Antiproliferative Effects of Mullerian Inhibiting Substance on Human Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: In order to explore Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) effects on the ovarian neoplasia, the expression and localization of the MIS type II receptor (MISR II), the growth inhibitory effects of MIS, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in the ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: Expression of MISR II were studied in SKOV-3, OVCAR-3, and OVCAR-8 cell lines by immunohistochemical staining. The antiproliferative effects of MIS in these cell lines were investigated by methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, annexin-V-FITC binding, and western blot analysis. RESULTS: All cell lines showed strong specific staining for MISR II, although staining in OVCAR-8 cells was more intense than that in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3. Treatment of OVCAR-8 cells with MIS led to a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell growth and survival was determined use by MTT assay. But OVCAR-3 cells exhibited growth inhibition at higher doses after 48 hours of treatment and SKOV-3 cells did not demonstrate response. Using FACS analysis, exposure of OVCAR-8 cells to MIS (71 nM) resulted in G1 arrest after 24 hours of treatment. This pattern was changed by time-dependent increase in the percentage of cells with a sub G0G1 DNA content, suggesting apoptosis, after 48 hours of treatment. These results suggested that cell death be preceded by cell cycle arrest. Time-related induction of apoptosis was also observed in this cell line as measured by annexin-V-FITC binding. In OVCAR-8 cells, the growth inhibitory effects of MIS were mediated through specific induction of CDKI p16 protein expression and via regulation of E2F1 in the absence of detectable levels of pRb. We estimated that OVCAR-3 cells were affected by MIS through p16-independent, alternative mechanistic pathways, since the growth inhibitory effects of MIS were minimal. SKOV-3 cells did not express p16 protein. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that ovarian cancer cells express the MISR II. Epithelial ovarian cancer cells respond to MIS by growth inhibition. Although the precise mechanisms of MIS mediated inhibition of ovarian cancer cell growth have not been fully defined, these data suggest that MIS has activity against ovarian cancers in vitro and may also be an effective targeted therapy for ovarian cancer.

Two Cases of Vulvar Malignant Melanoma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Malignant melanoma may show a predisposition for vulvar skin. Although 37% of all melanomas in women affect the vulva, the skin in this area accounts for only 12% of the total surface area of body. Malignant melanoma of the vulva presented as polypoid tumours in 35% of patients. The most common sites of disease were the clitoral area and the labia majora, which accounted for more than 60% of all lesions. Only 15% of tumours were located primarily in hair-bearing areas. Two women who were diagnosed vulvar melanoma in Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital were evaluated. We reviewed their medical records. One woman underwent the radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal and femoral lymph node dissection, and the other underwent wide local excision with both inguinal lymph nodes dissection. We experienced 2 cases of vulvar melanoma, so we report it with a brief review of literature.

A Case of Appendiceal Mucocele found during Total Hysterectomy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Mucocele arised at the vermiform appendix is uncommon, either benign or malignancy and their clinical presentation is not specific. The preoperative diagnosis is rare,1 and their diagnosis is an incidental event. Mucocele seems to be developed due to chronic obstruction of the lumen of the appendix. Higa and Cowerkers2 classified 73 cases of "mucocele" into three clinicopathologic entities; focal or diffuse mucosal hyperplasia, mucinous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Appendiceal mucoceles are rare lesions of the appendix, characterized by a gross enlargement of the appendix from accumulation of mucoid substance within the lumen. It is encountered in only 0.1-0.4% of all appendectomies with a female predominance and an average age at the time of diagnosis over 50 years. A case of appendiceal mucocle found during total hysterectomy is presented with a brief review of the literatures.

Bond strength according to the adhesive type and the distance between enamel surface and resin base in indirect bonding / 대한치과교정학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the combined use of paste resin with sealant as an adhesive of the indirect bonding. The resin bases made of light-cured resin were bonded to the bovine incisors at a distance of 0.0, 0.2 or 0.4 mm using the sealant only or the mixture of sealant and paste resin. Bond strength of each group was measured using universal testing machine. The results were as follows : 1. The bond strength was reduced in both groups as the distance between enamel surface and resin base increased. 2. The bond strength showed no statistical difference between two groups in case the distance between enamel surface and resin base was 0.0 mm. 3. In case the distance between enamel surface and resin base was 0.2 or 0.4 mm, the sealant with paste resin group showed significantly higher bond strength than the sealant only group. The results of the present study indicate that the use of paste resin with sealant may be desirable as an adhesive in indirect bonding, particularly in case a gap is suspected between enamel surface and resin base.

Serum Mllerian Inhibiting Substance levels in Korean pregnant women / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the variation of Mllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) levels according to gestational age and to understand the physiologic effects of MIS during pregnancy. METHODS: We measured MIS levels in 325 serum samples from pregnant women and in 59 serum samples from nonpregnant women by ELISA. This study was also designed to enlighten the possibility for early diagnosis of genetic diseases by discriminate the fetal sex at early stage of pregnancy by measuring maternal MIS serum level. RESULTS: These data showed that the mean MIS serum concentration plus or minus standard error was 2.66+/-0.12 ng/ml in pregnant women, which was significantly higher than 2.05+/-0.29 ng/ml in non-pregnant women (p<0.05). The median MIS level for pregnant women (2.2 ng/ml) was approximately two-fold greater than that for non-pregnant women (1.2 ng/ml). There was significant negative relationship between MIS concentration and gestational age (r2=0.0434, p<0.01). The MIS concentration of the pregnant women decreased 0.0069 ng/ml per day as gestational age increased. There was no significant difference in MIS levels for women pregnant with males (2.75+/-0.17 ng/ml) versus females (2.43+/-0.19 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: The MIS may play an important role as a inhibiting hormone of quiescent ovary during pregnancy. These data will enable normal and abnormal levels of MIS during pregnancy to be differentiated with higher precision and will facilitate the clinical application of MIS determination as a tumor marker for selected gonadal tumors during pregnancy.