PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of the nuclear matrix protein 22 BladderChek (NMP22BC) test for the screening and follow-up of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2006 to September 2009, we enrolled 1,070 patients who had hematuria or who were being followed up for bladder cancer. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of the NMP22BC test with those of urine cytology. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the NMP22BC test (77.5%) was significantly higher than that of urine cytology (46.3%). The specificity of the NMP22BC test was 88.8%, compared with 97.9% for urine cytology. The sensitivity of the NMP22BC test (81.8%) in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer was higher than that of cytology (36.4%). However, the sensitivity of the NMP22BC test and of urine cytology in invasive bladder cancer were 57.1% and 92.9%, respectively. The sensitivity of the NMP22BC test was higher for low-grade bladder cancer (83.9%) than for high-grade (62.5%), and the sensitivity of cytology was higher for high-grade bladder cancer (66.7%) than for low-grade (37.5%). Follow-up bladder cancer was detected in 262 patients. The sensitivity of the NMP22BC test in that group (72.7%) was decreased and the specificity (91.7%) was increased. The sensitivity of cytology (54.5%) in the follow-up group was increased and the specificity (95.6%) was decreased. The presence of pyuria was significantly associated with the lower specificity of the NMP22BC test. CONCLUSIONS: The greater sensitivity of the NMP22BC test may be more useful for the diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and low-grade bladder cancer than for the diagnosis of invasive or high-grade bladder cancer. If the NMP22BC test is performed in the absence of pyuria, it may play a compensatory role for urine cytology.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nuclear Matrix ; Nuclear Proteins ; Pyuria ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Gene transfer technology is being used to enhance agronomic performance or improve quality traits in a wide variety of crop species. However, it is sometimes severely handicapped by difficulty in obtaining material in which transgene expression is predictable and stable over many generations. Because integration seemed to occur randomly in the plant genome, it was thought that some transgenes would be integrated in a relatively uncondensed, transcriptionally active chromatin environment, while others in a condensed, transcriptionally inert chromatin structure. Nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) are defined as DNA sequences that bind preferentially to the proteins of the nuclear matrix. They typically are localized at the borders of gene domains, implicating them in the formation of individual loops of higher order chromatin structure and transcription regulation. When MARs are positioned on either side of a transgene their presence usually results in higher and more stable espression in transgenic plants, most likely by minimizing gene silencing. In this review, we focus mainly on novel findings and our observations concerning the function of MARs in transcription regulation. Our objective is not only to summarize the current data and present several possible models to explain MAR effects on the transcription regulation, but also to point out some open questions involving the utilization of MARs in constructing high efficient expression vectors.
Chromatin ; physiology ; DNA ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Models, Genetic ; Nuclear Matrix ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transgenes ; genetics

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of urinary Nuclear Matrix Protein22(NMP22) in patients wish bladder tumor as a diagnostic test MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total persons were divided into three groups. First group were 26 patients with bladder tumor, second group were 31 persons of normal control, third group were 28 patients with UTI(urinary tract infection). NMP22 was assayed using a commercial test kit. RESULTS: Mean NMP22 in bladder tumor group(50.6units/ml) was significantly higher than mean NMP22 in normal control group(8.4units/ml). But, mean NMP22 in bladder tumor group was not significantly higher than mean NMP22 in UTI group(47.3units/ml). Mean NMP22 did not correlate with tumor stage or tumor grade in patients with bladder tumor(p> 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of NMP22 in bladder tumor(cut-of value: 10units/ml) were 73.1%(19/26), 67.7%(21/31), 65.5%(19/29) and 75%(21/28), respectively. Sensitivity of urine cytology were 50%(13/26) in the bladder tumor groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that NMP22 in patient with bladder tumor could be a good diagnostic test. High NMP22 level in patients with UTI, however, might be decrease the availability of MMP22 in diagnosis of bladder tumor.
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine* ; Humans ; Nuclear Matrix ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

It has been known that transglutaminase C (TGase C, TGase II) is directly participated in the DNA organization of chromosome, and affects the cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells, but still not known what mechanism is working on. In this study, the cytogenetic and the immunohistochemical methods were used to observe the TGase C expression in the nuclear chromosome of the proliferating cells, especially in mitotic stage. The human gastric adenocarcinoma (SNU-1) cell line was used for immunohistochemistry and antisense inhibition study in vitro. The present study was also aimed to disclose the efficiency of antisense inhibition by using antisense oligonucleotide DNA labeled with fluorescence, and found that anti-TGase C probe was diffusely infiltrated into the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the cell. By the antisense inhibition the nuclei of SNU-1 cells became rough nuclear shape, as they were greatly reduced in TGase C immunoreactivity both for the normal and apoptotic SNU-1 cells. However, it is clearly presumed that the TGase C directly interacts with the chromosome of SNU-1 cells and it may play an important role in the division and organization of the chromosome during the mitotic stage.
Adenocarcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Cytogenetics ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nuclear Matrix*

Chromatin texture, which partly reflects nuclear organization, is evolving as an important parameter indicating cell activation or transformation. In this study, chromatin pattern was evaluated by image analysis of the electron micrographs of follicular and papillary carcinoma cells of the thyroid gland and tested for discrimination of the two neoplasms. Digital grey images were converted from the electron micrographs; nuclear images, excluding nucleolus and intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, were obtained by segmentation; grey levels were standardized; and grey level histograms were generated. The histograms in follicular carcinoma showed Gaussian or near-Gaussian distribution and had a single peak, whereas those in papillary carcinoma had two peaks(bimodal), one at the black zone and the other at the white zone. In papillary carcinoma. the peak in the black zone represented an increased amount of heterochromatin particles and that at the white zone represented decreased electron density of euchromatin or nuclear matrix. These results indicate that the nuclei of follicular and papillary carcinoma cells differ intheir chromatin pattern and the difference may be due to decondensed chromatin and/or matrix substances.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Chromatin* ; Discrimination (Psychology)* ; Euchromatin ; Heterochromatin ; Inclusion Bodies ; Normal Distribution ; Nuclear Matrix ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy of urine cytology, nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the detection of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Washing urine samples from 156 patients were evaluated for the detection of bladder cancer. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was 106 patients with bladder cancer, group 2 was 30 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate without bladder cancer, and group 3 had gross hematuria without bladder cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of cytology, NMP22, and FISH were compared. NMP22 positivity was defined as > or =10U/ml. FISH was done with the UroVysion(R) system and FISH positivity was defined as > or =2 abnormal urothelial cells with an abnormal signal from any out of 4 probes. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of urine cytology, NMP22, and FISH was 60.4%, 75.5%, and 84.9%, respectively (p<0.001). The overall specificity of cytology, NMP22, and FISH was 96.7%, 83.3%, and 93.3%, respectively (p=0.168). In group 3, the false-positive rates of cytology, NMP22, and FISH were 20.0%, 55.0%, and 10.0%, respectively. In these patients with gross hematuria, the false-positive rate with NMP22 was significantly higher than with cytology or FISH (p=0.004). The sensitivity of cytology, NMP22, and FISH in low-grade bladder cancer patients was 25.9%, 51.9%, and 77.8%, respectively, and that in pTa-1 bladder cancer patients was 40.6%, 65.6%, and 78.1%, respectively. In low-grade or in pTa-1 patients, the sensitivity of the three diagnostic tools was significantly different (low grade; p<0.001, pTa-1; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FISH is more sensitive in low-grade bladder cancer than is urine cytology and can be used as a diagnostic tool for the detection of primary and recurrent bladder cancer. NMP22 was affected by gross hematuria and thus has limitations for screening of bladder cancer. However, it can be used to follow-up bladder cancer.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Fluorescence ; Hematuria ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mass Screening ; Nuclear Matrix ; Nuclear Proteins ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: As bladder cancer is a superficial tumor with frequent recurrences, early detection and confirmation of recurrence are important. We evaluated the usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek (NMP22BC) for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. METHODS: From July to December 2004, we enrolled in the study 670 patients who visited the urology clinic in Ewha Womans University, Dongdaemun Hospital with hematuria or dysuria and were tested with NMP22BC. We also performed the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests simultaneously in 21 patients and interference test in 10 patients. RESULTS: NMP22BC tests were negative in 97% of the patients who had been cured of bladder cancer and were positive in 95% of the patients with recurred bladder cancer. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and efficiency were 95.0%, 91.5%, 25.7%, 99.8%, and 91.6%, respectively, with 8.5% false positive and 5% false negative rates. Fifty-five patients showed false positive in the NMP22BC test, the main cause of which was the presence of WBCs in urine. There was a good agreement between the NMP22BC and BTA stat tests (kappa agreement value, 0.5; P=0.008). According to the interference test, two patients with more than 3+ in leukocyte esterase results showed false positive in the NMP22BC test. CONCLUSIONS: NMP22BC test was simple to perform, rapid to produce the results, and useful in diagnosing a bladder cancer recurrence; the test shows a high efficiency with a high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and low false negative rate.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins/*urine ; Nuclear Proteins/*urine ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*diagnosis

NMP is a kind of protein relating to the internal structural framework of the nucleus, which is related to gene expression and regulation such as DNA replication and processing of RNA, and is made in tumor cell more than in normal cell. The object of this study is to evaluate the utility of NMP22 in urine as the possible marker of monitoring the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Two groups attended the trial of NMP22; 1) 25 healthy volunteers 2) 25 patients with the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The result is that the values of the mean NMP22 of the healthy volunteers and the patients with the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were 4.04+/-1.83 U/ml and 186.9+/-405.9 U/ml, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.028). The value of urinary mean NMP22 according to the tumor grade and the tumor stage didn`t show the significant difference statistically (grade I: 41.3+/-51.9 U/ml, grade II: 167.6+/-369.3 U/ml, grade HI: 362.7+/-605.5 U/ml, superficial TCC: 204.2+/-453.0 U/ml, invasive TCC:132.0+/-217.1 U/ml). In detecting the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, the sensitivity of urine cytology was 68% and the sensitivity of combining urinary NMP22 and urine cytology was 88%, when the value of the urinary NMP22 over 7.70 U/ml was considered as the positive. Urinary NMP22 is expected to increase the diagnosis and the detection of recurrence of the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder if it is used together with the urine cytology as the urinary tumor marker of the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Diagnosis ; DNA Replication ; Gene Expression ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Nuclear Matrix* ; Recurrence ; RNA ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: Difficulty exists in interpreting the significance of atypical urine cytology. This study was performed to assess the diagnostic utility of nuclear matrix protein-22 (NMP-22) testing when atypical cells are detected during urine cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among patients whose urine cytology was reported as atypical between January 2004 and December 2009, a total of 275 who also underwent NMP-22 testing were enrolled in the present study. These patients were further divided into the screening group (143 patients examined as outpatients for hematuria) and the follow-up group (132 patients followed up for previously diagnosed bladder cancer). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were assessed for atypical cytology alone and in conjunction with NMP-22. RESULTS: Of the 275 patients exhibiting atypical urine cytology, cancer was confirmed in 85, yielding a positive predictive value of 30.9% (85/275). Of the 96 patients testing positive for NMP-22, 58 were diagnosed with bladder cancer. The positive predictive value in conjunction with NMP-22 was 60.4% (58/96). The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 68.2% (58/85), 80.0% (152/190), 84.9% (152/179), and 76.2% (210/275), respectively. Testing for NMP-22 in the screening and follow-up groups increased the positive predictive value from 30.0% (43/143) to 64.0% (32/50) and from 31.3% (42/132) to 56.5% (26/46), respectively; there was no significant difference between the screening and follow-up groups (p=0.106). CONCLUSIONS: When only cases with atypical urine cytology were examined, NMP-22 testing increased the detection rate of bladder cancer regardless of whether the test was used in screening hematuria or in following up patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nuclear Matrix ; Outpatients ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to distinguish between actinic cheilitis and lichen planus histologically, because both types of lesions exhibit variable degrees of epidermal dysplasia and dermal lichenoid inflammation. There is currently no consensus on suitable immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing these 2 conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine histological features and immunohistochemical markers that could be used to differentiate actinic cheilitis from lichen planus. METHODS: Fifteen cases of actinic cheilitis and 11 cases of lichen planus of the lips were included in the study. Histological changes such as parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis, atrophy, acanthosis, ulceration, necrosis, dermal solar elastosis, degrees of epidermal dysplasia and dermal inflammatory cell infiltration were examined. Verhoeff-van Gieson stained sections were quantified for the degree of elastosis using computer software. The following immunohistochemical markers were stained for: bcl-2, Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, matrix metalloproteinase-3, matrix metalloproteinase-9, CD4, CD8, c-kit, and prolyl-4-hydroxylase. RESULTS: The only histologically appreciable difference between the diseases was the degree of epidermal dysplasia. No differences were observed with respect to solar elastosis using the Verhoeff-van Gieson stain. We found that cell proliferation markers such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 were more highly expressed in actinic cheilitis than in lichen planus. In addition, the number of c-kit-positive cells observed in actinic cheilitis was significantly higher than in lichen planus. The expression levels of the other tested markers were not significantly different between the 2 diseases. CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemical markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67, and c-kit may help to differentiate actinic cheilitis from lichen planus of the lips.
Actins* ; Atrophy ; Cell Proliferation ; Cheilitis* ; Consensus ; Inflammation ; Lichen Planus* ; Lip* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Necrosis ; Parakeratosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Ulcer