• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2018

Due to the critical location and physiological activities of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell, it is constantly subjected to contact with various infectious agents and inflammatory mediators. However, little is known about the signaling events in RPE involved in Toxoplasma gondii infection and development. The aim of the study is to screen the host mRNA transcriptional change of 3 inflammation-related gene categories, PI3K/Akt pathway regulatory components, blood vessel development factors and ROS regulators, to prove that PI3K/Akt or mTOR signaling pathway play an essential role in regulating the selected inflammation-related genes. The selected genes include PH domain and leucine- rich-repeat protein phosphatases (PHLPP), casein kinase2 (CK2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we found that T. gondii up-regulates PHLPP2, $CK2{\beta}$, VEGF, GCL, GST and NQO1 gene expression levels, but down-regulates PHLPP1 and PEDF mRNA transcription levels. PI3K inhibition and mTOR inhibition by specific inhibitors showed that most of these host gene expression patterns were due to activation of PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways with some exceptional cases. Taken together, our results reveal a new molecular mechanism of these gene expression change dependent on PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways and highlight more systematical insight of how an intracellular T. gondii can manipulate host genes to avoid host defense.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the correlation between the administration of various antiviral agents and the alternation of specific biomarkers induced by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Eligible subjects diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B were prescribed with antiviral drugs at the Gastroenterology Internal Medicine Department of E University Hospital in Daejeon between May 2004 and September 2009. Lamivudine was prescribed to 66 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 6 (50.0%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative. Of the 39 patients, 23 (59.0%) showed higher than 40 IU/L alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Of the 65 patients, 41 (63.1%) showed HBV DNA decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Lamivudine. Adefovir was prescribed to 3 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 1 (8.3%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative, and was prescribed with Adefovir. Entecavir was prescribed to 19 (19.0%) out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 3 (25.0%) showed a change from being HBe-antigen-positive to being HBe-antigen-negative. Of the 12 patients, 3 (125.8%) showed higher than 40 IU/L ALT. Of the 65 patients, 14 (21.5%) showed HBV DNA decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Entecavir. Clavudine was prescribed to 7 out of 100 patients. Of the 12 patients, 1 (8.3%) showed a change from positive HBe antigen to negative HBe antigen. Of the 39 patients, 5 (12.8%) showed higher than 40 IU/L ALT. Of the 65 patients, 6 (9.2%) showed HBV decrease of 1 log, and were prescribed with Clavudine. These results do not show a statistically significant correlation between drugs and biomarkers. Data on combination therapy using Lamivudine and Adefovir show no statistically significant difference between drugs and biomarkers. Medications for periodic inspection was not correlated to HBe-antigen-negative conversion, ALT, and HBV DNA. HBV DNA was significantly reduced in patients with high levels of AST(aspartic acid aminotransferase) and ALT before treatment. In addition, the decrease of HBV DNA after 12 months of treatment was less frequently observed in patients treated with Lamivudine compared with other drugs. This result is associated with Lamivudine resistance. Although the association of drugs with diagnostic markers and the correct choice of treatment is difficult to determine, these results may be useful for further research on diagnosis and treatment of the hepatitis B virus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.491-500
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the caustic ingestion in children among different continents according to demographic characteristics (core purpose), main symptoms, common caustic agents, signs and symptoms, management, treatment and complications. Methods: This systematic review was performed by searching the databases Science Direct, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and PubMed, electronically and manually. We included studies that were published from 1980 to 2013, at University of Medical Sciences of Tabriz, Iran. A strategic search was performed with keywords including caustic, corrosive, ingestion and children, and was limited to articles in English and Persian. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS ver. 18. Results: Of 63 selected articles of caustic ingestion with 9,888 samples, the proportion of Africa was 3 articles (4.8%) and 95 samples (1%), America 9 articles (14.3%) and 305 sample (3%), Asia 29 articles (46%) and 2,780 samples (28.1%), Europe 17 articles (27%) and 3,002 samples (30.4%), and Oceania 5 articles (7.9%) and 3,706 samples (37.5%). The average age was in the Africa $3.07{\pm}2.02years$, America $3.17{\pm}1.83years$, Asia $3.34{\pm}1.58years$, Europe $3.58{\pm}2.09years$ and Oceania $3.52{\pm}2.02years$. Sex distribution was in Africa 76 males (0.91%) and 19 females (0.23%), America 49 males (0.58%) and 41 females (0.49%), Asia 1,575 males (18.76%) and 1,087 females (12.95%), Europe 1,018 males (12.13%) and 823 females (9.8%), and Oceania 1,918 males (22.85%) and 1,788 females (21.3%). Statistical analysis of the data indicated higher consumption in Europe and Oceania in the boys with higher average age of years. Conclusion: The comparison of caustic ingestion indicated that the cause substances of caustic ingestion in children are different among continents, therefore prevention strategy and different treatment guidelines among continents will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 1994

A comparison was made between gastric cancer and gastritis patients regarding stress Perception and depression, using Global Assessment Recent Stress(GARS) scale and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). 50% of gastric cancer patients and 38% of gastritis patients were found to be depressed on scores of BDI scale, respectively. There was no significant difference in scores of stress perception between both the groups. However, gastric cancer patients tended to be more depressed than gastritis patients, although the difference is statistically not significant. In the gastric cancer patients, severity of psychic distress showed significantly positive correlation with depression, whereas in the gastritis patients, severity of physical symptoms showed significantly positive correlation with depression. It suggested that depression of gastric cancer patients was more likely to be related to the extent of psychic distress than that of physical symptoms. In each of both the groups, female patients showed significantly higher stress perception than male patients, and age was found to have significantly negative correlation with stress perception. In conclusion, severity of pathology of the same organ was not related to extent of stress perception and of depression in which denial of gastric cancer patients might play a role. Thus, it is emphasized that psychosocial approach is more needed for gastric cancer patients than for gastritis patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2016

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of strenuous exercise on ${\beta}$-endorphine (${\beta}$-END) level in fibromyalgia (FM) patients compared to healthy subjects. Methods: We enrolled 30 FM patients and 15 healthy individuals. All study participants underwent a treadmill exercise test using modified Bruce protocol (M.Bruce). The goal of the test was achieving at least 70% of the predicted maximal heart rate (HRMax). The serum levels of ${\beta}$-END were measured before and after the exercise program. Measurements were done while heart rate was at least 70% of its predicted maximum. Results: The mean ${\pm}$ the standard deviation (SD) of exercise duration in the FM and control groups were $24.26{\pm}5.29$ and $29.06{\pm}3.26$ minutes, respectively, indicating a shorter time to achieve the goal heart rate in FM patients (P < 0.003). Most FM patients attained 70% HRMax at lower stages (stage 2 and 3) of M.Bruce compared to the control group (70% versus 6.6%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Compared to healthy subjects, FM patients had lower serum ${\beta}$-END levels both in baseline and post-exercise status ($Mean{\pm}SD$: $122.07{\pm}28.56{\mu}g/ml$ and $246.55{\pm}29.57{\mu}g/ml$ in the control group versus $90.12{\pm}20.91{\mu}g/ml$ and $179.80{\pm}28.57{\mu}g/ml$ in FM patients, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions: We found that FM patients had lower levels of ${\beta}$-END in both basal and post-exercise status. Exercise increased serum the ${\beta}$-END level in both groups but the average increase in ${\beta}$-END in FM patients was significantly lower than in the control group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 2011

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of skipping breakfast on diet quality and metabolic disease risk factors in healthy Korean adults. Subjects included 415 employees (118 men, 297 women; 30-50 years old) of Jaesang Hospital in Korea and their acquaintances. Data collected from each subject included anthropometric measurements, 3-day dietary intake, blood pressure, and blood analyses. The subjects were classified into three groups based on the number of days they skipped breakfast: 'Regular breakfast eater', 'Often breakfast eater', or 'Rare breakfast eater'. Participants in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group consumed less rice, potatoes, kimchi, vegetables, fish and shellfish, milk and dairy products, and sweets than did participants in the other two groups (P for trend <0.05) and ate more cookies, cakes, and meat for dinner (P for trend <0.05). Participants in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group consumed less daily energy, fat, dietary fiber, calcium, and potassium than did participants in the other groups (P for trend <0.05). The percent energy from carbohydrates was lower and fat intake was higher in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group than in the other groups (P for trend <0.01). When diets were compared using the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for Koreans, 59.1% of subjects in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group consumed more energy from fat compared with the other two groups (P <0.005). According to the Estimated Average Requirements for Koreans, intake of selected nutrients was lower in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group than in the other two groups (P <0.05). The risk of elevated serum triglycerides was decreased in the 'Rare breakfast eater' group (OR, 0.3 [0.1-1.0], P for trend=0.0232). We conclude that eating breakfast regularly enhances diet quality, but may increase the risk of elevated serum triglycerides.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2012

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in the treatment of extensive diseases related to various symptoms; inflammation, pain and fever. NSAIDs work by blocking prostaglandin synthesis, but adverse drug events (ADEs) have been increasing dramatically such as gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation and stenosis, a kind of serious ADEs. Therefore, NSAID-related ulcer complication guidelines have been announced containing various risk factors and symptoms. Thus, this study aims to evaluate of NSAID usage and appropriateness for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer complication based on American journal of gastroenterology (AJG) guideline 2009. Further, the study suggests Korean guideline for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer compared to AJG guideline. For this study, data was collected through electronic medical record (EMR) at Seoul national university of Bundang hospital. The primary end point was a composite of NSAID-related ulcer risk factor, types of NSAIDs, co-prescribed NSAID ulcer prevention drugs and NSAID-related ulcer after taking NSAID. The risk factors include over 65 years, high dose NSAID, previous ulcer history and taking drugs (e.g. aspirin, anticoagulant and steroid) causing ulcer. If a patient has 3 or 4 factors, that patient was classified high risk group. And if 1 or 2 factors that patient was classified moderate risk group. The patient who has no risk factor was in low risk group. I studied 8,120 patients who received NSAID from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009. High risk group was 16(0.2%), moderate risk group was 4,364(53.7%), and low risk group was 3,740(46.1%). The results show that high risk group should be prescribed COX-2 inhibitors with ulcer prevention drugs, and moderate or low risk group need traditional NSAIDs with ulcer prevention drugs. This may be different with 2009 AJG guideline because AJG guideline suggested taking COX-2 inhibitor alone in moderate group or taking traditional NSAID alone in low risk group could get higher ulcer complication. The results indicated that choosing preventive drug is important in case that how many risk factors the patients have. The proper drugs would be helpful for safe and effective NSAID usage in each patient group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6481-6490
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• 2015

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is among the most common malignancies in Eastern Africa, but the occurrence of EC in Sudan has rarely been described in the scientific literature. This paper reports the results of a consecutive case series of all EC patients who visited one of the two public cancer treatment centers in the country in 1999-2012, providing a first description of this disease in a treatment center located in central Sudan. Materials and Methods: Clinical and demographic data for all EC patients who visited the Department of Oncology of the National Cancer Institute at the University of Gezira (NCI-UG) from 1999 to the end of 2012 were abstracted and tabulated by sex, tumor type and other characteristics. Results: A total of 448 EC patients visited NCI-UG in 1999-2012, and the annual number of EC cases increased steadily from 1999. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the predominant EC tumor type (90%), and adenocarcinoma (ADC) was reported in 9.4% of the EC cases. The overall male-to-female ratio for EC was 1:1.8, but the ratio was tumor type-dependent, being 1:2 for SCC and 2:1 for ADC. Only 20% of EC patients reported having ever used tobacco and/or alcohol, and the vast majority of these patients were male. At the time of EC diagnosis, 47.3% of the patients resided in Gezira State. Some EC patients from Gezira State seek out-of-state treatment in the national capital of Khartoum instead of visiting NCI-UG. Conclusions: The annual number of EC patients visiting NCI-UG has increased in recent years, approximately half of these patients being from Gezira State. Although this consecutive series of EC patients who visited NCI-UG was complete, it did not capture all EC patients from the state. A populationbased cancer registry would provide more complete data required to better understand EC patterns and risk factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4187-4193
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• 2013

Background: Evaluation of Human papilloma virus (HPV) and its association with promoter methylation of candidate genes, p53 and Aurora A in esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: One hundred forty-one esophageal tissue samples from different pathologies were evaluated for HPV infection by PCR, while the promoter methylation status of p53 and Aurora A was assessed by methylation-specific restriction based PCR assay. Statistical analyses were performed with MedCalc and MDR software. Results: Based on endoscopy and histopathology, samples were categorized: cancers (n=56), precancers (n=7), esophagitis (n=19) and normals (n=59). HPV infection was found to be less common in cancers (19.6%), whereas its prevalence was relatively high in precancers (71.4%), esophagitis (57.8%) and normals (45.7%). p53 promoter methylation did not show any significant difference between cancer and normal tissues, whereas Aurora A promoter methylation demonstrated significant association with disease (p=0.00016, OR:5.6452, 95%CI:2.18 to 14.6) when compared to normals. Aurora A methylation and HPV infection was found in a higher percentages of precancer (66.6%), esophagitis (54.5%) and normal (45.2%) when compared to cancers (14.2%). Conclusions: Aurora A promoter methylation is significantly associated with esophageal cancer, but the effect of HPV infection on this epigenetic alteration is not significant. However MDR analysis showed that the hypostatic effect of HPV was nullified when the cases had Aurora methylation and tobacco exposure. Further HPV sub-typing may give an insight into its reduced prevalence in esophageal cancer verses normal tissue. However, with the present data it is difficult to assign any significant role to HPV in the etiopathology of esophageal cancer.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.575-579
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• 2009

Behcet's disease(BD) is a multisystem vasculitis that almost any organ in the body may be involved. Its diagnosis bases on clinical criteria in the absence of any specific laboratory test to confirm it. The clinical criteria proposed for the diagnosis for BD include recurrent oral and genital ulceration, skin lesion, ocular changes, and positive response to pathergy test. Besides these essential features, BD may manifest itself on the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, and other systemic involvements. Among these clinical features, recurrent oral ulcers are present in most BD patients, often as the initial symptom, preceding other manifestations by many years. Therefore, dentists are in the important position for the early detection and diagnosis of BD. In this case report, we are presenting a case of 6 year-old girl, who came to the pediatric dentistry department for evaluation and treatment of pain and dysphagia caused by severe recurrent oral ulcers. Through taking detailed dental and medical history and clinical examination, we reported the possibility of BD to the medical team and prescribed topical lidocaine to relief pain during swallowing. The medical team, which involved pediatrics, ophthalmology, dermatology, and gastroenterology, finally confirmed BD through various examinations. Detection of the possibility of BD in the dental field helped early diagnosis and proper management by the medical team.