PURPOSE: With the process of neoangiogenesis being linked to the growth and metastasis of various tumors, anticancer therapeutics with a basis in the suppression of neoangiogenesis has recently been receiving attention. In this study, we tried to clarify the immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), major angiogenic inducer and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), major angiogenic inhibitor in human Wilms' tumor and its clinicopathological significance. MATERAILS AND METHODS: Utilizing immunohistochemical staining, we assessed the immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 in archival tissues of 29 Wilms' tumors and 25 normal kidneys. Also, we assessed the relationship between expression of each factor and clinicopathological parameters in 29 cases of Wilms' tumors. RESULTS: Immunoreactivities of VEGF and TSP-1 were detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the tubular cells in normal kidneys. In Wilms' tumors, whereas VEGF was detected in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells and peritumoral stromal tissues, but TSP-1 only in the peritumoral stromal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression patterns of each factor were divided into two groups according to the area of immunoreactivity (negative:<10%, positive: > OR =10%). VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 25 (100%) normal kidneys and in 20 (69%) Wilms' tumors. However, TSP-1 immunoreactivity was detected in 24 (97%) normal kidneys and in 3 (10%) Wilms' tumors. Therefore, although no significant difference was observed between the expressions of VEGF and TSP-1 in normal kidney, the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors. A relatively higher rate of positive expression of TSP-1 was observed in the patients with no demonstrable lymph node metastasis. Also, as for the VEGF, maximal diameter of the tumor was larger in the positive expression group. However, it proved otherwise for TSP-1 as the negative expression group demonstrated tumors with larger maximal diameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TSP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly lower than VEGF immunoreactivity in Wilms' tumors, and disease progression has a tendency to be found in the VEGF-positive cases and TSP-1 negative cases. We suggest that the growth and metastasis of Wilms' tumor may be influenced mainly by TSP-1 decrease rather than VEGF increase.
Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wilms Tumor*

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Prognosis*

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of maximal androgen blockade (MAB) compared with that of medical or surgical castration alone in the treatment of the metastatic prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the progressive status and the survival of the patients with stage D Prostate cancer who had received hormonal therapies at our institution. Classified by treatment arms, the patients were divided into two groups. Group I was composed of 82 patients who had undergone either bilateral orchiectomy or GnRH agonist (goserelin acetate) injection alone, and Group II, of 65 patients who had undergone MAB with antiandrogen (flutamide) in addition to bilateral orchiectomy or gosereline acetate injection. We investigated the overall survival, time to objective progression, progression-free survival, and side effects. RESULTS: The 5 year survival rates of Group I and II were 31.2 % and 32.5%, respec tively and median survival after the treatment was 34.2 months and 38.0 months respectively, which showed no significant differences between the two groups (p=0.21). The time to objective progression was 22.0 months in Group I and 24.0 months in Group II (p=0.52). Furthermore, each of median progression-free survival was 23.0 months and 24.0 months, respectively (p=0.79). In the minimal disease group, MAB appeared to increase the overall survival rate by 9.7%, progression-free survival rate by 7.3% and the time to objective progression by 10 months, respectively compared with the monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In the hormonal therapy for the patients with stage D prostate cancer, there were no significant differences in overall survival, median progression-free sur vival, and time to objective progression between monotherapy and MAB. This indicates that MAB does not have any advantages.
Arm ; Castration ; Disease-Free Survival ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Goserelin ; Humans ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Background: Autophagy maintains muscle mass and healthy skeletal muscles. Several recent studies have associated sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption with diseases. We investigated whether muscle dysfunction due to obesity could be restored by SSB restriction (SR) alone or in combination with exercise (EX) training. Methods: Obese mice were subjected to SR combined with treadmill EX. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, grip strength test, hanging time test, and body composition analysis were performed. Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) serum concentrations and TG concentrations in quadriceps muscles were analyzed. Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction helped analyze autophagy-related protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Results: SR alone had no significant effect on fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and muscle function. However, it had effect on serum TC, serum TG, and BCL2 interacting protein 3 expression. SR+EX improved glucose tolerance and muscle function and increased serum TC utilization than SR alone. SR+EX reduced P62 levels, increased glucose transporter type 4 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α protein expression, and improved grip strength relative to the high-fat and high-sucrose liquid (HFHS) group, and this was not observed in the HFHS+EX group. Conclusion SR induced mitophagy-related protein expression in quadriceps, without affecting muscle function. And, the combination of SR and EX activated mitophagy-related proteins and improved muscle function.

Background: Autophagy maintains muscle mass and healthy skeletal muscles. Several recent studies have associated sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption with diseases. We investigated whether muscle dysfunction due to obesity could be restored by SSB restriction (SR) alone or in combination with exercise (EX) training. Methods: Obese mice were subjected to SR combined with treadmill EX. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, grip strength test, hanging time test, and body composition analysis were performed. Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) serum concentrations and TG concentrations in quadriceps muscles were analyzed. Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction helped analyze autophagy-related protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Results: SR alone had no significant effect on fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and muscle function. However, it had effect on serum TC, serum TG, and BCL2 interacting protein 3 expression. SR+EX improved glucose tolerance and muscle function and increased serum TC utilization than SR alone. SR+EX reduced P62 levels, increased glucose transporter type 4 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α protein expression, and improved grip strength relative to the high-fat and high-sucrose liquid (HFHS) group, and this was not observed in the HFHS+EX group. Conclusion SR induced mitophagy-related protein expression in quadriceps, without affecting muscle function. And, the combination of SR and EX activated mitophagy-related proteins and improved muscle function.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the performance of serum cystatin C-based equations in calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with varying stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Serum cystatin C and creatinine levels were measured in 615 CKD patients. The CKD stage was determined by the creatinine-based estimated GFR (eGFR) equation using the four-variable abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation suggested by the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative with the addition of a coefficient applicable to Korean populations (K-aMDRD). In each CKD stage, the ratio of serum cystatin C to creatinine was calculated and six different cystatin C-based equations were used to estimate GFR. Cystatin C-based eGFR and aMDRD eGFR values were compared using the paired t test, Pearson correlation test, and the Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.21+/-14.45 years; of the 615 patients, 346 were male. The serum cystatin C-to-creatinine ratio was inversely correlated with the CKD stage. Compared with the K-aMDRD values, the results of the Hoek, Filler, and Le Bricon's cystatin C-based eGFR equations were lower in CKD Stages 1-3 and higher in Stages 4 and 5. However, the results of the Orebro-cystatin (Gentian) equation [GFR=100/ScytC (mL/minute/1.73m2) - 14] were similar to those of the K-aMDRD equation in CKD Stages 4 and 5 (15.44+/-9.45 vs. 15.17+/-9.05mL/minute/1.73m2, respectively; P=0.722; bias=0.27+/-8.87). CONCLUSION: The eGFRs obtained from the six cystatin C-based equations differed widely. Therefore, further studies are required to determine the most accurate equation to estimate GFR in Koreans with CKD.
Creatinine ; Cystatin C ; Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate* ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Male ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic*

A 62-year-old man with left flank pain and hematuria was shown to have a staghorn stone in left renal pelvis. Grossly, renal pelvis and calyces were markedly dilated with cystic and hemorrhagic degeneration and renal parenchyma was atrophied. A tumor-like mass was located in a hemorrhagic cyst of the renal upper pole. This mass consisted of giant cells and stromal cells mimicking a giant cell tumor of bone. This giant cell tumor-like proliferation may represent a response to hemorrhage into a cystic cavity. Recognition of this finding is important to avoid the over-diagnosis of neoplastic lesions.
Calculi ; Cell Proliferation ; Flank Pain ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Pelvis ; Middle Aged ; Stromal Cells

PURPOSE: The efficacy of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) for diagnosing prostate cancer in Koreans was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records from a selected population of 346 patients (30 to 93 years old, mean age 66.0) who had visited the department of Urology in Seoul National University Hospital from January 1994 to December 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients a transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy. The student's t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 119 (34.4%) out of 346 patients. PSA, PSAD, TRUS, and DRE showed a sensitivity of 95.8%, 88.2%, 66.4% and 61.3%, a specificity of 26%, 49.3%, 66.5% and 55.9%, and a positive predictive value of 40.4%, 47.7%, 51% and 42.2%, respectively. The positive predictive value from the combination of PSAD and TRUS was 67%, which was the highest when two among the four methods were selected and combined. The detection rate for prostate cancer was 23% (31 out of 135 patients) when the PSA level was between 4 and 10ng/ml, and was 20.9% (18 out of 86 patients) when PSA level was between 4 and 10ng/ml and the DRE findings were negative. CONCLUSIONS: In detecting prostate cancer, PSA showed the highest sensitivity and TRUS showed the highest specificity and positive predictive value. PSAD might be a useful method for diagnosing prostate cancer when combined with TRUS. A TRUS-guided biopsy should be done in patients when the PSA level is between 4 and 10ng/ml in Korea.
Biopsy ; Digital Rectal Examination* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Medical Records ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography* ; Urology