Normal and abnormal follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on gonadotropins as well as intraovarian peptides, which may mediate or potentiate gonadotropin action. Inhibin also affect follicular development and steroidogenesis and may play a role in dominant follicle selection and follicular atresia. Therefore, we studied the differences of serum inhibin, gonadotropin and androgen levels in the women with only the ultrasound findings and no disorder, and polycystic ovary (PCO) with ovulatory disturbance. We prospectively analysed forty-three women with PCO. The diagnosis of PCO was based on typical appearance of the ovaries on TVS. Twelve women with regular menstrual cycle and normal ovarian morphology were selected as control. Basal levels of inhibin, luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), estradiol(E2), testosterone(T), androstenedione(ADD), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate(DS), prolactin and TSH in serum were determined. There were significant differences in basal LH levels and LH/FSH ratio between the control and the women with PCO. The basal levels of inhibin and E2 in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO (N=34) were significantly higher than those in the control. There was higher negative correlation between the inhibin and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but, not in the regular cycling PCO. Also, there was higher positive correlation between the LH and T levels in the oligo-amenorrheic PCO, but not in the regular cycling PCO. These data presume that the initial event of PCO is elevated pituitary LH secretion. Elevated levels of LH may down-regulate LH receptors on granulosa cells and also cause hypertrophy of the thecal layer. High level of androgen secreted by the hypertrophied thermal layer may stimulate inhibin secretion from granulosa cells and can be converted to estrogen by extraovarian tissues and could serve to augment pituitary sensitivity to GnRH with a resultant secretion of more LH follicular development and dominant follicle selection resulted in ovulatory disturbance.
Diagnosis ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follicular Atresia ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inhibins* ; Lutein ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary* ; Peptides ; Prolactin ; Prospective Studies ; Receptors, LH ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The involvement of IGF system in hyperandrogenism and abnormal follicular development is controversial. This study is to assess whether IGF system contribute to it in the women with polycystic ovary(PCO). METHODS: Baseline serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), androstenedione (ADD), prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-I, free IGF-II, insulin-like growth factor binding protein(IGFBP)-1, and IGFBP-3 were measured in twelve healthy regularly cycling volunteers and forty-two women with PCO then, the changes of baseline serum levels were evaluated after laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization in nine PCO patients. In addition, the expression pattern of IGF-I and IGF-II was examined in the ovary of control and PCO group. RESULTS: Baseline levels of LH, ADD, free IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were significantly higher in PCO group. However, there were no significant differences in the levels of free IGF-I and IGFBP-1, although free IGF-I showed decreasing tendency in PCO group. And there was a significant positive correlation between the LH and free IGF-II level in the PCO(P=0.011, r2=0.3899), but not in the control. After ovarian electrocauterization, LH, T, and ADD levels decreased, and free IGF-I and IGFBP-3 level increased. While free IGF-II and IGFBP-1 level showed no significant changes. In the ovary, expression of both IGFs showed similar pattern in normal and PCO ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated IGFBP-3 level may alter the bioavailability of IGF(s) in the PCO. The change in IGF-I level and resumption of ovulation after electrocauterization, suggest a possible role of IGF system in the impairment of follicular development in the PCO.
Androstenedione ; Biological Availability ; Carrier Proteins* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Ovary* ; Ovulation ; Prolactin ; Somatomedins* ; Testosterone ; Thyrotropin ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: A number of reports have been published regarding the use of imiquimod for the treatment of melanoma in situ and metastatic melanoma. Essential steps in the process of melanoma invasion and metastasis include degradation of basement membranes and remodeling of the extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiinvasive effect of imiquimod in human malignant melanoma cell lines, SK-MEL-2 and SK-MEL-24, in vitro, and to investigate imiquimod-induced changes in the expression of MMPs and TIMPs. METHODS: Invasiveness of melanoma cell lines following imiquimod treatment was evaluated by invasion assays. In order to investigate the mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of imiquimod, mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, -9, membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP, TIMP-1, and -2 were assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, gelatin zymography, and western blotting. RESULTS: Imiquimod treatment decreased in vitro viability of melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Imiquimod also elicited a concentration-dependent suppression of invasion in both melanoma cell lines. A concentration-dependent decrease in MMP-2 and MT1-MMP protein levels and a concentration-dependent increase in TIMP-1 and -2 protein levels by imiquimod was observed in both melanoma cell lines. However, expression of MMP-9 protein was increased in SK-MEL-2 but decreased in SK-MEL-24 with increasing imiquimod concentrations. Imiquimod elicited alterations in MMPs and TIMPs mRNA levels that parallel the observed changes in protein levels. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod may elicit an anti-invasive effect on human melanoma cells by regulating MMPs and TIMPs.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Melanoma* ; Membranes ; Metalloproteases* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

PURPOSE: To determine the in vivo bone formation on an osteoblastic cells-scaffold composite and the best scaffold for bone formation. This study focused on the three-dimensional culture of osteoblastic cells using various tissue-engineered scaffolds and compared the suitability of those scaffolds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were harvested from New Zealand white rabbits and were differentiated into osteoblastic cells. The expression of osteogenic proteins in osteoblastic cells was observed by RT-PCR and a phase of mineralization was checked using von Kossa staining. In addition, three-dimensional cultured osteoblastic cells-scaffolds composites using a variable scaffold were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The cell-scaffold composites were transplanted into athymic nude mice. X-ray, a histochemical study, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the in vivo bone formation. RESULTS: The mesenchymal stem cells proliferated quite well in the early phase and differentiated into osteoblastic cells by an inducing substance. The osteoblastic cells were observed as spindle and polygonal shapes and were mineralized. Expression of the osteoblastic proteins was observed continuously after 2-3 weeks. The amount of osteocalcin secretion increased for 6-7 weeks. The osteoblastic cells adhered more to the human and porcine bone than to the hydroxyapatite-scaffold. In the case of the PLGA scaffold, the cells proliferated and formed a net-like structure but did not adhere well. No Living cells were observed in the calcium alginate scaffold. However, after the in vivo transplant, abundant cells and new tissue were observed within the human bone, porcine bone, hydroxyapatite, and PLGA but not within the calcium alginate scaffold. CONCLUSION: In the three-dimensional cultures, natural bone was found to be a more effective and suitable scaffold for cell culture than the various synthetic polymers.
Animals ; Bone Marrow* ; Calcium ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Polymers ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: Hypertrophic scarring and depression are the principal problems of burn rehabilitation. This study was done to verify the effects of skin rehabilitation massage therapy (SRMT) on pruritus, skin status, and depression for Korean burn survivors. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design using a nonequivalent control group was applied to examine the effects of SRMT for 3 months in a group of 18 burn survivors. The major dependent variables-including pruritus, objective and subjective scar status, and depression-were measured at the beginning and at the end of the therapy to examine the effects of SRMT. RESULTS: Burn survivors receiving SRMT showed reduced pruritus, improved skin status, and depression. The remaining scar also showed improvement in skin pigmentation, pliability, vascularity, and height (compared to the surrounding skin) as measured on the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that SRMT for burn survivors may improve their scars both objectively and subjectively, and also reduce pruritus and depression.
Adult ; Burns/complications/*rehabilitation ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/etiology/*prevention & control ; Depressive Disorder/etiology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Massage ; Pruritus/etiology/*prevention & control

No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans* ; Progesterone* ; Superovulation*

Doppler sonography has been introduced to evaluate uterine and ovarian diseases. It has been reported to be used to distinguish benign from malignant adnexal masses. The purpose of this study was to assess the blood flow characteristics of adnexal masses and to determine the optimal cut-off points for the Doppler indices obtained, resistance index and pulsatility index, to best differentiate benign from malignant lesions. We performed pulsed Doppler ultrasound in seventy-eight adnexal masses between February 1989 and June 1994. The pulsatility and resistance index were calculated from the waveforms generated from blood flow within the ovary. There were 51 benign and 27 malignant histologically proved ovarian lesions. All women have been operated on. The results were as follows ; Benign tumors and cysts had a significantly higher pulsatility index(mean, 1.23+/-0.74; range, 4.46-3.36) and resistance index(mean, 0.64+/-0.19; range 0.34-1.43) than did malignant tumors(pulsatility index : mean, 0.87+/-0.49; range, 0.31-2.27; resistance index : mean, 0.50+/-17; range, 0.23-0.8). However, some overlap in individual values for benign and malignant lesions was found. In conclusion, our data suggest that high pulsatility and resistance indices may indicate benign adnexal masses ; however, considerable overlap in pulsatility and resistance indices between benign and malignant lesions were noted, and further work will be needed before the validity of these factors is proved.
Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases ; Ovary ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing rapidly. Epidemiologic studies suggest that obesity induced atherosclerosis may start in childhood. We investigated whether obese children show early abnormalities of the arterial wall and endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: Thirty-eight obese children(14-16 years old of age, male, body mass index 29.40+/-3.18 kg/m2) and forty-five age and sex-matched healthy control children(body mass index 18.43+/-1.01 kg/ m2) were enrolled. Their carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation(FMD) response were measured by high-quality ultrasound system, and compliance, distensibility, stiffness index, incremental elastic modulus and wall stress were calculated by equation. In addition, we looked at the relations between these arterial features and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: The obese children had significantly increased IMT(0.52+/-0.09 mm vs 0.40+/-0.07 mm, P< 0.001) and markedly impaired FMD(7.35+/-7.78 percent vs 20.34+/-16.81 percent, P<0.001) than the healthy controls. But the compliance and distensibility were lower, and the stiffness index, incremental elastic modules and wall stress were higher in the obese group than the control group, but not statistically significantly. Body mass index was highly associated with increased IMT(r=0.612, P< 0.001) and reduced FMD(r=-0.414, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: We showed the deleterious effect of child obesity on both early functional and structural atherosclerotic markers. The ultrasonic findings will be used for screening and follow up markers to identify high-risk patients among obese children.
Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Brachial Artery ; Carotid Arteries ; Child* ; Compliance ; Elastic Modulus ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

The 21st century is considered as the era of Biotechnology (BT). Recently, the regenerative medicine using stem cells has been recognized as the future medicine, especially for the devastating diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, diabetes, infertility and liver diseases. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are at the center of the stem cell research due to its ability to proliferate unlimitedly without differentiation (self-renewal) and to differentiate into the derivatives of all three germ layers including germ cells with appropriate treatments (pluripotency). A total of 173 hESC lines have been derived since the first derivation by Thomson et al. in 1998, and 70 hESC lines are currently available for distribution including hESC line (Miz-hES1) established at the MizMedi Hospital. The major goal of hESC research is to provide basic and clinical clues for cell replacement therapy, whose targets are aforementioned incurable diseases. One of the landmarks in hESC research is the derivation of a hESC line from a cloned human blastocyst, which has recently been done by Korean scientists. This made it possible to overcome the issue of immune-mediated rejection following cell replacement therapy using hESCs. Guided differentiation of hESCs into specific cell types by treating growth factors and drugs or by genetic manipulation by using overexpression or an RNAi knockdown system is one of the most active research areas. Combined efforts towards the guided differentiation of hESC into specific cell types and the cloning of hESC from a cloned human blastocyst will overcome a list of diseases hitherto considered to be incurable.
Biotechnology ; Blastocyst ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Germ Cells ; Germ Layers ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liver Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cell Research* ; Stem Cells