CD44 is a hyaluronic acid receptor that exists as a standard 90-kd form (CD44H) as well as several CD44 variants isoforms are produced through alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced variants of the CD44 molecule have been found to be associated with invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells and poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to define the expression of CD44H and CD44v6 in ovarian tumors and to investigate whether the expression of these molecules is associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated the expression of CD44 isoforms in 58 ovarian tumors by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated between CD44 expression and the histologic types, tumor grade, peritoneal implants, pseudomyxoma peritonei and FIGO stage. While the CD44H was commonly expressed in ovarian tumors, the CD44v6 was expressed in a minor proportion of serous tumors in comparison with frequent expression of v6 isoform in mucinous tumors. The CD44H expression was significantly higher in stage I/II than in stage III. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44 and the presence of peritoneal implants or pseudomyxoma peritonei. These results suggest that CD44H could play an important role in the adhesive function in the lower stage of the ovarian tumor and reduced expression in the higher stage might be related to the metastasis and widespread invasion of ovarian carcinoma cells.
Adhesives ; Alternative Splicing ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Protein Isoforms ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin*

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Drainage*

No abstract available.
Aortic Aneurysm* ; Humans ; Rupture*

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play key roles during T cell-dependent humoral immune responses by allowing antigen-specific B cells to survive, proliferate, and differentiate within the FDC networks of secondary follicles, i.e., germinal centers (GC). METHODS: A novel monoclonal antibody, 3C8, was generated by immunizing with an FDC line HK, in order to understand the molecular signals involved in the FDC-B cell interactions in the microenvironment of the GC. RESULTS: The 3C8 antibody did not bind to mononuclear cells, including T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Murine L929 and human skin fibroblasts exhibited no or little reactivity to 3C8. However, 3C8 specifically recognized HK cells by flowcytometry. Furthermore, the antigen recognized by 3C8 was restricted to the GC of the human tonsil. Dendritic networks of the GC were intensely stained by 3C8, but cells out side the GC were not. CONCLUSION: Our result s suggest that the antigen 3C8 may play some unique role on FDCs during the GC reactions.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Communication ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular* ; Fibroblasts ; Germinal Center ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Monocytes ; Palatine Tonsil ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

Tumor cell resistance to cytotoxic drug is thought to be a major cause of failure in the chemotherapeutic treatment of malgnant tumors. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is associated with r expression of the MDRl gene encoding P-glycoproteintP-gp). an active efflux pump for various limphophilic compounds. P-gp was generally expressed in normal tissue and tumor. In our present investigation. we examined the expression of P-gp in human transitional cell carcinoma and normal tissue. 1. From April to June. 1992. 13 patients with transitional cell carcinoma(11 cases in bladder. cases in renal pelvis) and 5 specimens of normal urinary bladder tissue were used. 2. We stained these frozen tissue with JSB-1 (MONOSAN(R)) by immunehistochemistry. 3. The tissue sample was classified as weakly positive. moderately positive and strong positive respectively to the immunohistochemical staining under the light microgcopical observation. The weakly positive means that if the sample cell was stained with less than the fine reddish brown colored particles. The strong positive presents the cell nuclei was not seen by light microscopic examination because the cell was heavily stained with large reddish brown colored granules. In between weakly and strong positive was named as moderate positive. 4. 7 out of 13 transitional cell carcinoma showed Ash grade II,4 of this 7 belongs to moderately positive and the rest 3 of this 7 were strong positive class. All 6 cases of stage B, C, D transitional cell carcinoma belongs to moderate positive class. On the basis of the results, this study suggested that the normal bladder tissues and transitional cell carcinoma contain certain amount of P-gp. The author could conclude that there is no closerelation between the tissue staining classification.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Cell Nucleus ; Classification ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Humans ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Urinary Bladder

Collagenous colitis is an uncommon condition charaeterized clinically by diarrhea and weight loss and histologically by thickening of the subepithelial collagen band with chromic inflammation. Laboratory tests of blood, urine and stool, and colonscopic findings are usually normal. The etiology of collagenous colitis is unknown. We report a case of collagenous colitis improved after treatment with sulfasalazine with review of literatures.
Colitis, Collagenous* ; Collagen* ; Diarrhea ; Inflammation ; Sulfasalazine ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify influences of stress, anxiety, depression, and personality trait on nausea, vomiting, and retching of breast cancer patients perceiving chemotherapy. METHODS: Breast cancer patients who were admitted to Ewha Womans University Cancer Center for women to receive chemotherapy participated in the study. In addition to sociodemographic and clinical factors, self-reported questionnaires, including Type D personality Scale 14, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Global Assessment of Recent Stress scale were used to evaluate psychological factors of the subjects. For examination of anticipatory and post chemotherapy nausea, vomiting, and retching, the subjects filled out the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching and Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS: No significant influence of type D personality, anxiety, or depression on nausea, vomiting, and retching was observed. If the patient experienced more severe stress, higher scores for anticipatory and post chemotherapy nausea, vomiting, and retching were recorded. The tendency was retained after adjusting for the cycle number of chemotherapy, the emetic risk of the chemotherapy regimen, type D personality, anxiety, and depression. Specifically, financial problems, unusual happenings, ordinary daily stress, and general stress were significantly related to nausea, vomiting, and retching. CONCLUSION: Assessment of life stress, especially for financial problems, unusual happenings, and ordinary daily stress of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy can be used as an effective way to reduce the risk of nausea, vomiting, and retching related during chemotherapy.
Anxiety* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Depression* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Nausea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological ; Vomiting* ; Vomiting, Anticipatory

PURPOSE: Chemokines are potent regulators of the host inflammatory or immune responses. Mucosal synthesis of chemokines may be important in the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). We performed this study to investigate the expression of C-X-C chemokine genes in UC. METHODS: Mucosal tissues were obtained from six normal controls and six UC patients by endoscopic biopsies. In patients with UC, mucosal tissues were separately obtained from both involved and uninvolved regions. RNA was extracted and mRNA levels of five C-X-C chemokines were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. RESULTS: Mucosal mRNA levels of all chemokines tested increased in the involved region of UC compared with the uninvolved region of UC or normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that mucosal expression of C-X-C chemokines contributes to the pathogenesis of UC
Biopsy ; Chemokines ; Chemokines, CXC ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Ulcer*