p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in female breast cancer tissues and the prognosis of breast cancer could be changed by mutation of the gene. This study was performed to examine risk factors for breast cancer subtypes classified by p53 mutation and to investigate the roles of p53 gene mutation in carcinogenesis of breast cancer. The study subjects were 81 breast cancer patients and 121 controls who were matched to cases 1:1 or 1:2 by age, residence, education level and menopausal status. All the subjects were interviewed by a well-trained nurse with standardized questionnaire on reproductive factors, and were asked to fill the self-administrative food frequency and 24 hour recall questionnaires. p53 gene mutation in the cancer tissue was screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) method. Mutation type was identified by direct sequencing of the exon of which mobility shift was observed in SSCP analysis. Mutations were detected in p53 gene of 25 breast cancer tissues. By direct sequencing, base substitutions were found in 20 cancer tissues (10 transition and 10 transversion), and frame shift mutations in 5 (4 insertions and 1 deletion). For the whole cases and controls, risk of breast cancer incidence decreased when the parity increased, and increased when intake amount of total calory, fat, or protein increased. Fat and protein were statistically significant risk factors for breast cancer with p53 mutation. For breast cancer without p53 mutation, protein intake was the only significant dietary factor. These results suggests that causes of p53 positive breast cancer would be different from those of p53 negative cancer, and that dietary factors or related hormonal factors induce mutation of p53, which may be the first step of breast cancer development or a promoter following some unidentified genetic mutations.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Case-Control Studies* ; Education ; Exons ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Incidence ; Parity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Prognosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors*

The gene encoding F protein of CBP-1 strain, a heat-stable Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from the diseased pheasants in Korea, was characterized by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Virus RNA was prepared from the chorioallatoic fluid infected with NDV CBP-1 virus and cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned and sequenced to analyze. The PCR was sensitive as to detect the virus titer above 25 hemagglutination unit. 1.7kb (1,707bp) size of the cDNA was amplified and cloned into BamHI site of pVL1393 Baculo transfer vector. The nucleotide sequences for F protein were determined by dye terminator cyclic sequencing using four pairs of primers, and 553 amino acid sequences were predicted. In comparison of the nucleotide sequence of F gene of CBP-1 with those of other NDV strains, the homology revealed 88.8%, 98.5% and 98.7% with Kyojungwon (KJW), Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. As the deduced 553 amino acid sequences of F protein of CBP-1 were compared with those of other NDV strains, the homology appeared 89.9%, 98.7% and 98.9% with KJW, Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. The putative protease cleavage site (112-116) was R-R-Q-K-R, indicating that CBP-1 strain is velogenic type. The amino acid sequences include 6 sites of N-asparagine-linked glycosylation and 13 cysteine residues. These data indicate that the genotype of CBP-1 strain is more closely associated with the strains of Texas GB and Beaudette C than KJW strain.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Cysteine ; DNA, Complementary ; Genotype ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutination ; Korea ; Newcastle disease virus* ; Newcastle Disease* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Texas ; Viral Load

It was well known that atrial myocytes systhesize atrial natriuretic peptide[ANP], and secrete it into the atrial lumen through the atrial endocardium. But the mechanism for regulation of ANP secretion has not been clearly elucidated, because there was little information of the atrial morphology concerning basal lamina. Basal lamina is surmised as one of barriers that control the movement of ANP, a large molecule. This study was attempted to elucidate the morphological characteristics of basal lamina and connective tissue fibers of atrial endocardial layer by scanning electron microscopy. Basal lamina was exposed by removal of the overlying endothelium. This was achieved by using OsO4 maceration, immersion in aqueous boric acid or EDTA treatment. After removal of the endothelial cell, the specimens were exposed to ultrasonic vibration in case of need. The external surface of basal lamina showed a fairly smooth appearance on the whole, although a few irregular folds are often encountered. Fenestrations, 0.1-1 micrometer in diameter, were randomly observed on the basal lamina, and they were circular to oval in shape. Margin of fenestrations was somewhat distinct and some was divided into two parts by linear structures. The structural differences of fenestrations between right and left atria were not found. The fibroreticular lamina under the basal lamina was revealed by removal of the endothelial cells and their basal lamina. This layer was consisted of interwoven fine fibers. These fine fibers were repeatedly divided and fused, forming reticular network. Some fine fibers connected with basal lamina. Some connective tissue fibers below fibroreticular layer were collected into thick bundles running parallel to myocytes. Above results may serve as a basis for the physiological and morphological studies of atrium.
Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Basement Membrane* ; Connective Tissue ; Edetic Acid ; Endocardium* ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Immersion ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscle Cells ; Rats* ; Running ; Ultrasonics ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Cartilage*

BACKGROUND: Cerebral white matter lesions(WMLs), such as leukoaraiosis, may be related to damage from cerebral ischemia and may also be associated with the degenerative process. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 allele is a risk factor for degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer`s disease, and ischemic brain damage through acceleration of atherosclerosis. No study has been performed regarding WMLs and APOE genotype in Korea. We investigated the association between WMLs and APOE among Koreans. METHODS: Brain MRI was performed in 225 subjects(ages 61 to 85 years) without neuropsychiatric disease randomly selected from the Ansan Health Cohort Study. WMLs observed on 225 MRI scans were rated in terms of severity by 2 raters. All study subjects underwent APOE genotyping. RESULTS: WMLs were observed in 109(48.4%) of subjects. In the subjects with WMLs, the distribution of APOE genotypes was 0.9% for epsilon 2/epsilon 2, 11.0% for epsilon2/epsilon3, 1.8% for epsilon2/epsilon4, 61.5% for epsilon3/epsilon3, 22.9% for epsilon3/epsilon4, and 1.8% for epsilon4/epsilon4, respectively. The distribution of APOE genotypes did not differ between subjects with and without WMLs. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that there is no association between WMLs and APOE genotypes in Koreans.
Acceleration ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Atherosclerosis ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cohort Studies ; Genotype ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea ; Leukoaraiosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Risk Factors

p53 plays an important function as a negative regulator of cell growth and also inhibits transformation. It has been hypothesized that p53, acting as a control gene at a G1 check point, may detect DNA damage, slow the cell devision, and allow time for DNA repair. If damage is irreparable, the cell may be driven down into the apoptotic pathway, thus preventing replication of defective cells. In this retrospective study, we investigated the correlation between p53 protein expression by IHC staining and benign breast disease with or without atypical ductal hyperplasia, DCIS and invasive breast cancer. Also We analyzed the association between p53 protein expression and the following prognostic parameters in breast cancer patients; age, tumor size, axillary node involvement, stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor, and progesteron receptor, and DNA ploidy. And, we investigated the correlation between p53 protein expression and the proliferative index of S phase fraction in diploid breast cancer. The results were as follows ; 1) In histopathological classification, none out of ten benign breast diseases, none out of seventeen fibrocystic disease with atypical ductal hyperplasia patients were p53 protein positive, 3 out of fifteen DCIS (20%), 29 out of eighty-six (34%) invasive breast cancer patients were p53 protien positive.2) There were no significant differences between p53 positivity and age, tumor size, axillary node involvement, stage, histologic grade, ER and PGR status, and DNA ploidy by Fisher's exact test with chi-squre test for trend, in invasive breast cancer. (n=86) 3) In diploid tumor (n=35), statistically significant differences were noted such that high S-phase fraction tumor revealed increased p53 positivity. (p<0.05) We have found that immunopositivity for p53 was detected in 20% of in situ carcinoma, suggesting that p53 mutation can be acquired early in malignant progression. We have also found that there is a strong direct correlation between the amount of mutant protein and tumor proliferation rate. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that wild-type p53 is involved in suppression of the cell cycle.
Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Cell Cycle ; Classification ; Diploidy ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mutant Proteins ; Ploidies ; Retrospective Studies ; S Phase

BACKGROUND: Korean people could abuse healthy foods as well as medications, which might cause serious side effects. The aim of this study was elucidating liver dysfunction due to the self-medications of hepatotonics, healthy foods and herb medications by nested case-control study. METHODS: Study subjects were drawn from male members of seoul Cohort Study who were recruited by self-administered structured questionnaire survey through mailing to the healthy men between the age of 40 and 59 years through the program of biennial health check-up offered by Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The liver dysfunction was defined as the level of serum AST and ALT above 40 IU/L and increased in more than one hundred per-cent during the 2 year follow-up period. To estimate the odds ratio between self-medication and liver dysfunction after controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 30 members were identified to fit into case criteria and 2,625 members were selected as control. In logistic regression analyses, history of healthy foods intake, age under 45 years, obesity, and habit of regular exercise were significantly associated with liver dysfunction. The following factors exhibited no statistical significance: intake of hepatotonics, of herb medicine; history of disease in family, of operation, and of radiologic examination; smoking habits and drinking amounts. CONCLUSION: The significant association between the intake of healthy foods and the liver dysfunction illustrates that chronically optional overuse of healthy foods might bring to hazards to health. As the increasing trend of the size of purchasing healthy foods in Korea, pharmacoepidemiologic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the widely used healthy foods should be performed in the near future.
Adult* ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Drinking ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Pharmacoepidemiology ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a major problem associated with liver cirrhosis which has high mortality. Increased production of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin- (IL-) may be associated with development of renal impairment, one of the most important prognostic parameters in SBP. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes of these cytokines in ascitic fluid and plasma in patients with SBP and the relationship between these cytokines and development of renal impairment. METHODS: Forty patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites were studied 21 with SBP and 19 with sterile ascites. TNF-a and IL- levels in ascitic fluid and plasma were determined by ELISA at the time of diagnosis in both groups and 48 hours after antibiotics treatment in SBP patients. RESULTS: TNF-and IL- levels in ascitic fluid and plasma were significantly higher in patients with SBP than those without SBP (ascitic fluid TNF-a: 2.5+/-0.5 vs. 1.6+/-0.2; plasma TNF-a: 2.3+/-0.5 vs. 1.5+/-0.2; ascitic fluid IL-: 3.8+/-0.5 vs. 3.0+/-0.4; plasma IL-: 3.4+/-0.5 vs. 2.3+/-0.3, log pg/mL)(p<0.001). In patients with SBP, levels of TNF-a and IL- in ascitic fluid and plasma decreased 48 hours after antibiotics treatment. Eleven patients with SBP (11/21, 52%) developed renal impairment. Patients with renal impairment had significantly higher ascitic fluid and plasma TNF-a levels than those without renal impairment (median 2.5 vs. 2.1 for ascitic fluid, p=0.006; median 2.4 vs. 2.0, log pg/mL for plasma, p=0.04). Although four out of eleven (36%) patients who developed renal impairment died during hospitalization, all the patients without renal impairment survived (p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the levels of TNF-a and IL- in ascitic fluid and plasma are increased in SBP and elevated levels of TNF-a in ascitic fluid and plasma may be associated with development of renal impairment, thus indicating poor prognosis in patients with SBP.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Necrosis* ; Peritonitis* ; Plasma* ; Prognosis

Biotin-deficient rats were raised on a purified ration containing raw egg white plus avidin. Urea synthesis and excretion were compared between the biotin-deficient and the pair-fed control rats. 24hrurinary urea excretion and the specific activities of carbamylphosphate synthetase, ornithine transcarbamylase, and arginase in the liver mitochondria fraction were no different between these two groups. The net urea production in the liver slice and in the isolated perfused liver of the biotin-deficient rats was similar to that of the pair-fed control. Thus the conclusion must be that biotin is not in urea in mea biosynthesis in the rat.
Animal ; Avitaminosis/metabolism ; Biotin* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Rats ; Urea/biosynthesis* ; MH - ; Substances: ; Urea ; Biotin

c-erbB-2 overexpression appears to play a role in determining the malignant potential of some human cancers. Using a specific monoclonal antibody to c-erbB-2 internal domain, 25 transitional cell carcinoma and I squamous cell carcinoma specimens of the human bladder, and 30 cases of BBN induced rat bladder tumors were analyzed immunohistochemically to detect the expression of this putative transmembrane receptor. c-erbB-2 internal domain was not expressed in rat urinary bladder carcinomas induced by BBN, but in 32% (8/25) of human transitional cell carcinomas. Although c-erbB-2 was expressed in human bladder tumor, there was no correlation between expression of this oncoprotein and characteristics of bladder tumor. Positivity for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was easily identifiable as an intense red staining localized predominantly at the cell membrane, supporting the view that c-erbB-2 protein is a transmembrane molecule. In most of the positive tumors, the distribution of staining is heterogenous. This suggests that small populations of tumor cells that have elevated levels of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein can be detected by staining. The availability of antisera that detect many oncoproteins in paraffin embedded tissue makes it feasible to design retrospective and prospective studies on selected groups of patients.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Cell Membrane ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Oncogene Proteins ; Paraffin ; Rats ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*