• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1459-1465
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• 2020

The perforation of the intrathoracic internal jugular vein during the placement of an implantable central venous chemoport is a rare complication that is manifested by hemothorax or hemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, inappropriate instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent in the chemoport can cause chemical pleuritis, and the diagnosis of these complications prior to the instillation of chemotherapeutic agents and open thoracic surgery is mandatory. We report a patient with chemical pleuritis and hemothorax following an inappropriate instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent, through the perforated right internal jugular vein after placement of an implantable central venous chemoport. Treatment by embolization using coils and N-butyl cyanoacrylate, after percutaneous drainage, was successful.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2024

Teriparatide has been effective in treating people diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). However, its efficacy is not well established to be accepted as a standard of care. The objective of this paper was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human parathyroid hormone for the treatment of MRONJ. We report three cases of MRONJ patients with osteoporosis as the primary disease who were treated with a teriparatide agent along with other adjunctive measures. Each patient was administered a teriparatide injection subcutaneously for 16 weeks, 36 weeks, or 60 weeks. Surgical intervention including partial resection, sequestrectomy, decortication, and saucerization took place during the teriparatide administration. Complete lesion resolution was identified clinically and radiographically in all three patients. In patients diagnosed with MRONJ, teriparatide therapy is an efficacious and safe therapeutic option to improve healing of bone lesions. These findings demonstrate that teriparatide in combination with another therapy, especially bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-rich fibrin, or antibiotic therapy, can be an effective protocol for MRONJ.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Exosomes are nano-sized membrane-bound extracellular vesicles containing various biological molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, which can be used to modulate physiological processes. The exosomal molecules secreted by cells can be extensively used as tools for diagnosis and therapy. Exosomes carry specific molecules released by the cells they originate from, which can be transferred to surrounding cells or tissues by the exosome. For these reasons, exosomes can be exploited as biomarkers for diagnosis, carriers for drug delivery, as well as therapeutics. In stem cell technology, exosomes have been an attractive option because they can be used as safer therapeutic agents for stem cell-based cell-free therapy. Recently, studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in alleviating symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 as they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential. Performing multiple studies on exosomes would provide innovative next-generation options for clinical diagnostics and therapy. This review summarizes the use of exosomes focusing on their diverse roles. In addition, the potential of exosomes is illustrated with a focus on how exosomes can be exploited as powerful tools in the days to come.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2024

Pinitol (3-O-Methyl-D-chiro-inositol) has been reported to possess insulin-like effects and is known as one of the anti-diabetic agents to improve muscle, liver, and endothelial cells. However, the beneficial effects of pinitol on the skin are not well known. Here, we investigated whether pinitol had effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and human dermal equivalents (HDEs) irradiated with ultraviolet A (UVA), which causes various damages including photodamage in the skin. We observed that pinitol enhanced wound healing in UVA-damaged HDFs. We also found that pinitol significantly antagonized the UVA-induced up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and the UVA-induced down-regulation of collagen type I and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) in HDEs. Electron microscopy analysis also revealed that pinitol remarkably increased the number of collagen fibrils with regular banding patterns in the dermis of UVA-irradiated human skin equivalents. Pinitol significantly reversed the UVA-induced phosphorylation levels of ERK and JNK but not p38, suggesting that this regulation may be the mechanism underlying the pinitol-mediated effects on UVA-irradiated HDEs. We also observed that pinitol specifically increased Smad3 phosphorylation, which is representative of the TGF-β signaling pathway for collagen synthesis. These data suggest that pinitol exerts several beneficial effects on UVA-induced damaged skin and can be used as a therapeutic agent to improve skin-related diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.20
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• 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a representative autoimmune disease that is primarily characterized by persistent inflammation and progressive destruction of synovial joints. RA has a complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology, involving interactions among various immune and joint stromal cells and a diverse network of cytokines and intracellular signaling pathways. With improved understanding of RA, over the past decades, therapeutic strategies have become considerably advanced and now included targeted molecular therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, IL-6 blockers, B-cell depletion agents, as well as inhibitors of T-cell co-stimulation and Janus kinases. However, a considerable proportion of RA patients experience refractory disease and interrupted treatment owing to the associated risk of developing serious infections and cancers. In contrast, although IL-1β, IL-17A, and p38α play significant roles in RA pathogenesis, several drugs targeting these factors have not been approved because of their low efficacy and severe adverse effects. In this review, we provide an overview of the working mechanism, advantages, and limitations of the currently available targeted drugs for RA. Additionally, we suggest potential mechanistic causes for clinically approved and failed drugs. Thus, this review provides perspectives on approaches for basic and translational studies that hold promise for identifying future next-generation therapeutics for RA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10.1-10.14
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• 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown remarkable benefit in the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and have emerged as an effective treatment option even in the first-line setting. ICIs can block inhibitory pathways that restrain the immune response against cancer, restoring and sustaining antitumor immunity. Currently, there are 4 PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agents available in clinics, and immunotherapy-based regimen alone or in combination with chemotherapy is now preferred option. Combination trials assessing combination of ICIs with chemotherapy, targeted therapy and other immunotherapy are ongoing. Controversies remain regarding the use of ICIs in targetable oncogene-addicted subpopulations, but their initial treatment recommendations remained unchanged, with specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the choice. For the majority of patients without targetable driver oncogenes, deciding between therapeutic options can be difficult due to lack of direct cross-comparison studies. There are continuous efforts to find predictive biomarkers to find those who respond better to ICIs. PD-L1 protein expressions by immunohistochemistry and tumor mutational burden have emerged as most well-validated biomarkers in multiple clinical trials. However, there still is a need to improve patient selection, and to establish the most effective concurrent or sequential combination therapies in different NSCLC clinical settings. In this review, we will introduce currently used ICIs in NSCLC and analyze most recent trials, and finally discuss how, when and for whom ICIs can be used to provide promising avenues for lung cancer treatment.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1497-1513
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• 2021

The diagnostic and treatment methods of multiple myeloma (MM) have been rapidly evolving owing to advances in imaging techniques and new therapeutic agents. Imaging has begun to play an important role in the management of MM, and international guidelines are frequently updated. Since the publication of 2015 International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria for the diagnosis of MM, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or low-dose whole-body computed tomography (CT) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT have entered the mainstream as diagnostic and treatment response assessment tools. The 2019 IMWG guidelines also provide imaging recommendations for various clinical settings. Accordingly, radiologists have become a key component of MM management. In this review, we provide an overview of updates in the MM field with an emphasis on imaging modalities.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2005

Purpose: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are the analogues of endogenous pyrophosphates: they have been used in the treatment of skeletal diseases such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis, and tumorinducing ostelysis, and are used in treatment of osteolytic metastasis of breast cancer recently. They are also used as one of the therapeutic agents for metastasis of prostatic cancer of which metastasis makes the mixed nature of osteolysis and ostegenesis. Although the action mechanism of BPs are well known for diseases with excessive osteoclastic bone resorption, the direct effect of BPs has not been known yet. This study was intended to see the tumor suppression capability of Zoledronic acid(ZOL) using nude mouse with osteosarcoma. Materials and Methods: MG-63 and HOS osteosarcoma cell lines were used and the transforemed MG-63-GFP and HOS-GFP cells, which were made for detection under fluorescent light, were subcutaneously injected to make osteosarcoma. The five 6-week male mice were used for the experiment at each group. After the injection, mice were cultivated until tumor pieces grow up to $3{\times}3{\times}3$ $mm^3$ and ZOL of 120 ug/kg was subcutaneously injected twice a week. Sizes of tumor were measured twice a week and photographed under fluorescent light. Results: In in vivo test with HOS osteosarcoma cell lines, mean size of tumors was 2,520 $mm^3$ in control group and was 131 $mm^3$ in ZOL group, which showed 94% of reduction comparing with the control ; with MG-63 osteosarcoma cell lines, mean size of tumors was 2,866 $mm^3$ in control group and was 209 $mm^3$ in test group with 72% of reduction (p<0.05). Conclusion: In in vivo tests with nude mice, we suggest that ZOL has direct effect on osteosarcoma cells and it would be used as one of the therapeutic agents for osteosarcoma, especially to ZOL-sensitive osteosarcoma cells.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1997

The therapeutic efficacy of antipsychotic drugs is generally attributed to their ability to block dopamine $D_2$ receptors. Classical $D_2$ antagonists are not effective to treat negative symptoms and produce extrapyramidal side effects On the other hand, atypical antipsychotic agents ameliorate negative symptoms without producing extra-pyramidal side effects, and it is reported to be associated with blockade of serotonin $5-HT_2$ receptors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of risperidone on neuroreceptors in the rat brain by Quantitative autoradiography method. In acute treatment group, risperidone was injected into Peritoneal cavity of male Wistar rats with dose of 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mg/kg in each group(5/group), and they were decapitated after 2 hours. In chronic treatment group, risperidone was injected with dose of 0, 0.1, and 1mg/kg(I.P.) for 21 days and decapitated after 24 hours following last treatment. The effect of risperodone on the binding of [$^3H$]spiperone to $5-HT_2$ and $D_2$ receptors were analysed in 4 discrete regions of the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex by quantitative autoradiography Acute treatment with risperidone reduced cortical $5-HT_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding to 32% of vehicle-treated control. Subcortical $5-HT_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding was not affected at all dose groups whereas a significant reduction (57%) in $D_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding was observed in risperidone treated group at doses of 1-2mg/kg. Chronic treatment with risperidone produced a decrease in the maximal number of cortical $5-HT_2$ receptors to 51% and 46% of control in 0.1mg/kg & 1mg/kg treated group respectively. In conclusion, risperidone is a cortical serotonin receptor antagonist with relatively weak antagonistic action on dopamine receptors. These effects oil neuroreceptors may explain the therapeutic effect of risperidone as a atypical antipsychotic agents.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2008

Background: To evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as potential therapeutic agents of acute lung injury, we analyzed the morphology in vivo of the pulmonary microstructure using intravital videomicroscopy in a rat model of acute lung injury. Material and Method: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups: a control group that underwent normal saline aspiration, an acute lung injury (ALI) group that underwent hydrochloric acid aspiration, and three treatment groups that underwent hydrochloric acid aspiration and were administered therapeutic agents- the S1P group, the NO group, and the S1P+NO group (n=7 per group). To quantify alveolar compliance and interstitial edema, the diameters of all measurable alveoli and interalveolar septa were averaged at one and two hours after aspiration. Alveolar compliance was determined according to diameter changes during the respiratory cycle and the change in tidal volume. Result: At two hours after aspiration, the mean alveolar compliance (% change) in the All group decreased significantly versus the control group of rats (respiratory cycle: 1.9% for the ALI group vs 6.5% for the control group, p=0.03; tidal volume: 3.2% for the ALI group vs 9.1% for the control group, p=0.003) and versus the NO group (tidal volume: 3.2% for the ALI group vs 16.9% for the NO group, p=0.001). At two hours after aspiration, the mean interalveolar septal thickness in the NO group tended to be smaller as compared to that in the All group ($15.2{\mu}m$ for the ALI group vs $12.3{\mu}m$ for the NO group, p=0.06). S1P did not exert a significant effect on the pulmonary microstructure of the injured rat lung. Conclusion: Improved alveolar compliance and reduced interstitial edema, observed by intravital videomicroscopy, suggest that inhaled NO ameliorates lung injury.