No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: Our previous study demonstrated that the placental GnRH and GnRH mRNA did not parallel the time course of hCG secretion, though it is thought to be one of the potential paracrine regulators of hCG secretion from the trophoblasts. The present study was designed to examine the potential variation in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression in the placenta, which may account for the GnRH-mediated action of hCG secretion during pregnancy. METHODS: Human placentas in firt, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy were obtained. These placentas were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in OCT compound, and sectioned by cryostat. For in situ hybridization, S labeled RNA probes were used and followed by autoradiography. RESULTS: The GnRH-receptor mRNA signals were present in both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cell layers. Signal intensities varied with gestational ages and were abundant at 6-7 weeks, peaked at 9-12weeks, declined at 14 and 24 weeks, and were barely detectable at term. The present study demonstrates that GnRH-receptor mRNA exhibits changes paralleling the time course of hCG secretion during pregnancy CONCLUSION: These data provide mechanistic understanding that the paracrine/autocrine regulation of hCG secretion by placental GnRH is mediated through an increase followed by a decline in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression from the first trimester to term placenta.
Autoradiography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; RNA Probes ; RNA, Messenger* ; Trophoblasts

PURPOSE: To investigate clusterin expression in the acini and ductal cells of rat submandibular glands after Co-60 gamma irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 250 gm were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group was irradiated with a single absorbed dose of 2, 5, 10, and 15 Gy on the head and neck region. All the rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after irradiation. The specimens including the submandibular gland were sectioned and observed using a immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In the 2 Gy group, clusterin expression was similar to that of the control group at 1 day after irradiation and it was observed in the striated ductal cells at 3 days after irradiation. In the 5 Gy group, clusterin expression was observed in the striated ductal cells at 1 day after irradiation and gradually increased in the 10 and 15 Gy groups. In the 15 Gy group, clusterin expression was prominent in the striated ductal cells at 1 day after irradiation, but it gradually decreased with the experimental period. The destruction of the striated ductal cells was observed in the 2 Gy group at 21 days after irradiation and in the 5, 10, and 15 Gy groups at 7 days after irradiation. The destruction of the acinar cells was observed in the 2 Gy group at 28 days after irradiation and in the 5, 10, and 15 Gy groups at 14 days after irradiation. CONCLUSION: Clusterin expression was induced by low doses of irradiation and it appeared to be involved in the regulation of cellular response to irradiation.
Acinar Cells ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Clusterin* ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salivary Glands* ; Submandibular Gland

BACKGROUND: Overstimation of blood pressure(BP) by clinic measurements occur in about 20 to 30% of subjects(white-coat hypertension) who may, consequently, be misdiagnosed as hypertensives and received unnecessary medications. The clinical significance of white-coat hypertension and its effects on the cardiovascular wystem have not been studied systematically.This study was designed to evaluate the influences of white-coat hypertension and white-coat effect, defined as difference between clinic and ambulatory BP, on the LV mass and diastolic function. METHODS: LV mass index was calculated and LV systolic and diastolic function were assessed by the analysis of mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity in 45 untreated essential hypertensives and 20 normotensives(NT). Ambulatory BP monitoring classified hypertensives as white-coat hypertensives(WCHT,n=20) and sustained hypertensives(SHT, n=25). RESULTS: 1) Left ventricular systolic indices were not different among the three groups. 2) Left ventricular mass inedx of WCHT(114.5+/-36.3g/m2) was similar to that of SHT(115.6+/-34.9g/m2) and was significantly greater than that of NT(86.5+/-37.7g/m2)(p<0.05). 3) Some of left ventricular diastolic parameters(isovolumic relaxation time, E/A ratio, A velocity, pulmonary systolic fraction, ratio of systolic to diastolic forward flow velocity) of WCHT and SHT were significantly different from those of NT(p<0.05), but there were no differences between two hypertensive groups. 4) Even though both systolic and diastolic white-coat effect in WCHT were significantly greater than those of SHT(o<0.05),white-coat effect did not influence on the left ventricular mass or function in both groups. CONCLUSION: An increased left ventricular mass and diastolic dysfunction in WCHT suggests that white-coat hypertension could not be considered as an entirely innocuous clinical condition.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Hypertension* ; Relaxation

Objective: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin are pituitary neuro-peptides released by acute stress. We determined why the prognosis of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) due to aneurysmal rupture is not always dependent on the Hunt–Hess grading system (HHS) and delta-National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), while studying endogenous neuropeptides, including ACTH and β-endorphin. Methods: We analyzed blood samples collected from patients with SAH (SAH group; n=37) and those with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (control group; n=37). Blood sampling was performed before any procedure or chemical agents administration. The results of ACTH and β-endorphin measurements were compared using the delta-NIHSS and HHS. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson’s correlations. Results: Of the 18 patients with low-grade HHS, 13 had low delta-NIHSS and five showed high delta-NIHSS. Of the 19 patients with high-grade HHS, the delta-NIHSS was ≥14 in the other five patients. ACTH concentration was high (497.3 pg/mL) in five patients with high-grade HHS and high delta-NIHSS. β-endorphin concentration was high (159.7 pg/mL) in 13 patients with low-grade HHS and low delta-NIHSS. Conclusions High ACTH levels in patients with massive bleeding and poor neurological status suggests increasing ACTH secretion in response to bleeding stress, which may aggravate neurological status. Contrary to ACTH, high β-endorphin levels in patients with low-grade HHS implied the involvement of additional factors in predicting fair outcomes related to low delta-NIHSS. These results may provide insight into the varying prognostic potential of HHS in SAH patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is important because development of myocardial ischemia, heart failure or arrhythmias may be reduced. However, an animal model for LVH regression is not well established and there are no useful parameters to predict LVH regression. Magnetocardiogram (MCG), magnetic signal generated from the heart, has recently been investigated for the detection of electrical current changes of the heart. This study was undertaken to establish rat models of LVH-regression and to assess MCG changes during LVH induction and regression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat models of pressure overload LVH were established by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and LVH regression was generated by untying 2 weeks after TAC. Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and biochemical evaluation were performed in order to confirm this model. Magnetic fields were recorded with a SQUID gradiometer before and after TAC, and also recorded at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after untying, respectively. RESULTS: Rat models of LVH-regression were established successfully by TAC and untying. The pressure gradient across TAC disappeared within 10 minutes after untying. LV weight, LV weight/body weight ratio, LV mass and expression level of atrial natriuretic factor were significantly increased following TAC and decreased to baseline value after pressure unloading. Deeper S waves and strain patterns were observed after LVH induction and gradually returned to basal levels over the 2 weeks after untying. CONCLUSION: MCG changes in the rat models of LVH-regression indicate that MCG can be a helpful modality for the diagnosis and evaluation of LVH as well as follow-up after treatment of LVH.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Constriction ; Decapodiformes ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Magnetic Fields ; Models, Animal ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Rats*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system may be involved in the healing process following arterial injury. The expressions of eNOS or iNOS have been observed separately following endothelial denudation of rat carotid arteries. However, the expressions of nitric oxide synthase isoforms (eNOS, iNOS and nNOS) have not been observed simultaneously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using balloon catheter denudation of the rat carotid artery, as a model for arterial injury and restenosis, we have evaluated the time course of the expressions of eNOS, iNOS and nNOS simultaneously using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: From the immunohistochemistry, the iNOS protein was shown to be rapidly induced following injury (day 1) and was later seen to be relocalized to the neointima (day 5). Two weeks following injury the iNOS expression had declined. After 4 weeks the iNOS expression had disappeared completely. The eNOS protein was not detected until three days post injury. Two weeks following injury the eNOS expression was observed at the "pseudoendothelial" surface forming intimal smooth muscle cells. By week 4 the eNOS expression was detected on the morphological endothelium. The nNOS expression was detected at the media one day following injury and for the subsequent two weeks, but it was not detected at the neointima at all. RT-PCR demonstrated that iNOS mRNA was faintly expressed 1 day following endothelial denudation. The expression level of the iNOS mRNA was highest at 5 days, but gradually decreased until 2 weeks following injury. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that endothelial disruption may induce the expressions of iNOS and nNOS, and the re-expression of eNOS may reduce these expressions. The expressions of iNOS and nNOS could be a homeostatic mechanism that compensates for the loss of endothelium.
Angioplasty ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Catheters ; Endothelium ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Neointima ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent and severe complication of cirrhosis. In the most recently published studies, the prevalence of SBP among hospitalized cirrhotics with ascites has been estimated to be around 10-15%, the mortality rate related to this complication being more than 50%. SBP is thought to appear as a consequence of the impaired defensive mechanisms against infection present in cirrhotic patients, such as depressed reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity, impaired leukocyte function, reduced serum compliment levels, and low antibacterial activity of ascitic fluid. It has proposed that ascitic fluid opsonin capacity is directly correlated to ascitic protein concentration and that this explains an observed predisposition to infection in patients with low ascitic fluid protein concentration. This present study aims to investigate the frequency of the recurrence of SBP in a large series of cirrhotic patient who recovered from the first episode of SBP and to identify any possible predictors of recurrent SBP. METHOD: We reviewed records of chart in 312 consecutive cirrhotics with ascites patients treated in our hospital between January, 1988 and August, 1995. RESULTS: The incidence of SBP was 21.8%(68 cases) and showed 80.9% in male, 19.1% in female. Seventeen(25%) of the 68 patients included in the study after the resolution of their first episode of SBP developed one or more episodes of SBP during follow-up. SBP recurred once in 16 of these patients, twice in 1 patients. The cumulative probability of SBP recurrence was 47.1% at 6 months, 64.7% at 12 months, and 82% at 18 months of follow-up. This study reveals that neither ascitic fluid total protein nor the severity of liver disease(Child's class) predicts the occurence of recurrent SBP. CONCLUSON: We conclude that the occurrence of recurrent SBP is unrelated to the type of liver disease, and severity of liver disease did not predict the presence of recurrent SBP. Also, ascitic fluid total protein < or =1.0 g/dl, prothrombin time < or =45% may not be a sensitive predictor of recurrent SBP.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Female ; Fibrosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Mononuclear Phagocyte System ; Mortality ; Peritonitis* ; Prevalence ; Prothrombin Time ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Immunoglogulin A(IgA) nephropathy is the most common primary glomerular disease throughout the world. 30-50% of patients with IgA nephropathy(IgAN) have high serum IgA concentrations. However, we do not know if the degree of elevation in IgA level increases the likelihood of having IgAN. Neither do we know if the IgA level has any association with pathological findings of IgAN. METHODS: We analyzed the relationships between IgAN and the levels of serum IgA which has been a routine part of the study in all patients with glomerulonephritis in our institution for the last 4 years. We reviewed 270 patients in whom the pathological diagnosis and the results of their IgA levels were both available. RESULTS: Of 80 patients who were IgA nephropathy, 26 patients(32.5%) had higher than normal cut- off value of serum IgA(385 mg/dL). In contrast, 8.9 % of patients with other types of glomerulonephropathies showed the values above normal(p<0.0001). The risk ratio for an increase of one unit of the IgA level was 1.0025(logistic regression, p=0.0043), which was increased to 1.0079 when patients with low complement levels were excluded from the analysis. The data were also analyzed according to the immunofluorescence microscopic findings of IgAN, which were found to have no significant correlation with IgA concentrations. CONCLUSION: The IgA level is a risk factor for IgAN throughout the whole range. However, it does not correlate with the IgA deposition in the renal tissue. We believe that this study will help understanding the interpretation of IgA levels in patients with IgAN.
Complement System Proteins ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors

Background : Mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 are widely expressed in gastric carcinomas, however, recent studies have produced conflicting results regarding whether the expression patterns of these markers have clinicopathologic significance. Methods : We examined samples from 217 gastric carcinoma patients immunohistochemically to determine if the expression of mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 was correlated with postoperative survival and other clinicopathologic factors. Results : All tumors were phenotypically classified as gastric (type G, 81 cases), gastric and intestinal mixed (type GI, 55 cases), intestinal (type I, 43 cases), or unclassified (type U, 38 cases). The occurrence of type G and GI tumors was positively correlated with tumor progression whereas that of type U tumors was negatively correlated with tumor progression. CDX2 expression was correlated with type I tumors. Tumors that expressed MUC5AC or MUC6 had a better prognosis than those that did not. When the relationship between phenotype and prognosis was considered, type GI had the best prognosis, followed by type G, then type U. Conclusions : The mucin phenotypic markers may be useful for predicting tumor progression and survival in patients with gastric carcinomas. Additionally, CDX2 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis of type I tumors.
Carcinogenesis ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Phenotype* ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms