PURPOSE: RKIP (Raf kinase inhibitor protein) is a novel candidate tumor suppressor, known to inhibit the MAPK signaling by interfering with the MEK phosphorylation by Raf-1. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RKIP and analyze the pattern of inactivation and mutation of the RKIP gene in human gastric cancer. METHODS: To explore if RKIP inactivation is implicated in gastric tumorigenesis, an expression analysis on the transcription and protein expression levels and a mutational analysis of RKIP were performed in 15 human gastric cancer cell lines and 92 primary carcinoma tissues. RESULTS: Abnormal reduction of the level of RKIP expression was frequently detected in the cancer cell lines and primary tumor tissues, at both the transcript and protein levels. Moreover, the expression level of RKIP in the tumor cells was inversely correlated with the level of Erk phosphorylation, indicating that RKIP plays a key role in the regulation of the Raf-MEK-Erk signaling pathway in human gastric cells. While the expression of the RKIP transcript was not re-activated in low expressor cells by treatment with the demethylating agent 5'Aza-dC, the genomic RKIP was detected at low levels in many cancer cell lines, suggesting that an abnormal reduction of level of RKIP expression in tumors might be caused by allelic deletion of the gene rather than transcriptional silencing due to aberrant DNA hypermethylation. A loss of heterozygosity study, using an intragenic polymorphic marker, revealed that approximately 21% of the gastric cancers harbored allelic loss of the RKIP gene. CONCLUSION: Collectively, this study has demonstrated that RKIP is a tumor suppressor, whose expression is frequently downregulated by allelic deletion in human gastric cancers. This study also suggests that an altered expression of RKIP might contribute to the development of gastric cancer via abnormal elevation of the Raf-Erk signaling pathway.
Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line ; DNA ; Humans* ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Primary cardiac tumors in infancy and childhood are rare, with fibromas being the second most common tumor after rhabdomyomas. Although cardiac fibromas are characteristically benign intramural tumors, they may exhibit expansile growth resulting in obstruction, valvular dysfunction, as well as other problems so early diagnosis and successful surgical excision are important. We experienced a case of cardiac fibroma in right ventricle that diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography, chest CT, open heart tissue biopsy etc.
Biopsy ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Fibroma* ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Rhabdomyoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Anomalous union of pancraeticobiliary drain (AUPBD) is uncommon anomaly of the pancreaticobiliary ductal union system. Usually, this anomaly is confirmed by long common channel (>15 mm) at ERCP and is divided into according to relationship between pancreatic duct and common bile duct. Recently several reports showed that AUPBD may be associated with congenital choledochal cyst and gallbladder carcinoma. A 33-year old man was admitted with RUQ pain and jaundice. Ultrasonography, Abdominal CT, ERCP, and PTBD cholangiography showed type I choledochal cyst, AUPBD and focal adenomyomatosis on the gallbladder. Whipple's operation with excision of the choledochal cyst and chloecystectomy were performed for treatment. This clinical experience suggests that high incidence of choledochal cyst in patients with AUPBD and gallbladder adenomyomatosis are may be closely related to the carcinogenesis of gallbladder cancer in patients with AUPBD.
Adult ; Carcinogenesis ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaundice ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Recently, a key role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn's disease (CD), has emerged. In Japan, 3 single base pair polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of the TNF-alpha gene at position 1031, 863, and 857, which are related to high transcriptional promoter activity, have been identified in the Japanese CD patients. And the polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha gene at position 308, 238 have been reported in western CD patients. So, in order to find the same polymorphisms in Korean population and CD patients, the author evaluate the patients diagnosed with CD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 70 patients with CD, 72 patients with UC and 52 healthy controls. Polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha gene at their respective positions were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP), and allele frequencies in CD and UC patients were compared with those in healthy controls. RESULTS: Allele frequencies of 1031C, 863A, and 857T in health controls were 18.3%, 8.7%, and 19.2%, respectively. Polymorphic allele frequencies of 1031C, 863A, 857T were 22.9%, 27.1%, and 24.3% in CD patients respectively. The frequencies at all 3 positions were higher in CD patients than in HCs. However, the frequency at 863A was statistically significant (P=0.000). The allele frequencies of 308A and 238A alleles were 0.7% and 3.6% in CD, 0.7% and 2.1% in UC, and 1.9% and 4.8% in HCs, respectively. The allele frequency of 1031C was significantly higher in B3 than in B2 (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms of 5'-flanking region of the TNF-alpha at positions 1031 (T/C), 863 (C/A) and 857 (C/T) may be associated with susceptibility of CD.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Pairing ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease* ; Gene Frequency ; Humans* ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Japan ; Korea ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Interferon-alpha is an established therapy for the patients with myeloproliferative disease. Unusual immune-mediated side effects have been reported during treatment. Among them, renal and cardiac toxicities are rare complications. Recently we experienced a case of hemolytic uremic syndome found in a 40-year old male undergoing interferon-alpha therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic phase. On admission, his chief complaints were generalized edema and azotemia. Bone marrow biopsy revealed transformation into accelerated phase. bcl/abl gene was positive. Peripheral blood smear showed hemolytic anemia. Despite prompt diagnosis, institution of plasmapheresis, and steroid, his renal function did not recover, as expected. Hemolytic uremic syndrome was a chronic form of renal toxicity due to interferon-alpha. In this case, renal function did not recovered to normal level. However, early detection of renal toxicity such as proteinuria or acute tubular necrosis, and the discontinuation of interferon-alpha could achieve the recovery of normal renal function. Therefore, periodic examination of renal function should be performed in the patients with the use of long-term interferon-alpha.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Male ; Necrosis ; Plasmapheresis ; Proteinuria

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Atrial Appendage*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the function of Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) in human neonatal monocytes. METHODS: The peptide, Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm), was synthesized, purified, and prepared in the Peptide Library Support Facility at Pohang University of Science and Technology. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200+/-10 g) were preinfected with S. aureus and treated with WKYMVm through femoral vein. At various time points, blood samples were obtained by puncture of femoral artery and the serum was plated on the nutrient agar plate. The number of viable bacteria was determined by counting the number of bacterial colonies. In addition, using S. aureus and C. albicans, we evaluated the bactericidal and fungicidal activities of neonatal monocytes, which were separated from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll gradient. RESULTS: The numbers of bacteria in the blood of WKYMVm-treated rats were rapidly decreased with time, as compared with those of the untreated rats. The peptide treatment enhanced the bactericidal activity in vivo within 10 minutes. In neonatal monocytes, WKYMVm stimulated the intracellular killing of S. aureus in a dose dependent manner, showing the maximum effect at 100 nM. WKYMVm stimulated the phagocytic and fungicidal activities against C. albicans in a dose dependent manner, with the maximum effect at the 100 nM. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that WKYMVm may be an effective agent against the neonatal infections.
Agar ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Femoral Vein ; Fetal Blood ; Ficoll ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Homicide ; Humans ; Monocytes* ; Peptide Library ; Punctures ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) was one of the intermediate filament group and used as an astrocyte marker. The numerous studies about GFAP immunoreactive cell's distribution were investigated for fetus, neonate and aged brains. There are several reports about that GFAP immunoreactive cells were appeared at early fetus or after birth. In cases of mammalian fetus radial glia cells migrated toward pial surface at early stage and revealed GFAP immunoreactivity by the immunostain. But in cases of rodents, they migrated last gestation or after birth. This study, the GFAP immunoreactive cells' localizations and distribution in the fetuses (the 30th, 45th, 60th, 90th, 95th, 105th 120th of gestation) and neonate telencephalon of Korean native goat were investigated by immunohisto-chemistry (ABC method). The results obtained in this study were summarized as followings; 1. Multipolar astrocytes of 60 days of gestation were found cerebral cortex, in 95 days of gestation were found cerebral medulla, in 105 days of gestation were found lateral ventricle. 2. Radial glial cell presented 45 days of gestation and process of GFAP immunoreactive was to stretch out from ventricular to pia mater. And the nonpolar immunoreactive cells were transformed bipolar immunoreactive cells and they were transformed to monopolar and multipolar immunoreactive cell. 3. The number of GFAP immunoreactive cells of a field were gradually increased from 45 days of gestation till 90 days of gestation and decreased from 90 days of gestation till 105 days of gestation. But in 120 days of gestation and newborn were slightly increased. 4. Immunoreactivity of GFAP immunoreactive cells were gradually decreased from 95 days of gestation till 120 days of gestatioin. However, most pia mater areas and ventricles had high immunoreactivity and medulla part had low immunoreactivity. These results were suggested that radial glial cell of cerebral cortex and cerebral medulla were developed faster than lateral ventricle.
Astrocytes ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Fetus* ; Goats* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intermediate Filaments ; Lateral Ventricles ; Neuroglia ; Parturition ; Pia Mater ; Pregnancy ; Rodentia ; Telencephalon*

A 68 year old male with diabetes mellitus visited our hospital due to general weakness and abdominal pain. Patient was in severe septic condition, abdominal X-ray and CT revealed gas shadow on left kidney and bladder. E-coli grew on urine culture. Thus we were able to diagnose the patient as the emphysematous pyelonephritis with emphysematous cystitis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and bilateral bladder catheter drainage. However the patient expired due to severe sepsis. Although the emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous cystitis are rare disease, they result in life threatening complication in diabetic patients. Because of rarity of these diseases, the clinical and radiological classifications, the treatment and the progress are not established. These two diseases have the same causes such as diabetes mellitus or urinary tract obstruction and can be expanded due to anatomical relationships resulting in increased mortality. The authors report 68 year old male diabetic patient with emphysematous pyelonephritis with emphysematous cystitis with literature review.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Classification ; Cystitis* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Mortality ; Pyelonephritis* ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity first diagnosed during pregnancy. It is associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy including obstetrical complications such as increased rate of cesarean sections, preeclampsia, and birth trauma, and perinatal morbidities, such as macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, screening for gestational diabetes mellitus and early diagnosis of this condition allows intervention to be carried out, thereby, the reduction of the untoward effects mentioned above can be minimized. METHODS: Screening for abnormal glucose metabolism was carried out in 489 pregnant women. A 50-g oral glucose load without regard to time of day or last meal, and a 1-hour plasma glucose determination with a threshold of 140mg/dl were used as a glucose screening test(GST). Patients with an abnormal GST underwent an oral glucose tolerance test(GTT). RESULTS: The overall incidence of gestational diabetes was 2.7%. The occurrence of this disorder was significantly related to the age of pregnant women, parity, or the presence of risk factors for gestational diabetes and obesity(Body Mass Index> or =26kg/m2). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Korean pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes.
Blood Glucose ; Cesarean Section ; Diabetes, Gestational* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Incidence ; Mass Screening* ; Meals ; Metabolism ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Risk Factors