• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.43-46
• /
• 2006

위의 샘근종과 이소성 췌장의 구별은 어려우며, 샘근종을 이소성 췌장의 한 종류라고 생각하기도 한다. 위의 샘근종과 이소성 췌장의 구별은 이소성 체장에서는 샘창자샘 (Brunner's gland)이 발견되지 않는다는 점이다. 위의 샘근종이 악성화하는 경우는 매우 드물다. 본 증례의 경우, 위체부 하방과 유문부에 종괴가 있었으며, 조직겅검 결과에서 위체부 하방의 종괴는 샘암종으로 진단되었고, 유문부의 종괴는 샘근종으로 진단되었다. 본 증례의 경우, 위의 샘근종이 위암과 우연히 동반된 것이라고 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.624-628
• /
• 1995

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare disease which afflicts young women of childbearing age. We experienced a 32-year-old female who was admitted because of worsening exertional dyspnea after hormonal therapy with Clomifen for five months and intermittent hemoptysis. Chest PA showed diffuse ground glass appearance with some reticular infiltrations. High resolution CT scan showed multiple small thin walled cysts distributed homogeneously throughout the entire lung. Pulmonary function test showed characteristic obstructive pattern despite the restrictive interstitial pattern of chest radiography. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy specimen showed abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of lymphatic vessels, bronchioles, and pulmonary vessels typical of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Hormonal therapy with medroxyprogesterone was initiated.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제47권2호
• /
• pp.108-113
• /
• 2020

Objective: Endometrial fibrosis, the primary pathological feature of intrauterine adhesion, may lead to disruption of endometrial tissue structure, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, and recurrent pregnancy loss. At present, no ideal therapeutic strategy exists for this fibrotic disease. Eupatilin, a major pharmacologically active flavone from Artemisia, has been previously reported to act as a potent inducer of dedifferentiation of fibrotic tissue in the liver and lung. However, the effects of eupatilin on endometrial fibrosis have not yet been investigated. In this study, we present the first report on the impact of eupatilin treatment on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced endometrial fibrosis. Methods: The efficacy of eupatilin on TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis was assessed by examining changes in morphology and the expression levels of fibrosis markers using immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Eupatilin treatment significantly reduced the fibrotic activity of TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis in Ishikawa cells, which displayed more circular shapes and formed more colonies. Additionally, the effects of eupatilin on fibrotic markers including alpha-smooth muscle actin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, collagen type I alpha 1 chain, and matrix metalloproteinase-2, were evaluated in TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis. The expression of these markers was highly upregulated by TGF-β pretreatment and recovered to the levels of control cells in response to eupatilin treatment. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that suppression of TGF-β-induced signaling by eupatilin might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of endometrial fibrosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.316-325
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginseng essence (GE) is a formulation comprising four medicinal and edible herbs including ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and lily bulb (Lilium longiflorum). This study was aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effect of GE against carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium, and high [0.625 g/kg body weight (bw), 1.25 g/kg bw, and 3.125 g/kg bw, respectively] doses of GE for 9 wk. After the 1st wk of treatment, rats were administered 20% $CCl_4$ (1.5 mL/kg bw) two times a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. Results: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GE ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and albumin decline in $CCl_4$-treated rats. Moreover, $CCl_4$-induced accumulation of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride was inhibited. The hepatoprotective effects of GE involved enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining showed that GE inhibited $CCl_4$-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin indicated that $CCl_4$-triggered activation of hepatic stellate cells was reduced. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that GE improves $CCl_4$-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GE could be a promising hepatoprotective herbal formulation for future development of phytotherapy.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권11호
• /
• pp.804-811
• /
• 2014

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca-N}$) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca}$), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on $I_{Ca}$. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, a potent N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited $I_{Ca-N}$ in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 1995

This study was designed to clarify the action of cyclic nucleotides, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, on phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu)-induced contraction in rings isolated from rabbit carotid artery. Arterial rings, 2 mm in width, were myographied isometrically in an isolated organ bath. PDBu produced slowly developing, sustained contraction in rabbit carotid artery, in a dose dependent manner, which was independent of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ PDBu-induced contraction was relaxed by staurosporine, which suggests that PDBu-induced contraction is mediated by protein kinase C (PKC). $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake by rabbit carotid artery was increased by PDBu during depolarization, but not in control. Isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) relaxed phenylephrine-induced contraction. However, SNP but not isoproterenol relaxed the contraction induced by PDBu. Acetylcholine relaxed PDBu-induced contraction in the presence of the endothelium. 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, a permeable analogue of cyclic AMP, suppressed phenylephrine-induced contraction but not PDBu-induced contraction. 8-bromo cyclic GMP relaxed both of them with dose dependency. A large dose of forskolin relaxed PDBu-induced contraction. PDBu increased cyclic AMP without considerable change in the level of cyclic GMP. Based on these findings, PDBu-induced contraction of rabbit carotid artery was relaxed by cyclic GMP more effectively than cyclic AMP, and the action of cyclic AMP could be mediated by cyclic GMP dependent protein kinase. Therefore it is suggested that the antagonistic action between protein kinase C and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase plays a major role in the regulation of vascular tone.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• 제15권3호
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2010

Water extracts from 20 medicinal plants, traditionally used for postmenopausal symptoms in Korea, were examined for their vasorelaxant activity in isolated rat thoracic aorta rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE). Among the 20 medicinal plants, Cornus officinalis (CoEx, 0.3 mg/mL), Schisandra chinensis (ScEx, 0.3 mg/mL), Erythrina variegate (EvEx, 0.3 mg/mL), and Epimedium koreanum (EkEx, 0.3 mg/mL) showed rapid relaxation of endothelium-intact aorta ($69\pm4%$, $40\pm3%$, $25\pm2%$, and $23\pm3%$ of active tone induced by NE, respectively). In contrast, the extracts of Erythrina variegata (EvEx), Angelica gigas (AgEx), Pueraria thunbergiana (PtEx), and EkEx lead to gradual (i.e., long-term) relaxation to baseline in endothelium-intact vessels. The time to complete relaxation was 20～40 min. These 6 plant extracts were selected for the investigation of possible underlying mechanisms. The CoEx-, ScEx-, or EkEx-induced rapid relaxations were virtually abolished by endothelium denudation, and were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10 ${\mu}M$), indicating that increased formation of NO might contribute to the endothelium-mediated relaxation. In long-term responses, the endothelium denudation did not affect PtEx-induced relaxation, whereas it delayed responses by EvEx and AgEx, and significantly inhibited the effect of EkEx. Among EvEx, AgEx, and PtEx, EvEx attenuated the $CaCl_2$-induced vasoconstriction in high-potassium depolarized medium, implying that EvEx is involved in inhibition of the extracellular calcium influx to smooth muscle through voltage dependent calcium channels. These results provide the scientific rationale for the interrelationships between the use of 20 medicinal plants and their effects on cardiovascular health in estrogen deficient conditions.

• 대한한의진단학회지
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.34-44
• /
• 2009

Background : Currently, as a method of standardization of prescription, questionnaire for Buzhongyiqi-Tang[補中益氣湯] was developed, and which is a Objectives : The purpose of this thesis is to testify whether differentiation of Lao Juan Shang[勞倦傷] etiology is relative to mobility of gastric smooth muscle. Methods : The subjects(20 to 65 years old; 14 males, 46 females) were isolated from drinking alcohols for 24 hours before the experiment, and fasted for 8 hours, and measured for electrogastrography(EGG) and they filled out Questionnaire for Buzhongyiqi-Tang. Results : 1. Six factors from the factor analysis of Questionnaire for Buzhongyiqi -Tang were named and classified as Spleen-Qi deficiency syndrome factor [脾虛] (factor 1), Lung-Qi deficiency syndrome factor [肺虛] (factor 2), Working factor [習慣] (factor 3), Yin-Fire factor [陰火] (factor 4), Jung-Qi deficiency syndrome factor [中氣虛] (factor 5), and Stomach-Qi deficiency syndrome factor [胃虛] (factor 6). 2. As for the reliability of Questionnaire for Buzhongyiqi-Tang, we used Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.772 for the mean of the item-total. 3. Lung-Qi deficiency syndrome factor(factor2) had significant correlation with Bradygastria Time (r=-0.312, p<0.05). 4. Working factor(factor3) had significant correlation with Bradygastria Time (r=-0.329, p<0.05). 5. Yin-Fire factor(factor4) had significant correlation with Power Ratio (r=-0.328, p<0.05). Conclusions : It is shown that Bradygastria Time and Power Ratio tended to decrease against postprandial DP increased and postprandial frequency decreased in normal case.

• 대한세포병리학회지
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.178-182
• /
• 2008

We report here a case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach that was diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNA). A 67 year old male patient underwent regular check-ups for five years due to the presence of a submucosal tumor that was found in the fundus of the stomach incidentally. EUS-FNA was performed to evaluate the tumor, which had increased in size from 1 cm to 2.8cm. A cytologic smear revealed cohesive sheets or clusters of spindle cells with elongated nuclei. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a strong positive reaction for c-kit and CD34, without any reaction for smooth muscle actin and Ki-67. Therefore, a diagnosis of GIST was made.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제25권8호
• /
• pp.1371-1379
• /
• 2015

The Ca_v1.2 Ca²⁺ channel is essential for cardiac and smooth muscle contractility and many physiological functions. We mutated single, double, and quadruple sites of the four potential Asn (N)-glycosylation sites in the rabbit Ca_v1.2 into Gln (Q) to explore the effects of Nglycosylation. When a single mutant (N124Q, N299Q, N1359Q, or N1410Q) or Ca_v1.2/WT was expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the biophysical properties of single mutants were not significantly different from Ca_v1.2/WT. In comparison, the double mutant N124,299Q showed a positive shift in voltage-dependent gating. Furthermore, the quadruple mutant (QM; N124,299,1359,1410Q) showed a positive shift in voltage-dependent gating as well as a reduction of current. We tagged EGFP to the QM, double mutants, and Ca_v1.2/WT to chase the mechanisms underlying the reduced currents of QM. The surface fluorescence intensity of QM was weaker than that of Ca_v1.2/WT, suggesting that the reduced current of QM arises from its lower surface expression than Ca_v1.2/WT. Tunicamycin treatment of oocytes expressing Ca_v1.2/WT mimicked the effects of the quadruple mutations. These findings suggest that Nglycosylation contributes to the surface expression and voltage-dependent gating of Ca_v1.2.