PURPOSE: When Managing metastatic bladder tumors, to overcome the resistance mechanism of cisplatin is a main problem to be solved. The objective is to confirm the changes of general and ultrastructural morph ology with the induction of cisplatin resistance from the bladder cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples of this investigation are 2ng/ml-cisplatin resistant human bladder cell lines T24R2 established by SNUH Urology and the drug resistant bladder cell lines T24 was obtained from ATCC, as a control group. We cultured the resistant cell line on the slide and observed it using light microscopy to see the general morphology. For the ultrastructural morphology, we fixed cultured cells, made an epon block, sliced an ultrathin section and observed it using H-71000 EM. RESULTS: Under light microscopy, the cytoplasm of the resistant cell line shows a plumper pattern than that of the parent cell. Under electronmicroscopy, the chromatin of the resistant cell line has a relatively finely dispersed chromatin pattern when compared to the parent cell line, which shows a coarse and aggregated chromatin pattern. Within the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial volume, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, polyribosomes and ribosomes are moderately increased in the resistant cell line when compared to the parent cell line. In particular, we found a great amount of double membrane vesicle near the cell surface and pinocytic vesicles on the surface, which are seldom observed within the parent cells. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the cisplatin resistant human bladder cell lines (T24R2) underwent a morphological change with the induction of cisplatin resistance, and we hypothesize that the resistant cell's ultrastructure, which shows morphological change, will be involved in the drug resistance mechanism. Regarding this matter, further research will be needed.
Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromatin ; Cisplatin* ; Cytoplasm ; Drug Resistance ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Mitochondrial Size ; Parents ; Polyribosomes ; Ribosomes ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urology

No abstract available.
Urinary Retention*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Diagnosis* ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Ultrasonography*

Type I and type II collagens are considered the major collagens of bone and cartilage respectively. Monitoring the patterns of those gene and protein expressions during development will provide a basis for the understanding of the normal and abnormal growths. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of collagen genes and proteins involved in the developing human mandible. Fifty embryos and fetuses were studied with Alcian blue-PAS, Masson's Trichrome, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and Southern blot analysis. Our results showed that pro-alpha1(II) collagen gene expression begins in the 5th week. Type II collagen is synthesized in mesenchymal cells in advance of overt chondrogenesis. The gene expression for type II collagen was highest during the appearance of Meckel's cartilage. There was a switch in collagen protein expression from type I to type II during the appearance stage of Meckel's cartilage. The distribution of the mRNA for type II collagen corresponded well with the pattern of type II collagen protein. The endochondral ossification was observed where there was direct replacement of cartilage by bone.
Blotting, Southern ; Blotting, Western ; Cartilage ; Chondrogenesis ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II* ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Mandible* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

We have examined the in vitro stage-related chondrogenic potential of human mandibular and limb bud mesenchyme cells using micromass culture, Our results indicate that limb bud mesenchyme cells as early as stage 16 by Carnegie system (37 days), well before the initiation of in vivo chondrogenesis, have chondrogenic potential which is expressed in micromass culture, These results are correlated with stage-related chondrogenic potential of human limb bud in vivo as a result of Alcian blue staining. The proliferation of chondrogenic cells increased in the first 3 days after culture and then decreased. These results were correlated with the cell cycle analysis of which the number of G degrees/G1 phase increased markedly after 3 days of culture, while the percentage of cells in S phase was decreased, On the other hand, it was rarely differentiated in the mandible. We examined the effects of two PKC modulators such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of PKC, and staurosporine (STSN), an inhibitor of PKC. PMA inhibited the chondrogenesis, whereas STSN promoted the chondrogenesis in a dose dependent manner. In addition, PMA exerted no inhibitory effect when the cells were pretreated for 24 h with STSN, implying that the chondrogenic events might be settled at an early step in vitro and PKC may act as a negative modulator, Collectively, these results demonstrate, for the first time, the stage-related chondrogenic potential of human mandibular and limb bud mesenchyme cells and the role of PKC during chondrogenesis in vitro & in vivo.
Alcian Blue ; Cell Cycle ; Chondrogenesis ; Embryonic Structures* ; Extremities* ; Hand ; Humans* ; Limb Buds* ; Mandible ; Mesoderm ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; S Phase ; Staurosporine

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to examine the prevalence of neuroleptic-induced irregular menstruation and its related factors as well as the possible relationship of irregular menstruation with psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Thirty five schizophrenic inpatients at Naju National Mental Hospital who satisfied the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV were selected. They had drug-free periods for more than 1 month before admission and had been taking neuroleptics for more than 3 months after admission. From all patients, reliable information regarding the sociodemographic characteristics, the menstrual histories before and after admission and clinical characteristics, including previous and current medications were investigated. The following were also evaluated: Serum prolactin level(by radioimmunoassay), psychopathology(by positive and negative syndrome scale: PANSS), and extrapyramidal symptoms(by extrapyramidal symptom rating scale: ESRS). RESULTS: Twelve patients(34%) showed regular menstruation and 23 patients(66%) were suffering from irregular menstruation. Of those with irregular menstruation, 13 patients(37%) had oligomenorrhea and 10 patients(29%) had amenorrhea. There were no differences in sociodemographic characteristics and menstrual histories before admission between the regular and irregular menstruation groups. But, the significant differences between the two were found in the following variables: The irregular menstruation group had shorter durations of illness, higher daily doses of current neuroleptics, higher serum prolactin levels, higher scores on the general psychopathology scale of PANSS, and higher scores on the parkinsonian symptom scale, hypokinetic symptom factor and clinical global impression of ESRS. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of the irregular menstruation in schizophrenic patients reflects a state of hyperprolactinemia due to the interference of dopamine activity by high doses of neuroleptics.
Amenorrhea ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Dopamine ; Female ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Inpatients ; Jeollanam-do ; Menstruation* ; Oligomenorrhea ; Prevalence ; Prolactin ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Kidney Transplantation* ; Urinary Diversion*

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with skipping breakfast of Korean children by analyzing the 24-hour recall intake data from the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey. The sample of this study consisted of 1,600 children aged 7 to 18 years. About 17% of the children skipped breakfast, consuming no food or beverage at all. About 30% of children reporting breakfast skipping in a self-administered survey were shown to have eaten some foods as a result of analysis of the 24-hour recall data. Students having eaten breakfast consumed 21% of Estimated Energy Requirement at breakfast. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that age was associated with skipping breakfast both in elementary and middle/high school students; older students were more likely to skip breakfast. Elementary school students from low-income families were more likely to skip breakfast than those from upper-high income families. Intervention programs are needed to prevent children from skipping breakfast by targeting older students. For elementary school students, such programs should be first developed for those from lowincome families.
Aged ; Beverages ; Breakfast ; Child ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys

PURPOSE: A number of drugs are capable of changing body weight as a side effect. A number of neurotransmitter systems acting in several hypothalamic nuclei are pivotal to the storage regulation of body fat. Leptin is a protein encoded by the ob gene that is expressed in adipocyte. It regulates eating behavior by activating the action to the satiety center in the hypothalmus. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes of serum leptin in children with epilepsy. METHODS: Serum leptin levels were measured in 43 epileptic patients (30 males, 13 females) receiving valproate or carbamazepine by radioimmunoassay. Thirty patients (19 males, 11 females, 10.0+/-5.0 years of age) were treated with valproate (VPA group) and 13 patients (11 males, 2 females, 9.1+/-4.0 years of age) were treated with carbamazepine (CBZ group). Obesity index and body mass index were calculated before and during anticonvulsant medications. RESULTS: 1) Body mass indices were significantly increased after VPA or CBZ medication; from 17.24+/-2.74 to 18.47+/-2.60 in VPA group, from 16.77+/-1.69 to 17.43+/-3.01 in CBZ group. 2) Obesity indices were increased without statistical significance after medication in both group. 3) Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in VPA group (4.54+/-4.77ng/ml) than CBZ group (2.47+/-2.26ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Body weight gain after VPA medication in susceptible individual might be related to a certain mechanism that elevates serum leptin level.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Carbamazepine ; Child* ; Epilepsy ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Obesity ; Radioimmunoassay ; Valproic Acid ; Weight Gain