No abstract available.
Disasters*

OBJECTIVES: The TGF-Beta1 (transforming growth factor-Beta1 ), which has been shown to inhibit cellular proliferation in vitro as a growth regulator, has been demonstrated to enhance tumori-genicity in vivo. The proteolytic processes of cancer are thought to be the crucial point in tumor invasion and metastasis, mainly by matrix metalloproteinases.(MMPs) We investigated the serum TGF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels in patients with cervical cancer in contrast to those of normal, patients with benign myoma, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). And we questioned whether these serum levels are different according to the therapy of cancer or not. METHODS: We measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 concentrations by ELISA in 34 patients with cervical cancer, as well as 5 normal volunteers, 14 patients with benign myoma and 23 patients with CIN. Especially in 7 patients with cervical cancer, we measured serum TGF-Beta1, MMP-2 levels before and after therapy. RESULTS: The serum TGF-Beta1 levels in patients with cervical lancer(37.8 +/-15.4pg/ml) were significantly lower than those of the patients with CIN(46.2+/-9.2pg/ml)(p<0.05). But there is no differences among the serum MMP-2 levels in the patients with cervical cancers(680.30+/-116.6pg/ml), CIN(715.2+/-150.0pg/ml), and benign myoma(682.4+/-112.5pg/ml)(p>0.05). Patients undergoing cancer therapy did not have different values of serum TCF-Beta1 and MMP-2 levels as those without cancer therapy.(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: So we suggest that serum TGF-Beta1 may be helpful in differential diagnosing cervical cancers from CIN.
Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Myoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the growth, progression, and metastatic spread of solid tumors. Angiogenic factors are soluble molecules released by the tumor itself and are able to induce an angiogenic response. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been shown to be an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum VEGF levels in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. And we questioned whether the serum VEGF levels are related to cancer stages and prognosis of patients. METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 85 patients; healthy women(n=15), the patients with benign ovarian cyst(n=36), and the patients with ovarian cancer(n=34). The concentration of VEGF, CA-125, and CA 19-9 were determined in the serum of each patients before and after treatment with an enzyme linked immunoassay(EIA), RESULTS: There are statistical differences among the serum VEGF levels in patients with ovarian cancer(491.5+/-335.6 pg/ml), and benign ovarian cyst (247.7+/-183.6 pg/ml)(p<0.05). The patients undergoing cancer therapy had lower values than those without cancer therapy(p<0.05). The serum VEGF levels were not correlated with the cancer stages and histologic types(p>0.05) CONCLUSION: The serum VEGF level appears to be a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer and may help in predicting the therapeutic effects of patients with ovarian cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

In comparison with normal cervix, mitosis occur more frequently in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and are seen at high levels, suggesting that CIN may be associated with a progressive dysfunction in proliferative activity of cervical cells. This study aims that expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) was examined to determine proliferative activity at the cell of CIN. Sixty four colposcopic biopsies from patients with cytologically and/or colposcopically dtagnosed condyloma and CIN. The cases were classified as follows ; 19 as normal cervix and condyloma, 15 as CIN I, 16 as CIN II and 14 as CIN III. Immunohistochemical detection of PCNA was performed on paraffin sections by the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method using the monoclonal antibody PC10. There was a statisically significant correlation between the CIN grade and the PCNA grade(p<0.05). In addition, the PCNA grade showed significant correlation with mitotic grade(p<0.05) and the CIN grade was also observed(p<0.05). This study suggests that the cell proliferation index as detected immunohistochemically using PCNA may be a useful adjunct to histopathological diagnosis of various grades of CIN.
Biopsy ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mitosis ; Paraffin ; Peroxidase ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

No abstract available.
Nerve Regeneration*

PURPOSE: To ascertain the normal maturation of proximal epiphyseal ossification centers by monthly age duringthe first two years of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The distribution of age was 0 to 24 months. Six hundred andseventy-five infants were male and 436 were female;their ages were measured in months, and there was no evidenceof developmental problems. Proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification centers were evaluated from chestradiographs;if not visualized, they were graded as 0, and otherwise, as follows:Grade 1:visualized with poormargin or a diameter of less than 1/4 of metaphyseal width; Grade 2: visualized with good margin or a diameter ofmore than 1/4 of metaphyseal width;in grades 3 and 4, two ossification centers were visualized. Grade 3 indicatedthat one ossification center had the morphology of grade 2 and the other of grade 1, while in grade 4, bothossification centers were morphologically grade 2. Grade 5 indicated that two ossification centers were fused. Wethen assessed the relationship between the development of an ossification center and monthly age. RESULTS: Inmale children, modes were as follows:0 month, 0;1 month, 0 and 1;2-4 months, 1;5 months, 2;6 months, 1; 7-12months, 2;13-16 months, 3;17 months, 4;18 months, 2;19 months, 3 and 4;20-21 months, 4;22 months, 2 and 3; and23-24 months, 4. In female children, they were as follows:0 month, 0; 1-3 months, 1; 4 months, 2;5 months, 3;6months, 1; 7 months, 4;8 months, 3;9 months, 3 and 4;10 months, 4;11 months, 3;and 12-24 months, 4. In malechildren, mean ages were as follows:grade 0, 0.7 months; grade 1, 3.5 months;grade 2, 10.2 months;grade 3, 14.4months; grade 4, 18.1 months; and grade 5, 24 months. In female children, these means were as follows: grade 0,0.3 months; grade 1, 2.7 months; grade 2, 7 months; grade 3, 10.1 months; grade 4, 15 months; and grade 5, 20.8months. CONCLUSION: A proximal humeral epiphyseal ossification center shows regular maturational featuresaccording to monthly age.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

PURPOSE: To evaluate US and CT characteristics of small renal cell carcinomas with diameter less than 3cm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed US and CT findings of the small renal cell carcinomas which were surgically confirmed. We analysed echogenicity, peritumoral hypoechoic rim, intratumoral cysts on US. We analysed CT with viewpoints of tumor margin, growth pattern, renal contour change, attenuation on pre- and postcontrast scan, homogeneity, and perirenal changes. RESULTS: The US characteristics of the small renal cell carcinomas were hyperechogenicity(89%), peritumoral hypoechoic rim(66%) and intratumoral cysts(44%). They had relatively well-defined margin(90%), smooth and round contour(90%), endophytic growth pattern(65%), and outward bulging of renal contour(75%) on CT. They had iso- or high attenuation(87%) on precontrast CT, and were relatively homogeneous low-attenuated on postcontrast CT. CONCLUSION: The constellation of US and CT findings may be helpful in the diagnosis and understanding of the internal architecture of the small renal cell carcinomas.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Humans* ; Somites*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: SCC-Ag(Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen) is a tumor marker for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. It has shown that the SCC-Ag was well related with the response of cancer therapy and course of cervical cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the presence of pelvic lymph node metstasis can be predicted by the measurement of the preoperative SCC-Ag levels in the patients with early staged squamous cell carcinoma of cervix. METHODS: The preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels were measured in 45 patients with stage I-II squamous cell carcinoma of cervix undergoing radical hysterectomy from September 1995 to December 1997. The serum SCC-Ag levels were analyzed for the clinicopathologic characteristics and other prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The serum SCC-Ag levels of the patients exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis were above 4.8ng/ml. An elevated preoperative serum SCC-Ag level, and tumor size were independent predictors for the presence of lymph node metastasis(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of the preoperative serum SCC-Ag levels provides a new prognostic factor in early staged cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms