PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine (NE) cells of the prostate are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). By a comparative analysis of NE cell density in BPH tissue of men who were either exposed to or not exposed to 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, we investigated the relationship between NE cells and BPH, and the effect of androgen deprivation on NE cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate tissue specimens, obtained from 30 men by transurethral resection of the prostate or radical cystoprostatectomy, were used. Of the 30 patients, 10 had a prostate smaller than 25 ml (normal control), the other 20 had a prostate larger than 40ml, 10 of who had taken 5alpha-reductase inhibitor (finasteride) for 3 months before surgery (androgen blockade group), and 10 who had not (BPH group). The distribution of NE cells in the prostate was examined using the anti-chromogranin A (CgA) antibody, and the density of the CgA-positive cells was compared by an optical dissector method. Immunoblotting was performed using the neuron specific enolase (NSE) antibody. A Mann-Whitney U test was used in a statistical analysis. RESULTS: Most of the CgA-positive NE cells were localized between the acinar epithelial cells. The mean numbers of CgA-positive NE cells per acinus in the normal controls and the BPH groups were 1.67+/-0.78 and 4.45+/-2.54, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). However, the mean number of CgA-positive NE cells in the androgen blockade group, was 4.93+/-2.17, which was similar to the BPH group. In a NSE immunoblotting study, a distinct band was observed in the BPH and androgen blockade groups, but the density of the band was higher in the androgen blockade group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NE cells may be involved in the hyperplastic process of BPH. Inhibition of dihydrotestosterone, caused by the oral administration of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, failed to induce any significant change in the NE cells, probably due to the incomplete androgen blockade.
Administration, Oral ; Cell Count ; Dihydrotestosterone* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunoblotting ; Male ; Neuroendocrine Cells* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

OBJECTIVE: We studied the expression of epidermal growh factor(EGF) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-a and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. METHODS: To confirm the expression of EGF, TGF-a and EGFR immunohisochemically in human trophoblast and decidua, we used monoclonal antibodies to EGF, TGF-a and EGFR. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical stainings using anti-EGF, anti-TGF- a and anti-EGFR antibodies showed a specific stainings in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. The staining intensity of EGF in the trophoblast was light to moderate at the first trimester and moderate at the third trimester, and that in the decidua was light to moderate at the first trimester and light at the third trimester. The patterns of expression of TGF- a in the trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in the trophoblast and that of EGFR in trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in decidua. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGF, TGF-a and EGFR may play an important role in human trophoblast and decidua during gestation.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Decidua* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Trophoblasts*

No abstract available.
Peritoneum*

PURPOSE: Isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium(INVM) can present as heart failure or arrhythmias in a child. It is a rare disorder, characterized by prominent trabecular meshwork and deep intertrabecular recesses. We still know little about the diagnosis, symptoms, and clinical outcomes of INVM. METHODS: We included in our study 6 patients who showed ventricular noncompaction on echocardiography. Patients were diagnosed as INVM were excessively prominent trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses were found on echocardiography. Patients who had other complex heart lesions such as pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in addition to ventricular noncompaction, were excluded. RESULTS: Age at presentation ranged from 1 day 7 years, with follow up being as long as 6 years. Symptoms at initial presentation were heart murmur, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, cyanosis, feeding intolerance, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiomegaly at fetal screening. Prominent trabeculations and intertrabecular recesses were observed at left ventricular apex in all six patients. All patients were alive at last follow-up. One patient showed WPW syndrome on electrocardiography. Echocardiography revealed decreased systolic function in 4 patients, and decreased systolic and diastolic function in 1 patient. One patient is currently asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Six patients were diagnosed with INVM with various symptoms at initial presentation. Echocardiography is the most important tool in the diagnosis of INVM due to its morphological characteristics. INVM can rarely be the cause of long term systolic dysfunction, and early detection by echocardiographic screening may be beneficial.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomegaly ; Child ; Cyanosis ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Heart Murmurs ; Humans ; Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium* ; Mass Screening ; Pulmonary Atresia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Ventricular Septum ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathological findings of Non-Q wave myocardial infarction(NQMI) on ECG did not always correspond to subendocardial infarction(SEMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of ECG for SEMI by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 84 patients who underwent MCE under the diagnosis of AMI. MCE was performed by intracoronary injection of sonicated Hexabrix into the infarct related artery and SEMI was diagnosed by inspecting endocardial defect with epicardial enhancement on MCE. RESULTS: (1) Among 19 NQMI cases, 7 cases showed SEMI with MCE score 0.5, 11 cases with score 1, and 1 case with score 0. Among 65 Q-wave MI(QMI) cases, only 5 cases showed SEMI. (2) 7 cases who had NQMI with SEMI showed LV wall motion recovery at follow-up echocardiography except 1 case. Whereas, of 5 QMI cases who had SEMI, only 1 case improve LV wall motion. CONCLUSION: NQMI on ECG does not always imply SEMI on MCE, but the absence of pathologic Q wave in the patients with SEMI is thought to be a predictive factor of the recovery of LV wall motion.
Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Ioxaglic Acid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathological findings of Non-Q wave myocardial infarction(NQMI) on ECG did not always correspond to subendocardial infarction(SEMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of ECG for SEMI by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 84 patients who underwent MCE under the diagnosis of AMI. MCE was performed by intracoronary injection of sonicated Hexabrix into the infarct related artery and SEMI was diagnosed by inspecting endocardial defect with epicardial enhancement on MCE. RESULTS: (1) Among 19 NQMI cases, 7 cases showed SEMI with MCE score 0.5, 11 cases with score 1, and 1 case with score 0. Among 65 Q-wave MI(QMI) cases, only 5 cases showed SEMI. (2) 7 cases who had NQMI with SEMI showed LV wall motion recovery at follow-up echocardiography except 1 case. Whereas, of 5 QMI cases who had SEMI, only 1 case improve LV wall motion. CONCLUSION: NQMI on ECG does not always imply SEMI on MCE, but the absence of pathologic Q wave in the patients with SEMI is thought to be a predictive factor of the recovery of LV wall motion.
Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Ioxaglic Acid

Mullerian inhibiting substance(MIS) has been known as a non-steroidal testicular Sertolicell product responsible for the regression of Mullerian duct in male embryos. More recently MIS was also found to be present in an bioactive form in the bovine and rat ovaries but the function of MIS in the ovary has not been fully delineated. In this study, in order to understand its function in the ovary the ontogeny of the production profile of MIS and the pattern of its localization in ovaries from adult normal cycling women were studied by immunohistochemical staining using the rabbit polyclonal antibody against human recombinant MIS that almost completely blocks its biological activity. MIS was detected specifically and exclusively in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells. The flattened granulosa cells in primordial follicles failed to stain for MIS, but the cuboidal cells of growing follicles stained intensely. The granulosa cells of both single and multiple layered growing follicles showed strong specific staining for MIS. Within the multiple layers of granulosa cells, closer to the oocyte, stained more intensely than those near the basement membrane. Similarly, in antral follicles, cumulus cells and periantral granulosa cells stained more intensely than those in the periphery. MIS staining waned in the mature follicles just before ovulation and could not be found in atretic follicles, corpus albicans. In conclusion, this specific localization suggest that MIS may act as an intraovarian regulator of follicular development and oocyte maturation during the adult reproductive cycle.
Adult ; Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone* ; Basement Membrane ; Cumulus Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans* ; Male ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovary* ; Ovulation ; Rats

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the expression of type IA, IB and II bone morphogenetic protein receptors (hBMPRs) are affected by the suppression of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate tissues of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), we determined mRNA levels and protein expression patterns of the hBMPRs in human prostate tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Frozen tissues were obtained during the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in BPH patients who had taken the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor (finasteride), for 3 months prior to surgery, for the reduction of the prostate volume. Tissues from patients who had not taken finasteride prior to the TURP were used as controls. Patients over 50 years old, and with a prostate volume over 50ml, were included. Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoblotting were used to compare the expressions of the human bone morphogenetic protein receptors (hBMPRs) between the experimental group and the controls. RESULTS: All of the BMPRs proteins were expressed in the human benign prostate tissues, with various concentrations. The semiquantitative PCR analysis showed that the mRNA level of the hBMPRs tended to decrease following 5alpha-reductase inhibition, and the magnitude of this decrease was the greatest for the hBMPR-IB. CONCLUSIONS: In the human prostate, only the expression of hBMPR-IB was significantly reduced by the suppression of DHT. Further studies on the possible role of the hBMP-hBMPR-IB complex, in the abnormal proliferation of the prostate under physiological conditions, are warranted.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Dihydrotestosterone* ; Finasteride ; Humans* ; Immunoblotting ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; RNA, Messenger ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

A 38-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of cyst-like lesion of the pancreas, which was incidentally found on physical check up. She has been well until the lesion was found except epigastric pain. On endoscopic retrograde pancreatogram, pancreatic head portion revealed a 2 x 2 cm sized cystic mass with marginal calcification. There was no definitive communication between pancreatic duct and cyatic mass, but amylase level of cystic content was increased. Surgical excision was performed, Microspically, the cystic wall showed flat lining epithelium with dense fibrosis and dysplastic calcification accompanied by chronic pancreatitis of adjacent pancreatic tissue.
Adult ; Amylases ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Head ; Humans ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis, Chronic

A 38-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of cyst-like lesion of the pancreas, which was incidentally found on physical check up. She has been well until the lesion was found except epigastric pain. On endoscopic retrograde pancreatogram, pancreatic head portion revealed a 2 x 2 cm sized cystic mass with marginal calcification. There was no definitive communication between pancreatic duct and cyatic mass, but amylase level of cystic content was increased. Surgical excision was performed, Microspically, the cystic wall showed flat lining epithelium with dense fibrosis and dysplastic calcification accompanied by chronic pancreatitis of adjacent pancreatic tissue.
Adult ; Amylases ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Head ; Humans ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis, Chronic