Pioglitazone (PGZ), a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, is known to regulate inflammatory process and to have neuroprotective effects against neurological disorders. In the present study, we examined the effects of 30 mg/kg PGZ on excitotoxic neuronal damage and glial activation in the mouse hippocampus following intracerebroventricular injection of kainic acid (KA). PGZ treatment significantly reduced seizure-like behavior. PGZ had the neuroprotective effect against KA-induced neuronal damage and attenuated the activations of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampal CA3 region. In addition, MPO and NFkappaB immunoreactivities in the glial cells were also decreased in the PGZ-treated group. These results indicate that PGZ had anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects against KA-induced excitotocix injury, and that neuroprotective effect of PGZ might be due to the attenuation of KA-induced activation in astrocytes and microglia as well as KA-induced increases in MPO and NFkappaB.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; Hippocampus* ; Kainic Acid ; Mice* ; Microglia ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neuroglia ; Neurons* ; Neuroprotective Agents ; PPAR gamma

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) was first delineated as a distinct ovarian sex cord stromal tumor in 1973 by Chalvardjian and Scully. It is a benign neoplasm, distinguished from other ovarian stromal tumors by the production of collagen and a pseudolobular pattern, and it tends to occur in the second and third decades of life in diagnosed patients. We discovered two rare cases of SST in post-menopausal women which are the topic of this report. These case studies are accompanied by a brief review of the literature.
Collagen ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary* ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors

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The auricle develops from six auricular tubercles which originate from the mesenchyme of the first and second branchial arch. If a defective fusion of these tubercles occur, a preauricular fistula may be formed. We report two cases of congenital preauricular fistula manifested by soft nodules with external openings on the left preauricular area. Histologically, the fistulas are lined by stratified squamous epithelium, and elastic cartilage. and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration are also present.
Branchial Region ; Elastic Cartilage ; Epithelium ; Fistula* ; Mesoderm

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by the betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Since the isolation and identification of MERS-CoV in 2012, cases have been spread to neighboring nations in Arabian Peninsula area and Europe. The recent outbreak of MERS in Korea confirmed that MERS-CoV is capable of causing epidemics through person-to-person transmission. Despite of its high mortality, there is no available effective vaccine and therapeutic agent partly due to its short history. So far, ribavirin and interferon therapy has been failed to prove its efficacy in human patients. Thus, there is an urgent need for the effective countermeasures such as vaccines and therapeutics. In the current review, recent advances in the development of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies have been discussed.
Antibodies ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Europe ; Humans ; Interferons ; Korea ; Middle East ; Mortality ; Ribavirin ; Vaccines*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference of coracohumeral ligament (CHL) thickness between asymptomatic shoulders and adhesive capsulitis. METHOD: Ultrasound examination was performed in 44 consecutive shoulders of 24 individuals (12 males and 12 females). Nine were diagnosed as adhesive capsulitis by clinical examination. We measured the maximum thickness of CHL. For CHL assessment, participants were scanned in sitting position with shoulder in maximal external rotation, elbow in 90 degrees flexion, forearm in neutral position, and hand in fist. The transducer was positioned between coracoid process and greater tuberosity of humerus. We used t test to compare the CHL thickness between asymptomatic and adhesive capsulitis and bivariate correlation analysis to assess a correlation between age and CHL thickness. RESULTS: There was a significant positive linear relationship between age and CHL thickness (p<0.01, gamma=0.424). In female, there was a positive linear relationship between age and CHL thickness (p<0.01, gamma=0.610). However, in male, there was no significant correlation (gamma=0.224). The mean value of CHL thickness was 1.53 mm in 9 adhesive capsulitis and 0.92 mm in 35 asymptomatic ones. CHL thickness was significantly greater in adhesive capsulitis than in asymptomatic ones (p < 001). CONCLUSION: The thickened CHL is a good suggestive diagnostic value of adhesive capsulitis.
Adhesives ; Bursitis ; Elbow ; Female ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Humerus ; Ligaments ; Male ; Shoulder ; Transducers

Purpose: Metatarsal pads are prescribed to decrease forefoot plantar pressure. However, the appropriate metatarsal pad placement location remains a debated issue. We aimed to identify the most effective insole design that reduces forefoot plantar pressure and determine the optimal position for metatarsal pad placement. Materials and Methods: We recruited 16 healthy adult volunteers, and measured their plantar pressure data during walking while using an in-shoe system. The volunteers were randomly assigned to one of four insole conditions: 1/16-inch insole (i.e., control), 1/4-inch soft plastazote (SP) flat insole, metatarsal pad positioned proximal to the metatarsal head (MTH) on the control insole (P0), and metatarsal pad positioned 10 mm distal from the proximal border of the MTH on the control insole (P10). A masking protocol was created by dividing the forefoot into three subareas, distal to the MTH (dMTH), beneath to the MTH (bMTH), and proximal to the MTH (pMTH). The participants reported their comfort level for each insole using a visual analog scale. Results: The SP flat insole and metatarsal pads both had a forefoot plantar pressure-reducing effect and provided insole comfort. Of the three insole designs, the SP flat insole was the most effective. No clear difference existed in efficacy in terms of the location of the metatarsal pad placement. Conclusion Considering the possibility of discomfort caused by improper metatarsal pad placement, the SP that increases shock absorption may be more clinically useful.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of the occupational exposure to organic solvent on the olfactory function of shipyard painters; we measured the prevalence of olfactory function impairment between the exposure group and the controls by using the Korean Version of the Sniffin'Stick (KVSS) test through smell, and by analyzing factors related to olfactory alteration. METHODS: The olfactory function of 245 painters exposed to organic solvents was compared to that of 122 unexposed controls. A total of 367 shipyard subjects underwent questionnaire study and the olfactory function test was performed by KVSS test I from April to August 2007. Suspected subjects of abnormal findings were referred to an otorhinolaryngologist. In addition, the Biologic Exposure Index (BEI) and industrial hygiene laboratory data were collected as well as analyzed by job title in the exposure group. RESULTS: The difference in the result of KVSS test I was significantly different from the exposure group and the controls (P<0.05). For the exposure group, reduced olfaction and exposure group were correlated with statistical significance when compared to the controls (P<0.01). Adjusting for work duration, smoking, rhinitis or sinusitis history, exposure of the organic solvent (OR 1.76, 95% CI=1.05-2.96) had a statistically meaningful relationship with decreased olfaction. The data on BEI for the exposure group were collected; the difference in methylhippuric acid was significant between spray workers and others, but did not correlate well with decreased olfaction. CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to organic solvents in shipyard painters may affect the olfactory function. Therefore, shipyard painters should be monitored on a periodic bases by the quantitative test such as KVSS test. There is no other quantitative testing method or standardized procedure that can objectively diagnose the neurotoxic effect, further enhanced quality research in this field is necessary.
Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Paintings ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis ; Smell ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solvents

BACKGROUND: Reoxygenation of an ischemic heart causes a decrease in the cardiac function, which is known as reperfusion injury that is associated with an increase in the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study examined the effect of the propofol concentration on the generation of ROS during reoxygenation in rat embryonic heart H9c2 cells. METHODS: Cultured H9c2 cells were examined in the following sequences: Prehypoxic, Hypoxic and Reoxygenation period. Each period required 60 minutes. The cells were exposed to propofol at the beginning of the prehypoxic period. Thirty minutes later, DCFH-DA (dichlorofluorescin diacetate) 10 micrometer was added to detect the ROS. The propofol concentrations used were 0, 5, 25, 50, 250 micrometer in the first experiment and 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 micrometer in the second experiment. The ROS level was estimated using a fluorometer at 5-minute intervals from 5 to 60 minutes after reoxygenation. RESULTS: When the propofol concentrations was > 5 micrometer, the ROS levels were significantly lower than those of the untreated group (P0) (P < 0.05). At propofol concentrations < 5 micrometer, the ROS levels 35 to 60 minutes after reoxygenation were significantly lower that in the untreated group (P < 0.05). Between 5 and 30 minutes after reoxygenation, the cells exposed to 1, 4 and 5 micrometer propofol also showed lower ROS levels than the untreated group P0. However, 2 and 3 micrometer propofol did not show any significant difference in ROS values to those observed in the untreated group except for 2 micrometer at 25 minutes after reoxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: During the reoxygenation period in H9c2 cells, propofol concentrations > 5 micrometer inhibited ROS production over the whole period, and even 1micrometer showed some inhibition of ROS.
Animals ; Heart* ; Propofol* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cytokines IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta on the proliferation and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) in vitro. Subcultured HNECs were incubated in a medium containing recombinant human (rh) cytokines rhIL-1beta rhTNF-alpha and rhTGF-beta at concentrations of 0.01 ng/ml, 0.1 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, and 100 ng/ml. After a two-day incubation with these cytokines, daily cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay for six days. The CBF was measured at concentrations of 1 ng/ml of rhIL-1beta 10 ng/ml of TNF-alpha and 1 ng/ml of TGF-beta solutions. While rhIL-1beta inhibited proliferation of HNECs in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners, rhTNF-alpha stimulated HNEC growth at concentrations ranging from 0.01 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners. In contrast, rhTGF-beta inhibited HNEC growth irrespective of concentration and incubation time. The CBF of the human nasal ciliated epithelial cells increased after the addition of rhIL-1beta and rhTNF-alpha The CBF increased progressively for four hours after the addition of rhIL-1beta and rhTNF-alpha The increased CBF continued for 24 hours and decreased after two days. However, no variation of the CBF was observed after the addition of rhTGF-beta regardless of concentration or incubation time. The results of this study suggest that during acute inflammation, IL-1beta TNF-alpha and TGF-beta may have important roles in the repair and defense mechanism of the human nasal epithelium by regulating the proliferation and CBF of nasal epithelial cells.
Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Nasal Mucosa ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha