ABSTRACT
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is encoded by the ABCB1 gene and acts as an efflux pump for xenobiotics. In the Border Collie, a nonsense mutation caused by a 4-base pair deletion in the ABCB1 gene is associated with a premature stop to P-gp synthesis. In this study, we examined the full-length coding sequence of the ABCB1 gene in an ivermectin-sensitive Border Collie that lacked the aforementioned deletion mutation. The sequence was compared to the corresponding sequences of a wild-type Beagle and seven ivermectin-tolerant family members of the Border Collie. When compared to the wild-type Beagle sequence, that of the ivermectin-sensitive Border Collie was found to have one insertion mutation and eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding sequence of the ABCB1 gene. While the eight SNPs were also found in the family members' sequences, the insertion mutation was found only in the ivermectin-sensitive dog. These results suggest the possibility that the SNPs are species-specific features of the ABCB1 gene in Border Collies, and that the insertion mutation may be related to ivermectin intolerance.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics , Depression/chemically induced , Dogs/genetics , Ivermectin/adverse effects , Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Sialorrhea/chemically inducedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The prognosis of gastric cancer depends on the depth of invasion, lymph-node metastasis, invasion to adjacent tissues, and distant metastasis. Recently, it is known that tumor-associated proteases and adhesion molecules have been shown to play a relevant role in the process of progression and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the value of MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase), cathepsin D and E-cadherin as prognostic factors. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: In this study, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 69 patients with gastric cancer were immunohistochemically studied using antibodies to MMP-2, cathepsin D, and E-cadherin, and their expressions were analyzed according to the pathologic stage, lymph-node metastasis, histological differentiation, and patient survival. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Increased expression of MMP-2 significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (P=0.026). Patients with lymph-node metastasis also had increased expression of MMP-2. Those patients with increased expression of MMP-2 showed a poorer survival; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant. Increased expression of cathepsin D significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (p= 0.029). However, no correlation was observed between advanced pathologic stage and either lymph-node status or histological differentiation. Patients with increased expression of cathepsin D had a poorer survival, but that result was not statistically significant. No association was found between reduced expression of E-cadherin and pathologic stage, lymph-node status, or histological differentiation. Also, no correlation was found between the expression of E- cadherin and survival. In addition, when a combination of MMP-2 and cathepsin D expressions was analyzed, if both were negative, the survival seems to be longer, but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In patients with gastric cancer, expressions of MMP-2 and cathepsin D correlated with tumor stage; therefore, they may be considered as prognostic factors.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adenocarcinoma , Antibodies , Cadherins , Cathepsin D , Cathepsins , Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 , Medical Records , Neoplasm Metastasis , Peptide Hydrolases , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Stomach NeoplasmsABSTRACT
Central nervous system cryptococcosis is common in the AIDS patients with reported incidences ranging from 1.9% to 11.0%. Cryptococcosis may be the initial manifestation of HIV infection or occur simultaneously with other opportunistic infections. HIV-infected patients with central nervous system cryptococcosis complain of fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, and cognitive dysfunction. Meningeal signs and photophobia are less common than in HIV-negative patients. Focal neurologic signs and seizures are uncommon. Disseminated cryptococcosis is often concomitantly found at the time of central nervous system cryptococcosis. We report a case of 49 year-old Korean female with HIV infection who died of disseminated cryptococcosis with autopsy findings.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Autopsy , Central Nervous System , Cryptococcosis , Fever , Headache , HIV Infections , Incidence , Nausea , Neurologic Manifestations , Opportunistic Infections , Photophobia , Seizures , VomitingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: CTAP(CT during arterial portography) has been shown to be the most sensitive technique available for the detection of hepatic mass. But because of many false positive lesions, it is important to interpretate the findings correctly. So we tried to analyse the false positive findings in CTAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Materials were 47 patients that had (;TAP for the detection of hepatic lesions. After performing superior roesenteric artery (SMA) arterial portography for the detection of vascular variation, CT
Subject(s)
Humans , Arteries , Biopsy , Contrast Media , Diagnosis , Ethiodized Oil , Fibrosis , Portography , Tomography, Spiral ComputedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of posterior fossa hemangioblastoma and usefulness of contrast enhancement with Gd-DTPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with posterior fossa hemangioblastoma were studied with both pre- and post-enhanced MRI. The MR images were reviewed regarding the location, size, signal intensities of cysts and mural nodules, and their contrast enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Five tumors were located in cerebellar hemisphere, one in vermis, and one in posterior part of medulla. One patient with von HippeI-Lindau disease had a medullary hemangioblastoma with multiple pancreatic cysts. In 6 cases, the major portion of the tumor was cysts and had small mulkal nodules. The solid portion was relatiely lange in one case, cemprising half of the tumor Cysts were oval shaped and their sizes were 3--6.7cm in diameter. In five cases(71%), septations were noted within the cysts. Cysts were isointense or slightly hyperintense on Tl-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted image compared with cerebrospinal fluid. Mural nodules were oval or rounded appearance in five cases and flattened appearance in two, and their size was 0.5--2.5cm in diameter. Mural nodules were isointense to gray matter. They were detected in five cases on Tl-weighted images and one case on T2-weighted images. In two cases, vascular signal void area was noted in mural nodules. On contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted images, all mural nodules were intensely enhanced. CONCLUSION: MRI proved to be a good diagnostic method to detect and characterize posterior fossa hemangioblastoma. The most common finding is Cystic posterior fossa lesion with enhancing mural nodule. Contrast enhancement is essential for specific diagnosis.