Purpose: This study was done to confirm the role of NF-kappa B in cisplatin-induced apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Five cell lines originated from different oral cancer patients were tested for the apoptosis by the treatment of cisplatin. These cells showed different degree of cisplatin-resistance and the order is OSCC-2> OSCC-3> OSCC-5> OSCC-1> OSCC-4. OSCC-2 and OSCC-4 cells were assayed for the apoptosis by measuring DNA fragmentation and TUNEL staining after cisplatin treatment. While OSCC-4 cells showed apoptosis, OSCC-2 cells showed no or very slight apoptosis by cisplatin treatment. Next, It was determined whether NF-kappa B activation is required in mediating cisplatin-induced apoptosis of OSCC-4 . Result: The result was that elevated NF-kappa B activity mediated cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings suggest that NF-kappa B activation is essential to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and it may be involved in cisplatin resistance in OSCC cells.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Line ; Cisplatin ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Negotiating ; NF-kappa B*

Purpose: This study was done to confirm the role of NF-kappa B in cisplatin-induced apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Five cell lines originated from different oral cancer patients were tested for the apoptosis by the treatment of cisplatin. These cells showed different degree of cisplatin-resistance and the order is OSCC-2> OSCC-3> OSCC-5> OSCC-1> OSCC-4. OSCC-2 and OSCC-4 cells were assayed for the apoptosis by measuring DNA fragmentation and TUNEL staining after cisplatin treatment. While OSCC-4 cells showed apoptosis, OSCC-2 cells showed no or very slight apoptosis by cisplatin treatment. Next, It was determined whether NF-kappa B activation is required in mediating cisplatin-induced apoptosis of OSCC-4 . Result: The result was that elevated NF-kappa B activity mediated cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings suggest that NF-kappa B activation is essential to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and it may be involved in cisplatin resistance in OSCC cells.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Line ; Cisplatin ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Negotiating ; NF-kappa B*

The incidence, type arid distribution of polyneuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were assessed and also analyzed the causative factors. Forty-four patients, mean age 66.1 years (42 male, 2 female), have been investigated with arterial gas analysis, pulmonary function test, clinical and electrodiagnostic studies. None of them had conditions known to affect the peripheral nervous system such as metabolic disorders or drugs. In a selected group of 44 patients, electrophysiological findings of polyneuropathy were found in 22 patients(50%), clinical polyneurtpathy were diagnosed in 13 patients(9 patients were diagnosed by electrophysiological studies, 4 patients were normal by electrophysiological studies). These findings indicate that subclinical polyneuropathy( 13 patisnts, 30%) more conimorily occurs than clinical polyneuropathy( 9 patients, 20%) in associated with COPD. In the patients with polyneuropathy, the lesions were predominant axonal degeneration, the changes were more involved in leg than arm, more frequently affected sensory fibers. We could not find etiologic factor to cause polyneuropathy in COPD patients.
Arm ; Axons ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Male ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Polyneuropathies* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Respiratory Function Tests

Background: Exposure to ozone (O3) induces neutrophilic inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia in humans and experimental animals. Because the solute carrier family 26-member 4 (Slc26a4; pendrin) gene induces mucin production and intraluminal acidification in the airways, it was hypothesized to be a key molecule in O3-induced airway injury. Thus, we evaluated the role of Slc26a4 and the protective effects of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) in O3 -induced airway injury in mice. Methods: Six-week-old female BALB/c mice were exposed to filtered air or O3 for 21 days (2 ppm for 3 hr/day). NH4Cl (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mM) was administered intratracheally into the airways. Airway resistance was measured using a flexiVent system, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells were differentially counted. Slc26a4 and Muc5ac proteins and mRNA were measured via western blotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunostaining. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-1β, and caspase-1 were analyzed via western blotting. Results: The levels Slc26a4 protein and mRNA significantly increased in lung tissues from Day 7 to Day 21 of O3exposure, with concomitant increases in lung resistance, numbers of goblet cells in lung tissues, and inflammatory cells and thiocyanate (SCN− ) levels in BALF in a time-dependent manner. Treatment with NH4Cl significantly reduced these changes to levels similar to those of sham-treated mice, with a concomitant reduction of Slc26a4 proteins in lung lysates and SCN − levels in BALF. Slc26a4 protein was co-expressed with muc5ac protein in the bronchial epithelium, as indicated by immunofluorescence staining. NH4 Cl treatment also significantly attenuated the O3 -induced increases in IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-1β, and p20-activated caspase-1. Conclusion Slc26a4 may be involved in O3 -induced inflammatory and epithelial changes in the airways via activation of the inflammasome and the induction of IL-17 and IFN-γ. NH4 Cl shows a potential as a therapeutic agent for controlling O3 -induced airway inflammation and epithelial damage by modulating Slc26a4 expression.

Cutaneous metastases from gastric carcinoma are uncommon. The frequency of metastses to the skin from gastric carcinoma have ranged from 0.3% to 0.4%. Carcinoma en cuirasse, first described by Velpeau in 1838, is marked sclerodermatous change and characterized by a difffuse morphea-like induration of the skin and represents a rare manifestations of breast carcinoma metastatic to the chest wall. It is vary rarely seen in lung, stomach, kidney and other metastasizing malignancies. We report a case of carcinoma en cuirase and nodular carcinoma from gastric carcinoma in a 36-year-old male who complained chiefly of multiple cutaneous nodules. He had mixed lesions of an erythematous morphea-like induration on the neck and multiple erythematous nodules on the chest and abdomen. Gastroscopy finding showed a Borrmann type IV advanced gastric carcinoma. Histopathologic examination of skin and stomach showed atypical cells with pleomorpic, hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty, eosinophilic cytoplasm, which are consistent with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical stainings showed positive reaction for cytokeratin. He died three months after the appearance of cutaneous lesions.
Abdomen ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Keratins ; Kidney ; Lung ; Male ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin ; Stomach ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Cathepsin D, an aspartic lysosomal proteinase, is believed to be involved in local invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by its proteolytic activity and has been described to be associated with tumor progression and prognosis in some human malignancies including breast cancer. But, its prognostic value for human lung cancer remains to be determined. The purpose of this study is to determine clinicopathological and prognostic significance of cathepsin D expression in non-small cell lung cancer. METHOD: Using a polyclonal antibody, immunohistochemical analysis of cathepsin D was performed on paraffin embedded sections of tumors obtained surgically from 54 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (37 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 adenocarcinoma, 2 large cell carcinoma, and 1 undifferentiated carcinoma). RESULTS: Eighteen patients (33.3%) showed positive immunoreactivities of cathepsin D in tumor cells. No significant correlation of cathepsin D expression in tumor cells was found in p-stage (surgical-pathologic stage), tumor size, tumor factor, nodal involvement, and differentiation. Of 54 patients, 29 (53.7%) patients showed moderate to massive cathepsin D-positive stromal cells within the tumor tissues, while the rest (46.3%) showed few cathepsin D-positive stromal cells within the tumor tissues. Cathepsin D expression n stromal cells was significantly associated with p-stage in non-small cell lung cancer (p=0.031). No significant correlation of the degree of cathepsin D-positive stromal cells was found in tumor size, T-factor, nodal involvement, differentiation. Cathepsin D expression status in tumor cells and stromal cells was not significantly associated with prognosis expressed by survival rate. The results of multivariate analyses of variables possibly associated with progonosis showed that nodal involvement was the only independent prognostic factor in all patients. CONCLUSION: Cathepsin D expression in stromal cells was significantly associated with p-stage in non-small cell lung cancer. However, it was not related to other clinicopathologic features and prognosis, and Cathepsin D expression in tumor was not related to p-stage and prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cathepsin D* ; Cathepsins* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis* ; Stromal Cells ; Survival Rate

An aortic aneurysm is described as a permanent localized dilatation of the aorta having a diameter at least 1.5 times that of the expected norrnal diameter of that given aortic segment. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are much less common than are aneurysms of the abdominal aorta. Thoracic aneurysms are classified by the portion of aorta involved, I.e., the ascending, arch, or descending thoracic aorta. We experienced a case of saccular arteriosclerotic aortic aneurysm associated with thrombus in aortic arch in a 78 year-old male who had history of hypertension. He was admitted to Kwangju Veterans Hospital complaining of drowsy mental state and swelling of left foreann. The chest X-ray, chest CT and echocardiogram showed saccular dilatation(maximal diarneter ; 7.67~7.86cm) associated with thrombus in aortic arch. He refused operation because of old age, so he was conservatively rnanaged including propranolol. We report this case of saccular arteriosclerotic aneurysm of aortic arch with a brief review of literature.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Dilatation ; Gwangju ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Propranolol ; Thorax ; Thrombosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Gastric lipoma is rare submucosal tumor, accounting for less than 3% of all be- nign gastric tumor. Most are usually asymptomatic, but on occasion, they may present with abdominal pain, obstruction, dyspepsia, intussuception and gastrointestinal bleeding. Surgical resection is definitive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Surgical removal of gastric lipoma should be considered in the following situations: 1) the lesion is large, 2) the lesion is difficult to differentiate from malignant tumor, 3) the patient is symptomatic or has recurrent bleeding or obstruction. We report a case of gastric lipoma with bleeding in a 67-year-old male. Gastroscopy showed active gastric ulcer with fresh blood clot. Although medical conservative treatment was done, bleeding was continued. We referred patient to general surgical department for open surgical procedure and subtotal gastrectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of surgical gastric segment showed 5 5.5 cm sized ulcerated mass. Microscopic finding of cross section showed uniform and mature adipose cell, finding consistent with lipoma. We confirmed it submucosal gastric lipoma with ulcer bleeding.
Abdominal Pain ; Adipocytes ; Aged ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroscopy ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Male ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer