Studies on the Expression of the p16 (INK4A), p53, and Ki-67 Labeling Index in Inflammatory and Neoplastic Diseases of the Uterine Cervix

BACKGROUND: Prior studies of p16, p53, and Ki-67 expression have suggested that these markers may be preferentially expressed in cervical neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression and clinical significance of p16, p53 proteins, and the Ki-67 labeling index in the cervical lesions. METHODS: We analyzed 54 uterine cervical specimens obtained by surgical biopsy. The expression of p16, p53 proteins, and Ki-67 was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. The immunohistochemical findings were then correlated with the histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Positive scores for p16, p53, and Ki-67 were seen in 75% (6/8), 0% (0/8), and 13% (1/8) of low grade intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), respectively, and 100% (23/23), 17% (4/23), and 74% (17/23) of high grade intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), respectively, and 100% (10/10), 20% (2/10), and 70% (7/10) of invasive squamous cell carcinomas, respectively. Both normal epithelium and inflammatory lesions scored negative for these three markers in all of the 13 cases. p16 and Ki-67 expression correlated with the severity of uterine cervix lesions. CONCLUSIONS: p16 and Ki-67 are complementary surrogate biomarkers for cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia. However, immunohistochemical expression for p53 has no correlation with the grade of cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.

Placental Apoptosis in Preeclampsia / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of placental apoptosis and the expression of their mediator in preeclampsia women. METHODS: Placental tissues from 10 cases of preeclampsia and 15 cases of normal pregnancy were analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling(TUNEL) staining. Expressions of bcl-2, bax, caspase-3 was also assessed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In TUNEL staining, the number of apoptotic nuclei were significantly increased in the trophoblast of preeclampsia than normal pregnancy. Bcl-2 was mainly expressed in syncytiotrophoblast and bax was mainly expressed in cytotrophoblast. Bcl-2 expression was decreased and bax expression was increased in the preeclampsia than normal, but the difference was not significant. Caspase-3 was mainly expressed in the cytotrophoblast and expression was significantly increased in the preeclampsia than normal pregnancy(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Placental apoptosis, especially accompanied with increased expression of caspase-3 in cytotrophoblast, might be related with in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

A Case of Perforated Stomach Cancer with Placental Abruption in Pregnancy / 대한주산의학회잡지

The coincidence of stomach cancer and pregnancy is a rare event. Most of the cases are diagnosed in advanced stage either because the patient's symptoms are attributed to her pregnancy or because of a reluctance to pursue diagnostic studies during pregnancy. So, the prognosis for a pregnant woman with stomach cancer is very poor. We experienced a case of perforated stomach cancer with placental abruption during pregnancy and report with a brief review of literature.

A case of granulosa cell tumor in pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary are rare, and account for 2 to 3% of ovarian tumors. Granulosa cell tumors are discovered often in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women but 10 to 26% are found in the reproductive age group. The tumors associated with pregnancy are infrequent. In this study, we present a case of granulosa cell tumor of left ovary at pregnancy.

The Effect of Coculture with Human Amnion cell on Growth, Development, Implantation in Mouse Embryos / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the influence of coculture with human amnion cell on growth, development, implantation in mouse embryos. METHODS: Two-cell and Eight-cell stage mouse embryos were cocultured for 96 hrs with amnion cell. Embryos not treated with amnion were served control. The percentages of embryos which developed to the expanded, hatched blastocyst stage and in vitro implantation at 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs were determined. RESULTS: The percentages of fully expanded murine blastocysts in coculture with amnion cell were not significantly different from control. The percentages of hatched blastocysts were significantly higher in coculture group at two-cell stage (71.6%) compared to control (47.0%; p<0.05). The percentages of hatched blastocysts were significantly higher in coculture group at eight-cell stage (74.0%) compared to control (56.1%; p<0.05). In two-cell stage embryos, the percentages of implanted blastocyst in vitro were significantly higher following coculture with amnion cell (31.6%) compared to control (13.7%). CONCLUSION: Amnion cell coculture may have a stimulatory role in embryonic development, implantation compared to control. The coculture condition which induces the best effect on in vitro growth and development might be the mimics of the physiologic natural condition, just like the coculture with the tubal epithelium.

Pelviscopic Gonadectomy in two cases of Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a genetic syndrome characterized by complete or partial resistance of end organs to the peripheral effect of androgen. The phenotype of this condition is female, despite the normal male karyotype 46,XY. This is the third most common cause of primary amenorrhea after gonadal dysgenesis and mullerian agenesis. There is a congenital insensitivity to androgens, transmitted by means of a maternal X-linked recessive gene responsible for the androgen intracellular receptor. Prophylactic gonadectomy in usually performed due to increased risk for development of malignancy and possible virilization. Pelviscopy provides a minimally invasive technique for the accurate diagnosis and also provides the opportunity for therapeutic management of these patients. Recently we experienced two cases of this syndrome and removed the gonad by pelviscopic surgery, so we presented them with brief review of literature.

Expression of GnRH-receptor mRNA in the Placenta during Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Our previous study demonstrated that the placental GnRH and GnRH mRNA did not parallel the time course of hCG secretion, though it is thought to be one of the potential paracrine regulators of hCG secretion from the trophoblasts. The present study was designed to examine the potential variation in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression in the placenta, which may account for the GnRH-mediated action of hCG secretion during pregnancy. METHODS: Human placentas in firt, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy were obtained. These placentas were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in OCT compound, and sectioned by cryostat. For in situ hybridization, S labeled RNA probes were used and followed by autoradiography. RESULTS: The GnRH-receptor mRNA signals were present in both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cell layers. Signal intensities varied with gestational ages and were abundant at 6-7 weeks, peaked at 9-12weeks, declined at 14 and 24 weeks, and were barely detectable at term. The present study demonstrates that GnRH-receptor mRNA exhibits changes paralleling the time course of hCG secretion during pregnancy CONCLUSION: These data provide mechanistic understanding that the paracrine/autocrine regulation of hCG secretion by placental GnRH is mediated through an increase followed by a decline in GnRH-receptor mRNA expression from the first trimester to term placenta.