Objective To explore the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in microvessel angiogennesis, development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression and cellular distributions of VEGF in HCCs were investigated by immunohistochemical method, and the levels of total RNA and VEGF also were quantitatively analysed in HCCs and paracancerous tissues. Results The positive rates of VEGF were 63 9% in all HCCs, 78 3% in non-encapsuled HCCs, and 90 9% in HCCs with extra-hepatic metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression was not associated with tumor size and differentiation degree. The total RNA level in HCCs was significantly lower than that in paracancerous and distal paracancerous tissues (P

AIM: To assess the efficacy of cyanoacrylate adhesive in the management of large perforations of the maxillary sinus membrane during sinus lifts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight rabbits were used in the study. Sinus membrane perforation(about 1.5cm) was repaired with cyanoacrylate adnesive on one side of the maxillary sinus and the opppsite side was used as a control. Histological evaluation was performed 4 weeks after the operation. RESULTS: Histological studies showed normal healing of the sinus membrane across the site of previous perforation and no evidence of inflammation. CONCLUSION: Our results support the clinical use of cynoacrylate adhesive for repairing sinus membrane perforation.
Adhesives* ; Cyanoacrylates* ; Inflammation ; Maxillary Sinus ; Membranes* ; Rabbits

AIM: Several injectable materials have been used in the application of osteogenic bone substitute; however, nothing has won universal acceptance. This study was performed to investigate whether chitosan-alginate gel/MSCs/BMP-2 composites are potentially injectable materials for new bone formation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The composites were injected into the subcutaneous space on the dorsum of the nude mouse to investigate whether new bone would be tissue engineered in the mouse. The composites were examined histologically over a 12-week period. RESULTS: The composites implanted in the mouse were able to tissue engineer new bone, and the newly formed bone consisted of trabecular bone and calcified bone matrix. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that chitosan-alginate gel/MSCs/BMP-2 composites have the potential to become real injectable materials for new bone formation.
Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Chitosan ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteogenesis* ; Tissue Engineering

A large number of viruses belonging to Genus Hantavirus in Family Bunyaviridae are etiologic agents for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Hantaan (HTN), Seoul (SEO), Belgrade (BEL), Puumala (PUU) serotype viruses are well known causative agents for HFRS in Eurasian continent. Among those viruses Hantaan and Seoul serotypes are well known to cause HFRS in Korea, but there are some sporadic incidence by other than Hantaan or Seoul viruses. Recently we have developed the combined Hantaan-Puumala virus vaccine to prevent world-wide occurring HFRS. This combined vaccine is formalin inactivated, suckling mouse and suckling hamster brain extracts for Hantaan and Puumala viruses, respectively. Protein contents of this purified candidate vaccine is 27 microgram/ml, which contains 1,024 ELISA antigen units to each virus, but content of myelin basic protein which is causing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is legs than 0.1 ng/ml. Thirty hamsters were given twice at one month interval intra-muscularly and bled on 30 days after each vaccination from retro-orbital sinus vein. Antibody titers were tested against 5 major serotype viruses, Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses by IFA and PRNT. The mean IF antibody titers on 30 days after primary shot were 78.4, 68.8, 68.8, 37.9, and 15.6; mean neutralizing antibody titers were 65.4, 12, 6.1, 65.6 and 0.5 against Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses, respectively. The mean IF antibody titers on 30 days after booster shot were 686.9, 567.5, 550.4, 516.3, and 430.9; and neutralizing antibody titers were 710.8, 41.9, 24.3, 409.9, and 1.6 against Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses, respectively.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Brain ; Bunyaviridae ; Cricetinae* ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Formaldehyde ; Hantavirus ; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leg ; Mice ; Myelin Basic Protein ; Puumala virus ; Seoul ; Seoul virus ; Sin Nombre virus ; Vaccination ; Veins

The role of cultured bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in peripheral nerve regeneration was examined using an established rabbit peroneal nerve regeneration model. A 15-mm peroneal nerve defect was bridged with a vein filled with BMSCs (1 x 10(6)), which had been embedded in collagen gel. On the contralateral side, the defect was bridged with a vein filled with collagen gel alone. When the regenerated tissue was examined 4, 8 and 12 weeks after grafting, the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in the side with the BMSCs were significantly higher than in the control side without the BMSCs. This demonstrates the potential of using cultured BMSCs in peripheral nerve regeneration.
Bone Marrow* ; Collagen ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Myelin Sheath ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Peroneal Nerve ; Regeneration* ; Transplants ; Veins

A possible role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) or HNF3, a predominant trans-acting factors of hepatic or pancreatic beta-cells, was examined on the tissue specific interdependent expression of glucokinase (GK) in liver, H4IIE, HepG2, HIT-T15 and MIN6 cell line. The tissues or cell lines known to express GK showed abundant levels of HNF1 and HNF3 mRNA as observed in liver, H4IIE, HepG2, HIT-T15 and MIN6 cells, whereas they were not detected in brain, heart, NIH 3T3, HeLa cells. The promoter of glucokinase contains several HNF3 consensus sequences and are well conserved in human, mouse and rat. Transfection of the glucokinase promotor linked with luciferase reporter to liver or pancreatic beta cell lines showed high interacting activities with HNF1 and HNF3, whereas minimal activities were detected in the cells expressing very low levels of HNFs. The binding of HNF1 or HNF3 to the GK promoter genes was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). From these data, we propose that the expression of HNF1 and/or HNF3 may, in part, contribute to the tissue specific expression of GK.
3T3 Cells ; Animal ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Reporter ; Glucokinase/*biosynthesis/*genetics ; Hela Cells ; Human ; Liver/metabolism ; Luciferase/metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Genetic ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plasmids/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tissue Distribution ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection

The brief history of photodynamic therapy (PDT) research has been focused on photosensitizers (PSs) and light delivery was introduced recently. The appropriate PSs were developed from the first generation PS Photofrin (QLT) to the second (chlorins or bacteriochlorins derivatives) and third (conjugated PSs on carrier) generations PSs to overcome undesired disadvantages, and to increase selective tumor accumulation and excellent targeting. For the synthesis of new chlorin PSs chlorophyll a is isolated from natural plants or algae, and converted to methyl pheophorbide a (MPa) as an important starting material for further synthesis. MPa has various active functional groups easily modified for the preparation of different kinds of PSs, such as methyl pyropheophorbide a, purpurin-18, purpurinimide, and chlorin e6 derivatives. Combination therapy, such as chemotherapy and photothermal therapy with PDT, is shortly described here. Advanced light delivery system is shown to establish successful clinical applications of PDT. Phtodynamic efficiency of the PSs with light delivery was investigated in vitro and/or in vivo.
Chlorophyll ; Dihematoporphyrin Ether ; Family Characteristics ; Light ; Photochemotherapy ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Porphyrins ; Triazenes

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common complication in obstetrics, affecting about 5% of women of childbearing age. An increase in the number of abortions results in escalation in the risk of miscarriage. Although concentrated research has identified numerous causes for RPL, about 50% of them remain unexplained. Pregnancy is a complex process, comprising fertilization, implantation, organ and tissue differentiation, and fetal growth, which is effectively controlled by a number of both maternal and fetal factors. An example is the immune response, in which T cells and natural killer cells participate, and inflammation mediated by tumor necrosis factor or colony-stimulating factor, which hinders embryo implantation. Furthermore, vitamin D affects glucose metabolism and inhibits embryonic development, whereas microRNA has a negative effect on the gene expression of embryo implantation and development. This review examines the causes of RPL from multiple perspectives, and focuses on the numerous factors that may result in RPL.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Colony-Stimulating Factors ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fetal Development ; Gene Expression ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Proteomics ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vitamin D

Objectives: Lack of physical activity has a critical effect on the physical and mental health of adolescents. This study examined the influence of family adversities on the longitudinal changes in physical inactivity among adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The study used multi-wave data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, including 2590 Korean adolescents aged 12-14 years. The longitudinal trajectory of physical inactivity among adolescents and the effects of related factors were estimated using a latent growth modeling method. Results: Our results revealed a significant increase in physical inactivity among adolescents over time. At the onset of the pandemic, approximately one-seventh of Korean middle schoolers reported a lack of physical activity. However, 3 years later, during the quarantine, nearly one-fifth of these adolescents reported a significant increase in their physical inactivity. Initially, low level parental education was predictive of adolescents’ physical inactivity, but this effect diminished over time, becoming statistically insignificant by the end of the 3-year period. Moreover, the increase in physical inactivity over the 3 years was significantly influenced by parental rejection. Conclusions These findings suggest that adolescents who experience parental rejection are more likely to report an increase in sedentary behaviors in contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Lack of physical activity has a critical effect on the physical and mental health of adolescents. This study examined the influence of family adversities on the longitudinal changes in physical inactivity among adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The study used multi-wave data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, including 2590 Korean adolescents aged 12-14 years. The longitudinal trajectory of physical inactivity among adolescents and the effects of related factors were estimated using a latent growth modeling method. Results: Our results revealed a significant increase in physical inactivity among adolescents over time. At the onset of the pandemic, approximately one-seventh of Korean middle schoolers reported a lack of physical activity. However, 3 years later, during the quarantine, nearly one-fifth of these adolescents reported a significant increase in their physical inactivity. Initially, low level parental education was predictive of adolescents’ physical inactivity, but this effect diminished over time, becoming statistically insignificant by the end of the 3-year period. Moreover, the increase in physical inactivity over the 3 years was significantly influenced by parental rejection. Conclusions These findings suggest that adolescents who experience parental rejection are more likely to report an increase in sedentary behaviors in contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.