Measles Viral Infection in PD-1 Gene Knockout Mice / 소아감염

PURPOSE: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegerative disease due to persistent measles virus infection. We investigated the role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule which is related with chronic viral infection in developing SSPE in mouse. METHODS: We adopt the PD-1-/-, PD-1-/+, and wild type BALB/c 3 week old mice to make an animal model of SSPE by injecting measles virus (SSPE strain) intraventricularly. Three months after infusion of virus, the mice were sacrificed and examined if the typical pathologic lesions had been progressed. The sera were collected from each group of mice and the serum level of IL-21 was measured with ELISA kit. RESULTS: The necrotic lesions on white matter and gliosis were found in focal areas in wild type BALB/c. The extent of lesion was smaller in heterotype BALB/c. Scanty lesions were found in PD-1-/- mice. The sera level of IL-21 was not elevated in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the PD-1 molecule may play a role in persistent viral infection.

DNA Barcoding of Fish, Insects, and Shellfish in Korea

DNA barcoding has been widely used in species identification and biodiversity research. A short fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence serves as a DNA bio-barcode. We collected DNA barcodes, based on COI sequences from 156 species (529 sequences) of fish, insects, and shellfish. We present results on phylogenetic relationships to assess biodiversity the in the Korean peninsula. Average GC% contents of the 68 fish species (46.9%), the 59 shellfish species (38.0%), and the 29 insect species (33.2%) are reported. Using the Kimura 2 parameter in all possible pairwise comparisons, the average interspecific distances were compared with the average intraspecific distances in fish (3.22 vs. 0.41), insects (2.06 vs. 0.25), and shellfish (3.58 vs. 0.14). Our results confirm that distance-based DNA barcoding provides sufficient information to identify and delineate fish, insect, and shellfish species by means of all possible pairwise comparisons. These results also confirm that the development of an effective molecular barcode identification system is possible. All DNA barcode sequences collected from our study will be useful for the interpretation of species-level identification and community-level patterns in fish, insects, and shellfish in Korea, although at the species level, the rate of correct identification in a diversified environment might be low.

The Ketogenic Diet Suppresses the Cathepsin E Expression Induced by Kainic Acid in the Rat Brain

PURPOSE: The ketogenic diet has long been used to treat epilepsy, but its mechanism is not yet clearly understood. To explore the potential mechanism, we analyzed the changes in gene expression induced by the ketogenic diet in the rat kainic acid (KA) epilepsy model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: KA-administered rats were fed the ketogenic diet or a normal diet for 4 weeks, and microarray analysis was performed with their brain tissues. The effects of the ketogenic diet on cathepsin E messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were analyzed in KA-administered and normal saline-administered groups with semi-quantitative and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Brain tissues were dissected into 8 regions to compare differential effects of the ketogenic diet on cathepsin E mRNA expression. Immunohistochemistry with an anti-cathepsin E antibody was performed on slides of hippocampus obtained from whole brain paraffin blocks. RESULTS: The microarray data and subsequent RT-PCR experiments showed that KA increased the mRNA expression of cathepsin E, known to be related to neuronal cell death, in most brain areas except the brain stem, and these increases of cathepsin E mRNA expression were suppressed by the ketogenic diet. The expression of cathepsin E mRNA in the control group, however, was not significantly affected by the ketogenic diet. The change in cathepsin E mRNA expression was greatest in the hippocampus. The protein level of cathepsin E in the hippocampus of KA-administered rat was elevated in immunohistochemistry and the ketogenic diet suppressed this increase. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that KA administration increased cathepsin E expression in the rat brain and its increase was suppressed by the ketogenic diet.

Prognostic Factors of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal population. The aim of this study is to evaluate surgical indication and prognostic factors of NEC. Clinical data of seventy patients, diagnosed as NEC between January 2000 & January 2007, were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-seven patients had medical treatment and 7 of them died. Thirteen patients who presented with pneumoperitoneum on plain abdominal film or were refractory to medical treatment received surgical treatment, and 5 of them died. All the expired 12 patients weighed less than 2500g. Twenty out of seventy patients showed thrombocytopenia, and 11 patients of them died. The finding of pneumoperitoneum and thrombocytopenia could be the most important surgical indication. Prematurity, low birth weight and thrombocytopenia were related to a bad prognosis. NEC patients who presents with these findings must be considered for close observation and intensive care.

Fasting-induced Down-regulation of NADPH-diaphorase in the Magnocellular PVN of Rats

In this study, we examined if glucocorticoids are required for the fasting-induced decrease of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the magnocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Rats were adrenalectomized, subjected to 48 h of food deprivation with/without dexamethasone (5 mg/ kg, 4 subcutaneous injections with 12 h intervals), and the brain slices were processed for NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH- d) staining, a histochemical marker for nNOS in neuronal cells. In food deprived adrenalectomized rats, but not in free fed intact rats, dexamethasone significantly decreased NADPH-d staining in the magnocellular PVN. We previously reported that food deprivation decreases nNOS in the magnocellular PVN of intact rats. Thus, the present results together with our previous report suggest that although glucocorticoids are required for fasting-induced nNOS down-regulation in the magnocellular PVN, glucocorticoids may not be directly involved and some other molecular signals produced by food deprivation may play a pivotal role over glucocorticoid in the regulatory pathway for nNOS expression in this brain region.

The Histological Changes of Photodynamic Therapy Using 635 nm Diode Laser on Normal Tissues of C57BL/6 Mouse Model

PURPOSE: Photodynamic therapy, with photosensitizer and non-thermal laser, produces selective destruction of cancer without affecting the adjacent normal tissues. The aim of our study was to evaluate the pathological changes to the normal tissues when photodynamic therapy, with non-thermal laser irradiation, after the administration of a photosensitizer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies were performed on four C57BL/6 mouse models using a photosensitizer (Photogem(R), Moscow Institute of High Chemical Technologies). The mice received Photogem, 3 mg/kg i.v., 24 hours prior to the exposure of normal tissues to 180 J/cm2 laser light, at a wavelength and power density of 635 nm and 600 mW/cm2, respectively, with the light source being a 635 nm Diode Laser (Laxcell 2004, Bio-Optics. co.) Histological staining and analysis were used to determine the nature and extent of injury at the first, third, fifth, and seventh days after the photodynamic therapy. RESULTS: Histologically, there were losses of endothelium from small vessels in the skin and muscle, with focal necrosis and diffuse inflammatory changes in the adjacent tissues. Between the fifth and seventh days following the photodynamic therapy, generation of granulation tissue, composed of fibroblasts and endothelial cells was observed surrounding the necrotic area. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy using Photogem and a 635 nm Diode Laser, with a power density of 600 mW/cm2, develops non-selective necrosis and has a thermal effect on normal tissue

Efficacy of Topotecan as a Second-Line Treatment of Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Patients with Refractory and Sensitive Disease: Retrospective Study

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite the high response rates with first-line therapy, most patients eventually experience disease progression, and finally become candidates for second-line therapy. Topotecan is the only single agent currently approved in the United States for the treatment of a recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate its efficacy in patients with of previously treated, but relapsed and refractory, SCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients, who had taken topotecan as a second-line therapy, between March 1999 and October 2002, were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: (1) One group were the patients that had failed the first-line treatment within 3 months from end of the chemotherapy (refractory group, RG); and (2) the other group were those that responded to the first-line treatment, but who progressed 3 months after the end of the chemotherapy (sensitive group, SG). Topotecan was administered, intravenously, at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2, within 30 minutes, for five consecutive days every 3 weeks. RESULTS: There was only one partial response in the SG (3.8%), but there were 9 stable diseases, 4 in the SG and 5 in the RG; 15.4 and 19.2%, respectively. The median survivals were 6.9 and 5.2 months in SG and RG, respectively (p=0.162). There were ninety-nine chemotherapy cycles. The toxicities were mainly hematological. There were 26 incidences of Grades III and IV neutropenia, and the non hematological toxicities were mild. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that topotecan is not so effective in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory SCLC, despite its predictable and manageable toxicity. The incorporation of topotecan in combination chemotherapy regimens for treatment of SCLC is now warranted.

One Case of Sustemic Arterialization of Lung Without Sequestration / 결핵

Sustemic arterialization of the lung without sequestration is the rarest from of congenital anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung, where an anomalous systemic artery arising from aorta supplies a normal unsequestrated segment of the lung. The non-sequestrated lung parenchyma which is supplied by an aberrant artery, has no parenchyma or bronchial abnormalities, and there is a normal connection with the bronchial trees. The symptoms of this disease varies. In most patients, it is often asymptomatic, but symptoms including dyspnea, hemoptysis, and central nervous system complications are possible. Here, we report a case of systemic arterialization of the lung without sequestration, which confirmed by angiography, with a review of the literature.

A Case of Small Cell Lung Cancer Metastasis to the Gingiva / 결핵

The incidence of lung cancer and its mortality rate are increasing in Korea. At the time of diagnosis, 40% patients of lung cancer patients had metastatic lesions. The common metastatic sites are the contralateral lung, bone, liver, adrenal gland and the brain. Metastasis to oral mucosa is rarely encountered in lung cancer and metastasis to the gingiva is more uncommon. Approximately 1% of malignant carcinomas in the oral cavity are the result of metastases, and 10-25% of metastatic cancers originate from lung cancer. Clinically metastatic gingival lesions are benign including hemangioma, pyogenic granuloma, giant-cell granuloma or a peripheral fibroma. Often metastases to the gingiva are diagnosed too late and by the time they are detected, they have metastases to other organs. Here we report a case of small cell lung carcinoma that had metastased to the gingiva with review of relevant literature.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in limited small-cell lung cancer: incidence of brain metastasis and survival and clinical aspects / 결핵

PURPOSE: Brain metastases are present in approximately 10-16% of small cell lung cancer patients at diagnosis. Brain metastasis is an important clinical problem associated with increasing the survival rate, with a cumulative incidence of up to 80% in patients surviving 2 years. Prophylactic cranial irradiation(PCI reduces the incidence of brain matastasis and may prolong survival in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer who achieved complete remission. This study was performed to analyze the incidence of brain metastasis, survival and clinical aspects after PCI in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer who achieved complete remission. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1999, forty-two patients with limited small-cell lung cancer who achived achieved complete remission after therapy were enrolled into this study retrospectively. All patients received etoposide and cisplatin(VPP) alternating with cytoxan, adriamycin, and vincristine(CAV) every 3 weeks for at least 6 cycles initially. All patients received thoracic radiotherapy:concurrent(38.1%) and sequentia(61.9%). All patients received late PCI. RESULTS: Most patients(88.1%) were men, and the median age was 58 years. The median follow-up duration was 18.1 months. During the follow-up period, 57.1% of the patients developed relapse. The most frequent site of relapse was chest(35.7%), followed by brain(14.3%), liver(11.9%), adrenal gland(4.4%), and bone(2.2%). With the Kaplan-Meier method, the average disease-free interval was 1,090 days(median 305 days). The average time to development of brain relapse after PCI and other sites relapse(except brain) were 2,548 days and 1,395 days(median 460 days), respectively. The average overall survival was 1,233 days(median 634 days, 21.1 months), and 2-year survival rates was 41.7%. The average overall survival in the relapse group was 642 days(median 489 days) and in the no relapse group was 2,622 days(p<0.001). The average overall survival in the brain relapse guoup was 928 days(median 822 days) and in the no brain relapse group was 1,308 days(median 634 days)(p=0.772). In most patients(85.7%), relepse(expect brain) or systemic disease was the usual cause of death. Brain matastasis was the cause of death in 14.3% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: We may conclude that PCI reduces and delays brain metastasis in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer who achieved complete remission. We found decreased survival in relapse group but, no significant survival difference was noted according to brain matastasis. And relapse(except brain) or systemic disease was the usual cause of death. In order to increase survival, new treatment strategies for control methods for relapse and systemic disease are required.

Effect Of Vpp/Cav Alternating Chemotherapy Versus Carboplatin/Etoposide(Ce) Chemotherapy For Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer / 결핵

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacies and side effects of etoposide, cisplatin/cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine(VPP/CAV) with that those of carboplatin etoposide(CE) in extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients. METHOD: Patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer who has measurable disease were eligible. VPP/CAV group(n=22) was treated with cisplatin(60mg/m2 iv. D1) etoposide(100mg/m2 iv. D1-3),after and 3 weeks later cyclophosphamide(1000mg/m2 iv. D1), adriamycin(40mg/m2 iv. D1), and vincristine(1.4mg/m2 iv. D1), were administered alternatively. CE group (n=22) was treated with carboplatin (325mg/m2 iv. D1) and etoposide (100mg/m2 iv. D1-3)(;) repeated treatment was performed every 3 weeks. RESULT: Forty four patients were eligible for the study. Overall The overall response rate was 61.4% (complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 61.4%, stable disease rate 25%, progressive disease rate 13.6%), and median survival was 10.8 months. In VPP/CAV group, response rate was 54.5%(complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 54.4%, stable disease rate 27.3%, progressive disease rate 18.2%), and, in carboplatin/etoposide group, the response rate was 68.2%(complete remission rate 0%, partial response rate 68.2%, stable disease rate 22.7%, progressive disease rate 9.1%). The median survival time was 9.5 months in the VPP/CAV group and 11 months in CE group. The toxicity of both group was moderate, and anemia was more frequent in the CE group. CONCLUSION: VPP/CAV regimen and CE regimen produced similar response rate and survival time rates and survival times in extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients. We may suggest that CE regimen are effective may be effective as part of the initial therapy of for extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

The Clinical study of Lung Cancer in Patients Younger than 40 Years of Age / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic carcinoma is generally considered as a disease that predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly men. A small percentage of patients with lung cancer are diagnosed in the third or fourth decade of life or earlier. The current study was performed to review the clinical characteristics of bronchogenic carcinoma in patients younger than 40 years of age at Chungnam National University Hospital. METHOD: To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics including survival rates of lung cancer patients younger than 40 years of age and to compare them with those of patients older than 40 years of age at diagnosis, data of 905 patients diagnosed as lung cancer from January 1990 to March 1997 were analyzed. RESULT: Twenty-three of 805 patients(2.5%) belonged to the young age group (less than 40 years). Male to female ratios of young age group and control group were 2.8 : 1 and 5.3 : 1, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms from onset to the definite diagnosis was 3.2 months in the young age group. The most common initial symptoms in the young age group were cough(52.2%) and dyspnea(43.5%). Adenocarcinoma(43.5%) was more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(20.1%). Stage III and IV(70%) tumors were more frequent in the young age group than in the control group(52.3%). Distant metastasis rae of the young age group(56.6%) was higher than that of the control group(22.3%). CONCLUSION: The predominance of adenocarcinoma, the lower male-female ratio, and the high incidence of advanced stage tumor at diagnosis are the characteristics of lung cancer in patients younger than 40 years of age.

The Clinical significance of STAT-PAT-PAK ULTRA FAST(R) and ICT Tuberculosis for Serologic Diagnosis of Tuberculosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: In recent years, tuberculosis has re-emerged as a major health problem in both industrialized and developing countries. Recent advances in identifying and purifying antigens secreted in active tuberculosis infection have lead to the development of serological assays based on a number of immunodominant antigens. To date, the most sensitive and specific of these antigens has been the 38-kDa antigen. METHOD: Two rapid membrane-based serologic assays using antigen(38-kDa) from mycobacterium tuberculosis for the diagnosis of tuberculosis were evaluated in 22 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, 14 patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, and 9 patients with non-tuberculous lung disease. RESULT: The evaluation of validity(sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positivity and false negativity) of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST(R) were 77.3%, 28.6%, 63.0%, 44.4%, 71.4%, and 22.7% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, respectively. The evaluation of validity of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST(R) were 77.3%, 33.3%, 73.9%, 37.5%, 66.7%, and 22.7% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis. The evaluation of validity of ICT Tuberculosis were 54.5%, 57%, 66.7%, 44.4%, 42.9%, and 45.5% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. The evaluation of validity of ICT Tuberculosis were 54.5%, 100%, 100%, 47.4%, 0%, and 45.4% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: We concluded no effectiveness of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST(R) and ICT tuberculosis on serologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. In the future, further large-scale study should be needed for serologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Two cases of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Improved by Whole Lung Lavage / 결핵

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP) is a disorder in which an insoluble, proteinaceous material, rich in phospholipid, is deposited on alveoli and bronchioles. Several cases were reported since 1986, and the numbers of patients is increasing in Korea. Although the pathogenesis and causative treatment of PAP is not well known, whole lung lavage is the only consistently successful treatment. We report 2 cases of PAP which were confirmed by open lung biopsy with electron microscopy and clinically improved by whole lung lavage with a review of literature.

Clinical effects of neoafjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Surgical therapy remains the only curative treatment of localized non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). But the efficacy of surgery for patients with NSCLC is limited, although recent studies suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival. Many studies also demonstrated benefit for neoadjuvant therapy. However very few studies about neoadjuvant chemotherapy were reported in Korea. We conducted this study to examine the possible benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable stage IIIA NSCLC. METHODS: Twenty seven patients(25 men and 2 women) with clinical stage IIIA NSCLC were analyzed. The patients received 2 to 4 courses of cisplatin based chemotherapy and followed by surgery. To compare the resection rate and survival, 12 patients(10 men, 2 women) with clinical stage IIIA and initially treated operation were also anayzed. RESULTS: The radiologically assessed response rate to the neoadjuvant therapy was 59.3%. Twelve seven patients underwent gross tumor resection with 24(88.9%) having complete resection and 21(77.8%) having postaperative stage I ar II. Pathologically defined response in nodal staging was more higher(85.2%). There was no difference of relapse free interval in recurred patients between two groups. But in patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy, distant recurrence is less higher than local recurrence. The median period of survival was 42 months in the patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy, and 27 months in the patients initially treated with surgery(p=0.287). CONCLUSION: The neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves local tumor control and lowers the distant recurrence. There was a possible trend improving median survival. So neoadjuvant chemotherapy might be considered as a standard therapy in stage IIIA NSCLC.

Effects of neonatal footshock stress on glucocorticoid and 5-HT2A/2C receptor bindings and exploratory behavior

To investigate the effects of neonatal stress on behavior and neurochemistry, rats were exposed to the footshock stress on postnatal day (PND) 14 or PNDs 14 and 21. Rats were exposed to uncontrollable electric shocks delivered to the floor with a constant current (0.8 mA) for 5 sec period. Daily sessions consisted of 60 trials on a random time schedule with an average of 55 sec. The first exposure to footshocks on PND 14 decreased body weight gain for 1 day. However, the second exposure to footshocks on PND 21 did not affect body weight gain. Exploratory activity was measured by exposing a rat to a novel environment 24 h after experience of footshocks. Similar to the body weight changes, a decreased activity was noted after the first exposure to footshocks, while no changed activity was noted after the second exposure to footshocks. However, the Bmax value of 5-HT2A/2C receptors in the cortex decreased by the second exposure to footshocks, but not by the first exposure to footshocks. Moreover, an autoradiographic study revealed that the density of (3H)dexamethasone binding in hippocampus decreased in rats exposed to footshocks 4 times during PND 14~20. These results suggest that the uncontrollable footshock stress changes 5-hydroxytryptamine and glucocorticoid receptor systems acutely and that the repeated exposure to the same stress may not elicit behavioral alterations by the compensatory activity of young brain although changes in some neurochemistry exist.

Neurobehavioral teratology due to hypoxic exposure in newborn rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurobehavioral teratology is a term used for the postnatal effects on behavior of prenatal exposure to drug or to specific environment. Perinatal hypoxia is a major risk factor for development of behavioral abnormalities, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning disability. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of neonatal hypoxia on long-term changes of behavior and neurochemical system and to learn the role of 5-hyroxytryptamine(5-HT) in hypoxic stress. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped by hypoxia and/or 5-HT receptor antagonist treatment. Exposure to 100% N2 gas was done in postnatal day(PND) 2 for 12 minutes. NAN-190 HBr or ketanserin tartrate or both were injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before exposure to hypoxic environment. Rats were weighed periodically and examined the eye opening. Wire maneuver test was done on PND 22. Between PND 40-55 and PND 63-84, explorative behavior test and Rota-Rod test were done serially. They were sacrificed in PND 100, and aminergic neurotransimitters and their metabolites were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Electrochemical Detection(HPLC ECD) system. Receptor binding assay was done using 8-OH-DPAT and ketanserin HCl in brain cortex. RESULTS: The group treated with 5-HT receptor antagonist and hypoxia showed higher death rate than 5-HT receptor antagonist or hypoxia alone. There were no differences in weight gain, eye opening, and the result of wire maneuver test among each groups. In explorative behavior test, NAN+N2 group in male and NAN group in female showed markedly increased activities. In Rota-Rod test, NAN and NAN+N2 groups in both male and female showed decreased motor coordination. There were no differences in the concentration of aminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites, when measured in PND 100 according to the brain sites. There were no differences in pKd of 5-HT receptors measured on PND 100. But Bmax of 5-HT1A receptor were low in N2, NAN and NAN+N2 groups. NAN and NAN+N2 groups showed elevated Bmax of 5-HT2A/2C receptor. CONCLUSION: Exposure to hypoxia in neonatal period causes long-lasting neurobehavioral changes with neurochemical abnormalities, and 5-HT receptor activity has a role in that mechanism.

Immunohistochemical Detection of p53, erbB-2 and CEA Oncoprotein in Lung Cancer Clinical Correlations / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with lung cancer is still poor. Lung cancer exhibits a variable clinical outcome, even in those patients with same stage Numerous reports suggest that oncogene expression night play a role in explaining the variability of response and survival But many of these reports are still under debete. So we studied the clinical relevance of oncogene expression in Korean lung cancer patients. lmmunohistochemistry of p53, erbB-2, CEA expression was performed. METHOD: From March, 1992 until March, 1997, 120 patients with lung cancer were reviewed. p53, erbB-2, and CEA expression were detected on paraffin-embedded tumor blocks with the use of monoclonal antibodies. The survival arid response has correlated with the expressibility of p53, erbE-2, arid CEA oncoprotein. RESULTS: Overall, the expression rates of p53 erbB-2, and CEA were 33.7%, 59.3%, and 32.6% respectively. Expression rates were not con-elated to cell type or stage. Compared with response to chemotherapy, no correlation was found. The expression of p53, erbB-2, or CEA was not correlated with 2-year survival. With simultaneous applications of p53. erbB-2, and CEA, patients with 2 or more expressions also did not show poor response to chemotherapy. CONCLUISON: We conclude the p53, erbB-2, and CEA expression are clinically less useful in predicting response to chemotherapy or survival.

Changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine release by different glucose concentration from hippocampal slices exposed to hypoxia

We have previously reported that the spontaneous release of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) was markedly decreased by hypoxic insult in rat hippocampal slices. In the present study, the effect of glucose on 5-HT release was examined. Fractional release of [3H]5-HT was measured from an incubation medium exchanged every 10 min for 140 min and after stabilization of [3H]5-HT release, 10 or 20 min period of hypoxia was induced by exchanging the media which have been previously saturated by 95% N2/5% CO2 gas. In the media containing 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 mM glucose, [3H]5-HT release was stabilized after 40 min of incubation. Exposure to hypoxia decreased [3H]5-HT release up to 60% of the control level in a glucose concentration-dependent manner and recovered gradually after hypoxic periods. However, in the media containing no glucose, the spontaneous release of [3H] 5-HT increased continuously during incubation. Moreover, when hippocampal slices were exposed to hypoxia, the [3H]5-HT release increased up to 150% of the control level and recovered gradually to the control level after hypoxic periods. These results demonstrate that hypoxia inhibits or enhances 5-HT release in the presence or absence of extracellular glucose respectively and suggest that the availability of extracellular glucose is a key factor to determine the direction of 5-HT release under hypoxic condition.