Immunoreactivity of CD99 in Stomach Cancer

CD99 is characteristically expressed in Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor. Recently its immunoreactivity has also been reported in other tumors. However, the significance of CD99 isoforms expressed in these tumors has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the expression of CD99 isoforms and its relationship with histopathologic parameters in gastric adenocarcinomas. Paraffin sections of 46 gastric adenocarcinomas were stained with an anti-CD99 monoclonal antibody, YG32. Twelve (26.1%) cases of 46 gastric adenocarcinomas showed immunoreactivity to YG32. The CD99 expression was also seen both in non-neoplastic foveolar epithelial cells and infiltrating lymphocytes. In addition, Western blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that the type I is the predominant isoform of CD99 in non-neoplastic and neoplastic gastric tissues. The CD99 expression was usually seen in the intestinal type adenocarcinoma, while rarely in the diffuse type. The CD99 immunoreactivity decreased in MMP-2-overexpressing adenocarcinomas (p=0.028). Our results suggest that the type I is the major isoform of CD99 expressed in non-neoplastic gastric mucosa and gastric adenocarcinomas and its downregulation in gastric adenocarcinoma may be associated with cellular dedifferentiation and/or MMP-2 overexpression.

Cell Death of Corneal Fibroblasts Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaand Interferon-gamma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect in the cell death of corneal fibroblasts when TNF-alphaand INF-gamma were given together. METHODS: Fibroblasts harvested from the human cornea were cultured in DMEM, then, nothing(control: Group 1), TNF-alphaonly(50 ng/ml : Group 2), INF-gammaonly(1.0 x 10(3)u/ml : Group 3), and a combination of both(Group 4) were added. We assessed the cell viability of the each group by the trypan blue exclusion assay at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 hours after addition of cytokines. RESULTS: The cell viability at 48 hour after treatment was 94.27% in group 1, 90.68%(p=0.09) in group 2, 93.31%(p=0.45) in group3, and there was no statistical difference among the groups. Statistically signi-ficant decrease of the cell viability was achieved in group 4(82.86%, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Cell death of human corneal fibroblasts had been increased after treatment with a combination of TNF-alphaand INF-gamma. These findings suggest that there could be some kind of interaction among the cytokines.

Association of Polymorphic Regulatory Region of TIGR Gene with Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To identify the polymorphism in the regulatory region of trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response(TIGR) gene and evaluate the association of it with glaucoma. METHODS: 5'regulatory region of TIGR gene of 101 normal persons and 91 unrelated glaucoma patients were analyzed by DNA sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion. To know the possible effects of the polymorphism on the transcription rate of TIGR gene, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter gene assay were performed with cultured cells, and their extracts of trabecular meshwork and ciliary body in which the gene was expressed. RESULTS: Of the 480 bp examined, G to A transition(G-241A) located at 241 bp upstream from transcription start site was identified and its frequency of occurrence was proved to be higher in steroid induced glaucoma patients(18.9%) compared with that in normal population(8.9%), POAG(8.3%) and normal tension glaucoma patients(6.7%, P<0.05). In mobility shift assay, the G-241A probe was proved to have affinity to some DNA-binding proteins and its affinity was revealed to be two times stronger than that of normal sequence. The luciferase activities, however, were observed to be similar in cells transfected with vectors having normal promoter sequence or G-241A containing one. CONCLUSION: The result suggest that G-241A itself is not a cause of steroid-induced glaucoma but is in linkage disequilibrium with the actual causes of the disease.

Primary vitrectomy Using Scleral Depressin Technique for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

We performed a primary vitrectimy using scleral depression technique for uncomplicated rhegmetogenous retinal detachment and intended to highlight the importance of scleral depression technique. The indications for the primary vitrectomy were eyes with multiple or posteriorly located retinal breaks, unidentified retinal breaks, vitreous opacities, strong vitreous tractions on the retina tear flap, and aphakic/pseudophakic retinal detachments, Removal of vitreoretinal traction and vitreous base dissection using scleral depression technuque were performed in sixty-eight eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment uncomplicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy of grade C or worse. Scleral segmental buckle or encircling was also placed in 60 of 68 eyes. The retina was reattached after the primary operation in fifty-seven eyes(80.9%), and after reoperations in remaining eleven eyes(19.1%). Postoperative visual acuity was 0.4 or better in thirty-eight eyes (55.9%), and worse than 0.025 in eight eyes(11.8%). Vitrectomy in conjuction with scleral depression technique would be effective in increasing surgical success rate in selected cases of retinal detachment surgery.

Surgical Results of the Uncomplicated Giant Retinal Breaks

The surgical success rate for retinal detachment caused by giant retinal breaks was very low in the past because of its frequent association with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and inverted retina I flap. Recently advances in vitreoretinal surgical techniques as well as introduction of perfluorocarbon liquid result in good surgical results. Eleven eyes with uncomplicated retinal detachment from giant retinal breaks underwent vitrectorny. A special effort was made to remove as much vitreous gel of the vitreous base as possible. Lensectomy or encircling was performed, when needed. Inverted retinal flap was unfolded using perfluorocarbon liquid. After laser ph/otocoagulation, internal tamponade was performed with C3 F8 gas or silicone oil. Postoperatively, we achieved anatomical success in all eleven eyes and favorable visual acuity of better than 0.4 in nine eyes(81.8%). We obtained good surgical results for uncomplicated giant retinal breaks using meticulous vitreous base dissection and perfluorocarbon liquid. Removal of crystalline lens or scleral buckling is not always needed in this complex retinal detachment surgery.

The Effect of Oral Calcium Channel Blockers on the Ocular Blood Flow

Pulsatile ocular blood flow(POBF) System can measure the ocular blood flow easily and reliably. We attempted to investigate if oral calcium-channel blockers such as nifedipine and verapamil used for treatment of normal tension glaucoma increase the ocular blood flow in normal eyes by using above instrument. Twelve normal volunteers who have no ocular and systemic disorder history were involved in this study, and their ocular blood flow, intraocular pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured. We performed the same study for 14 normal volunteers using verapamil. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased significantly after administration of calcium-channel blockers(P0.05). The intraocular pressure did not vary after administration of verapamil, but elevated in mean by 1.1mmHg after administration of nifedipine(P<0.05). Our study showed oral calcium-channel blockers, nifedipine and verapamil, did not increase the ocular blood flow in normal subjects with use of POBF.

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis Caused by Aspergillus

Aspergillus is usually found in the human upper respiratory tract, or soil, and causes sinusitis for the immunocompromised or immunocompetent hosts. Sometimes it extends to the cavernous sinus, internal carotid artery or the orbit and results in severe complications. We diagnosed cavernous sinus thrombosis and sphenoid sinusitis by Aspergillus in a 58-year-old woman who visited our clinic for headache, left eyeball pain, and proptosis. We treated the patient with endoscopic ethmoidectomy, sphenoidectomy and antifungal therapy with Amphotericin B. During one year of follow-up, we found no evidence of recurrence. Cavernous sinus thrombosis by Aspergillus is a rare disease, and can be treated successfully without recurrence with early diagonosis and vigorous treatment.

Clinical Experience with the Baerveldt Implant in Recalcitrant Glaucoma

From January to September 1995, eleven eyes of eleven patients with medically uncontrollable glaucoma or previously failed filtering cases underwent installation of Baerveldt implant. Seven men and four women were enrolled into this study,, and meand age of the patients was 41.7+/-22.9 years (range, 2-65years). Nine eyes had neovascular glaucoma (diabetic retinopathy) in six eyes, Coats` disease in one, central tetinal vein occlusion in one, other in one of nine eyes), two eyes had secondary glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty. The mean follow-up period was 10.6+/-8.4 months (range, 2-22 months), and preoperative intraocular pressure(IOP)s averaged 54.8+/-16.0mmHg range, 26-76mmHg) were lowered to a mean of 14.7+/-3.1mmHg (range, 12-40mmHg) postoperatively. Ten eyes achieved final IOPs between 6 and 14mmHg without medication, and one eye was eviscerated. Postoperative complications included hyphema in five eyes (45.5%), flat anterior chamber in two eyes(18.1%), obstruction of the tube in two eyes(18.1%), and cataract progression in two eyes(18.1%) of the eleven eyes. We installed Baerveldt implant in eleven recalcitrant glaucomas, and obtained successful result of 90.0% without serious complication. In conclusion, although Baerveldt implant is large, it is easier to implant an requires less extensive conjunctival incision than other large implants, and it afforded a good IOP control.