PURPOSE: To determine the value of thin-section CT in the diagnosis of nasal bone fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the thin-section CT scans of 40 patients with nasal bone fracture. CT scans were obtained with both axial and coronal planes, 1.5mm collimation with 2mm interval, and 9.6cm field-of-view. The axial scan plane was kept parallel to the orbitomeatal line from the nasion to the lower limit of the nose and the coronal plane was kept perpendicular to the axial plane. The data were reconstructed with bone algorithm. Nasal bone fracture was classified into 1 of 3 types on thin section CT:(I) simple fracture;(ll) simple fracture with displacement;(III) comminuted fracture. Associated facial bone injuries were also evaluated Simple radiographs of nasal bone were reviewed for comparison. RESULTS: Six patients had simple fracture, 10 patients had simple fracture with displacement, and 24 patients had comminuted fracture. Twenty-six patients had associated facial bone injuries which included fracture of nasal septum (n=15), fracture of frontal process of maxilla (n=9), fracture of ethmoid (n=6), widening of nasofrontal suture (n=5), and fracture of nasolacrimal duct (n=2). In 15 of 40 patients, CT could identify nasal bone fractures not detected on simple radiographs. CONCLUSION: Thin-section CT is a valuable aid in the evaluation of nasal bone fracture for accurate identification, nature, and combined facial injury.
Diagnosis ; Facial Bones ; Facial Injuries ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Nasal Bone* ; Nasal Septum ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Nose ; Sutures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans* ; Oncogenes* ; Point Mutation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

PURPOSE: The products of the ras oncogene are proteins of 188 or 189 amino acids and 21,000 molecular weights, termed simply p21 proteins. But the exact roles of c-ras proteins in cell proliferation and differentiation as well as in neoplastic transformation are little understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the function of the p21 protein to the human colon cancer cell lines according to the exposure time and dosage of p21. METHODS: The authors divided tumor cell lines into 3 groups as follows; group 1 (control, colon cancer cell lines without administration of p21 or polyclonal antibody), group 2 (administration of p21 with labelling of 3H-thymidine and leucine), group 3 (simultaneous administration of p21 protein and polyclonal antibody with labelling of 3H-thymidine and 3H-leucine). After deciding the most effective dose of p21 protein and culture time with target cells in preliminary studies, the morphologic changes of target cells with administration of p21 protein and the p21 expression and interaction with anti-p21 polyclonal antibody were examined by phase contrast microscopy each other. RESULTS: The results were obtained as follows: 1. The most effective dose of the p21 with the colon cancer cell in increase uptake of 3H-thymidine and 3H-leucine were 50 ng but there were some differences in culture time of the 3H-leucine; 96 hours in SBA-1, 72 hours in HT-29 and 120 hours in SW-1116. 2. The increase uptakes of the 3H-thymidine by the different dosage of p21, 50 ng vs 200 ng were 131% (50 ng), 160% (200 ng) in SBA-1, 203% (50 ng), 123% (200 ng) in HT-29, and 127% (50 ng), 189% (200 ng) in SW-1116; and increase uptakes of 3H-leucine were 130% (50 ng), 159% (200 ng) in SBA-1, 113% (50 ng), 165% (200 ng), and 164% (50 ng), 169% (200 ng) in SW-1116. 3. There were some cellular proliferation and morphological changes of the colon cancer cells such as ruffling of the cell membrane, vesicle formation or rounding of the cell after administration of the mutant p21, but such changes were not observed after simultaneous administration of the mutant p21 and anti-p21 polyclonal antibody. CONCLUSIONS: The role of p21 protein has not been to make manifest wholly. In our study, the p21 protein induce the cell proliferation and morphological changes.
Amino Acids ; Cell Line* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; DNA* ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Molecular Weight ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Electrophoresis* ; Genes, ras* ; Humans* ; Point Mutation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Microsatellites are short nucleotide repeat sequences present throughout the human genome. Alterations of microsatellites, comprising extra or missing copies of these se quences, have been termed microsatellite instability(MSI, genetic instability, replication errors, RER(+) phenotype). To date, at least four genes involved in DNA mismatch repair, hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1 and hPMS2, are thought to account for the observation of microsatellite instability in tumor from Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) patients. The genetic defect responsible for the MIN+ phenotype in sporadic colorectal cancer, however, has yet to be clearly delineated. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of MSI in sporadic cancer and to correlate its occurrence with clinicopathological parameters, we have studied six microsatellite loci by use of polymerase chain reaction amplification and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found that 20%(9 of 46 cases) sporadic colorectal cancers showed RER at two or several loci(RER+). Microsatellite instability was associated with location of the tumor in the proximal colon 66%(6 of 9 cases) and with poorly differentiated tumor phenotype 56%(5 of 9 cases). In order to better understand the role of somatic alterations within hMSH2 in the process of colorectal tumorigenesis, we examined the most conserved regions(codon 598~789) of this gene in nine patients with MIN spotadic colorectal cancer. 6 patient of RER(+) colorectal ca. patients had a polymorphism which was a T to C base change in the intron sequence at -6 position of the splice acceptor site at the 5'end of exon 13. This particular sequence variation is a polymorphism rather than a mutation which increase cancer susceptability. These data suggest that the genetic instability is detect ed in some colorectal cancers and play an important role in the pathogenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer.
Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Exons ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Introns ; Microsatellite Instability* ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Splice Sites

Isolated and severe left main coronary ostial stenosis is a rare case. In the majority of these patients ostial stenosis was associated with any of the conditions known to involve the coronary ostia. These conditions include syphilitic aortitis, Takayasu's aortitis, familial hypercholesterolemia, and aortic valve disease. A 34-year young female patient was presented with exertional and stabbing anterior chest pain. There was no history of syphilis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking. Coronary angiogram showed isolated left main coronary ostial stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) showed acute angle takeoff of the left main coronary artery. She underwent surgical angioplasty of coronary ostia with a patch of autologous pericardium. After angioplasty, TEE showed dilatation of left main coronary ostium and her clinical symptom improved.
Angioplasty ; Aortic Valve ; Aortitis ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Hypertension ; Pericardium ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Cardiovascular

PURPOSE: Among cancer gene therapies, the aims to eliminate malignant cells using genes as drugs as substitutes for conventional therapy, the use of bacterial cytosine deaminase (CD) which can convert the nontoxic 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to toxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), has been reported to provide a useful system for the selective killing of gene- modified mammalian tumor cells. Recently the transfection and expression of the CD gene, and the toxicity of 5-FC in eukaryotic cells, have been reported in colon, prostate and breast cancers, as well as in glioblastomas. To evaluate the growth inhibition effects in WiDr and LoVo colorectal cancer cells, after CD gene transfection and 5-FC administration, for the selective killing of cancer cells. METHODS: WiDr and LoVo colon cancer cell lines were cultured and the absorbencies for the percentage survival, on days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the culture, estimated by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) test. The experimental subjects were divided as follows; Group 1: administration of 5-FC only, Group 2: administration of 5-FU only, Group 3: administration of 5-FC after CD gene transfection using pCMV/CD-1 plasmid vector. Each experiment, on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of the culture after the administration of 5-FC or 5-FU concentration of 10, 100 and 1000 uM, was triplicated and calculated the mean with standard deviation. The bacterial CD gene was transfected into each cell lines, using the lipofectin method, and the transfection and expression of the CD protein identified with beta-galactosidase immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. The growth inhibition effects in group 3 were compared with those in group 1 and 2, and the bystander effects and cell recoveries, after finishing the 5-FC treatment, evaluated until day 20 of the culture. RESULTS: The calculated survival percentages by from the MTT tests in the WiDr and LoVo cells revealed 110~150% enhancing effects after the administration of 5-FC concentration of 10, 100 and 1000micro M (group 1), and 30~90% after the administration of 5-FU at the same concentrations (group 2), which were shown to be statistically significantly (P<0.001). After transfection of pCMV/CD-1 plasmid vector into the WiDr and LoVo cells using the lipofectin method, the transfection rate of the WiDr and LoVo cells were 4.2 +/- 0.6% and 13.8 +/- 0.8%, respectively. Also the CD protein, with the polyclonal anti-CD antibody, by western blot, revealed weak expression on day 2, followed by strong expression on day 4, which progressively decreased by days 6 and 8 in the WiDr cells. Conversely, the LoVo cells showed weak expression on day 2, which progressively increased by days 4 and 6, was followed by the strongest expression on day 8 in LoVo cells. About 60~85% significant growth inhibition effects (P<0.001) were revealed in group 3, with proportionally different effects, corresponding to the CD gene transfection rate, concentration of 5-FC and duration of the culture. The 60~85% growth inhibition effects were complex of the response to the transfection rate and the bystander effects of CD expressed cells to the CD non-expressed cells. CONCLUSION: From our results, the administration of 5-FC after CD gene transfection revealed statistically significant growth inhibition effects of 60~85%, which were complex of the effects of CD expressed cells and the bystander effects to the CD non-expressed cells, and proportionally corresponding to the transfection rate, the duration of the CD protein expression and the concentration of 5-FC.
beta-Galactosidase ; Blotting, Western ; Breast ; Bystander Effect ; Cell Line* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cytosine Deaminase* ; Cytosine* ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Flucytosine* ; Fluorouracil ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Glioblastoma ; Homicide* ; Plasmids ; Prostate ; Transfection*

PURPOSE: Among cancer gene therapies, the aims to eliminate malignant cells using genes as drugs as substitutes for conventional therapy, the use of bacterial cytosine deaminase (CD) which can convert the nontoxic 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to toxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), has been reported to provide a useful system for the selective killing of gene- modified mammalian tumor cells. Recently the transfection and expression of the CD gene, and the toxicity of 5-FC in eukaryotic cells, have been reported in colon, prostate and breast cancers, as well as in glioblastomas. To evaluate the growth inhibition effects in WiDr and LoVo colorectal cancer cells, after CD gene transfection and 5-FC administration, for the selective killing of cancer cells. METHODS: WiDr and LoVo colon cancer cell lines were cultured and the absorbencies for the percentage survival, on days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the culture, estimated by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) test. The experimental subjects were divided as follows; Group 1: administration of 5-FC only, Group 2: administration of 5-FU only, Group 3: administration of 5-FC after CD gene transfection using pCMV/CD-1 plasmid vector. Each experiment, on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of the culture after the administration of 5-FC or 5-FU concentration of 10, 100 and 1000 uM, was triplicated and calculated the mean with standard deviation. The bacterial CD gene was transfected into each cell lines, using the lipofectin method, and the transfection and expression of the CD protein identified with beta-galactosidase immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. The growth inhibition effects in group 3 were compared with those in group 1 and 2, and the bystander effects and cell recoveries, after finishing the 5-FC treatment, evaluated until day 20 of the culture. RESULTS: The calculated survival percentages by from the MTT tests in the WiDr and LoVo cells revealed 110~150% enhancing effects after the administration of 5-FC concentration of 10, 100 and 1000micro M (group 1), and 30~90% after the administration of 5-FU at the same concentrations (group 2), which were shown to be statistically significantly (P<0.001). After transfection of pCMV/CD-1 plasmid vector into the WiDr and LoVo cells using the lipofectin method, the transfection rate of the WiDr and LoVo cells were 4.2 +/- 0.6% and 13.8 +/- 0.8%, respectively. Also the CD protein, with the polyclonal anti-CD antibody, by western blot, revealed weak expression on day 2, followed by strong expression on day 4, which progressively decreased by days 6 and 8 in the WiDr cells. Conversely, the LoVo cells showed weak expression on day 2, which progressively increased by days 4 and 6, was followed by the strongest expression on day 8 in LoVo cells. About 60~85% significant growth inhibition effects (P<0.001) were revealed in group 3, with proportionally different effects, corresponding to the CD gene transfection rate, concentration of 5-FC and duration of the culture. The 60~85% growth inhibition effects were complex of the response to the transfection rate and the bystander effects of CD expressed cells to the CD non-expressed cells. CONCLUSION: From our results, the administration of 5-FC after CD gene transfection revealed statistically significant growth inhibition effects of 60~85%, which were complex of the effects of CD expressed cells and the bystander effects to the CD non-expressed cells, and proportionally corresponding to the transfection rate, the duration of the CD protein expression and the concentration of 5-FC.
beta-Galactosidase ; Blotting, Western ; Breast ; Bystander Effect ; Cell Line* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cytosine Deaminase* ; Cytosine* ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Flucytosine* ; Fluorouracil ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Glioblastoma ; Homicide* ; Plasmids ; Prostate ; Transfection*

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Stomach Neoplasms*