OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know the prevalence of cognitive disorders in patients with thyroid cancer, and identify related variables to them. METHODS: Subjects were consisted of fourty-two patients with thyroid cancer, who were admitted for radioiodine ablative therapy at 6-12 months after total thyroidectomy. The data were obtained from interviews about history and assessments of depression and cognitive function(Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA-K). RESULTS: 1) Among subjects, those with below 22 of total score of the MoCA-K were twenty-one(50.0%). 2) Upon age, education, Pre-radioiodine therapy thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), there were statistically significant difference between subgroup with above 23 of the total MoCA-K score and those below 22. 3) The total scores of the MoCA-K in subjects had significant correlation with age, education, comorbidity, Pre-radioiodine therapy TSH, total score of the HDRS-17. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive disorders were more prevalent among patients with thyroid cancer before radioiodine therapy. Therefore, further study should be needed to clarify the mechanism for the cognitive disorders in thyroid cancer. Furthermore, physicians should pay attention to the cognitive function and prepare preventative measures for cognitive disorder during management of thyroid cancer.
Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin

Oxidative stress has been implicated in mediation of vascular disorders. In the presence of vanadate, H2O2 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD1, protein kinase C-a (PKC-a), and other unidentified proteins in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Interestingly, PLD1 was found to be constitutively associated with PKC-a in VSMCs. Stimulation of the cells by H2O2 and vanadate showed a concentration-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins in PLD1 immunoprecipitates and activation of PLD. Pretreatment of the cells with the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of H2O2-induced PLD activation. PKC inhibitor and down-regulation of PKC abolished H2O2-stimulated PLD activation. The cells stimulated by oxidative stress (H2O2) caused increased cell migration. This effect was prevented by the pretreatment of cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, PKC inhibitors, and 1-butanol, but not 3-butanol. Taken together, these results suggest that PLD might be involved in oxidative stress-induced migration of VSMCs, possibly via tyrosine phosphorylation and PKC activation.
Animals ; Cell Movement/drug effects/*physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Genistein/pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology/*physiology ; *Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Phospholipase D/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Protein Kinase C/*metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Vanadates/pharmacology ; Vascular Diseases/metabolism

Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by intra-oral burning sensation without any organic abnormalities. This syndrome is associated with various etiological factors such as neuropathy, malnutrition, menopause and depression. Several medications have been tried for the treatment. Those are analgesics, hormones, anticonvulsants and antidepressants. However, optimal effective pharmacologic treatment remains still unknown. The purpose of this case study is to report the clinical effectiveness of gabapentin in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome in postmenopausal women with comorbid depression. We report two menopausal women. Antidepressants were effective for improving depressive symptoms, but it had no effects on intra-oral burning sensation. Gabapentin reduced intra-oral burning sensation effectively for all two patients. One patient reported 55% reduction(a decrease from 9 to 4 on VAS), the other patient reported 35% reduction(from 8 to 5) of the intra-oral burning sensation during 16 weeks. The minimal effective daily dose of gabapentin was 300mg. This study suggests that gabapentin might be a useful, effective therapeutic option for treating burning mouth syndrome in postmenopausal women with comorbid depression. Further prospective clinical studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of gabapentin in patients with burning mouth syndrome.
Analgesics ; Anticonvulsants ; Antidepressive Agents ; Burning Mouth Syndrome* ; Burns ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Menopause ; Sensation

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis is characterized by distant metastasis and local recurrence. Combined chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is routinely used to treat patients with OSCC, and the combined use of gefitinib with cytotoxic drugs has been reported to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells in vitro. However, the development of drug resistance because of prolonged chemotherapy is inevitable, leading to a poor prognosis. Therefore, understanding alterations in signaling pathways and gene expression is crucial for overcoming the development of drug resistance. However, the altered characterization of Ca2+ signaling in drug-resistant OSCC cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigated alterations in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+ ]i ) mobilization upon the development of gefitinib resistance in human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (HSC)-3 and HSC-4 using ratiometric analysis. This study demonstrated the presence of altered epidermal growth factor- and purinergic agonist-mediated [Ca2+ ]i mobilization in gefitinib-resistant OSCC cells. Moreover, Ca 2+ content in the endoplasmic reticulum, store-operated calcium entry, and lysosomal Ca2+ release through the transient receptor potential mucolipin 1, were confirmed to be significantly reduced upon the development of apoptosis resistance. Consistent with [Ca2+ ]i mobilization, we identified modified expression levels of Ca2+ signaling-related genes in gefitinib-resistant cells. Taken together, we propose that the regulation of [Ca2+ ]i mobilization and related gene expression can be a new strategy to overcome drug resistance in patients with cancer.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are secondary metabolites produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers in the intestine. Intestinal SCFAs exert various beneficial effects on intestinal homeostasis, including energy metabolism, autophagy, cell proliferation, immune reaction, and inflammation, whereas contradictory roles of SCFAs in the oral cavity have been reported. Herein, we found that low and high concentrations of SCFAs induce differential regulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, respectively, in gingival fibroblast cells. Additionally, cell viability was found to be differentially regulated in response to low and high concentrations of SCFAs. These findings demonstrate that the physiological functions of SCFAs in various cellular responses are more likely dependent on their local concentration.

BACKGROUND: Artificial insemination by donor (AID) is important to chance the pregnancy in male infertile couples by requiring appropriate medical, legal and ethical reviews. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception changes of AID to collect the basic information for establishing the sperm donation, cryopreservation and artificial insemination management system. METHODS: We evaluated the people's thought of sperm donation, cryopreservation, and artificial insemination by donor by means of national inquiry survey from 247 infertile couples for 4 weeks from October 2016. The questionnaires were composed of 4 areas, and each questionnaire consisted of 15 items. Changes in the perception of AID by year were investigated after review of domestic journals. RESULTS: 67.6% of respondents knew the growth of couples with difficulty getting pregnant due to male infertility. 82.2% of respondents replied the necessary of sperm bank as a treatment option for infertility and 40.5% knew the donation and receipt system of sperm. In the survey of change perception of AID according to year, 37.5% and 39.5% of respondents were got information about AID from doctor in 2003 and 2004, but 49.6% from broadcasting in 2016. As a child grows up, 4.0% (2003), 9.0% (2014), and 42.8% (2016) of respondents answered to tell the child about AID. CONCLUSIONS: Infertile couple's thought of AID about the extension of opportunities for male infertility treatment is changed. In conclusion, it is necessary to establish institutional system of sperm donation, cryopreservation and artificial insemination prior to public sperm bank operation.
Child ; Cryopreservation ; Ethical Review ; Family Characteristics* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Insemination, Artificial* ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Banks ; Spermatozoa* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors*

BACKGROUND: For the diagnosis or evaluation of airway obstruction in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disorders, various parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume curve and maximal expiratory flow volume cutie have been used. Recently the peak expiratory flow(PEF) measured by the peak flow meter is widely used because of its simplicity and convenience. But there were still no data of the predicted normal values measured by the peak flow meter in Korea. This study was to obtain the predicted normal value of PEF and to know the accuracy of this value 18 predict FEV1. METHOD: The measurements of PEF by the MiniWright peak flow meter and several parameters derived from the forced expiratory volume and maximal expiratory flow volume curves by the Microspiro HI 501(Chest Co.) were done in 129 men and 125 women without previous history of the respiratory diseases. The predicted normal values of parameters according tc the age and the height were obtained, and the regression equation of FEV1 by PEF was calculated. RESULTS: The predicted normal values of PEF(L/min) were 2.45 Age(year)+1.36 Height(cm)+427 in men and -0.96 Age(year)+2.01 Height(cm)+129 in women. FEFmax derived from the maximal expiratory flow volume cutie was less than by 125 L/min in men art 118 L/min in women respectively compared to PEF. FEV,(ml) predicted by PEF was 5.98 PEF(L/min) 303 in men and 4.61 PEF(L/min) 291 in women respectively. CONCLUSION: The predicted normal value of PEF measured by the peak flow meter was calculated and it could be used as a standard value of PEF while taking care of patients with airway obstruction FEV1, the gold standard of ventilatory function could be predicted by PEF to a certain extent.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves ; Reference Values

The receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) signal is an activator of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), which leads to the activation of NF-kappaB and other signal transduction pathways essential for osteoclastogenesis, such as Ca2+ signaling. However, the intracellular levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and IP3-mediated cellular function of RANKL during osteoclastogenesis are not known. In the present study, we determined the levels of IP3 and evaluated IP3-mediated osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast activity by RANKL treatment of mouse leukemic macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) and mouse bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage precursor cells (BMMs). During osteoclastogenesis, the expression levels of Ca2+ signaling proteins such as IP3 receptors (IP3Rs), plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase, and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase type2 did not change by RANKL treatment for up to 6 days in both cell types. At 24 h after RANKL treatment, a higher steady-state level of IP3 was observed in RAW264.7 cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged pleckstrin homology (PH) domains of phospholipase C (PLC) delta, a probe specifically detecting intracellular IP3 levels. In BMMs, the inhibition of PLC with U73122 [a specific inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC)] and of IP3Rs with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2APB; a non-specific inhibitor of IP3Rs) inhibited the generation of RANKL-induced multinucleated cells and decreased the bone-resorption rate in dentin slice, respectively. These results suggest that intracellular IP3 levels and the IP3-mediated signaling pathway play an important role in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis.
Animals ; Blood Proteins ; Boron Compounds ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; Cell Membrane ; Dentin ; Estrenes ; Inositol ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; Macrophages ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphoproteins ; Proteins ; Pyrrolidinones ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; Reticulum ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Type C Phospholipases

Purpose: With the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are being used widely as the first-line of treatment in NSCLC. These inhibitors block auto-phosphorylation of activated EGFR by competing with ATP binding and mediate EGFR degradation independent of exogenous epidermal growth factor, which is associated with the mutation variants of EGFR. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the TKI-mediated EGFR degradation are still unclear. Materials and Methods: To examine the physiological roles of miR-4487 and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 37 (USP37) in gefitinib-mediated EGFR degradation in NSCLC cells, multiple NSCLC cell lines were applied. The level of EGFR expression, apoptosis marker and autophagic flux were determined by western blot. Expression level of miR-4487 and cell cycle arrest was analyzed by TaqMan assay and flow cytometry respectively. Results: We found that gefitinib mediates EGFR degradation under normal culture conditions, and is dependent on autophagic flux and the mutation variants of EGFR. Gefitinib reduced expression levels of USP37, which mediated EGFR degradation similar to gefitinib. Our results also showed a gefitinib-mediated increase in endogenous miR-4487 level and presented evidence for the direct targeting of USP37 by miR-4487, resulting in the sequential enhancement of ubiquitination, autophagy, and EGFR degradation. Thus, the depletion of USP37 and overexpression of miR-4487 led to an increase in gefitinib-mediated apoptotic cell death. Conclusion These data suggest that miR-4487 is a potential target for treating NSCLC, and miR-4487/USP37-regulated EGFR degradation is a determinant for developing gefitinib resistance.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that the indices based on tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography reflect the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. These include the early diastolic transmitral velocity (E) to early myocardial velocity ratio measured by tissue doppler (E') and the E to the wave propagation velocity (Vp) ratio measured from color M-mode images. However, these indices have not been well validated in congestive heart failure patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Thirty one congestive heart failure patients who underwent simultaneous cardiac catheterization and echocardiography, and had normal sinus rhythm were enrolled in this study. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure obtained from the left heart catheterization was compared with the diastolic indices using pulsed doppler, tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography. RESULTS: The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) ranged from 3.3 to 23 mmHg. Some parameters showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP. The propagation velocity showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.382, p=0.034), and the E to propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a good correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.408, p=0.023). In addition, the E to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E') ratio had an insignificant correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.322, p=0.078). Among the patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, the E to the propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a marginal correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.461, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In patients with congestive heart failure, the Vp and E/Vp showed a good correlation with the LVEDP. In the subgroup of patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, only the E/Vp showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Ventricular Pressure