OBJECTIVE: Cell to cell and cell to extracellular matrix interaction are crucial in tumor development and progression. Tight junction proteins such as claudins and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) play an important role in these processes. This study was performed to investigate the difference of expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC) of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The expressions of claudin-1, claudin-4 and ZO-1 were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining in 78 cervical tissue specimens (LSIL 22 case, HSIL 36 case, and ISCC 20 case). RESULTS: Claudin-1 expression was positive in 40.9% of LSIL, in 94.0% of HSIL and in 20.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.0001). Claudin-4 expression was positive in 31.8% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL and in 25.0% of ISCC. The expression of claudin-4 was high in HSIL, but it was not statistically different. ZO-1 expression was positive in 13.6% of LSIL, in 41.7% of HSIL, and in 25.5% of ISCC. The expression of ZO-1 was significantly high in HSIL (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: These results indicate increased expressions of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the HSIL that includes cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and 3, which decrease during progression to cervical cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Claudin-1* ; Claudin-4* ; Claudins ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Tight Junction Proteins ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Phenol has effects like surgical neurectomy, but may evoke pain after local infiltration in nerves. Transection of peripheral nerves may induce neuropathic pain through increased spontaneous discharge and other mechanisms. Proto-oncogene, c-fos, is an indicator of neuronal activity, and its expression in the spinal cord may be related to pain development, because inhibition of c-fos expression has corresponding effects like analgesia. We evaluated the effects of local infiltration of phenol and transection injury at the sciatic nerve on c-fos expression in the spinal cords of rats. METHODS: Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups; transection of the sciatic nerve was performed for group 1; phenol was infiltrated into the sciatic nerve in group 2. Three hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks after the experiment, the corresponding spinal cord was stained immunohistochemically for c-fos. RESULTS: c-fos was expressed from 3 hours to 2 weeks over the laminae of the dorsal horn in each group. Phenol increased the expression of c-fos initially, but decreased 1 week later. Transection injury did not increase it initially, but showed the peak expression at 1 week, and maintained it for 2 weeks. Therefore, it seems that phenol, rather than the transection injury, stimulates c-fos expression early, but decreases later. CONCLUSIONS: Phenol treatment, caused by chemical block due to protein denaturation and nonspecific inflammation, may induce less neuropathic pain than the transection of a nerve.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Horns ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Neurons ; Peripheral Nerves ; Phenol* ; Protein Denaturation ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Spinal Cord*

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the long-term skeletal responses to hormone replacement therapy(HRT) with or without active vitamin D(VD) by using short-term changes of bone markers in postmenopausal women (PMW). METHODS: Biochemical markers of bone formation(osteocalcin,OC) and (&) resorption(deoxypyridinoline, Dpd ) at 3 months & lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) at 1 year were measured in 64 natural PMW taking HRT(n=41) & HRT with calcitriol 0.25 microgram/day(n=23). The correlation of percent changes of bone markers after 3 months of Tx with those in lumbar BMD after 1 year was evaluated. RESULTS: 1. serum-OC & urine-Dpd showed decrease of 20.9% & 30.1% at 3months respectively & BMD increase of 3.8% after 1 year of Tx. 2. Among 58 PMW with decreased u-Dpd change, 49 (84.5%) revealed increase in BMD, while 40 (81.6%) among 49 PMW with decreased serum-OC change showed increased BMD. 3. Bone gainers showed significant decrease in changes of serum-OC(18.1% vs 9.2% p<0.05) & urine-Dpd(32.6% vs 20.4%, p<0.05) compared with those of bone losers. 4. No correlations of change of serum-OC (r=-0.174 p>0.05) & urine-Dpd (r=-0.091 p>0.05) at 3month with BMD changes at 1year were seen in total PMW, but urine-Dpd changes in HRT without active VD group revealed significantly inverse correlation(r=-0.376 p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term changes of bone markers did not precisely predict the long-term changes of BMD in total PMW except urine- Dpd in HRT without active VD.
Biomarkers ; Bone Density* ; Calcitriol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVES: It is well known that many chronic alcoholics manifest diastolic dysfunction of left ven tricle in its early stage. But the effects of chronic alcohol drinking on right ventricular function are not well understood. Thus left ventricular filling impair ment and its effects to right ventricular diastolic function were evaluated in young chronic alcoholics. METHODS: For the evaluation of left and right ventricular diastolic function in chronic alcoholics, 30 young chronic alcoholics and 28 control subjects were studied by pulsed Doppler echocardiography at the left and right ventricular inflow. Peak E velocity, peak A velocity, E/A velocity ratio, acceleration time and deceleration time were measured as diastolic filling parameters. RESULTS: 1) In the chronic alcoholics, the interventricular septum and posterior wall were thicker and left ventricular muscle mass was significantly increased than that in controls. 2) Among 30 cases of chronic alcoholics, 8 cases(26.7%) showed that the E/A ratio of the left ventricle was less than 1.0 and the deceleration time of the left ventricle was more than 240msec, where as 12 cases(40.0%) showed that the E/A ratio of the left ventricle was less than 1.0. 3) Among 30 cases of chronic alcoholics, 8 cases (26.7%) showed that the E/A ratio of the right ventri cle was less than 1.0 and the deceleration time of the right ventricle was more than 232msec, whereas 14 cases(46.7%) showed that the E/A ratio of the right ventricle was less than 1.0. 4) The RV E/A ratio was significantly correlated with the LV E/A ratio(r=0.697, p<0.001). 5) Blood pressure, ejection fraction, left ventricular mass, E/A ratio and deceleration time of both ventricles were not significantly different in comparison with the daily average amount, duration of ingestion, and total lifetime dose of alcohol. CONCLUSION: In all chronic alcoholics less than 50 years of age, the left ventricular systolic function was normal. But Doppler echocardiography showed that diastolic dysfunction of the left and right ventricles was present in 8 cases of 30 chronic alcoholics. Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction was closely related with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. In conclu sion, diastolic dysfunction of both ventricle in chronic alcoholics may be the earliest functional sign of preclinical alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Acceleration ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic ; Deceleration ; Eating ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Ventricular Function, Right

PURPOSE: To evaluate the portal venous anatomy in the right lobe of the liver, focusing particularly on the location and size of the anterior and posterior segmental branches of the portal vein and the relationship of the right subdiaphragmatic peripheral portal vein to the right hepatic vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1995 to December 1995, 100 spiral CT scan which showed no abnormal findings in the hepatic area were retrospectively analysed. Portal dominant phase images were obtained after the administration of contrast media, with a delay of 60-65 seconds (100 - 120ml, 2-3ml/sec injection rate), slice thickness 10 mm and table speed 10mm/sec. On spiral CT scans, we assessed the location and size of the right portal vein and its branches and also observed the relationship of this vein to the right hepatic vein. RESULTS: In all patients, the right portal trunk divided into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior segmental portal vein was located cephalad to the posterior segment in 81 cases (81%), at the same level in 17 (17%), and caudad in two (2%). Its diameter was greater (>2mm)than that of its posterior segment in 33 cases (33%), smaller in three (3%), and similar in 64 (64%). In 95 cases, the right anterior segmetal portal vein which was directed posteriorly, supplied the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7. CONCLUSION: In 81% of cases, the position of the anterior segmental portal vein cephalad, and in 64%of cases it was similar in size to the posterior portal vein. In almost all cases, the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7 was supplied by the portal vein from segment 8. Therefore, the right hepatic vein is not in all cases an adequate landmark for dividing Couinaud segments 7 and 8 in the subdiaphragmatic portion.
Contrast Media ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Veins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the portal venous anatomy in the right lobe of the liver, focusing particularly on the location and size of the anterior and posterior segmental branches of the portal vein and the relationship of the right subdiaphragmatic peripheral portal vein to the right hepatic vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1995 to December 1995, 100 spiral CT scan which showed no abnormal findings in the hepatic area were retrospectively analysed. Portal dominant phase images were obtained after the administration of contrast media, with a delay of 60-65 seconds (100 - 120ml, 2-3ml/sec injection rate), slice thickness 10 mm and table speed 10mm/sec. On spiral CT scans, we assessed the location and size of the right portal vein and its branches and also observed the relationship of this vein to the right hepatic vein. RESULTS: In all patients, the right portal trunk divided into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior segmental portal vein was located cephalad to the posterior segment in 81 cases (81%), at the same level in 17 (17%), and caudad in two (2%). Its diameter was greater (>2mm)than that of its posterior segment in 33 cases (33%), smaller in three (3%), and similar in 64 (64%). In 95 cases, the right anterior segmetal portal vein which was directed posteriorly, supplied the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7. CONCLUSION: In 81% of cases, the position of the anterior segmental portal vein cephalad, and in 64%of cases it was similar in size to the posterior portal vein. In almost all cases, the subdiaphragmatic portion of segment 7 was supplied by the portal vein from segment 8. Therefore, the right hepatic vein is not in all cases an adequate landmark for dividing Couinaud segments 7 and 8 in the subdiaphragmatic portion.
Contrast Media ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Veins