The purpose of present study was to investigate the effects of physiologically active compound (SD62-122) from Phlomidis Radix on the cell cycle progression and its molecular mechanism in human gingival fibroblasts(HGFs). For this purpose, fibroblasts were isolated and cultured from excisioned gingiva during crown lengthening procedure in healthy adult. The following parameter were evaluated that there are cell number counting, MTT assay, cell cycle progression, western blot analysis. The cell number and MTT assay of primary cultured fibroblast was not increased at 2 days but significant increased compare to negative control at 3days(p<0.05). S phase was increased and G1 phase decreased in both 10(-8)M and 10(-9)M of SD62-122 in cell cycle analysis. The cell cycle regulation protein levels of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, cdk 2, cdk 4 and cdk 6 were increased compare to control in both 10(-8)M and 10(-9)M of SD62-122. The protein levels of p21 and p53 were decreased compare to control, but the level of pRb was not changed compare to control in 10(-9)M of SD2-122. These results suggested that physiologically active compound (SD62-122) isolated from Phlomidis Radix increases the cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in HGFs, which is linked to increased cell cycle regulation protein levels of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, cdk 2, cdk 4 and cdk 6, and decreased the levels of p21, p53.
Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Proliferation ; Crown Lengthening ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin E ; Cyclins ; Fibroblasts* ; G1 Phase ; Gingiva ; Humans* ; S Phase

PURPOSE: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) occurs mainly in pediatric populations. Data on the clinical characteristics and treatment results are scarce in Korea. We report our single center experience on BL in children to improve the treatment efficacy while minimizing treatment-related toxicities. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective analysis of 15 patients diagnosed as BL or Burkitt leukemia-lymphoma (BLL) between Aug., 1995 and Feb., 2002. Several induction chemotherapy regimens were used including CCG 106B (prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, vincristine, L-asparaginase; N=10). Post-induction regimens consisted of CCG 106B (N=12), high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (N=1), and others (N= 2). RESULTS: The incidence of BL and BLL was 27.2% of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed at our institution. Abdominal mass was the most common presentation (80%) and many patients had advanced stage diseases. Six patients suffered from tumor lysis syndrome, all of whom eventually improved. None died from infection or bleeding. All patients are alive disease-free for median 20 months (range 2~26 months) of follow-up duration except for one who is alive with a residual liver mass. CONCLUSION: Though recent therapeutic trials of repeated intensified chemotherapy including high dose cytarabine and methotrexate led to improvement of survival in patients with BL, many patients suffers from therapy-related toxicities. We successfully treated pediatric BL patients with tolerable toxicities using CCG 106B regimen which is known to be highly effective in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. More experiences are needed to establish the optimal duration of therapy.
Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytarabine ; Daunorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Korea ; Liver ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Methotrexate ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome* ; Tumor Lysis Syndrome ; Vincristine

Leiomyosarcomas make up approximately 1 to 3% of all gastric neoplasms. The most prevalent age group was 6th and 7th decades. The main symptoms and signs were abdominal pain and bleeding. They most frequently involve gastric body and often ulcerate and bleed. Diagnosis can be established only by exploratory operation and histologic examination. Leiomyosarcomas rarely invade adjacent viscera and characteristically do not metastasize to lymph nodes, but they may spread to the liver and lungs. The treatment of choice is surgical resection. We report two cases of gastric leiomyosarcoma which was successfully treated surgically.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Viscera

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether polymorphisms of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR)gene,known to be associated with osteoporosis and/or osteoarthritis (OA) in Caucasians,might also relate to the risk of OA and osteoporosis in Korean postmenopausal women METHODS: A population of 130 postmenopausal women,including 76 healthy controls and 54 knee OA patients,were studied using anteroposterior radiographs of the knee,which were graded for OA according to the Kellgren classification system.The VDR genotype was determined by using polymerase chain reaction and by digestion with the three restriction enzymes Taq I,Bsm I,and Apa I.Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD)was assessed in all participants by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry . RESULTS: VDR genotype frequency distributions in Koreans were much different from Caucasian's both in the OA group and the control group.Especially, "t t", "B B" and "A A" genotype were very rare,prominently differentiating from Caucasians.But within Koreans,no significant differences in VDR genotype frequencies were observed between OA cases and controls.VDR genotype was not significantly associated with the radiographic grades of OA.And there were no significant relationships of VDR genotype with BMD scores in each group. CONCLUSION: In Korean postmenoposal women,the VDR gene polymorphisms do not significantly contribute to an increased prevalence of knee OA or to differences in BMD.VDR genotype analysis would not be helpful for assessing the risk of knee OA in Koreans because :(1)there is no correlation of VDR genotypes with the radiographic severity of OA ;and (2)there is a more skewed distribution of VDR genotypes in Korean population compared to the Caucasian's .
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Classification ; Digestion ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Knee* ; Neck ; Osteoarthritis* ; Osteoporosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Calcitriol

Adult onset Still 's disease (AOSD)is a rare,distinct clinical entity which affects predominantly young adults aged 16-35.It affects multiple organs,and at present,the etiology is still unclear.Because this disease has few diagnostic or confirmative test,the diagnosis is made by the differential diagnosis and by excluding other diseases.Several reports have suggested a viral trigger in the pathogenesis of this disease.It has some common clinical features ;abrupt onset, high fever,sore throat,transient maculopapular rash,lymphadenopathy,and hepatosplenomegaly.We describe a 17-year-old man who fulfilled the proposed diagnostic criteria of AOSD and had evidence of acute Epstein-Barr virus infection.He complained of intermittent high fever and myalgia for a week.He also had maculopapular rash,sore throat,multiple right cervical lymphadenopahty, and right ankle pain and swelling.After admission,intermittent fever persisted for a month,but diffuse myalgia and migrating arthralgia fluctuated.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Myalgia ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset* ; Young Adult

Cavernous hemangiomas are unusual tumors with a propensity for skin and liver involvement and rarely involving adrenal gland.Adrenal hemangiomas are nonfunctioning tumors, usually discovered at autopsy. In 1955, Johnson and Jeppensen reported the first adrenal hemangioma to be removed surgically.One case of emangioma of the adrenal gland was reported in Korea. We report a case of a cavernous hemangioma of the adrenal gland which was successfully treated surgically.In addition, we review the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of this disease. With the advance of diagnostic thchniques in arterography, ultrasound, and computerized tomography, preoperative recognition and diagnosis should be simplified and surgical removal carried out to rule out possible malignancy, preclude traumatic rupture, or relieve symptoms of the mass.
Adrenal Glands* ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Korea ; Liver ; Rupture ; Skin ; Ultrasonography

To our knowledge, there are only six cases of histiocytosis X confined to the stomach. A rare case of gastric polyposis caused by infiltration of histiocytes is reported. A 35-year-old Korean woman with no particular complaints was found to have numerous polyps all over the gastric wall revealed by radiographic and endoscopic examination. Endoscopic biopsy of polyps showed that there were diffuse solid infiltration of hidstiocytes with indistinct cytoplasmic membrane and an absence of phagocytosis in laminar propria mucosae. Immunohistiochemical stain showed positive reaction for S-100 and CD68 and a negative reaction for cytokeratin in the infiltrating histiocytes. Electron microscopic examination showed foamy vacuoles with digested debris around nucleus and displaced cellular organelles to periphery. Systemic examination showed no abonormalities outside the stomach.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cell Membrane ; Female ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytosis* ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mucous Membrane ; Organelles ; Phagocytosis ; Polyps ; Stomach* ; Vacuoles

Background/Aims: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) and explored predictors of response in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted over 56 weeks in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC who received ADA. Clinical response, remission, and mucosal healing were assessed using the Mayo score. Results: A total of 146 patients were enrolled from 17 academic hospitals. Clinical response rates were 52.1% and 37.7% and clinical remission rates were 24.0% and 22.0% at weeks 8 and 56, respectively. Mucosal healing rates were 39.0% and 30.1% at weeks 8 and 56, respectively. Prior use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) did not affect clinical and endoscopic responses. The ADA drug level was significantly higher in patients with better outcomes at week 8 (P<0.05). In patients with lower endoscopic activity, higher body mass index, and higher serum albumin levels at baseline, the clinical response rate was higher at week 8. In patients with lower Mayo scores and C-reactive protein levels, clinical responses, and mucosal healing at week 8, the clinical response rate was higher at week 56. Serious adverse drug reactions were identified in 2.8% of patients. Conclusions ADA is effective and safe for induction and maintenance in Korean patients with UC, regardless of prior anti-TNF-α therapy. The ADA drug level is associated with the efficacy of induction therapy. Patients with better short-term outcomes were predictive of those with an improved long-term response.

PURPOSE: Our study was carried out to estimate the incidence of cystic periventricular leukomalacia (CPVL) and to identify the risk factors for CPVL. METHODS: The medical records and cranial ultrasound scan were reviewed for 321 infants weighing less than 1, 500 g who lived more than 28 days and admitted to the NICU at Samsung Medical Center from October 1995 to December 2001. A multiple logistic regression was performed to identify which factors were independently associated with CPVL. RESULT: CPVL developed in 19 (5.9%) infants of 1, 188+/-236 g birth weight and 28(+6)+/-2(+4) weeks gestational age. Incidence of CPVL according to birth weight and gestational age were as follows respectively: <750 g 5.3%, 750-999 g 5.5%, 1, 000-1, 249 g 3.9%, 1, 250-1, 499 g 7.9% and <25weeks 8.3%, 25-26weeks 6.7%, 27-28weeks 6.5%, 29-30weeks 2.7%, 31-32weeks 11.1%. The mean day of diagnosis of CPVL was 41+/-33 days. Univriate analysis indicate that two clinical variables, prolonged ventilator duration (CPVL: control, 35+/-64 days vs 17+/-26 days, P=0.0184) and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (21% vs 2.7%, P=0.0324), were significant predictors of CPVL. The odds ratio estimate and 95% confidence limits are 1.012 and 1.003 to 1.022, respectively for prolonged ventilator duration; 2.6 and 1.044 to 6.602, respectively for severe IVH. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that prolonged ventilator duration and severe IVH increase the risk for development of CPVL.
Birth Weight ; Diagnosis ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular* ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors* ; Ultrasonography ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: This report attempts to reveal the incidence and prevalence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and compare the severity according to preceding causes of BPD in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHOD: Retrospective study was done on 293 VLBW infants who were born and admitted to neonatal intensive care unit in Samsung medical center between October, 1995 and December, 2001. Classical BPD was defined as oxygen dependency at 36 week's postmenstrual age (PMA). Ogawa BPD was defined as oxygen dependency at 28 days after birth, with respiratory distress symptoms and the change on chest X-ray finding. This classification further classified as BPD into 5 subtypes by the presence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), pathologic chorioamnionitis and the type of chest X-ray finding. BPD by Jobe and Bancalari was defined as oxygen dependency at 28 days after birth and classified as 3 subtypes (severe, moderate, mild) by the severity of oxygen dependency. Comparisons were made among classifications. RESULTS: Classical BPD infants were 56 (19.1%), Ogawa BPD infants were 76 (25.9 %), BPD by Jobe and Bancalari infants were 124 (42.3%). In Ogawa classification, Infants with RDS and the change on chest X-ray were 58 infants (76.4%). There was no statistical difference of mortality between each type of Ogawa BPD. In classification by Jobe and Bancalari, 35 infants (28.2%) belonged to severe BPD and 75 infants (60.5%) belonged to mild BPD. The mortality was highest in severe BPD infants but there was no statistical difference after correction by birth weight. There was no statistical correlation between Ogawa classification and classification by Jobe and Bancalari. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference in mortality or severity between each subtype of classifications according to the severity or preceding cause of BPD in very low birth weight infants.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax