Objective: To observe the effect of heat shock on tropoelastin mRNA and protein expression in cultured human dermal fibroblasts and to elucidate the possible role of heat shock in the development of solar elastosis in human skin. Methods: Primary cultured human dermal fibroblasts were incubated in 43 ℃ water bath for 30 minutes, then returned to 37 ℃, 5%(volume fraction) CO 2 atmosphere normal culture condition. The cells were harvested at hour 24 and 48 after heat treatment respectively. Total RNA was extracted from cell lysis and tropoelastin mRNA level was measured by Northern blot assay. Tropoelastin protein level in cultured supernatant was measured by Western blot assay. Results: At hour 24 after heat treatment, the level of tropoelastin mRNA was enhanced to (163?12)% of control group (P

Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that synthesizes TTAGGG telomeric DNA onto chromosomal ends to compensate for sequence loss during replication. It has been detected in a variety of human malignancies, suggesting that such activity may play a role in the tumorigenic process. To determine whether telomerase is reactivated in malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 12 tissue samples with this tumor were analyzed for the telomerase activity by a radioactive PCR-based TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay. All of the tumors were further investigated for the expression of human telomerase RNA (hTR) by an in situ hybridization (ISH). Telomerase activity was detected in one (8.3%) sample. Expression of hTR was demonstrated in 7 (58.3%): one telomerase-positive and six telomerase-negatives. These data indicate that the reactivation of telomerase is an uncommon event and not an important factor involved in tumorigenesis in malignant fibrous histiocytoma. It is noteworthy that 50% of the patients with grade 2 tumors expressed hTR, suggesting that telomerase RNA may be useful as a marker for identifying tumor aggressiveness earlier than the conventional histopathologic grading scale.
Carcinogenesis ; DNA ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; RNA* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Telomerase*

There have been a few reports of familial anorectal malformations extending over more than one generation. We experienced a case of a family with 3 members spanning 2 generations affected with isolated low type anorectal malformations. They had same low type of anorectal malformations. In all 3 patients, a perianal anoplasty was performed.
Family Characteristics ; Humans

Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDC) are the most common type of congenital developmental anomaly encountered in the anterior midline of the neck in childhood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of TGDC and identify any factors that could be related to recurrence after surgery. This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of 45 patients treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital for TGDC between 1990 and 2008. All records were reviewed for age and sex, length of history, presentation, diagnostic methods, sizes and locations of cyst, surgical management, histopathology of the lesion and recurrences. The statistical analysis of risk factors for recurrence was made using the Fisher's exact test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The male to female ratio was 2.2:1 with a male preponderance. The mean age at operation was 5 years and 2 months (4 months - 17 years). The most common presenting symptom was a nontender cervical mass (78%). Most TGDC were found in the midline position. Twenty four were infrahyoid, 17 were hyoid, and 4 were suprahyoid level. Forty one (91%) patients received the Sistrunk operation, and 4(9%) patients received cyst excision. Postoperative a seroma developed in six patients in the early postoperative days. There were a total of 3(6.6%) recurrences, 2 in patients who had excision only and in one patient who had the Sistrunk operation. Univariate analysis for risk factors with recurrence showed that there was no statistical relationship between the presence of preoperative infection and the development of recurrence. The removal of hyoid bone along with TGDC was a statistically significant risk factor for recurrent disease. This study suggests that the Sistrunk operation is the treatment of choice for TGDC in order to reduce recurrence.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Male ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seroma ; Thyroglossal Cyst

Congenital segmental dilatation of the colon is a very rare entity of unknown etiology, characterized by a localized dilatation of a bowel segment of the colon of variable length and an abrupt transition between the normal and dilated intestine. It can affect any part of the colon, with the rectosigmoid colon being the most commonly affected site. The clinical and radiological features may resemble that of Hirschsprung disease, but differ in that the normal ganglion cells are found in the dilated and normal segment of the colon. We performed laparoscopic-assisted transanal endorectal pull-through for segmental dilatation of rectosigmoid colon in an 8-year-old boy with chronic constipation since the age of 5 months.
Child* ; Colon* ; Constipation ; Dilatation* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Intestines ; Male

No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation* ; Stents*

Autophagy is a highly regulated cellular mechanism that results in the bulk degradation of long-lived proteins and organelles and which seems to be implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions relevant to neurological diseases. The formation of intraneuronal mutant protein aggregates is a characteristic of several human neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and polyglutamine disorders such as Huntington's disease (HD). Autophagy is a major clearance pathway for the removal of the mutant huntingtin protein associated with HD, and many other disease-causing, cytoplasmic, aggregate-prone proteins. Autophagy is negatively regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and can be induced in all mammalian cell types by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. It can also be induced by an mTOR-independent pathway, which has multiple drug targets, involving links between Ca2+-calpain-Gsa and cAMP-Epac-PLC-e-IP3 signaling. Both pathways enhance the process of autophagy. In this review, we describe the various drugs and pathways that induce autophagy that are potential therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative disorders.
Alzheimer Disease ; Autophagy ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; Mutant Proteins ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Organelles ; Parkinson Disease ; Peptides ; Proteins ; Sirolimus

Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium species. Most of the imported malaria in Korea are due to Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, and Plasmodium ovale infections are very rare. Here, we report a case of a 24-year-old American woman who acquired P. ovale while staying in Ghana, West Africa for 5 months in 2010. The patient was diagnosed with P. ovale malaria based on a Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear, Plasmodium genus-specific real-time PCR, Plasmodium species-specific nested PCR, and sequencing targeting 18S rRNA gene. The strain identified had a very long incubation period of 19-24 months. Blood donors who have malaria with a very long incubation period could be a potential danger for propagating malaria. Therefore, we should identify imported P. ovale infections not only by morphological findings but also by molecular methods for preventing propagation and appropriate treatment.
Blood/parasitology ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Female ; Ghana ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria/*diagnosis/parasitology/*pathology ; Microscopy ; Plasmodium ovale/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Travel ; Young Adult

We report a case of nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas in a 15-year-old girl who presented with back pain. On physical examination, there was mild tenderness in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The patient had no pancreatic hormone-associated symptoms. An abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-demarcated hypervascular solid mass with calcification in the tail of the pancreas. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a 6x5cm sized well-encapsulated enhancing solid mass with cystic component in the tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathology revealed awell- differentiated nonfunctioning low grade malignant neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Back Pain ; Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Physical Examination

Although hemangiomas are common vascular tumors that can occurany where in the body, they seldom involve the gastrointestinal tract. Hemangiomas of the gastrointestinal tract in infants and children are rare benign vascular tumors that most commonly present with gastrointestinal bleeding. We describe here the case of 2-year-old boy with intestinal bleeding caused by a large jejunal cavernous hemangioma, which was treated by laparoscopy-assisted resection of the affected portion of the jejunum.
Anemia ; Caves ; Child ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Jejunum ; Laparoscopy ; Preschool Child