• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is warranted when cross-sectional imaging demonstrates common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without identifiable causes. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of EUS in CBD dilatation of unknown etiology. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with dilated CBD without definite causes undergoing EUS between 2012 and 2017. Results: A total of 131 patients were recruited. The mean age was 63.2±14.1 years. The most common manifestation was abnormal liver chemistry (85.5%). The mean CBD diameter was 12.2±4.1 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of EUS-identified pathologies, including malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and benign biliary stricture (BBS), was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.00). The AUROC of EUS for detecting malignancy, choledocholithiasis, and BBS was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97), 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.00), and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.99), respectively. Male sex, alanine aminotransferase ≥3× the upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase ≥3× the ULN, and intrahepatic duct dilatation were predictors for pathological obstruction, with odds ratios of 5.46 (95%CI, 1.74-17.1), 5.02 (95% CI, 1.48-17.0), 4.63 (95% CI, 1.1-19.6), and 4.03 (95% CI, 1.37-11.8), respectively. Conclusions: EUS provides excellent diagnostic value in identifying the etiology of CBD dilatation detected by cross-sectional imaging.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.378-390
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• 2024

Purpose: Oxyntic gland neoplasm (OGN) is a rare condition that can be classified as oxyntic gland adenoma (OGA) or gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic-gland type (GA-FG). GA-FG primarily presents as early gastric cancer, with only a few reported cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). We aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features of OGN and describe an aggressive variant. Materials and Methods: We investigated a total of 29 cases, including a patient with double primary cases, diagnosed with OGN or differentiated-type adenocarcinoma with GA-FG morphology, between November 2016 and April 2022. We analyzed 54 pathological specimens and reviewed their clinicopathological, endoscopic, and histological features. The lesions were reclassified as OGA or GA-FG, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for MUC-5AC and MUC-6 was performed on available resected GA-FG cases. Results: The median patient age was 65 years and males accounted for 58.6% of patients. Most cases occurred in the body horizontally (69.0%) and on the greater curvature side cross-sectionally (48.3%). Endoscopically, type 0-IIa (41.4%) and a subepithelial tumor-like appearance (24.1%) were the most common findings. Histologically, there were 8 cases of OGA (27.6%) and 21 cases of GA-FG (72.4%). In GA-FG, MUC-6 was positive in 13 cases (81.3%), whereas MUC-5AC was positive in 8 cases (50.0%). Three cases presented as AGCs. Conclusions: Although OGNs are generally considered low-grade, they can present as AGCs and may exhibit features of lymphovascular or perineural invasion. Recognizing the clinicopathological features and accurately diagnosing OGN are important for providing adequate treatment.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.66-96
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• 2024

Objectives This study aimed to establish a foundation for research on Korean medicine for epilepsy by analyzing its etiology, syndrome differentiation, and the use of herbal medicines. Methods Articles were extracted from five databases in Korea, Japan, and China: the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Citation Information by the National Institute of Informatics (CiNii), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP). The etiology, syndrome differentiation, and herbal medicines used for epilepsy were investigated. Results A total of 64 articles were selected, including seven clinical studies, 16 case reports, and 41 reviews. Epilepsy is a complex disease with various etiologies, and among the five viscera, syndrome differentiation mainly involved the liver, spleen, and kidney, with pathological factors that included phlegm, wind, and blood stasis. Frequently used herbal medicines included Modified Jeongganhwan, Sihogyejitang, Yukgunjatang, and Sihogayonggolmoryotang. Conclusions This study analyzed epilepsy's etiology, syndrome differentiation, and herbal treatments. Further evidence is needed to better understand the efficacy and safety of Korean herbal medicine for treating epilepsy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2024

Objective: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease among reproductive-age women. Numerous hypotheses exist regarding the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In Turkey, the consumption of Allium cepa (commonly known as the "onion cure") is a popular treatment employed to alleviate a variety of gynecological disorders. Methods: In this study, our objective was to assess the therapeutic mechanisms of the onion bulb A. cepa using an autologous endometriosis model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Previous research has shown that A. cepa possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties. We evaluated the pathological condition of endometriotic implants by employing hematoxylin-eosin staining and Ki67 immunohistochemistry analysis. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) have been identified as profibrotic markers that are highly overexpressed in endometriotic tissues relative to eutopic endometrial tissue. Furthermore, TGF-β1 influences the differentiation and progression of endometriosis. To quantify profibrotic activity, we measured TGF-β1 and α-SMA using the immunosorbent assay method. Results: Lower histologic evaluation scores for endometriotic implants were observed in the group receiving high-dose A. cepa relative to the other groups. Ki67 expression was reduced following the high-dose A. cepa regimen, which consisted of 30% A. cepa and 70% normal feed. However, no statistically significant differences in TGF-β1 or α-SMA levels were observed among the groups (p=0.7 and p=0.778, respectively). Conclusion: The findings suggest that A. cepa could serve as a therapeutic agent in endometriosis treatment, as evidenced by the reduction in proliferative potential. Nevertheless, A. cepa was not associated with significantly lower levels of endometriosis-associated TGF-β1 or α-SMA.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.2339-2346
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• 2019

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important cellular second messengers involved in various aspects of cell signaling. ROS are elevated in multiple types of cancer cells, and this elevation is known to be involved in pathological processes of cancer. Although high levels of ROS exert cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, low levels of ROS stimulate cell proliferation and survival by inducing several pro-survival signaling pathways. In addition, ROS have been shown to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is essential for the initiation of metastasis. However, the precise mechanism of ROS-induced EMT remains to be elucidated. In the present study, it was indicated that ROS induce EMT by activating Snail expression, which then represses E- cadherin expression in MCF-7 cells. It was further indicated that distal-less homeobox-2 (Dlx-2), one of the human Dlx gene family proteins involved in embryonic development, acts as an upstream regulator of ROS-induced Snail expression. It was also revealed that ROS treatment induces the glycolytic switch, a phenomenon whereby cancer cells primarily rely on glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production, even in the presence of oxygen. In addition, ROS inhibited oxidative phosphorylation and caused cytochrome c oxidase inhibition via the Dlx-2/Snail cascade. These results suggest that ROS induce EMT, the glycolytic switch and mitochondrial repression by activating the Dlx-2/Snail axis, thereby playing crucial roles in MCF-7 cancer cell progression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.8
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• pp.375-380
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• 2024

Early proatherogenic inflammation constitutes a significant risk factor for atherogenesis development. Despite this, the precise molecular mechanisms driving this pathological progression largely remain elusive. Our study unveils a pivotal role for the microRNA miR-328-5p in dampening endothelial inflammation by modulating the stability of JUNB (JunB proto-oncogene). Perturbation of miR-328-5p levels results in heightened monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and enhanced transendothelial migration, while its overexpression mitigates these inflammatory processes. Furthermore, miR-328-5p hinders macrophage polarization toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and exerts a negative influence on atherosclerotic plaque formation in vivo. By pinpointing JUNB as a direct miR-328-5p target, our research underscores the potential of miR-328-5p as a therapeutic target for inflammatory atherosclerosis. Reintroduction of JUNB effectively counteracts the anti-atherosclerotic effects of miR-328-5p, highlighting the promise of pharmacological miR-328-5p targeting in managing inflammatory atherosclerosis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.365-375
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• 2024

Objectives : Herbal formula consist of multiple herbs, which can potentially interact with conventional drugs. If these interactions are not properly understood, they may reduce treatment efficacy or cause unexpected side effects. Thus, this study collected and analyzed papers on herbal formula and conventional drug interactions from PubMed to analyze various research trends. Methods : To analyze research trends on herbal formula and drug interactions, we first created search queries using a dictionary of herbal formula terms and collected related papers from PubMed using the Entrez API. The PubTator API was applied to identify compound names in the abstracts, recognizing compounds registered in the DrugBank as conventional drugs. Sentences describing interactions between herbal formulas and drugs were extracted using pattern matching, and relevant papers were selected. Trends were then analyzed by year, country, major formulas, major drugs, and interaction networks. Results : Yearly analysis showed a gradual increase in paper counts with a significant rise after 2010. Country analysis revealed that China published the most papers (53), followed by Japan (19) and South Korea (8). formula analysis identified 'sosiho-tang' and 'siryung-tang' as the most frequently mentioned (7 times each). Drug analysis showed '5-fluorouracil', 'acetaminophen', 'entecavir', and 'streptozotocin' were the most frequently mentioned (4 times each). Network analysis revealed 'sosiho-tang and tolbutamide' and 'siryung-tang and prednisolone' as the most frequently, mentioned interactions (3 times each). Disease analysis indicated 'urogenital diseases' were the most discussed (32 mentions), Followed by 'pathological conditions, signs, and symptoms' and 'digestive system diseases' (25 mentions each). Conclusions : Analyzing research trends on herbal formula and conventional drug interactions provides basic data for subsequent research, aiming to reduce side effects and enhance treatment efficacy in clinical settings.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2022

Cell migration is an essential process in embryonic development, wound healing, and pathological conditions. Our knowledge of cell migration is often based on the two dimentional evaluation of cell movement, which usually differs from what occurred in vivo. In this study, we investigated cellular migration from blastema tissue toward bovine decellularized mesentery tissue. In this regard, fibronectin (FN) was assessed to confirm cell migration. Therefore, we established a cell migration model using blastema cells migration toward the extracellular matrix derived from bovine mesenteric tissue. A physiochemical decellularization method was utilized based on freeze-thaw cycles and agitation in sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100 to remove cells from the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bovine mesenteric tissue. These types of matrices were assembled by the rings of blastema tissues originated from the of New Zealand rabbits pinna and cultured in a medium containing FN in different days in vitro, and then they are histologically evaluated, and the expression of the Tenascin C gene is analyzed. By means of tissue staining and after confirmation of the cell removal from mesenteric tissue, polarity, and migration of blastema cells was observed in the interaction site with this matrix. Also, the expression of the Tenascin C gene was assessed on days 15 and 21 following the cell culture process. The results showed that the three dimentional model of cellular migration of blastema cells along with the ECM could be a suitable model for investigating cell behaviors, such as polarity and cell migration in vitro.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.76-90
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• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to summarize the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome(PCS) in traditional East-Asian medicine(TEM) and Western medicine(WM) from the point of blood stasis. Methods: We followed the methodology of 5 steps of scoping review by Arksey and O'Malley and Levac et al. Studies from 2010 to October 19, 2023 were searched through seven search engines. Two reviewers independently searched and screened the studies. When there was a disagreement, a third reviewer decided its eligibility. Results: A total of 78 studies were selected, and 40 were TEM studies and 38 were WM. The average age of the study subjects was in their 30s and most had more than one child. Most of TEM were intervention studies and WM were mostly observational studies. In the WM, the etiology of PCS was considered pelvic venous insufficiency, and in the TEM, pathological conditions caused blood stasis in the pelvis. In TEM, the diagnosis was made according to previous studies' criteria; in WM, it was made through imaging. To treat PCS, WM seeks to block extended veins with embolization, and TEM to improve the environment in which stagnant blood is created through various treatments such as herbal medicine, enema therapy, etc. Total efficient rate (TER) in TEM and imaging findings in WM were most often used as outcome measures. Conclusions: This study summarized and analyzed overall concepts of PCS in TEM and WM.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Purpose: Invasion and metastasis in solid tumors require the action of tumor-associated proteases. The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) and receptor (uPAR) appear to have a major function in these processes. Expression of the uPAR is elevated in breast and colon carcinomas, and this is often associated with invasiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the uPAR gene correlates with clinico-pathological parameters in human gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We examined the expression of uPAR mRNA by using northern blot analysis and RT-PCR in 35 gastric carcinomas and the surrounding normal mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological tumor findings and survival rates were obtained from the patient records and from endoscopic, surgical, and pathological reports. Results: The expression of uPAR and was higher in most neoplasms than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue. uPAR mRNA expression in tumors correlated well with lymph-node metastasis (P<0.02) and tumor stage (P<0.01). The survival rate of patients with tumors displaying high uPAR expression levels was significantly lower (P<0.04) than that of patients without uPAR expression, but IL-8 showed only the tendency of survival difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that uPAR may be an important prognostic factor in human gastric carcinomas.