No abstract available.
Hedgehogs*

No abstract available.
Hedgehogs ; Tinea ; Trichophyton

Salmonellosis is a common food- and water-borne disease and is also a major zoonosis. Currently, the isolation of rare Salmonella serotypes is increasing every year in Korea. Among them, the Salmonella serotype Tilene was first isolated from two people who visited a hospital located in Andong-si in 2013. Clinical symptoms were weak or non-existent. There was no clear epidemiological connection between the two cases. However, it was assumed that both were independently exposed to a single infectious agent. Perhaps due to their geographical proximity, molecular epidemiological analysis showed the same result between the isolated strains. This serotype has increasingly reported an association with hedgehogs. Recently, the importation of exotic animals, including hedgehogs, as pets has been gradually increasing. Thus, it is recommended that high-risk groups avoid contact with exotic pets.
Animals ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hedgehogs ; Korea* ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella*

Polaris, which is encoded by Tg737 gene, has been associated with cilia formation. Recently pheno-types of ventral neural tube in mice who have abnormal cilia formation have been reported to be similar with those of sonic hedgehog (Shh)signaling mutants. These interesting findings lead us to further examine the patterning of ventral neural tube in Tg737(oprk) mice. In this study, we found that motor neuron and V2 interneuron were preserved whereas P3 progenitor domain and floor plate were missing in Tg737(oprk) mutant. V2 and motor neurons in Tg737(oprk) were ventralized and ixed with each other. Nkx6.1 and Olig2 expressions were preserved and the Olig2 expression was ventralized in Tg737(oprk). These penotypes are quite similar with those in Shh(-/-); Gli3(-/-) or Gli2(-/-) ; Gli3(-/-) mutants, suggesting that the function of Polaris might be involved in Shh signaling.
Animals ; Cilia ; Hedgehogs ; Interneurons ; Mice ; Motor Neurons ; Neural Tube*

University Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling has been shown to play instructive roles in developing spinal cord. Depending on the Shh concentration gradient, different progenitor domains and ventral neurons are induced. However, the way how the Shh gradient is translated into different progenitor domains, is not clear. To investigate the translation of the Shh gradient, we studied expressions of homeoproteins which are critical for establishment of progenitor domains, in the ventral neural tube of Shh(-/-)and Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) mutants, using in situ hybridization. In Shh(-/-) mutant, the expressions of class II homeoproteins (Nkx6.1, Nkx6.2, Olig2, Nkx2.2 were totally repressed. The expressions of class I homeoproteins (Dbx1, Dbx2, Irx3, Pax6 were ventralized. In Shh(-/-);Gli3(-/-) mutant, the expressions of class II homeoproteins except Nkx2.2 were restored. The expressions of class I home-oproteins were restored to its original position although their restoration is not complete. From above results, we conclude that Gli3 can regulate the expressions of class II homeoproteins, which suggests that the Shh gradient will be translated into Gli activity in the developing spinal cord.
Hedgehogs ; Homeodomain Proteins ; In Situ Hybridization ; Neural Tube ; Neurons ; Spinal Cord*

We studied a family with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. The novel mutations of our cases were located on the 21st exon of the PTCH1 gene (c.3450C>G). The father, who received a strategic 56-day vismodegib treatment for disease control, was the first patient with Gorlin syndrome treated with the hedgehog inhibitor in Taiwan. The lesions regressed gradually, with scar formation, and were subsequently removed via a wide excision. Further details are provided below.
Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome* ; Cicatrix ; Exons ; Fathers ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Taiwan

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the colon cancer cell has been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, the association between Shh expression in the normal colonic mucosa and the recurrence of colorectal neoplasm after tumor resection has not been well documented. The aim of the study was to determine the association between Shh expression in the normal colonic mucosa and in the recurrence of colorectal neoplasm. METHODS: Fifty-five patients who underwent a long-term follow-up colonoscopy after the colorectal neoplasm resection were included. At the time of the tumor resection, Shh expression in the normal colonic mucosa was examined. The association between Shh expression in the normal colonic mucosa and the recurrence of colorectal neoplasm was analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 97 colorectal neoplasms were detected among 41 subjects after a mean follow-up period of 63 weeks (range 27-254 weeks). Of 55 subjects, 26 (47.3%) exhibited positive Shh expression in the normal colonic tissue, and the recurrence rate did not differ with the degree of Shh expression (P=0.238). The degree of Shh expression was not associated with the number (P=0.389), size (P=0.928), location (P=0.410), pathologic types (P=0.127), or time of recurrence (P=0.711) of the recurred colorectal neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Most colorectal neoplasm patients show recurrence after the resection and exhibit Shh expression in the normal colonic tissue. The degree of Shh expression in the normal colonic mucosa does not predict the recurrence of colorectal neoplasm.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hedgehogs ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The importance of Helicobacter pylori eradication after endoscopic resection (ER) of gastric neoplasms remains controversial. In this study, we clarified the importance of H. pylori eradication for metachronous lesions after ER. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 3,882 patients with gastric neoplasms who underwent ER. We included patients infected with H. pylori who received eradication therapy. Among them, 34 patients with metachronous lesions after ER and 102 age- and sex-matched patients (nonmetachronous group) were enrolled. Background mucosal pathologies such as atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM) were evaluated endoscopically. The expression levels of CDX1, CDX2, Sonic hedgehog (SHH), and SOX2 were evaluated based on H. pylori eradication and the development of metachronous lesions. RESULTS: The eradication failure rate was higher in the metachronous group than in the nonmetachronous group (P=0.036). Open-type atrophy (P=0.003) and moderate-to-severe IM (P=0.001) occurred more frequently in the metachronous group. In patients with an initial diagnosis of dysplasia, the eradication failure rate was higher in the metachronous group than in the nonmetachronous group (P=0.002). In addition, open-type atrophy was more frequent in the metachronous group (P=0.047). In patients with an initial diagnosis of carcinoma, moderate-to-severe IM occurred more frequently in the metachronous group (P=0.003); however, the eradication failure rate was not significantly different between the two groups. SHH and SOX2 expression was increased, and CDX2 expression was decreased in the nonmetachronous group after eradication (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Open-type atrophy, moderate-to-severe IM, and H. pylori eradication failure were significantly associated with metachronous lesions. However, eradication failure was significantly associated with dysplasia, but not carcinoma, in the metachronous group. Thus, H. pylori eradication may play an important role in preventing metachronous lesions after ER for precancerous lesions before carcinomatous transformation.
Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Hedgehogs ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Pathology ; Recurrence* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

A low serum level of vitamin D has been associated with an increased incidence of gastrointestinal tract cancers. However, the effects of vitamin D3 have not been investigated in gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. In the present study, we found that vitamin D3 treatment significantly suppressed the viability of gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma cells. Moreover, vitamin D3 had a synergistic effect with other anti-cancer drugs, such as paclitaxel, adriamycin, and vinblastine, for suppressing cell viability. To determine the underlying mechanism involved in the regulation of viability by vitamin D3, we examined the effects of vitamin D3 on expression of hedgehog signaling target genes, which has been associated with gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Vitamin D3 treatment decreased the level of mRNA expression of patched1, Gli1, cyclin D1, and Bcl2, suggesting the possibility that vitamin D3 may act through regulation of hedgehog signaling. From the above results, we conclude that vitamin D3 regulates cell viability in gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
Cell Survival ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholecalciferol ; Cyclin D1 ; Doxorubicin ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Hedgehogs ; Incidence ; Paclitaxel ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vinblastine ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is important in embryonic development including cell differentiation and proliferation. Recently, activation of this pathway has been implicated in several forms of solid cancers. We investigated sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein expression and its relation to differentiation and clinicopathologic characteristics in thyroid cancer cell lines and tissues. METHODS: FTC-236, FTC-238, and XTC-1. We made tissue microarray slides using 80 thyroid surgical specimen: 40 benign and 40 malignant lesions. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-Shh antibody. mRNA expression of NIS, thyroglobulin, and CD97 were evaluated by RT-PCR. Cyclopamine was used as a Shh signal inhibitor. RESULTS: Shh expression was more prominent in TPC-1, FTC-133, and XTC-1 cell lines than the others. Cyclopamine downregulated CD97 and upregulated thyroglobulin mRNA expression, but did not induce mRNA expression of NIS. Thyroid tissues showed varied expression of Shh in both benign and malignant diseases. Shh expression was detected in 38 of 50 (76%) normal, in 18 of 25 (72%) non-neoplastic benign, in nine of 15 (60%) benign tumors, and in 31 of 40 (77%) malignant tumors. Shh over-expression was significantly less frequent in papillary thyroid carcinomas than in normal or benign thyroid tissues. In addition, Shh protein expression did not relate to clinicopathologic characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinomas. CONCLUSION: Thyroid tissues and cell lines vary in expression of Shh. Cyclopamine can induce redifferentiation in thyroid cancer cell lines. Shh protein expression, however, is unrelated to clinicopathologic characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinomas.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Hedgehog Proteins* ; Hedgehogs ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms