Treatment of oral cancers with chemotherapeutic agents are evaluated as an effective method for remission to reduce cancer proliferation nowadays. But, minimization of side-effects such as bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal toxicity and renal damage is another problem to be solved. Thus, a possible approach to develop a clinically applicable chemotherapeutic agents is to screen anticancer activity among traditional medicinal plants which have been used for thousands of years with very low side-effects in orient. In this study we focused on anti-oral cancer activities of momordin, which was medicinal plant extracts that was revealed anticancer activities, on KB cell(oral cancer cell). The results were as follow : 1. Momordin showed the excellent anti-oral cancer activity against KB cells. Obtained IC50 value of Momordin was 10.4 microgram/ml. 2. When KB cells were treated with Momordin, dose and time dependent DNA fragmentation of KB cells were observed. DNA fragmentation was initiated on three days at the concentration of 20 microgram/ml Momordin. 3. Flow cytometry showed dose-dependent apoptotic cell increase of KB cells on Momordin. 18.55% apoptotic cell were observed up to 72 hours at the concentration of 20 microgram/ml of Momordin 4. Momordin induced nonspecific apoptosis without specific cell cycle arrest. 5. Through MTT assay, DNA fragmentation assay and flow cytometric analysis. anticancer effect of Momordin against KB cell was induce of apoptotic cell death.
Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Death ; DNA Fragmentation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; KB Cells ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Plants, Medicinal

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Epidemiologic investigation of MRSA outbreaks and identification of pathways of nosocomial MRSA spread require the ability to distinguish individual MRSA strains. We applied molecular tap ing of the methicillin-resistant determinant (mec) and coagulase typing in the investigation of a nosocomial MRSA infections. METHODS: We randomly selected 79 strains of mecA positive MRSA isolated from patients who visited Dong-A university Hospital from Dec. 1995 to Oct. 1996. Molecular typing of MRSA was performed by comparing the size of the mac-associated hypervariable region amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Coagulase typing with type I-VIII antisera was also used for classification of MRSA based on its phenotype. Each isolates were classified by the combination of molecular analyses and coagulase type. RESULTS: The 79 MRSA isolates were grouped Into sin hypervariable legion (HVR) genotypes on the basis of the size of the PGR products. In coagulase typing, the most predominant type was II(46.8%) and type V was not found. Nine strains were not typable. The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types showed 23 different types in 79 MRSA Isolates. The strains which were repeatedly isolated from the same patients showed the same HYR genotypes and coagulate types. CONCLUSION: The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types is thought to be useful in epidemiolgical Investigation of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA ,because of its simplicity and reproducibility.
Classification ; Coagulase* ; Cross Infection* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Molecular Typing* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus

This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of the clozapine-induced seizures in partially restrained rats by concomitant treatment with drugs affecting monoaminergic systems. Partially restrained rats treated with acute single doses of 10mg/kg clozapine exhibited myoclonic jerks(MJs). Drugs affecting the monoaminergic systems, including 2mg/kg haloperidol, 5mg/kg propranolol, 2mg/kg ritanserin, 20mg/kg fluoxetine, and 20mg/kg imipramine, were concomitantly treated with clozapine to observe the effects of these drugs on the MJs. The drugs were given intraperitoneally either as acute single doses(haloperidol, propranolol, ritanserin, and fluoxetine) or as chronic doses for 21 days(haloperidol, imipramine, ritanserin, and fluoxetine). The effects of the concomitant treatment of other drugs on the clozapine-induced MJs were evaluated by comparison of the total numbers of the MJs between the clozapine-treated and concomitantly treated groups. The results were as follows. 1) Concomitant treatment with acute single doses of haloperidol, propranolol, and fluoxetine reduced the total numbers of the clozapine-induced MJs, while concomitant treatment with ritanserin did not. 2) Concomitant treatment with chronic doses of imipramine and ritanserin increased the total numbers of the MJs, while concomitant treatment with fluoxetine reduced them. Concomitant chronic treatment with haloperidol did not affect the numbers of the MJs. These results suggest that dopamine and serotonin, not noradrenalin may be involved in the clozapine-induced MJs in partially restrained rats. Future research needs to study the function of each subtype of monoaminergic receptors on the mechanism of the clozapine-induced seizure.
Animals ; Clozapine ; Dopamine ; Fluoxetine ; Haloperidol ; Imipramine ; Myoclonus* ; Propranolol ; Rats* ; Ritanserin ; Seizures ; Serotonin

This study examined the nutritional information using the nutrition labels of gimbap sold at convenience stores and evaluated nutritional adequacy compared to dietary reference intakes for Korean adolescents. Thirty gimbaps (triangular gimbaps and regular gimbaps according to the main ingredients of vegetables, fish, and meat) were purchased at five convenience stores of different brands with many stores in Korea. The food and nutrition labels of the gimbaps were investigated, and nine minerals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average price of gimbap was 1,906.7 won, and average energy was 292.0 kcal, and the protein content was 15.5% of the recommended intake for Korean male adolescents aged 15∼18 years. The mineral content ranged from 6.9% for zinc to 39.0% for selenium. Except for sodium and selenium, the energy, protein, and mineral content did not meet 1/3 of dietary reference intakes for adolescents. For the index of nutritional quality (INQ), calcium and zinc were the lowest in the triangular and regular gimbap, respectively. The INQ of potassium was significantly higher in triangular gimbap with vegetables. The content and INQ of selenium were in regular gimbap with fish, and the zinc INQ was in regular gimbap with meat. Overall, gimbap sold in convenience stores has a high sodium content, and the contents of energy, protein, and minerals, except selenium, are insufficient for a single meal.

Verrucous carcinoma is a form of low grade squamous cell carcinoma that is characterized grossly by its exophytic and wart-like appearance. We experienced a case of verrucous carcinoma in a 63-year-old female patient who presented with pyelonephritis caused by staghorn calculi. Abdominal CT scan showed a renal pelvic mass and nephrectomy was done. Histologic examination showed extensive keratinizing squamous metaplasia of pelvic urothelium with an area of verrucous acanthosis. To our knowledge, this is the second case of verrucous carcinoma of renal pelvis that has been reported in literature. We describe a case and review the literature concerning verrucous carcinoma.
Calculi ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carcinoma, Verrucous* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Metaplasia ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urothelium

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic Central Diabetes Insipidus in children or adolescents requires a frequent follow-up regimen using serial brain MRI and CSF examinations especially if an isolated pituitary stalk thickening or loss of a hyperintense signal in the posterior pituitary lobe is observed. Although a detailed description has not been made in adults who had Idiopathic Central Diabetes Insipidus, the clinical course of a Central Diabetes Insipidus in children or in adolescents can not be applied to adults because a follow-up study is so invasive and expensive. In this report, we evaluated the clinical course of Idiopathic Central Diabetes Insipidus in adults. METHODS: The diagnosis of Idiopathic Central Diabetes Insipidus was based on the presenting clinical symptoms, the water deprivation test, biochemical studies and a brain MRI. We measured the urine specific gravity, urine and plasma osmolarity, electrolytes, and daily urine amount and we also performed an anterior pituitary evaluation. Patients had contrast-enhanced MRI and biochemical studies every 4 to 12 months. RESULTS: The patients included 8 females and 4 males. Their ages ranged from 20 to 76 years and their mean age was 45+/-17 years. Tumor markers in the CSF were not detected any of the patients. An anterior pituitary evaluation showed that four patients had hyperprolactinemia, and five patients had impaired secretory responses of Growth Hormone to an insulin induced hypoglycemia. Nine of the 12 patients had thickening of the pituitary stalk, seven had lacked the hyperintense signal of a normal neurohypophysis. The abnormalities of MRI disappeared in 3 patients by the 4th, 27th and 36th month follow up periods, respectively. The follow up duration was between 8 months and 11 years 3 months and the mean follow up duration period was 50.6+/-45.5 months. Clinical symptoms were corrected by DDAVP administration. Other symptoms were absent. CONCLUSION: In our study, of Idiopathic Central Diabetes Insipidus in adults there were no observed germinomas or other disease that were observed. Therefore this disorder may have a benign course.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Brain ; Child ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic* ; Diagnosis ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osmolar Concentration ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Posterior ; Plasma ; Specific Gravity ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Water Deprivation

BACKGROUND: Measurement of the plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level has been recommended as the first diagnostic test for differentiating between ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome (CS) and ACTH-dependent CS. When plasma ACTH values are inconclusive, a differential diagnosis of CS can be made based upon measurement of the serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) level and results of the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDST). The aim of this study was to assess the utility of plasma ACTH to differentiate adrenal CS from Cushing' disease (CD) and compare it with that of the HDST results and serum DHEA-S level. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study from January 2000 to May 2012 involving 92 patients with endogenous CS. The levels of plasma ACTH, serum cortisol, 24-hour urine free cortisol (UFC) after the HDST, and serum DHEA-S were measured. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients had adrenal CS and 35 patients had CD. The area under the curve of plasma ACTH, serum DHEA-S, percentage suppression of serum cortisol, and UFC after HDST were 0.954, 0.841, 0.950, and 0.997, respectively (all P<0.001). The cut-off values for plasma ACTH, percentage suppression of serum cortisol, and UFC after HDST were 5.3 pmol/L, 33.3%, and 61.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of plasma ACTH measurement were 84.2% and 94.3%, those of serum cortisol were 95.8% and 90.6%, and those of UFC after the HDST were 97.9% and 96.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant overlap in plasma ACTH levels was seen between patients with adrenal CS and those with CD. The HDST may be useful in differentiating between these forms of the disease, especially when the plasma ACTH level alone is not conclusive.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion* ; Plasma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Bovine tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the M. tuberculosis complex, is a zoonosis transmitted through the inhalation of infected droplets or the ingestion of raw milk. Human bovine tuberculosis has been reported rarely in most countries since the introduction of pasteurized milk and M. bovis eradication programs. However, it has been reported in other areas with poorly controlled programs. We encountered a case of localized empyema due to M. bovis infection in a pregnant female immigrant from Vietnam. We report this case with a brief review of the related literature.
Eating ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Empyema ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Milk ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Bovine ; Vietnam

Bovine tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the M. tuberculosis complex, is a zoonosis transmitted through the inhalation of infected droplets or the ingestion of raw milk. Human bovine tuberculosis has been reported rarely in most countries since the introduction of pasteurized milk and M. bovis eradication programs. However, it has been reported in other areas with poorly controlled programs. We encountered a case of localized empyema due to M. bovis infection in a pregnant female immigrant from Vietnam. We report this case with a brief review of the related literature.
Eating ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Empyema ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Milk ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Bovine ; Vietnam

We experienced five cases of solitary fibrous tumor; two in the pleura, two in the orbital soft tissue, and one in the lung parenchyma. Three patients were male, and the age of the patients ranged from 38 to 71 years (mean age: 53.6). Grossly, the masses were well circumscribed and had varying sizes from 2.5 to 30.0 cm. The cut surfaces were grayish-yellow firm with focal variegated hemorrhage, necrosis, cystic change, and myxoid area. Microscopically, these were characterized by a haphazard proliferation of spindle cells or polygonal cells separated by variable amounts of hyalinized collagen and showed a prominent vascular channels reminiscent of hemangiopericytoma in foci. Immunoperoxidase stains showed a strong reactivity for CD34, and were weakly positive for vimentin. Electron microscopical examination revealed features of fibroblast; spindle to round tumor cells were arranged in groups and surrounded by collagen. Nucleoli were seldom prominent. The cytoplasm contained many microfilaments and a moderate number of cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Collagen ; Coloring Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fibroblasts ; Hemangiopericytoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Lung ; Male ; Necrosis ; Orbit ; Pleura ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors* ; Vimentin