No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia is a major cause of diabetes and diabetesrelated diseases. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a short-chain fatty acid derivative that produces dietary fiber by anaerobic bacterial fermentation in the large intestine and occurs in foods, such as Parmesan cheese and butter. Butyrate has been shown to prevent obesity, improve insulin sensitivity, and ameliorate dyslipidemia in diet-induced obese mice. Therefore, this study examined the effects and mechanism of NaB on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by high glucose (HG) in THP-1 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: THP-1 cells were used as an in vitro model for HG-induced inflammation. The cells were cultured under normal glycemic or hyperglycemic conditions with or without NaB (0–25 μM). Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the protein and mRNA levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, acetylated p65, acetyl CREB-binding protein/p300 (CBP/p300), and p300 using THP-1 cells. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT), histone deacetylase (HDAC), and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion activity were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: HG significantly upregulated histone acetylation, acetylation levels of p300, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory cytokine release in THP-1 cells. Conversely, the NaB treatment reduced cytokine release and NF-κB activation in HG-treated cells. It also significantly reduced p65 acetylation, CBP/p300 HAT activity, and CBP/p300 gene expression. In addition, NaB decreased the interaction of p300 in acetylated NF-κB and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that NaB suppresses HG-induced inflammatory cytokine production through HAT/HDAC regulation in monocytes. NaB has the potential for preventing and treating diabetes and its related complications.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a fundamental neurodegenerative disease trigger that damages and decimates nerve cells. Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic central nervous system disorders that progress and result from neuronal degradation and loss. Recent studies have extensively focused on neurodegenerative disease treatment and prevention using dietary compounds. Heseperetin is an aglycone hesperidin form with various physiological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and antitumor. However, few studies have considered hesperetin’s neuroprotective effects and mechanisms; thus, our study investigated this in hydrogen peroxide ( H 2 O 2 )-treated SH-SY5Y cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were treated with H 2 O 2 (400 µM) in hesperetin absence or presence (10–40 µM) for 24 h. Three-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assays detected cell viability, and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining allowed us to observe nuclear morphology changes such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic nuclei. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays measured intracellular ROS production; Griess reaction assays assessed nitric oxide (NO) production. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reactions quantified corresponding mRNA and proteins. RESULTS: Subsequent experiments utilized various non-toxic hesperetin concentrations, establishing that hesperetin notably decreased intracellular ROS and NO production in H 2 O 2 -treated SH-SY5Y cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hesperetin inhibited H 2 O 2 -induced inflammation-related gene expression, including interluekin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation. In addition, hesperetin inhibited NFκB translocation into H 2 O 2 -treated SH-SY5Y cell nuclei and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression, an essential apoptotic cell death regulator. Various apoptosis hallmarks, including shrinkage and nuclear condensation in H 2 O 2 -treated cells, were suppressed dose-dependently. Additionally, hesperetin treatment down-regulated Bax/ Bcl-2 expression ratios and activated AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin autophagy pathways. CONCLUSION These results substantiate that hesperetin activates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis and inflammation. Hesperetin is a potentially potent dietary agent that reduces neurodegenerative disease onset, progression, and prevention

No abstract available.
Leiomyosarcoma*

We report a rare case of gastric adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation (GAED) that was treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection followed by additional distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. A 67-year-old man underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for a gastric lesion, which was diagnosed as GAED with submucosal and lymphatic invasion. Histologically, GAED is characterized by a tubulopapillary growth pattern and clear cells that resemble those of the primitive fetal gut. Immunohistochemically, GAED variably expresses oncofetal proteins such as glypican-3, alpha-fetoprotein, and spalt-like transcription factor 4. Despite negative margins, additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed due to submucosal and lymphatic invasion.No residual tumor or metastasis was detected, and the patient remained disease-free for 2 years before dying from causes unrelated to GAED. Given its aggressive nature, frequent lymphovascular invasion, and high metastatic potential, clinicians should recognize the histopathological diagnosis of this rare tumor and its propensity for aggressiveness.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an uncommon disease characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in the bowel wall and presents various symptoms depending on the affected site and bowel layer. Pseudomembranous colitis is an antibiotic-associated infection caused by abnormal overgrowth of the toxin-producing Clostridium difficile in the large bowel. A 16-year-old boy was admitted with abdominal pain for 6 days. On admission, we performed an endoscopy and diagnosed gastroduodenitis. Then, we prescribed gastritis medication but he still presented with diffuse abdominal pain and fever above 38.0degrees C after admission. We considered infectious enterocolitis, so we prescribed an antibiotic. The next day, he presented with bloody diarrhea. A diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis was confirmed by a colonoscopic examination with a biopsy. We also obtained a diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis through a histological diagnosis. This is the first case of the simultaneous occurrence of eosinophilic gastroenteritis and pseudomembranous colitis in the Korean medical literature. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Clostridium ; Clostridium difficile ; Diarrhea ; Endoscopy ; Enteritis ; Enterocolitis ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fever ; Gastritis ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans

The birth prevalence of limb reduction defect is 6 per 10,000 births. Most common type of limb reduction defect is terminal transverse defect and its birth prevalence is 1.6 per 10,000 births. Genetic variation, environmental teratogen, genetic-environmental interactions are known to causes of congenital limb defect. But, its exact causes are not known. Especially, congenital limb deficiency of right upper and lower limb has a very low incidence. We experienced one case of right femur-ulna-radius complex among recently delivered fetuses. So, we report this case with review of the literatures.
Extremities ; Fetus ; Genetic Variation ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a cytotoxin-producing anaerobic gram-positive rod that is responsible for pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). The incidence of C. difficile is increasing in ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflammatory bowel disease patients and is associated with a more severe course, a longer hospital stay, higher financial costs, a greater likelihood of colectomy, and high mortality. PMC may occur anywhere along the intestinal tract, but it is often found in the distal colon. PMC involving the proximal colon with rectosigmoid sparing is rarely reported in patients with UC. We describe the case of a 35-year-old woman in remission from UC who presented with frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain. She was treated with ciprofloxacin for infectious enterocolitis at a local hospital; however, her symptoms did not improve. A colonoscopy revealed yellow-white plaques with edematous, erythematous from the proximal ascending colon to the cecum, and feces positive for C. difficile toxin. She was treated with metronidazole (500 mg, three times a day) for two weeks, and improved rapidly. Physicians should carefully examine the entire colon via colonoscopy, and perform stool exams for C. difficile in patients with UC who have been treated with antibiotics and in those who develop prolonged diarrhea despite medical treatment.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cecum ; Ciprofloxacin ; Clostridium difficile ; Colectomy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Enterocolitis ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Length of Stay ; Metronidazole ; Ulcer

Copper sulfate ingestion is a rare cause of corrosive gastrointestinal injury in the Republic of Korea. In developing countries, copper sulfate is chiefly used for agricultural purposes as a pesticide and in the leather industry. It is also used in school science classes in the form of bright blue crystals. Copper sulfate is a powerful oxidizing agent that is corrosive to mucous membranes. Concentrated solutions are acidic, with a pH of 4. We report a case of corrosive gastritis and esophagitis due to accidental copper sulfate ingestion in a 12-year-old boy.
Burns ; Child ; Copper ; Copper Sulfate ; Developing Countries ; Eating ; Esophagitis ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mucous Membrane ; Republic of Korea

Background: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis accounts for about half of all occupational skin diseases. Patch testing is essential for establishing a diagnosis of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. To date, allergic contact dermatitis caused by seawater has rarely been reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the patch test results of seawater in foreign maritime workers. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical photos and medical records of patients who underwent the patch test with the Korean standard series and sea-water at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital from January 2017 to August 2020. Results: A total of 26 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were men with a median age of 26.5 years.Twenty-five patients were Sri Lankan, and 25 patients (96.2%) showed a positive reaction to seawater. Patients showed positive reactions with multiple allergens (average: 4), and the positive rates were higher than those reported in previous studies. Atypical reactions, such as pricking patterns or erosive patches, have been observed. A marked erosive reaction was observed even at the site without allergen attachment in a patient who showed a negative reaction to seawater. Conclusion These results suggest the possibility of artificially inducing positive reactions to seawater in maritime workers. Therefore, it is necessary to identify atypical reactions and confirm the relationship between positive reactions and medical history when judging contact dermatitis with unknown substances such as seawater. This study emphasizes education on the standardization of the reading of results.