Comparison of Cytokine Expression in Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Placenta, Cord Blood, and Bone Marrow

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into lineages of mesenchymal tissues that are currently under investigation for a variety of therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to compare cytokine gene expression in MSCs from human placenta, cord blood (CB) and bone marrow (BM). The cytokine expression profiles of MSCs from BM, CB and placenta (amnion, decidua) were compared by proteome profiler array analysis. The cytokines that were expressed differently, in each type of MSC, were analyzed by real-time PCR. We evaluated 36 cytokines. Most types of MSCs had a common expression pattern including MIF (GIF, DER6), IL-8 (CXCL8), Serpin E1 (PAI-1), GROalpha(CXCL1), and IL-6. MCP-1, however, was expressed in both the MSCs from the BM and the amnion. sICAM-1 was expressed in both the amnion and decidua MSCs. SDF-1 was expressed only in the BM MSCs. Real-time PCR demonstrated the expression of the cytokines in each of the MSCs. The MSCs from bone marrow, placenta (amnion and decidua) and cord blood expressed the cytokines differently. These results suggest that cytokine induction and signal transduction are different in MSCs from different tissues.

Brain CT of non-pineal intracranial germ cell tumors

19 cases of non-pineal intracranial germ cell tumors were reviewed retrospectively with both radiologic andclinical featurses. The results were as follows: 1. The age distribution was 8 to 32 year old (16 year old of meanage) and the sex distribution shows male predominence(15:4). 2. The histopathologic diagnosis included 11 cases ofgeminoma, 2 cases of mixed germ cell tumor, 1 case of embryonal cell carcinoma and 5 cases of unknown. 3. Thelocation of tumors was the suprasellar region in 8 cases, the left basal ganglia and thalamus in 5 cases, and theright frontal lobe in 1 case. Among 11 cases of geminoma, 6 cases involve the suprasellar region and 3 cases theleft basal ganglia and thalamus. 4. In clinical features, there were visual disturbance, diabetes insipidus,increased ICP signs, motor weakness, hormonal disorders, and personal changes in order. 5. In tumor marker studyof 6 cases of geminoma, 5 cases show increase in HCG, titie, but all 6 cases were normal in AFP titer. 6. In brainCT, most of all revealed well-defined homogeneous high density with or without small central low density andhomogenous enhancement at solid portion,and there was calcification in only case with mixed germ cell tumor.

Percutaneous Transluminal angioplasty of membranous obstruction of IVC: a case report

Percutaneous tansluminal angioplasty(PTA) was done in 38-year-old female patient with membranous obstructionof IVC in the department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital. After PTA, pressure gradient between right atrium and IVC was relieved from 16mmHg to 6mmHg. The collateral circulation through hemiazygos vein andreflux into hepatic and right renal vein were disappeared. PTA is suggested to be an effective method in thetreatment of membranous obstruction of IVC.

A radiologic analysis and comparative evaluation of hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic findings ininfertile patients

Hysterosalpingograms of 375 patients with infertility were reviewed with reference to radiological features of each pathology and a comparative study of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in 36 patients was presented. The results were as follows; 1. In 375 cases infertility, 191 cases (50.9%) were primary infertility and 181 cases(49.1%) were secondary infertility. 2. The peak age distribution was 26 to 30 year old group in 211 cases (56.3%),and the peak duration of infertility was less than 3 years in 256 cases (68.3%). 3. Abnormal uterine findings were 115 cases (30.7%) and there were 73 cases of filling defects, 13 cases of irregularity , 12 cases of uterineflexion, 11 cases of congenital anomaly, and 9 cases of hypoplasia among them. 4. Abnormal tubal findings were 196 cases (52.3%) and there were 103 cases of simple obstruction, 69 cases of hydrosalpinx, and 50 cases of peritubal adhesion among them. 5. Intravasation of contrast media was noted in 42 cases (11.2%). 6. In 36 cases of laparoscopy, 23 cases (63.7%) was agreed to hysterosalpingography. 7. Aothough laparoscopy was better than hysterosalpinography in external anatomy of salpinx and relationship to overay, hysterosalpingography should be important for fundamental study of infertile women because of lower failure rate, lower risk of complications,therapeutic effect, and lower cost.

A prevalence study of pulmonary tuberculosis in hospital visited diabetes patients

We reviewed the records of randomly selected 320 diabetic out-patients af Eul-ji Hospital from April 1981through March 1983. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) of 140 mg/dl or more was taken as a criteria of diabetses accordingto the report of National Diabetes Data Group. The resuls are as follows: 1. Mean age of study group was 50.8years-old and the FBS mean value was 22.4 mg/dl. 2. There was no siginificant difference of FBS values oftuberculosis and non-tuberculosis patients . 3. Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis evaluated by chest films was13.4 percent in diabetes patients. This value is lower than those of other studies but higher than that of urbanpopulation in Korea (p<0.05).