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

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; alpha-Fetoproteins*

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate predictors of smoking cessation in outpatients. METHOD: Subjects were 401 adult smoking patients who saw their doctors in the outpatient setting at a university hospital, regardless of their willingness of otherwise in smoking cessation. Physicians delivered a brief, stop smoking prompt to all patients who smoked one or more cigarettes a day. Then they referred to on-site counselors who provided a brief, nurse assisted intervention with a survey to a randomly assigned intervention group (200 smoking patients), whom the counselors telephoned later to prevent relapse or promote the motivation to quit, or gave only a survey to a control group (201 smoking patients). After at least 5 months, self-reported current smoking cessation was confirmed later using cut-off values of 7 ppm or less in expired alveolar air after breath holding portable CO analyzer. RESULTS: After 5 months, subjects in the intervention group were 1.56 times (95% C.I. 0.89-2.73) more likely to quit smoking than those in the non-intervention group (14.0% vs. 9.0%). Willingness to quit smoking in a month, scheduled admission in a month, self efficacy score and FTND (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence) score were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, previous attempts to quit smoking were significant instead of self efficacy score. In the intervention group who had willingness to quit smoking in a month (132 smoking patients), FTND score, whether quit date was today, and whether quit promise paper was submitting were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, scheduled admission in a month and whether quit date was today were significant predictor variables. Smoking cessation treatment should be tailored to individual smoking patients considering these predictors.
Adult ; Breath Holding ; Counseling ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Motivation ; Nicotine ; Outpatients* ; Recurrence ; Self Efficacy ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products

Acquired hemophilia is a rare disorder associated with fatal bleeding caused by the development of autoantibodies against factor VIII. Here, we report the cases of two young women with acquired hemophilia who presented with massive internal hemorrhage and purpura. Both patients were successfully treated with combination therapy including factor VIII or factor VIII bypassing agent, immunosuppressants, and therapeutic plasmapheresis.
Autoantibodies ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Plasmapheresis ; Purpura

PURPOSE: To estimate the effect and toxicity of bimonthly low-dose leucovorin (LV) and fluorouracil (5-FU) bolus plus continuous infusion(LV5FU2) with docetaxel combination chemotheraphy in patients with inoperable or postoperative relapsed gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 27 patients are enrolled in this study. LV 20 mg/m2 (bolus), 5FU 400 mg/m2 (bolus), 5-FU 600 mg/m2 (24-hour continuous infusion) on day 1, 2, 15, and 16, docetaxel 60 mg/m2 (1-hour infusion) on day 15 every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Total of 141 cycles were administered and response rate were 36.8% with 2 complete response (10.5%) and 5 partial response (26.3%) in 19 evaluable patients. The median response duration is 8.1 months (95% CI, 4.0~12.1). The median progression-free survival time is 6.7 months (95% CI, 5.0~8.5) and the median overall survival time is 11.9 months (95% CI, 4.8~19.1). The grade 3-4 toxcity of neutropenia (24.8%) and anemia (11.3%), neutropenic fever (2.8%) is observed. The grade 1 toxcity of injection site reaction is observed all patients and the grade 1-2 toxcity of alopecia is observed 60%. CONCLUSIONS: LV5FU2 with docetaxel combination chemotheraphy is effective and tolerable in patients with inoperable or postoperative relapsed gastric cancer.
Alopecia ; Anemia ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fever ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Neutropenia ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Taxoids

No abstract available.
Etoposide* ; Fluorouracil* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of two-drug combination treatment may be schedule-dependent. We investigated a simulated in-vitro interaction between taxol and doxorubicin in a Cervical cancer cell line HeLa and the role of peroxiredoxin in cytotoxicity. METHODS: Two contradicting schedules of two drugs (taxol followed by doxorubicin or vice versa) were compared each other in terms of cytotoxicity in parental HeLa cell line and the peroxiredoxin (prx)-overexpressing variant. Cytotoxic activity was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle pertubation was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. Protein levels were determined by western blot. RESULTS: The sequential treatment of taxol followed by doxorubicin (T-- Appointments and Schedules ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor* ; Cyclin D1 ; Doxorubicin ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Paclitaxel ; Parents ; Peroxiredoxins* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colectomy ; Colonic Neoplasms/*pathology/therapy ; Humans ; Liposarcoma/*pathology/therapy ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/*pathology/therapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/*pathology/therapy ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The relationship between serum cholesterol levels and mortality is complex. Serum cholesterol levels correlate positively with coronary artery disease, but some studies have suggested a negative relationship in cancer patients. Because the serum cholesterol levels are one of the most frequently assayed laboratory values, trends in the levels of cholesterol were investigated, in patients with gastric cancer and assumed a possible role in cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum cholesterol levels were retrospectively analyzed in a group of 220 patients, diagnosed with gastric cancer, and in 177 healthy subjects. Anthropometric (body mass index: BMI) and biochemical indices of their nutritional status were also determined in the study subjects. Statistical analyses were performed by analyses of variance and covariance, and a discriminant analysis. RESULTS: The levels of serum cholesterol, albumin, Hb and the BMI were significantly lower in the gastric cancer-patients group than in the healthy-subjects group. The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were shown to be independent of each other, when adjusted for the effects of the BMI. In the patients with gastric cancer the levels of cholesterol and Hb showed decreasing tendencies as did the tumor extension, as defined by the TNM system. CONCLUSION: The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were significantly lower in patients with gastric cancer than in the healthy subjects, which seemed to be linked to the progression of gastric cancer. Therefore, further study is required for the serum cholesterol and Hb levels to be used as markers in cancer screening and its progression, in patients with gastric cancer.
Cholesterol* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: Accelerometer is a convenient device that can easily measure human movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in the assessment of hemiparetic gait after stroke. METHOD: Twenty hemiparetic stroke patients were enrolled in the study. A portable accelerometer was attached between L3,4 intervertebral area. Vertical and medio-lateral acceleration was measured while walking 10 m. Walking ability of each subject was classified by Functional Walking Category (FWC). RESULTS: Accelerometric parameters, such as walking speed, a mean amount of peak vertical acceleration in one gait cycle, mean peak value of unaffected side, peak vertical acceleration ratio, step time ratio were significantly higher in groups of FWC 4, 5, 6 than in groups of FWC 2, 3. In subjects using cane there was an extra peak other than peaks observed in non-users. Mean peak value, step length of unaffected side and cadence were significantly higher in non-users than in users. CONCLUSION: Trunk accelerometer can be used as an objective method to evaluate walking ability in hemiparetic patients after stroke.
Acceleration ; Accelerometry* ; Canes ; Gait ; Humans ; Stroke ; Walking*