BACKGROUND: 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) is a natural abietane diterpenoid that is mainly found in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae). DHTS exhibits a potential anti-proliferative effect in various human cancer cells. However, the mechanisms of action of DHTS as an anti-cancer agent have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the anti-cancer effect of DHTS in terms of cell cycle regulation and the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in SK-HEP-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: The anti-proliferative effects of DHTS were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B assay in SK-HEP-1 cells. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The elucidation of mechanisms of action such as the AMPK/AKT/mTOR and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DHTS showed a significant anti-proliferative activity against SK-HEP-1 cells. DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, which was mediated by downregulation of cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK4, CDK2, c-Myc and p-Rb expression and with increased expression of the CDK inhibitor p21. DHTS also activated the AMPK signaling. In addition, DHTS downregulated the Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of DHTS might be associated with the induction of G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and regulation of AMPK/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways in SK-HEP-1 cells.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin A ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin E ; Cyclins ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Protein Kinases ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

Lung cancer is one of the most common causative cancers worldwide. Particularly, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC is a serious form of lung cancer that requires prompt diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate for patients with this disease is only 24%. Gibbosic acid H (GaH), a natural lanostanoid obtained from the Ganoderma species (Ganodermataceae), has antiproliferative activities against colon and lung cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of GaH in NSCLC cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.GaH was found to induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and autophagy by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in A549 and H1299 cells. The induction of this cell cycle arrest was associated with the downregulation of cyclin E1 and CDK2.Additionally, the induction of autophagy by GaH was correlated with the upregulation of LC3B, beclin-1, and p53 expression. GaH also induced apoptosis by upregulating cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the lung cancer cells. These findings suggest that GaH has a potential in the growth inhibition of human lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dominant genotype of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Korea had been known to be genotype 1A in 1990s. Recently, the epidemiologic change of HAV genotype was reported with an upsurge of acute hepatitis A in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of HAV genotypes and clinical characteristics in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. METHODS: From November 2008 to October 2009, a total of 82 patients with acute hepatitis A were enrolled prospectively. HAV genotype was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the PCR products of VP1/2A region of HAV. RESULTS: HAV RNA was detected in 82% (67/82). The genotype IIIA (88%, 59 cases) was significantly more frequent than genotype IA (12%, 8 cases) (p< or =0.01). The subtypes of genotype IIIA were AJ299467 Norway (49%), HA-JNG04-09 Japan (27%), HS-14-12-00 Spain (22%) and H-122 Sweden (2%). The subtypes of IA were FH1 Japan (50%) and HA J04-3 Japan (50%). The substitutions of amino acid were more frequent in genotype IIIA than IA (p< or =0.01). There was no difference in the clinical characteristics between the patients with genotype IIIA and IA. CONCLUSIONS: Genotype IIIA was a dominant genotype of recent HAV infection in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. This study provides valuable epidemiologic information of genetic distributions of HAV in Korea.

Sotos syndrome is a rare sporadic genetic disorder characterized by pathognomonic facial features, motor developmental delay induced by hypotonia, learning difficulties, and cardiac and renal anomalies. This report describes the case of a 4-year-old child with Sotos syndrome who underwent a right hydrocelectomy under general anesthesia. We report our experience with airway management, choice of anesthetic drugs, and other anesthetic implications in Sotos syndrome.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Learning ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Sotos Syndrome*

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the 3-dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway of skeletal class III patients after bimaxillary surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 18 Korean patients that had undergone maxillary setback or posterosuperior movement and mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy setback surgery due to skeletal class III malocclusion (8 males, 10 females; mean age of 28.7). Cone beam computed tomography was taken 1 month before and 6 months after orthognathic surgery. Preoperative and postoperative volumes of the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and laryngopharyngeal airways and minimum axial areas of the oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces were measured. Moreover, the pharyngeal airway volume of the patient group that had received genioplasty advancement was compared with the other group that had not. RESULTS: The nasopharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces did not show significant differences before or after surgery. However, the oropharyngeal space volume and total volume of pharyngeal airway decreased significantly (P<0.05). The minimum axial area of the oropharynx also decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that bimaxillary surgery decreased the volume and the minimum axial area of the oropharyngeal space. Advanced genioplasty did not seem to have a significant effect on the volumes of the oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal spaces.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Genioplasty ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Oropharynx ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Pharynx

BACKGROUND: This study examined moderating effects of optimism and family support on the depression of family caregivers of cancer patients aged 55 and over by adopting stress process model. METHODS: 359 family caregivers who accompanied with cancer patients to out-patient clinics were recruited and completed questionnaire at three university hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to test validity of the construction of the scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to determine moderating effects of optimism and family support on depression after making mean centering of each variable. RESULTS: Results showed that spouse caregivers have more depression than do adult children as the nursing period gets longer. Education and income status were significant variables affecting depression of family caregivers. Optimism and family support for family caregivers have moderating effects on the association between stressors (emotional functioning of cancer patients and role overload of family caregivers) and depression of family caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that more attentions are needed to the depression of spouse caregivers. Interventions are strongly recommended for health professionals to provide cancer patients and their family caregivers with "holding environments" caring for emotions and facilitating adjustment.
Adult Children ; Attention ; Caregivers* ; Depression* ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Occupations ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Nursing ; Optimism* ; Outpatients ; Seoul

Doxylamine succinate is common over-the-counter sleep medication that is frequently involved in accidental poisonings and suicide attempts. Doxylamine overdose is generally directed at the anticholinergic effect including autonomic,and central nervous system effect and direct cardiac toxicity. Rarely, rhabdomyolysis has been reported with doxylamine overdose. We experienced two cases of rhabdomyolysis with overdose of doxylamine in 17-year-old and 31-year-old male. They were diagnosed with high levels of creatine phosphokinase in serum, myoglobin in serum and urine, and increased radionuclide uptake of muscles in (99m)Tc-MDP bone scan. Patients recovered without any complications with hydration and diuresis. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of rhabdomyolysis in patients with doxylamine overdose.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Central Nervous System ; Creatine Kinase ; Diuresis ; Doxylamine* ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Myoglobin ; Poisoning ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Succinic Acid ; Suicide

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: While endoscopic resection could be considered as the best choice for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid, the colonoscopic biopsies performed at the time of detection may lead to scar and ulcer formation and cause unpredicted difficulty in the endoscopic resection. This study was evaluated to analyze the relationship between the post-biopsy scar and the limitation of submucosal elevation for the endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoids. METHODS: Twenty two cases of rectal carcinoid which received prior biopsies before the endoscopic resection were retrospectively compared with 20 non-biopsied cases. All two groups were treated by endoscopic resection from January 2000 to December 2007. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings such as size and location between the two groups. RESULTS: The limited submucosal elevation was experienced in 17 cases (77%) in the biopsy group, significantly more frequent than 9 cases (45%) in the non-biopsy group (p=0.03). The colonoscopic findings which contribute to difficult submucosal elevation were the depressive scar formation after biopsy, the size less than 5 mm in the biopsy group, active ulcer formation after biopsy. Regarding the resection method, endoscopic submucosal dissection was frequently adopted (23% vs. 5%) in the biopsy group. The frequency of endoscopic piecemeal resection in biopsy group was higher than non-biopsy group (23% vs 10%), and all cases were subsequently resected by other endoscopic methods. CONCLUSIONS: The post-biopsy scar can interfere with successful submucosal elevation for endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoids. The number of forcep biopsy should be minimized in the diagnostic colonoscopy when endoscopic resection is planned rectal carcinoids.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor/*pathology/surgery ; Cicatrix/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Risk Factors