BACKGROUND: Micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma (MPUC) showed distinct pathologic features and aggressive behavior. The cytologic findings of MPUC are still indistinct. In this study, we evaluated the cytological findings of MPUC compared with those of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC). METHODS: The voided urine cytology of 8 cases of MPUC and 8 cases of HGUC was reviewed. Following cytological parameters were evaluated: cellularity, background, number of small, tight papillary clusters, small acinar structure, scattered single cells, cytoplasmic features, nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear pleomorphism, nuclear membrane irregularity, hyperchromasia, chromatin pattern and nucleoli. RESULTS: Compared to that of HGUC, cytology of MPUC showed large numbers of small, tight papillary clusters, small acinar structure, few numbers of single cells, and hyperchromatic nuclei. Other parameters were similar between the two groups; both groups showed similar cellularity, dense or vacuolated cytoplasm, moderate to severe nuclear pleomorphism, irregular nuclear membrane, coarse granular chromatin, and small and prominent nucleoli. CONCLUSIONS: The urine cytology of MPUCs showed smaller and tighter papillary cell clusters, more small acinar structures, fewer numbers of scattered single cells, and more hyperchromatic nuclei than that of HGUC. These features can help to distinguish MPUC and HGUC and offer an early cytological diagnosis of MPUC.
Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Nuclear Envelope

Villoglandular adenocarcinoma (VGA) is a rare subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma with a more favorable prognosis compared to conventional adenocarcinomas. Although the tumors are usually recognized on colposcopic examination due to the mainly exophytic growth pattern, they may be underdiagnosed as benign lesions by cytology because of their minimal cytologic atypia. We report the liquid-based cytology (LBC) findings of three histologically confirmed VGAs which we have recently identified. They were characterized by hypercellular smears on low-power examination with smooth-bordered three-dimensional papillary fragments. The nuclei were relatively uniform with irregular nuclear membranes. Nucleoli were small but distinct and macronucleoli were also seen. The abnormal architectural patterns such as papillary structures and nuclear overlapping and nuclear hyperchromasia are important clues to the diagnosis of VGA. In addition, nuclear membrane irregularity and prominent nucleoli can be recognized on LBC specimens, further facilitating its diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Nuclear Envelope ; Prognosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in cytologic findings between conventional preparation (CP) and SurePath(TM) liquid-based preparation (LBP) in thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA). METHODS: We analyzed cytological features on a total of 182 thyroid FNAs (83 CP and 99 LBP) that were histologically confirmed as nodular hyperplasia (NH) or papillary carcinoma (PAC). RESULTS: LBP was superior in cellular preservation and cellularity than CP. Interestingly, in LBP, cellularity of NH was similarly high compared to that of PAC. The three-dimensional pattern was more prominent in LBP than in CP. The presence of follicle structures was more frequently found in LBP than in CP in the PAC group. Dispersed single cells in the background were more prominent in LBP than in CP. In the PAC group, contrast of the nuclear membrane was more distinctive in CP than in LBP. CONCLUSIONS: In thyroid FNA, LBP is better for cellular preservation, cellularity, background and nuclear detail than CP. However, some features in LBP such as high cellularity in NH, prominent dispersed single cells, and frequent follicle patterns were unfamiliar findings in CP. Hence, we should be aware of these cytomorphologic features in LBP to make a proper diagnosis.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Hyperplasia ; Nuclear Envelope ; Thyroid Gland

Odontoblasts are responsible for the formation and maintenance of dentin which is a mineralized part in dentin-pulp complex of tooth. OD314 was obtained by subtractive hybridization between odontoblasts and osteoblast/dental papilla cells, and differentiatially expressed in the odontoblasts but not in osteoblasts and dental papilla cells. In this study, to better understand the biological function of new odontoblast-enriched gene, OD314, we examined expression of OD314 in cultured MDPC-23 cells and intracellular localization of OD314 protein. We also evaluate the effect of OD314 over-expression and inactivation on the cells by northern analysis. When MDPC-23 cells are cultured in the differentiation and mineralization medium for 28 days, OD314 mRNA expression was gradually increased from the beginning to day 21 and remained relatively high on day 28. Immunofluorescent staining of cultured MDPC-23 revealed localization of OD314 on the cytoplasm, especially near the nuclear membrane. However, a small amount of fluorescence was also observed in the nucleus. Inactivation of OD314 by RNA interference up-regulated the expression of DSPP, whereas over-expression of OD314 by CMV-OD314 plasmid down-regulated the expression of ON. These results suggest that OD314, a odontoblat-enriched gene, may play important roles in the odontoblast differentiation and dentin mineralization.
Cytoplasm ; Dental Papilla ; Dentin ; Fluorescence ; Nuclear Envelope ; Odontoblasts* ; Osteoblasts ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; Tooth

The purpose of this study was to evaluate alterations in corneal endothelial cell function and ultrastructure caused by benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Sixteen albino rabbits (32 eyes)were used for this study. One cornea of each matched pair was assigned to experimental group and the other cornea to control group. The experimental groups were divided into 4 groups, of which corneal endothelium were perfused with 0.01%, 0.001%, 0.0002%, and 0.0001% BAC. After paired rabbit corneas were isolated and mounted in the in vitro dual-chambered specular microscope, experimental corneas of each matched pair were perfused with different concentrations of BAC. Control corneas were perfused with glutathione-bicarbonate-Ringer solution(GBR). Corneal thickness was measured every 15 minutes throughout the perfusion period.Swelling rates were calculated by linear regression analysis, and compared to swelling rate of each paired mate perfused with GBR alone. At the end of perfusion,the corneas were fixed in 2.5%glutaraldehyde solution for transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Swelling rates of rabbit corneas perfused with BAC, 0.0001% did not differ significantly from control corneas (p>0.05). But, 0.0002%, 0.001%, and 0.01% BAC differed significantly from control corneas (p<0.05). BAC, 0.0001% showed normal corneal endothelial findings, but 0.0002% and 0.001% BAC showed reversible endothelial cellular injury. BAC, 0.01% showed irreversible endothelial cellular injury such as loss of nuclear membrane and disruption of cellular organelles. The results of this study indicate that long-term use of topical eye solutions containing BAC might induce corneal endothelial damage, especially in the absence of epithelial barrier such as corneal ulcer.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Cornea ; Corneal Ulcer ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Linear Models ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles ; Perfusion ; Rabbits

To evaluate the ultrastructure of cornea keratocyte infected by Herpes simplex virus, the cornea was excised from enucleated rabbit eyes. Cornea epithelium and endothelium of these was removed and cultivated in culture media. After 7 days, the Kos strain of Herpes simplex virus was inoculated into the cultured cornea keratocytes and co-cultivated until the cytopathic effect occurred. Cornea keratocytes was fixed in the 3%glutaraldehyde and examined with electron microscope. The infected cells were active cells and slightly more round appearance than normal cells. They had microvillies composed of cytoplasmic process protru-sions into collagen fibers. Virus particles was transmitted into neighboring cells easily since there was no barrier function of collagen fibers that was destroyed in the condition of culture. The nuclear changes of infected cells were marked :nuclear chromatin was degraded, condensated and displaced toward the nuclear membrane. There were many virus particles in the nucleus. There were also many degenerations in the cytoplasm, destructed numerous cytoplasmic organelles and many virus particles seen in the cytoplasm. The ultrastructural findings of keratocytes co-cultivated with Herpes simplex virus were identified from our result.
Chromatin ; Collagen ; Cornea ; Culture Media ; Cytoplasm ; Endothelium ; Epithelium ; Herpes Simplex* ; Microvilli ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles ; Simplexvirus* ; Virion

The average middle aged woman goes through a volatile period of endocrine fluctuations as she passes through menopause and the stages that precede and follow it. Ovarian hormones are steroid hormones. They readily cross the cell and nuclear membranes and influence transcription of numerous genes. Such influences are tissue specific and state specific. In short, changes in ovarian hormones mean that a women will experience changes in her entire body systems. When an individual woman's constitutional factors, pathologic states, medications, environmental exposures are taken into consideration, the integrated changes become too complex to predict. Inter-study sampling differences with the complexities in the backdrop may have led to conflicting conclusions in menopause research. This paper reviews some of the controversies in the care of menopausal women.
Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Envelope ; Women's Health

It is generally conceded that vasectomy is one of the most reliable methods of birth control because the technique is relatively simple, and the complete obstruction of the pathway for spermatozoa. However, a lot of unexpected effects were found after vasectomy. The possibility that it may effect changes in the function and structure of the testis and epididymis, as it were the formation of the sperm granuloma and antisperm antibody has been an important consideration in the controversy. The fate of non-ejaculated spermatozoa is postulated by some authors that those are disappeared by a progress of dissolution and reabsorption in the epididymis, or by formation of the sperm granuloma. According to Choi and Kim`s report about the effects of the seminal vesiculectomy on the structure and function of the testis and epididymis in rats. The distribution ratio of the sperm granuloma formation was higher in group of vasectomy and seminal vesiculectomy than that of vasectomy only, which indicated that the seminal vesicle produces a certain substance which enhance the sperm to be dissolved and reabsorbed in the epididymis. Therefore, we have attempted to prove the true state of sperm-acrosome on the fine structure after vasectomy and seminal vesiculectomy. The results were as follows: 1. The acrosomal membrane appeared quite intact on the electron microscopic study. 2. The architecture of the nucleus remained unchanged. 3. There was no evidence of nuclear membrane discontinuities, nor widening of the subacrosomal space. 4. Seminal vesicle seems to have some destructive activity on the sperm-acrosome after vasectomy.
Acrosome ; Animals ; Contraception ; Epididymis ; Granuloma ; Male ; Membranes ; Nuclear Envelope ; Rats ; Seminal Vesicles ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Vasectomy*

PURPOSE: Gene-attenuated replication-competent adenoviruses are emerging as a promising new modality for the treatment of cancer. In an effort to continually improve upon cancer gene therapy, we have modified gene- attenuated replication-competent adenoviruses so as to cause them to replicate efficiently and lyse the infected cancer cells more effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We modified the E1 region of the adenovirus (Ad) systematically, generating Ad-deltaE1B19, Ad-deltaE1B55, Ad-deltaE1B19/55, and Ad-WT. The cytopathic effects (CPE) and viral replication of these four gene modified adenoviruses were compared, and the morphology and DNA fragmentation of the infected cells was evaluated. RESULTS: Among the constructed adenoviruses, E1B 19kD-inactivated adenovirus (Ad-deltaE1B19) was the most potent, inducing the largest-sized plaques and markedCPE. Moreover, cells infected with Ad-deltaE1B19 showed complete cell lysis with disintegrated cellular structure whereas cells infected with Ad-WT maintained intact cellular and nuclear membrane with properly structured organelles. TUNEL assay was also used to monitor DNA integrity, and a more profound induction of apoptosis was observed in the Ad-deltaE1B19 infected cells in comparison to wild type adenovirus infected cells. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that the inactivation of the E1B19kD gene in a replicating adenovirus leads to increased CPE, rapid viral release, improved cell-to-cell viral spread and increased induction of apoptosis.
Adenoviridae* ; Apoptosis ; Cellular Structures ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Genes, Neoplasm* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles

The formation and development of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies of type II pneumocyte were investigated using 7 cases of human fetal lungs from 9 to 20 weeks of gestation by transmission electron micropscopy. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The multilamellar bodies, the characteristic inclusion body of type II pneumocyte, have developed in developing epithelium of lung at 9 week of gestation. Another inclusion bodies specific to type II pneumocyte also have developed at that time. 2. The inclusion bodies were formed in association with cytoplasmic reticulum, outer membrane of nuclear envelope, and mitochondria. 3. The inclusion bodies were distributed in cluster at the apical cytoplasm, and classified schematically with the contents as multilamellar, cytoplasmic, granular/f locculent, multivesicular, dense, and multilamellar. But the intermediate and composite forms of inclusion bodies appeared at the time toward 20 week of gestation. In summary, it is suggested that the differentiation of type II pneumocyte starts before 9 week of gestation and 4 main types of inclusion bodies considered as the precursor of multilamellar body were found. Although the inclusion bodies were formed at endoplasmic reticulum or etc, it is likely that they form multilamellar body through the complex process such as fusion of inclusion bodies.
Cytoplasm ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Epithelium ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Inclusion Bodies* ; Lung ; Membranes ; Mitochondria ; Nuclear Envelope ; Pneumocytes* ; Pregnancy ; Reticulum