Acer mono is known to contain bioactive substances that exhibit beneficial effects in osteoporosis, gastric ulcers, hepatic damage, and pathologic angiogenesis. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Acer mono extract on the invasive activities and cell-cycle progression of human fibrosarcoma cells. Cytotoxicity of Acer mono extract was assessed by MTT assay, in-vitro invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells was measured using matrigel assay, expression of invasion- and cell-cycle-related proteins was analyzed by western blot analysis, and that of E2F target genes was quantified using qRT-PCR. Acer mono extract did not show distinct cytotoxicity in the experimental concentrations used. Invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in them were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with Acer mono extract. Acer mono extract showed inhibitory effects on the G1/S transition during cell-cycle progression; the active phosphorylated Rb protein level was decreased, and expression of E2F target genes was downregulated by the Acer mono extract. Our data collectively demonstrated that Acer mono extract exerts inhibitory effects on the invasiveness and cell-cycle progression of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells.

Acer mono is known to contain bioactive substances that exhibit beneficial effects in osteoporosis, gastric ulcers, hepatic damage, and pathologic angiogenesis. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Acer mono extract on the invasive activities and cell-cycle progression of human fibrosarcoma cells. Cytotoxicity of Acer mono extract was assessed by MTT assay, in-vitro invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells was measured using matrigel assay, expression of invasion- and cell-cycle-related proteins was analyzed by western blot analysis, and that of E2F target genes was quantified using qRT-PCR. Acer mono extract did not show distinct cytotoxicity in the experimental concentrations used. Invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in them were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with Acer mono extract. Acer mono extract showed inhibitory effects on the G1/S transition during cell-cycle progression; the active phosphorylated Rb protein level was decreased, and expression of E2F target genes was downregulated by the Acer mono extract. Our data collectively demonstrated that Acer mono extract exerts inhibitory effects on the invasiveness and cell-cycle progression of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Tensiomyography (TMG) is a relatively new technique that assesses the contractile properties of muscles in response to a single electrical stimulus. This study aimed to evaluate the contractile properties of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in amateur soccer players using TMG. METHODS: We recruited 41 male soccer players (high school group, n=21; college group, n=20). The gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and TA muscles of both lower extremities were assessed using TMG. The maximal displacement (Dm), delay time, contraction time (Tc), sustained time, and half-relaxation time were obtained and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: First, both groups showed low Dm for the GM and TA muscles, which indicated high stiffness of the muscle tone. Second, the Tc and contraction velocity (Vc) were high for all muscles, except for the GL showing lower speed than the other muscles, which represented the sports-specific characteristics of the soccer players. Third, there were no significant differences in the measurement variables between the dominant and non-dominant sides, except for the Tc of the GM in high school athletes and Vc of the TA in college athletes. CONCLUSIONS: These results reflected the sports-specific needs and characteristics of soccer players. A risk of injury is associated with a high degree of stiffness, and various methods for preventing it should be considered.
Athletes ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Soccer

BACKGROUND: Tensiomyography (TMG) is a relatively new technique that assesses the contractile properties of muscles in response to a single electrical stimulus. This study aimed to evaluate the contractile properties of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in amateur soccer players using TMG. METHODS: We recruited 41 male soccer players (high school group, n=21; college group, n=20). The gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and TA muscles of both lower extremities were assessed using TMG. The maximal displacement (Dm), delay time, contraction time (Tc), sustained time, and half-relaxation time were obtained and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: First, both groups showed low Dm for the GM and TA muscles, which indicated high stiffness of the muscle tone. Second, the Tc and contraction velocity (Vc) were high for all muscles, except for the GL showing lower speed than the other muscles, which represented the sports-specific characteristics of the soccer players. Third, there were no significant differences in the measurement variables between the dominant and non-dominant sides, except for the Tc of the GM in high school athletes and Vc of the TA in college athletes. CONCLUSIONS These results reflected the sports-specific needs and characteristics of soccer players. A risk of injury is associated with a high degree of stiffness, and various methods for preventing it should be considered.

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-9 induces allergic responses; however, the roles of anti-IL-9 antibody in the induction of tolerance remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of anti-IL-9 antibody on oral tolerance (OT) in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: the control, AR, OT, and OT with anti-IL-9 antibody (OT+IL9AB) groups. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used for sensitization and challenge. Mice in the OT and OT+IL9AB groups were fed OVA for immunotherapy. During immunotherapy, OT+IL9AB mice were injected with anti-IL-9 antibody. Allergic symptoms, tissue eosinophil counts, and serum OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured. The mRNA expressions of cytokines and transcription factors of T cells of nasal mucosa were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The protein levels of GATA3, ROR-γt, and Foxp3 in nasal mucosa were determined by Western blot. CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Administration of anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic symptoms, OVA-specific IgE levels, and eosinophil counts. In addition, it inhibited T-helper (Th) 2 responses, but had no effect on Th1 responses. Protein levels of ROR-γt and mRNA levels of PU.1 and ROR-γt were reduced by anti-IL-9 antibody. Anti-IL-9 antibody increased Foxp3 and IL-10 mRNA expression, Foxp3 protein, and induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-IL-9 antibody decreased allergic inflammation through suppression of Th2 and Th17 cells. Anti-IL-9 antibody enhanced the tolerogenic effects of regulatory T cells. These results suggest that anti-IL-9 antibody might represent a potential therapeutic agent for allergen immunotherapy in patients with uncontrolled allergic airway disease.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunotherapy* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-9 ; Interleukins ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; RNA, Messenger ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells ; Transcription Factors

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Imatinib mesylate is recommended as adjuvant therapy for GIST after surgical resection. However, drug-related adverse events are common. A 74-year-old female with metastatic GIST who was managed with imatinib experienced severe adverse events, including skin rashes, tremor, and alopecia, etc. The imatinib dose was reduced and the size of the metastatic GIST continued to decrease and adverse events showed significant improvement.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Exanthema/etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*drug therapy/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/diagnosis/*drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) has been assessed based on the data of the analysis of TB patients notified to the surveillance system in Korea. However, the national status of TB is not validated through this surveillance system. The objective is to determine the epidemiology of TB and to understand the accurate status of TB patients treated in private institutions. METHODS: Medical records of 53,579 patients who had been diagnosed with TB in 2008 were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 53,579 patients, the number of sputum smear positive cases was 15,639(29.2%) and the number of new cases was 39,191 (73.1%). The drug resistance rate of new cases was 5.3%, while the rate stood at 13.3% for TB patients with treatment history. The number of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients was 2,472 (4.6%), which consists of 2.9% of new cases and 9.3% of TB patients with prior treatment history. The number of extensively drug-resistant TB patients was 749 (1.4%), consisting of 1.1% of new cases and 2.2% of TB patients with prior treatment history. In terms of treatment outcomes, 66.4% of all TB patients, 70.5% of new cases, 64.4% of relapse cases, and 46.8% of MDR-TB cases were cured or completed. It was inferred that in 2008, the total number of TB patients reached 70,767, 145.6 per 100,000 people (95% confidence interval, 145.5~145.7). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the medical records review of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) data can be very effective in promoting the understanding of the current status of TB in private institutions.
Data Collection ; Disease Notification ; Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) has been assessed based on the data of the analysis of TB patients notified to the surveillance system in Korea. However, the national status of TB is not validated through this surveillance system. The objective is to determine the epidemiology of TB and to understand the accurate status of TB patients treated in private institutions. METHODS: Medical records of 53,579 patients who had been diagnosed with TB in 2008 were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 53,579 patients, the number of sputum smear positive cases was 15,639(29.2%) and the number of new cases was 39,191 (73.1%). The drug resistance rate of new cases was 5.3%, while the rate stood at 13.3% for TB patients with treatment history. The number of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients was 2,472 (4.6%), which consists of 2.9% of new cases and 9.3% of TB patients with prior treatment history. The number of extensively drug-resistant TB patients was 749 (1.4%), consisting of 1.1% of new cases and 2.2% of TB patients with prior treatment history. In terms of treatment outcomes, 66.4% of all TB patients, 70.5% of new cases, 64.4% of relapse cases, and 46.8% of MDR-TB cases were cured or completed. It was inferred that in 2008, the total number of TB patients reached 70,767, 145.6 per 100,000 people (95% confidence interval, 145.5~145.7). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the medical records review of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) data can be very effective in promoting the understanding of the current status of TB in private institutions.
Data Collection ; Disease Notification ; Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Recurrence ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adenoid enlargement occurs most commonly between the age of three and ten. Atrophy usually begins at the age of ten and is completed before the age of twenty. In recent years, an increasing number of adolescents undergoing adenoidectomy has been noticed. We investigated the age change in 1990s. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 1,198 patients who underwent adenoidectomy due to adenoid vegetation confirmed by physical, radiologic, and endoscopic studies. The mean age was analyzed annually and the period of 1990s was divided into the first (from January 1990 to December 1994) and second half (from January 1995 to December 1999). In addition, the same analysis was performed for each age group below ten and above eleven. RESULTS: The study showed that the mean age of study population was 7.35, with the mean age of the first half being 7.10 and the second 7.52. Specifically, the mean age of the group below ten was 6.37 in the first half and 6.16 in the second half, and the group above eleven was 12.56 in the first half and 13.32 in the second half. CONCLUSION: The mean age of the patients who underwent adenoidectomy have increased during the econd half, especially in the age groups greater more than eleven.
Adenoidectomy* ; Adenoids ; Adolescent ; Atrophy ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Breast conserving surgery is increasingly performed in early stage breast cancer patients. A certain propotion of these patients are at substantial risk for systemic metastasis. However, there is no valid consensus about optimal sequencing of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. METHODS: We conducted a randomized prospective study to investigate whether concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery are associated with increased toxicity. Fifty-seven patients with stage I or II breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive CMF chemotherpy either simultaneously with (n=37) or before (n=20) radiation therapy. RESULTS: Moist desquamation was the most common adverse effect which occurred in 46% (16/37) of the patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy and 40% (8/20) of those treated with the sequential regimen. This difference between two groups was not statistically significant. Also the incidence of severe neutropenia (WBC<1,800) or abnormal elevation of liver enzymes was not influenced by the sequencing of the adjuvant therapies. Arm edema was observed in 2 patients of the concurrent group and in 2 patients of the sequential regimen. Two patients treated with the concurrent regimen did not complete 6 cycles of chemotherapy while only one patient treated with sequential regimen did not. The incidence of toxicity during chemotherapy was not altered by the timing of radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be given concurrently after breast conserving surgery in stage I or II breast cancer patients without increase in serious toxicity.
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Consensus ; Drug Therapy* ; Edema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutropenia ; Prospective Studies ; Radiotherapy*