OBJECTIVE: To understand the regulatory mechanism of apoptosis by pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in the cyclic human endometrium. METHODS: Each case of endometrial status was classified by Noyes criteria, and grouped into early proliferative(n=13), late proliferative(n=14), early secretory(n=15), and late secretory phases(n=15). Expression of bcl-2, and bax were assessed by Northern blot and immunohistochemistry in relation to apoptotic index by TUNEL. Results: Apoptotic index showed increasing tendency as progressing to the late secretory phase, which phase showed significantly higher apoptotic index compared to the other phases(p<0.05). The intensity of bcl-2 8.5kb transcript by Northern blot was highest in the late proliferative phase significantly(p<0.05), decreasing to nadir in the late secretory phase. In contrast to bcl-2 expression, bax mRNA expression was highest in the late secretory phase significantly(p<0.05). Both the relative ratio of bcl-2 8.5kb transcript and bcl-2 5.5kb trascript to bax showed that the ratio was higher in the early, and late proliferative phase, but, reversed in the late secretory phase. Both the immunoreactivity of bcl-2 and bax proteins could be detected in the basal, functional, and stromal layers of endometrium. The immunoreactivity of bcl-2 protein was more prominent in the proliferative phase, however, bax protein was more prominent in the secretory phase. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that apoptosis could be regulated by the relative dominance of bcl-2 or bax expression in the human endometrium. Thus, bcl-2 and bax expressions might be one of the possible mechanism in the regulation of normal menstruation.
Apoptosis* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blotting, Northern ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Menstruation ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Decompression* ; Head* ; Osteonecrosis*

No abstract available.
Lymphoma*

Plasmid vectors with either RSV or CMV promoter are frequently used for DNA- mediated immunization due to the availability in commercial. Consequently, influence of the vector constituents, such as promoter, enhancer and transcription termination signal etc. on vaccination efficiency is not studied extensively. As an initial attempt to develop an efficient vector system for DNA-rnediated immunization, influence of promoter for antigen gene expression on vaccination efficiency has been analyzed. Initially, plasmids with either B-actin or muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter were constructed from the plasmid with prototype CMV promoter. In addition, ovalbumin (OVA) antigen gene has been cloned into each vectors to generate the plasmid vectors with different promoters for induction of the anti-OVA immune responses. Antigen protein expression in antigen gene transfected mouse muscle myoblast cells showed that the level from MCK promoter containing plasmid was slightly higher than those from either CMV or B-actin promoter containing plasmids. Also, the same plasmid turned out to be slightly more efficient than other plasmids in antibody imrnune response induction in vivo, when they were applied both through intramuscularly and intradermally. These results suggest that the commonly used CMV promoter containing plasmid vector could be further modified to develop an efficient vector for DNA-mediated immunization.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Creatine Kinase, MM Form ; Gene Expression ; Immunization ; Mice ; Myoblasts ; Ovalbumin ; Plasmids* ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Phenylketonurias*

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Joints*

We performed total hip arthroplasty on a young male adult with paralytic dislocation of the hip due to poliomyelitis. Because of extreme shortening, as well as instability and weakness, the patient was unable to bear weight on the limb. Pastoperative course was complicated by ectopic ossification that compromised the hip and knee motion. Another young male adult with severe spastic cerebral palsy underwent total hip arthroplasty because of an intractable pain due to degenerative arthritis. Initial attempt coupled with adductor tenotomy and obtuator neurectomy ended in gross loosening and acetabular protrusion. Revision consisted of extensive soft tissue release and bone grafting of acetabular defect and use of a protrusion cup and an extra-long stem. Postoperative course was complicated by long-standing serous aseptic discharge from the wound which was controlled by antibiotics and prolonged recumbency. Indications for total hip arthroplasty in paralytic hips are rare and should be reserved for the most crippling conditions and one must be prepared fvr technical difficulties and a variety of complications with a prospecs for less than optimum results.
Acetabulum ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bone Transplantation ; Cerebral Palsy ; Dislocations ; Extremities ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoarthritis ; Pain, Intractable ; Poliomyelitis ; Spectinomycin ; Tenotomy ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Child* ; Dislocations* ; Hip* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Animals ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Oncogenes* ; Point Mutation* ; Rats*

Fractures of the neck of the femur have always presented great challenges to orthopedic surgeons and still remain as one of the unsolved fracture as far as treatment and results are concerned. With life expectancy increasing with each decade, becoming more and more patients suffering from femoral neck fractures and their sequelae. The objoct of this study is to observe the relationship between the clinical results and the degree of displacement of fracture, degree of osteoporosis and duration between injury and operation in femoral neck fractures treated with multiple pin fixation. The author clinically analyzed 56 patients of the femoral neck fractures treated with closed reduction and multiple Knowles pinning followed by more than 1 year at Korea University Hospital from January 1986 to December 1991. There were 20 male and 36 female. The age of patients were ranged from 32 to 88 years(average:65.1 years) and most commonly occurred in 7th decade (23cases,41%). The most common cause was slip down(44 cases;79%). The most common type of fracture was stage III (48%) following to Gardens classification. The obtained results were as follows; 1. Union occurred in 49 cases(88%). 2. Among fifty-six cases, five cases(9%) of avascular necrosis, two cases(4%) Of non-union, two cases(4%) of malunion and one case of posttraumatic arthritis were occurred. 3. The functional results by Lunceford criteria were excellent in 30 cases(53% ), good in 13 cases(23%), fair in 5 cases(10%) and poor in 8 cases(14%). 4. Unsatisfactory results were noted in Garden stage II or IV, osteoporosis below Singh index 3 and delayed treatment over 1 week. Above results suggest that multiple Knowles pinning in femoral neck fractures offers high union rate and low complication rate, and so is also one of salvaging method of femoral head.
Agriculture ; Arthritis ; Classification ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Methods ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Osteoporosis ; Surgeons