PURPOSE: Since the discovery of estrogen receptor-beta(ER-beta, five C-terminal variants of ER-beta were identified. We designed this study to investigate the pattern and clinical implications of ER-betaand its splicing variants expression in normal and malignant mammary tissues. METHODS: Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we examined the expression levels of ER-alpha and ER-betaand its five splicing variants (beta1, beta2, beta3, beta4, beta5) in 50 paired normal and cancer tissues. We measured the densities of RT-PCR products using Tina version 2.10 (Raytest, Germany). Firstly, the incidence and intensity of ER-alpha and ER-beta and its five splicing variants were compared. Then the expression of ER-betamRNA splicing variants was also analyzed with regard to the ER-alphaprotein expression measured by immuno-histochemical staining and the menopausal status of the patients. Chi-square test and paired samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. Differences were considered to be significant with a p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: The expression of ER-betamRNA variants in normal breast and cancer tissues were as follows: ER-beta2 (100%/100%), ER-beta4 (76%/74%), ER-beta5 (32%/58%), and ER-beta1 (14%/16%). ER-beta3 was not detected at all. In terms of intensity, we observed a significant decrease of ER-beta2 (P<0.001) and an increase of ER-beta5 (P=0.004) in the mRNA expression levels among breast cancers compared to the corresponding normal breast tissues. Compared to the corresponding normal tissues, a significant decrease of ER-beta2 in cancer tissues was observed in patients with ER-alpha-positive (P<0.001), with age over 50 (P=0.01), and under 50 (P=0.04) as well, but not in patients with ER-alpha-negative (P=0.48). ER-beta4 also significantly decreased in patients with ER-alpha-positive (P=0.004) and with age over 50 (P=0.07). ER-beta5 showed a significant increment only in patient aged over 50 (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: ER-alpha mRNA expression significantly increases but ER-beta mRNA expression decreases in the cancer tissues compared to the corresponding normal tissues. Among ER-beta variant forms, ER-beta2 is predominant in both normal and malignant mammary tissues and ER-beta4, ER-beta5, and ER-beta1 in descending order but ER-beta3 does not express in mammary tissues. The decrease of ER-beta2 and ER-beta4 expression is prominent in cancer tissue especially in ER-alpha-positive cancers, which suggests that ER-beta2 and ER-beta4 may possess a regulatory function in mammary carcinogenesis. Further investigations to verify the roles of ER-beta variants are mandatory.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis ; Estrogens* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

ERCP is the standard treatment for common bile duct stones. On the other hand, 10-15% of cases involve intractable common bile duct stones, which cannot be treated by conventional biliary sphincterotomy with a stone retrieval method. Large bile duct stones are typically managed by mechanical lithotripsy and endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation. Peroral cholangioscopy techniques can be applied if this technique fails. In the present case, a 67-year-old woman had a large common bile duct stone that could not be retracted using the conventional ERCP stone extraction method. The common bile duct stone was eventually removed by direct peroral upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a polypectomy snare.

Background/Aims: Recent reports suggest that the biliary self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) is highly effective for maintaining hemostasis when endoscopic hemostasis fails in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related bleeding. We compared whether temporary SEMS offers better efficacy than angioembolization for refractory immediate ERCP-related bleeding. Methods: Patients who underwent SEMS placement or underwent angioembolization for bleeding control in refractory immediate ERCP-related bleeding were included in the retrospective analysis. We evaluated the hemostasis success rate, severity of bleeding, change in hemoglobin levels, amount of transfusion, and delay to the start of hemostasis. Results: A total of 27 patients with SEMS and 13 patients who underwent angioembolization were enrolled. More transfusions were needed in the angioembolization group (1.0±1.4 units vs. 2.5±2.0 units; p=0.034). SEMS failure was successfully rescued by angioembolization. The partially covered SEMS (n=23, 85.1%) was generally used, and the median stent-indwelling time was 4 days. The mean delay to the start of angioembolization was 95.2±142.9 (range, 9–491) min. Conclusions Temporary SEMS had similar results to those of angioembolization (96.3% vs. 92.3%; p=0.588). Immediate SEMS insertion is considered a bridge treatment modality for immediate refractory ERCP-related bleeding. Angioembolization still has a role as rescue therapy when SEMS does not work effectively.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common method for providing long-term enteral nutrition to patients. PEG tube placement and removal are relatively safe; generally, a PEG tube can be removed using gentle traction, and excessive bleeding is rare. The over-the-scope clip system is a new device that can be used for gastrointestinal hemostasis and for closing gastrointestinal fistulae. In the present case, a 68-year-old male patient had to remove the PEG tube because of persistent leakage around the PEG tube. Although it was gently removed using traction, incessant bleeding continued, with a Rockall score of 5 points, even after hemocoagulation was attempted. An over-the-scope clip device was used to achieve hemostasis and fistula closure.

Lynch syndrome is a genetic malignancy syndrome affecting the colon, endometrium, and other organs. It is difficult to find a Lynch syndrome patient without any family history of cancer. We have recently examined an endometrial cancer patient with a MSH2 gene mutation without a family history of cancer. A 55-year old Korean woman was admitted to a local clinic for vaginal bleeding. An endometrial biopsy revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma (endometrioid type, grade 1). After surgical staging, no further adjuvant therapy was required. Analysis of the tissue using immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed the endometrium stained negatively for MSH2. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was analyzed for five markers. The patient was scored as unstable. Further, additional gene sequencing revealed one missense mutation in c.23C > T (p.Thr8Met). This is the first case of Lynch syndrome endometrial cancer in Korea in which the patient does not have any family history of cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Korea ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Uterine Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: Until recently, breast cancer carcinogenesis has not been fully understood, but the roles of estrogen receptors(ERs) and growth factor receptors(like HER2) were known to be important. Growth factors have been shown to synergize in the E2 signaling pathway, although the actual molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. To investigate the effect of HER2 overexpression on the ERE(estrogen responsive element)-mediated transcriptional activity of the ERs, this study was designed. METHODS: NIH3T3 cells, T6-17 cells (NIH3T3 cells with stably transfected with HER2), and MCF-7 cells were maintained in dextran-coated charcoal stripped 10% Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). Transient transfection of constructs (pcDNA3-ER alpha, pcDNA3-ER beta, pERE-luc, pAP-1-luciferase, and pcDNA-HER2) into each cells was performed using the Lipofectamine PLUS(TM) system. Reporter gene assays using ERE-luciferase or AP-1-luciferase were used to measure the ER transcriptional activities after treatment with estradiol (E2) and tamoxifen. RESULTS: Reporter gene assay using ERE-luciferase in both ER alpha and ER beta, showed much less responsiveness to estrogen in HER2 overexpressing T6-17 cells than in NIH3T3 cells, but there was no remarkable difference after treatment with tamoxifen. The AP-1-mediated transcriptional activity was increased in ER beta after tamoxifen treatment, but it disappeared in HER2-expressing T6-17 cells. The responsiveness to estrogen in HER2-transfected MCF-7 cells was also slightly less than in the control MCF-7 cells, and the ERE-mediated transcriptional activity of estrogen in MCF-7 cells was decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, after HER2 transfection. CONCLUSION: Coexpression of HER2 and ER seems to make cells less responsive to estrogen stimulation, and decrease the ERE-mediated transcriptional activity in both ER alpha and ERbeta. These results suggest that the expression of HER2 reduces the estrogen dependency in cell growth and eventually induces estrogen independent-growth.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis ; Charcoal ; Eagles ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; Estrogens* ; Genes, Reporter ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; MCF-7 Cells ; Tamoxifen ; Transfection

PURPOSE: Estrogen signal transduction plays very important roles in both normal mammary development and neoplastic progression. Since the discovery of estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta) there have been many controversial reports on the role of ER-beta in breast carcinogenesis and progression, and prognostic implications. ER-beta mRNA levels were investigated in various mammary tissues in order to verify the role of ER-beta expression in breast carcinogenesis. METHODS: Using messenger RNA (mRNA) in situ hybridization, we examined ER-beta expression in 60 paired normal and cancer tissues, 11 paired normal and benign breast tumor tissues, and 10 metastatic lymph nodes. We determined the intensity and extent (proportion of cells with positive hybridization) of the mRNA hybridization signals and gave scores 0 to 3; no hybridization (0), minimal (1), moderate (2), and strong (3) by the hybridization intensity and no hybridization (0), hybridization in less than 10% of cells (1), 10~50% (2), and more than 50% of cells (3) by the proportion of positively hybridized cells. Chi-square test, independent t-test or one-way ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis and differences were considered to be significant with a p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: There was no statistically difference in ER-beta expression between normal and benign mammary tissues. ERbeta expression was significantly decreased in breast cancer and metastatic lymph node tissues compared with normal mammary and benign breast tumor tissues (P<0.01). The intensity and extent of ER beta expression were also significantly lower in breast cancer and metastatic lymph node tissues than in the normal mammary and benign breast tumor tissues (P<0.01). In cases of positive hybridization, the sum of scores of intensity and area were also significantly higher in normal and fibroadenoma tissues than in cancer or metastatic lymph nodes (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ER beta transcription decreases in the process of breast cancer development, which suggests a protective role of ER beta in breast carcinogenesis.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; Estrogens* ; Fibroadenoma ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymph Nodes ; RNA, Messenger* ; Signal Transduction

To depend body potassium balance during chronic hypokalemia, the kidney actively reabsorbs potassium. Previous work suggested that potassium reclamation occurred at the distal tubule and collecting duct. We used immunohistochemistry of normal and potassium-deprived(two weeks) rats to determine the intrarenal distribution and alteration of expression of Na/K-ATPase alpha1 and beta1 subunit protein and also whether the increased numbers of both subunits reside in the apical or basolateral membranes. In the normal rats, alpha1 and beta1 immunoreactivity was prominent in the medullary and cortical thick ascending limb, distal convoluted tubule, and connecting segment. Cortical collecting duct, glomerular epithelial cell, and intraglomerular mesangial cell exhibited moderate immunoreactivity, whereas proximal tubule and medullary collecting duct were weakly labeled in alpha1 subunit. In beta1 subunit, cortical collecting duct and proximal tubule exhibited moderate immunoreactivity, and medullary collecting duct was very weakly labeled. In the K-deprived rats, a pattern of cellular labeling of both subunits was identical to that of normal rats. Marked increases of immunoreactivity were evident in the inner stripe of the outer medullary collecting duct and proximal portion of the inner medullary collecting duct. In these segment, alpha1 and beta1 immunoreactivity was expressed at the basolateral pole, and no apical expression was detected. In contrast, immunoreactivity of the medullary and cortical thick ascending limb, distal convoluted tubule, connecting segment, and cortical collecting duct was decreased. These results suggest that Na/K-ATPase alpha1 and beta1 subunit are differentially expressed in different nephron segments and chronic hypokalemia must also upregulate K exit pathways in the basolateral membrane of inner stripe of the outer medullary collecting duct and proximal portion of the inner medullary collecting duct to promote recycling and limit secretion of K.
Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; Extremities ; Hypokalemia* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Membranes ; Mesangial Cells ; Nephrons ; Potassium ; Rats ; Recycling

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder. Treatment strategies for CD are targeted toward various components of the proinflammatory mediators and subsequent immune response. Recently, the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibody, infliximab has been used in patients with CD. However, uncommon and unusual infections have been reported during anti-TNF-alpha therapy and immunomodulator. Here, we report a case of pityriasis versicolor occurring in a patient with CD receiving infliximab treatment. The patient was successfully treated with topical ketoconazole.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Crohn Disease ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Ketoconazole ; Malassezia ; Necrosis ; Tinea Versicolor

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy(LHON) is a maternally inherited disorders that occurs primarily in young males and is characterized by subacute, sequential, bilateral central visual loss, ultimately, optic atrophy. We report 2 cases of molecularly confirmed LHON which reveal 11778 and 14484 mitochondral DNA mutation, respectively but there is no family history of visual loss. So the diagnosis of LHON deserves to be considered in all crypotogenic cases of acute or subacute optic or chiasmal neuropathy. Late or early age at onset, female gender, and a negative family history should not be dissuasive.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Biology* ; Optic Atrophy ; Optic Nerve Diseases*