OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic antibacterial effect of xylitol and ursolic acid (UA) against oral biofilms in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. mutans UA 159 (wild type), S. mutans KCOM 1207, KCOM 1128 and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478 were used. The susceptibility of S. mutans to UA and xylitol was evaluated using a broth microdilution method. Based on the results, combined susceptibility was evaluated using optimal inhibitory combinations (OIC), optimal bactericidal combinations (OBC), and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC). The anti-biofilm activity of xylitol and UA on Streptococcus spp. was evaluated by growing cells in 24-well polystyrene microtiter plates for the biofilm assay. Significant mean differences among experimental groups were determined by Fisher's Least Significant Difference (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The synergistic interactions between xylitol and UA were observed against all tested strains, showing the FICs < 1. The combined treatment of xylitol and UA inhibited the biofilm formation significantly and also prevented pH decline to critical value of 5.5 effectively. The biofilm disassembly was substantially influenced by different age of biofilm when exposed to the combined treatment of xylitol and UA. Comparing to the single strain, relatively higher concentration of xylitol and UA was needed for inhibiting and disassembling biofilm formed by a mixed culture of S. mutans 159 and S. sobrinus 33478. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that xylitol and UA, synergistic inhibitors, can be a potential agent for enhancing the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm efficacy against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in the oral environment.
Biofilms* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polystyrenes ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; Xylitol*

Exercise training can improve strength and lead to adaptations in the skeletal muscle and nervous systems. Skeletal muscles can develop into two types: fast and slow, depending on the expression pattern of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. Previous studies reported that exercise altered the distribution of muscle fiber types. It is not currently known what changes in the expression of caveolins and types of muscle fiber occur in response to the intensity of exercise. This study determined the changes in expression of caveolins and MHC type after forced exercise in muscular and non-muscular tissues in rats. A control (Con) group to which forced exercise was not applied and an exercise (Ex) group to which forced exercise was applied. Forced exercise, using a treadmill, was introduced at a speed of 25 m/min for 30 min, 3 times/day (07:00, 15:00, 23:00). Homogenized tissues were applied to extract of total RNA for further gene analysis. The expression of caveolin-3 and MHC2a in the gastrocnemius muscle of female rats significantly increased in the Ex group compared with the Con group (P<0.05). Furthermore, in the gastrocnemius muscle of male rats, the expression of MHC2x was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). There was an increased expression in caveolin-3 and a slightly decreased expression in TGFbeta-1 in muscular tissues implicating caveolin-3 influences the expression of MHC isoforms and TGFbeta-1 expression. Eventually, it implicates that caveolin-3 has positive regulatory function in muscle atrophy induced by neural dysfunction with spinal cord injury or stroke.
Animals ; Caveolin 3 ; Caveolins ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Muscular Atrophy ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; Myosins ; Nervous System ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats ; RNA ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Altered cell cycle regulation may underlie the development and/or progression of human malignancies. The purpose of this study is to determine if the oncogenesis of soft tissue sarcomas could be better explained by examining the components involved in G1 phase progression. METHODS: Sixty-seven soft tissue sarcomas were studied for the immunohistochemical expression of cdk4, cyclin D1, retinoblastoma (Rb) and p16 proteins. For Rb and p16, samples showing either negative or heterogeneous (<80% of tumor cells) staining were considered to be altered. RESULTS: The cdk4 protein was observed in 64 cases (95.5%). Cyclin D1 was expressed in 14 cases (20.9%). The Rb expression was altered in 48 (71.6%). Sixty-three (94%) sarcomas demonstrated altered p16 expressions. All of the samples displayed altered expressions of either Rb or p16. A high percentage of the tumors with altered Rb were observed in relapsed patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Disturbance in the cell cycle regulatory system involving the Rb/p16/cdk4/cyclin D1 pathway appears to be relatively frequent in soft tissue sarcomas and may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of these tumors. It is noteworthy that the reduced Rb expression correlates with tumor relapse, suggesting its prognostic significance.
Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; Cyclins* ; G1 Phase ; Humans* ; Recurrence ; Retinoblastoma ; Retinoblastoma Protein* ; Sarcoma*

BACKGROUND: ras gene mutations have been described in various human malignancies, suggesting that their activation may play a role in oncogenesis. However, there are few reports concerning ras gene alterations in malignant fibrous histiocytomas. We therefore designed a study to determine the prevalence and type of mutations in the first exons of H-ras and K-ras genes in these tumors. METHODS: Twenty-seven malignant fibrous histiocytomas were investigated by direct sequencing analysis with the automated DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified ras sequences. RESULTS: Twenty-four mutations were found in 18 (67%) of the tumors: GGC to GAC transition mutations at codon 13 of K-ras (coding for aspartic acid instead of glycine) in 18 of the samples and GGC to GTC transversions at codon 12 of H-ras (coding for valine instead of glycine) in six of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest an involvement of the ras gene mutation in conjunction with other yet unknown events in the tumorigenesis and/or progression of malignant fibrous histiocytomas. The K-ras gene activation predominated in these tumors by a mutation at codon 13. It is noteworthy that H-ras mutations were detected only in association with the lesions containing K-ras mutated genes, the significance of which remains to be determined.
Aspartic Acid ; Carcinogenesis ; Codon ; Exons ; Genes, ras* ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Valine

BACKGROUND: An association between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway and the response of cancer cells to ionizing radiation has been previously described. Preoperative radiochemotherapy (PRCT) has been administered for treating locally advanced rectal cancer to improve the outcomes, and to preserve the sphincter from lowlying tumor. However, the responses of tumors to PRCT are variable and there are currently no reliable markers that predict the therapeutic benefits. We studied the association between EGFR overexpression and the tumor response to PRCT in rectal cancer. METHODS: The EGFR protein expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, was analyzed in the pretreatment biopsy specimens from 120 patients with advanced rectal cancer. The tumor response was graded in the surgically resected specimens by using a three-scale grading system: no response (NR), partial remission (PR) and complete remission (CR). RESULTS: NR was identified in 70 cases (58.3%). Fifty patients (41.7%) responded to PRCT; 27 (22.5%) achieved a PR and 23 (19.2%) achieved a CR. EGFR overexpression was detected in 78 (65%) cases. Seventy-eight percent (39/50) of the tumors with a CR/PR revealed EGFR reactivity, whereas 55.7% (39/70) of the tumors with NR showed an EGFR expression (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The EGFR protein expression might be a valuable marker for identifying those patients who are most likely to benefit from PRCT.
Biopsy ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Rectal Neoplasms*

Recently, the number of Korean travelers and workers to malaria-endemic regions has increased, and the number of patients with imported malaria cases has increased as well. In Korea, most cases of imported malaria infections are caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Only one report of imported P. malariae infection has been published thus far. Here, we describe a case of imported P. malariae infection that was confirmed by peripheral blood smear and nested PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. A 53-yr-old man, who had stayed in the Republic of Guinea in tropical West Africa for about 40 days, experienced fever and headache for 3 days before admission. The results of rapid malaria test using the SD Malaria Antigen/Antibody Kit (Standard Diagnostics, Korea) were negative, but Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear revealed Plasmodium. To identify the Plasmodium species and to examine if the patient had a mixed infection, we performed nested PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene. P. malariae single infection was confirmed by nested PCR. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene of P. malariae showed that the isolated P. malariae was P. malariae type 2. Thus, our findings suggest that when cases of imported malaria infection are suspected, infection with P. malariae as well as P. falciparum and P. vivax should be considered. For the accurate diagnosis and treatment of imported malaria cases, we should confirm infection with Plasmodium species by PCR as well as peripheral blood smear and rapid malaria antigen test.
Africa, Western ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Genes, rRNA ; Guinea* ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Malaria ; Plasmodium ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Plasmodium malariae* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: Conventional IgG assays require costly equipment and skilled experts. Semiquantitative measurement of total IgG using point-of-care testing devices may be the solution for these limitations. This study evaluated the reproducibility of the ImmuneCheck™ IgG assay (ProteomeTech Inc., Korea) and the correlation of its results with conventional laboratory IgG results in the serum and whole blood. METHODS: Both the serum and whole blood samples from 120 patients were used. To evaluate the intra-test reproducibility and inter-test correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was used. RESULTS: The concentration of serum total IgG measured by cobas® 6000 (Roche Diagnostics, Switzland) ranged from 690.4 to 2,756.4 mg/dL. The intra-test reproducibility of ImmuneCheck™ IgG was high (Serum ICC=0.724, P < 0.001; Whole blood ICC=0.843, P < 0.001). The inter-test correlation between the ImmuneCheck™ IgG and cobas® 6000 results was very good (Serum ICC=0.805, P < 0.001; Whole blood ICC=0.842, P < 0.001). Because there were no samples with a total IgG level lower than 600 mg/dL, the pre-existing serum samples were diluted and then the linearity tests were conducted. The intra-test reproducibility for the diluted serum samples was almost perfect (ICC=0.995, P < 0.001), and the inter-test correlation between the ImmuneCheck™ IgG and cobas® 6000 results was also strong (ICC=0.992, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The ImmuneCheck™ IgG assay is reproducible and highly correlated with the conventional IgG assay for the serum and whole blood. It could be applied for the rapid detection of total IgG.
Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Point-of-Care Testing

Neuropathic arthropathy is a chronic and progressive disease of bone and joints. One of the most common causes of neuropathic arthropathy is syringomyelia. Syringomyelia associated with Arnold-Chiari I malformation has been well documented in many reports. We report a case of 76 year-old woman presented with the right elbow joint pain and stiffness. Her symptom was caused by neuropathic arthropathy associated with Arnold-Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that neuropathic arthropathy requires the evaluation of central nervous system to assess for occult causal lesion.
Aged ; Central Nervous System ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Syringomyelia*