The p53 gene is believed to play an important role through the mutation and overexpression in the progression of various human malignant tumors. The type IV collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase: MMP-2) initiates the degradation of the extracellular matrix, and consequently may play a role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. To investigate the correlation between clinicopathologic features of the colorectal adenocarcinomas and benign tumors and expression of p53 and MMP-2 proteins, we performed an immunohistochemical study on 40 colorectal adenocarcinomas, 20 adenomas and 20 hyperplastic polyps by using the antibodies to p53 and MMP-2 proteins. The positive expression rate of the p53 protein in adenocarcinomas was 62.5% and significantly higher than in benign tumors. The positive expression rate of the MMP-2 protein was 47.5% in adenocarcinomas, but there was no expression of MMP-2 protein in benign tumors. The difference in p53 and MMP-2 expression rates between malignant and non-malignant tumors was statistically significant. The positive expression rate of p53 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adenocarcinomas was 59.1 and 66.7%, respectively. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adencarcinomas was 45.5 and 50.0%, respectively. The correlation between several clinicopathologic features and expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein was not statistically significant, but the rate of positive MMP-2 immunoreactivity showed a statistically significant difference between Astler-Coller stage B1 C1 group and B2 C2 group of adenocarcinoma (p=0.0431). We concluded that the expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein contributes to the cancer development and MMP-2 may play a certain role in the invasiveness of the colorectal tumor. p53 and MMP-2 protein expression is not correlated with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Collagenases ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps

Either increased cellular proliferation or decreased death might result in an expansion of their numbers in the oncogenic process. Cellular apoptosis represents an autonomous suicide pathway that helps to restrict the cell number. However bcl-2 and mutant p53 inhibit programmed cell death. To determine whether the bcl-2 gene is activated during colorectal tumorigenesis and whether it has any relationship with p53 and apoptosis, we studied the expression of bcl-2 and p53 in the normal colonic mucosa, in the adenomatous polyps and in the adenocarcinomas using the immunohistochemical method. Also we evaluated the status of apoptosis using the in situ end labeling method. The bcl-2 immunoreactivity was restricted to the basal epithelial cells of all normal colonic mucosa and they were expressed in all adenomas and 86% of adenocarcinomas, especially in the superficial lesion of some tumors. Mutations of p53 were not found in the normal colonic mucosa, but they were present in dysplastic cells of adenomas (52%) and in cancer cells of the adenocarcinomas (47%). Apoptosis was confined to the tips of the normal colonic mucosa. It was more easily detected in the p53-positive adenomas than in the p53-negative adenomas (p=0.010). In the adenocarcinomas, the findings of apoptotic process are not related with p53 mutation (p=0.3) and bcl-2 expression (p=0.187). p53 and bcl-2 are probably one step of several apoptotic processes in the adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma* ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon ; Epithelial Cells ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Mucous Membrane ; Suicide

SPARC, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, is a extracellular matrix-associated protein implicated in the modulation of cell adhesion, migration, cell cycle regulation, and angiogenesis. SPARC is expressed in fibrocytes and endothelial cells involved in tissue repair and invasive malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung, kidney, adrenal cortex, ovary, and brain. This study was aimed to characterize the different expression of SPARC in the thyroid follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in paraffin-embedded tissues of 25 follicular adenomas and 15 follicular carcinomas of the thyroid gland. Immunohistochemically, SPARC was not expressed in the 19 follicular adenoma and 2 follicular carcinoma but highly expressed in the 6 follicular adenoma and 13 follicular carcinoma. These findings suggest that SPARC is a potential diagnostic marker of follicular carcinoma and is helpful to distinguish follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma without vascular or capsular invasion.
Adenoma* ; Adrenal Cortex ; Brain ; Breast ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cysteine ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Kidney ; Lung ; Ovary ; Thyroid Gland*

We conducted this cohort analytic study to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum hCG at 15-18 weeks' gestation are at increased risk for pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. The inclusion criteria were a singleton gestation, a confirmed gestational age, and an hCG level greater than 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM). The exclusion criteria were fetal anomalies, an abnormal karyotype, molar pregnancy, and an MSAFP level greater than 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM). A group of randomly selected women with hCG levels under 2.0 MoM served as controls. Patients with elevated levels of hCG had a significantly higher risk for PIH (17.9% versus 4.5%; P <.05) and preterm delivery (17.9% versus 3.5%; P<, 05) than control. But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight and in the newborn weight. We suggested that pregnancies with unexplained elevated hCG levels should be regarded as high-risk pregnancies. And these patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric management.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk

No abstract available.
Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Oral ; Tracheostomy

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogenic cytokine. C-met protein, which is known to be the HGF receptor has transmembrane tyrosine kinase activity and is encoded by the c-met oncogene. The HGF/c-met signaling pathway may play various roles in the carcinogenesis of various organs. METHODS: We examined HGF and c-met mRNA expression by utilizing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on 40 surgically resected intracranial meningiomas (25 benign, 10 atypical, and 5 anaplastic cases). RESULTS: An HGF overexpression was detected in 28%, 50%, and 80% of the benign, atypical and anaplastic meningiomas, respectively; a high expression of HGF or the coexpression of HGF/c-met was detected in the high grade meningiomas (the atypical and anaplastic cases, p=0.046, p=0.014). An HGF expression was statistically significant in the recurrent meningiomas (p=0.003), and HGF expression was significantly lower than c-met mRNA expression in benign meningiomas (p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between histologic subtypes and HGF/c-met expression. Determination of HGF expression can be used as a molecular predictor for recurrence of meningioimas. These results suggest that HGF and c-met expression in meningiomas may be associated with anaplastic progression.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Oncogenes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: The authors present a retrospective analysis of the long-term recurrence rate for the 79 craniopharyngima patients surgically treated between Jan 1989 and Dec 1999. METHODS:Tumor recurrence rates were analysed with respect to age of patients, symptom duration, tumor size, localization of tumor, morphology of tumor, the extent of surgical resection, pathologic diagnosis and the other treatment modalities. RESULTS: For 79 patients, with a mean follow-up period of 5 years, the overall recurrence rate was 29%. Factors associated with decreased risk of recurrence was gross total tumor resection(p=0.01). Subtotal resection was associated with increased risk of tumor recurrence. The adjuvant radiation therapy was revealed efficient not in decreasing recurrence rate but in the delay of tumor recurrence time(p=0.05). There were no differences in recurrence rates for other factors. CONCLUSION: A rigorous evaluation of recurrence for craniopharyngima must consider the extent of resection, as judged by postoperative imaging. Adjuvant radiation therapy or Gamma knife surgery could be the effective treatment modalities.
Craniopharyngioma* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To correlate MR findings with histologic findings in avascular necrosis(AVN) of the femoral head. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging was performed with 8 femoral head specimens using T1- and proton density weighted coronal SE sequences, and compared with contact radiography and histologic sections. RESULTS: In each specimen, necrotic zone in the superior portion of femoral head, repair zone located inferior to the necrotic zone, and rim adjacent to normal bone marrow could be defined. Necrotic zone showed high signal intensity on both T1- and proton density- weighted images in 3 cases which were composed of necrotic bone and marrow, and low signal intensity on both sequences in 2 cases which were composed of necrotic bone marrow with amorphous cellular debris. Mixed high and low signal intensities were seen in 3 cases. The repair zone showed low signal intensity on Tl-weighted image and high signal intenisty on proton density weighted image in 5 cases which were composed of thickened trabecular bone and meSenchymal tissue and also showed intermediate signal intensity on T1 weighted image and high signal intensity on proton density weighted image in 3 cases which were composed of osteoid, chondroid and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. Rim shown as the low signal intensity on T1 weighted image in all cases was corresponded to viable thickened trabecular bone. CONCLUSION: MR imaging would be the best modality in the diagnosis of avascular necrosis of fernoral head and when used in conjuction with degree and location of signal intensity, the prediction of histologic finding may be possible.
Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Head* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis* ; Protons ; Radiography

BACKGROUND: Local anesthetics have been shown to interact with neuromuscular blockers. Most local anesthetics decrease neuromuscular transmission and potentiate neuromuscular block from muscle relaxants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of lidocaine on the onset time of vecuronium and to compare that with other method such as simply increasing the dose of vecuronium. METHODS: Sixty patients of ASA physical status I or II were induced with thiopental (4-5 mg/kg) and maintained with O2-enflurane (2.5 vol%). They were randomly divided into four groups: Vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) was administered intravenously in Group C (n = 15), additional lidocaine (1 mg/kg) was given intravenously 1 min prior to administration of vecuronium in Group L (n = 15), increased vecuronium (0.15 mg/kg) was given in Group V (n = 15) and succinylcholine was given in Group S (n = 15), respectively. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed by train-of-four (TOF) at the adductor pollicis muscle with supramaximal stimulation of ulnar nerve (2 Hz, 0.2 ms) every 12 sec. Endotracheal intubation was performed and intubating conditions were evaluated according to the standard scoring method after measuring the onset time (from the end of giving each muscle relaxants to the 90% suppression of the first twitch). RESULTS: The onset time of Group L (122.0+/-11.0 sec) and that of Group V (98.0+/-16.9 sec) were shorter than that of Group C (135.2+/-16.0 sec) (P<0.05), but these were not shorter than that of Group S (42.0+/-6.2 sec). There was no statistical difference between Group L and Group V. Intubating conditions were good or excellent in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Additional lidocaine for attenuating sympathetic response could accelerate the onset of vecuronium. But the onset time of this method was not shorter than that of simply increasing the dose of vecuroium nor that of succinylcholine.
Anesthetics, Local ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Lidocaine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Research Design ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide*