The preeclamptic nephropathy is characterized by swelling of endothelial cells, interposition of mesangial cells and matrix, subendothelial deposits of incompletely defined material, and thickening of the capillary walls. To determine the distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in preeclamptic nephropathy, the immunohistochemical study was performed in ten renal biopsy cases using antisera to human type I, III, IV, and VI collagens, fibronectin, and laminin. In preeclamptic nephropathy, the accumulation of type IV and VI collagens, fibronectin was observed in moderate amount in the mesangium and, to some extent, in the thickened capillary walls, particularly in the subendothelial layer. In segmentally sclerotic lesions seen in six cases, the amount of type IV collagen was partly decreased, whereas those of type VI collagen and fibronectin were slightly increased. Type I collagen was expressed to a mild degree in the expanded mesangium and segmentally sclerotic lesions. The results suggest that the expression of ECM in the mesangium is increased in preeclamptic nephropathy, and the deposition of ECM components may be involved in the development and the reparative process of the characteristic glomerular lesions. The formation of sclerotic lesions may be linked to the alternative accumulation of ECM components.
Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type IV ; Collagen Type VI ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Laminin ; Mesangial Cells

Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney(MRTK), an uncommon renal tumor found in children, is one of the most lethal neoplasms of early life. It was first recognized during a review of the first National Wilms' Tumor Study(NWTS) as an extremely aggressive neoplasm whose appearance often mimicks those of skeletal muscle tumors, but without histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural markers of rhabdomyogenesis. Herein we present two cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney, one occurring in a 6-month-old male baby, and the other in a 123-month-old girl. They presented a huge tender mass on the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Microscopically, each case was very cellular and composed of sheets of round or polygonal cells with ample cytoplasm often containing eosinophilic filamentous inclusions and round vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Case 1 showed lymphomatoid pattern, but case 2 showed foci of several variant patterns associated with classic appearances. The tumor cells showed a strong reactivity for vimentin in both cases. Unusually, case 2 showed focal reactivity for epithelial membrane antigen(EMA), muscle specific actin, and smooth muscle actin. Ultrastructural study confirmed the presence of whorled bundles of intermediate filaments in paranuclear position, and a prominent nucleolus.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans

Normal human glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and mesangial matrix (MM) contain several different basement membrane components in varying degrees. The characteristic morphological and ultrastructural changes in patients with diabetic nephropathy are the thickening of the GBM and the expansion of the MM. In order to investigate the changes of extracellular matrix components in diabetes, the immunohistochemical localization was performed in 17 cases with different degrees using antisera to human collagen types I, III, IV, VI, fibronectin, and laminin. The following results were obtained: 1. The reactivity for collagen IV was increased in expanded MM in the diffuse glomerulosclerosis (GS). With the progression to the nodule formation, collagen IV was prominently decreased in the peripheral area of the nodules. 2. Collagen VI was increased in GBM and MM in the diffuse GS, it was especially prominent in the expanded MM. With the progression to nodule formation, collagen VI was prominently increased in the periphery of the nodules. 3. Interstitial collagen I and III were not stained in many of the cases with the diffuse GS. With the progression to nodule formation, these were slightly expressed. A lamellar pattern of positive reaction was noted at the periphery of the late nodular lesions. 4. Fibronectin was increased in GBM & MM in the diffuse GS, it was especially intense in the MM. With the progression to the nodule formation, the reactivity of antibody to the fibronectin was decreased. 5. Laminin was weakly stained along the GBM & trace in the MM, but was not changed in the nodular GS. In summary, the expanded mesangial matrix in the diffuse GS showed a markedly increased staining for collagen IV, fibronectin and collagen VI. Less intense linear staining for collagen VI, fibronectin, laminin, collagen IV and collagen III was noted along the GBM. In the nodular GS, the composition of the early nodules resembled that of the diffuse GS. However, the late nodular lesion of the nodular GS revealed decreased reactivity for collagen IV and fibronectin at the periphery of the nodule, where collagen VI and interstitial collagen I and III were increased in laminated pattern.
Basement Membrane ; Collagen ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibronectins ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Laminin

No abstract available.
Ligases*

Mesoblastic nephroma is an important differential diagnosis of a renal mass occurring in the neonatal period or in early childhood. It is a rare monomorphous congenital renal neoplasm most commonly recognized during the first 3 months of life. With the widespread application of ultrasound imaging, many cases are recognized prior to birth. We report a case of mesoblastic nephroma detected by ultrasonograph at 36 weeks of intrauterine fetal life and removed after birth. It showed a well circumscribed, grayish white, solid mass measuring 4x3x2 cm. The tumor was predominantly a classic type with a focal cellular pattern. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies were done.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Nephroma, Mesoblastic* ; Parturition ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To compare the age of menarche, changing patterns of the menstrual characteristics in adolescent girls between 1988 and 1998. METHODS: A survey was undertaken for 1,500 highschool girls and compare with those of pervious study for 5,000 middle and highschool girls performed by same author in 1998 by means of questionnaire. RESULTS: During a decade, the mean menarcheal age decreased from 13.5+/-1.0 to 12.7+/-1.0 years(p=0.001). Gynecologic age, Body mass index were associated with age of menarche in both 1988 and 1998. The interval of menstruation was 30.6 3.5dyas in 1998 and shortened compared with 32.1+/-6.3 days in 1988(p=0.001). The duration of menstruation was lengthened in 1998 than in 1988(6.1+/-1.1 days vs 5.8+/-2.2 days, p=0.001). The incidence of irregular cycle(28.2% vs 58.2%, p=0.001), dysmenorrhea(73.9% vs 77.8%, p=0.001), and secondary amenorrhea(16.2% vs 27.2%, p= 0.001) decreased in 1998 compared with those of 1988. The incidence of agonies about menstruation was also decreased in 1998 than in 1988(26.2% vs 69.1%, p=0.001). The most common agony about menstruation in 1988 was irregular cycle(28.4%), but dysmenorrhea( 64.3%) in 1998. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, the mean age of menarche was advanced since last decade but most of the adolescent girls still have suffered from dysmenorrhea.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Menarche ; Menstruation ; Surveys and Questionnaire

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) or inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare, solid tumor that most often affects children. This tumor is characterized by a spindle cell proliferation admixed with a variety of inflammatory cells. Although it has disputed nosology, a distinctive fibroinflammatory and even pseudosarcomatous appearance have been well appreciated. Herein, we report a case of IMT in the posterior mediastinum in a 19-year-old girl with clinical findings. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies on the tumor cells are reported, and their distinctive characteristics are discussed in details.
Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Mediastinum* ; Myofibroblasts* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Polydactyly*

No abstract available.
Lipoma*

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Blastoma*