• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 1991

Treatment results of 28 patients with Wilms' tumor who received radiation therapy at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital from 1979 to 1988 were analyzed. The median follow-up period for the survivors was 40 months. The local control and overall survival rate at 3 years were 78.1$\%$ and 67.4$\%$, respectively. The local control was not affected by age. The local control rates for favorable histology (FH) and unfavorable histology (UH) were 83.3$\%$ and 62.5$\%$, respectively. In FH, the local control rates of stage II and III were not different ($83.3\%\;vs\;100.0\%$). In UH, the control rates of stage I/II and stage III were 83.3$\%$ and 0$\%$, respectively. Poor local control was correlated with involvement of lymph node ($50.0\%\;vs\;87.5\%$). Radiotherapy delayed 10 or more days after operation resulted in poorer local control than that without delay (p<0.05). Thus radiotherapy contributed to reduction of local recurrence in patients with high risk factor without increased severe complication. It is suggested that bulky unresectable mass might need a more intensified treatment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2013

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the single dose toxicity of Persicae Semen (PS) in ICR mice. Methods : Aqueous extracts of PS (Yield = 18.60%) were administered as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guidelines (2009-116, 2009). Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy; organ weight and histopathology of 12 principle organs were examined. Results : Amygdalin contents in PS aqueous extracts were detected as $32.50{\pm}5.96{\mu}g/ml$. We could not find any PS extracts treatment related mortalities, clinical signs, changes on the body and organ weights, gross and histopathological observations up to 2,000 mg/kg in both female and male mice, except for transient and slight loss of locomotion detected in female and male mice treated with 2,000 mg/kg. In addition, pharmacological immunomodulatory effects related findings were also demonstrated in 2,000mg/kg treated female and male mice as hypertrophy and hyperplasia of lymphoid cells in the submandibular lymph nodes. Conclusions : Based on the results of this experiment, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of PS extracts after single oral treatment in female and male mice were considered above 2,000 mg/kg, respectively. It should be carefully used in clinics because the possibilities of respiratory or neurological disorders were observed when administered over 2,000 mg/kg of PS extract related to amygdalin.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Adipogenesis is the process by which pre-adipocytes are differentiated into adipocytes. It also plays an important role in adipocyte formation and lipid accumulation. Ranunculus sceleratus (R. sceleratus) extracts are used for the treatment of various diseases such as hepatitis, jaundice, and tuberous lymphadenitis in oriental medicine. However, its effect on adipogenesis has not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of R. sceleratus on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Methods: Cells were treated with 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/ml of R. sceleratus and cell viability was evaluated. To differentiate the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, a 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin (MDI) solution were used. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. The expression levels of adipogenesis-related proteins were also determined. Results: MDI solution differentiated the preadipocytes into adipocytes and accumulation of lipids was observed in the differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Interestingly, the amount of lipid droplets was reduced after R. sceleratus treatment. In addition, the expression levels of key adipogenic transcription factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins-𝛼 (C/EBP-𝛼) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-𝛾 (PPAR-𝛾) were also reduced after R. sceleratus treatment. Furthermore, R. sceleratus increased AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and decreased sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 expression. Conclusions: Our results showed that R. sceleratus reduced preadipocyte differentiation by inhibiting C/EBP-𝛼 and PPAR-𝛾 levels via the AMPK pathway. Therefore, we suggest that R. sceleratus may be potentially used as an anti-adipogenic agent.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.267-279
• /
• 2024

Purpose: The optimal treatment for gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJA) remains controversial. We evaluated the treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with locally advanced GEJA according to the histological type. Materials and Methods: We conducted a single-institution retrospective cohort study of patients with locally advanced GEJA who underwent curative-intent surgical resection between 2010 and 2020. Perioperative therapies as well as clinicopathologic, surgical, and survival data were collected. The results of endoscopy and histopathological examinations were assessed for Siewert and Lauren classifications. Results: Among the 58 patients included in this study, 44 (76%) were clinical stage III, and all received neoadjuvant therapy (72% chemoradiation, 41% chemotherapy, 14% both chemoradiation and chemotherapy). Tumor locations were evenly distributed by Siewert Classification (33% Siewert-I, 40% Siewert-II, and 28% Siewert-III). Esophagogastrectomy (EG) was performed for 47 (81%) patients and total gastrectomy (TG) for 11 (19%) patients. All TG patients received D2 lymphadenectomy compared to 10 (21%) EG patients. Histopathological examination showed the presence of 64% intestinal-type and 36% diffuse-type histology. The frequencies of diffuse-type histology were similar among Siewert groups (37% Siewert-I, 36% Siewert-II, and 33% Siewert-III). Regardless of Siewert type and compared to intestinal-type, diffuse histology was associated with increased intraabdominal recurrence rates (P=0.03) and decreased overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.33; P=0.02). With a median follow-up of 31.2 months, 29 (50%) patients had a recurrence, and the median overall survival was 50.5 months. Conclusions: Present in equal proportions among Siewert types of esophageal and gastric cancer, a diffuse-type histology was associated with high intraabdominal recurrence rates and poor survival. Histopathological evaluation should be considered in addition to anatomic location in the determination of multimodal GEJA treatment strategies.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.643-643
• /
• 2007

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.399-408
• /
• 2004

Odontoblasts are responsible for the formation and maintenance of dentin. They are known to synthesize unique gene products including dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP). Another unique genes of the cells remain unclear. OD314 was isolated from the odontoblasts/pulp cells of rats and partially characterized as an odontoblast-enriched gene (Dey et al., 2001). This study aimed to elucidate the biological function of OD314, relating to odontoblast differentiation and dentinogenesis. After determining the open reading frame (ORP) of OD314 by transient transfection analysis using green fluorescent protein (GPP) expression vector, mRNA in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western analysis were performed. The results were as follows: 1. In in-situ hybridization, OD314 mRNAs were expressed in odontoblasts of developing coronal and root pulp. 2. OD314 was a novel protein encoding 154 amino acids, and the protein was mainly expressed in cytoplasm by transient transfection analysis. 3. Mineralized nodules were associated with multilayer cell nodules in the culture of human dental pulp cells and first detected from day 21 using alizarin-red S staining. 4. In RT-PCR analysis, OD314, osteocalcin (OC) and DSPP strongly expressed throughout 28 days of culture. Whereas, osteonectin (ON) mRNA expression stayed low up to day 14, and then gradually decreased from day 21. 5. Western blots showed an approximately 17 kDa band. OD314 protein was expressed from the start of culture and then increased greatly from day 21. In conclusion, OD314 is considered as an odontoblast-enriched gene and may play important roles in odontoblast differentiation and dentin mineralization.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.186-193
• /
• 2012

The ultrastructure of the secretory granules of the submandibular gland was examined in the Korean spider shrew, Sorex caecutiens, lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens and big white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura. The mucous and serous acinar granules of S. caecutiens with a border of the lucid corona differed from those of C. suaveolens and C. lasiurar with a dense lateral border. The mucous acinar granules of C. lasiura with several bands producing a variety of patterns in the matrix were similar to those of C. suaveolens. The serous acinar granules of C. lasiura had a homogenous pale center surrounded by minute dense specks or had an unusual substructure showing a geometric pattern according to the inclusions in the pale matrix of the granules. This is the first report of an unusual substructure showing a geometric pattern of the serous acinar granules of C. lasiura. The myelin-like body was observed in the granular duct cell of the three species of shrew. The myelin-like body of S. caecutiens with layers of unit membranes was different from that of C. suaveolens and C. lasiura with paired membranes. Therefore, the layers composing of the paired membranes of the myelin-like body might be one of the characteristics of Crocidura.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.58-66
• /
• 2016

Thymosin ${\beta}4$ ($T{\beta}4$) has been recently reported to play a role in dentinogenesis by regulating the expression of dentin matrix proteins. Based on previous studies, it is hypothesized that $T{\beta}4$ is associated with the formation of the enamel matrix and thus plays an important role in ameloblast. However, there is no report on the function of $T{\beta}4$ during tooth development so far. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of $T{\beta}4$ and its function in ameloblasts during mouse tooth development. $T{\beta}4$ was expressed strongly in the tooth bud at the bud stage and in the dental lamina and oral epithelium at the cap stage. In advanced bell stage at postnatal day 4, large elongated ameloblasts were observed and the expression of the $T{\beta}4$ protein was the highest, with the enamel being was thicker than that in the early bell stage. The length of ameloblasts increased from the presecretory to the secretory stage and decreased from the maturation to the protective stage. These results suggest that $T{\beta}4$ participates not only in the proliferation of oral epithelial cells during the early stage of tooth development but also regulates enamel protein secretion in ameloblasts and enamel mineralization.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2006

Aucuba japonica has variable pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, choleretic, hemodynamic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Aucuba japonica extract on oral wound healing. Aucubin was extracted from Aucuba japonica, and injected on either side of buccal mucosa of male mice. Artificial full thickness wounds were made on the site with 1.5 mm biopsy punch under sterile technique. The specimens had taken on day 1, 3, and 5 with 4 mm biopsy punch. Light microscopic examination and quantitative histologic analysis were performed for reepithelization, inflammatory cell infiltration. Reepithelization of the aucubin (0.1%) group was earlier than the control group. And the number of inflammatory cells of the aucubin group was lesser than the control group. In view of the results so far achieved, the aucubin extracted from Aucuba japonica may be useful for oral wound healing and it can be applied as a topical agent on the oral wound. Further research should be performed on the mechanism of aucubin on oral wound healing and proper formulation for effective topical agents.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.43 no.8
• /
• pp.739-748
• /
• 2020

Stringent regulation of the chondrocyte cell cycle is required for endochondral bone formation. During the longitudinal growth of long bones, mesenchymal stem cells condense and differentiate into chondrocytes. Epiphyseal chondrocytes sequentially differentiate to form growth-plate cartilage, which is subsequently replaced with bone. Although the importance of nuclear factor 1C (Nfic) in hard tissue formation has been extensively studied, knowledge regarding its biological roles and molecular mechanisms in this process remains insufficient. Herein, we demonstrated that Nfic deficiency affects femoral growth-plate formation. Chondrocyte proliferation was downregulated and the number of apoptotic cell was increased in the growth plates of Nfic^-/- mice. Further, the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 was upregulated in the primary chondrocytes of Nfic^-/- mice, whereas that of cyclin D1 was downregulated. Our findings suggest that Nfic may contribute to postnatal chondrocyte proliferation by inhibiting p21 expression and by increasing the stability of cyclin D1 protein.