BACKGROUND: Cell-cell adhesion in tissue is mainly regulated by hornotypic interaction of cadherin molecules, which are anchored to the cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic proteins, including a-and / 3-catenin. Loss of E-cadherin and catenin have been attributed a pathogenetic role in tumor invasion. METHODS: We examined the expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin in human thyroid carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Normal tissue strongly expressed E-cadherin and a-catenin. However, E-cadherin and a-catenin expression were frequently reduced in thyroid carcinoma (E-cadherin: 62.5%, a-catenin: 81.3%). But the expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin in tumors with metastatic spreading were not different with tumors without metastasis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that reduced E-eadherin and a-catenin expression may be a sensitive marker for disturbance in the adhesive function of the junctional complex, but further evaluation with more cases is needed for confirmation of the result of the same degree of expression in tumors with metastasis.
Adhesives ; Cadherins* ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoskeleton ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No Abstract Available.
Fatigue* ; Humans ; Male*

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated the isoflurane and halothane may be detrimental to in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes in high concentrations. The aim of this study is to compare the toxic effects of volatile anesthetics on mouse embryos using in vitro growth model of two cell mouse embryos. METHODS: Mouse two-cell embryos exposed to three volatile anesthetics, enflurane(0.5 mM; 1.5 mM), isoflurane(0.26 mM; 0.78 mM) and halothane(0.24 mM; 0.72 mM). Mouse two-cell embryos unexposed to any drugs were included as controls. RESULTS: The percentages of two-cell mouse embryos developed over morula stages on the third day after exposure of high concentrations of isoflurane and halothane decreased significantly compared with controls. The rates of embryos arrested at 2-8 cell stage in these groups were significantly higher than that of controls. There were no significant differences in these rates between enflurane group, isofiurane and halothane group of lower concentrations and controls. The hatching and/or hatched blastocysts development were significantly lower in isoflurane and halothane group than in controls. No significant differences in the hatching rate of blastocyst developed were observed among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that isoflurane and halothane in high concentrations have harm effects of the in vitro growth of two cell mouse embryos.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Enflurane ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Halothane ; Isoflurane ; Mice ; Morula ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated the isoflurane and halothane may be detrimental to in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes in high concentrations. The aim of this study is to compare the toxic effects of volatile anesthetics on mouse embryos using in vitro growth model of two cell mouse embryos. METHODS: Mouse two-cell embryos exposed to three volatile anesthetics, enflurane(0.5 mM; 1.5 mM), isoflurane(0.26 mM; 0.78 mM) and halothane(0.24 mM; 0.72 mM). Mouse two-cell embryos unexposed to any drugs were included as controls. RESULTS: The percentages of two-cell mouse embryos developed over morula stages on the third day after exposure of high concentrations of isoflurane and halothane decreased significantly compared with controls. The rates of embryos arrested at 2-8 cell stage in these groups were significantly higher than that of controls. There were no significant differences in these rates between enflurane group, isofiurane and halothane group of lower concentrations and controls. The hatching and/or hatched blastocysts development were significantly lower in isoflurane and halothane group than in controls. No significant differences in the hatching rate of blastocyst developed were observed among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that isoflurane and halothane in high concentrations have harm effects of the in vitro growth of two cell mouse embryos.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Enflurane ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Halothane ; Isoflurane ; Mice ; Morula ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy

To investigate the involvement of expression of the Fragile Histidine Triad(FH1T) gene product in the process of carcinogenesis and progression in cervical carcinoma, we examined its expression by immunohistochemical method in 15 cervical invasive carcinomas, 10 low grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias(CINs) and 30 high grade CINs(CMI and III). We detected expression of FHIT gene product in 4 of 15(27%) of invasive carcinomas, 3 of 10(30%) low grade CIN and 7 of 30(23%) of high grade CIN, while we detected expression of FHIT gene product in 28 of 45(62%) normal and metaplastic epithelium near the tumor. Thesc data indicate that loss of expression of FH1T gene product has some role in the early tumorigenesis of uterine cervical carcinoma, but not the consequence of the pregression of the tumor.
Carcinogenesis ; Epithelium ; Histidine* ; Immunohistochemistry

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

Regulation of respiration differs significantly between wakefulness and sleep. Respiration during wakefulness is influenced by not only automatic control but also voluntary and behavioral control. Sleep is associated with definite changes in respiratory function. With the onset of sleep, voluntary control of ventilation that overrides automatic control during wakefulness becomes terminated. Also ventilatory response to various stimuli including hypoxemia and hypercapnia is decreased. With these reasons respiration during sleep becomes fragile and unstable so that marked hypoxemia can be happened in patients with lung disease especially during REM sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea may also be developed if upper airway resistance is increased in addition to these blunted ventilatory responses.
Airway Resistance ; Anoxia ; Humans ; Hypercapnia ; Lung Diseases ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep, REM ; Ventilation ; Wakefulness

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Colorectoanal intussusception is a rare and distinct entity that differs from the more common rectal prolapse. Typically the intussusception occurrs with tumor at the apex of the intussuscepted segment acting as lead point. Here we present a case and review the literature of colorectoanal intussusception. The case presented here is that of an elderly woman with a proximal sigmoid colon cancer at its apex. Anterior resection was electively performed after reduction of the intussusception. It is important to differentiate a colorectoanal intussusception from the more common rectal prolapse because treatment may differ. The anorectum remains in its normal anatomic position in colorectoanal intussusception, whereas the anal canal is effaced with the prolapsed segment of bowel in rectal prolapse. Identification of a tumor at the apex of the intussuscepted bowel should also arouse suspicion that the condition is not a rectal prolapse.
Aged ; Anal Canal ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Rectal Prolapse ; Sigmoid Neoplasms

The soft tissue sarcoma ih the Orthopedic surgery is not common, occuring in less than one percent of all malignant tumors. Whille the sarcoma is comparatively highly malignant, its treatment has been varied, and the effect of the each treatment has been controversial and generally poor on statisties. We studied 58 cases of soft tissue sarcoma in the Orthopedic department of Pusan Gospei Hospital in the 6 years period from March, 1975 to March, 1981. We confirmed the sarcoma diagnosis by biopsy, and measured the size, the degree of local infilteration and occurrence of metastasis with the help of plain X-ray, angiography, lung and bone scan, and computerized tomograms. We made treatment plans according to above results. We classified the soft tissue sarcoma into 8 histologic types and obtained following conclusions: l. Among the 58 cases of soft tissue sarcoma, and majority is consisted of fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. 2. There were 41 cases occurred in the lower extremity and 17 cases in the upper extremity. Thus soft tissue sarcoma are more frequent in the lower extremity, especially in thigh (2 patients). 3. We found 19 cases between the age of 41 to 50 years. In general, the soft tissue sarcoma are more frequent between the age of 31 to 50 years. 4. Among the 58 cases, 10 patient came to our hospital because of recurrence of soft tissue sarcoma, after receiving local excision in other hospitals. In other words 17 percent of our cases showed recurred sarcoma and duration of recurrence was within 16 months. 5. Metastasis of the soft tissue sarcoma had taken place in 17 patients (29%), most frequently metastasis to the lung in 12 cases (70%). 6. We treated 30 cases by chemotherapy and radiotherapy after excision or amputation. In 15 sarcomas that could not be excised, but the medical treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 7. The follow-up study revealed better result obtained in the group of aggresive treatment with anticancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy after excision or amputation.
Amputation ; Angiography ; Biopsy ; Busan ; Clinical Study ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fibrosarcoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orthopedics ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma ; Thigh ; Upper Extremity