Frequent loss of p16 expression and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters in pancreatic carcinoma.

Expression of the p16 gene product in human primary pancreatic carcinoma (PC) was investigated in paraffin-embedded tissue using a monoclonal antibody against p16 protein, clone G175-405, by means of immunohistochemistry, and the correlation of results with various clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. All six cases of normal pancreas and all but 1 of 20 cases of chronic pancreatitis expressed p16 protein, whereas 37.5% (3 of 8) of cystadenomas and 41.

Comparison of umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry between maternal supine position and complete left lateral position in predicting obstetric complications.

The aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in women in the supine position with that in women in the complete left lateral position as a screening test for abnormal obstetric outcomes. Umbilical artery resistance index (RI) was measured at 27-29 weeks and 35-37 weeks in 202 pregnant women. The measurements were performed with the mother in the supine position in 100 cases (supine group), and in the complete left lateral position in 102 cases (lateral group).

Infrequent expression of p21 is related to altered p53 protein in pancreatic carcinoma.

This study is designed to investigate the expression of p21 and its relation to altered p53 protein in pancreatic carcinoma (PC). Immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of PC was performed using a monoclonal antibody against p21 (187), with a parallel examination of altered p53 protein. The expression of p21 was only found in 12 of 58 (20.

Differential developmental process of respective behavioral states in human fetuses.

The presence of behavioral states has been recognized in human fetuses. However, developmental process of fetal behavioral states remains to be clarified. In thirty-one normal pregnant women between 20 and 41 weeks' gestation, fetal movements were examined by using multiple ultrasonic machines.

Evidence for basic fibroblast growth factor as a crucial angiogenic growth factor, released from human trophoblasts during early gestation.

The objective of this study was to clarify the possible angiogenesis-promoting factors from human trophoblasts in early stage gestation. The existence of angiogenic growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the condition medium from human villous trophoblasts was determined. Biological activity of angiogenic growth factors released by trophoblasts was examined using vascular endothelial cell lines.

Metabolic and endocrine responses to cold exposure in chronically incubated extrauterine goat fetuses.

To investigate developmental aspects of metabolic and endocrine responses to cold exposure in fetuses, we conducted experiments on six goat fetuses, three aged 95-116 d of gestation (dGA; group I), and three aged 122-134 dGA (group II), using an extrauterine fetal incubation system that provided arterio-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (A-V ECMO). The fetuses were cannulated via the umbilical vessels, and their blood gas exchange was totally supported by A-V ECMO, while they were maintained in an isothermal incubator containing artificial amniotic fluid. After confirming that fetuses were in metabolically stable condition in the extrauterine incubation system, fetal core temperature was lowered by 2 degrees C over 2 h by decreasing the temperature of incubating fluid from 39.

Expression of pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA in gastrointestinal cancers.

Conclusion: Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) mRNA is expressed in some cases of gastric and colorectal cancers resulting from an ectopic expression in dedifferentiated cancer cells.

Background: The PAP gene is identical to the hepatoma-intestine-pancreas (HIP) gene, which is expressed in hepatoma. Expression in cancer might be another characteristic of PAP.

Doppler blood flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical artery during variable decelerations in labor.

Objective: To investigate the changes in resistance indices of blood flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical artery (UmA-RIs) during variable decelerations (VDs) vs. early decelerations (EDs).

Methods: UmA-RIs were measured before and during uterine contractions in 30 cases with VDs, nine cases with EDs and 20 cases without decelerations.

Immunotherapy before and during pregnancy improves pregnancy outcome in women who suffer from recurrent abortion and did not benefit from immunotherapy before pregnancy.

Problem: The appropriate modality of immunotherapy with the husband's mononuclear cells in women with a history of recurrent abortion who aborted despite the immunotherapy performed before pregnancy was explored.

Method Of Study: Nineteen patients who had suffered from recurrent abortion who had received the immunotherapy only before pregnancy and had aborted were treated with further immunotherapy performed either only before pregnancy or twice: before and during pregnancy.

Results: In 9 out of the 19 women who received further immunotherapy before pregnancy, 2 had healthy babies and 7 aborted again.

An evaluation of the system to control blood flow in maintaining goat fetuses on arterio-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a novel approach to the development of an artificial placenta.

We compared various methods to control blood flow for extrauterine incubation of goat fetuses without lung respiration using arterio-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation via umbilical vessels to develop a suitable system for a long-term life support system for premature neonates. In twenty-seven consecutive preparations of goat fetuses, 4 designs (System 1, manual flow control without a reservoir; System 2, manual flow control with an arterial open-top reservoir; System 3, semiautomatic flow control with an arterial open top reservoir; and System 4, semiautomatic flow control with a tube occluder and an arterial open top reservoir) were tested in terms of the duration of incubation periods during which fetuses were kept under stable conditions. The incubation periods became prolonged with the advancement of the system (System 1, 5.

Successful thoracoamniotic shunting using a double-flower catheter in a case of fetal cystic adenomatoid malformation associated with hydrops and polyhydramnios.

We describe a case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation treated by thoracoamniotic shunting using a double-flower catheter. An ultrasound examination at 25 weeks' gestation revealed a cystic mass within the fetal thoracic cavity, hydrops and polyhydramnios. Thoracoamniotic shunting under ultrasound guidance using a double-flower catheter was performed at 27 weeks.

Beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in early recurrent spontaneous abortion.

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical significance of autoimmune anticardiolipin antibody that can react with cardiolipin only in the presence of beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody) in the pathogenesis of early recurrent abortion. A total of 72 early recurrent spontaneous aborters and 175 normal healthy women were analysed for the occurrence of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in serum samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for the detection of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody. The incidence of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in the early recurrent spontaneous aborters was essentially the same as that of normal women.

Pathogenetic implication of interleukin-2 expressed in preeclamptic decidual tissues: a possible mechanism of deranged vasculature of the placenta associated with preeclampsia.

Problem: The purpose of this study is to clarify whether IL-2 expressed in the decidua in preeclampsia affects the angiogenesis of the placenta.

Method Of Study: We investigated the angiogenic substances released from human trophoblasts obtained from early pregnancy that had been pretreated with either IL-2, non-activated lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), decidual lymphocytes, or these lymphocytes activated by lymphokine (LAK cells). Angiogenic activity was determined by evaluating the ability of growth-promotion of cultured human microvascular endothelial cells (HMvECs) using MTT assay.

Presence of HLA-G-expressing cells modulates the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to release cytokines.

Problem: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is thought to be at play in maternal-fetal immune interplay during pregnancy. Whether the expression of HLA-G protein on the target cells altered the release of cytokines from effector mononuclear cells was questioned.

Method Of Study: The amounts of cytokines released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cocultured with or without HLA-G-expressing target cells were compared.

Undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma of the pancreas showing sarcomatous change and neoplastic cyst formation.

Conclusion: Pancreatic undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma contained two components: sarcomatous change of spindle-cell type and a neoplastic cyst. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that both the sarcomatous and the cystic portions were of epithelial origin. This case showed a "dual" differentiation both into the sarcomatous change and into the cystic lesion.

Prolonged intrahepatic cholestasis in acute-onset, severe autoimmune hepatitis.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted because of jaundice and hepatocellular dysfunction. She was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis from laboratory test results showing high titers of antinuclear antibodies and negativity for hepatitis viral markers. Steroid i.

Intrauterine sonography for preoperative assessment of cervical invasion in endometrial carcinoma.

Cervical involvement is one of the major prognostic factors in carcinoma of the endometrium confined to the uterus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intrauterine ultrasound with a high-frequency miniature probe can depict the degree of cervical involvement of the disease. Thirty-two women with endometrial carcinoma underwent preoperative transvaginal and intrauterine sonography.

Real-time processable three-dimensional US in obstetrics.

Results with real-time processable three-dimensional ultrasound (US) were assessed in 57 normal fetuses and two fetuses with hydramnios. Volume scanning time was 4 seconds, and a complete three-dimensional fetal image was displayed at the end of scanning. Although this method was limited in some respects, such as viewing direction, it was very useful when performed in conjunction with conventional tomographic US because of its speed and because some components were depicted more clearly.

A homozygous kinase-defective mutation in the insulin receptor gene in a patient with leprechaunism.

We report a homozygous missense mutation at position 1092 (substitution of glutamine for arginine) in the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor in a patient with leprechaunism associated with severe insulin resistance and intrauterine growth retardation. Site-directed mutagenesis as well as analyses of the patient's lymphocytes revealed that this mutation causes a marked decrease in tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor without any defect in insulin binding, which causes severe defects in insulin-stimulated glucose transport, glycogen synthesis and DNA synthesis. Thus, this is the first homozygous mutation resulting in a selective-kinase defect of the insulin receptor.

Developmental sequence of human fetal body movements in the second half of pregnancy.

To describe fetal body movements precisely and to clarify their developmental sequence in the second half of pregnancy, fetal body movements were observed in 31 normal fetuses between 20 and 41 weeks of pregnancy by using multiple ultrasonic machines. All movements of the whole trunk were able to be classified into six fundamental movements: flexion, stretch, rolling, startle, stepping, and writhing. Startle was always observed as a single movement, but others were more frequently observed as a part of combination rather than as a single movements.

Sclerosing pancreatitis showing rapidly progressive changes with recurrent mass formation.

Conclusion: Sclerosing pancreatitis might develop repeatedly or might rapidly extend to the whole pancreas with recurrent mass formation.

Background: Nothing is known concerning course or development of sclerosing pancreatitis.

Methods: A 63-yr-old male was followed up for 2.

Effect of niuche-shen-qi-wan on painful muscle cramps in patients with liver cirrhosis: a preliminary report.

Twelve patients with liver cirrhosis complaining of painful muscle cramps were treated with Niuche-Shen-Qi-Wan (TJ-107). Three patients were at the decompensated state. Muscle cramps disappeared in 4 weeks on the average after oral administration of TJ-107 in all 12 patients.

Influence of compression of the inferior vena cava in the late second trimester on uterine and umbilical artery blood flow.

Objective: To evaluate the inferior vena cava compression and its influence on the uterine and umbilical artery blood flow in the late second trimester when the mother is supine.

Methods: The inferior vena cava diameter was measured by ultrasound B mode scan, and Doppler flow velocimetry of the uterine and umbilical artery was performed in 90 women at 24-27 weeks in the supine and complete left lateral position.

Results: The inferior vena cava diameter in the supine position was significantly smaller than that in the lateral position.

Altered expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) on extravillous trophoblasts in preeclampsia: immunohistological demonstration with anti-HLA-G specific antibody "87G" and anti-cytokeratin antibody "CAM5.2".

Problem: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is suggested to be at play in the materno-fetal immune relationship during pregnancy. In the light of current concept that disruption of the materno-fetal immune relationship could account for several complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, we asked whether the expression of HLA-G protein on the trophoblasts is altered in preeclampsia.

Method: The presence of HLA-G protein in the extravillous trophoblasts in placenta obtained from five preeclamptic patients and seven uncomplicated pregnant women was determined by means of an immunohistochemical technique.