Methylation of p16 is an important mechanism in cervical carcinogenesis. However, the relationship between cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) remains controversial. Here, we explored whether EBV infection and/or p16 gene inactivation would play any role in cervical carcinogenesis. Eighty-two specimens included 41 invasive SCCs, 30 cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN; CIN 1, 11 cases, CIN II, 3 cases, CIN III 16 cases) and 11 nonneoplastic cervices. EBV was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EBNA-1 and in situ hybridization for EBER-1. The p16 methylation-status and the expression of p16 protein were studied by methylation-specific PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The materials were divided into four groups: 1) nonneoplastic cervices, 2) CIN I, 3) CIN II-III and 4) invasive SCCs. p16 methylation and p16 immunoexpressions increased in CIN and invasive SCCs than nonneoplastic tissue. p16-methylation and p16-immunoreactivities were higher in the EBV-positive group (p=0.009, p<0.001) than in the EBV-negative group. EBV was detected more frequently in CIN and SCCs than nonneoplastic cervices. In conclusion, a correlation between p16 methylation, p16 immunoreactivity and the detection of EBV strongly suggested that the cooperation of EBV and p16 gene may play a synergic effect on cell cycle deregulation.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics/*pathology/virology ; Comparative Study ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/analysis/*genetics ; *DNA Methylation ; DNA, Viral/genetics/isolation & purification ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/genetics/*pathology/virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens/genetics ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precancerous Conditions/genetics/*pathology/virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/genetics/*pathology/virology

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of simvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under oxidative stress. METHODS: RPE cell viability was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 24 hours of incubation with various concentrations of simvastatin or H2O2. Cultured human RPE cells were pretreated with various concentrations of simvastatin and then incubated with 100 microm H2O2. After 24 hours of incubation, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to evaluate the expression of VEGF. RESULTS: Simvastatin showed no toxicity up to 10 microm, but cell viability gradually decreased with increased concentration of simvastatin. Human RPE cells showed increased VEGF expression when exposed only to H2O2. When RPE cells were preincubated with simvastatin and later exposed to H2O2, VEGF expression was relatively lower. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin downregulated the expression of VEGF in human RPE cells under oxidative stress. Simvastatin may have some clinical benefits in preventing retinal diseases associated with VEGF.
Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Oxidative Stress ; Retinal Diseases ; Retinaldehyde ; Simvastatin ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Purpose: Rubber band ligation (RBL) for grade 1 to 3 internal hemorrhoids is a well-established modality of choice. But RBL is also a kind of surgical treatment; it is not free from complications (e.g., delayed bleeding [DB], rectal stenosis). This study aimed to investigate the results of the comparative treatment of RBL and BANANA-Clip (BC; Endovision). Methods: Study participants were 632 consecutive patients with grade 1 to 3 internal hemorrhoids attended to Department of Colorectal Surgery at Wellness Hospital between January 2010 and May 2019. We retrospectively reviewed the incidence rate of complications, including DB between RBL and BC. Results: There were 304 male and 328 female patients, whose ages ranged from 15 to 84 years, with a mean age of 45.7 years. The common symptom and cause of treatment was prolapse (70.1%). The number of ligated sites was 1.49±0.57 in the RBL group and 1.99±0.77 in the BC group. RBL showed a significantly higher incidence of DB (3.5%) compared to BC (0%) (P=0.001). The 1-year success rate was 95.9% in the RBL group and 99.7% in the BC group (P=0.005). Conclusion In our study, BC was more reliable in treating grade 1 to 3 internal hemorrhoids with higher success rates and less post-ligation complications, especially DB, compared to RBL.

PURPOSE: Biofeedback is a major treatment method for constipated patients with non-relaxing puborectalis syndrome. However a significant percent of patients still showed poor outcome, and little has been known about the predictors associated with outcome of biofeedback. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome and identify predictors associated with poor outcome of biofeedback therapy for constipated patients with non- relaxing puborectalis syndrome. METHODS: Fifty-two constipated patients with non-relaxing puborectalis syndrome (median age, 47 years) who had more than one biofeedback session after defecography were evaluated by standardized questionnaire, before, immediately after treatment, and at follow-up. Clinical bowel symptoms and anorectal physiological studies were analyzed. Any differences in demographics, clinical symptoms, and parameters of anorectal physiological study were evaluated between success group (patients felt improvement in symptoms at follow-up) and failure group (patients felt no improvement). RESULTS: Follow up (mean follow-up; 17 months) results were evaluated by an independent observer in 45 patients. At post-biofeedback, 42 (81 percents) patients felt improvement in symptoms, including 7 (13 percents) with complete symptom relief. At follow-up, 25 (56 percents) patients felt improvement in symptoms, including 1 (2 percents) with complete symptom relief. There was a significant reduction in difficult defecation (from 81 to 44, 53 percent, from pre-biofeedback to post-biofeedback, and at follow up respectively; P<0.005, P<0.01), sensation of incomplete defecation (from 90 to 50, 40 percent; P< 0.00001, P<0.000005), laxative use (from 25 to 10, 11 percent; P<0.05), and enema use (from 13 to 0, 2 percent; P<0.01, P<0.05). Normal spontaneous bowel movement was increased from 42 percent pre-biofeedback to 81 percent post-biofeedback (P<0.0001), 80 percent at follow up (P<0.0005). Pre-biofeedback presence of symptoms of bowel habit change predict poor outcome (15 vs. 0 percent; failure vs. success, P<0.05). High pressure zone in prebiofeedback manometry was longer in failure group than in success group (2.80 vs 2.01 cm, P<0.05). In the success group, 11 (44 percent) had a rectocele, 1 (4 percent) had a rectal intussussception, 18 (72 percent) had a descending perineal syndrome, and 3 (12 percent) had a sigmoidocele. In the failure group, 4 (20 percent) had a rectocele, and 1 (5 percent) had a rectal intussusception, 14 (70 percent) had a descending perineal syndrome, and a sigmoidocele was not accompanied (P<0.05). Accompanied rectocele, rectal intussusception, descending perineal syndrome, and sigmoidocele did not influence outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback is an effective option and should be considered as the first line therapy. Bowel habit change and long high pressure zone in pre-biofeedback manometry were predictors associated with poor outcome of biofeedback therapy for constipated patients with non-relaxing puborectalis syndrome.
Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Defecation ; Defecography ; Demography ; Enema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Manometry ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rectocele ; Sensation

OBJECTIVES: Age-related differences of the brain have been obtained by various methods. This study was aimed to explore the changes of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and their source localization in normal aging. METHODS: Thirty-seven healthy young adults (mean age 35.22+/-13.62 years) and thirty-nine cognitively-healthy elderly subjects (mean age 72.95+/-5.73 years) participated in the study. Resting-state EEGs were recorded while subjects were in a relaxed state. Relative qEEG powers of five frequency bands were analyzed for eye closed conditions: delta (1-3 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (13-25 Hz), and gamma (30-50 Hz). The standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) was used to identify the current source densities of each frequency band. RESULTS: The elderly group showed an increase of beta and gamma power while the reduction of delta, theta, and alpha power compared with the young group. Controlling education as a covariate, the beta power was positively correlated with age, while theta power was negatively correlated with age in all subjects. sLORETA revealed that elderly subjects had reduced current source density at the cingulate gyrus in the theta band, while increased current source densities at the frontal, parietal, insula, and limbic areas in the beta band compared with young adults. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that qEEG could reflect normal aging. Cognitively healthy elderly subjects showed an increase of high-frequency power, while showing a reduction of low-frequency power. These functional implications were discussed.
Aged ; Aging ; Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Eye ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnets ; Young Adult

The authors have experienced a case of Duchenne type of progressive muscular dystrophy in a 9 year old boy who was presented with significantly increased serum enzymes related to this disedase and musle biopsy findings compatible with muscular dystrophy, reported with review of literatures concerned.
Biopsy ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies*

PURPOSE: Colon cancer shows various genetic alterations in its development and progression. Recently, microsatellite instability (MSI) has been related to a novel mechanism of carcinogenesis, and might be a useful prognostic factor in several gastrointestinal malignancies. The loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is known to be related with the allelic loss of various tumor suppressor genes, however, MSI, which has been found to result from an erroneous DNA mismatch repair system, has been known to be involved in the carcinogenesis of hereditary non-polyposis colon cancers and some aspects of sporadic colorectal cancers. In this study, the status of MSI was examined in sporadic colon cancers, and its correlation with various clinico-pathological parameters investigated. METHODS: Fifty sporadic colorectal cancers, treated by surgery alone, were analyzed for the presence of MSI using microsatellite markers, and tumor and normal DNA, obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival tissues. MSIs were examined at the BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346 and D17S250 loci, as recommended in the 1997 NIH International Workshop on Microsatellite Instabilities and RER phenotypes. RESULTS: MSI was detected in 11 cases (22%), and was more frequently detected in the non-metastatic adenocarcinoma and Astler-Coller stages A+B1+C1 groups than in the metastatic and B2+C2+D groups. Also, there were no metastatic cases in the MSI-high group, where more than 3 loci had MSI. LOH was detected in three of the recommended markers, and was observed in 17 cases (34%). LOH was more highly detected in the metastatic and B2+C2+D groups, but there was no correlation with the clinico-pathological parameters. However, no LOH-positive cases were found in the MSI-positive group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MSI may be partially involved in colorectal carcinogenesis and the metastasis mechanism. Also, the clinical use of the MSI status may help in determining the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; DNA ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Education ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Microsatellite Instability* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenotype ; Prognosis

Neurofibroma is a neurogenic tumor arising from schwann cells or peripheral tissues of nerve sheaths. It is extremely rare in the sinonasal tract. We report on a case of neurofibroma of the nasal cavity treated by endoscopic surgery. Preoprative computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and punch biopsy suggested that the tumor was benign neurogenic tumor confined to right nasal cavity. The tumor was removed with endoscopic surgery completely, and confirmed as neurofibroma by histological and immunohistochemical examination. We discuss the clinical and pathological characters of neurofibroma arising in the nasal cavity
Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nasal Cavity* ; Neurofibroma* ; Schwann Cells

BACKGROUND: Stomach cancer is the most common cancer in Korea. Lifelong health management program recommends that males over 40 years and women over 50 years should undergo stomach cancer screening by endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series every two years. The importance of re-screening of stomach cancer in a high risk group is emphasized. METHODS: A telephone questionnaire was done one year after to 123 patients over 40 years old considered as a high risk group with either chronic atropic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, gastric ulcer, gastric adenoma among 804 subjects who had undergone anendoscopic examination from February 2002 to June 2003 at a university hospital health promotion center. RESULTS: The number of patients who responded were 109. The average recognition rate of high risk group was 53.2%. The rate of recognition of high risk group was lower in good subjective health estimation group and in less educated group, in old age group, and in chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia group. The rate of not receiving re-screening after 1 year was 48 (44.0%). Re-screening rate in patients with intestinal metaplasia (35.3%) and chronic atropic gastritis (39.1%) compared to gastric ulcer (77.8%) and gastric polyp (90.0%), in those not recognizing themselves as high risk group, in low education group, in old age, was lower. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic atropic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, in those not recognizing themselves as high risk group, in old age and in good subjective health state. We need to educate the importance for regular screening of stomach cancer more intensively.
Adenoma ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastritis ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Metaplasia ; Polyps ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach Ulcer ; Telephone ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The isoenzyme of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), islet associated antigen (IA2, IAA) and insulin are known to be the major target antigens of pancreatic islet cell autoantibody as a predictor of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Generally radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods are used for these autoantibodies but inconvenience of dealing with radioisotope have made enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed for clinical utilization. But, lack of evaluation or comparison studies of these two methods for autoantibodies make laboratories hesitate to adopt. METHODS: We measured the glutamate decarboxylase autoantibody (GADA), insulin autoantibody (IAA) and pancreatic islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) by a commercial ELISA method in 34 patients with type 1 DM, and 31 patients with type 2 DM, and 32 healthy control group. Conventional RIA was performed concurrently and compared for GADA and IAA. ICA was measured by conventional indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). The obtained results were compared and also C-peptide level was measured as a marker for residual function of islet cell of pancreas. RESULTS: Each autoantibody measured by ELISA in type 1 DM showed positive rate of 11.8% and for ICA, 26.5% for GADA, and 35.3% for IAA. The positive rate of the same group of type 1 DM when using RIA were 76.5% for GADA far exceeding that of ELISA method, and 29.4% for IAA. The percentage of positivity in combination of the ELISA methods for ICA and GAD yielded 29.4%, ICA plus IAA showed 38.2%, and GAD plus IAA was 52.9%, respectively. IAA positive rates in two groups divided by the age of 10 showed no significant difference. The presence of the autoantibodies did not influenced the C-peptide level. CONCLUSIONS: Further large scale studies including prediabetic state and autoimmune diabetes are required to establish the accurate diagnostic method of islet cell autoantibodies. But, presently ELISA method was considered that more improvement was needed for reliable and comparable results especially GADA.
Autoantibodies* ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; Humans ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Pancreas ; Prediabetic State ; Radioimmunoassay