This study was carried out to evaluate the aberrant expression of p53 protein using immunobistochemical method in 54 surgically resected liver cell carcinomas and to correlate it with clinical and pathological findings. Twenty five out of 54 cases(46%) showed positive reaction in the nucleus of liver cell carcinoma and negative reaction in associated 30 cases of cirrhosis, one case of adenoma and two cases of adenomatous hyperplasia. The p53 protein expression was associated with alpha-FP level(p<0.05), but not associated with HBsAg positivity. It was significantly associated with WHO classification, Edmondson-Steiner grade and nuclear grade p53(p<0.05), but not associated with tumor size, capsule formation, portal vein invasion, cirrhosis in surrounding tissue, Eggel classification, special cell type and mitosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that the aberrant expression of p53 protein can be an advisory factor, at least, for prognosis evaluation.
Adenoma

The purpose of this study was to determine whether association exists between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characteristics in transcranial radiographs and TMJ internal derangement and to evaluate the validity of transcranial radiographs in diagnosis of internal derangement. Transcranial radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 113 TMJs from 76 subjects were used for this study and all TMJs were classified into 3 groups according to the results of MRI: normal disk position, disk displacement with reduction, and disk displacement without reduction. Transcranial analysis included linear measurement of joint spaces and condylar head angle measurement. To determine any relationship between transcranial measurements according to disk displacement, one-way ANOVA was used. The results showed that condyle-fossa relationship in standard transcranial radiographs had no relationships with disk displacement. And, as disk displacement progressed, condylar angle between head and neck increased significantly. This result can be interpreted that condylar head angle reflects structural hard tissue change according to internal derangement progress. But this is insufficient in the determination of internal derangement. Therefore, although still clinically helpful, the validity of standard transcranial radiographs to diagnose TMJ internal derangement was questioned.
Diagnosis* ; Head ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck ; Radiography* ; Temporomandibular Joint

PURPOSE: Evidence exists that dysregulation of Bcl-2 family members is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. The aim of this study was to explore whether the somatic mutation of proapoptotic Bcl-2 member genes, one of the mechanisms that prolong the survival of cancer cells, is involved in gastric carcinogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, to detect somatic mutations of the DNA sequences encoding the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain of the human BAD, BIM, BIK, and Bcl-G genes in 60 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The SSCP analysis revealed no mutations in the coding regions of the BH3 domain in the cancers. CONCLUSION: The data presented here indicate that proapoptotic Bcl-2 member genes, BAD, BIM, BIK, and Bcl-G, may not be mutated in human gastric carcinomas and suggest that these genes might be altered by mechanisms other mechanisms somatic mutation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Base Sequence ; Carcinogenesis ; Clinical Coding ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

In this study, high frequency oscillatory ventilator was designed and constructed. Using designed by phase-lock loop system, in order to accurately and easily treat both the outlet volume and rpm. A system has been designed and is being evaluated using CD4046A PLL IC. We use this PLL IC for the purpose of motor controls. The device consists of PLL system, pumping mechanism, piston, cylinder, and special crank shaft are required. This system characteristics were as follows: 1) Frequency: 20-1800 rpm 2) Outlet air volume: 1-50 cc
Ventilators, Mechanical*

PURPOSE: It has become clear that, together with proliferation, deregulation of apoptosis plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, and the somatic mutations of apoptosis-related genes have been reported in human cancers. PUMA, a pro- apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family, mediates p53-deependent and -independent apoptosis. The aim of this study was to explore whether alteration of PUMA protein expression is a characteristic of human lung cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore the possibility that the genetic alterations of PUMA might be involved in the development of human cancers, we analyzed the entire coding region and all splice sites of human PUMA gene in 100 human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). RESULTS: The PCR-SSCP analysis detected no mutation in the entire coding regions and all splice sites of human PUMA gene in the 100 NSCLCs. CONCLUSION: The data presented here suggested that PUMA gene mutation may not contribute to the pathogenesis of human NSCLCs.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Clinical Coding ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Puma*

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome consists of peripheral blood eosinophilia of 1500/mm3 or more without a known cause, plus signs and symptoms of organ eosinophilia. The prognosis of HES without treatment is poor. However, about one third of the patients with this syndrome may respond to corticosteroid thrapy. Morever, the majority of the remainder may have a favorable response to hydroxyurea. We present here a case of hypereosinophilic syndrome without any identifiable causes, involving bone marrow, liver, lungs and cervical lymph node. We tried corticosteroid as a treatment but it showed no response. However the hydroxyurea showed good response.
Bone Marrow ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: Evidence exists that dysregulation of apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. Fas- associated death domain (FADD) protein, an adaptor protein of death receptors, is a critical regulatory component of the extrinsic cell- death pathway that exerts its pro-apoptotic effect upon binding with death receptors. Expression of the FADD protein has not been reported in stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the expression status of the FADD protein in stomach cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we analyzed the expression of the FADD protein in 60 advanced stomach cancer by using immunohistochemistry and a tissue microarray approach. RESULTS: Immunopositivity (defined as > or =30%) was observed for the FADD protein in 23 (38%) of the 60 cancers. Normal gastric mucosal cells showed expression of the FADD protein. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results indicate that decreased expression of the FADD protein is a frequent event in stomach cancers and suggest that to avoid apoptosis, stomach cancer cells in vivo may need loss of FADD expression, which might contribute to tumor development.
Apoptosis ; Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Receptors, Death Domain ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: Evidence exists that dysregulation of apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. The Bcl-XL/Bcl-2-associated death promoter (BAD), a member of the Bcl-2 family, is a critical regulatory component of the intrinsic cell-death pathway that exerts its pro-apoptotic effect upon heterodimerization with anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. Expression of the BAD protein has been reported in several cancer types, but not in stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the expression status of the BAD protein in gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we analyzed the expression of the BAD protein in 60 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas by using immunohistochemistry and a tissue microarray approach. RESULTS: Immunopositivity (defined as > or =30%) was observed for the BAD protein in 57 (95%) of the 60 cancers. Normal gastric mucosal cells showed weaker expressions of the BAD protein than gastric carcinomas. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that stomach cancer cells in vivo may need BAD protein expression for apoptosis. Also, the higher expression of the BAD protein in stomach cancer cells than in normal gastric mucosal cells suggests that apoptosis might be easily triggered in susceptible stomach cancer cells, thereby producing selective pressure to make more apoptosis-resistant cells during tumor development.
Adenocarcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; bcl-Associated Death Protein* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Stomach Neoplasms

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is the most common cause of acute renal failure in childhood. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome which is not usually associated with prodromal symptoms has a higher mortality rate and more tendency to progress to chronic renal failure. Children younger than two years of age are a more susceptible to pneumococcal infection and can develop more serious disease. We report a 23 month-old male who suffered from pneumococcal pneumonia and progressed to hemolytic uremic syndrome requiring peritoneal dialysis. He recovered completely from acute renal failure after peritoneal dialysis and intravenous use of vancomycin.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Child ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Mortality ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Pneumococcal Infections* ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus* ; Vancomycin

This study investigated the effects of soyoligosaccharide consumption on lipid profile of plasma, liver and feces and immune responses in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats 4-wk-old were provided the soyoligosaccharide containing diets for 4 weeks (0, 100 g/kg diet); each of these diets was supplemented with either 70 or 200 g fat/kg diet, giving a total of 4 experimental groups. The effect of weight reduction was most significantly observed in the group fed low fat and soyoligosacchairde diet. The plasma total lipid and cholesterol contents were not changed by either fat proportion or soyoligosaccharide supplementation in the diets. Also the plasma triglyceride lowering effect by soyoligosaccharide was not observed in rats fed either low fat or high fat diet. However, the significant decrease in TG contents was found with rats fed high fat diets compared to the control/no soyoligosaccharide diet. Elevation of plasma LDL-cholesterol and reduction of HDL-cholesterol by feeding high fat diet was not altered by supplementing soyoligosaccharide. This was also applied to the liver lipid profiles. The significant increases in liver total lipid, triglycerides and cholesterol by high fat diet was not abolished by feeding soyoligosaccharide. However, the desirable effects of feeding soyoligosaccharide were found with total lipid and cholesterol excretion through feces in rats fed high fat diets. Immune organ weights and spleen cell proliferations did not affected by experimental diets. These results demonstrated that soyoligosaccharide intakes increased the lipid output via feces, especially in rats fed the high fat diet, but more researches are needed on immune responses.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; Diet* ; Diet, High-Fat ; Feces ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Liver ; Male ; Organ Size ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss