined by small biopsies, are generally believed to be metastatic. This case was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy. We also examined various organs by noninvasive method, including UGI series, barium enema and abdomen CT scarf, but all studies were nomal. Patient received cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy ai a primary non-small cell lung cancer. Patient died of his disease 6 months after diagnosis. Now we report a case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung.
Abdomen ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell* ; Cisplatin ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enema ; Etoposide ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Pancreas ; Prostate ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the expression of EGFR and C-erbB-2 gene products by immunohistochemical analysis for curatively resected gastric adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2001, 739 patients with curatively resected gastric cancer patients underwent Immunohistochemical staining for EGFR and C-erbB-2 proteins, and we retro spectively analyzed their correlation with the clinical outcome. RESULTS: The overexpressions of EGFR and C-erbB-2 were 25.4% and 26.2%, respectively. The overexpressions of EGFR was associated with the more poorly differentiated tumor (p=0.000) and with neuronal invasion (p=0.03). Overexpression of C-erbB-2 was associated with less vascular invasion (p=0.001). Tumor depth or node metastasis was not related to the overexpression of EGFR or C-erbB-2. The seven-year overall survival and relapse-free survival rates were 87.2% and 75.8%, respectively. Upon multivariate Cox regression analysis, the tumor stage, tumor size and patient age were important prognostic factors for overall survival, and tumor stage was the important factor for relapse-free survival. Overexpressions of EGFR or c-erbB-2 were not significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining of EGFR and C-erbB-2 gene products were not independent prognostic factors for predicting the overall survival and the relapse-free survival in curatively resected gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurons ; Prognosis ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Regression Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of the expression of p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) gene products in cases of curatively resected gastric adenocarcinoma, by immunohistochemical analysis. METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2001, 736 curatively resected gastric cancer patients underwent immunohistochemical staining for p53 or Rb proteins (pRb), and we retrospectively analyzed the correlation of our results with the clinical outcomes of these cases. RESULTS: High levels of expression of p53 (> 25% p53-positive cells) and Rb (> 50% Rb-positive cells) proteins were detected in 40.1% and 43.7% of cases, respectively. Tubular type was found to frequently exhibit higher levels of p53 expression (high expression in 44.2%) than signet ring cell type (high expression in 26.0%) (p=0.042). The incidence of vascular invasion was lower in the high pRb expressors (43.2%) than in the pRb low expressors (56.8%), but this was not a statistically significant discrepancy (p=0.063). Preoperative CEA levels were found to be low in high pRb expressors: initial CEA level in the high pRb expressors was 2.31 +/- 3.30 ng/mL, and was 5.18 +/- 24.80 ng/mL in the low pRb expressors (p=0.033). Tumor depth and node metastasis were both independent of the levels of expression of p53 and Rb proteins. The seven-year overall survival rate and relapse-free survival rates of patients were 87.2% and 75.7%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that tumor stage, tumor size, patient age and pRb expression were the significant prognostic factors with regard to overall survival, and tumor stage and age were both significant factors with regard to relapse-free survival. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining of retinoblastoma gene products was an independent prognostic factor for the prediction of overall survival in curatively resected gastric cancer patients.
Adenocarcinoma/*genetics/metabolism/mortality ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Protein p53/*metabolism ; Retinoblastoma Protein/*metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/mortality

Adipocyte differentiation is a very complex process in which whole-cell changes are accompanied. Among them, type I procollagen gene has been shown to specifically decrease during adipocyte differentiation; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism. To examine how type I procollagen gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription during adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used as an in vitro model. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression of type I procollagen gene was dramatically reduced during adipocyte differentiation. Time-course analysis indicated that decrease in mRNA expression occurred at early stage of differentiation. Studies on several stable cell lines showed that transcriptional activities of both alpha1 and alpha2 promoters decreased significantly during adipocyte differentiation. Despite extensive deletion-promoter analyses, however, we could not identify the cis-element responsible for the switch-off of type I procollagen gene during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the transcriptional repression of this gene occur through general transcription machinery rather than a specific cis-element. In conclusion, down-regulation of type I procollagen mRNA expression during adipocyte differentiation is due to repression of its promoter activity through general transcription machinery.
3T3 Cells ; Adipocytes/cytology/*metabolism ; Animal ; Cell Differentiation/*genetics ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I/*genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Mutation ; Procollagen/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

Adipocyte differentiation is a very complex process in which whole-cell changes are accompanied. Among them, type I procollagen gene has been shown to specifically decrease during adipocyte differentiation; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism. To examine how type I procollagen gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription during adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used as an in vitro model. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression of type I procollagen gene was dramatically reduced during adipocyte differentiation. Time-course analysis indicated that decrease in mRNA expression occurred at early stage of differentiation. Studies on several stable cell lines showed that transcriptional activities of both alpha1 and alpha2 promoters decreased significantly during adipocyte differentiation. Despite extensive deletion-promoter analyses, however, we could not identify the cis-element responsible for the switch-off of type I procollagen gene during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the transcriptional repression of this gene occur through general transcription machinery rather than a specific cis-element. In conclusion, down-regulation of type I procollagen mRNA expression during adipocyte differentiation is due to repression of its promoter activity through general transcription machinery.
3T3 Cells ; Adipocytes/cytology/*metabolism ; Animal ; Cell Differentiation/*genetics ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I/*genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Mutation ; Procollagen/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a distinct and the most important subset of, mesenchymal tumors of the GI tract. Stromal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract have long been a source of confusion and controversy, with regard to their classification, differentiation, criteria of malignancy and prognostic features. METHODS: The 26 case studies of patients treated for a Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor, including leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas and GISTs, between 1994 and 2002 at Keimyung University Hospital, were evaluated retrospectively. The cases were confirmed as leiomyomas, schwannomas, or GISTs by pathological re-examination. 20 of the cases were diagnosed as GISTs, from the pathological examination, and were chosen for the evaluation of their clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, using CD34, CD117, alpha-SMA and S-100 done. RESULTS: The new diagnoses of the mesenchymal tumors were a leiomyoma in 3 cases, a schwannoma in 3 and gastric stromal tumors in all 20. The immunohistochemical studies were positive for CD117 and CD34 in 95 and 75% of the gastric stromal tumors, respectively. The histopathological findings showed 5 benign tumors, 3 borderline tumors, and 12 malignant tumors in the 20 patients. CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemical marker (CD117) for KIT is a specific marker for GISTs among the tumors occurring in the stomach, and can be used to distinguish GISTs from true leiomyomas and gastric schwannomas. We also found that severe cellularity, atypism, intratumoral hemorrhage and necrosis, large size and a high mitotic count correlate with malignant behaviour and a poor prognosis.
Actins* ; Classification* ; Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Necrosis ; Neurilemmoma ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze a correlation between related molecular markers and prognosis after curative resection for primary and hepatic metastasis for colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total 63 patients who have been resected curatively for primary and metastatic colorectal cancer between 1989 and 2000. All patients were completely followed up and recurrence and survival rates were analyzed. All paraffin embedded tumor tissues in primary and metastatic tumors were used for microtissue array and immunohistochemical staining of p53, nm23 and VEGF. RESULTS: Mean follow up period was 30.9 months. Recurrence was noted in 39/63 (61.9%) and 5 year survival rates was 27.7%. 5 year survival rates according to protein expression in primary tumor: p53+/-: 24.6% vs 27.3%, nm 23 +/-: 17.6% vs 38.9%, VEGF +/-: 38.8% vs 21.6% (P=0.16, 0.06, 0.9, respectively). 5 year survival rates according to protein expression in metastatic tumor, p53 +/-: 18% vs 59.2%, nm 23 +/-; 38.2% vs 15.8%, VEGF +/-: 38.8% vs 21.6% (P=0.03, 0.35, 0.96, respectively). A patients recurred within 1 year after surgery (group I, N=23) were compared with patients who recurred 1 year after (group II, N=16). nm23 expression in primary tumor in each group of patients: ; 15/23 (65.2%), : 4/16 (25 %), : 8/23 (34.8%), : 12/16 (75%), respectively (P= 0.013). But, p53, VEGF expression in primary tumor showed no statistical significance. nm23 expression in metastatic tumor revealed no statistical significance between two group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: p53 expression in metastatic tumor and nm 23 expression in primary tumor can predict poor prognosis after curative resection for primary and metastatic colorectal cancer. Molecular marker expression in primary and hepatic colorectal cancer can give us a reliable prognostic values.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*