• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.504-507
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• 2007

Purpose: Chondroid syringoma, previously known as 'mixed tumor of the skin', is a rare benign tumor. It usually presents an asymptomatic solitary firm intradermal or subcutaneous slowly growing nodule. It occurs frequently in the head and neck region of middle-aged men. We would like to report an uncommon chondroid syringoma about the clinical and histologic presentation. about the clinical and histologic presentation. Methods: We experienced two cases of chondroid syringoma on the nose and the upper lip, each other. Both masses were totally excised with clear margin. Results: On histologic examination, the masses showed a biphasic pattern-an epithelial component exhibiting apocrine/eccrine differentiation and a stromal component exhibiting myxoid/collagenous change-consistent with the diagnosis of chondroid syringoma. There have been no evidence of recurrence and malignant transformation during postoperative follow-up. Conclusion: There is no one distinctive clinical feature that is specific for chondroid syringoma. However, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of a solid nodule in head and neck region with long standing duration, such as epidermal inclusion cyst, pilomatrixoma, dermoid cyst, sebaceous cyst, neurofibroma, and basal cell carcinoma.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2022

Halophytes are plants that live in harsh environments in coastal regions and are known for their diverse chemical compositions. Limonium tetragonum, a halophyte endemic to Korean shores, is known for its bioactive compounds and is utilized in folk medicine. In this study L. tetragonum extract (LHE) was used to determine and evaluate its anti-osteoporotic properties. Pre-adipocyte and pre-osteoblasts were induced to differentiate along with LHE treatment, and their differentiation was evaluated using differentiation markers. LHE treatment decreased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes during adipogenesis. Results indicated that the LHE treatment also decreased the levels of key adipogenic transcription factors: PPARγ, SREBP1c, and C/EBPα. Enhancing osteoblastogenesis by LHE treatment was confirmed in osteoblastogenesis-induced MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. Cells treated with LHE resulted in increased calcification and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity compared with osteoblasts without LHE treatment. Pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic effects were also confirmed in D1 murine mesenchymal stromal cells which are capable of differentiation into both adipocytes and osteoblasts. LHE hindered adipogenesis and enhanced osteoblastogenesis in D1 MSCs in a similar fashion. In conclusion, L. tetragonum is believed to possess the potential to be utilized as a nutraceutical ingredient against osteoporotic conditions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (CM) derived from endometrial stromal cells on mouse preantral follicle culture in a two-dimensional system to produce competent mature oocytes for fertilization. Methods: In total, 240 preantral follicles were isolated from female mouse ovarian tissue and divided into four groups. The preantral follicles were isolated three times for each group and then cultured, respectively, in the presence of alpha minimum essential medium (control), PRP, CM, and PRP+CM. The in vitro growth, in vitro maturation, and cleavage percentage of the preantral follicles were investigated. Immunocytochemistry (IHC) was also conducted to monitor the meiotic progression of the oocytes. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of the two folliculogenesis-related genes (Gdf9 and Bmp15) and two apoptosis-related genes (Bcl2 and Bax) were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: In the PRP, CM, and PRP+CM groups, the preantral follicle maturation (evaluated by identifying polar bodies) were greater than the control group. The cleavage rate in the CM, and PRP+CM groups were also greater than the control group. IHC analysis demonstrated that in each treatment group, meiotic spindle was normal. In the PRP+CM group, the gene expression levels of Bmp15, Gdf9, and Bcl2 were greater than in the other groups. The Bax gene was more strongly expressed in the PRP and control groups than in the other groups. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests that the combination of CM and PRP can effectively increase the growth and cleavage rate of mouse preantral follicles in vitro.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.255-265
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• 2022

The cellular communication network factor (CCN) family proteins regulate many biological events such as angiogenesis, tumor growth, placentation, implantation, and embryogenesis. The expression and function of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN3 at the maternal-conceptus interface are established in humans and rodents, but little is known about the role of CCN4 to CCN6 in the reproductive organs in any other species. Several studies in transcriptome analysis in pigs have shown that the expression of CCN4 and CCN6 increases in the endometrium during early pregnancy. However, their expression, regulation, and function in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy have not been fully understood in pigs. Thus, we determined the expression, localization, and regulation of CCN4 and CCN6 during the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface in pigs. We found that the levels of CCN4, but not CCN6, changed during the estrous cycle. The levels of CCN4 were greater during mid- to late pregnancy than in the early stage, and the levels of CCN6 were greatest on Day 15 of pregnancy. CCN4 and CCN6 were detected in conceptus tissues during early pregnancy and in chorioallantoic tissues during the later stage of pregnancy. CCN4 mRNA was mainly localized to epithelial cells, CCN6 mRNAs to epithelial and stromal cells in the endometrium. In endometrial explant cultures, CCN4 expression was increased by progesterone, and CCN6 expression by interferon-𝛾. These results suggest that CCN4 and CCN6 may play roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating the endometrial epithelial cell functions in pigs.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.490-497
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• 2019

Owing to the recent advances in biological knowledge on stem cells, many efforts are being made to apply them to clinical practice. Although mesenchymal stem cells were first found in bone marrow aspirates, they are understood to be multipotent stromal cells that can be extracted from a variety of tissues, such as adipose, dermal, skeletal muscle, and umbilical-cord tissues. The osteogenicity of mesenchymal stem cells has been verified through various experiments and animal studies. Some successful bone regenerations have also been reported in difficult clinical situations, such as large bone defects, osteonecrosis, and nonunion. On the other hand, there are no standardized indications or application methods for each clinical situation, and convincing evidence of its efficacy and safety is still lacking. Bone regeneration therapies using mesenchymal stem cells are likely to expand further in the future, but there are some issues that need to be addressed in order for them be recognized as standard treatments.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2024

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a commonly occurring benign tumor originating in the salivary glands. The incidence is mostly in the parotid glands (85%) followed by minor salivary glands (10%). Pleomorphic adenoma from minor salivary glands of the lips is a rare neoplasm. Here, we present a case of a patient with PA in the upper lip, reporting a common neoplasm in a rare site. A 82-year-old male with a slowly progressing swelling that occurred 20years ago on the upper white lip. This tumor is not associated with pain and tenderness. The mass was about 1.5x1.5cm sized, circumscribed, sessile and firm on the external upper lip without oral side bulging (Fig. 1). The tumor was removed completely with a elliptical incision under local anesthesia. The encapsulated mass was measured 0.9x0.9x0.6cm. On histology, a well-circumscribed growth was seen comprising epithelial and stromal components. The epithelial component formed glandular structures lined by round-to oval cells having small nuclei, pink cytoplasm and myoepithelial basal cell layer while the stroma had a fibromyxoid appearance(Fig. 2). Postoperatively wound was well healed without recurrence after 6months. Pleomorphic adenoma of the upper lip is a rare neoplasm, especially not intraoral growth. For aesthetic good result, the mass was removed without hesitation. It is required a high index of suspicion and a long-term follow-up because it could recur and rarely be transformed into malignancy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.678-686
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• 2007

Human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSC), that have been reported to be present in bone marrow, adipose tissues, dermis, muscles and peripheral blood, have the potential to differentiate along different lineages including those forming bone, cartilage, fat, muscle and neuron. Therefore, hMSC are attractive candidates for cell and gene therapy. The optimal conditions for hMSC expansion require medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum(FBS). Some forms of cell therapy will involve multiple doses, raising a concern over immunological reactions caused by medium-derived FBS proteins. Previously, we have shown that hADSC can be cultured in human serum(HS) during their isolation and expansion, and that they maintain their proliferative capacity and ability for multilineage differentiation and promote engraftment of peripheral blood-derived CD34 cells mobilized from bone marrow in NOD/SCID mice. In this study we determined whether hADSC grown in HS maintain surface markers expression similar with cells grown in FBS during culture expansion and compared gene expression profile by Affymetrix microarray. Flow cytometry analysis showed that HLA-DR, CD117, CD29 and CD44 expression in HS-cultured hADSC during culture expansion were similar with that in FBS-cultured cells. However, the gene expression profile in HS-cultured hADSC was significantly different from that in FBS-cultured cells. Therefore, these data indicated that HS-cultured hADSC should be used in vivo animal study of hADSC transplantation for direct extrapolation of preclinical data into clinical application.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 1995

Complete prelining of artificial vascular grafts with autologous endothelial cells may be one of the ideal solutions to obtain a nonthrombogenlc blood-contacting surface. To establish an intact endothelial cell monolayer on a prosthetic surface at the time of implantation,a sufficient number of endothelial cells and adequate propagation condition In cell culture are prerequisites. In this experimental study, endothelial cells from microvessels of adult human oriental adipose tissue were enzymatically harvested, and optimal culture conditions for proliferation of the endothelial cells in cell culture were examined. Human oriental adipose tissue was digested with collagenase and endothelial cells were separated from other stromal elements by mesh filtration method. Cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by immunofluorescent staining for factor VIII-related antigen. Proliferation in usual 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) medium or medium containing endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF)(5 ng/ml) and heparin (HEP)(1,000 units/ml) were compared,and the effects of adding compounds that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, that is,cholera toxin (CT)(1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX)(0.2 ml),were also analyzed. In total,following eight media groups were examined. 1) FBS medium + ECGF + HEP, 2) FBS medium + ECGF + HEP+CT, 3) FBS medium+ECGF+HEP+lBMX, 4) FBS medium+ECGF+HEP+CT+ IBMX, 5) FBSmedium, 6) FBS medium +CT, 7) FBS medium + IBMX, 8) FBS medium + CT + IBMX. It was shown that the medium containing ECGF + HEP with or without cholera toxin was most efficient in Stimulating cell proliferation. IBMX was considered to have antagonistic effect to ECGF. Among experimental groups without ECGF and HEP, the addition of cholera toxin and IBMX was shown to significantly potentiate cell proliferation. This results could provide a practical method for use of cultured human endothelial cells for endothelial cell seeding of cardiovascular prosthetic device, particularly in small-diameter vascular grafts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1519-1529
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• 2016

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase -2 (gelatinase-A, Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-2) and -9 (gelatinase-B, Mr 92,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-9) are key molecules that play roles in tumor growth, invasion, tissue remodeling, metastasis and stem-cell regulation by digesting extracellular matrix barriers. MMP-2 and -9 are well known to impact on solid cancer susceptibility, whereas, in hematological malignancies, a paucity of data is available to resolve the function of these regulatory molecules in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and stromal cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate mRNA expression and gelatinase A and B secretion from BM-MNCs in vitro and genotypic associations of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T; rs243865), MMP-9 (-1562 C/T; rs3918242), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase -1 (TIMP-1) (372T/C; rs4898, Exon 5) and TIMP-2 (-418G/C; rs8179090) in MDS and AML. Results: The study covered cases of confirmed MDS (n=50), AML (n=32) and healthy controls (n=110). MMP-9 mRNA expression revealed 2 fold increased expression in MDS-RAEB II and 2.5 fold in AML M-4 (60-70% blasts). Secretion of gelatinase-B also revealed the MMP-9 mRNA expression and ELISA data also supported these data. We noted that those patients having more blast crises presented with more secretion of MMP-9 and its mRNA expression. In contrast MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) showed significant polymorphic associations in MDS (p<0.02) and AML (p<0.02). MMP-9 mRNA expression of C/T and T/T genotypes were 1.5 and 2.5 fold increased in MDS and AML respectively. In AML, MMP-2 C/T and T/T genotypes showed 2.0 fold mRNA expression. Only MMP-9 (-1306 C/T) showed significant 4 fold (p<0.001) increased risk with chemical and x-ray exposed MDS, while tobacco and cigarette smokers have 3 fold (p<0.04) risk in AML. Conclusions: In view of our results, MMP-9 revealed synergistic secretion and expression in blast crises of MDS and AML with 'gene' polymorphic effects and is significantly associated with increased risk with tobacco, cigarette and environmental exposure. Release and secretion of these enzymes may influence hematopoietic cell behavior and may be important in the clinical point of view. It may offer valuable tools for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as possible targets for the treatments.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 1995

The study was designed to investigate the effects of progesterone on the reproductive system. This investigation was performed by immunohistochemical methods using anti-bromodeoxyuridine-antibody following bromodeoxyuridine(Brdur) injection for labeling proliferating cells in the uterus and ovary of rats. Sixteen female rats(Wistar), weighing initially 300g, were randomly allotted into ovariectomized and unovariectomized large groups. These two large groups were subdivided into three subgroups of control, 3-day and 6-day groups, respectively. 3-days and 6-days group were injected with 1mg of progesterone/rat/day for 3 or 6 days, respectively. In gross findings, the uterus of ovariectomized groups markedly atrophied, and were not hypertrophied by progesterone injection for 3 days or 6 days and the uterus of unovariectomized groups also were not hypertrophied. Labeling index(LI, %) was measured by counting the number of Brdur-positive cells from 300 to 3,000 cells per layer in the uterus tissue. The average LI of the uterus in unovariectomized groups was higher than that of ovariectomized groups. The subgroups with higher LI in unovariectomized groups were ordered as 6-day group, 3-day group. So progesterone considerably effected to the proliferating of the cells in the uterus of unovariectomized groups. The layers with higher LI in the uterus wall were ordered as the functional zone of endometrium, epithelial layer of endometrium, basal zone of endometrium, myometrium and perimetrium. The cell types with higher LI in the uterus of unovariectomized groups were ordered as the surface epithelial cells, stromal cells, glandular epithelial cells and muscle cells. Growing follicles with proliferating cells from secondary and tertiary follicles in the ovary of unovariectomized groups appeared to be 37.66% in control group, 39.23% in 3-day groups, 39.47% in 6-day groups. Mature follicles in the ovary were more number in control group than those in 3-day groups but not appeared in 6-day groups. So progesterone not nearly effects to the number of the growing follicles but appeared to be related to suppression of the development and protrusion of the mid-tertiary and mature follicles on the ovary surface. The cell types with higher LI in the ovary of unovariectomized groups were respectively ordered as granulosa cells, theca interns cells in secondary follicles; theca interna cells, granulosa cells, theca externa cells in tertiary follicles; fibroblasts, theca in terns cells in atretic follicles; fibroblasts, luteal cells in corpus luteum.