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

Mitomycin C(MMC) is one of the alkylating agents, which is commonly used adjunctively to inhibit the over-growth of the fibroblasts in high-risk filtering surgery. However, it increases the incidence of the complications including persistent postoperative hypotony. The hypotony may be caused by the toxic effect of MMC on the ciliary epithelium. The morphological changes of the ciliary epithelium were evaluated using transmission electron microscope four and twelve weeks after the application of balanced salt solution(BSS) and MMC on the exposed sclera against the ciliary body in the rabbit eyes. There was no specific change in the ciliary epithelium four and twelve weeks after the application of BSS. Four weeks after the application of 0.2mg/ml of MMC, the mitochondria in the nonpigmented epithelium of the applied region were swollen mildly. The mitochondria of both pigmented and nonpigmented epithelia were swollen moderately in the region applied with 0.5mg/ml of MMC. Twelve weeks after the application of either 0.2 or 0.5mg/ml of MMC, the mitochondria were swollen markedly, the nuclear membranes in the pigmented and nonpigmented epithelia were wrinkled, and the heterochromatins of the nuclei faded in both applied and contralateral ciliary epithelia. These findings indicate that mitomycin C causes degenerative changes in the ciliary epithelium decrease aqueous production.
Alkylating Agents ; Ciliary Body ; Epithelium* ; Fibroblasts ; Filtering Surgery ; Heterochromatin ; Incidence ; Mitochondria ; Mitomycin* ; Nuclear Envelope ; Sclera

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid is a useful tool for the evaluation of benign or malignant thyroid nodules. The improvements in the quality of cytological preparations using the liquid-based cytology (LBC) method have been well-documented. The principal objective of this study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic adequacy, sensitivity, and specificity of the thyroid FNA comparing a conventional smear with the LBC adapted with the filtration method described herein. METHODS: One hundred ninety eight cases of FNA samples obtained from May 2009 to September 2009 were included in this study. All patients were subjected to ultrasound-guided aspiration twice at a target lesion by a radiologist and two types of slides were prepared using conventional smear and LBC. RESULTS: When compared with conventional method, the cellularity was reduced in LBC. However, the malignant tumor cells evidenced the larger and more vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and distinct nuclear membranes in LBC. Thirty two cases (16.16%) of conventional smear were inadequate, but 96 cases (48.49%) of LBC were inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the slides using CellprepPlus(R) LBC evidenced lower cellularity and clearer background. However, the conventional smears were found to generate much more applicable samples than CellprepPlus(R) LBC.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Filtration ; Humans ; Needles ; Nuclear Envelope ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule

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

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 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

PURPOSE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of tranilast on proliferation of cultured human keratocytes, and to investigate the apoptotic response and the cellular morphologic changes associated with tranilast in vitro. METHODS: Human corneal keratocytes were exposed to tranilast at a concentration of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/ml for a period of 4, 24, and 48 hours. Evaluations were conducted with MTT-based-calorimetric assay for measuring the metabolic activity, flow cytometric analysis and fluorescent micrograph for assessing the apoptotic response, and inverted phase-contrast micrograph and electron microscopy for observing the morphologic changes. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of human keratocyte proliferation was found to have a dose and time dependent pattern (p<0.05). In flow cytometry, the maximal apoptotic response developed at 0.8 mg/ml concentration after 4 and 24 hours of exposure time, and apoptotic cells were demonstrated in fluorescent micrograph. At higher concentration of Tratnilast, human corneal keratocytes were more swollen rather than having a spindle shape and being detached from the bottom of the dish. The damaged keratocytes had degenerative and apoptotic changes like the formation of phagolysosomal granule, marginal condensation in the nucleus, and bleb formation of the nuclear membrane. CONCLUSIONS: The apoptotic response of tranilast is concerned with the inhibitory effect of human corneal keratocyte proliferation. Therefore, tranilast shows promise in clinical use for the inhibition of postoperative excimer laser induced corneal opacity or haze with fewer side effects.
Apoptosis ; Blister ; Corneal Keratocytes* ; Corneal Opacity ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nuclear Envelope

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*