During the reproductive period, human endometrium undergoes a pattern of cyclic change. Human endometrium undergoes a complex pattern of proliferation, secretory activity, and menstruation over an approximately 28 days period. Proliferative activity is highest during late proliferative phase under influence of estrogen, and minimal activity in the late secretory and menstrual phase. To study a possible change of telomerase activity during menstrual cycle, telomerase activities in normal and hormone treated endometrium were tested using telomerase repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Telomerase activities were detected in 9 of 10 proliferative endometrium(90%), and maximal activity was shown in late proliferative phase. Only 3 of 10 secretory endometrium(30%) revealed weak activity. However telomerase activity was not detected in menstrual phase endometrium(N 2) and senile endometrium(N=3). Four of tamoxifen treated endometrium(N 4) and 1 of provera treated endometrium(N 3) Levels of telomerase activity of treated endometrium(N 4) and late proliferative endometrium(N 6) were as high as them of detected in endometrial cancer and hyperplasia. Above findings reveal that telomerase activity of endometrium is changed according to menstrual cycle, And the level of telomerase activity is related to proliferative activity of endometrium that is dependent on the status of female sex steroid hormone and tamoxifen treatment.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Endometrium* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Reproduction ; Tamoxifen ; Telomerase*

No abstract available.

Job's syndrome is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by (1) severe eczema, (2) recurrent staphylococcal infections of the skin and sinopulmonary tract, (3) cold subcutaneous abscesses, and (4) high serum IgE levels. We describe a 55-year-old woman with long-standing atopic dermatitis-like eczema, recurrent abscesses, and a high level of serum IgE. We suspected this case as Job's syndrome.
Abscess ; Eczema ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Job Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Staphylococcal Infections

BACKGROUND: Women sometimes have eyebrows tattooed for cosmetic purpose. But until recently, the removal of tattoos has been difficult. Several laser techniques have been proposed for the removal of tattoos. The lasers that have been used most successfully are the Q-switched systems because of their ability to target tattoo pigment selectively with minimal risk of adverse tissue response. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of the newest Q-switched system, the alexandrite laser, in removing both eyebrow tattoos and to observe side effects such as scarring or permanent pigmentary changes. METHODS: Forty seven patients with both eyebrows tattooed were treated with the Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm, 100 ns) at eight week intervals and clinically evaluated.
Cicatrix ; Eyebrows* ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State*

Congenital self-healing reticulohistiocytosis (CSHRH) is a rare Langerhans cell disorder showing spontaneous resolution within 3-4 months. By electron microscopy, the identification of many Birbeck granules and laminated dense bodies in the infiltrated cells is mandatory for the diagnosis of CSHRH. We describe a case of congenital self-healing reticulohistiocyt~osis in a 4-month-old male infant.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron

E6 and E7 proteins produced by oncogenic HPV bind to the protein products of cellular tumor suppressor genes p53 and Rb, respectively. This mechanism has been suggested to contribute to the oncogenesis of HPV-infected carcinoma. The cells which are blocked the function of p53 and pub protein continue to divide by bypassing Ml stage known as antiproliferative mechanism but telomeres, the genetic elements at the ends of chromosomes, continue to shorten until the telomeres are so short that further replication is prevented(M2 stage). But telomeres can be maintained if telomerase is derepressed, giving rise to a immortal cell. The present study has been investigated the presence of HPV, telomere length and telomerase activation in cervical carcinomas. HPV DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction in 17 of 19 precancerous lesions and cervical carcinoma specimens; HPV16 was detected in 12 cases, HPV18 in one case, HPV33 in two cases, and HPV58 in two cases. Overall, the prevalence of HPV was 89.5%. To study the difference of telomere length in cervical carcinomas and each normal counterpart, DNAs were digested with Hinf III and Rsa I to liberate the terminal restriction fragments(TRF). TRFs were resolved on agarose gels and detected by hybridization to the telomeric probe. This result indicated that there were no significant difference of TRF length in samples tested except two cases. TRF length of one carcinoma specimen was found to be significantly increased as compared with normal counterpart, but the other was found to be significantly decreased. Telomerase activity was detected in 4 of dysplasia specimens(5 cases), all of carcinoma in situ(CIS), and 6 of 8 invasive carcinoma. Overall, telomerase activity was detected in 84%. The degree of telomerase activity was high in 2 of dysplasia, 3 of CIS, and 3 of invasive carcinoma. And then there was no apparent association between HPV types and levels of telomerase activity. However, telomerase activity was depressed in invasive carcinoma as compared to dysplasia and CIS. These results suggest that HPV may be a possible causative agent in cervical carcinoma. In addition, telomerase activation may be necessary for the immortalization of cells and the progression of malignancy in cervical carcinoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Cervix Uteri* ; DNA ; Female ; Gels ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans* ; Papilloma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sepharose ; Telomerase* ; Telomere*

Double aortic arch is the most common type of symptomatic vascular ring. In most patients, the symptoms are manifested at birth or in early infancy. Double aortic arch usually has more severe symptoms than other types of complete vascular rings. We experienced one case of complete duplicated double aortic arch with left descending aorta and left patent ductus arteriosus. A one-day-old female neonate was transferred to our hospital because of mild dyspnea and stridor. She showed intractable CO2 retention and respiratory difficulty with time in spite of ventilator therapy. She died of respiratory failure 23 hours after birth. On autopsy, we found that the diameter of the vascular ring was 0.7cm in maximum extent. It was ovoid and contained trachea and esophagus. The trachea was flattened due to allowing 0.1x0.2cm. The compression level of the trachea was approximately 1cm from the tracheal bifurcation.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Autopsy* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Dyspnea ; Esophagus ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Sounds ; Trachea ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric neoplastic vascular tumor involving the skin or internal organs. KS is an extremely common tumor in tropical Africa and it is also a prime marker of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nearly all cases of KS can be classified in four groups: 1) classic, 2) African, endemic, 3) AIDS-associated, 4) iatrogenic immunosuppression- associated KS. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were aimed at evaluating the clinical and biological features of KS. METHODS: The hospital charts and histopathologic slides of patients with KS diagnosed at Asan Medical Center from 1989 to 1999 were reviewed. Immunohistochemical studies for factor VIII, CD31, and CD34 were performed. We also performed PCR-based analysis to determine whether human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is present in KS included in this study. RESULTS: 1. Four male and four female patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis of KS was 59.6 years. 2. Our patients could be classified as follows, iatrogenic immunosuppression-associated (7/8) and classic KS (1/8). Iatrogenic immunosuppression-associated group was sub-classified into long-standing steroid use (2/7), chemotheraphy-associated (cancer related, 3/7), and kidney transplantation (KT)-associated group (2/7). Patients with AIDS-associated KS were absent. 3. KS was presented with varied clinical features showing from ill-defined purplish macules to fungating nodules or tumors. Interestingly, two cases were presented with zosteriform or cellulitis-like features. Although upper and especially, lower extremities were favored sites, mucosal involvement such as intraoral and perianal areas was noticed. The cases showing the involvement of systemic organ could not be detected except two cases involving the small intestine. 4. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that spindle cells in stroma were partially positive for CD31 and CD34 and negative for factor VIII. 5. HHV8 sequences were identified in all cases of KS. 6. Four patients (50%) died within 1-2 years after the diagnosis of KS due to underlying diseases. Radiation therapy and interferon-alpha were effective in one case, respectively. Classic KS showed indolent course. Conclusion: KS is a multicentric neoplasm for which the etiopathogenesis is still under discu ssion. We retrospectively studied seven cases with iatrogenic immunosuppression-associated KS and one with classic KS. KS should be considered when the cutaneous lesions newly developed in immunosuppressed patients. HHV8 may contribute to the pathogenesis of KS when other predisposing conditions are present.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Africa ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Intestine, Small ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Dynorphin A (1-17) is conceived as an endogenous opioid peptide with a high degree of selectivity forkappa- opioid receptor even though it has been reported to sometimes act like amicro- opioid agonist. The aim of this study was to investigate [35S] GTPgammaS binding stimulated activation by dynorphin A (1-17) in the cerebral and thalamic membranes of a rhesus monkey. METHODS: The rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta, male, n = 1) was euthanized for the preparation of the cerebral and thalamic membranes. Protein concentrations were determined by the Bradford method. In the dynorphin A (1-17)-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding dose-response curve, EC50 (effective concentration 50 nM) and maximum stimulation (% over basal) were determined in the absence or presence of themicro-andkappa-opioid receptor antagonists naloxone (20 nM) and norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 3 nM), respectively. E2078-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding was also determined in the absence or presence ofmicro-andkappa-opioid receptor antagonists in the cortical membrane and compared with dynorphin A (1-17). RESULTS: Values of EC50 and maximum stimulation of dynorphin A (1-17)-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding were as follows: cortex (474 nM/32.0%) and thalamus (423 nM/45.3%). Nor-BNI (3 nM) did not antagonize dynorphin A (1-17)-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding at all in cortical or thalamic membrane, but naloxone (20 nM) produced a 12.2 fold rightward shift of the dynorphin A (1-17)-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding dose-response curve in the thalamic membrane. The EC50 and the maximum stimulation of E2078-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding were 65.6 nM and 22.7%, respectively. In E2078-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding, the dose-response curve was antagonized not by nor-BNI but by naloxone but in the cortical membrane (a 14.2 times rightward shift). CONCLUSIONS: Dynorphin A (1-17) is selective formicro-opioid receptor in agonist-stimulated [35S] GTPgammaS binding in the cortical and thalamic membranes of rhesus monkey.
Dynorphins* ; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)* ; Haplorhini* ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Membranes* ; Naloxone ; Opioid Peptides ; Receptors, Opioid ; Thalamus