STUDY DESIGN: An in vitro experiment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mRNA expressions of matrix components, and analyze the cellular proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis of human intervertebral disc cells in response to dexamethasone and TGF-beta1 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Corticosteroids are responsible for the regulation of a diverse range of biological processes through modulation of the expression of target genes. The direct injection of methylprednisolone to the intervertebral disc (IVD) has been shown to cause degeneration and calcification of the disc in rabbits. Systemic administration of hydrocortisone induced degeneration of notochordal cells, which accelerated the aging process of the disc in mice. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) is known as a potent agent for the proliferation, differentiation and matrix synthesis of IVD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IVD cells were isolated from ten patients, and subsequently cultured. Various doses of dexamethasone (DEX) and/or TGF-beta1 were administered to the IVD cultures. DNA and proteoglycan syntheses were measured by the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine and [35S]-sulfate, respectively. RT-PCRs were performed for the expressions of aggrecan, collagen types I and II, and osteocalcin mRNA. RESULTS: Cultures with DEX showed increased cellular proliferation and decreased proteoglycan synthesis (p<0.05). TGF-beta1 potentiated the proliferative effect of DEX, but failed to stimulate proteoglycan synthesis in the cultures containing DEX. There were no recognizable changes in the mRNA expressions of aggrecan, collagen types I and II, and osteocalcin in response to DEX and TGF-beta1. CONCLUSIONS: DEX demonstrated a proliferative effect on human IVD cells, with the combination of DEX and TGF-beta1 showing potentiation of the proliferative effect, while at high doses(100 and 1000nM, the DEX was shown to down-regulate the proteoglycan synthesis. Caution should be exercised in the use of corticosteroid in the therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disc disease or in the regenerative matrix of the IVD.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aggrecans ; Aging ; Animals ; Biological Processes ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Dexamethasone* ; DNA ; Humans* ; Hydrocortisone ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Methylprednisolone ; Mice ; Notochord ; Osteocalcin ; Proteoglycans ; Rabbits ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by various etiologies including hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, neoplasms, and ulcerative colitis. However, a rectal ulcer is rarely caused by lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and an anorectal foreign body is a very rare cause of a rectal ulcer. We report the case of a 48-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with massive hematochezia and hypovolemic shock that occurred 5 days after inserting garlic into the rectum for treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Diverticulitis ; Emergencies ; Foreign Bodies ; Garlic ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; Rectum ; Shock ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are well-known environmental pollutants. They are unnecessary in the biological processes of humans. This study was performed to estimate the representative background exposure levels to the metals by measuring concentrations in whole blood of the Korean general population. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study included 4,000 subjects (1,886 males and 2,114 females) 0–83 years of age in 2010 and 2011. Adult subjects (≥ 19 years of age) were collected by sex- and age-stratified probability method, and preschool- and school-aged subjects were recruited by a cluster sampling method. Written consent was provided prior to blood sampling. Pb and Cd blood concentrations were determined by a flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and blood Hg was analyzed by a direct Hg analyzer. RESULTS: The geometric mean, median and 95th percentile of blood Pb was 1.82 µg/dL, 1.83 µg/dL, and 3.78 µg/dL, respectively. The respective values were 2.92 µg/L, 2.87 µg/L, 9.12 µg/L for Hg, and 0.56 µg/L, 0.59 µg/L, 2.20 µg/L for Cd. Blood Pb and Hg were higher in males than in females, but no sex difference was observed, respectively, in subjects 0–4 years of age for Pb and in subjects less than 20 years for Hg. However, blood Cd was higher in females than in males and no sex difference was observed in subjects < 30 years of age. CONCLUSION: This study provides representative data of human exposure to Pb, Hg, and Cd covering whole age groups of the general population in Korea.
Adult ; Biological Processes ; Cadmium ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Pollutants ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Metals ; Methods ; Sex Characteristics ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic