BACKGROUND: UVB is responsible for most of the carcinogenic effects of sun exposure. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to investigate the regulation and intracellular redistribution of p53 protein after UVB irradiation. METHODS: Cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 melanoma cells were used for west-ern blotting and confocal microscopic examination for determining expression and distribution of p53. RESULTS: UVB irradiation increased p53 expression in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells according to increasing doses of UVB. Furthermore, p53 moved from cytosol to nucleus after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: UVB irradiation induced overexpression and redistribution of p53 in cultured normal human melanocytes and G361 malignant melanoma cells.
Cytosol ; Humans ; Melanocytes* ; Melanoma* ; Solar System

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether embryonic stem (ES) cells can be established from isolated blastomeres of mouse embryos. METHODS: Blastomeres were separated from mouse (C57Bl/6J) 2- or 4-cell embryos. Isolated blastomeres or whole 4-cell embryos were co-cultured with mitosis-arrested STO feeder cells in DMEM supplemented with recombinant murine leukemia inhibitory factor and ES-qualified fetal bovine serum. After the tentative ES cell lines were maintained from isolated blastomeres or whole embryos, some of them were frozen and the others were sub-cultured continually. Characteristics of tentative ES cell lines as were evaluated for specific gene expressions with immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: One ES cell line (3.0%) was established from isolated blastomere of 2-cell embryo and one cell line (4.0%) from isolated two blastomeres of 4-cell embryo. And five cell lines (16.7%) were established from whole 4-cell embryos. Both cell lines from isolated blastomere and whole embryo expressed mouse ES cells specific markers such as SSEA-1, Oct-4 and alkaline phosphatase. Marker genes of three germ layers were expressed from embryoid bodies of both cell lines. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mouse ES cells could be established from isolated blastomeres, although the efficiency is lower than whole embryos. This animal model could be applied to establishment of autologous human ES cells from biopsied blastomeres of preimplantation embryos in human IVF-ET program.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Antigens, CD15 ; Blastocyst* ; Blastomeres* ; Cell Line ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Feeder Cells ; Gene Expression ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; Mice* ; Models, Animal

Magnetic Resonance image(MRI) is used as the diagnostic modality for evaluation of suspected intramedullary tumors and differential diagnosis of these tumors at the spinal cord. We experienced intramedullary astrocytoma of cerviced cord with large syrinx and multiple peritumoral cysts consisted of subacute and chronic hemorrhage at the margin and within the syrinx and cysts on MRI.
Astrocytoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemorrhage* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Cord*

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder is a proliferative spindle cell lesion that microscopically may suggest a sarcoma but that are benign without a recent history of an operation. The first such case was reported by Roth, in 1980, and thereafter about seven more cases were reported in medical literatures. We reported a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder mimicking leiomyosarcoma. Patient was a 36-year-old woman with complaint of painless total and gross hematuria for 3 weeks. Partial cystectomy specimen showed a well-demarcated nodular mass of yellow white color, involving the submucosal and muscular layers. Microscopic examination revealed proliferating bundles of spindle cells interspersed with infiltration of many inflammatory cells including eosinophils. Spindle cells were positive for vimentin on immunohistochemistry and corresponding to myofibroblasts on the electron microscopic examination.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of MRI in the evaluation of vascular changes of the meningioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the MRI findings in 20 cases of intracranial meningiomas. The images were assessed for vascular hilum, vascular rim, sinus invasion, and vascular encasement. Cerebral angiograms were obtained in 15 cases and compared with MRI findings. RESULTS: MRI was as accurate as angiography in detection of vascular hilum(MRl=8/20, Anglogram=9/15), vascular rim(MRl=14/20, Angiogram=9/15) and dural sinus invasion(MRl=4/6, Angiogram=5/6). MRI was superior to angiography in detection of vascular encasement(MRl=2/3, Angiogram=0/2) and cavernous sinus invasion(MRI=3/3, Angiogram=0/2). CONCLUSION: MRI is an excellent noninvasive imaging modality in evaluating vascular changes of omas.
Angiography ; Cavernous Sinus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningioma ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female

No abstract available.
Dapsone*

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the validity of the recently introduced Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) staging system and the International Staging System (ISS) by comparing both systems with the widely accepted Durie/Salmon (DS) system for multiple myeloma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2005, 85 multiple myeloma patients (men: women 41:44, median age: 63 years (range: 36~87)) with available baseline values of albumin and beta2-microglobulin were enrolled. The clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively obtained. RESULTS: According to the ISS, 11 patients were stage I (12.9%), 30 patients stage II (35.3%) and 44 patients stage III (51.8%). The median survivals of the ISS stages I, II and III were 78.6 months, 31.8 months and 15.1 months, respectively (p=0.015). The DS staging system was not able to predict the survival. For the SWOG staging system, 14 patients were stage I (16.4%), 27 patients stage II (31.8%), 27 patients stage III (31.8%) and 17 patients were stage IV (20.0%). The median survivals of the SWOG staging system stage I, II, III and IV were 78.6 months, 31.8 months, 11.6 months and 24.8 months, respectively (p=0.0075). CONCLUSION: The ISS staging system showed better reliability, simplicity and predictability for survival than the DS and SWOG staging systems for multiple myeloma patients.
Female ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Denervation supersensitivity to 0.125% pilocarpine is an important factor in making a diagnosis of Adie's tonic pupil. However, it generally takes several weeks for denervation supersensitivity to manifest after an injury to the nerve ganglion. We report a case of 'acute' Adie's tonic pupil before the manifestation of denervation supersensitivity. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old man with no significant past medical history visited our clinic, reporting mydriasis of his left eye. Pupil size was 8 mm in the right eye, 3 mm in the left. Loss of both direct/indirect light reflex and light-near reflex were observed. The left pupil did not react to 0.125% Pilocarpine, but constricted in response to 1% pilocarpine. After 5 months, the pupil size did not change, but the pupil constricted in response to 0.125% pilocarpine. CONCLUSIONS: In an isolated case of dilated pupil, though the pupil did not react to 0.125% pilocarpine, with respect to the Adie's tonic pupil, to check the manifestation of denervation supersensitivity should be needed at regular intervals.
Denervation ; Eye ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Light ; Middle Aged ; Mydriasis ; Pilocarpine ; Pupil ; Reflex ; Tonic Pupil

PURPOSE: Denervation supersensitivity to 0.125% pilocarpine is an important factor in making a diagnosis of Adie's tonic pupil. However, it generally takes several weeks for denervation supersensitivity to manifest after an injury to the nerve ganglion. We report a case of 'acute' Adie's tonic pupil before the manifestation of denervation supersensitivity. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old man with no significant past medical history visited our clinic, reporting mydriasis of his left eye. Pupil size was 8 mm in the right eye, 3 mm in the left. Loss of both direct/indirect light reflex and light-near reflex were observed. The left pupil did not react to 0.125% Pilocarpine, but constricted in response to 1% pilocarpine. After 5 months, the pupil size did not change, but the pupil constricted in response to 0.125% pilocarpine. CONCLUSIONS: In an isolated case of dilated pupil, though the pupil did not react to 0.125% pilocarpine, with respect to the Adie's tonic pupil, to check the manifestation of denervation supersensitivity should be needed at regular intervals.
Denervation ; Eye ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Light ; Middle Aged ; Mydriasis ; Pilocarpine ; Pupil ; Reflex ; Tonic Pupil