No abstract available.
Humans* ; Knee* ; Ligaments* ; Microvessels*

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate the clinical relevance of angiogenesis in patients with gastric cancer, we investigated the microvessel count in gastric cancer tissues and compared the results with several clinicopathologic factors and the prognosis for the same stage. METHODS: A total of 256 patients with gastric cancer were included in this study. The microvessel count was determined by using immunohistochemical staining monoclonal antibody against factor- VIII-related antigen. RESULTS: The microvessel density determined by using immunohistochemical staining for factor-VIII- related antigen had statistical significance with survival between the higher (> or =42: microvessel counts) and lower the (<42: microvessel counts) groups. However in the same stage, except stage I, it had not significant correlation with survival. CONCLUSION: The tumor angiogenesis of a gastric carcinoma in stage I is an independent factor that impacts on the prognosis.
Humans ; Microvessels ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms

Using Mercox CL-2B, intravascular casting was performed follwoing intracameral injection with 2.0microgram/microliter of Endothelin-1(ET-1) in the rabbit eye. One hour after intracameral injection with ET-1 caused severe focal andsegmental constriction of major arterial circle(MAC). Obstruction of the small branch of MAC caused localized filling defect and decreased number of capillaries in the vascular cast. The diameters of vascular cast were reduced at about 22.2% in proximal MAC, 22.4% in distal MAC and 21.8% in first branch of MAC. This results were suggested that ET-1 may play a role in the regulation of blood flow in the anterior segment vasculature of the rabbit.
Capillaries ; Constriction ; Endothelin-1* ; Microvessels*

PURPOSE: To compare the contrast-enhanced dynamic MR findings of solid breast masses with their histopathologic tumor angiogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two cases of pathologically proved breast lesions (8 benign and 24 malignant lesions) examined with contrast-enhanced MRI were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the tumor size, the maximum amount of contrast enhancement (% Signal Intensity Change, SIC), the time to peak (early or late peak) and the type of time-signal intensity curve (TSC). We compared the characteristic MR findings of breast cancer with the microscopic maximum microvessel density (MVD). RESULTS: Among the total of 11 small lesions (< or = 2 cm, 9 malignant and 2 benign), 8 cases of malignant lesions showed high MVD (> or = 20). On the other hand, among the 21 large lesions (> 2 cm, 15 malignant and 6 benign), only two cases of malignant and five cases of benign lesions showed high MVD. More than 100% SIC was observed in a total of 11 malignant and two benign lesions, but 8 of these 11 malignant lesions showed low MVD (< 20), whereas the two benign lesions showed high MVD. Early time to peak (< or = 3 min) was observed in 18 (17 malignant and 1 benign) lesions, and 11 of these 17 malignant lesions showed low MVD. An early high peak and early or slow wash-out pattern, which is typical of the malignant type, was seen in 18 (17 malignant and 1 benign) lesions, but 12 of these 17 malignant lesions showed low MVD. There is no statistically significant correlation between the characteristic MR findings of breast cancer and the MVD. CONCLUSION: Although high MVD indicated malignancy in the case of the small lesions, the histopathologic MVD was not significantly correlated with either the increased amount of enhancement, early time-to peak or the malignant pattern of the TSC.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Hand ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microvessels* ; Retrospective Studies

Newly introduced direct peroral cholangioscopy and the development of video choledochoscopes have enabled more defined observation of bile duct mucosal lesions with clearer images. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is a unique endoscopic imaging technology that provides enhanced endoscopic images of surface mucosal structures and its superficial microvessels. Advanced cholangioscopy and NBI are expected to be useful for precise evaluation and correct diagnosis of biliary tract diseases. However, the diagnostic value of advanced bile duct imaging with cholangioscopy requires further evaluation.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract Diseases ; Biliary Tract* ; Diagnosis ; Microvessels

PURPOSE: The prognostic factors for superficial bladder tumor that affect tumor recurrence and progression have been studied for many years. They are stage, grade, size, multiplicity, microvessel invasion and etc. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of the tumor configuration on predicting its progression and recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 128 patients who initially presented with superficial bladder tumor (pTis, pTa and pT1) were retrospectively analyzed according to many factors such as stage, grade, size, multiplicity, microvessel invasion and tumor configuration for tumor progression and recurrence after primary transurethral resection. RESULTS: 48 patients (37.5%) experienced recurrent disease and 20 patients (15.6%) had progressive disease. The absence of stalk and microvessel invasion were the statistically significant factors for recurrence. Only microvessel invasion was a significant prognostic factor for progression. CONCLUSIONS: Only two factors, i.e., the absence of tumor stalk and microvessel invasion, were significant prognostic factors for tumor recurrence. Only microvessel invasion was a significant prognostic factor for tumor progression. When tumors are microvessel invasion positive without stalk after primary transurethral resection, these patients might then benefit from being treated with a more aggressive therapeutic modality.
Humans ; Microvessels ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the microvessel count and p53 protein expression level in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients and to determine how they correlate with the clinicopathologic factors and prognosis. In addition, the relationship between angiogenesis and p53 protein expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients was investigated. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 30 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas that were completely removed by a radical resection were retrieved and analyzed. The vessels were immunostained with anti-factor VIII polyclonal antibodies, and 5 areas with the most discrete microvessels were counted under a 200 field. The mean was calculated, which was defined as the angiogenesis score (AS). p53 protein expression was detected by the immunohistochemical stain method. RESULTS: The mean AS was 37.7 13.6. There were no significant differences in sex, age, tumor size, histologic grade, T category (depth of invasion), N category (lymph node metastasis), pathologic stage and recurrence between the high and low AS group. The p53 protein expression rate was 73.3%, which did not correlate with the clinicopathologic factors and AS. However, recurrence was significantly related to the histologic grade and pathologic stage (p=0.040 and p=0.029). Among the various clinicopathologic factors, the N category (lymph node metastasis), the AS and recurrence (p=0.025, p=0.029 and p=0.003) were statistically significant according to a univariate survival analysis. In theCox regression analysis, the N category (lymph node metastasis) and recurrence were independent prognostic factors (odds ratio=4.344, 4.263). CONCLUSION: Although the survival rate in the high AS group was significantly lower than that in low AS group (p=0.029), the angiogenesis assessed by the microvessel count using immunohistochemical staining was not an independent prognostic factor in the Cox regression analysis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Antibodies ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is one of the most important factors in the progression and me-tastasis of malignancies. Angiogenesis is a multistep process requiring the interaction of numerous factors able to stimulate the growth and development of new vessels. But, understanding of the mechanism involved in VEGF expression is unclear. METHODS: Expressions of p53 and VEGF, and neovasculiarization were examined in 19 cases of surgically resected non-small cell carcinoma of the lung by the immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, VEGF mRNA expressions were quantified in all cases using the real-time quantitative RT-PCR. These results were compared with clinicopathologic parameters such as histologic grade and stage. RESULTS: Tumors with high aberrant p53 expressions showed significantly higher VEGF mRNA ex-pressions and microvessel counts than those with low p53 expressions. Expressions of p53 as well as VEGF and micovessel counts were closely associated with the tumor stage, but not with the histologic grade and other clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that aberrant p53 expression may play a role in the regulation of VEGF expression and may be involved in controlling angiogenesis in non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.
Growth and Development ; Lung* ; Microvessels ; RNA, Messenger* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Brain Edema* ; Brain* ; Microvessels* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: A large body of evidence suggests that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is important in tumor growth and angiogenesis of gastrointestinal and other cancers. This was the study to determine the relationship between tumor vascularity and COX-2 expression in invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: We examined the expression of COX-2 and microvessel density (MVD) by immunohis- tochemical staining in 21 specimens collected from invasive cervical cancer patients. RESULTS: All specimens showed weak and strong immunoreactivity, with 52.4% strong reactivity. Microvessel count was higher (median 136) in the strong COX-2 immunoreactivity specimens than the weaks (median 90), and MVD was significantly correlated with the COX-2 immunoreactivity (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: These preliminary data indicate that overexpression of COX-2 may play an important role in carcinogenesis of cervical cancer and this could be partially attributable to modulation of angiogenesis by COX-2. COX-2 maybe a target for future research in the tumorigenesis of the invasive cervical cancer.
Carcinogenesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*