PURPOSE: To observe dystrophin formation and histological improvement in dystrophic muscle of mdx mouse after normal myoblast injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured myoblasts from genetically normal rats were injected into the right quadriceps femoris of a 6-week-old mdx mouse (n=9). dPBS was injected into the left quadriceps femoris as a control. One, 2, and 3 months after injection, The control and experimental group were compared histologically and by dystrophin immunostaining. RESULTS: When compared with controls 3 months postoperatively, quadriceps femoris in the experimental group exhibited greater cross-sectional area and total fiber number, and the experimental animals contained more normal-appearing and less abnormalappearing fibers than the control group. Most of the fibers in the experimental group showed positive results in dystrophin immunostaining, whereas immunostaining of mdx muscle fibers in the control group was completely negative. CONCLUSION: This study shows that normal myoblast injection improved the muscle architecture histologically and produced dystrophin protein in dystrophic muscle.
Animals ; Dystrophin ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred mdx ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Myoblasts* ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Rats

PURPOSE: Intramedullary spinal lesions in the conus medullaris (CM), including tumors and vascular lesion, are rarely reported. We reported various MR features of intramedullary spinal cord lesions involving the CM including ependymoma, hemangioblastomas, dermoid cyst, ventriculus terminalis and spinal AVF and tried to discuss them for differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients (male: female = 4:2, mean age = 44.3 year old) were enrolled from the clinical database of our institute from 2004 to 2010 and their radiological images and clinical symptoms were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had taken initial and postoperative MRI with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA). These images were analyzed by tumor size, location, signal intensity relative to the spinal cord, vascular flow voids, syrinx or cyst, edema and enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Contrast enhancement was seen in all intramedullary masses. An eccentric enhancing nodule was noted in two hemangioblastomas and unusual peripheral rim enhancement with septation was seen in ventriculus terminalis. Patchy enhancement of the CM was observed in spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Extensive cord edema adjacent to the intramedullary lesions was seen in four cases and syrinx was noted in three cases. Vascular signal voids were found in two hemangioblastomas and one spinal AVF. CONCLUSION: In evaluation of intramedullary spinal lesions in the CM, it is necessary to consider these unusual MR findings and discriminate various pathologies with prudence and caution.
Arteriovenous Fistula ; Conus Snail* ; Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Edema ; Ependymoma ; Female ; Hemangioblastoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord

Purpose: IL-1 is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine. As the proliferative effects of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor expressions on prostatic cancer cells in response to IL-1 have not been determined, the effects of IL-1 on prostatic cancer cell lines were investigated. Materials and Methods: PC-3 and DU-145 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Cell cultures were supplemented with various concentrations of IL-1 (0, 1, 10, 20 and 40ng/ml), and the MMT growth assay performed. PC-3 and DU-145 cells were treated for 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h both with and without IL-1. IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) mRNA expressions were investigated using RT-PCR, and the IL-6 levels in cultured supernatant measured by ELISA. Results: The viability of both PC-3 and DU-145 cells decreased after IL-1 treatment (10, 20 and 40ng/mul). With 40ng/ml the IL-1, IL-6 and IL-6RmRNA expressions were lower in PC-3 cells, but unchanged in DU-145 cells, whereas the IL-6 protein production was higher in both PC-3 and DU-145 cells. Conclusions: IL-1 inhibited the proliferation of both PC-3 and DU145 cells. In the PC-3 cells, IL-1 decreased the expressions of IL-6 and IL-6R mRNA, but paradoxically increased the IL-6 production. In the DU-145 cells, IL-1 treatment did not affect the IL-6 or IL-6R mRNA expressions, but the IL-6 production was increased. This discrepancy between IL-1-induced IL-6 mRNA and protein production may be mediated by modification to the protein synthesis or an increased cellular excretion.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukins* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Receptors, Interleukin* ; Receptors, Interleukin-6 ; RNA, Messenger

Amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by extracellular accumulation of insolubel fibrillar material invarious tissues. The radiographic findings of amyloidosis involving the lymph nodes have not been previously reported in Korea, and we report a rare case of primary amyloidosis involving the mediastinal and hilar lymphnodes, with CT and radiographic appearances.
Amyloidosis* ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes*

Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant compound which modulates the voltage-dependent sodium channels. It has a neuroprotective effect in vitro against hypoxic damage in hippocampal slices of adult rats. The authors studied the efficacy of phenytion on cerebral ischemia in an vivo model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in developing rat brain. To elicit injury, 7 days old(P7) Sprague-dawley rats subjected to right common carotid ligation followed by 8% O2 exposure(humidified, balanced with nitrogen) for 3 hours under the halothane anesthesia(control group, N=58). Body temperature of the rats was accurately controlled before and during hypoxia. Before hypoxia, pups received intraperitoneal phenytoin(30mg/kg)(phenytoin-treated group, N=17). The animals were sacrificed one week later and histopathological evaluation of ischemic neuronal damage were conducted employing hematoxylin-eosin staining and measurement of the hemispheric weight differences were performed. Phenytoin was found to be effective in reducing neuronal damage in terms of weight comparison(24+/-2.4% atrophy of control vs. 5+/-2.9% atrophy of phenytoin group, p<0.001) and ischemic changes in hippocampal region(p<0.05 in CA1, CA2, and CA3 area). These data suggest that compounds like phenytoin, which modulates voltage-dependent sodium channels, can reduce the degree of injury from hypoxic-ischemic insults to the developing rat brain.
Adult ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Atrophy ; Body Temperature ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Halothane ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Phenytoin ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Channels

No abstract available.
Rabbits* ; Uterus*

No abstract available.
Rabbits* ; Uterus*

BACKGROUND: Leptin has been suggested as a possible cause of atherosclerotic disease. The small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has also been regarded as a new surrogate marker in atherosclerotic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the leptin concentration and the small dense LDL-C concentration in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: One hundred-ninety one type 2 diabetic patients, who did not use any medication that could affect the concentration of lipid such as statin, fibrate, thiazolidinediones and corticosteroid, were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the relationship between leptin, the small dense LDL-C and the other metabolic parameters. RESULTS: The small dense LDL-C concentrations were higher in the group with the highest tertile of the leptin value, both in males and females than those patients in the group with the lowest tertile of the leptin value. The small dense LDL-C concentrations were also higher in the group with the highest tertile of leptin divided by the BMI value both in males and females than those patients in the group with the lowest tertile of the leptin value. The leptin concentration was positively correlated with the small dense LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, insulin and HOMAIR values after adjusting for age, gender and BMI. CONCLUSION: The association between leptin and small dense LDL-C could be a factor that explains the association between leptin and cardiovascular disease.
Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Insulin ; Leptin* ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Thiazolidinediones ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Leptin has been suggested as a possible cause of atherosclerotic disease. The small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has also been regarded as a new surrogate marker in atherosclerotic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the leptin concentration and the small dense LDL-C concentration in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: One hundred-ninety one type 2 diabetic patients, who did not use any medication that could affect the concentration of lipid such as statin, fibrate, thiazolidinediones and corticosteroid, were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the relationship between leptin, the small dense LDL-C and the other metabolic parameters. RESULTS: The small dense LDL-C concentrations were higher in the group with the highest tertile of the leptin value, both in males and females than those patients in the group with the lowest tertile of the leptin value. The small dense LDL-C concentrations were also higher in the group with the highest tertile of leptin divided by the BMI value both in males and females than those patients in the group with the lowest tertile of the leptin value. The leptin concentration was positively correlated with the small dense LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, insulin and HOMAIR values after adjusting for age, gender and BMI. CONCLUSION: The association between leptin and small dense LDL-C could be a factor that explains the association between leptin and cardiovascular disease.
Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Insulin ; Leptin* ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Thiazolidinediones ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are stress-responsive genes present in all species and play a major role in many cellular processes. These proteins are highly conserved molecules whose expression is induced in eukaryotic cells by a variety of environmental stresses. These proteins can also be expressed in virally transformed cells and cancer cells. Especially, HSP70 is found at a higher level in growing cells than in resting cells. Sulphomucin is secreted by immature foveolar cells of stomach and expressed in gastric adenocarcinomas. Also, it is known that the population of sulphomucin-producing cells increases with long-lasting stress. The purpose of this study was to determine HSP70 and sulphomucin expressions in gastric adenocarcinoma and the significance of expressions. METHODS: Thirty-one paraffin-embeded surgical specimens of gastric adenocarcinomas were obtained from April 1992 to March 1995 and were selected for analysis. The expressions of HSP70 and sulphomucin were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with HSP70 monoclonal antibody and the Spicer (HID) method. RESULTS: The expressions of HSP70 and sulphomucin were positive in 13 (42%) cases and 11 (35%) cases, respectively. The expression of HSP70 correlated with neither clinopathological factors nor sulphomucin expression. There was a significant correlation not only between sulphomucin expression and histologic differentiation (p=0.001) but also between disease-free survival and sulphomucin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Sulphomucin expression in gastric adenocarcinoma may be useful as a prognostic factor of gastric adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Stomach