Herba houttuyniae has been used as a constituent of herval medicine prescriptions for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. In the present study, we investigated the cellular effects of herba houttuyniae extract (HHE) and the signal pathways of HHE-induced apoptosis in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. HHE treatment caused apoptosis of cells as evidenced by discontinuous fragmentation of DNA, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, activation of procaspase-9 and caspase-3, and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Pretreatment of Ac-DEVD-CHO, caspase-3 specific inhibitor, or cyclosporin A, a mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitor, completely abolished HHE-induced DNA fragmentation. Together, these results suggest that HHE possibly causes mitochondrial damage leading to cytochrome c release into cytosol and activation of caspases resulting in PARP cleavage and execution of apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Caspases/*metabolism ; Cytochrome c Group/*metabolism ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Human ; Medicine, Oriental Traditional ; Membrane Potentials/drug effects ; Mitochondria/*drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal/*chemistry

Myxofibrosarcoma is also known as a myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and this is one of the most common sarcomas in the extremities of elderly people; it is characterized by a high frequency of local recurrence. We herein report on a case of myxofibrosarcoma of the bladder. A 58-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of microscopic hematuria. Computed tomography(CT) and intravenous pyelography(IVP) showed a 12x7cm sized bladder mass in the pelvic cavity. The cystoscopic finding shows a protruding mass at the dome and posterior wall of the bladder. After exploratory laparotomy and tissue frozen biopsy were done, radical cystectomy and uretero-ileo-cutaneous anastomosis were then carried out. The diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed by histopathological examination. The myxofibrosarcoma of the bladder was completely excised, and there was no evidence of recurrence after 10 months of follow-up.
Male ; Humans ; Biopsy

Candidiasis is a common fungal infection that usually affects the oral cavity. It is occasionally difficult to diagnose candidiasis because of its various clinical manifestations. Moreover, chronic inflammation of the lips can obscure clarification of its disease entity in patients with chronic cheilitis. Here we aimed to investigate patients with refractory chronic cheilitis who were initially diagnosed with candidiasis. We screened patients with lip lesions that were clinically suspected to have candidiasis. Our two 65-year-old patients with refractory chronic cheilitis were initially diagnosed with candidal infection. Punch biopsies were performed of the lesions and a diagnosis of actinic cheilitis was made in both patients. Since we did not note prominent improvement after conservative treatment and cryotherapy, we applied 0.015% ingenol mebutate gel for further treatment and then observed significant improvement.
Actins* ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Candidiasis ; Cheilitis* ; Cryotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lip ; Mouth

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans

Orbital emphysema is an abnormal condition in which air is present within the orbit. It commonly occurs during or immediately after facial, nasal, or orbital trauma; however, in a few cases, the orbital emphysema occurs spontaneously without the presence of recent trauma. Subsequently, air can enter the soft tissue of orbit as a result of nose blowing, coughing or sneezing. Although sequelae are generally self limiting and resolve spontaneously, they are important because of potential complications such as loss of vision due to pressure effect. The following is a case report of a patient who developed unilateral orbital emphysema after nose blowing.
Cough ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Nose ; Orbit ; Sneezing ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: To assess proper soft tissue balancing of the varus arthritic knee between posterior oblique ligament (POL) release group and superficial medial collateral ligament (SMCL) release group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was performed on 186 patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from January 2011 to December 2011. Eighty-three patients were in the group of SMCL release and 103 patients were in the POL release group. We intended to use a 10 mm polyethylene insert (PE) during TKA, and retrospectively compared the actual thickness of PE between POL release group and SMCL release group. RESULTS: The mean PE thickness was 10.59+/-1.3 mm (range, 8 to 15 mm) in POL group and 11.88+/-1.8 mm (range, 10 to 18 mm) in SMCL group (p=0.001). We found a significant difference in the mean PE thickness between POL release group and SMCL release group. CONCLUSIONS: POL and deep MCL releases in MIS-TKA would be beneficial for varus deformity correction in the osteoarthritic knee.
Arthroplasty ; Benzeneacetamides ; Collateral Ligaments ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Piperidones ; Polyethylene ; Retrospective Studies

Background: Emergent diagnosis and treatment are important for the survival of patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs). Death is the most catastrophic outcome, but limb loss is also one of the most important complications that can have a significant impact on the rest of the patient’s life. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for limb loss caused by NSTIs. Methods: The data of patients at our center who were diagnosed with NSTIs from May 2003 to January 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The inclusion criteria were patients with a definite diagnosis of NSTI involving the upper or lower limb. A total of 49 patient records were analyzed in terms of demography, laboratory data, microbiological causes, treatment, and final outcome. Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) scores at initial admission were also collected as laboratory data. Final outcomes were classified into survival with limb salvage and survival with limb loss. Results: The limb loss rate was 20.4% (10/49) in our study. On comparison between the limb salvage group and the limb loss group, independent risk factors of limb loss were as follows: presence of hypotension at admission (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–38.3; p = 0.008); LRINEC score ≥ 9 (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.3–25.6; p = 0.012), and glucose level > 300 mg/dL (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 0.9–21.9; p = 0.041). Various microbiological organisms were isolated; the most prevalent specimen was streptococci (32.6%), followed by staphylococci (26.5%). Poor outcomes including limb loss and mortality had no correlation with microbiological organisms. Conclusions For patients with NSTIs, the presence of hypotension at admission, a high glucose level (> 300 mg/dL), and a high LRINEC score (> 9) were independent risk factors for limb loss.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of sexual function is an important step for animal studies about sexual function. Male rats could display penile erection in the presence of an inaccessible estrous female. We examined the usefulness of observing non-contact erection (NCE) for the evaluation of sexual function in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five Long-Evans male rats (8 weeks old) were used in this study. Tests for NCE were conducted in a glass chamber divided in half by 2 wire-mesh screens that prevented direct contact, but the rats freely passed other forms of stimulation. If at least 1 NCE could be observed during 45 minutes, we considered this as a positive response. In case of two or three positive responses in three NCE tests, that was considered as NCE (+). After NCE, copulation observations were noted to evaluate sexual function. If at least two ejaculations could be observed during 45 minutes, we considered that a positive response. In case of two or three positive responses in three copulation observations, that was considered as normal sexual function. RESULTS: Twenty one of 45 male rats (47%) were NCE (+) and 34 of 45 male rats (76%) had normal sexual function. In 21 NCE (+) rats, 20 rats had normal sexual function: only one was impotent. The positive predictive value of the NCE observation for the evaluation of sexual function was 95%. In 11 impotent rats, 10 rats were NCE (-). The specificity of the NCE observation was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that NCE observation could be a useful method for evaluating the sexual function of male rat.
Animals ; Copulation ; Ejaculation ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Male* ; Penile Erection ; Rats* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We evaluated the surgical effects of the callosotomy, particularly with respect to the effect of callosotomy in some seizure types and the extent of surgery. Twenty-one patients with a minimum follow-up of two year were enrolled. The most significant effect of callosotomy was the complete suppression of the generalized seizures associated with drop attack in 12 of 21 patients and seizure reduction of more than 75% in 6 of 21 patients. The surgical effect on the partial seizures was very variable. Transient disconnection syndrome appeared in 4 patients after anterior callosotomy. Total callosotomy by staged operation significantly suppressed generalized seizures associated with drop attack without any disconnection syndrome. Our data show that callosotomy is quite a good approach to the surgical treatment of drop attacks accompanied by disabling generalized seizures.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Corpus Callosum/*surgery ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Generalized/pathology/*surgery ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome