OBJECTIVE: p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes are known to be tumor suppressor genes which reside in p21 region of chromosome 9 and are related to cell cycle control as an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent-kinase. We designed this study to search for deletion and decreased expression of p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes in advanced ovarian carcinomas. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis was performed to search for deletion of p16INK4 and p15INK4B using DNA extracted from frozen tissue in liquid nitrogen of thirty-one advanced ovarian carcinoma patients. The intensities of PCR bands were analyzed using an imaging densitometer to determine gene dosage in tumor samples and the relative gene dosage was calculated by comparing band intesity of p16INK4 or p15INK4B with that of beta-globin gene. Homozygous deletions were assigned to tumors in which the ratio was reduced to less than 25% in any one of exons of p16INK4 and p15INK4B. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the expression of p16INK4. p16-negative cells were characterized by the absence of nuclear staining, whereas cytoplasmic staining was variable. Clinico-pathologic features, complete remission rates and survivals were analyzed according to the status of p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes. RESULTS: Homozygous deletion of p16INK4 was detected in 12.9% of advanced ovarian carcinoma patients and that of p15INK4B in 35.5%. Clinico-pathologic features such as FIGO stage, histological grade, serum CA-125 levels were not different from groups with homozygously deleted p16INK4 and p15INK4B to those with normal genes. The survival of patients (13 [6-20] months) with homozygously deleted p16INK4 was significantly shorter than that (30 [8-52] months) of patients with normal p16INK4 (p=0.046; Log-rank test). CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that deletions of p16INK4 and p15INK4B gene might be involved in tumorigenesis of ovarian carcinoma and could be useful as a prognostic factor. A prospective, controlled study with more patients will be mandatory in the future.
beta-Globins ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Exons ; Gene Dosage ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nitrogen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: Dopamine receptors are strong candidates for involvement in schizophrenia and are target of a wide variety of antipsychotics. Dopamine D5 receptor(DRD5) gene polymorphisms may be associated with various treatment response. The purpose of our study was define to what significance can be held as a predictor of treatment response in this polymorphism. METHOD: The total number of 116 Korean chronic schizophrenic patients was assessed after 48 weeks treatment. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) was rated for the clinical response to various antipsychotics. With the use of polymerase chain reaction amplification, we assessed this dopamine D5 receptor polymorphism in schizophrenic patients who had been treated with antipsychotics, and related genotype with treatment response, to test the hypothesis that DRD5 polymorphism may lead to varying resonse to antipsychotic. RESULT: DRD5 polymorphism was not associated with treatment response to a variety of antipsychotics in chronic schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSION: Genetic variation of D5 receptors do not predict treatment response to antispychotics.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Dopamine* ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Dopamine ; Receptors, Dopamine D5* ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE:Cardiovascular morbidity has recently been demonstrated to potentially reduce life expectancy in growth hormone deficiency(GHD). The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular abnormalities and atherosclerotic changes in adults with childhood-onset GHD in whom GH treatment had been stopped at the achievement of final height. METHODS:Nine patients with childhood-onset GHD(7 idiopathic and 2 organic), with an age of 24.0+/-.0 year, were studied. Clinical characteristics of subjects were determined and blood pressure, body mass index(BMI), and serum concentrations of lipids were measured. Structural and functional evaluation of cardiovascular system was performed by M-mode echocardiography and linear phase array imaging transducer. RESULTS:BMI of patients was 27.3+/-.7 mg/m2, and four patients(44%) were overweight(BMI 25-30 mg/m2), but none was obese(BMI >30 mg/m2). The percentage of patients who had total cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dL, triglyceride > or = 150 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol > or = 140 mg/dL, and HDL cholesterol < or = 40 mg/dL were 56%, 44%, 33 %, and 44%, respectively. Interventricular septum thickness(IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT), left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular mass index(LVMI) of patients were 6.4+/-2.1 mm(SDS -1.5+/-1.1), 6.3+/-1.2 mm(SDS -2.1+/-0.8), 44.9+/-4.3 mm(SDS -1.0+/-0.9), and 85.4+/-94.8 g/m2 (SDS -0.5+/-6.8), respectively. The number of patients whose IVST, LVPWT, LVID, and LVMI were decreased(<-2SD) were 4(44%), 5(56%), 1(11%), and 6(67%), respectively. Carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT) was 0.86+/-0.22 mm, and it was increased(>2SD) in 3 patients(33%). Three out of four patients with IVST lower than -2SD had increased carotid artery IMT, whereas none of five patients with IVST higher than -2SD had increased carotid artery IMT. There were no differences in echocardiographic findings between groups according to sex, age, duration of disease, duration after GH discontinuation, BMI, and severity of dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: Decreases in IVST, LVPWT, and LVMI, and an increase in carotid artery IMT were observed in a significant number of patients with childhood-onset GHD. These findings support the need of GH replacement after completion of growth and careful evaluation of cardiovascular changes in patients with childhood-onset GHD.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities* ; Cardiovascular System ; Carotid Arteries ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Dyslipidemias ; Echocardiography ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Transducers ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE:Improved adult final height(FH) is a major goal in the treatment of children with short stature due to growth hormone deficiency(GHD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate final height in idiopathic and organic GHD children after long-term growth hormone(GH) treatment. METHODS:Twenty five(16 males and 9 females) patients with GHD(14 idiopathic and 11 organic GHD) were included. GHD was diagnosed by two or more GH provocation tests(peak GH level <10 ng/mL). All subjects had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, and aged 10.7+/-.5(5.5-14) years at the start of GH treatment. The patients were treated with GH 0.45-0.7 IU/kg/week in 3-7 divided doses for 6.9+/-.8(5.2-10) years. Treatment was ended when growth velocity reached lower than 2 cm/year and/or bone age reached 16 years. Standard auxologic measurements were performed at the start of GH treatment and at every 6 month after initial GH treatment. RESULTS:FH was 166.9+/-.8 cm, which was not significantly lower than target height(167.1+/-.9 cm) and predicted adult height(169.1+/-5 cm). FH SDS was significantly improved to -0.8+/-.5 compared with -3.4+/-.0 of height SDS at the start of GH treatment. The largest height increment was observed in the first year of GH treatment, with a gradual decrease in the following years. There was no difference in FH and FH SDS between idiopathic and organic GHD. Unwanted serious adverse events were not observed in all patients during GH therapy. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and continuous treatment with optimal doses of GH to near adult height improve the outcome in children with short stature due to idiopathic and organic GHD.
Adult ; Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Male

Clinical and pathological studies were carried out on 78 patients of ovarian cancer from January 1985 to March 1991. The results are as follows : l. Among 78 patients of ovarian cancer, the age group from 51 to 60 years old was most common which was 18 cases(23.1%). 2. When classified according to the cell type, epithelial cell origin cancers were 59 cases (75.6%), ovarian cancers from germ cell origin 9 cases(11.5%), sex cord stromal cancers 3 cases(3.8%), and metastatic cancers 7 cases(8.9%) respectively. 3. When classified according to the FIGO staging, stage I were 34 cases(43.5%), stage II 8 cases(10.3%), stage III 23 cases(29.5%) and stage IV 13 cases(16,7%), respectively. 4. Preoperative mean CA 125 value of stage I ovarian cancer was 130.2+/-57.3U/ml, stage II 74.2+/-144.4U/ml, stage III 376.9+/-296.8U/ml and stage IV 433.9+/-148.2U/ml respectively. and Also preoperative mean CEA value of stage I ovarian cancer was 3.4+/-3.2ng/ ml, stage II 6.9+/-4.3ng/ml, stage III 4.7+/-4.4ng/ml and stage IV 4.6+/-6.3ng/ml respectively. 5. When classified according to the physical examination, the most common finding was palpable mass which were 38 cases(43.7%), the second, abdominal pain 30 cases(38.4%) and the third, abdominal distension 21 cases(26.9%) 6. When classified according to the operation, ipsilateral oophorectomy was 15 cases(25.5%), ipsilateral oophorectomy and contralateral ovary wedge resection 6 cases(10.2%), total abdominal hysterectomy 17 cases(28.8%), total abdominal hysterctomy and omentectomy 14 cases(23.7%), total abdominal hysterectomy and omentectomy and debulking tumor resetion 4 cases(6.7%) and biopsy only 3 cases(5.1%) respetctively. 7. When calssifide according to the postoterative endometrial finding, atrophic pattern was 28 cases(65.7%), proliferative pattern 10 cases(28.6%) and secretory pattern 2 cases(5.7%) respectively.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; Physical Examination ; Statistics as Topic*

We describe a patient with overlap syndrome in whom systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma were combined. The patient expired due to severe central nervous system involvernent and pneumonia. Pertinent neuropsychiatric signs of the patient included generalied seizure, impairment of recent, memory, dysarthria, mental deterioration, Balints syndrome, right sided hemiparesis and right sided central type facial weakness. Hrain MRI and cerebral angiogram slowed cerebral vasculopathy. We suggest that a long-term follow-up is necessary for the confirmation of ciagnosis of a connective tissue disease, because the evolution, transition and overlapping features among the group of connective tissue diseases may commonly occur over time.
Central Nervous System ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Dysarthria ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Paresis ; Pneumonia ; Seizures

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Brain* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Brain* ; Humans

We analysed 26 cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine who were treaed at Younsei University Hospital during 25 years from January 1952 to August 1977 by operative or conaervative treatment. The diagnosis of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine is not easy and very confused. The cause and entry of the offending organism is mainly by venous drainage from the genitourinary and lower extremity circulation and the next is direct spreading from the adjacent focus. The typical clinical symptom is severe pain and tenderness over the lesion accompanied by febril history and the clinical course is relatively rapid than tuberculosis of the spine. In blood examination leukocytosis is uncommon but it showed relative increase of neutrophils in 62%, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 89%. Radiological findings are narrowing of joint space, erosion and/or destuctive change of vertebral body, vertebral marginal sclerotic change, and new bone formation and less frequently abscess shadow. The results obtained from this study were as follows, 1) The incidence of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine among total cases of the pyogenic osteomyelitis was 2.5% and the ratio of the pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine to the spine tuberculosis was 2.8%. 2) The sexual incidence was in 11 and 15 each male and female. and the avrage, prevalent age was 34 years of age. 3) The pathogenic organism was isolated in 20 cases from the diseased focus during surgical procedure; stapyhloccus in 16 cases, pseudomonas in two and in a case of E.coli and proteus each. 4) The lumber vertebrae was mostly involved, i.e.lumbar in 11 cases, cervical in four, thoracic in nine, lumbosacral and sacrum in one each. 5) The operative treatment was performed in 23 cases and conservative in 3 cases with the satisfatory result in all cases. 6) We conclude that the focal curettage with anterior interbody fusion through anterior approach was better than the conservative treatment.
Abscess ; Blood Sedimentation ; Curettage ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Leukocytosis ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Osteogenesis ; Osteomyelitis ; Proteus ; Pseudomonas ; Sacrum ; Spine ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy*