PURPOSE: It has been reported that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can inhibit glioma growing in vitro. However, clinical trials with ATRA alone in gliomas revealed modest results. ATRA has been shown to increase radiosensitivity in other tumor types, so combining radiation and ATRA would be one of alternatives to increase therapeutic efficacy in malignant gliomas. Thus, we intended to know the role of catalase, which is induced by ATRA, for radiosensitivity. If radiation-reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is removed by catalase, the effect of radiation will be reduced. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat glioma cell line (36B10) was used for this study. The change of catalase activity and radiosensitivity by ATRA, with or without 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole (ATZ), a chemical inhibitor of catalase were measured. Catalase activity was measured by the decomposition of H2O2 spectrophotometrically. Radiosensitivity was measured with clonogenic assay. Also ROS was measured using a 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: When 36B10 cells were exposed to 10, 25 and 50microM of ATRA for 48 h, the expression of catalase activity were increased with increasing concentration and incubation time of ATRA. Catalase activity was decreased with increasing the concentration of AT (1, 10 mM) dose-dependently. ROS was increased with ATRA and it was augmented with the combination of ATRA and radiation. ATZ decreased ROS production and increased cell survival in combination of ATRA and radiation despite the reduction of catalase. CONCLUSION: The increase of ROS is one of the reasons for the increased radiosensitivity in combination with ATRA. The catalase that is induced by ATRA doesn`t decrease ROS production and radiosensitivity.
Animals ; Catalase* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Glioma* ; Radiation Tolerance* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tretinoin*

No abstract available.
Herpesvirus 8, Human* ; Humans* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Transplant Recipients*

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present updated information on the research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea are an important cornerstone for obtaining other grants from the government and commercial companies. However, no information has yet been provided in the literature about these programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the relevant literature. RESULTS: The research support programs offered by the National Research Foundation of Korea are complex. However, it is possible to find appropriate grants. It is necessary to focus on the individual basic research program. CONCLUSIONS: Novel proposals have a greater chance of receiving funding, especially if the appropriate background and preliminary data are provided.
Financial Management ; Financing, Organized ; Korea*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to identify the factors affecting health-related quality of life by examining the relationships among posttraumatic stress, health-related work limitations, and family support in firefighters. METHODS: The data were collected from 390 firefighters working in four fire stations located in the G district using self-report questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA along with the Scheffé test, and multiple regression. RESULTS: As per the results of multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting health-related quality of life in firefighters were posttraumatic stress, health-related work limitations, and family support. This model explained 31% of the variance in health-related quality of life (F=30.03, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the findings of this study, there is a need to reduce posttraumatic stress and health-related work limitations and develop family support toward firefighters.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Firefighters* ; Fires ; Humans ; Quality of Life*

The induction of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (QR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH) levels in hepa1c1c7 cells (murine hepatoma) by waxy brown rice cultured with Phellinus igniarius to induce anticarcinogenic enzymes were measured. In addition, the inhibition of polyamines metabolism was tested with the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii. The result shows that QR, GST activities, and GSH levels of experimental animals were increased much more by feeding the methanol extract of waxy brown rice cultured with Phellinus igniarius than those of the rats received the ethanol of uncultured brown rice. The growth of A. castellanii was inhibited mostly at 40 mg/3 ml concentration of methanol extract of waxy brown rice cultured with P. igniarius. The results suggested that waxy brown rice cultured with P. igniarius possess chemopreventive activity by inducing anticarcinogenic enzymes and inhibiting polyamine metabolism.
Acanthamoeba castellanii ; Animals ; Chemoprevention ; Ethanol ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Transferase ; Metabolism ; Methanol ; Polyamines ; Rats

BACKGROUND: As indicators of obesity, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and adiponectin are well known risk factor for diabetes mellitus. The objectives of this study were to measure the independent association between these obesity indicators and diabetes and to examine the combined effect of these indicators on diabetes in a Korean population. METHODS: The WC, BMI, and serum adiponectin were measured in 6,505 healthy Koreans and were classified into tertile groups for men and women. The independent and combined associations of the obesity indicators with diabetes were measured using logistic regression analyses. Diabetes was defined as fasting serum glucose greater than 126 mg/dL or taking medication. RESULTS: Levels of adiponectin were inversely associated with BMI and WC and directly associated with age and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) cholesterol (P <0.001). After adjusting for age, WC, and other lifestyle factors, low levels of adiponectin were associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes. Further adjustment for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride attenuated this association in both men and women. The best cut-off value of adiponectin in terms of identifying the presence of diabetes was 5.5 /ml with a sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 63.9% for men and 9.5 /ml with a sensitivity and specificity of 68.2% and 55.2 for women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adiponectin was associated with diabetes. The association was independent of WC and was partly modified by HDL and triglyceride. There were no effect modifications of adiponectin with WC on diabetes.
Adiponectin* ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

Glomus tumors (GTs) are rare benign vascular neoplasms that predominantly occur in the subungual region of the digits. However, these neoplasms have also been reported in other anatomical locations. Extradigital GTs often present in atypical locations with unconventional symptoms, posing potential diagnostic challenges for clinicians. Herein, we present a recent case of an extradigital GT found in the forearm of a 76-yearold male patient that exhibited intraoperative features similar to those of a nerve sheath tumor or intravascular tumor, further underscoring these diagnostic challenges. This report highlights the pivotal role of frozen section pathology in diagnosing and managing this atypical lesion, thereby facilitating optimal patient care.

Although the incidence of uremic pericarditis was high in the past, it has decreased in recent decades with early and appropriate dialysis. However, cardiac tamponade caused by uremic pericarditis is still a life-threatening emergency and it requires urgent management. Herein we report a case of 38-year-old man with chronic renal disease who represented critical uremic pericarditis followed by cardiac tamponade despite of appropriate hemodialysis. Careful consideration of risk factors and aggressive treatment are very important for effective and safe treatment of uremic pericarditis and cardiac tamponade.
Adult ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Dialysis ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Risk Factors

Amyloidosis results from the deposition of insoluble, fibrous amyloid proteins, nearly always in the extracellular spaces of organs and tissues. There are several varieties of amyloidosis, each of which is identified by the immunochemical nature of amyloid protein fibrils. Amyloid goiter is a very rare clinical entity and can be confused with a neoplasm. We have experienced a case of amyloid goiter with hypothyroidism secondary to tuberculosis. A 20 years old women with 5 months history of pulmonary tuberculosis was admitted with complaints of diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss at one year ago. She had a non-tender, diffuse and firm goiter. Also she had normal thyroid function at the first admission but was found to be hypothyroid at the second admission, 10 months later. Histologic examination revealed amyloid deposition in thyroid gland, stomach, colon and rectum.
Abdominal Pain ; Amyloid* ; Amyloidogenic Proteins ; Amyloidosis ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Goiter* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Thyroid Gland ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Weight Loss ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: An exact ABO blood type is essential for transfusion therapy. Genetic structures of ABO blood group and subgroup have been investigated and about 100 ABO alleles have been reported worldwide. This study was performed to investigate the molecular characteristics of A subgroups in the Korean population. METHODS: Nine A and five AB subgroups were collected from patients and from blood donors of Korean Red Cross blood centers after serological ABO blood group typing. On these samples, allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), direct sequencing of exon 6 and 7, and allele separation were performed for ABO gene analysis. RESULTS: The ABO PCR-RFLP genotyping results of 13 samples among the provisional 14 A subgroups were identical with their phenotypes. ABO*A205 allele was observed in an Aint subgroup. Two new A alleles that showed 784G>A base change and 990C>T of intron 6. And a polymorphism of 532C>T in A(pro) intron 5 were also discovered. Conclusion: Through the molecular analysis of this study, serologically unidentified A subgroups were obviously identified. And the new alleles only observed in the Korean A subgroups were recognized.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Donors ; Exons ; Genetic Structures ; Humans ; Introns ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Red Cross