PURPOSE:We investigated the production of oxygen hydroxyl radicals in the striatum of neonatal rat brain after intrastriatal injection of dopamine (DA) and the effect of growth hormone (GH) on the apoptosis of striatal neurons injured by hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS:The extracellular striatal levels of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA as indicators of hydroxyl radical(OH-) production were measured by in vivo microdialysis in the striatums of 7 day-old newborn rats (n=10) after direct intrastriatal infusion of dopamine hydrochloride (1.0 micromol/microL). The samples of perfused artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected every 10 minutes interval. The levels of DA, 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA of CSF were analysed by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Also, the brains were removed at 24 hour after hypoxic-ischemic injury by Rice-Vannucci method. The coronal sections (12 micrometer) of paraffin-fixed brains were stained by TUNEL (terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labelling) technique, and the neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis in the striatum were observed by fluorescent microscopy and compared between GH-treated (50 mg/kg, Dong-Ah Pharmacy Co.) and saline-treated rats. RESULTS:The extracellualr striatal levels of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA increased abruptly in the first 10 minutes samples after intrastriatal injection of DA. After then, the levels declined slowely. The levels of striatal extracelluar 2.3-DHBA increased up to 621.8+/-508.7% of basal levels (P<0.05), and the levels of 2.5-DHBA increased up to 262.8+/-198.1% of basal levels (P<0.05). GH reduced markedly the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in the striatum after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. CONCLUSION: The level of hydroxyl radicals increased abruptly after intrastriatal injection of DA and GH reduced markedly the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in the striatum after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infant, Newborn* ; Microdialysis ; Microscopy ; Neurons* ; Oxygen ; Pharmacy ; Rats*

A retrospective analysis was performed on 69 follow-up cases of ducal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) treated from Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1995 at Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. The results are as follows. The mean age was 45.4 years that ranged from 28 to 68. The proportion of DCIS to breast cancer was increased from 1.3% to 7.2% for 15 years. Clinical presentations of DCIS were mass, nipple discharge and suspicious mammographic findings. Patients presenting mass were decreased, while mammographically detected DCIS were increased. In 49.3% of cases, the tumor size was smaller than 2cm and in 21.3% of the cases, the tumor was not palpable. Treatment modality was changed to more conservative procedures. All of the patients survived well without local recurrence or distant metastasis for a mean follow-up of 36.3 months(range 7 to 146). Histopathologic review was also performed on 52 cases of which paraffin blocks were saved, by one pathologist and diagnosis was confirmed. Pure DCIS composed 16 cases(30.8%), and DCIS with microinvasion was 36 cases(69.2%). Clinical presentation of DCIS, such as age, nipple discharge, calcification on mammography and mass size were not related to the microinvasion, but mass palpability was related to microinvasion(p=0.018). There was no histopathologic features to predict progression to invasive carcinoma, regardless of comedo type, histologic grade and nuclear grade. The expression of cathepsin-D, nm23, p53 and c-erbB-2 protein, was also evaluated using immunohistochemical methods. The relationship between expression of immunohistochemical antibodies and prognostic variables such as tumor size, histologic grade, nuclear grade, and microinvasion was assessed. The overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein was associated with lower nuclear grade(p=0.033), and a strong correlation was seen between tumor size and cathepsin-D and p53 protein(p=0.035, p=0.016). In this study, we conclude that the fine classification and analysis of DCIS subtype, not only by histopathologic but also by immunohistochemical study can be helpful to predict biological behaviour of DCIS and decide the modality of treatment.
Antibodies ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma in Situ* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammography ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nipples ; Paraffin ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

We experienced a case of isolated fetal pleural effusion diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonogram in the 33th week of gestational age. Chest PA at birth showed massive pleural effusion in both lungs. The serous pleural fluid changed to a milky nature after feeding so we diagnosed it as congenital chylothorax. The infant was managed by chest tube drainage, NPO & TPN with good response and was discharged on the 28th hospital day. We report the case with a brief review of its related literature.
Chest Tubes ; Chylothorax* ; Drainage ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Lung ; Parturition ; Pleural Effusion ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Aged ; Cysticercosis/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis/diagnosis/radiography

PURPOSE: The incidence of secondary malignancies in hematologic patients is known to be higher than it is in other patients. However, the characteristics of secondary malignancy and surveillance have not yet been established for colorectal cancer in leukemic patients. METHODS: From 1995 to 2007, 6,030 patients who were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM) were enrolled in this study. Among them, 9 patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at St. Mary's Hospital and were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Three of the 2,570 patients with AML, 1 of the 1,158 patients with CML, 2 of the 83 patients with CLL, 2 of the 422 patients with MM, and none of the 1,797 patients with ALL were found to have colorectal cancer. There were no operative mortalities, but 2 patients refused to have surgery. The ratio of observed to expected subsequent colorectal cancer in CLL was higher than it was in the other groups, indicating that the relative risk of colorectal cancer is higher in patients with CLL. CONCLUSION: Compared to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Result (SEER) program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United State, we have the same high relatively risk in CLL patients. Careful attention should be paid to the possibility of colorectal cancer in CLL patients.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Multiple Myeloma ; National Cancer Institute (U.S.) ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies

1136 breast cancer patients admitted to and treated at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, between Jan. 1989 and Dec. 1995 were analysed retrospectively. We compared this group of patients with another group of 802 breast cancer patients between Jan. 1970 and Dec. 1988. The results are as follows. Neither the mean age (46.9 years), prevalent age group (5th decade) or common location of the tumor (outer upper quadrant) showed any difference between the two groups. The common presenting symptoms of patients, breast lump (89.0%) and bloody discharge (3.0%), also did not change significantly. However, the number of patients with microcalcification or abnormal mass density on mammography without specific symptoms and signs increased in this period. According to the AJCC staging system, more than half of thepatients were stage II (59.2%) followed by stage I (20.5%), stage III (13.2%), stage 0 (4.7%) and stage IV (2.3%). The proportion of patients with early breast cancer increased from 62.0% for the early-time group to 84.4% for the later-time group, while that of patients with advanced breast cancer decreased significantly from 38.0% to 15.5% (p<0.0001). Invasive ductal carcinoma,NOS (81.7%) and modified radical mastectomy (84.5%) was still the most common histologic type and type of operation performed respectively. Although the most common type of operation performed did not change significantly, a number of patients, 113 patients, underwent breast conservation surgeries during the later-time period. Quadrantectomy and axillary dissection was the most common type of breast conservation surgery. In summary, no obvious differences in age distribution, tumor location, or common histologic type were found between the two groups. However, the number of asymptomatic patients detected by mammography, the number of breast conservation surgery performed, and the proportion of early breast cancer were markedly increased remarkably in later-time group.
Age Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Mammography ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems have been established in a broad range of eukaryotic species. Herein, we report the first method for genetic engineering in pyogo (shiitake) mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) using CRISPR/Cas9. For in vivo expression of guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting the mating-type gene HD1 (LeA1), we identified an endogenous LeU6 promoter in the L. edodes genome. We constructed a plasmid containing the LeU6 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (LeGPD) promoters to express the Cas9 protein. Among the eight gRNAs we tested, three successfully disrupted the LeA1 locus. Although the CRISPRCas9–induced alleles did not affect mating with compatible monokaryotic strains, disruption of the transcription levels of the downstream genes of LeHD1 and LeHD2 was detected.Based on this result, we present the first report of a simple and powerful genetic manipulation tool using the CRISPR/Cas9 toolbox for the scientifically and industrially important edible mushroom, L. edodes.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade the extracellular matrix and other extracellular proteins. Upregulation of MMPs activity is known to be required for the inflammatory cell infiltration after spinal cord injury (SCI) and most likely contributes to early blood spinal barrier disruption and inflammation, thereby leading to the impairment of functional recovery. Here, we examined the effect of ethanol extract of Bupleurum falcatum (BF) on functional recovery by inhibiting MMP-2 and -9 activation and inflammation after SCI. Rats received a moderate, weight-drop contusion injury to spinal cord were administered orally with BF at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 14 d and functional recovery was measured by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor open field behavioral rating test, inclined plane test and foot print analysis. To examine the neuroprotective effect of BF, TUNEL staining and counting were also performed. In addition, the expression and/or activation of MMP-2, MMP-9 and inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, COX-2, and iNOS were examined by RT-PCR and gelatin zymography using spinal cord tissue from 1 d after injury. Our data showed that BF significantly inhibited the expression and activation of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 after SCI. The mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, COX-2, and iNOS were also significantly attenuated by BF. Furthermore, BF reduced apoptotic cell death at 1 d after injury, thereby significantly reduced lesion volume and improved functional recovery. Taken together, these results suggest that BF can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for treating acute spinal injury.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bupleurum ; Cell Death ; Contusions ; Endopeptidases ; Ethanol ; Extracellular Matrix ; Foot ; Gelatin ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Proteins ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Injuries ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation