Astrocytes are the most numerous cellular elements in the cerebrum, and they normally have a very slow turnover rate. But during regeneration after injury, they proliferate markedly resulting in astrogliosis. The extracellular matrix in the central nervous system is present in the vessel walls and in the external glia limitans as a basal lamina. The presence of an intact extracellular matrix framework is important in regeneration after injury. Understanding the properties of astrocytic proliferation will be helpful to find out new treatment for functional recovery in the central nervous system. In this study, after cryogenic injury was performed on the cerebral cortex in rats, changes in astrocytes and the extracellular matrix were observed using light microscopy, immunohistochemical stain for glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), fibronectin, laminin, and type IV collagen, autoradiography and electron microscopy. The results were as follows; 1) The coagulative necrosis, which followed cryogenic injury on the cerebral cortex was healed, forming a new pia mater above the lesion. 2) Some of the PCNA positive cells were astrocytes and some of the GFAP positive cells showed a positive reaction to PCNA. 3) Proliferating astrocytes labelled by autoradiography or immunohistochemical stain for PCNA reached maximal numbers 3days after the injury and they were no longer found 2 weeks after injury. 4) In autoradiography with immunohistochemical stain for GFAP, about 1% of GFAP positive astrocytes were labelled by autoradiography and in double immunohistochemical stain for PCNA and GFAP, about 8-16% of GFAP positive astrocytes were also stained by PCNA. 5) In immunohistochemical stain for fibronectin, laminin and type IV collagen, laminin and type IV collagen were present in the newly formed blood vessel walls and fibronectin showed a diffuse positive reaction within the lesion. The new pia mater was formed within 2 weeks after the injury. 6) On electron microscopic examination, basal lamina material was found in the vessel wall 1 week after the injury and at 2 weeks, a nearly complete and continuous basal lamina was formed although the thickness was uneven. According to these findings, astrocytes in the cerebral cortex of adult rats proliferate very early in the regenerative period after cryogenic injury. At 2 weeks after the injury, this regeneration ceases and the damaged basal lamina of pia mater and vessel wall were reconstituted.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

The present study was performed in order to investigate the correlation among the number of T zone histiocytes, the clinicopathologic parameters and the patient's survival. The subjects in this study were 131 advanced gastric carcinomas including 86 follow-up cases and 41 early gastric carcinomas. The infiltration of T zone histiocytes into tumor tissues was investigated using the immunohistochemical method with andti s-100 protein, nd the data obtained were evaluated statistically. T zone histiocytes were scattered among the cancer cells and in areas formed clusters within the cancer stroma. These cells were abundantly present in tumor tissues and around lymphoid follicles but were rarely seen in surrounding normal stomach tissue. Analysis of the number of T zone histiocytes showed no correlation between the number of T zone histiocytes and the clinicopathologic features except the degree of lymphocytic infiltration within the advanced and the early gastric carcinomas. Survival of the patients with a marked infiltration of T zone histiocytes in stage III was longer than that with mild infiltration of T zone histiocytes, but there was no statistical significance(P value=0.084). Multivariate regressio analysis revealed that the depth of invasion(P value=0.0074) and the lymphocytic infiltration(P value=0.0152) were the important prognostic factors. The results indicate that good prognosis is expected in cases with less deep invasion and high lymphocytic infiltration, and that the number of T zone histiocytes is in proportio to the degree of lymphocyte infiltration within the tumor, although not directly correlated with the patient's survival.

OBJECTIVES: E-cadherin is a transmembrane protein that is one of the key players involved in cell to cell adhesion. Loss of E-cadherin expression is suggested to promote tumor invasion and distant metastasis in tumor development. Recently, it has been proposed E-cadherin function requires its linkage to the cytoskeleton through catenins. So defects in catenins may cause defective E-cadherin function and promote tumor invasion. We intend to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin in tissues of human endometrial carcinoma to analyze the patterns of cell adhesion molecules' expression in endometrial carcinoma and to investigate the relationship between status of cell adhesion molecules and various clinicopathological factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin in 33 paraffin embedded formalin fixed tissues of endometrial carcinomas. RESULTS: Aberrant E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin expression was observed in 33.3(11 of 33), 27.3(9 of 33), 18.2 (6 of 33), and 51.5(17 of 33) % of the specimens, respectively. Statistically significant correlation was found between aberrant expression of E-cadherin and lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Aberrant pattern of gamma- catenin expression also correlated with deep myometrial invasion. But alpha-, beta- catenin expression were not correlated with any clinicopathological parameters. Using Kaplan-Meier curves, abnormal expression of E-cadherin correlated closely with poor survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We revealed aberrant expression of these cell adhesion molecules in part of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Aberrant expression of E-cadherin was correlated with lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma and aberrant expression of gamma-catenin was related with deep myometrial invasion.
Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Catenins* ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cytoskeleton ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Formaldehyde ; gamma Catenin ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

No abstract available.
Paralysis*

A patient treated with venlafaxine for major depression developed an interstitial lung disease (ILD) with the characteristic clinical, radiological and pathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A high resolution computed tomography scan demonstrated ground glass opacity, mosaic perfusion with air-trapping and traction bronchiectasis in both lungs. The pathological findings were consistent with a nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern. Clinical and radiological improvements were noted after the discontinuation of venlafaxine and the administration of a corticosteroid. This report provides further evidence that the anti-depressant venlafaxine can cause ILD.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Bronchiectasis ; Depression ; Glass ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Perfusion ; Pneumonia ; Traction ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

With the object of providing a temporary artificial periodonal ligament-like membrane around the dental implant, 10 Branemark type implants were coated with commercially available chitosan(Fluka Co., Buchs, Switzerland) which has a molecular weight of 70,000 and 80% deacetylation degree. Once this bioactive hydrophillic polymer(chitosan) contacts with blood or wound fluids, it becomes swollen and penetrates into the adjacent cancellous bone. Thus the interface between implant and surrounding bone is completely filled with chitosan. This tight junction in early healing phase enhances primary stability. The chitosan coated dental implants were implanted into the fresh patella bones from porcine knees, since the thickness of cortical bone is relatively even and their cancellous structure is homogenous. To test the shock absorbing effect, 1mm delta-rogette strain gage was installed behind the implant. The results showed 1. the principal strain peak value directed to the impact of coated implant was 0.064 0.018(p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.095(0.032 p<0.05). 2. the peak time delay of coated implant was 0.056sec(0.011 p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.024sec(0.009 p<0.05). It can be reasoned from this results that the chitosan coating has a shock absorbing effect comparable with a temporary artificial periodontal ligament.
Absorption* ; Chitosan* ; Dental Implants* ; Knee ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; Patella ; Periodontal Ligament ; Shock* ; Tight Junctions ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the only established genetic resk factor for emphysema. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of the genotypes of A1AT genotypes in healthy Koreans. METHOD: The study population consisted of 380 healthy Koreans enrolled at the Health Promotion Center in Kyungpook National University Hospital. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphim (RFLP) for detecting the A1AT variants M1(Ala), M1(Val), M2, S and Z were used. RESULTS: The genotypes of subjects were as follows : M1(Val)/M1(Val), 254(66.8%) ; M1(Val)/M2, 105(27.6%) ; M2/M2, 19 (5.0%) ; and M1(Val)/M1(Ala), 2 (0.5%). There was no case with 'deficiency' alleles such as S and Z found in this study. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that A1AT deficient alleles are either extremely rare or not present in Koreans.
Alleles ; Emphysema ; Genotype* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Promotion ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence*

Loss of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is suggested to promote tumor invasion and distant metastasis in tumor development. Recently, it has been proposed that E-cadherin function requires its linkage to the cytoskeleton through catenins. We evaluated the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenins in tissues of human endometrial carcinoma, analyzed the patterns of cell adhesion molecules' expression in endometrial carcinoma and investigated the relationship between the statuses of cell adhesion molecules and various clinicopathological factors. This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenins in 33 paraffin embedded formalin fixed tissues of endometrial carcinomas. Aberrant E-cadherin, and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression was observed in 33.3 (11 of 33), 27.3 (9 of 33), 18.2 (6 of 33), and 51.5 (17 of 33) % of the specimens, respectively. Statistically significant correlation was found between aberrant expression of E-cadherin and lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Aberrant pattern of gamma-catenin expression was also correlated with deep myometrial invasion. However, alpha-, and beta-catenin expression was not correlated with any clinicopathological parameters. Using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank comparison test, abnormal expression of E-cadherin was correlated closely with poor survival (p < 0.05), but cases with loss of both E-cadherin and catenin expression predicted even poorer survival than cases with only one or no aberrant expression in E-cadherin and catenins. We revealed aberrant expression of these cell adhesion molecules among patients with endometrial carcinoma. Aberrant expression of E-cadherin was correlated with lymph node metastasis and cell types other than endometrioid adenocarcinoma, while aberrant expression of gamma-catenin was related with deep myometrial invasion. The expression of E-cadherin might be a possible prognostic factor for endometrial cancer while the expression of catenins may help predict patient's survival.
Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins/*analysis ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/*analysis ; Endometrial Neoplasms/*chemistry/mortality ; Female ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Age ; Trans-Activators/*analysis

BACKGROUND: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the potential association between SERPINA1 genotypes (M1Val, M1Ala, S, and Z) and the risk COPD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 93 patients with COPD and 112 healthy controls. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism for detecting the SERPINA1 variants. RESULTS: The M2 allele of the SERPINA1 gene was significantly associated with the risk of COPD in Koreans. The effect of the M2 allele on the risk of COPD was more pronounced in the subgroup <64 years. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SERPINA1 polymorphisms may contribute to a genetic predisposition for COPD. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Sample Size

OBJECTIVE: To know the clinical and histopathologic profiles of ovarian tumors. METHODS: 822 women undergone operations for their ovarian tumors were enrolled in this study from July of 1996 to June of 2004 at Inha University Hospital in S. Korea. Incidence, age, laterality and size were analyzed according to their histopathologic results. RESULTS: Among 822 women, there were 2.1% of non-neoplastic ovarian cysts, 81.0% of benign tumors, 4.4% of borderline tumors, and 12.5% of malignant tumors. Among benign tumors, 48.2 were cystic teratomas, 22.5% were mucinous, and 19.4% were serous tumors. Among borderline tumors, 52.8% were mucinous and 42.2% were serous. Among malignant tumors, 25.2% were serous and metastatic, respectively, and 18.4% were mucinous. The average and median age of non-neoplastic cysts were 39.1 +/- 12.7, 41 years old, those of benign tumors were 38.2 +/- 18.4, those of borderline tumors were 33.4 +/- 16.7, 28, and those of malignant tumors were 47.8 +/- 15.4, 49. The bilaterality of benign tumors was 10.7%, that of borderline were 16.7%, and that of malignant were 24.2%. The average and median diameter of non-neoplastic cysts were 3.2 +/- 1.4 cm, 3 cm, those of benign tumors were 8.1 +/- 4.3 cm, 7 cm, those of borderline tumors were 13.5 +/- 7.8 cm, 12 cm, and those of malignant tumors were 10.2 +/- 6.1 cm, 9.3 cm. CONCLUSION: We analyzed clinical and histopathologic data of 822 ovarian tumors.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mucins ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Teratoma