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*

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

Median raphe cyst (MRC) of the perineum is rare congenital midline cyst of the male genitalia. MRC is thought to be caused by congenital alterations in the embryologic development of the male genitalia during fetal life. MRC can be found on the midline position between the urethral meatus and the anus. The lesion can be cystic, but sometimes it looks like an elongated configuration called a raphe canal. Diagnosis in childhood is particularly rare because they are usually asymptomatic, but some cases have reportedly been identified after infection. Although conservative treatment can be possible in small asymptomatic lesions, the treatment of choice is simple excision followed by primary closure in symptomatic cases. We describe here the case of 2-year-old boy presented at our institution with a 10-month history of anomaly of the perineal median raphe, which was treated by surgical excision.
Anal Canal ; Child, Preschool* ; Diagnosis ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male* ; Perineum

No abstract available.
Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells ; Liver ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal

No abstract available.
Aortic Coarctation* ; Stents*

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of a 20-gauge and an 18-gauge needle in sono-guided percutaneous automated gun biopsy for establishing the specific diagnosis of renal parenchymal disease in pediatric kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 60 pediatric patients with renal parenchymal diseases, percutaneous sono-guided gun biopsy was performed by an experienced radiologist. In two groups of 30 patients, regardless of their age, two needle passes were performed, using alternately an 18-gauge or a 20-gauge biopsy needle. The core of renal tissue thus obtained was examined with light, immunofluorescent or electron microscopy by the renal pathologist. The mean number of intact glomeruli of whole tissue core per biopsy, as seen on the light microscopy, and post-bioptic complications were compared between the two different needle size groups. RESULTS: The number (mean+/-1 standard deviation) ofglomeruli obtained per biopsy was 17+/-8 in the 18-gauge needle group, and 14+/-5 in the 20-gauge group. Between two groups, there was no major post-bioptic complication requiring specific treatment, nor a statistically significant difference in the frequency of minor complications. CONCLUSION: Even though more glomeruli were obtained with an 18-gauge needle, the number obtained with a 20-gauge needle also permitted adequate pathologic examination. Both an 18-gauge and a 20-gauge needle may thus be suitable for renal biopsy in pediatric patients.
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Needles*

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the usage patterns of new types of tobacco products (NTTPs) to develop effective strategies for the regulation of NTTPs in Korea. METHODS: We conducted focus group interviews to identify the NTTP usage patterns of research subjects. The NTTPs were limited to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), waterpipe tobacco, and rolling tobacco. We categorized 30 research subjects into 4 groups. The e-cigarette group was divided into adult and adolescent groups. Each group contained 7-8 subjects. An interview lasting approximately 2 hours was conducted with each group. RESULTS: Ninety percent of NTTP users used an NTTP in combination with conventional cigarettes. Subjects mostly bought NTTPs online, unlike how they bought cigarettes. Additionally, a great deal of information, such as how to use NTTPs and descriptions of NTTP products, was exchanged through online or offline societies. The primary reason why the subjects used NTTPs was that NTTPs offer a greater range of flavors and aromas than cigarettes. Moreover, NTTPs were felt to be less repulsive than cigarettes. NTTPs were not used as a cigarette substitute; rather, they were mostly used in places and situations where traditional cigarette smoking was not allowed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the government should conduct studies on the effects of the combined use of NTTPs and cigarettes on the human body, obtain and provide accurate data regarding NTTP use, and develop and implement polices to ban NTTP advertising, which may arouse adolescents' curiosity, and the addition of flavoring substances to tobacco products.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Exploratory Behavior ; Focus Groups* ; Human Body ; Humans ; Korea ; Research Subjects ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products* ; Tobacco*

OBJECTIVES: Autonomic nerve system dysfunction has been reported in patients following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, studies providing direct evidence of a link between the two have been scarce. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation in post-acute ambulatory outpatients with TBI using an analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with TBI and 21 age- and gender-matched normal controls were evaluated. The HRV assessments were performed using conventional time and frequency domain analyses as well as non-linear complexity analysis. RESULTS: In the patient group, standard deviation values of the RR intervals (SDNN), the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal sinus intervals (RMSSD), total successive RR interval difference (TSRD), and the very low frequency (VLF) power spectral parameter were significantly lower than in the control group. The patients with moderate severity of TBI exhibited a significantly lower value of VLF than those with mild severity. The severity of anxiety symptoms had a tendency to be correlated with the mean heart rate and the ratio of low-to-high frequency spectral power. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study provide evidence that TBI is associated with reduced HRV, suggesting the critical involvement of central autonomic structures in the pathogenesis of TBI. The HRV measures may serve as an index for monitoring aspects of autonomic function in patients with TBI.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Anxiety ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Autonomic Pathways ; Brain Injuries ; Carbonates ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Outpatients

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