The present study was designed to establish comparatively the inhibitory effects of cilnidipine (CNP), nifedipine (NIF), and omega-conotoxin GVIA (CTX) on the release of CA evoked by cholinergic stimulation and membrane depolarization from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. CNP (3 micrometer), NIF (3 micrometer), and CTX (3 micrometer) perfused into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced greatly inhibition in CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 x 10(-3) M), DMPP (10(-4) M for 2 min), McN-A-343 (10(-4) M for 2 min), high K+ (5.6 x 10(-2) M), Bay-K-8644 (10(-5) M), and cyclopiazonic acid (10(-5) M), respectively. For the CA release evoked by ACh and Bay-K-8644, the following rank order of potency was obtained: CNP > NIF > CTX. The rank order for the CA release evoked by McN-A-343 and cyclopiazonic acid was CNP > NIF > CTX. Also, the rank orders for high K+ and for DMPP were NIF > CTX > CNP and NIF > CNP > CTX, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that all voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) blockers of cilnidipine, nifedipine, and omega-conotoxin GVIA inhibit greatly the CA release evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors and the membrane depolarization without affecting the basal release from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. It seems likely that the inhibitory effects of cilnidipine, nifedipine, and omega-conotoxin GVIA are mediated by the blockade of both L- and N-type, L-type only, and N-type only VDCCs located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, respectively, which are relevant to Ca2+ mobilization. It is also suggested that N-type VDCCs play an important role in the rat adrenomedullary CA secretion, in addition to L-type VDCCs.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Medulla* ; Animals ; Calcium Channels ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; Calcium Channels, N-Type ; Chromaffin Cells ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide ; Membranes ; Nifedipine* ; omega-Conotoxin GVIA* ; omega-Conotoxins* ; Rats* ; Veins

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that uptake of 18Fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose in head and neck cancer, as determined by the standardized uptake value (SUV) on positron emission tomography scan (PET scan), is associated with the biology of tumor. The aims of this study were to confirm the association with the biology of tumor and to establish whether a high SUV had prognostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with the head and neck cancer diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma underwent a PET scan before treatment. SUVs were analyzed for possibility correlated with diseasefree survival. RESULTS: In univariate survival analysis, when patients were divided into two groups based on the SUV cut-off value of 8, the group whose SUV was greater than 8 in the pre-treatment PET scan showed significantly worse outcome (p=0.029). Correlation analysis demonstrated that SUV provided prognostic information independent of the tumor size, pathologic differentiation and stage. CONCLUSION: We conclude that high FDG uptake on PET (SUV >8 in pre-treatment PET scan) is an important prognostic indicator for poor outcome. Identified patients are thought to require intensive treatment protocol and more careful follow up.
Biology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Humans ; Positron-Emission Tomography*

BACKGROUND: Quality control is important for accurate diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and proficiency testing with external quality controls is an important part of quality control. This study intended to develop and supply customized external quality controls for HIV antigen/antibody testing fitted with currently used reagents for standardization of HIV infection diagnosis and evaluation of HIV testing competency of laboratories in Korea. METHODS: Serological tests and inactivation were performed on the obtained HIV antibody positive plasma. To manufacture quality controls having the required antibody titers, dilution ratio was searched using VIDAS (bioMérieux, France), Architect (Abbott Laboratories, USA), and Cobas 8000 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) analyzers. Diluted source plasma was divided into aliquots after filtering. Homogeneity and stability of the produced external quality controls were evaluated. RESULTS: The collected HIV antibody positive plasma was confirmed by Western blot. Dilution ratios for source plasma were produced for each analyzer showing signal-to-cut-off 2–3, 5–7, and 15–16 reactivity. Diluted plasma was made to 1 mL aliquots and total set of 1,500 external quality controls for HIV antigen/antibody were manufactured. Produced controls satisfied the required criteria of homogeneity and showed less than 10% coefficient of variation for stability except negative controls. CONCLUSIONS: Customized external quality controls were developed and qualified for HIV testing reagents used in Korea. Continuous external quality control assessment for HIV tests with controls would be required.
Blotting, Western ; Diagnosis ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Plasma ; Quality Control* ; Serologic Tests

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of combination therapy composed of percutaneous ethanol injection treatment and subsequent transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eight patients with single nodule hepatocellur carcinoma (+/-5cm)were treated with a combination of initial percutaneous ethonol injection therapy(PEIT) and, a week later, transcatether arterial embolization(TAE). CT was performed 3 weeks after TAE to assess whether or not lipidol uptake had occurred. If lipiodol was accumulated in the nodule, the necrotic rate of the tumor was calculated by the following equation: (initially observed tumor volume - volume of nodule in which lipidol uptake occurred)x100/Initially observed tumor volume. Follow-up CT scan was performed every third or fourth month to evaluate tumor growth or recurrence. RESULTS: A nodule in which lipidol uptake occurred was seen in four of the eight patients; in one of these, a tumor-confirmed by angiogaphic examination and laboratory data-recurred twelve months later. The mean necrotic rate of a tumor treated PEIT alone was 83%(range, 37%-100%). CONCLUSION: Although limited in numbers of cases we studied, use of combination therapy composed of PEIT and subsequent TAE, appears to be effective in achieving the high rate of tumor necrosis as well as in the evaluation of the tumor during follow-up.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Ethanol* ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of platycodin D and D3, which are active components derived from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC., on the contractile force of the i3olated rat aorta and blood pressure of the anesthetized rat, and also to elucidate its mechanism of action. Both phenylephrine (an adrenergic alpha1-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membrane- depolarizing agent) caused great contractile responses in the isolated aortic strips. Platycodin D at high concentration (24microgram/ml) inhibited contractile responses induced by phenylephrine (10 (-5) M) and high potassium (5.6x10 (-2) M), while low concentrations of platycodin D (4~8microgram/ml) did not affect those responses. However, platycodin D3 (8~32microgram/ml) did not alter the contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high K+. Interestingly, the infusion of platycodin D3 (1.0 mg/kg/30 min) significantly reduced the pressor responses induced by intravenous norepinephrine. However, platycodin D3 (1.0 mg/kg/30 min) did not affect them. Taken together, these results show that intravenously administered platycodin D depresses norepinephrine-induced pressor responses in the anesthetized rat, at least partly through the blockade of adrenergic alpha1-receptors. Platycodin D also caused vascular relaxation in the isolated aortic strips of the rat via the blockade of adrenergic alpha1-receptors, in addition to an unknown direct mechanism. However, platycodin D3 did not affect both norepinephrine-induced pressor responses and the isolated rat aortic contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high potassium. Based on these results, there seems to be much difference in the mode of action between platycodin D and platycodin D3.
Animals ; Aorta ; Blood Pressure ; Norepinephrine ; Phenylephrine ; Platycodon ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Relaxation

Current investigations on the bioengineering of female reproductive tissues have created new hopes for the women suffering from reproductive organ failure including congenital anomaly of the female reproductive tract or serious injuries. There are many surgically restore forms that constitute congenital anomaly, however, to date, there is no treatment except surgical treatment of transplantation for patients who are suffering from anomaly or dysfunction organs like vagina and uterus. Restoring and maintaining the normal function of ovary and uterus require the establishment of biological substitutes that can cover the roles of structural support for cells and passage of secreting molecules. As in the case of constructing other functional organs, reproductive organ manufacturing also needs biological matrices which can provide an appropriate condition for attachment, growth, proliferation and signaling of various kinds of grafted cells. Among the organs, uterus needs special features such as plasticity due to their amazing changes in volume when they are in the state of pregnancy. Although numerous natural and synthetic biomaterials are still at the experimental stage, some biomaterials have already been evaluated their efficacy for the reconstruction of female reproductive tissues. In this review, all the biomaterials cited in recent literature that have ever been used and that have a potential for the tissue engineering of female reproductive organs were reviewed, especially focused on bioengineered ovary and uterus.
Biocompatible Materials* ; Bioengineering ; Female* ; Hope ; Humans ; Ovary ; Plastics ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Engineering* ; Transplants ; Uterus ; Vagina

Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) can be caused by excessive dose or prolonged metronidazole administration. The signal abnormalities in the cerebellar dentate nuclei, midbrain, dorsal pons and corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging are considered as the characteristic feature of MIE. Although the mechanism of MIE remains to be elucidated, various hypothesis have been proposed including the role of metronidazole as a thiamine antagonist. Here we report a 58-year-old woman with MIE who coincidentally presented with thiamine deficiency.
Brain Diseases ; Corpus Callosum ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesencephalon ; Metronidazole ; Middle Aged ; Pons ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Thiamine

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health issue worldwide. As of 2018, 37.9 million people worldwide live with HIV, 1.7 million of which are new HIV infections, and 770,000 are surmised to have died from Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related illnesses. However, the exact number of HIV infections cannot be confirmed; The Joint Unite Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO) have computed and disclosed the number of HIV infections, new HIV infections, and AIDS mortality in participating countries for several years to tract and estimate the current HIV prevalence, and the organizations are striving to enhance the accuracy of estimation of current HIV infections by ameliorating various techniques. In South Korea, the government only discloses the number of new HIV infections as an official statistic, and there is no agreed method of estimating current HIV infections. Thus, in this article, we introduce various methods for estimating HIV infections and methods to reflect the number of undiagnosed HIV infections in Korea to the estimate.

HIV-1 gp41 is an envelope protein that plays an essential role in virus entry. The mutation of gp41 affects HIV-1 entry and susceptibility to the fusion inhibitor T-20. Therefore, we analyzed the natural polymorphism of gp41 of 163 HIV-1 isolates from T-20-naive Koreans infected with HIV-1. This study of gp41 polymorphisms showed that insertions in the fourth threonine (74.8%) and L7M substitutions (85.3%) were more frequent in the fusion peptide motif in Korean HIV-1 isolates compared with those from other countries. Minor T-20 resistance mutations such as L45M (1.2%), N126K (1.2%), and E137K (6.7%) were detected, but the critical T-20 resistance mutations were not detected in the gp41 HR1 and HR2 regions. In addition, the N42S mutation (12.9%) associated with T-20 hypersusceptibility was detected at a high frequency. These results may serve as useful data for studies considering T-20 for use in the development of a more effective anti-retroviral treatment in Korea.
Anti-HIV Agents/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Viral/*genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41/*genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; HIV Infections/virology ; HIV-1/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments/pharmacology ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Protein Structure, Tertiary/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Virus Internalization

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung carcinoma is a common tumor with a poor prognosis. Of all malignancies, it is the main cause of death for male and female patients in the Western world. Resection remains the most effective treatment when feasible. Accurate description and classification of the extent of cancer growth are important in planning treatment, estimating prognosis, evaluating end results of therapy, and exchanging information on human cancer research. Until effective systemic therapy is available for non-small cell lung cancer, development of new treatment strategies depends on knowledge of the end results achieved for carefully staged groups of patients in the lung cancer populations. For these reasons, we investigated the sruvival rate in radically resected non-small cell lung cancer patients by newly revised staging system adopted by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer. METHODS: Clinical, surgical-pathologic and follow-up informations on 84 consecutive, previously untreated, patients who received their primary treatment for non-small cell lung cancer were investigated. Staging definitions for the T(primary tumor), N(reginal lymph node), and M(distant metastasis) components were according to the International Staging System for Lung Cancer. Death from any causes was the primary target of the evaluation. RESULTS: The median survival rates were as follows; stage I;79.1 months, stage II;47.3 months, stage III a;22.7 months, stage III b;16.1 months, and stage IV;15.2 months versus newly revised stage I a;58.5 months, stage I b;76.0 months, stage II a; not available, stage II b;43.0 months, stage III a;22.5 months, stage III b;16.1 months, and stage IV;15.2 months. The survival rates were not significantly different between old and newly revised staging system. Cumulative percent survival at 36months after treatment was 100% in stage I a, 80% in stage I b, not available in stage II a,26% in stage II b, and 21% in stage III a respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although these data were not significantly different statistically, the newly revised lung cancer staging system might be more promising for the accurate evaluation of the prognosis in the non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cause of Death ; Classification ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Western World