No abstract available.
Skin*

OBJECTIVE: In the previous study, we compiled the differentially expressed genes during early folliculogenesis.1 Objective of the present study was to identify downstream target genes of transcription factors (TFs) using bioinformatics for selecting the target TFs among the gene lists for further functional analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using bioinformatics tools, constituent domains were identified from database searches using Gene Ontology, MGI, and Entrez Gene. Downstream target proteins/genes of each TF were identified from database searches using TF database (TRANSFAC(R) 6.0) and eukaryotic promoter database (EPD). RESULTS: DNA binding and trans-activation domains of all TFs listed previously were identified, and the list of downstream target proteins/genes was obtained from searche of TF database and promoter database. Based on the known function of identified downstream genes and the domains, 3 (HNF4, PPARg, and TBX2) out of 26 TFs were selected for further functional analysis. The genes of wee1-like protein kinase and p21WAF1 (cdk inhibitor) were identified as potential downstream target genes of HNF4 and TBX2, respectively. PPARg, through protein-protein interaction with other protein partners, acts as a transcription regulator of genes of EGFR, p21WAF1, cycD1, p53, and VEGF. Among the selected 3 TFs, further study is in progress for HNF4 and TBX2, since wee1-like protein kinase and cdk inhibitor may involved in regulating maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity during early folliculogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Approach used in the present study, in silico analysis of downstream target genes, was useful for analyzing list of TFs obtained from high-throughput cDNA microarray study. To verify its binding and functions of the selected TFs in early folliculogenesis, EMSA and further relevant characterizations are under investigation.
Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation* ; DNA ; Gene Ontology ; Maturation-Promoting Factor ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Kinases ; Transcription Factors* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

No abstract available.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic*

Proliferating trichilemmal tumor is a relatively uncommon tumor which develops preferentially as a solitary tumor on the scalp of elderly women. Histologically, the tumor i epresents a proliferation of the outer root sheath epithelium in a characteristic pattern, but the presense of cellular atypia, dyskera.totic cells and mitotic figures may lead to a false impression of squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of proliferating trichliemmal tumor in a 70-yeiir-old male who presented with a slowly growing tumor on his right inguinal area for 2 years. This case is unusual in that the tumor occurred on the inguinal are anoher than the scalp in a male.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp

A case of dysplasia eplphyseaalis hemlmelica (Fairbank, 1956) in a 8 years old boy, showlng typical clinical and roentgenographical appearance, is reported together wlth a brief review of literature in this paper. This condition is a rare developmental disorder of childhood in which there is a asymmetrical cartilaginous overgrowth of one or more than one epiphysis, or of a tarsal or carpal bone. Thls disorder is usually Iimited to elther the medial or lateral half of a single extremity. The disease is characterised radiographically by delay in the appearance of the epiphyseal nucleus, which is mottied and of irregular density. The most common deformities were genu valgum or varum and valgus or equinus deformity of the ankle. These deformities tended to increased wlth growth but the size of the lesion increased in proportion to the growth of the normal bone. Concomitant involvement of the knee and ankle is the rule, and in those cases the affected limb Is usually longer than Its mate. The lesion Is often microscopically indistingulshable from an osteochondroma.
Ankle ; Carpal Bones ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Epiphyses ; Equinus Deformity ; Extremities ; Genu Valgum ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Osteochondroma

A 45-year-old female noticed a pruritic erythematous firm pea sized nodule on the left earlobe about 18 years prior to uisiting our clinic. The lesion has increased in size gradually and involved the whole earlobe. On March 1988, the earlobe became enlarged with extreme pruritus, and showed a tendency of easy bleeding by scratch. The skin lesions consisted of multiple pea to bean sized, shiny dusky red colored, moderate firm nodules or tumors with edema on the left. ear helix, antehelix, external auditoy meatus, and retroauricular fold. The histopathologic studies revealed vascular proliferation, presence of histiocyt.oid endothelial cells, and prominent inflammatory infiltration including large numtaer of eosinophils with fibrosis in the dermis. Hematological studies revealed eosinophilia(9%). Excision of several nodules and intralesional injection of trinmcinolon acetonide did not show complete favorable effect and treatment with carbon dioxide laser was attempted. With the patient under local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine, the lesion were treated with three t,o four passes at 25,100 second intervals with ieradiance 5W(cm. The pro- cedure was repeated until no abnormal findings could be seen in the treatment zone. Treatment with carbon dioxide Iaser on the patient obtained a satisfactory result.
Anesthesia, Local ; Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia* ; Bezafibrate ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Dermis ; Ear ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lasers, Gas* ; Lidocaine ; Middle Aged ; Peas ; Pruritus ; Skin

No abstract available.
Sarcoma*

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated*

Epidermal growth factor(KGF) and transforming growth factor arpha(TGF-a) are polypeptides of 53 amd 50 amino acid residuies. Both bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGR-R) leading to phosphorylation of the receptor, enhancement of its tyrosine-specific kinase activity and ultimately to stimulation of cell growth. To study he role of EGF, TGF-a, and EGF-R in differentiation and hyperproliferation of cell, we se lected psoriasis vulgaris, because the affected keratinocyte may house both an abnormally increased proliferative capacity and an abnormally differentiated state. The biopsy specimens were taken from involved and uninvolved skin of 20 patients with psoriasis and immunoperoxidase studies with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were performed with EGF, TGF-a and EGF-R useing the Vectastain ABC irnmunoperoxidase stain system. The antibodies were used at a concentration of 6 ug/ml In involved psoriatic skin, distributions of TGF-a and EGF-R were increased in all layers of epidermis as compared to normal, uninvolved psoriatic skin, in which chev were showed to the basal and parabasal layers. However, distribution of EGF was weekly positive in the basal layers of epidermis in both involved and uninvolved skin with no difference between toem. These results suggest that increased distribution of TGF-a and EGF-R may be involved in hypoproliferative state of epidermal keratinocytes in psoriatic lesion.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epidermis* ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Peptides ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Psoriasis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factors

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been suggested to play a role in ovarian folliculogenesis. The present study evaluated the effect of PACAP on the growth of preantral follicles. METHODS: Preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from ovaries of 21-day-old rats and cultured in groups for 3 days in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of PACAP-38 (10-6 M). RESULTS: Treatment with PACAP-38 resulted in an increase in follicle diameter by 75% whereas treatment with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increased follicle diameter by 65%. PACAP-38 treatment enhanced the granulosa cell proliferation as measured by thymidine incorporation analysis. Furthermore, the production of progesterone by cultured granulosa cells and GFSHR-17 cell line was stimulated by PACAP-38. Interestingly, PACAP enhanced FSH action on stimulation of SF-1 and aromatase gene expression. CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrate that PACAP stimulated preantral follicle growth by potentiating proliferation and by stimulating steroidogenesis.
Animals ; Aromatase ; Cell Line ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone* ; Gene Expression ; Granulosa Cells ; Neuropeptides ; Ovarian Follicle* ; Ovary ; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide* ; Progesterone ; Rats ; Thymidine