Transglutaminase(TGase) is a calcium dependent enzyme that catalyse and acyl transfer reaction forming epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine cross linkage. the major known effect of TGase is its important role in the programmed cell death manifested in the granular layer of the skin and acidophilic bodies in the viral hepatitis and neoplastic processes. The enzyme activity, immunohistochemical reaction using polyclonal antibodies against cytosolic TGase C, light and electron microscopic studies and TdT staining of the transplanted fibrosarcoma cells in C3H mouse with radiation therapy were done. The presence of TGase was detected immunohistochemically by avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method Apoptosis were significantly induced after irradiation dependent with time factors and irradiation doses, resulted in marked and confluent tumor cell loss. Highest activity of the cytosolic form of TGase was noted at 24 hours and decrease after then while membrane bounded form of the TGase showed no significant changes. Immunohistochemical staining revealed strong positive reaction in the sarcoma cells in diffuse fasion and around the necrotic foci in the cytoplasm. Terminal dideoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT) staining revealed increasing numbers of apotptic cells from two hours after irradiation. In the mechanism of decreasing tumor size and cell death in radiation therapy, apoptosis plays an important role and during that process transglutaminse might do some irreversible cross-linking effects of cytoplasmic proteins causing cell death in part.
Mice ; Animals

PURPOSE: To evaluate protective mechanism of melatonin against radiation damage and its relationship with apoptosis in mouse jejunum. MATERIALS AND METHODS:' 168 mice were divided into 28 groups according to radiation dose and melatonin treatment. To analysis crypt survival, microcolony survival assay was done according to Withers an (l Elkind's method. To analysis apoptosis, TUNEL assay was done according to Labet-Moleur's method. RESULTS: Radiation protection effect of melatonin was demonstrated by crypt survival assay and its effect was stronger in high radiation dose area. Apoptosis index with 8 Gy irradiation was 18.4% in control group and 16.5% in melatonin treated group. After 18 Gy, apoptosis index was 17.2% in control group and 15.4% in melatonin treated group. Apoptosis index did not show statistically significant difference between melatonin treated group and control group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin shows clear protective effect in mouse jejunum against radiation damage but it.', protective effect seems not to be related with apoptosis protection effect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Survival* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Jejunum ; Melatonin* ; Mice* ; Radiation Protection

No abstract available.
Lasers, Gas*

PURPOSE: We report a distinctive lesion in the articular cartilage of the talar dome in anterior bony impingement syndrome of the joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Arthroscopic debridement was done in 68 ankles under the diagnosis of anterior impingement syndrome of the ankle joint between October 1994 and June 1996. There were 6 tram track lesions of talar dome of the 68 ankles. We evaluated arthroscopic findings of tramtrack lesion, injury mechanism, and treatment results according to the criteria of Ogilvie-Harris DJ et al. RESULTS: All six male patients were professional or collegiate soccer players. Average age was 29 years (26 to 34). All 6 cases were dorminant ankles. Trauma history was not definite in all 6 cases. All 6 patients were anterior impingement syndrome of the ankle and treated by arthroscopic removal of osteophytes. The cartilage lesions were full thickness defects, located in the anterior half of the medial aspect of the talar dome and were longitudinal with variable widths resembling a tram track, thus named ""tram track lesion"". Tram track lesion and osteophytes were contacted by ankle dorsiflexion. Overall, good and excellent results were achieved in five patients at a mean follow up of twenty-seven months. Two cases had recurrences of osteophytes. CONCLUSIONS: Tram track lesion of talar dome occurred by repeated scratching of the osteophyte of distal tibia and treated effectively by arthroscopic removal of osteophyte and debridement.
Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Arthroscopy ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Diphenhydramine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Osteophyte ; Recurrence ; Soccer ; Tibia

CT findings and comparison between clinical and CT staging were reviewed in 45 consecutive patients withbiopsy proven carcinoma of the cervix. CT was done for staging of primary untreted cercial cancer in 36 patientsand for diagnosis of recurrent cervical cancer or follow-up study 14 times in 9 patients . The results are asfollows; 1. As comparing with clinical staging in 36 cases, CT agreed with clinical stage in 19 cases (52.8%),upstaged in 10 cases(27.8%) and downstaged inn 7 cases (19.4%). 2. The main upstaged CT findings are detection ofunsuspected bladder or rectal invasion and paraaortic lymph node metastasis. Inadequate delineation ofintravaginal tumor was the leading causes of understage of CT than clinical one. 3. CT detected all 10 cases ofthe hydronephrosis shown by IVP and detected unsuspected bladder invasion in 3 cases. 4. CT was valuable in thediagnosis of recurrent tumor and follow-up study after treatment. 5. CT offeres distinct advantages over clinicalstaging and can be integrated into the present FIGO classification of uterine cervix carcinoma. CT can served asan initial radiological staging work-up of primary of recurrent cervical carcinoma.
Cervix Uteri ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Spine* ; Titanium*

Pulmonary amyloid deposition generally occurs with concurrent primary systemic amyloidosis. Localized forms of pulmonary amyloidosis are rare and appear most frequently as an incidental finding on chest radiographs. We present a case of nodular pulmonary amyloid tumor suggested by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and confirmed by histologic examination with the polarizing light microscopy. A 41-year-old woman presented with ill-defined nodules in the middle and lower lobes of both lungs. FNAC of the nodules revealed waxy, acellular amorphous fragments. Thoracotomy for diagnosis may be avoided by FNAC diagnosis of this unusual lesion.
Adult ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Lung ; Microscopy ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracotomy

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present updated information on the research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea are an important cornerstone for obtaining other grants from the government and commercial companies. However, no information has yet been provided in the literature about these programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the relevant literature. RESULTS: The research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea are complex. However, it is possible to find appropriate grants. It is necessary to focus on the individual basic research program. CONCLUSIONS: Novel proposals have a greater chance of receiving funding, especially if the appropriate background and preliminary data are provided.
Financial Management ; Financing, Organized ; Korea*

A fecaloma refers to a mass of accumulated feces that is much harder than a mass associated with fecal impaction. Fecalomas are usually found in the rectosigmoid area. A 10-year-old male with chronic constipation was admitted because of increasing abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography scan and a simple abdominal x-ray revealed rapidly evolving mechanical obstruction in the small intestine. Most of the fecalomas are successfully treated by conservative methods such as laxatives, enemas and rectal evacuation. When conservative treatments have failed, surgical intervention may be needed. In this case, an emergency operation was performed and a 4x3x2.5 cm fecaloma was found in the distal ileum. We thus report a case of ileal fecaloma inducing small bowel obstruction in a patient with chronic constipation, who required surgical intervention. When symptoms of acute small intestinal obstruction develop in a patient with chronic constipation, a fecaloma should be considered in differential diagnosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Constipation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Fecal Impaction ; Feces ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Laxatives ; Male

To understand the ability of producing cellulolytic enzyme activity in the sapstaining fungi, four species of Ophiostoma and two species of Leptographium were investigated in the culture media containing each of cellulose substrates such as CM-cellulose, Avicel and D-cellobiose and each of chromogenic dyes such as Congo-Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue and Tryphan Blue. When the fungi were grown for 5~7 days at 25degrees C, the formation of clear zone by chromogenic reaction around the margin of the fungal colony was demonstrated in all the culture media Congo-Red containing CM-cellulose. There was difference in the formation of clear zone among the dyes. Only Ophiostoma setosum and Leptographium spp. showed cellulolytic activity to the three substrates. Overall, the results of this study show that ophiostomatoid sapstaining fungi can produce cellulolytic enzymes.
Cellulose ; Coloring Agents ; Culture Media ; Fungi ; Ophiostoma* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein