No abstract available.
Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Ovulation* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: Cell adhesion molecules may play a role in integrating amnionic membrane. The objective of this study was to prove E-cadherin mRNA and proteins in cultured human amnionic cells. METHODS: We cultured amnionic cells from 4 women undergoing cesarean section without labor. E-cadherin was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western ligend blotting. To demonstrate E-cadherin mRNA, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed. RESULTS: On immunohistochemistry, E-cadherin was abundantly showed on the cytoplasm of the cells. Western ligend blotting showed clear 120 kDa bands on four specimens, and relatively weak band on one specimen. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed 432 BP bands. CONCLUSION: We proved E-cadherin and its mRNA by immunohistochemistry, Western ligend blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cultured human amnionic cells.
Amnion* ; Cadherins* ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cesarean Section ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Humans*

Since CT scanning was introduced in the diagnosis of calcaneal fracture, we became to understand more clearly the pathoanatomy of the injury. However we have to determine if we would or would not take CT scanning by simple radiography in the acute setting and most of the surgeons still use simple radiography in evaluating postoperative result. And also we have to determine the accuracy of reduction and position of screws by simple radiography intraoperatively. The purpose of this report is to determine the accuracy of simple radiography in assessing the pathological anatomy of the intraarticular calcaneal fracture by experimental and clinical studies. This is a combined experimental and clinical studies using four below knee amputation specimens and 15 patients with 19 displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures treated at Hanil General Hospital between Jan. 1996 and May 1997. The lateral view of the foot was the best radiographic view for visualizing the degree of depression of the posterior facet. With regard to the location of a fracture line, findings of Broden views correlated well with findings on CT in 17 of 19 fractures. With regard to gapping between fragments, the axial view was not satisfactory in the majority of cases(15 of 19 cases). There was no case which showed more than 2 mm of discrepancy between the findings on Broden view and CT. We conclude that we may obtain most of the important informations about the pathological anatomy of the intraarticular calcaneal fracture by simple radiography.
Amputation ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Knee ; Radiography* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results and prognostic factors after radiotherapy in stage IIB uterine cervix cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 90 patients with stage IIB uterine cervix cancer who received radiotherapy between 9/94 and 12/99. Age was ranged from 28 to 79 years (median 57). Tumor size was > or = 4 cm in 64 patients. Preteatment SCC level was measured in 76 patients. Twenty nine patients received conventional radiotherapy (QD) and the others received modified hyperfractionated radiotherapy (BID). Only 7 patients in BID had tumor size <4 cm. All patients received high dose rate brachytherapy (4 Gy x 7 or 5 Gy x 6). No patient received concurrent chemotherapy during radiotherapy. Follow up period was ranging from 9 to 76 months (median 38). RESULTS: The 5-year overall and disease free survival rates were 73.4% and 71.6%, respectively. Local recurrences occurred in 10% of patients, and distant metastasis in 18.9%. There was a significant correlation between OS/DFS and tumor size (<4 cm; OS 95.2%, DFS 91.4%, > or = 4 cm; OS 63.4%, DFS 63.4%). Pretreatment SCC level was one of prognostic factors only in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: With modified hyperfractionated radiotherapy, there was very low local recurrence rate (6.6%) and high 5-year overall and disease free survival rate (75.4% and 70.5%), which is comparable to results after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in bulky, locally advanced stage IIB uterine cervix cancer.
Brachytherapy ; Cervix Uteri* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Fistula*

No abstract available.
Anemia, Refractory* ; Cyclosporine*

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is common in chronic renal failure patients and may contribute increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the left ventricular morphology and function in renal transplant recipients to find the relationship between hemodynamic changes and morphologic and functional improvement after transplantation. METHODS: Serial echocardiographic evaluations were performed in 27 adults(20 men and 7 women) at the time of transplantaion and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months. The average duration of hemodialysis was 16+/-24 months(mean+/-S.D.). RESULTS: At the time of transplantation, the hematocrit level was 21+/-6% and posttransplantation 1 month and 4 months, that was increased to 39+/-5% and 42+/-7%, respectively(p<0.001). Left ventricular mass index by echocardiography was decreased significantly from 246+/-87g/m2(pre-KT) to 169+/-38g/m2(post-KT 1 month) and 153+/-40g/m2(post-KT 4 months), respectively (p<0.001). Interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness were decreased significantly after 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions were also decreased significantly after 1 month and 4 months of transplantation. Left ventricular volumes and cardiac output were also decreased significantly. But A/E ratio, ejection fraction and fractional shortening did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that pretransplant high output state was resolved radipidly(within 1 month) but the diastolic function did not improved after transplantation 1 month and 4 months.
Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography* ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Mortality ; Renal Dialysis ; Transplantation*

PURPOSE: Proctitis is one of acute complications encountered when radiotherapy was applied to the pelvis. Radiation-induced proctitis represents similar microscopic findings that are observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the inflammatory process and many data suggest a close relationship between NO production and gastrointestinal inflammation. This study was aimed to establish the optimal radiation dose for radiation-induced proctitis in rat and to find a relationship between radiation proctitis and NO production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Wistar rats, weighing from 150 to 220 g, received various doses(10-30 Gy) of radiation to the rectum. On the 5th and 10th day after irradiation, rectal specimens were evaluated grossly and microscopically. In addition, the degree of NO production by irradiation dose was evaluated by study with NOS expression and nitrite production in the irradiated rectal tissue. To evaluate relationship between radiation proctitis and NO, we administered aminoguanidine, iNOS inhibitor and L-arginine, substrate of NOS to rats from 2 days before to 7 days after the irradiation. RESULTS: There were obvious gross and histological changes after 17.5 Gy or higher radiation dose but not with 15 Gy or less radiation dose. Twenty Gy or higher dose of radiation caused Grade 4 damage in most of rectal specimens which were more likely to be related to the late complications such as fibrosis, rectal bleeding and rectal obstruction. A single fraction of 17.5 Gy to the rat rectum is considered to be an optimal dose to produce commonly experienced proctitis in the clinic. The result demonstrated that severity of microscopic damage of rectal mucosa from irradiation significantly correlated with iNOS overexpression. However, administration of iNOS inhibitor or substrate of iNOS did not influence the degree of rectal damage. CONCLUSION: A single fraction of 17.5 Gy irradiation to the rat rectum considered to be an optimal dose for radiation induced proctitis model. These results indicated that an excess production of NO contributes to pathogenesis of radiation-induced proctitis in part but was not the direct cause of rectal damage.
Animals ; Arginine ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Pelvis ; Proctitis* ; Radiotherapy ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Rectum

As a potential adjuvant therapy of malignant brain tumors, immunotherapy has aroused the interest of neurooncologists. This review attempt to provide an introduction to the general concepts of tumor immunology and immunological characteristics of brain tumors, especially of gliomas, to promote an understanding of brain tumor immunotherapy(Part II) finally.
Allergy and Immunology* ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Glioma ; Immunotherapy