Dysregulation of TGF-beta that is a modulator of cell growth and differentiation can result in uncontrolled growth and tumor formation. Monitoring these pattern of genes and protein expression during tumor development will provide a basis for understanding normal growth and distortion of osteochondrogenesis. Our comparative studies on the experssion of TGF-beta protein indicate that TGF-beta may primarily be a regulator of epithelial differentiation during tooth development (between 4 weeks and 40 gestational weeks) and tumorigenesis of odontogenic neoplasm (ameloblastoma). In early human tooth germ (cap/early bell stage) TGF-beta protein was found in the epithelial dentallamina and enamel orgen. TGF-beta experessions were seen in inner and outer dental epithelium during bell stage. During enamel and cementum appositional stage, TGF-beta expression shifted from the ameloblast to the odontoblast. In eruption stage, TGF-beta expressions look like moderate positive pattern in odontoblast and rare pattern in enamel, dentin and cementum. TGF-beta expressions of follicular and plexiform amelobalstoma are moderate positive reaction in ectodermal tumor components and mild positive in vessels of stroma tissue. In acanthomatous type, TGF-beta expression was shown severely positive finding in stellate reticulum cell. TGF-beta expressions were noted moderate reaction in margin of tumor epithelium and stellate reticulum cell of granular ameloblastoma. In unicystic ameloblastoma, TGF-beta expression was rare feature in cystic luminal epithelium. With these result, I should be suggested that TGF-beta may play an important role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in human tooth morphogenesis and development of odontogenic epithelial tumors.
Ameloblastoma* ; Ameloblasts ; Carcinogenesis ; Dental Cementum ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Ectoderm ; Embryonic Structures* ; Epithelium ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Morphogenesis ; Odontoblasts ; Phenobarbital ; Reticulum ; Tooth Germ* ; Tooth* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To find out the role of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer by comparing survival, pelvic control, complication rate, and any prognostic factor between surgery alone and postoperative radiotherapy group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Feb. 1982 to Dec. 1996 total 212 patients were treated by radical surgery with or without postoperative radiotherapy due to rectal carcinoma of modified Astler-Coller stage B2-C3. Of them, 18 patients had incomplete radiotherapy and so the remaining 194 patients were the database analyzed in this study. One hundred four patients received postoperative radiotherapy and the other 90 patients had surgery only. Radiotherapy was performed in the range of 39.6-55.8 Gy (mean: 49.9 Gy) to the whole pelvis and if necessary, tumor bed was boosted by 5.4-10 Gy. Both survival and pelvic control rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and their statistical significance was tested by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 5-year actuarial survival rate (5YSR) and 5-year disease-free survival rate (5YDFSR) of entire patients were 53% and 49%, respectively. 5YSRs of surgery alone group and adjuvant radiotherapy group were 63% vs 45%, respectively ( p=0.03). This difference is thought to reflect uneven distribution of stages between two treatment groups ( p<0.05 by x2-test) with more advanced disease patients in adjuvant radiotherapy group. 5YSRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in MAC B2+3, C1, C2+3 were 68% vs 55% ( p=0.09), 100% vs 100%, 40% vs 33% ( p=0.71), respectively. 5YDFSRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in above three stages were 65% vs 49% ( p=0.14), 100% vs 100%, 33% vs 31% ( p=0.46), respectively. 5-year pelvic control rate (5YPCR) of entire patients was 72.5%. 5YPCRs of surgery alone and adjuvant radiotherapy group were 71% vs 74%, respectively (p=0.41). 5YPCRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in B2+3, C1, C2+3 were 79% vs 75% ( p= 0.88), 100% vs 100%, 44% vs 68% ( p=0.01), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only stage was significant factor affecting overall and disease-free survival in entire patients and also in both treatment groups. In view of pelvic control, stage and operation type were significant in entire patients and only stage in surgery alone group but in adjuvant radiotherapy group, operation type instead of stage was the only significant factor in multivariate analysis as a negative prognostic factor in abdominoperineal resection cases. CONCLUSION: Our retrospective study showed that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy could improve the pelvic control in MAC C2+3 group. To improve both pelvic control and survival in all patients with MAC B2 or more, other treatment modality such as concurrent continuous infusion of 5-FU, which is the most standard agent, along with radiotherapy should be considered.
Disease-Free Survival ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pelvis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Female ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal*

OBJETIVE: To analyze the antithrombin III deficiency in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The blood samples were tested by chromogenic assay to evaluate the activity of antithrombin III. RESULTS: There was only one case of antithrombin III deficiency. This patient experienced one neonatal death after delivery and one FDIU (fetal death in utero). And also this patient showed a lupus anticoagulant and the prolongation of PTT. CONCLUSIONS: Women with recurrent miscarriage who have no obvious identified cause should consider hematologic screening. Antithrombin III deficiency could be a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. But the incidence is very rare in Korean patients.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To report the pregnancy which was made by in vitro fertilization using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Six oocytes were retrieved and all were fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Six embryos were transferred and the pregnancy was confirmed. CONCLUSION: It is envisaged that the availability of recombinant gonadotropins and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists will ultimately lead to shorter, cheaper and safer treatments, using reduced dosages.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose / insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. RESULTS: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.
Body Weight ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Hyperinsulinism ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Obesity ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Testosterone ; Thrombophilia

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnant Women*

OBJECTIVE: To report the prevalence of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion and infertility. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies were analyzed by Diluted Russell's Viper Venom Test (DRVVT) and solid phase enzyme immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: In 200 patients with infertility, there were 6 cases (3%) with positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, 3 patients (1.5%) showed positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies, respectively. In 120 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, there were 13 cases (10.8%) of positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, one patient (1%) showed lupus anticoagulants and 12 patients (10%) showed anticardiolipin antibodies. But in two groups, there was no cases with positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies. CONCLUSION: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies are definite cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. There has been a speculation that they might be associated with infertility and repeated IVF failures. But it was found that the role of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in these cases are not clear.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Anticoagulants* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Infertility* ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Russell's Viper ; Venoms

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the interrelationship between homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Homocysteine and MTHFR mutation were tested by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay and PCR-RFLP method, respectively. RESULTS: In patients with homocysteine level less than 5 mmol/L, there was no case of normal group but there were four cases of heterozygosity and one case of homozygosity. In patients with homocysteine level 5~10 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were eleven, eighteen and eight, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level 10~15 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were four, one and one, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level more than 15 mmol/L, there was no case of normal and heterozygosity group but there were two cases of homozygosity. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia due to MTHFR mutation is a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. And there was a significant relationship between homocysteine and MTHFR mutation.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Immunoassay ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Pregnancy