PURPOSE: To establish a new therapeutic strategy for proliferative vitreoretinopathhy (PVR), we examined the effect of combined treatment with HDAC inhibitor SAHA and proteasome inhibitor lactacystin in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, ARPE-19. METHODS: Viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured by flow cytometry. Proteasome activity was measured by fluorophotometry. The expression and degradation of apoptosis-related proteins were assesssed by Western blotting. Subcellular location of apoptosis-related factors was monitored by confocal miscroscopy. RESULTS: A single treatment with 5 micro M SAHA or 10 micro M lactacystin did not reduce cell viability. However, combination treatment with 5 micro M SAHA and 10 micro M lactacystin substantially reduced the viability, because the mixture induced the reduction of MMP and nuclear condensation or fragmentation. Moreover, the combination treatment triggered the activation of caspase-3 and the production of PARP cleavage products. These data indicate that the combination treatment efficiently induces apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. However, co-treatment of SAHA did not augment the proteasome inhibitory activity of lactacystin, nor did co-treatment of lactacystin augment acetylation of histones. It is notable that while p53 and CAD were observed in the mitochondria of cells treated with SAHA, they were translocated into the nucleus after the combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination treatment of SAHA and lactacystin effectively induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Further work is warranted to develop this combination therapy as a novel therapeutic strategy for PVR.
Acetylation ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Survival ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorophotometry ; Histones ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Proteasome Inhibitors ; Retinaldehyde ; Trypan Blue

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans ; Male* ; Mesothelioma*

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy

Heterotopic pregnancy with coexistiong intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is a rare event in natural pregnancy. However, in recent years, the increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and use of assisted reproductive technology had led to an increase in the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy. When the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is delayed, maternal mortality and morbidity may be increased, and unwanted loss of intrauterine pregnancy may occur. Therefore, the early diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy is clinically important, and clinicians have to consider the possibility of heterotopic pregnancy and conduct careful and thorough evaluation if suspected. We experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a woman in the absence of the known risk factors. She underwent underwent spontaneous abortion of intrauterine pregnancy at postoperative 4th day, after laparoscopic salpingectomy for left tubal pregnancy. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Risk Factors ; Salpingectomy

Purpose: This study evaluated how artificial intelligence-based computer-assisted diagnosis (AICAD) for breast ultrasonography (US) influences diagnostic performance and agreement between radiologists with varying experience levels in different workflows. Methods: Images of 492 breast lesions (200 malignant and 292 benign masses) in 472 women taken from April 2017 to June 2018 were included. Six radiologists (three inexperienced [<1 year of experience] and three experienced [10-15 years of experience]) individually reviewed US images with and without the aid of AI-CAD, first sequentially and then simultaneously. Diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement were calculated and compared between radiologists and AI-CAD. Results: After implementing AI-CAD, the specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy significantly improved, regardless of experience and workflow (all P<0.001, respectively). The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve significantly increased in simultaneous reading, but only for inexperienced radiologists. The agreement for Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System (BI-RADS) descriptors generally increased when AI-CAD was used (κ=0.29-0.63 to 0.35-0.73). Inexperienced radiologists tended to concede to AI-CAD results more easily than experienced radiologists, especially in simultaneous reading (P<0.001). The conversion rates for final assessment changes from BI-RADS 2 or 3 to BI-RADS higher than 4a or vice versa were also significantly higher in simultaneous reading than sequential reading (overall, 15.8% and 6.2%, respectively; P<0.001) for both inexperienced and experienced radiologists. Conclusion Using AI-CAD to interpret breast US improved the specificity, PPV, and accuracy of radiologists regardless of experience level. AI-CAD may work better in simultaneous reading to improve diagnostic performance and agreement between radiologists, especially for inexperienced radiologists.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is associated with airway remodeling and tissue injury in asthma. However, little is known about how MMP-9 is up-regulated in airway epithelial cells. In this study, we show that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induces MMP-9 expression via a protein kinase Calpha(PKCalpha)-dependent signaling cascade in BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells. Pretreatment with either GF109203X, a general PKC inhibitor, or Go6976, a PKCalpha/beta isozyme inhibitor, inhibited PMA-induced activation of the MMP-9 promoter, as did transient transfection with PKCalpha antisense oligonuclotides. PMA activated NF-kappaB by phosphorylating IkappaB in these cells and this was also inhibited by GF109203X and Go6976, suggesting that PKCalpha acts as an upstream regulator of NF-kappaB in PMA-induced MMP-9 induction. Our results indicate that a "PKCalpha-NF-kappaB"-dependent cascade is involved in the signaling leading to PMA-induced MMP-9 expression in the lung epithelium.
Up-Regulation/*drug effects ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/*pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha/*metabolism ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/*metabolism ; Lung/drug effects/*metabolism ; Humans ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Cell Line

BACKGROUND: Paronychia is a common infectious disease affecting fingernails and toenails. Although bacterial and fungal infections as well as mechanical trauma may play roles in the pathogenesis of this disease, there are few bacteriological studies about paronychia in military personnel. OBJECTIVE: To identify the causative bacteria of paronychia in military personnel. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the microbiological results of 145 patients who visited a tertiary referral hospital for Korean soldiers from August 2004 to October 2006. RESULTS: Twenty-eight different types of aerobic bacteria were identified, with the most common being Staphylococcus aureus (38.0%), Streptococcus pyogenes (7.2%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was identified mostly in finger and toe paronychial lesions and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered commonly from toe paronychial lesions. All cases of paronychia were controlled by the combination of antiseptic dressing, topical antibacterial ointment, oral antibiotics, and antimycotic agents. CONCLUSION: The types of bacteria that most commonly caused paronychia in military personnel were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the commonly used oral antibiotics for paronychia, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, are good choices in the treatment of paronychia in military personnel.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Bandages ; Clindamycin ; Communicable Diseases ; Fingers ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Nails ; Paronychia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Toes ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

OBJECTIVES: This clinical study evaluated the effect of light activation on the whitening efficacy and safety of in-office bleaching system containing 15% hydrogen peroxide gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three volunteers were randomly treated with (n = 17, experimental group) or without light activation (n = 16, control group), using Zoom2 white gel (15% H2O2, Discus Dental) for a total treatment time of 45 min. Visual and instrumental color measurements were obtained using Vitapan Classical shade guide and Shadepilot (DeguDent) at screening test, after bleaching, and 1 month and 3 month after bleaching. Data were analyzed using t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and chi-squared test. RESULTS: Zoom2 white gel produced significant shade changes in both experimental and control group when pre-treatment shade was compared with that after bleaching. However, shade difference between two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Tooth shade relapse was not detected at 3 months after bleaching. The incidence of transient tooth sensitivity was 39.4%, with being no differences between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The application of light activation with Zoom2 white gel system neither achieved additional whitening effects nor showed more detrimental influences.
Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Light ; Mass Screening ; Recurrence ; Tooth ; Tooth Bleaching

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.