• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1365-1371
• /
• 2000

Objectives : Spinal cord compression is a rare presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL), occurring in 0.1% to 10.2% of patients. Primary spinal extradural NHL, i.e. occurring in the absence of any detectable extraspinal lymphoproliferative disorder, has a potentially favourable outcome if diagnosed and treated early. The authors describe two patients with a clinical picture of acute spinal cord compression as the first presentation of NHL. Methods : The patients were 48-year-old female and 27-year-old female. Both presented with back pain followed by acute paraparesis and voiding difficulty. One patient was diabetic. Plain radiographs of the spine were not specific. Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed evidence of extradural soft tissue mass extending multiple vertebral segments. Results : The patients underwent emergency laminectomy for decompression and tissue diagnosis. Histological and immunohistochemical study revealed B-cell lymphoma, intermediate grade in both patients. Postoperative staging did not reveal any additional lesions other than extradural manifestation of the malignant lymphoma. Surgery with additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy allowed the clinical improvement of both patients. Conclusion : The authors report two patients with a clinical picture of acute spinal cord compression as the first presentation of NHL, and stress that primary spinal epidural NHL should be a diagnostic consideration in the patient without prior history of malignancy who presents with a prodrome of back pain followed by a rapid neurological deterioration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.217-222
• /
• 2006

Atherosclerosis is considered as a chronic inflammatory process. However, the nature of the oxidant signaling that regulates monocyte adhesion and its underlying mechanism is poorly understood. We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species on the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and monocyte adhesion in the cultured endothelial cells. $TNF-{\alpha}$ at a range of $1{\sim}30\;ng/ml$ induced VCAM-1 expression dose-dependently. BCECF-AM-labeled U937 cells firmly adhered on the surface of endothelial cells when the endothelial cells were incubated with $TNF-{\alpha}$ (15 ng/ml). Ten $\;{\mu}mol/L$ of SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, significantly reduced $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ VCAM-1 expression, compared to the JNK inhibitor ($40\;{\mu}mol/L$ of SP60015) or ERK inhibitor ($40\;{\mu}mol/L$ of U0126). Also, SB203580 significantly inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ monocyte adhesion in HUVEC. Superoxide production was minimal in the basal condition, however, treatment of $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced superoxide production in the dihydroethidineloaded endothelial cells. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI, $10\;{\mu}mol/L$), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, and rotenone $(1\;{\mu}mol/L)$, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ superoxide production, VCAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesion in the endothelial cells. Taken together, our data suggest that NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial ROS were involved in $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ VCAM-1 and monocyte adhesion in the endothelial cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2009

The effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein(OxLDL) and its major lipid constituent lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC) on $Ca^{2+}$ entry were investigated in cultured human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs) using fura-2 fluorescence and patch-clamp methods. OxLDL or LPC increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), and the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by $La^{3+}$ or heparin. LPC failed to increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the presence of an antioxidant tempol. In addition, store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry(SOC), which was evoked by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store depletion in $Ca^{2+}$-free solution using the sarcoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ pump blocker, 2, 5-di-t-butyl-l,4-benzohydroquinone(BHQ), was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. Increased SOC by OxLDL or by LPC was inhibited by U73122. In voltage-clamped cells, OxLDL or LPC increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and simultaneously activated non-selective cation(NSC) currents. LPC-induced NSC currents were inhibited by 2-APB, $La^{3+}$ or U73122, and NSC currents were not activated by LPC in the presence of tempol. Furthermore, in voltage-clamped HUVECs, OxLDL enhanced SOC and evoked outward currents simultaneously. Clamping intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ to 1 ${\mu}M$ activated large-conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+(BK_{ca})$ current spontaneously, and this activated $BK_{ca}$ current was further enhanced by OxLDL or by LPC. From these results, we concluded that OxLDL or its main component LPC activates $Ca^{2+}$-permeable $Ca^{2+}$-activated NSC current and $BK_{ca}$ current simultaneously, thereby increasing SOC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 1990

A comparative study of acid-base balance has been made between acidemia-induced hyperkalemia and hyperkalemia-induced acidemia. A group of rabbits was infused 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution and metabolic acidosis was induced. Another group was administered 20 mM potassium chloride solution and hyperkalemia was induced. The third group was infused 0.1 N hydrochloric acid and 20 mM potassium chloride solution, simultaneously. Acid-base data and plasma potassium ion concentration were monitored every thirty minutes in these three groups of rabbits. Following results were obtained: 1 ) Along with the infusion of hydrochloric acid, acute metabolic acidosis was induced in the rabbits. Plasma bicarbonate ion concentration decreased primarily in this group. As a respiratory compensation, there was a tendency of reduction of arterial $Pco_{2}$. The alteration of data became larger along with the amount of administration and the time elapsed. However, hyperkalemia was not so severe compared with the second group. 2) In potassium chloride infused group, plasma potassium ion concentration increased along with the time elapsed and the amount of infusion. And the alteration of acid-base data was parrallel to the level of potassium ion concentration, above all depression of pH was prominent. 3) Above data suggest that when acute metabolic acidosis was induced, exchange of intracellular potassium ion with extracellular hydrogen ion seems significant for the regulation of extracellular acid-base balance. And when hyperkalemia was induced with the infusion of potassium chloride solution, the exchange of intracellular hydrogen ion with extracellular potassium ion also seems significant for the regulation of extracellular potassium balance. 4) In the group of rabbits infused hydrochloric acid and potassium simultaneously, disturbances of acid-base balance and potassium balance were much more severe than two other groups. In these mixed disturbances, the process of compensatory mechanism might be inhibited and one disturbance might aggregate each other. 5) Through above data it has been postulated that in acid-base disturbance potassium balance can be sacrificed as a compensatory mechanism, and vice versa in disturbance of potassium balance. And our data also suggest that hydrogen ion and potassium ion are compensatory pair, one another.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.2819-2826
• /
• 2015

Combinations of multiple biomarkers representing distinct aspects of metastasis may have better prognostic value for breast cancer patients, especially those in late stages. In this study, we evaluated the protein levels of N-${\alpha}$-acetyltransferase 10 protein (Naa10p), synuclein-${\gamma}$ (SNCG), and phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) in 365 patients with breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. Distinct prognostic subgroups of breast cancer were identified by combination of the three biomarkers. The Naa10p+SNCG-PRL-3-subgroup showed best prognosis with a median distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of 140 months, while the Naa10p-SNCG+PRL-3+subgroup had the worst prognosis with a median DMFS of 60.5 months. Multivariate analysis indicated Naa10p, SNCG, PRL-3, and the TNM classification were all independent prognostic factors for both DMFS and overall survival (OS). The three biomarker combination of Naa10p, SNCG and PRL-3 performed better in patients with lymph node metastasis, especially those with more advanced tumors than other subgroups. In conclusion, the combined expression profile of Naa10p, SNCG and PRL-3, alone or in combination with the TNM classification system, may provide a precise estimate of prognosis of breast cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.3035-3042
• /
• 2015

Background: Isorhamnetin (Iso), a novel and essential monomer derived from total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides that has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, has also shown a spectrum of antitumor activity. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action Iso on cancer cells. Objectives: To investigate the effects of Iso on A549 lung cancer cells and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were treated with $10{\sim}320{\mu}g/ml$ Iso. Their morphological and cellular characteristics were assessed by light and electronic microscopy. Growth inhibition was analyzed by MTT, clonogenic and growth curve assays. Apoptotic characteristics of cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), DNA fragmentation, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay, immunocytochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL). Tumor models were setup by transplanting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into C57BL/6 mice, and the weights and sizes of tumors were measured. Results: Iso markedly inhibited the growth of A549 cells with induction of apoptotic changes. Iso at $20{\mu}g/ml$, could induce A549 cell apoptosis, up-regulate the expression of apoptosis genes Bax, Caspase-3 and P53, and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, cyclinD1 and PCNA protein. The tumors in tumor-bearing mice treated with Iso were significantly smaller than in the control group. The results of apoptosis-related genes, PCNA, cyclinD1 and other protein expression levels of transplanted Lewis cells were the same as those of A549 cells in vitro. Conclusions: Iso, a natural single compound isolated from total flavones, has antiproliferative activity against lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanisms of action may involve apoptosis of cells induced by down-regulation of oncogenes and up-regulation of apoptotic genes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.21
• /
• pp.9107-9112
• /
• 2014

Purpose: To investigate and study the relationship between the PLCE1 rs2274223 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer by meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: The literature was searched in Wanfang, CNKI, PubMed, CBM, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer, Elsevier and Cochrane databases from the date of January $1^{st}$ 2004 to April $1^{st}$ 2014 to collect case-control studies on the PLCE1 polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer. For the population genotype distributions of both esophagus cancer and control groups, their odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were taken as effect indexes. Disqualified studies were excluded. Odds ratios of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype distributions in the group of patients with esophageal cancer and the group of healthy control were calculated. The metaanalysis software, RevMan5.0, was applied for heterogeneity test, pooled OR and 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also explored. Results: A total of twelve case-control studies were included, covering a total of 9, 912 esophageal cancer cases and 13, 023 controls were included. The pooled odds ratio of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype GA vs AA was 1.29 (95%CI=1.17~1.43), p<0.01, GG vs AA was 1.65 (95%CI=1.32~2.05), p<0.01, GG/GA vs AA was 1.30 (95%CI=1.16~1.46), p<0.01 and GG vs GA/AA was 1.48 (95%CI=1.22~1.80), p<0.01. The PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism was thus associated with risk of esophageal cancer in all genetic models. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, and source of controls, no significantly increased risk was observed for white persons. There was no obvious publication bias detected. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed there was a significantly association between PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism and esophageal cancer in yellow race populations. Due to some minor limitations, our findings should be confirmed in further studies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.686-692
• /
• 2001

Background : Outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) are caused by the low rate of treatment response due to limitation in number of available drugs and high rates of adverse drug side-effects. This study analysed the risk factors for MDR-TB patients, who did not respond to treatment, with an aim to improve the rate of treatment response. Methods : Retrospective study of 111 MDR-TB patients at National Mokpo Tuberculosis Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1998 was made. The patients were separated into two groups ; group I comprised of patients who were treated successfully and group II comprised of those were not treated successfully. In order to analyze the risk factors for treatment failure, differences between the two groups were compared and the confidence limit regarding the results were tested using an independent t-test. chi-square test and a Fisher's exact test. Results : The treatment failure rate of MDR-TB patients was 32% (36 patients), and treatment success rate 68%(75 patients). This study found no significant difference between two groups in terms of age, sex, family history, extent of the disease on the chest X-ray, the number of sensitive drugs in the treatment regimen, and the number of sensitive bactericidal drugs in the treatment regimen (p>0.05). However, a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis, cavitary lesions on the chest X-ray, the number of treatments, the number of resistant drugs and the number of drugs used showed a significant difference(p<0.05). Conclusion : The rate of treatment failure in MDR-TB was increased by a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis, cavitary lesions on the chest X-ray, the number of treatments, the number of resistant drugs and the number of drugs used. For improving the treatment response of MDR-TB, every effort should be made to reduce the drug resistance caused by failure of the first treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.105-109
• /
• 2008

Background: Fascin is an actin-bundling protein that plays an important role in cellular motility. Fascin is normally expressed in the neuronal and mesenchymal cells and its expression is low or absent in the epithelia. However, an overexpression of fascin has been linked to the invasive behavior of some neoplasms such as breast, stomach and ovarian tumors. In this study, we evaluated the expression of fascin and its prognostic significance in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for fascin was performed on the paraffin-embeded tissue sections of 81 cases of resected NSCLC. Staining of more than 5% of the tumor cells was recorded as positive immunoreactivity. Results: Fascin expression was seen in 73% (59/81) of the cases and this was more frequently seen in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma (93% vs 42%). There were no significant correlations of fascin immunoreactivity with tumor recurrence and overall survival. Conclusion: The expression rate of fascin was relatively high in NSCLC, but this was without prognostic significance. The exact clinical role of fascin should be defined through further investigations.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.626-632
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to enhance gas exchange by producing hemosome, a hemoglobin microencapsulated with phospholipid of egg, and perfluorocarbone(PFC) emulsion solution. In the experiment, stable emulsion solution with 437 nm of mean particle size could be produced by Flusol-DA sonication, and shortening of emulsion time could be attained with higher stability as well. $0.8{\mu}m$ sized hemosome could be produced by microencapsulation of hemoglobin with phospholipid extracted from egg yolk. The pattern of oxygen saturation curve of hemosome was S shape, which is similar to that found in normal blood, and $P_{50}$ was measured to be 24 mmHg. The oxygen saturation in the mixed solution of hemosome and blood in 1:4(V/V%) ratio was similar to that of normal blood, and the same result was found in the mixed solution of PFC emulsion and blood in 1:4(V/V%) ratio.