PURPOSE: The fibrates are ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and used clinically as hypolipidemic drugs. The fibrates are known to cause peroxisome proliferation, enhance superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and catalase activity. The antioxidant actions of the fibrates may modify radiation sensitivity. Here, we investigated the change of the radiation sensitivity in two cervix cancer cell lines in combination with fenofibrate (FF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activity and protein expression of SOD were measured according to the concentration of FF. The mRNA expressions were measured by using real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Combined cytotoxic effect of FF and radiation was measured by using clonogenic assay. RESULTS: In HeLa cells total SOD activity was increased with increasing FF doses up to 30 microM. In the other hand, the catalase activity was increased a little. As with activity the protein expression of SOD1 and SOD2 was increased with increasing doses of FF. The mRNAs of SOD1, SOD2, PPARalpha and PPARgamma were increased with increasing doses of FF. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by radiation was decreased by preincubation with FF. The surviving fractions (SF) by combining FF and radiation was higher than those of radiation alone. In Me180 cells SOD and catalase activity were not increased with FF. Also, the mRNAs of SOD1, SOD2, and PPARalpha were not increased with FF. However, the mRNA of PPARgamma was increased with FF. CONCLUSION: FF can reduce radiation sensitivity by ROS scavenging via SOD induction in HeLa. SOD induction by FF is related with PPARalpha.
Catalase ; Cell Line ; Fenofibrate ; Fibric Acids ; Hand ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Ligands ; Peroxisomes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; PPAR alpha ; PPAR gamma ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Dental implants have become a popular and rapidly advancing technique to replace missing teeth. They have increasingly been used in the past few decades and have been associated with an increasing number of complications. There may be mechanical side effects, such as implant fracture while chewing, but side effects related to general procedures, such as bleeding and inflammation, may occur. Here, we report an autopsy case of death from pulmonary abscess and pneumonia due to septic emboli from gingival inflammation and sinusitis associated with dental implant surgery.

In autopsy practice, we encounter case of suicide or murder using various methods or tools. Damage caused by tools such as a knife or hammer is commonly encountered, but a case of damage using a chainsaw is not commonly encountered. We present an autopsy case of a suicide due to neck injury using a chainsaw. A 56-year-old man was found dead with a neck injury and a chainsaw below him. Soft tissue of the neck, thyroid cartilage, trachea, carotid vessels, cervical vertebrae, and cervical spinal cord were found to be cleaved, and a cogwheel-shaped pattern was observed in the injured area.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is becoming a common technique used by primary care physicians, so appropriate education using adummy is beneficial for the trainees. However, because dummies are expensive, only a few hospitals have dummies. In this study, we investigatedwhether a simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopic simulator created using recycled materials can be useful in endoscopic education. Methods: The simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopic simulator was prepared using materials that were readily available around us. Focus groupinterviews were conducted with five family medicine trainees for 60 minutes using a semi-structured questionnaire. All conversations were recordedand transcribed after they provided informed consent. Data were analyzed using qualitative analysis methods. Results: Family medicine trainees believe that upper gastrointestinal endoscopic training is essential for primary care physicians and can be helpful intheir job after training. However, they were concerned about the possibility of endoscopic complications and difficulty in endoscopy operation. Allof them said that the simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopic simulator helped reduce their fear and also helped them become familiar withanatomic positions. The simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopic simulator also aroused their interest and motivated them to learn. Conclusion Overall, the simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopy simulator seemed helpful for trainees of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Theuse of a simplified upper gastrointestinal endoscopy simulator could be considered in training hospitals that do not have enough financial resources.Further quantitative studies are needed to generate further evidence.

In autopsy practice, we encounter case of suicide or murder using various methods or tools. Damage caused by tools such as a knife or hammer is commonly encountered, but a case of damage using a chainsaw is not commonly encountered. We present an autopsy case of a suicide due to neck injury using a chainsaw. A 56-year-old man was found dead with a neck injury and a chainsaw below him. Soft tissue of the neck, thyroid cartilage, trachea, carotid vessels, cervical vertebrae, and cervical spinal cord were found to be cleaved, and a cogwheel-shaped pattern was observed in the injured area.

In autopsy practice, we encounter case of suicide or murder using various methods or tools. Damage caused by tools such as a knife or hammer is commonly encountered, but a case of damage using a chainsaw is not commonly encountered. We present an autopsy case of a suicide due to neck injury using a chainsaw. A 56-year-old man was found dead with a neck injury and a chainsaw below him. Soft tissue of the neck, thyroid cartilage, trachea, carotid vessels, cervical vertebrae, and cervical spinal cord were found to be cleaved, and a cogwheel-shaped pattern was observed in the injured area.

We report the case of a female who died of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Post-mortem CT angiography (PMCTA) was performed with intravascular contrast infusion before the standard autopsy, and it successfully demonstrated the complete thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery and also a corresponding perfusion defect on myocardium. We herein describe the PMCTA findings of a cardiac death with special emphasis on the potential benefits of this novel CT technique in forensic practice.
*Autopsy ; Coronary Occlusion/*diagnosis/etiology/radiography ; Coronary Vessels/pathology/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology/pathology ; Myocardium ; Thrombosis/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the standard treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, there is still no standard treatment for IVIG-resistant KD. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) as a treatment for IVIG-resistant KD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 10-year data for patients with IVIG-resistant KD who were administered MTX at Severance Children's Hospital. RESULTS: The subjects included 75 patients with KD aged 5 months to 9.2 years who had been administered MTX. Their maximum body temperatures decreased significantly within 24 h of therapy. The patients' C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower 1 week after administering the first dose of MTX than those before treatment. No adverse effect for MTX was observed. CONCLUSION: MTX treatment of IVIG-resistant KD resulted in rapid defervescence, improvement of clinical symptoms, and normalization of acute-phase reactants in all patients. Thus, MTX could be a candidate treatment for IVIG-resistant KD.
C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels/pathology ; Demography ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Methotrexate/administration & dosage ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/blood ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Chest Pain ; Crohn Disease ; Thorax

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of abnormal dendritic (Langerhans) cells in various organs. Pulmonary involvement, although rare in children, has been reported in 20%–50% of childhood cases of multisystem LCH. Isolated pulmonary LCH in children, especially in infants, is still rarer, but should be suspected in those with cystic lung disease. We report a case of a 10-month-old boy who presented with chronic dyspnea and whose chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated cystic lesions. Lung biopsy established the diagnosis of LCH; microscopy revealed a background of lymphocytes and eosinophils with kidney-shaped abnormal cells. These abnormal cells were positive for S-100, CD207 (Langerin), and CD1a on immunohistochemical staining. Chemotherapy was administered using a cytotoxic agent (vinblastine) and a steroid. After 12 weeks of induction chemotherapy, although no significant change in cyst size was noted on chest CT, clinical symptoms improved. Consolidation chemotherapy was then administered for 1 year. Thereafter, chest CT findings demonstrated a significant decrease in cyst size and a significant increase in the volume of normal lung parenchyma. Therefore, aggressive treatment of isolated pulmonary LCH in infants with severe tissue destruction and symptoms seems warranted.
Biopsy ; Child ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Infant* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Microscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed