The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of Dan-Jeon breathing training and of Qi as a essential substance in forming human body. The sample consists of 7 participants who are Dan-Jeon Breathing training in a Training center, Pusan, Korea. They were asked open-ended questions in order for them to talk about their experiences. With permission of the subjects, the interviews were recorded and transcribed. 1. The purpose of Dan-Jeon Breathing The interview data was organized by themes into 4 categories: hope for health recovery, a concern about Dan-Jeon Breathing, seeking meaning of life, change of lifestyle. 2. The experience of Qi during Dan-Jeon Breathing training The interview data was organized by themes into 3 categories: an autonomic movement of body, spiritual experience, conviction of existence of Qi. 3. The change after Dan-Jeon Breathing training The interview data was organized by themes into 7 categories: physical health promotion, emotional relaxation, promoting brain function, positive attitude about life, love to others, investigation for self, improvement on Qi feeling.
Brain ; Busan ; Health Promotion ; Hope ; Human Body ; Korea ; Life Style ; Love ; Qi ; Relaxation ; Respiration*

BACKGROUND: Mitotic arrest deficiency protein 2 (MAD2) is a key component of spindle assembly checkpoint function, which mediates cell apoptosis through microtubule kinetics. Aberrant expression of MAD2 is believed to be associated with the development of chromosome instability. MAD2 also has a signihicant role in cellular drug resistance to taxane chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Expression of MAD2 and p53 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in 85 cases of ovarian carcinomas. Clinicopathological data including progression-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant (p=.035) association was observed between the grade of serous carcinoma and the expression level of MAD2. While low-grade serous carcinoma showed a low-level expression of MAD2, high-grade serous carcinoma showed a high-level expression of MAD2. We also determined that low-level expression of MAD2 was associated with reduced progression-free survival (PFS) (p=.016) in high-grade serous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: MAD2 expression in ovarian carcinoma is related to the grade of serous carcinoma and PFS of high-grade serous carcinoma. Expression level of MAD2 detected by immunohistochemistry may serve as an indicator in predicting the response of microtubule-interfering chemotherapeutic agents.
Apoptosis ; Bridged Compounds ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Chromosomal Instability ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Resistance ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kinetics ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Microtubules ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Repressor Proteins ; Taxoids

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation. Here, we showed that proliferation of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cells such as LNCaP was significantly enhanced by testosterone stimulation whereas hormone-insensitive prostate cancer cells such as PC3 and VCaP did not respond to testosterone stimulation. Blocking of AR using bicalutamide abolished testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. In addition, knockdown of AR blocked testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Basal expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) was elevated in VCaP cells whereas stimulation of testosterone did not affect the expression of LRP6. However, expression of LRP6 in LNCaP cells was increased by testosterone stimulation. In addition, knockdown of LRP6 abrogated testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Given these results, we suggest that androgen-dependent expression of LRP6 plays a crucial role in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cell proliferation.
Cell Proliferation* ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Receptors, Androgen ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: Ginsenosides, the extract of Panax ginseng, exert various pharmacological effects such as anticancer activity by the mechanism that is not yet defined. In this study, we proposed that the anticancer effect of ginsenoside Rb1 is related to tumor cell apoptosis and ginsenoside Rb1 induces the tumor cell apoptosis via the nitric oxide (NO) production. METHODS: Rat C6 glioma cells were activated by treating with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon (IFN)-gamma , and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on the culture medium to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rb1. RESULTS: Compared with C6 glioma cells treated with LPS/IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha, C6 glioma cells treated with LPS/IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha/ginsenoside Rb1 showed marked increase in the NO production and apoptosis. Ginsenoside Rb1 induces the NO production in C6 glioma cells in dose-dependent manner. When C6 glioma cells treated with LPS/IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha/ginsenoside Rb1 were incubated with the specific inhibitor of iNOS, S-Methyl-2-thiopseudoureasulfate (SMT), both NO production and apoptosis in C6 glioma cells was significantly decreased. Ginsenoside Rb1 induced the expression of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein in C6 glioma cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the induction of iNOS expression and subsequent
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Ginsenosides ; Glioma* ; Interferons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Panax ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: A short period of ischemia and reperfusion, called ischemic preconditioning, protects various tissues against subsequent sustained ischemic insult. Apoptosis of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells are a critical mechanisms of injury in the ischemic liver. Because nuclear factor-B (NF-B) has a significant role in the cell survival, we hypothesized that ischemic preconditioning protects by inhibition of apoptosis through the expression of NF-B, induced by interleukin-1 (IL-1), which is known for enhancement of its transcription and activation. METHODS: We induced ischemia and reperfusion on rat liver, and performed in situ terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay and polymerase chain reaction for IL-1 mRNA and NF-B mRNA. RESULTS: Apoptosis of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells, assessed by in situ TUNEL assay, was significantly reduced with preconditioning. The expression of IL-1 mRNA and NF-B mRNA are seen on discrete monoclonal bands around 344 and 356 base pairs, in comparison with normal rat liver, but, there was no significant difference between the ischemia-reperfusion group and the preconditioning group. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that ischemic preconditioning confers dramatic protection against prolonged ischemia via inhibition of apotosis through the expression of IL-1 inducing NF-B and its activation. However, we need further study in the activity of NF-B, such as nucleotide shift assay, because the activity of NF-B is regulated by binding of the inhibitory protein, IB.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Base Pairing ; Cell Survival ; Endothelial Cells ; Hepatocytes ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-1* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Liver* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: Glial cell-derived nitric oxide (NO), and its regulation has significant implications for central nervous system pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to see the production of NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-)-treated C6 glioma cells and the effect of dexamethasone on NO production and apoptosis of LPS/IFN--treated C6 glioma cells. METHODS: The apoptosis of LPS/IFN- treated C6 glioma cell was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and the production of NO in culture medium was measured. The expression of iNOS mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of the N-monomethyl L-arginine (NMMA) and dexamethasone on the apoptosis and NO production was also examined. RESULTS: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and NO production were markedly increased in LPS/IFN--treated C6 glioma cells. The expression of iNOS mRNA arose at 3 hours, peaked at 12 hours, and declined 24 hours after LPS/IFN--treatment. Accumulation of NO derivatives in the culture media was increased at least upto 48 hours after LPS/IFN-. The induction of iNOS expression and NO production in LPS/IFN--treated C6 cells was correlated with apoptotic cell death judged by TUNEL staining. After treatment of NMMA, one of the NOS inhibitors, NO production and apoptosis were markedly decreased. Dexamehasone treatment suppressed the NO production by concentration depenedent manner. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results it is concluded that the LPS/IFN- induced apoptosis of C6 cells is mediated by iNOS-derived NO and NO production and apoptosis was suppressed by dexamethasone.
Apoptosis ; Arginine ; Cell Death ; Central Nervous System ; Culture Media ; Dexamethasone* ; Glioma* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitric Oxide* ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The therapeutic effect of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually assessed using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). However, dense lipiodol depositions can mask the enhancement of viable HCC tissue in MDCT. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) could be effective in detecting small areas of viability and patency in vessels. We investigated whether arterial enhancement in CEUS after treatment with TACE can be used to detect HCC viability earlier than when using MDCT. METHODS: Twelve patients received CEUS, MDCT, and gadoxetic-acid-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and 4 and 12 weeks after TACE. The definition of viable HCC was defined as MRI positivity after 4 or 12 weeks. RESULTS: Eight of the 12 patients showed MRI positivity at 4 or 12 weeks. All patients with positive CEUS findings at 4 weeks (n=8) showed MRI positivity and residual viable HCC at 4 or 12 weeks. Five of the eight patients with positive CEUS findings at 4 weeks had negative results on the 4-week MDCT scan. Four (50%) of these eight patients did not have MRI positivity at 4 weeks and were ultimately confirmed as having residual HCC tissue at the 12-week MRI. Kappa statistics revealed near-perfect agreement between CEUS and MRI (kappa=1.00) and substantial agreement between MDCT and MRI (kappa=0.67). CONCLUSIONS: In the assessment of the response to TACE, CEUS at 4 weeks showed excellent results for detecting residual viable HCC, which suggests that CEUS can be used as an early additive diagnosis tool when deciding early additional treatment with TACE.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology/therapy/*ultrasonography ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Contrast Media/*chemistry ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology/therapy/*ultrasonography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was about the experience of middle aged women's aging process. The qualitative research method used was the phenomenological approach. This study tried to discover meaning of life and to understand real experiences of their life and to explore the essence of middle aged women's experience of aging. Furthermore, this study tried to establish of concept of middle age women's holistic health and to help of theoretical development to improve the health. The interviewees were 12 members. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with audiotape recording done by the investigators over a period of five months. The data were analyzed Colaizzi method, new data were continuously coded into statements, cored meanings, themes, groups of themes, and categories. The data were separated into 4 categories; body change, feeling the miss, wise coping and planning the future. The group of themes belonging to 4 categories were body change, sexual change; fleeting, tiredness, attachment of the youth; acceptance, a situation as the adult, fill up the hollow feeling, management body; dying peacefully, preparing for the senior age, being ready to pass away.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aging* ; Holistic Health ; Humans ; Middle Aged* ; Qualitative Research ; Research Personnel ; Tape Recording

We had done one-lung ventilation using 9 Fr wire-guided endobronchial blocker and outer diameter 41-mm flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in ruptured esophageal patient who expected difficult tracheal intubation and in esophageal cancer patient who was in need of mechanical ventilation during and after the operation.
Bronchoscopes ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Intubation ; One-Lung Ventilation* ; Respiration, Artificial