PURPOSE: The activator of protein kinase A, cyclic AMP, has been a recognized growth inhibitor of certain cell types. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dibutyryl cAMP on the growth of cancer cells which lack wild-type p53 and to determine the mechanism of growth inhibition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate and breast cancer cells were treated with dibutyryl cAMP and compared with untreated cells. Growth patterns of cells were assessed by trypan blue-excluding method and western blot was done to determine protein levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins which govern G1 and G1/S phase. Northern blot and immunoprecipitation were done to determine the level of mRNA of p21 and the association between cell cycle regulatory proteins. In vitro immune complex kinase assay was done to assess the activity of cdk2. RESULTS: cAMP reduced cell growth by 48 h. Cyclin D3 level was downregulated and RB protein level was decreased and mostly unphosphorylated forms remained. The association of RB with E2F1 was increased. While cdk2 levels remained constant throughout cAMP treatment, the activity of cdk2/cyclin E complex, which is responsible for entry into S phase, was downregulated. Cdk inhibitors, p27 and p21 were induced with cAMP treatment. CONCLUSION: These observation suggest that the growth inhibitory effects of dibutyryl cAMP on prostate and breast cancer cells were mediated by induction of cdk inhibitors such as p21 and p27 and RB activation in accordance with downregulation of cdk2.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Cyclic AMP* ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; Cyclin D3 ; Down-Regulation ; Immunoprecipitation ; Phosphotransferases ; Prostate ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; RNA, Messenger ; S Phase

Patients who have undergone partial gastric resection are at an increased risk for the development of cancer and polyps in the gastric remnant, and this risk increases with time following gastrectomy. The prevalence of polypoid change at 15~20 years after surgery is approximately 10%, about four or five times higher as compared to nonoperated one. Hyperplastic polyps are encountered more frequently than adenomatous polyps. Surgical treatment for gastric remnant cancer has been regarded as standard method, but it was reported that endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric remnant cancer could be performed under strict indication, as the incidence of lymph node metastasis was very low. Recently one adenomatous polyp with focally carcinoma in situ in the gastric remnant was removed by endoscopic mucosal resection in male patient who had undergone Billroth II gastrojejunostomy for gastric ulcer disease 12 years earlier.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastric Stump* ; Gastroenterostomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps ; Prevalence ; Stomach Ulcer

A low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor in woman. We experienced this infrequent malignant tumor in a 36 years old woman showing metas- tasis to both ovaries, omentum, rectum and mesenteric lymph nodes, and she was treated by total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by VAC(vincristi n, actinomycin, cyclophoshamide) chemotherapy. The authors report this case with the clinicopathologic findings and brief review of literature.
Adult ; Dactinomycin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Rectum ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal*

Vestibular papillomatosis is an uncommon benign condition that can occur on labia minora and is considered as a normal anatomical variant of the vulva, as the female equivalent of pearly penile papules in men. Because vestibular papillomatosis resemble condyloma, it can be misdiagnosed as condyloma acuminatum and can lead to unnecessary treatment. We herein report a case of a 27-year-old women with multiple skin-colored soft papules on labia minora. The lesion was distributed symmetrically on the inner of labia minora and showed a separate base of individual projection. To the best of our knowledge, this is a unique case reported in the Korean dermatological literature.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Papilloma ; Vulva

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Immunophenotyping*

The brachial plexus block is a valuable method of providing anesthesia for the surgery of forearm and hand. Common technique for brachial plexus block include axillary, supraclaviculer, and interscalene approaches. The supraclavicular brachial plexus block offers adventages, ie, high success rate, rapid onset of action and relatively complete block over axillary and interscalene approach, but may be associated with pneumothorax. We marked the P point which was placed on the upper margin of clavicle that crossed the first rib on the chest PA film and marked on the skin of the patient and inserted 23G scalp needle at that point to the first rib. We performed this modified technique of supraclavicular brachial plexus block using chest PA film in 20 patients and there was no incidence of pneumothorax after this block but general anesthesia was sdministered in one case because of incomplete block. We recommend that this modified technique guided by chest PA film for supraclavicular block is simple, reliable and may reduce the incidence of pneumothorax and to increase the success rate in difficult case such as patient with extremely obesity.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Brachial Plexus* ; Clavicle ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Needles ; Obesity ; Pneumothorax ; Ribs ; Scalp ; Skin ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cause of sustained symptoms after previous hip arthroscopy through second-look hip arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 243 cases of acetabular labrectomy performed in our hospital from 1995 to 2007, we selected for review 9 cases, that had possible follow-up of more than 12 months with second-look hip arthroscopy. The male to female ratio was 3:6, the mean age was 32.2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 19.9 months. We evaluated the cause of sustained symptoms by comparing previous radiographs and second-look arthroscopic findings, and compared the pre-second-look and post-second-look state through physical examination, using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) pain score. RESULTS: We performed additional osteoplasty or chondroplasty in 6 cases of femoroacetabular impingement, that were due to previously insufficient arthroscopic treatment. Second-look hip arthroscopy revealed 6 cases with labral adhesions, 4 with synovial hypertrophy, 4 with a remnant labral tear, and 1 with a posterior periacetabular cyst. We did a procedure to release the labral adhesion, a synovectomy for the synovial hypertrophy, a labrectomy for the remnant labral tear and a cystectomy for the periacetabular cyst. Secondary arthroscopic treatment showed a post-operative improvement in the range of motion, in 5 cases and the JOA pain score increased improved from 0 to 2, indicating less pain, in all 9 cases. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of a second-look hip arthroscopy is post-operative, sustained femoroacetabular impingement and insufficient labrectomy and labral adhesion. To prevent failure of the arthroscopic treatment, adequate osteoplasty for femoroacetabular impingement, accurate labrectomy for labral tears and constructive rehabilitation treatment for preventing post-operative labral adhesion are recommended.
Arthroscopy ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Femoracetabular Impingement ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Physical Examination ; Range of Motion, Articular

Background: Topical recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) is effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, surgical wounds, burns, and scars. Binding of EGF to EGF receptors results in cell proliferation and differentiation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of topical rhEGF ointment compared with that of topical mupirocin in healing herpes zoster (HZ) lesions. Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with typical HZ were recruited in August, 2018. The rats were randomly divided into two groups: topical mupirocin and topical rhEGF ointment. HZ lesions were evaluated using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) at the initial visit, 1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks. Results: The total number of recruited patients (n=30) included males (n=16, 53.3%) and females (n=14, 46.7%) with a mean age of 58.2. The proportion of patients with a 50% reduction in the VSS score (VSS 50) at 2nd week was significantly higher in the rhEGF group (33.0% vs. 72.0%, respectively, p=0.035). The complete resolution rate (VSS=0, 1) at 4th week was also higher in the rhEGF group (17.5% vs. 50.0%, p=0.03). Conclusion Topical rhEGF showed a more rapid treatment response and anti-scarring effect than topical mupirocin in patients with HZ lesions.

BACKGROUND: Initial evaluation of injury severity in trauma patients is an important and challenging task. We aimed to assess whether easily measurable biochemical parameters (hemoglobin, pH, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio [PT/INR]) can predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma. METHODS: This retrospective study involved review of the medical records of 315 patients with severe trauma and an injury severity score >15 who were managed at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2015. We extracted the following data: in-hospital mortality, injury severity score, and initial hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR. The predictive values of these variables were compared using receiver operation characteristic curves. RESULTS: Of the 315 patients, 72 (22.9%) died. The in-hospital mortality rates of patients with hemoglobin levels <8.4 g/dl and ≥8.4 g/dl were 49.8% and 9.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). At a cutoff hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dl, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 81.9% and 86.4%, respectively. At a pH cutoff of 7.25, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 66.7% and 77.8%, respectively; 66.7% of patients with a pH <7.25 died versus 22.2% with a pH ≥7.25 (P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rates for patients with PT/INR values ≥1.4 and <1.4 were 37.5% and 16%, respectively (P < 0.001; sensitivity, 37.5%; specificity, 84%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the suggested cutoff values, hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR can simply and easily be used to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma.
Acidosis ; Biomarkers* ; Cohort Studies* ; Hospital Mortality* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injury Severity Score ; International Normalized Ratio ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prothrombin ; Retrospective Studies* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Little is known about outcomes in the use of third-line chemotherapy in cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). The primary aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate outcomes of docetaxel-based chemotherapy in patients with AGC that progressed after both oxaliplatin-based and irinotecan-based regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were those with AGC who had previous chemotherapy including fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin as well as fluoropyrimidine and irinotecan and who received subsequent docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Thirty-five patients were retrospectively recruited from 5 medical centers in Korea. Patients received either weekly or 3 weekly with docetaxel +/- cisplatin. RESULTS: Thirty-one out of 35 patients were evaluated for treatment response. A total of 94 cycles of chemotherapy (median, 2; range, 1 to 7) were administered. The overall response rate was 14.3%, and the disease control rate was 45.7%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 2.7 months). The median overall survival (OS) was 3.6 months (95% CI, 2.8 to 4.4 months). PFS and OS were significantly prolonged in patients of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, with performance status of 0 or 1 in multivariate analysis (PFS: hazard ratio[HR], 0.411; 95% CI, 0.195 to 0.868; p=0.020 and OS: HR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.184 to 0.826; p=0.014, respectively). Four of the 35 patients enrolled in the study died due to infection associated with neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that salvage docetaxel-based chemotherapy is a feasible treatment option for AGC patients with good performance status (PS), whereas chemotherapy for patients with poor PS (PS< or =2) should be undertaken with caution for those who previously failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based regimens.
Camptothecin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Taxoids