No abstract available.
Hearing* ; Humans ; Tinnitus*

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetomaternal Transfusion* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility that human muscle derived stem cells (hMDSCs) can be differentiated into neurons in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Muscle derived stem cells were isolated from the hamstring muscles during the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by preplate technique. For the characterization of these cells, desmin staining, CD 34, Sca-1, CD 29 using the Flow cytometry were performed. In the experimental group, neuronal induction media was added to differentiate hMDSCs to neuronal cells. These cells were evaluated by neuronal markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), TrkA using immunocytochemistry. For the control group, no induction media was added. Statstical analyses were performed by use of Kruskal-Wallis H test and Student-Newman-Keuls test (P<0.01). RESULT: Desmin staining was positive in 92.3+/-6%. Flow cytometry was negative for CD 34 and Sca-1. However it was positive for CD 29. (69.4+/-10%). The immunocytochemical result revealed NSE, NF and TrkA positive with 63.2+/-2.3%, 59.2+/-2.5%, 55+/-2.4% respectively. However, these were negative in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our observations indicate that hMDSCs have the capacity to differentiate into neurons in a specialized culture media.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Culture Media ; Desmin ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Muscles ; Neurons* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Stem Cells*

Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGs) have antiproliferative activity on various tumor cell growth in vitro. Particularly, 9-deoxy-(9,12)-13,14-dihydro PGD2( delta12-PGJ2) was reported for its antineoplastic and apoptotic effects on various cancer cells, but its mechanism inducing apoptosis is still not clear. In this study, we have characterized apoptosis induced by delta12-PGJ2in HeLa cells. Treatment of delta12-PGJ2induced apoptosis as indicated by DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and formation of apoptotic body. We also observed release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and activation of caspase cascade including caspase-3, -8, and -9. And the pan-caspase inhibitor z-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethyl-ketone (z-VAD-fmk) and Q-Val-Asp (OMe)-CH2-OPH (Q-VD (OMe)-OPH) prevented cell death induced by delta12-PGJ2 showing participation of caspases in this process. However, protein expression level of Bcl-2 family was not altered by delta12-PGJ2, seems to have no effect on HeLa cell apoptosis. And ZB4, an antagonistic Fas-antibody, exerted no effect on the activation of caspase 8 indicating that Fas receptor-ligand interaction was not involved in this pathway. Treatment of delta12-PGJ2 also leads to suppression of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) as indicated by nuclear translocation of p65/RelA and c-Rel and its DNA binding ability analyzed by EMSA. Taken together, our results suggest that delta12-PGJ2-induced apoptosis in HeLa cell utilized caspase cascade without Fas receptor-ligand interaction and accompanied with NF-kappaB inactivation.
Antigens, CD95/metabolism ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cytochromes c/*metabolism ; Hela Cells ; Human ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Prostaglandin D2/*analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism

3-Deazaadenosine (DZA), a cellular methylation blocker was reported to induce the caspase-3-like activities-dependent apoptosis in U-937 cells. In this study, we analyzed the activation pathway of the caspase cascade involved in the DZA-induced apoptosis using specific inhibitors of caspases. In the U-937 cells treated with DZA, cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent activation of caspase-9, -8 and -3 were observed before the induction of apoptosis. zDEVD-Fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3, and zLEHD-Fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase-9, prevented the activation of caspase-8 but neither caspase-3 nor caspase-9, indicating that caspase-8 is downstream of both caspase-3 and caspase-9, which are activated by independent pathways. zVAD-Fmk, a universal inhibitor of caspases, kept the caspase-3 from being activated but not caspase-9. Moreover, ZB4, an antagonistic Fas-antibody, exerted no effect on the activation of caspase-8 and induction of apoptosis by DZA. In addition, zVAD-Fmk and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) inhibitors such as cyclosporin A (CsA) and bongkrekic acid (BA) did not block the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest that in the DZA-induced apoptosis, caspase-8 may serve as an executioner caspase and be activated downstream of both caspase-3 and caspase-9, independently of Fas receptor-ligand interaction. And caspase-3 seems to be activated by other caspses including IETDase-like enzyme and caspse-9 seems to be activated by cytochrome c released from mitochondria without the involvement of caspases and CsA- and BA- inhibitory MPTP.
Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Bongkrekic Acid/pharmacology ; Caspases/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cyclosporine/pharmacology ; Cytochrome c/drug effects/metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Human ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology ; Ligands ; Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism ; Tubercidin/*pharmacology ; U937 Cells

3-Deazaadenosine (DZA), a cellular methylation blocker was reported to induce the caspase-3-like activities-dependent apoptosis in U-937 cells. In this study, we analyzed the activation pathway of the caspase cascade involved in the DZA-induced apoptosis using specific inhibitors of caspases. In the U-937 cells treated with DZA, cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent activation of caspase-9, -8 and -3 were observed before the induction of apoptosis. zDEVD-Fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3, and zLEHD-Fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase-9, prevented the activation of caspase-8 but neither caspase-3 nor caspase-9, indicating that caspase-8 is downstream of both caspase-3 and caspase-9, which are activated by independent pathways. zVAD-Fmk, a universal inhibitor of caspases, kept the caspase-3 from being activated but not caspase-9. Moreover, ZB4, an antagonistic Fas-antibody, exerted no effect on the activation of caspase-8 and induction of apoptosis by DZA. In addition, zVAD-Fmk and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) inhibitors such as cyclosporin A (CsA) and bongkrekic acid (BA) did not block the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest that in the DZA-induced apoptosis, caspase-8 may serve as an executioner caspase and be activated downstream of both caspase-3 and caspase-9, independently of Fas receptor-ligand interaction. And caspase-3 seems to be activated by other caspses including IETDase-like enzyme and caspse-9 seems to be activated by cytochrome c released from mitochondria without the involvement of caspases and CsA- and BA- inhibitory MPTP.
Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Bongkrekic Acid/pharmacology ; Caspases/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cyclosporine/pharmacology ; Cytochrome c/drug effects/metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Human ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology ; Ligands ; Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism ; Tubercidin/*pharmacology ; U937 Cells

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) known as an angiogenic factor is a potent inducer of pathologic neovascularization. The purpose of this study is identifying the relationship between serum PSA, invasiveness and VEGF expression in prostatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ex-vivo study with immunohistochemical stain analysis for VEGF expression was performed on 18 paraffin embedded specimens of prostatic cancer patients who were treated with radical prostatectomy. VEGF expressions were classified by three groups (1+ , 2+ , 3+ ) according to the degree of staining of cancer cell. Biochemical failure and recurrence were determined by Takayama's IMx PSA assay criterion (>0.1ng/ml) following radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that each group contained 1, 2, 8 patients in advanced disease (n=11), and 3, 2, 2 patients in localized disease (n=7), respectively. All cases in strong positive (3+ ) group had Gleason sum higher than 7 and nadir PSA values were lower than 0.1ng/ml except one case. We found no correlation between initial PSA and VEGF expression (p=0.361). Three biochemical recurrent patients were identified as strong positive VEGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that patients with advanced stage and higher Gleason sum have a trend with more VEGF expression than patients with localized disease. Identifying the angiogenesis factors especially, VEGF involved in prostatic cancer growth and understanding their regulation will lead to the developement of anti-angiogenic strategies useful for diagnostic studies and therapeutic interventions.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Humans* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Paraffin ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVES: Visualization of the left atrial appendage(LAA) by the transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) is excellent, but it is difficult to visualize the LAA by the modified parasternal short-axis view(MPSA) in transthoracic echocardiography(TTE). We studied to determine the usefulness of the apical horizontal view(AHV) abtained by the apical rotation method of the transducer for the detection of the LAA. METHODS: We studied the MPSA and AHV in 602 patients, The LAA was observed during diastole of the LAA. We obtained an apical horizontal view by 45 degree clockwise rotation of the transducer from the apical 2 chamber view and compared with the visualization of the LAA in AHV and MPSA. RESULTS: Among 602 patients, LAA could not be visualized in 88(14.6%) because of a poor echo-window. LAA was more clearly visualized in 222 patients by the AHV than the MPSA and 56 patients by the MPSA than the AHV. LAA was same degree visualization in patients by the AHV and MPSA. In male and female, more than 55 ages and less than 55 ages, visualization of inner margin of the LAA by the AHV was more clear than by the MPSA. CONCLUSION: The AHV was a useful, noninvasive and reproducible method for the visualization of the LAA.
Atrial Appendage* ; Diastole ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Transducers*

For the treatment of coarction of aorta, surgical intervention has been known as a standard therapy.During last decade balloon angioplasty for coarctation of the aorta has been reported as a successful and safe procedure in about 300 cases. This angioplasty was done mainly in infants and children, and little cases in adults and adolescents. A 22 year-old adult with coarctation of aorta have recieved balloon angioplasty. He visited to emergency room due to severe headache and the blood presure of arm was 240/130mmHg at emergency room. The blood pressure at ward was 168/92mmHg in upper extremities, 104/82mmHg in lower extrimities. His aortogram showed coarctation of thoracic aorta below left subclavian artery. The pressure gradient beween ascending aorta and right femoral artery was decreased from 60mmHg to 0mmHg after balloon dilatation (2 times, balloon diameter 18mm). There were no significant complications. The follow-up magnetic resonance image in 4 month after balloon angioplasty showed no evidence of restenosis or saccular aneurysm. Initial hypertension turned to normal blood pressure in 4 months after balloon angioplasty. This adult case of successful balloon angioplasty for coarctation of aorta is the first case reported in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Aneurysm ; Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Coarctation* ; Arm ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Dilatation ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infant ; Korea ; Subclavian Artery ; Upper Extremity ; Young Adult

Bifidobacteria is one of the prototypes of probiotics bacteria, normally inhabitating the intestinal tract of humans. To search for a potent immunoregulatory Bifidobacteria strain, we screened the Bifidobacteria strains isolated from the feces of healthy Korean children. The mRNA or protein expression of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, from mouse macrophages stimulated with live Bifidobacteria was examined. Of tested strains, Bifidobacteria A28 induced the highest IL-10 gene expression of murine macrophages. To probe immunoregulatory activity of the selected strain on the mice, we evaluated the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+ surface marker in the murine splenocytes. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the overall percentages of CD4+CD25+ cells in A28-treated splenocytes were higher than those of untreated splenocytes. In parallel, IL-10 release from A28-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes was significantly higher than that of untreated control cells. Collectively, the Bifidobacteria A28 strain isolated from the feces of healthy Korean children augments the mRNA or protein expression of IL-10 release from mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as the proportion of CD4+CD25+ cells of naive splenocytes. These provide in vitro scientific clues that Bifidobacteria A28 might be usable for anti-inflammatory disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Animals ; Bacteria ; Child ; Feces ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Interleukin-10 ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Probiotics ; RNA, Messenger ; Sprains and Strains