PURPOSE: Chemokines are structurally related, small polypeptide signaling molecules that bind to and activate a family of transmembrane G proteincoupled receptors, the chemokine receptors. Recently, interaction between the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12), has been found to play an important role in tumorigenicity, proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis in many cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify the correlation of clinicopathological factors and the up-regulation of SDF-1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the immunohistochemical staining of SDF-1, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) of SDF-1 gene in 20 specimens of 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: 1. In the immunohistochemical study of poor differentiated and invasive oral squamous cell carcinoma, the high level staining of SDF-1 was observed. And the correlation between immunohistochemical SDF-1 expression and tumor nodes metastases (TNM) classification of specimens was significant.(chi-square test, P < 0.05) 2. In the SDF-1 gene qRT-PCR analysis, SDF-1 expression was more in tumor tissue than in carcinoma in situ tissue. Paired-samples analysis determined the difference of SDF-1 mRNA expression level between the cancer tissue and the carcinoma in situ tissue.(Student's t-test, P < 0.05) CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that up-regulation of the SDF-1 may play a role in progression and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Glioblastoma ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Chemokine ; RNA, Messenger ; Up-Regulation

The authors experienced 2 cases of medulloblastoma in which active hemorrhage occurred after external ventricular drainage(EVD). A 5 year-old girl suffered from cerebellar fit and brain CT scan showed severe hydrocephalus. So EVD was performed and the pressure was measured about 80 cm H2O. After a gradual reduction of EVD pressure for 15 minutes, fresh blood gushed out through the EVD catheter. The other case was a 7 year-old girl whose tumor bled after intraoperative EVD, just before dural incision. Both tumors were highly vascular in operative field. The first case was bed-ridden at 5 months after surgery and the second case was on postoperative chemotherapy in a good general condition with minimal neurological deficits. Previous reports in the literatures including 2 cases of hemorrhage associated with EVD in medulloblastoma were reviewed. The relatively high incidence of tumor hemorrhage in medulloblastoma and its detrimental influence on the outcome are emphasized.
Brain ; Catheters ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Medulloblastoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a division of the spinal cord or the filum terminale into two parts. In Korea, only one case has been reported. The authors have operated on 5 cases of diastematomyelia with septum since July, 1978. The ages ranged from 1 to 44 years (median; 11 years). There were 2 boys, 2 girls and an adult man. The disease manifested by cutaneous abnormalities and neurological or orthopedic deficits. Pain was a chief complaint in the adult patient. The symptoms had progressed in 3 cases. The diagnosis was made correctly by CT myelography or MRI in 4 cases. The median septum was located at the lumbar area in 4 cases and at the lumbosacral region in 1 case. Associated abnormalities included low lying conus (5 cases), lipoma (2 cases), thickened filum terminale (1 case), hemilipomyelomeningocele (1 case) and syrinx (1 case). The median septum was removed. The dural sleeve adjoining the septum was resected and the dural sac was reconstructed. The role of MRI in the diagnosis and planning of surgery and the high frequency of associated low lying conus were emphasized. Though the surgical treatment relieved pain, it did not reverse the neurological deficits or orthopedic deformities significantly, which suggests the beneficial effects of early surgical intervention in the cases with progressive symptoms.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Spina Bifida Occulta/diagnosis/*physiopathology/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The cryopreservation of Red Blood Cells have been proved to have many advantages in western countries. However, in Korea, clinical application of frozen-thawed blood is still in its early stage. We tried autologous frozen-thawed blood transfusion and evaluated the effects and complications. METHODS: Nine units of whole blood were collected from the autologous (n=1) and allogeneic bone marrow donors (n=3) and made packed RBCs by a centrifugation method. We made frozen RBCs using high glycerol method and stored them in -80degrees C freezer for 1 month. Eight units of frozen RBCs were thawed and washed by Cobe spectra (Cobe, USA). Autologous transfusions were done to the patient and donors while the bone marrow collection procedures were in process for bone marrow transplantation and we carefully observed its effects and complications. RESULTS: The mean RBC recovery rate were 89.8% and the supernatant plasma hemoglobin, K+, LD, osmolality, and simulation test were satisfactory to the allowable limit. After transfusion, the hemoglobin value was significantly elevated being comparable to that of the fresh blood. A case showed mild hematuria related to this transfusion but soon it disappeared in a day. CONCLUSION: The autologous frozen-thawed blood transfusions were safe and as much effective as the fresh blood. It would be essential to have skillful techniques in post-thaw washing process.
Blood Transfusion* ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Bone Marrow* ; Centrifugation ; Cryopreservation ; Erythrocytes ; Glycerol ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Tissue Donors*

No abstract available.
Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver*

Optic sheath meningioma arises from the arachnoid "cap" cell of optic nerve sheath and comprises most of primary orbital meningioma. It usually brings early visual loss, papilledema, and proptosis. The authors expericenced a case of intraorbital optic sheath meningioma associated with a small skull hemangioma in the right parietal area, who presented only mild visual disturbance. The meningioma was removed transcranially without visual or cosmetic deformities except transient ptosis.
Arachnoid ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Exophthalmos ; Hemangioma* ; Meningioma* ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Papilledema ; Rabeprazole ; Skull*

The evolution of infarction in the rat middle cerebral artery(MCA) occlusion model was examined by atomic absorption spectrometric measurements of Na, K and Ca concentrations in brain tissue sample. At 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after MCA occlusion and sham occlusion the brain tissue samples were obtained. Tissue water concentrations were estimated from dry-wet weight measurement. The effects of nimodipine(2 microgram/kg/min for 10 min) administered intra-venously at 4 hours(Group A), 6 hours(Group B), and 9 hours(Group C) after MCA occlusion were investigated on both the size of infarction and tissue water, Na, K, Ca concentrations at 24 hours. The result were as follows : 1) Normal concentrations of water, Na, K, and Ca averaged 0.793+/-0.009ml, 54.06+/-4.18 micromole, 81.04+/-3.44 micromole, and 3.578+/-0.712 micromole/gm wet weight. At the infarct site by 24 hours, the changes of tissue water and ionic concentrations were conspicuously evident so that water increased by more than 10%(p<0.005), Na increased by more than 120%(p<0.005), K decreased by more than 75%(p<0.005), and Ca increased by more than 200%(p<0.005). 2) The remarkable shifts of Na, K, and Ca concentrations occurred at 4-6 hours so that 60-85% of the ionic shifts developed by 6 hours. This characteristics of chronological ionic changes correlated well with the findings of 2% TTC staining during the evolution of infarction. Water concentrations increased rapidly at 2-4 hours so that nearly 80% of water shift developed by 4 hours. 3) In group A(administered at 4 hours), nimodipine treatment significantly reduced both the ionic shifts at the infarct site and the size of infarction compared with non-treated rats(p<0.05). 4) In group B(administered at 6 hours), nimodipine treatment did not significantly reduce the ionic shifts but did reduce the size of infarction compared with non-treated rats(p<0.05). In group C(administered at 8 hours), nimodipine treatment significantly reduce neither the ionic shifts nor the size of infarction. In summary it was concluded that the progressive changes in tissue water and ionic concentrations developed at the infarct sites and the critical period of the changes was between 4 and 6 hours, and nimodipine treatment was effective when administered within 4 hours. The results suggested that measurement of tissue ionic concentrations could be used as an alternative method for assessing tissue damage and a reliable method to quantify the tissue damage. This method may be useful for determining the time window for therapeutic protocol, as well as for evaluating therapeutic effects.
Absorption ; Animals ; Brain ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Infarction ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Ischemia* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Nimodipine* ; Rats*

Apoptosis is a physiologic or programmed cell death process which is controlled by genes. It is essential for the function and the appropriate development of multicellular organism. It is also thought to be one of the main mechanisms of cell death in ischemic tissues. The effect of prostaglandin E1(PGE1) is proven to be useful in the recovery of ischemic changes by inducing vasodilation of peripheral vessels and platelet disaggregation. PGE1 is also known to suppress apoptosis in human liver sinusoidal endothelial cell from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of PGE1 on the apoptosis in the ischemia reperfusion injury of rat intestine. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. In control group(N=15), superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 60 minutes and after removing the vessel clamp, it was reperfused for 60 minutes and harvested. In experimental group(N=15), a jejunal flap was also made as in the control group except for the intraarterial administration of the PGE1 right after clamping the artery and removing the clamp. H&E, TUNEL and immunohistochemical stains for p53, bax, and bcl-2 were performed. There were ischemic changes in gross and microscopic findings in both groups. The apoptotic index was significantly lower in the experimental group(1.29+/-0.82(p=0.003)) than in the control group (2.33+/-0.95). The rat intestinal ischemia apoptosis by ischemia-reperfusion was partly related to the modulating of bcl-2, bax, and p53 expression. Our results indicate that PGE1 suppresses the apoptosis in the ischemic jejunal flap and this effect is probably the result of a increase in expression of bcl-2.
Alprostadil* ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Arteries ; Blood Platelets ; Cell Death ; Coloring Agents ; Constriction ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intestinal Mucosa* ; Intestines ; Ischemia* ; Liver ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Vasodilation

An encepholocele is defined as a herniation of cranial contents through a defect in the skull. Encephaloceles are classified accroding to their contents and location. Encephalocele is a useful general term to refer to common features of the various forms of anomaly, but considerable differences exist in the pathology, treatment and prognosis of encephaloceles at each anatomical location. Improved neuroimaging facilities, especially MRI, make it easy not only to detect the encephalocele including its contents and location, but also to get preoperative informations. We have reviewed a total of 22 patients with encephalocele whom we have experienced from 1986, July to 1990, June. Twelve were at occipital location, six at cranial vault, three at cranial base, one at frontoethmoidal location. The size of cranium bifidum and herniating sac of the cranial vault and occipital location is larger than that of frontobasal location. The incidence of associated hydrocephalus is in order of occipital, cranial vault, frontobasal form, and its prognosis is also better in frontobasal form than in occipital of cranial vault form.
Encephalocele* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Skull ; Skull Base

A C6 beta-chemokine, CKbeta8-1, suppressed the colony formation of CD34 + cells of human cord blood (CB). Molecular mechanisms involved in CKbeta8-1-medicated suppression of colony formation of CD34 + cells are not known. To address this issue, the level of various G1/S cell cycle regulating proteins in CKbeta8-1-treated CD34 + cells were compared with those in untreated CD34 + cells. CKbeta8-1 did not significantly alter the expression of the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1, D3, and E), CDK inhibitor (p27and Rb), and other cell proliferation regulation protein (p53) in CB CD34 + cells. Here we describe an in vitro system in which CB CD34 + cells were committed to a multipotent progenitor lineage of colony forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) by a simple combination of recombinant human (rh) GM-CSF and rhIL-3. In this culture system, we found that cyclin E protein appeared later and disappeared faster in the CKbeta8-1-treated cells than in the control cells during CFU-GM lineage development. These findings suggested that cyclin E may play a role in suppressing the colony formation of CFU-GM by CKbeta8-1.
Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Lineage ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokines, CC/*pharmacology ; Cyclin E/*metabolism ; Fetal Blood/*cytology ; G1 Phase/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects ; Granulocytes/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Growth Substances/pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophages/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Stem Cells/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism