We studied the expressions of E-cadherin, MMP-7 and CD44V in colorectal cancer and their corresponding normal mucosa using RT-PCR. From the 26 patients whom a com parative study of clinical and histopathological data is available, MMP-7 and CD44V were significantly enhanced in cancer and their metastatic tissues, compared with their normal mucosa. E-cadherin did not reveal any difference between cancer and normal mucosa. The relashionship between these genes and colorectal cancer development can not be confirmed by this study, however CD44v and MMP-7 may be associated with metastasis of colorectal cancer.
Cadherins ; Cell Line* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Carcinogens* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Humans*

No abstract available.
Oncogenes* ; Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin*

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is frequently involved in the articulations of the hands and feet, is known to be related with inheritance. Dermatoglyphics, the patterns of ridges on the skin of the fingertips, palms, and soles, are mostly related with inheritance. The purpose of this study is to verify the possibility that dermatoglyphics are helpful for the diagnosis of RA. We attempted to compare the characteristics of the fingerprints, palmprints, and palm creases in 67 Korean RA patients (RA group) to those in 3, 216 normal Korean persons. In the RA group, the radial loop and whorl were more frequent whereas the arch and ulnar loop were less frequent. The total fingerprint ridges were more numerous and 11 palmprint D type was more frequent in the RA group. Also, the Simian and Sydney creases were more frequent and the total degree of palm crease transversality was lower in the RA group. In addition, a part of the dermatoglyphic characteristics of the Korean RA group were different from those of the Indian RA group. These results suggest that dermatoglyphics may be helpful in the diagnosis of Korean RA patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Skin ; Wills

Lawsonia intracellularis is not culturable with a standard bacteriologic culture. One step PCR assay as a clinical diagnostic method was developed for the rapid detection of porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) caused by L. intracellularis. Primers were designed based on the p78 DNA clone of L. intracellularis. The one step PCR resulted in the formation of a specific 210-bp DNA product derived from L. intracellularis. The nonspecific amplification product was not detected with swine genomic DNA or other bacterial strains causing similar symptoms to L. intracellularis infection. The one step PCR was as sensitive as 100 pg of L. intracellularis genomic DNA. We applied this method to field specimens diagnosed as PPE by macroscopic observation. Of 17 mucosal scraping specimens, 16(94%) were identified as positive to PPE and 15(88%) of 17 feces specimens. These results suggest that the one step PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method for L. intracellularis infection.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Desulfovibrionaceae Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Ileum/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Lawsonia Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology

BACKGROUND: The incidence of herpes zoster is higher among patients with impaired cell mediated immunity. Herpes zoster skin lesions frequently become more severe and run a more protracted course in such patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to firstly elucidate whether there are changes in cell mediated immunity, even in immunocompetent, patients with herpes zoster, and secondly to investigate relationships between these change and the clinical appearance of herpes zoster. METHODS: T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and delayed hypersensitivity reactions using the Multitest(R) CMI kit were measured in 33 healthy patients with herpes zoster and 28 controls. RESULTS: As compared with controls, there was a slight decrease in percentages of CD4 lymphocytes, a significant decr eas in percentages of CD8 lyrnphocytes, and a slight increase in CD4/ CD8 ratios in the acute phasr of herpes zoster. The percentages of CD3 lymphocytes were also significantly decreased. Based on the severity of the skin lesion, there was a significant increase in duration of acute herpetic pain. However, there were no signigicant differences in percentages of T lymphocyte subsets based on the severity of skin lesion and duration of acute horpetic pain. In delayed hypersensitivity reations with the Multitest(R)" CMI kit, the intensity and frequencies of positive reactions were significintly decreased in the patients group. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets and delayed hypersensitivity reactions even in other wise healthy patients.
Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunity, Cellular ; Incidence ; Lymphocytes ; Skin ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets*

Cutaneous metastasis from internal malignacy is recognized but infrequently occuring manifestation. The prostatic carcinoma rarely acts as a primary source for cutaneous metastasis. We report a case of cutaneous metstasis from prostatic carcinoma. A 82-year-old male presents multiple painless erythematous nodules on suprapubic area, having an episode of surgical removal of prostate carcinoma two years ago. Histologic finding shows atypical anaplastic cell infiltration at the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, forming dermal tumor island, and have features similar to primary prostatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for prostate specific antigen shows positive reaction within cells, can assist in localization of the metatatic adenocarcinoma to a prostate origin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dermis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Cutaneous metastasis from internal malignacy is recognized but infrequently occuring manifestation. The prostatic carcinoma rarely acts as a primary source for cutaneous metastasis. We report a case of cutaneous metstasis from prostatic carcinoma. A 82-year-old male presents multiple painless erythematous nodules on suprapubic area, having an episode of surgical removal of prostate carcinoma two years ago. Histologic finding shows atypical anaplastic cell infiltration at the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, forming dermal tumor island, and have features similar to primary prostatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for prostate specific antigen shows positive reaction within cells, can assist in localization of the metatatic adenocarcinoma to a prostate origin.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Dermis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Since the pharmacological treatment of insomnia has the potential risk for dependence and various side effects, nonpharmacological intervention for insomnia is very important in clinical practice. The neurophysiological characteristics and recent researches using quantitative EEG of insomnia suggest the insomnia as a state of CNS(central nervous system) hyperarousal. Insomnia should not be restricted to subjective sleep complaints alone because it appears to be a 24-hour disorder including daytime fatigue and decreased quality of life. The neurofeedback treatment is a self-regulation method based on the paradigm of operant conditioning. The goal of this treatment modality is to normalize the functioning of the brain by inhibiting and/or reinforcing specific frequency bands of brain waves. Therefore, the neurofeedback treatment on the basis of thalamocortical mechanisms which play an important role in sleep and arousal might be a useful treatment modality for the insomnia in the future. In this paper the authors suggest the clinical applications of neurofeedback for the treatment of insomnia and further clinical researches about its therapeutic effects in insomnia.
Arousal ; Brain ; Brain Waves ; Conditioning, Operant ; Electroencephalography ; Fatigue ; Neurofeedback* ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*