PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on the permeability of a cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) monolayer and its interaction with nitric oxide (NO).METHODS: After exposing primary cultured HTMCs to 0, 50, 100, and 500 µM sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) for 6 hours, the permeabilities through the HTMC monolayer were measured using a Transwell assay with carboxyfluorescein. The production of NO and eNOS mRNA expression were assessed using the Griess assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. In addition, 0, 1, and 10 µM NaHS and 10 µM sodium nitroprusside (SN) were co-exposed to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of H₂S and NO.RESULTS: Greater than 100 µM NaHS increased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). These increased permeabilities were not accompanied by NO production or eNOS mRNA expression (p > 0.05). When 0, 1, and 10 µM NaHS and 10 µM SN were exposed together, there was no significant change of permeability, NO production, or eNOS mRNA expression (all, p > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: NaHS at high concentrations increased the permeability of the HTMC monolayer, which was not affected by NO. NaHS at low concentrations did not show a synergistic effect with NO. Thus, H₂S at high concentrations may increase trabecular outflow, which may not be associated with NO.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of valproic acid on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC). METHODS: Primarily cultured HTMC were exposed to 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM valproic acid for 6, 12, and 24 hours. Expression of eNOS mRNA was assessed with Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and production of NO was assessed with Griess assay. Cellular survival was assessed with the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Valproic acid at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mM did not affect the cellular survival of HTMC significantly after exposure for 24 hours. Valproic acid increased NO production in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Also, valproic acid increased the degree of eNOS mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner in HTMC. CONCLUSIONS: Valproic acid increases production of NO and expression of eNOS mRNA in HTMC. Thus, valproic acid might increase aqueous outflow through the trabecular meshwork.
Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide ; RNA, Messenger ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Valproic Acid

Purpose: We evaluated the protective effect of trabecular outflow drugs, Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors against oxidative stressin trabecular meshwork cells. Methods: Primary-cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) were exposed to ROCK inhibitors at 10 and 20 μMY-27632, ripasudil or fasudil for 24 hours, after pretreatment with 200 μM hydrogen peroxide for 30 min. The cell viabilities andmetabolic activities were assessed using the Trypan Blue dye exclusion test and MTT assay, respectively. Reactive oxygen species(ROS) production was measured using the H2DCFDA assay, and the degree of apoptosis was measured with flow cytometryusing annexin-propidium iodide double staining. Results: In HTMCs, Y-27632 suppressed ROS production. Ripasudil and fasudil increased the metabolic activities and decreasedthe degrees of apoptosis. Fasudil showed the most cytoprotective effects among the three ROCK inhibitors tested. Conclusions Against oxidative stress, ROCK inhibitors decreased apoptosis accompanied by decreased ROS production, especiallyfasudil. ROCK inhibitors may therefore have cytoprotective properties in addition to increasing trabecular outflow.

Many advances, including the development of antibiotics, the advent of diagnostic techniques and the use of nonsurgical drainage have decreased the mortality rate of pyogenic liver abscess. But, early prompt diagnosis and proper treatment is mandatory in gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess because it may run a fulminating course to death. Gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess mostly occurred to old diabetics. Symptoms of duration are shorter and the prognosis is poorer in the gas-forming than in the non-gas-forming liver abscess. We report three cases of gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess which occurred in old diabetic patients. They were successfully managed by parenteral antibiotics and early percutaneous drainage under sonographic guidance. Early and adequate drainage of pus by pigtail catheter may play a crucial role on the treatment of gas-forming liver abscess.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Suppuration ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: At present, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-based concept of tumor biology has been established, and trastuzumab (Herceptin(R); Genentech/Roche, San Francisco, CA, USA), a monoclonal humanized antibody directed against HER2, is a pivotal agent for the management of HER2 positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer. It is also known that HER2 has a predictive value in gastric cancer; however, its association with the prognosis of this disease remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both the relationship between HER2 overexpression in the tumors of gastric cancer patients, and the prognosis of these patients who have had curative resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 139 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery at the Kosin University Gospel Hospital between October 2011 and March 2012 were included in this retrospective study. All tumor samples were examined for HER2 expression by immunohistochemistry. A retrospective review of the medical records was conducted to determine the correlation between the presence of HER2 overexpression and clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: The HER2+ rate was 15.1%. HER2 overexpression was associated with histological grade (P=0.044) and Lauren classification (P=0.036). There was no significant difference in the 2-year overall survival between HER2+ and HER2- patients (P=0.396). Multivariate analysis showed that HER2 was not an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: HER2 overexpression in tumors was associated with histological grade and Lauren classification in gastric cancer patients with curative resection. However, HER2 was not an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer in our study.
Biology ; Breast Neoplasms ; Classification ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Trastuzumab

The therapeutic indication for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be expanded to treat small-sized (<2 cm) early gastric cancer (EGC) with undifferentiated histology. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old woman in whom EGC was initially diagnosed by endoscopy and CT. She subsequently underwent ESD. Histological examination revealed a mixed type adenocarcinoma with poorly differentiated histology confined to the mucosa without ulcer and lymphovascular involvement. Subsequent regular examinations showed no recurrence for 7 years. She complained of fatigue and weight loss on the 7th year of follow-up. Radiologic examination showed multiple bone metastases and the bone biopsy specimen revealed adenocarcinoma resembling the previous EGC.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Fatigue ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ulcer ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is the parenchymal lung disease that results from the inhalation and deposition of dust, usually mineral dust of occupational or environmental origin. Most of the pneumoconiosis can be categorized to coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) in Korea. No effective treatement is currently available, and the therapy for symptomatic CWP is limited to treatment of complication. Therefore authors analyzed and reviewed clinical features and radiological findings of 95 patients with pneumoconiosis for assessing the prognostic factors in disease progression. METHOD: We reviewed medical records of 95 cases with pneumoconiosis including history, chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, electrocardiography, AFB stain and culture of sputum, and routine blood examination between June 1995 and June 1997 in Seonam University Namkwang Hospital. RESULTS: All of cases are male(mean age, 57.4 years), 91 cases out of them are miners. The mean duration of exposure to dust is 18.8 years. 2) Major clinical symptoms are dyspnea (100%), sputum (71.6%), chest pain (55.8%), cough (23.2%), and hemoptysis (6.3%). 82% of cases are over Morgan-Seaton Grade 2 in the degree of dyspnea. Small opacity on chest x-ray is 82.1% and large opacity is 17.9%. Small opacity has t/t type (37.2%), q/q type (25.6%) and r/r type (11.5%). B type is 42.2% in large opacity. For the pulmonary function test, restrictive type is 40.3%, mixed type 19.5% and obstructive type 8.3%. The more increasing chest X-ray density, the more decreasing FEV1 (p<0.01). 38% of patients show tuberculosis in chest X-ray, 15.8% positive smear of acid fast bacilli in sputum. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis is high in patients with poor clinical condition. The cases with the active pulmonary tuberculosis have severe dyspnea. 6) Expired cases show 100% and 75% of positive pulmonary tuberculosis in chest X-ray and sputum examination, respectively. 75% of expired cases show the chronic cor pulmonale, who died of acute respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that tuberculosis infection has a decisive influence on the progress and prognosis of pneumoconiosis.
Chest Pain ; Coal ; Cough ; Disease Progression ; Dust ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

The adenoma of major duodenal pallilla is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis. Also, ampullary adenoma is known as a premalignant lesion having the potential for malignant transformation. Especially, the diagnosis of the unexposed (intramural) type of ampullary adenoma, which shows normal overlying mucosa, is known to be very difficult. We report a case of an unexposed type of ampullary adenoma presented as acute pancreatitis. On duodenoscopic examination, mucocal abnormality of the mapulla of Vater was not noted. After endoscopic sphicterotomy, a nodular mass was exposed and the tubular adeonoma was histologically confirmed with endoscopic biopsy.
Adenoma* ; Ampulla of Vater ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Endosonography ; Mucous Membrane ; Pancreatitis*

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a useful coronary imaging tool for atherosclerotic plaque characterization and stent evaluation. However, proximal balloon inflation is required in order to reduce signal changes caused by red blood cells and to acquire a clear image. One rare acute complication related to proximal balloon occlusion is micro-thrombus formation. We report a case of multiple, acute micro-thrombi forming after an OCT procedure, despite the use of appropriate prevention for intracoronary thrombus formation.
Balloon Occlusion ; Erythrocytes ; Inflation, Economic ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

The left main coronary artery branches to form the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries and supplies the entire myocardium of the left ventricle. Treatment guidelines recommend coronary artery bypass grafting in left main coronary artery disease. However, some recent studies have demonstrated that, although the target vessel revascularization rate is relatively high, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has a comparable mortality rate to coronary artery bypass grafting in left main disease. In this case, an 80-year-old male with a recent ST elevation myocardial infarction of the right coronary artery (RCA) was transferred to our hospital for second-stage PCI for left main artery stenosis, which was found incidentally at the time of primary PCI of the RCA. Although he had severely depressed left ventricular function, a drug-eluting stent was implanted successfully in his left main coronary artery with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support.
Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Equipment and Supplies ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardium ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Ventricular Function, Left