Dysregulation of TGF-beta that is a modulator of cell growth and differentiation can result in uncontrolled growth and tumor formation. Monitoring these pattern of genes and protein expression during tumor development will provide a basis for understanding normal growth and distortion of osteochondrogenesis. Our comparative studies on the experssion of TGF-beta protein indicate that TGF-beta may primarily be a regulator of epithelial differentiation during tooth development (between 4 weeks and 40 gestational weeks) and tumorigenesis of odontogenic neoplasm (ameloblastoma). In early human tooth germ (cap/early bell stage) TGF-beta protein was found in the epithelial dentallamina and enamel orgen. TGF-beta experessions were seen in inner and outer dental epithelium during bell stage. During enamel and cementum appositional stage, TGF-beta expression shifted from the ameloblast to the odontoblast. In eruption stage, TGF-beta expressions look like moderate positive pattern in odontoblast and rare pattern in enamel, dentin and cementum. TGF-beta expressions of follicular and plexiform amelobalstoma are moderate positive reaction in ectodermal tumor components and mild positive in vessels of stroma tissue. In acanthomatous type, TGF-beta expression was shown severely positive finding in stellate reticulum cell. TGF-beta expressions were noted moderate reaction in margin of tumor epithelium and stellate reticulum cell of granular ameloblastoma. In unicystic ameloblastoma, TGF-beta expression was rare feature in cystic luminal epithelium. With these result, I should be suggested that TGF-beta may play an important role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in human tooth morphogenesis and development of odontogenic epithelial tumors.
Ameloblastoma* ; Ameloblasts ; Carcinogenesis ; Dental Cementum ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Ectoderm ; Embryonic Structures* ; Epithelium ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Morphogenesis ; Odontoblasts ; Phenobarbital ; Reticulum ; Tooth Germ* ; Tooth* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

Although causative factors are not completely defined, carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer is attributed to multiple genetic alterations. The abnormal expressions of oncogenes are regarded to be responsible for the production of malignant phenotype, subsequent invasion and metastasis. From 63 surgically resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, expression of oncogenes in colorectal cancer tissue was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal antibodies to products of the oncogenes. To evaluate the possibility of oncogenes as a prognostic factor, we studied the relationship between the expression of oncogenes and the clinicopathologic findings which are well known prognostic factors. Rates of expression in colorectal cancer tissue were 27% for c-myc, 74.6% for c-Ha-ras and 77.8% for c-erbB-2 oncogenes. The positive rate of c-erbB-2 oncogene was higher in the well differentiated group than in the poorly differentiated group. The rates of expression of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes were significantly correlated each other. Expression of these oncogenes in colorectal cancer were not correlated with the pathologic stage, location of cancer, DNA ploidy pattern and histologic differentiation except between c-erbB-2 and histologic differentiation. In conclusion, there seems to be a possibility that c-erbB-2 could be used as a prognostic factor of colorectal cancer. However, further and more intensive study seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; DNA ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes* ; Phenotype ; Ploidies

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To report the pregnancy which was made by in vitro fertilization using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Six oocytes were retrieved and all were fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Six embryos were transferred and the pregnancy was confirmed. CONCLUSION: It is envisaged that the availability of recombinant gonadotropins and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists will ultimately lead to shorter, cheaper and safer treatments, using reduced dosages.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose / insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. RESULTS: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.
Body Weight ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Hyperinsulinism ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Obesity ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Testosterone ; Thrombophilia

OBJETIVE: To analyze the antithrombin III deficiency in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The blood samples were tested by chromogenic assay to evaluate the activity of antithrombin III. RESULTS: There was only one case of antithrombin III deficiency. This patient experienced one neonatal death after delivery and one FDIU (fetal death in utero). And also this patient showed a lupus anticoagulant and the prolongation of PTT. CONCLUSIONS: Women with recurrent miscarriage who have no obvious identified cause should consider hematologic screening. Antithrombin III deficiency could be a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. But the incidence is very rare in Korean patients.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the interrelationship between homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Homocysteine and MTHFR mutation were tested by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay and PCR-RFLP method, respectively. RESULTS: In patients with homocysteine level less than 5 mmol/L, there was no case of normal group but there were four cases of heterozygosity and one case of homozygosity. In patients with homocysteine level 5~10 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were eleven, eighteen and eight, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level 10~15 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were four, one and one, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level more than 15 mmol/L, there was no case of normal and heterozygosity group but there were two cases of homozygosity. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia due to MTHFR mutation is a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. And there was a significant relationship between homocysteine and MTHFR mutation.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Immunoassay ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate luteinizing hormone(LH) in patients with infertility and recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: LH was tested by solid phase immunoradiometric assay based on monoclonal and polyclonal anti-LH antibodies. RESULTS: Of 100 infertile patients, the number of less than 5 mIU/ml, 5~10 mIU/ml, greater than 10 mIU/ml in LH level was 67(67%), 22(22%), 11(11%), respectively. Of 100 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, the number of less than 5 mIU/ml, 5~10 mIU/ml, greater than 10 mIU/ml in LH level was 79(79%), 18(18%), 3(3%), respectively. There was a significant difference between patients with infertility and recurrent spontaneous abortion only in the group with LH level greater than 10 mIU/ml(p=0.325). CONCLUSIONS: High LH in the follicular phase is known to decrease pregnancy rate and increase abortion rate. But in this study the incidence of high LH in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion was low. On the contrary, there was a significant increase of LH in infertile patients. So recurrent spontaneous abortion does not seem to be related to high LH level.
Abortion, Induced ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antibodies ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Incidence ; Infertility* ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

No abstract available.