The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of hypothermia on endothelium-independent vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism underlying the relaxation. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Hypothermia significantly inhibited fluoride-, thromboxane A2-, phenylephrine-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, suggesting that another pathway had a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle. Hypothermia significantly inhibited the fluoride-induced increase in pMYPT1 level and phorbol ester-induced increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the relaxing effect of moderate hypothermia on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function involves inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activities.
Animals ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Isometric Contraction ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitric Oxide ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Relaxation ; rho-Associated Kinases*

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin condition accompanied by symptoms such as edema and hemorrhage. Kimchi is a traditional fermented Korean dish consisting of various probiotics. In this study, the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55 isolated from Kimchi was studied in AD-induced mice. Orally administered Lactobacillus strain, CJLP55, suppressed AD symptoms and high serum IgE levels. CJLP55 administration reduced the thickness of the epidermis, infiltration of mast cells and eosinophils into the skin lesion, enlargement of axillary lymph nodes, and increase in cell population in axillary lymph nodes. CJLP55 treatment decreased the production of type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-6,which were stimulated by house dust mite extracts, in the axillary lymph node cells. Orally administered CJLP55 exhibited a therapeutic effect on house dust mite-induced AD in NC/Nga mice after onset of the disease by altering immune cell activation. The Lactobacillus strain, CJLP55, isolated from Kimchi, suppressed AD. Our results suggest its possible use as a potential candidate for management of AD.
Animals ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust ; Edema ; Eosinophils ; Epidermis ; Hemorrhage ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interferons ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukins ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus plantarum ; Lymph Nodes ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Probiotics ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin ; Th2 Cells ; Therapeutic Uses*

This study was aimed to observe that extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) may be relevant to changes of major neurotransmitters in rat brain. After the exposure to ELF-MF (60 Hz, 2.0 mT) for 2 or 5 days, we measured the levels of biogenic amines and their metabolites, amino acid neurotransmitters and nitric oxide (NO) in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. The exposure of ELF-MF for 2 or 5 days produced significant differences in norepinephrine and vanillyl mandelic acid in the striatum, thalamus, cerebellum and hippocampus. Significant increases in the levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were also observed in the striatum, thalamus or hippocampus. ELF-MF significantly increased the concentration of dopamine in the thalamus. ELF-MF tended to increase the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters such as glutamine, glycine and gamma -aminobutyric acid in the striatum and thalamus, whereas it decreased the levels in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. ELF-MF significantly increased NO concentration in the striatum, thalamus and hippocampus. The present study has demonstrated that exposure to ELF-MFs may evoke the changes in the levels of biogenic amines, amino acid and NO in the brain although the extent and property vary with the brain areas. However, the mechanisms remain further to be characterized.
Animals ; Biogenic Amines ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Dopamine ; Glutamine ; Glycine ; Hippocampus ; Magnetic Fields* ; Neurotransmitter Agents* ; Nitric Oxide ; Norepinephrine ; Rats ; Serotonin ; Thalamus

No abstract available.
Nevus, Blue*

Soybean polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) is thought to exert anti-inflammatory activities and has potent effects in attenuating acute renal failure and liver dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PC in protecting multiple organ injury (MOI) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six groups of rats (N=8) were used in this study. Three groups acted as controls and received only saline, hydrocortisone (HC, 6 mg/kg, i.v.) or PC (600 mg/kg, i.p.) without LPS (15 mg/kg, i.p.) injections. Other 3 groups, as the test groups, were administered saline, HC or PC in the presence of LPS. Six hours after the LPS injection, blood and organs (lung, liver and kidney) were collected from each group to measure inflammatory cytokines and perform histopathology and myeloperoxidase (MPO) assessment. Serum cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10) and MPO activities were significantly increased, and significant histopathological changes in the organs were observed by LPS challenge. These findings were significantly attenuated by PC or HC. The treatment with PC or HC resulted in a significant attenuation on the increase in serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, pro-inflammatory cytokines, while neither PC nor HC significantly attenuated serum levels of IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine. In the organs, the enhanced infiltration of neutrophils and expression of ED2 positive macrophage were attenuated by PC or HC. Inductions of MPO activity were also significantly attenuated by PC or HC. From the findings, we suggest that PC may be a functional material for its use as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Hydrocortisone ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Kidney ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Neutrophils ; Peroxidase ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Rats ; Soybeans ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: The androgen receptor (AR) plays a central role in prostate cancer. Evidence from several groups indicates that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) may enhance AR activity in prostate cancer cell lines. This study was designed to investigate the protein expression of AR, EGFR, and HER2 and to determine whether the EGFR and HER2 genes are amplified in prostate cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protein expression levels of AR, EGFR, and HER2 in a tissue microarray block of 66 prostate cancer samples were investigated by immunohistochemical analysis and chromogenic in situ hybridization was used to determine whether the EGFR and HER2 genes were amplified in these tissues. RESULTS: The AR and EGFR proteins were expressed in 59.1% and 40.9% of prostate cancers, respectively, but their expression levels were not significantly associated with clinicopathologic factors. Of the cases in which tissues were negative for EGFR protein expression, 69.2% were positive for AR protein expression; however, AR protein expression was significantly reduced (44.4%) in tissues in which EGFR protein was expressed. HER2 expression was detected in only 1 case (1.5%). No amplification of the EGFR or HER2 genes was found in prostate cancer specimens. CONCLUSION: This study was limited by small number of subjects, but it can still be inferred that the expression levels of the AR and EGFR proteins are inversely correlated in prostate cancer patients. The potential utility of EGFR and HER2 as prognostic factors or therapeutic targets warrants further study.
Cell Line ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Proteins ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Receptors, Androgen

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare plasma cell neoplasm that occurs mainly in the soft tissues of head and neck region, with the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity and nasopharynx being the most common sites. Solitary EMP of the larynx is very rare but increasingly reported recently. Common sites of involvement in larynx in the order of frequency are the epiglottis, ventricles, vocal folds and ventricular folds. We report an extremely rare case of solitary EMP involving in the apex of arytenoids that was successfully treated by only surgical excision. Because solitary EMP of the apex of artytenoids is extremely rare, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for laryngeal mass. Also, solitary, small, pedunculated and localized EMP of the larynx could be completely removed by laryngeal microsurgery.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Epiglottis ; Head ; Larynx ; Microsurgery ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Neck ; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Plasmacytoma ; Vocal Cords

PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy (ET) for peripheral arterial occlusive disease has increased dramatically in the past decade. ET is currently being performed by different specialists with available resources, with some of these resources being far superior to others, yet there have been no studies comparing the interventional outcomes according to the varying resources. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of ET for superficial femoral artery (SFA) atherosclerosis using a mobile C-arm, in comparison to a historical control group. METHODS: Between March 2009 and December 2010, ET for SFA atherosclerosis was performed in 54 limbs from 47 patients using a mobile C-arm in the operation theater (mobile group). In contrast, a historical group for comparison consisted of 60 patients, for whom ET for SFA atherosclerosis was performed in 76 limbs using a fixed C-arm in the angiographic suite, between July 2003 and May 2008 (fixed group). The outcomes of ET for both groups were retrospectively analyzed by a medical chart review. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, risk factors, Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) classification, intervention type, and postoperative blood creatinine levels between the two groups. However, procedural time was statistically higher in the mobile group. Patency rates at 1 year were 68.3% and 68.1% in the fixed and mobile group, respectively, which was not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis of 1 year patency rates for TASC A, B lesions and TASC C, D lesions were also similar. CONCLUSION: ET using the mobile C-arm in the operating theater is as effective as using the fixed C-arm, in the treatment of SFA atherosclerosis in terms of the technical success, patency, and early postoperative outcomes.
Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Atherosclerosis ; Consensus ; Creatinine ; Endovascular Procedures ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Specialization

A 75-year-old man was referred to our hospital with intestinal obstruction caused by intussusception. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed seven polypoid masses in the small intestine, while chest CT revealed a mass in the right lower lobe. Preoperative laboratory tests showed white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil differential counts of 63,630/mm3 and 95%, respectively. The serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was 114 pg/mL, which was elevated (normal range, <18.1 pg/mL). After resection of the small bowel, the WBC count decreased to 20,510/mm3. The pathology showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma with sarcomatous components confirmed by positive immunostaining of cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and vimentin in the small intestine. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry with specific monoclonal antibodies against G-CSF was positive. A lung biopsy revealed the same histological findings as the small intestine lesion. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as having a G-CSF producing sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung with metastasis to the small intestine.
Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biopsy ; Carcinosarcoma ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Intussusception ; Keratins ; Leukocytes ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutrophils ; Thorax ; Vimentin

Undifferentiated carcinomas with osteoclast-like giant cells are rare pancreatic and periampullary neoplasms that mimic giant cell tumors of bone morphologically. Recently, we experienced an osteoclast-like giant cell tumor arising in the tail of the pancreas. A 76-year-old male was admitted with epigastric discomfort and indigestion. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 3x3-cm mass containing necrotic and hemorrhagic areas in the tail of the pancreas. A distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. Histological examination showed tumor cell components consisting of mononuclear pleomorphic cells admixed with osteoclastic giant cells. The final diagnosis was undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells with ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreas.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Cellular Structures ; Dyspepsia ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoclasts ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Splenectomy