No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
HIV-1* ; Humans* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

We describe a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph node of the neck presenting a predominantly spindle cell pattern. A 36 year-old male patient complained of dysesthesia on the right face and a palpable neck mass. Fine needle aspiration was done on the neck mass. Tumor cells were present in syncytial groups or singly with mainly spindle shaped nuclei, vesicular chromatin, thin and regular nuclear membrane, occasional prominent nucleoli and a few foci of cellular cohesiveness. The cytoplasm was scant and pale with ill-defined borders. Mature lymphocytes were present in the background of aspirates and within the tumor cell clusters. Histologically, the tumor of nasopharynx showed several areas of spindle cell pattern. Because the tumor cells showed a predominantly spindle shape with vesicular nuclear chromatin, the differential diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma or granuloma of epithelioid cells were considered, but the characteristic morphology of the nuclei with vesicular chromatin and prominent nucleoli, and cellular cohesiveness were important in making the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The possibility of metastatic carcinoma should always be considered in fine needle aspiration cytology of the lymph node in the neck because the incidence of metastatic carcinoma, particularly of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph nodes of the neck is relatively high.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Ginseng extracts, known to enhance bodily functions including learning and memory, were reported to have in vitro neuroprotective activity in vitro. Here We demonstrate the possible therapeutic effects of ginsenosides on the cell culture model of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We tested whether Rb1 or Rg1 , major components of ginseng saphonins, protects neuronal cells from the toxic effect of beta-amyloid (Abeta), which is regarded to be the main neurotoxic substrate in the AD. METHOD: B103 cells, rat brain-derived neuronal cells, were cultured and the extent of neuroprotective effects of ginsenosides on the cytotoxicity induced by exogenous Abeta25-35 was were measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: Treatment of Rb1 and Rg1 at various concentrations (l0nM, 50nM, and 1 micrometer, respectively) in B103 cells did not show any dose-dependent neurotoxic effects. Rg1 (1 micrometer) significantly blocked the neurotoxic effect of Abeta2 5 - 3 5 (50 micrometer)(P<0.05). Rb1 at concentration of 1 micrometer also had some neuroprotective effects, but not as effective as Rg1 . These neuroprotective effects are comparable to the one of estrogen (1.8nM). CONCLUSIONS: This experiment suggests the potential beneficial effects of ginseng in the treatment of AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid* ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Estrogens ; Ginsenosides ; Learning ; Memory ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Panax ; Rats

Recently, it has been postulated that diabetic autonomic neuropathy is caused by reduction in availability of nerve growth factor (NGF) in enteric nervous system. This experiments were performed to determine the changes of the distribution of enteric neuropeptide by diabetes and these changes could be prevented by administration of NGF. Sprague Dawley rats (200~250gm) were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 65 mg/kg in saline. Recombinant human NGF (Sigma, Co., Ltd.) were administered at a dose of 500ng/kg subcutaneously every day for consecutive 4 weeks after streptozotocin administration. After 4 weeks, rats were anesthetized with ether and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. ileum was dissected and prepared by whole mount preparation method. Prepared segments were immunostained for substance p, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and galanin by PAP technique. For the observation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, segments were immersed in Champy-Maillet solution for 2 days Results obtained were as follows: 1. In myenteric plexus of diabetic rats, substance P-like and VIP-like immunoreactivity were not changed compared with that of the control group. CGRP-like and galanin-like immunoreactivity were decreased in diabetic group and immunoreactive cells for CGRP and galanin were also decreased 18.1% (P<0.01) and 43.7% (P<0.01) respectively. 2. In NGF administerd diabetic group, immunoreactivity of substance p, VIP, galanin in myenteric plexus were slightly increased and immunoreactive cells for substancre p, VIP, galanin were almost the same as that of the control group. However, immunoreactive cells for CGRP of myenteric plexus were not changed by NGF. 3. In submucous plexus of diabetic rats, immunoreactivity of all four neuropeptides(substance p, CGRP, VIP, galanin) were decreased compared with that of the control group. Immunoreactive cells for substance p, CGRP, VIP, and galanin were also decreased in 38.8%, 77.6%, 33.0%, and 35.7%, respectively (P<0.01). 4. In NGF administered diabetic group, immunoreactivities of substance p, VIP and galanin in submucous plexus were increased and the immunoreactive cells were increased significantly compared to diabetic group. However, immunoreactive cells for CGRP of submucous plexus were not changed by NGF. 5. Interstitial cells of Cajal of diabetic group were decreased 7.4% ovoidal cells (A type) and 28.3% round cells (B type) In NGF administered group, the morphology and the number of ICC were not different to the control group. With the above results, it could be assumed that NGF prevent the damage of neurotransmitter and ICC in enteric nervous system.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Enteric Nervous System ; Ether ; Galanin ; Humans ; Ileum ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; Myenteric Plexus ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Neuropeptides ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peristalsis* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Submucous Plexus ; Substance P ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

PURPOSE: Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major organosulfur compound derived from garlic. It has been reported that DADS is able to inhibit the proliferation of several tumor cells. In this study, the effect of DADS was investigated in terms of the proliferation of AGS, gastric adenocarcinoma cell line at various concentrations. METHODS: The viability of cultured cells was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. To detect the induction of apoptosis, Annexin V-FITC/propodium iodide (PI) staining assay was performed. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the distribution of cells in the cell cycle were measured by a flow cytometer. And using the Western blot analysis, the change of Fas, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 activity was measured. RESULTS: The percentage of live AGS cells was decreased to 23% of that in the control group after 400 microM DADS treatment for 48 hours. The Annexin V positive/PI negative (apoptosis portion) area increased from low concentration of DADS to high concentration. When comparing among the DADS treatment groups, the amount of ROS production increased in a dose dependent manner. The percentage of sub-diploid DNA content increased from 8.71% at 50 microM to 25.74% at 400 microM DADS treatment group. The expressions of Fas, caspase-3, Bax were increased and that of Bcl-2 was decreased in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: DADS decreases the viability of AGS cell lines and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. But the relationship of the anti-proliferative effect of DADS and related molecular changes were not clearly proportional to the concentration of DADS.
4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; Adenocarcinoma ; Allyl Compounds ; Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Disulfides ; DNA ; Garlic ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Stomach Neoplasms

The clinical and pathological features of warty dyskeratoma are presented. Warty dyskeratoma is a rarely encountered, solitary, benign cutaneous tumor occurring most often on the head and neck and to our knowledge, no cases associated with cutaneous horn have been published in western literature. We experienced a case of warty dyskeratoma with a cutaneous horn occurring in a 70-year-old male, who had a 1.3 cm-sized and slowly growing nodule on his neck. A brief review of the literature, was made especially in relation to the pathological findings and histogenesis of warty dyskeratoma.
Aged ; Animals ; Head ; Horns* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck

We report a 57-year-old man with bilateral cranial nerve IX and X palsies who presented with severe dysphagia. After a mild head injury, the patient complained of difficult swallowing. Physical examination revealed normal tongue motion and no uvular deviation. Cervical X-ray findings were negative, but a brain computed tomography revealed a skull fracture involving bilateral jugular foramen. Laryngoscopy indicated bilateral vocal cord palsy. In a videofluoroscopic swallowing study, food residue remained in the vallecula and pyriform sinus, and there was reduced motion of the pharynx and larynx. Electromyography confirmed bilateral superior and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.
Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Electromyography ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis* ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Pyriform Sinus ; Skull Fracture, Basilar ; Skull Fractures ; Tongue ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

PURPOSE: Adiponectin is a molecule that plays an important role in the metabolic syndrome. In addition, its concentration is known to be decreased in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Although a relationship between hypertension and serum adiponectin concentrations has been reported by several authors, such findings continue to be debated. We investigated whether hypoadiponectinemia is related to hypertension in adolescents and studied the associated genetic polymorphism. METHODS: Forty hypertensive adolescents (Age 16-17 years old) and twenty normotensive matched subjects were included. Serum adipo-nectin, insulin, renin, aldosterone and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels were compared. Their carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured. Polymorphisms of the adiponectin I164T gene were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The hypertensive adolescents had significantly greater cIMT and PWV. In addition, the serum aldosterone, renin and insulin levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group. The plasma concentrations of adiponectin did not differ significantly between the two groups. TC genotype was not found in our study subjects; they all had the TT genotype of the adiponectine gene. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that adiponectin levels were not significantly different in adolescents with hypertension. There was no distinctive genetic polymorphism observed in this group of patients. Further large scale studies are needed to clarify the association between genetic variations and adiponectin in hypertensive adolescents.
Adiponectin ; Adolescent ; Aldosterone ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Obesity ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Renin