PURPOSE: In mammals, alphaand beta-defensins are antimicrobial peptides that are expressed in various epithelial and phagocytic cells. Human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (hBD-1, hBD-2) have recently been shown to be expressed in various epithelial cells. Vaginal mucosa can be a target of vaginitis and the site of uropathogens' colonization that precedes urinary tract infections. Therefore, innate host defense mediators like antimicrobial peptides in the vaginal mucosa are important. Estrogen and progesterone receptors have been shown to be expressed in the vaginal squamous epithelium. Sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone may cause vaginal atrophy or susceptibility to uropathogens. So, we performed this study to investigate the expression patterns of hBD-1 and -2 mRNA in vaginal squamous epithelium (VSE) with using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 17beta-estradiol and progesterone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal VSE cells that were retrieved from vaginal tissue during vaginoplasty were primarily cultured in keratinocyte growth medium and they we allowed to undergo their 3rd passage. Modulation of the expressions of hBD-1 and -2 mRNA by various stimuli (LPS 0.5microgram/ml, E2 2nM, P 1micrometer) was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: HBD-1 and -2 were constitutively expressed in the normal VSE cell lines, but the hBD-2 expression was not significant. A marked increase of the constitutive expression of hBD-2 mRNA was observed upon stimulation with LPS, but not upon stimulation with E2. A moderate decrease of the constitutive expression of hBD-2 mRNA upon stimulation with LPS was observed with administering progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: These expressions of hBD-2 mRNA may have important roles in the innate host defense of the urogenital area. Artificial intake of progesterone may lead to susceptibility via a decrease of defensins.
Atrophy ; beta-Defensins ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Defensins ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Estrogens ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Mammals ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptides ; Phagocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vagina ; Vaginitis

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Female* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoid Tumor*

BACKGROUND: Although actinic keratosis and Bowens disease ar considered as carcinoma in situ, most of them are biologically benign and dont progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. It is little known why they take the benign courses and which factors are involved in the tumorigenesis. Keratoacanthoma, self-regresi;ing benign tumor, may be sometimes or fused morphologically with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. So it is necessary to find a useful marker to help us distinguish them. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to gain a better understani ling of biologic behaviour and tumerigenesis of epidermal keiatinocytic neoplasms. METHODS: We investigated the expression of p53 protein and priliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by an immunohistochemical method on the formalin-fixed, araffinembedded tissue specimens of epidermal keratinocytic neoplasms. RESULTS: Fourteen out of 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma(70.0%), 14 out of 22 cases of actinic keratosis(63.6%), and 13 out of 20 cases of Bowens disease(65.0%) showed p53 protein expression, but keratoacanthoma was negative. All the tumors studied sho ved significantly increased numbers of PCNA-positive eells when compared with normal epidermis and characteristic distribution pattern. of PCNA-positive cells. Most cases of actinic keratosis exhibited the basal dysplastic pattern, but Bo wenoid variants showed diffuse dysplastic pattern. Karatoacanthoma revealed the marginal pattern and Bowens disease showed the diffuse dysplastic pattern. Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoria showed the basal dysplastic pattern, while poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma revealed d ffuse dysplastic pattern. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that p53 mutation is a common and early genetic change in the epidermal tumorigenesis and may be used as a good marker for malignan transformation, but it does not seem to correlate with the biollagic behavior or prognosis of epidermal neoplasms. PCNA, which is considered as a proliferation-relaited marker, was expressed with chavaceristic distribution patterns according to the type of tumors, but the frequency of PCNA expression is unlikely to reflct the malignant potential of epidermal neoplasms.
Actins ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epidermis ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

BACKGROUND: Although actinic keratosis and Bowens disease ar considered as carcinoma in situ, most of them are biologically benign and dont progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. It is little known why they take the benign courses and which factors are involved in the tumorigenesis. Keratoacanthoma, self-regresi;ing benign tumor, may be sometimes or fused morphologically with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. So it is necessary to find a useful marker to help us distinguish them. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to gain a better understani ling of biologic behaviour and tumerigenesis of epidermal keiatinocytic neoplasms. METHODS: We investigated the expression of p53 protein and priliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by an immunohistochemical method on the formalin-fixed, araffinembedded tissue specimens of epidermal keratinocytic neoplasms. RESULTS: Fourteen out of 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma(70.0%), 14 out of 22 cases of actinic keratosis(63.6%), and 13 out of 20 cases of Bowens disease(65.0%) showed p53 protein expression, but keratoacanthoma was negative. All the tumors studied sho ved significantly increased numbers of PCNA-positive eells when compared with normal epidermis and characteristic distribution pattern. of PCNA-positive cells. Most cases of actinic keratosis exhibited the basal dysplastic pattern, but Bo wenoid variants showed diffuse dysplastic pattern. Karatoacanthoma revealed the marginal pattern and Bowens disease showed the diffuse dysplastic pattern. Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoria showed the basal dysplastic pattern, while poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma revealed d ffuse dysplastic pattern. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that p53 mutation is a common and early genetic change in the epidermal tumorigenesis and may be used as a good marker for malignan transformation, but it does not seem to correlate with the biollagic behavior or prognosis of epidermal neoplasms. PCNA, which is considered as a proliferation-relaited marker, was expressed with chavaceristic distribution patterns according to the type of tumors, but the frequency of PCNA expression is unlikely to reflct the malignant potential of epidermal neoplasms.
Actins ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epidermis ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Humerus*

The elbow is the most frequent area of complaint in children and adolescent baseball players. The physical stresses associated with repetitive throwing create extra-ordinary forces, which may affect the normal osteochondral and soft tissue developmental process and are the important factors causing the decrease of competitive power and shortening of life as a baseball player in adolescents. We surveyed the 114 baseball players of middle & high school in Taegu in order to evaluate the prevalance of symptoms and radiologic findings of the elbow and correlation of these findings to career & position of the baseball game. The results were as follows. 1. Of 114 players, 83 were non-pitchers and 31 were pitchers. The mean career was 3.8 years (7 months to 6 years). 2. The 77 players (67.7%) had the pain on their elbow during or after daily exercise. Other clinical symptoms were locking (30.7%), limitation of motion (18.4%), swelling (16.6%) and clicks on motion (10.5%). 3. On the radiogram of the elbow, hypertrophy or separation of medial epicondyle were seen in 34% of players, loose bodies in 17%, hypertrophy of the humerus in 12% and cystic change of the capitellum in 11%. 4. The mean career of symptomatic players was 4.4 years but non-symptomatics was 2.7 years. The mean career of players who had abnormal radiologic findings was 5.1 years but 3.1 years in players who had no abnormal radiologic fingings. 5. Symptoms and pathologic changes were more common in the elbow of pitcher' s group due to throwing frequency & pitching style. 6. Among the 77 players who had any kinds of problem of the elbow, 49 players of them had no experience of visiting hospital. 7. To prevent these injuries of the elbow, the following recommendations were made. First, restrict the number of innings pitched per game. Second, avoid throwing the curve ball in this age group. Third, ensue an adequate warm up period before exercise or rest after games. Fourth, inform parents and coaches of possible harmful nature of excessive throwing.
Adolescent* ; Baseball* ; Child ; Daegu ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertrophy ; Parents

To elucidate the clinical avaiability of FNAB, we reviewed retrospectively medical records of 30 patients who had infiltrative pulmonary lesion or pulmonary nodule or mediastinal mass, and got percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy using Westcott needle, 20~22 gauge, at the department of Pediatrics, Hanyang university hospital from July, 1986 to June, 1993. The obtained results were as follows: 1) There were 30 patients, aged 6 months to 15 years. 2) There were 17 male patients and 13 female patients with sex ratio of 1.3:1 3) Among 30 cases, we discovered 16 cases of infiltrative lesions, 7 cases of pulmonary nodules and 7 cases of mediastinal mass lesions. In mediastinal there were 4 cases of anterior mediastinum and 3 cases of posterior mediastinum. 4) Overall success rate on fine needle aspiration biopsy was 60% (18/30). The success rate was 50% (8/16) in infiltrative lesions, 50% (8/15) in pulmonary nodules and 71% (5/7) in mediastinal mass lesions, respectively. 5) Eight infiltrative lesione were diagnosed as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Five pulmonary nodules were diagnosed as aspergillosis (2 cases), tuberculosis (1 case), mucormycosis (1 case), lung metastasis of metastasis of neuroblastoma (1 case). Five mediastinal mass lesions were diagnosed as teratoma (2 cases), lymphoma (1 case), malignant neurogenic tumor (1 case), ganglioneuroblastoma (1 case). 6) The complications occured in 20% (6 cases) among 30 procedures. All cases were due to pneumothorax: 3 cases spontaneously resolved, and 3 cases needed chest tube insertion. There were no death related with this procedures.
Aspergillosis ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Chest Tubes ; Child* ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Medical Records ; Mucormycosis ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Teratoma ; Tuberculosis

The purpose of this study is to observe histopathologic changes in the bilateral craniomandibular joints after allowing 6 weeks of consolidation by varying the amount of distraction in rabbit mandible. Eight rabbits weighing about 2 to 3kg were used. After corticotomy was performed on the left mandibular body between the first premolar and the second premolar region, a unilateral fixation device was placed. Then, a 7-day period was allowed without distraction of the device. The mandible was lengthened 0.5mm/day. Corticotomy and lengthening of mandible were not performed in control group. After the completion of the lengthening process, a 6-week-consolidation period was allowed. Then, the rabbits were sacrificed, and histologic examination of the craniomandibular joints was performed. Proliferative changes were observed in the craniomandibular joints in all groups. With the increasing amount of distraction, hypertrophy of the cartilage layer became more severe, bone formed was dense and enchondral ossification was clearly shown in subchondral bone. Hypertrophy of the cartilage layer was also seen in the non-distracted side as the distracted side in the experimental group. These results indicate that when physical force is applied constantly to joints, the proliferation of articular cartilage and bone formation are present. When more than 6 weeks of consolidation period is allowed at the time of performing distraction for more than 5mm, articular changes, especially, in the contralateral side should also be noted.
Bicuspid ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Hypertrophy ; Joints* ; Mandible ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rabbits*

Background: Inter1eukin-6(IL-6) is known to be produced by osteoblastic cells and to have impartant role in regulation of bone remodelling, Most previous studies indicated that IL-6 bas a major role in stimulating osteoclastic resorption by increasing recruitment and proliferation of preosteoclasts. But its autocrine effect on osteoblastic cells has not been well established yet. Therefore, we studied the effects of IL-6 on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of proteins that are characteristic of osteoblastic cells in human bone marrow stromal (osteoprogenitor) cells (hRMSC). Methods: The expression of mRNAs for alkaline phosphatase, al(1)-collagen, osteopontin and decorin were studied by northern blot analysis after 3 7 days' treatrnent with IL-6 in the concenttation range of 101,000 U/ml. Results: The mRNA levels for any of the osteoblastic proteins studied did not change significantly by IL-6 treatment up to the concentration of 1,000 U/ml. Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-6 does not have a significant role in differentiatian or activities of human bone rnarrow stromal.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blotting, Northern ; Bone Marrow ; Decorin ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteopontin ; RNA, Messenger