OBJECTIVE: Taxol (Bristol-Myers Squibb)(paclitaxel) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of cell growth for a variety of tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction of five different combinations of drugs: taxol and cisplatin, topotecan, actinomycin D, methotrexate, and etoposide in two established choriocarcinoma cancer cell lines to identify potential synergistic combinations of chemotherapy for patients with choriocarcinoma. METHODS: Six antitumor drugs were tested for synergism and antagonism in combination studies using human choriocarcinoma cell lines, JAR and BeWo. Cytotoxic effects were determined by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-ly)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Synergic interactions were determined by the median effect principle in which Combination lndex (CI) of less than one suggest a synergic interaction. RESULTS: Proliferation of JAR and BeWo cells was inhibited by taxol and 2.7 to 86 nmol/L was needed to achieve 50% growth reduction. Combination effect of taxol/cisplatin (fixed ratio of 8 nM: 0.8 ug and 333 nM: 0.8 ug) and taxol/actinomycin-D (fixed ratio of 8 nM: 0.17 nM and 300 nM: 0.003 nM) in JAR and BeWo cell lines showed a synergistic effect at the intermediate and high level of cytotoxicity in both cell lines. Combination effect of taxol/topotecan at all fixed ratio of 8 nM: 1.7 ug showed a synergistic effect at the intermediate and high level of cytotoxicity in JAR cell line. Combination effect of taxol/etoposide at fixed ratio of 8 nM: 0.83 ug and 333 nM: 1.67 ug in JAR and BeWo cell lines showed an antagonistic effect at all level of cytotoxicity in both cell lines. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that taxol is synergistic with cisplatin, actinomycin-D in both cell lines tested and synergistic with topotecan, methotrexate in one cell line. However the most active drug against trophoblastic disease, etoposide, was antagonistic with taxol in both cell lines. Clinical trials using taxol/ cisplatin or taxol/topotecan combination are warranted to determine whether there is a survival advantage in refractory choriocarcinoma or high risk group and a survival can be achieved with taxol in combination with these drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents* ; Cell Line* ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Cisplatin ; Dactinomycin ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Paclitaxel* ; Pregnancy ; Topotecan ; Trophoblasts

BACKGROUND: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (anti-NMDA) receptor encephalitis was discovered less than 10 years ago. Its symptoms and characteristics are not well-defined yet. We experienced a case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with phonemic paraphasia and acalculia that were not classical characteristics. CASE REPORT: A 44-year-old woman started to show dyslexia, phonemic paraphasia, and dyscalculia. These symptoms were gradually worsening for over 30 days. Various brain images were not helpful for primary diagnosis. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was confirmed in two different laboratories. The patient started to recover with various immunosuppressive therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can have various symptoms, including phonemic paraphasia and acalculia.
Adult ; Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis* ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Dyscalculia ; Dyslexia* ; Encephalitis ; Female ; Humans

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative and granulomatous disease characterized histologically by sulfur granules with extensive necrosis, fibrosis and sinus formation. Depending on the site of primary infection, actinomycosis is generally classified as cervicofacial, thoracic and abdominal type. The liver is known to be the primary site of infection in 15% with abdominal actinomycosis. The authors have experienced a case of liver abscess in a 24-year-old male. The sono-guided aspiration biopsy revealed findings of infiltration of neutrophils and characteristics sulfur granules by light microscopy. This case was thought to represent an instance of liver actinomycosis. Although there have been a lot of reports on actinomycosis of the liver in other countries, only 3 cases were reported in Korea.
Actinomycosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Adult ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Male

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) frequently has cardiovascular complications. Pericardial inflammation and effusion. ventricular dysfunction, valvular disease and coronary atherosclerosis may result in morbidity. While the pathologic findings in SLE have been well described, the antemortem documentation of the cardiac complications has been less frequent than the postmortem findings would support, we therefore sought to study how echocariography may improve the clinical assessment of cardiac involvement in 40 consecutive patients with SLE. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study began in 1990 with a prospective design. An appointment was scheduled with all patients whose SLE was diagnosed at the outpatient clinic and during the admission of the internal medicine service at the Kang Nam St Mary's hospital These were 40 female patients, with a mean age of 32+/-11 years(+/-SD). The average duration of disease was 37+/-32months, the average dosage of prednisolone per day was 20+/-17mg. M-mode and 2-D echocardiogram were carried out to the 40 SLE patients. RESULT: Seventeen(43%) of the SLE patients had pericardial effusion. Reduced left ventricular contractility was evident in 8 patients(20%). Abnormality of diastolic dysfunction to be checked by A/E ratio was in 3 patients(8%). No patients had echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Clinical findings of myocardial dysfunction in these patients included dyspnea(30%), jugular venous distension(20%), rales(10%) and S3 gallop(8%). Valvular abnormality of SLE patients included mitral regurgitation in five patients(13%) and aortic regurgitation in two patients(5%). Electrocardiogram showed myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation and sick sinus syndrome in 3, 1 and 1 patients respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, pericardial effusion were the most common echocardiopraphic abnormalities in Patients with SLE. The incidence of valvular and myocardial disease were relatively common.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiomyopathies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Internal Medicine ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericardial Effusion ; Prednisolone ; Prospective Studies ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Ventricular Dysfunction

Recently, we reported that Artemisia annua (AA) has anti-adipogenic properties in vitro and in vivo. Reduction of adipogenesis by AA treatment may dampen systemic inflammation and protect neurons from cytokine-induced damage. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess whether AA increases neuronal maturation by reducing inflammatory responses, such as those mediated by cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Mice were fed normal chow or a high-fat diet with or without chronic daily oral administration of AA extract (0.2 g/10 mL/kg) for 4 weeks; then, changes in their hippocampal dentate gyri were measured via immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence staining for bromodexoxyuridine, doublecortin, and neuronal nuclei, markers of neuronal maturation, and quantitative western blotting for COX-2 and Iba-1, in order to assess correlations between systemic inflammation (interleukin-6) and food type. Additionally, we tested the effect of AA in an Alzheimer's disease model of Caenorhabditis elegans and uncovered a potential benefit. The results show that chronic AA dosing significantly increases neuronal maturation, particularly in the high-fat diet group. This effect was seen in the absence of any changes in COX-2 levels in mice given the same type of food, pointing to the possibility of alternate anti-inflammatory pathways in the stimulation of neurogenesis and neuro-maturation in a background of obesity.
Adipogenesis ; Administration, Oral* ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Artemisia annua ; Blotting, Western ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Dentate Gyrus* ; Diet, High-Fat ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Mice* ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons* ; Obesity* ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases*

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is widely used in many areas of cardiovascular disease assessment. This is a practical, standard CMR protocol for beginners that is designed to be easy to follow and implement. This protocol guideline is based on previously reported CMR guidelines and includes sequence terminology used by vendors, essential MR physics, imaging planes, field strength considerations, MRI-conditional devices, drugs for stress tests, various CMR modules, and disease/symptom-based protocols based on a survey of cardiologists and various appropriate-use criteria. It will be of considerable help in planning and implementing tests. In addressing CMR usage and creating this protocol guideline, we particularly tried to include useful tips to overcome various practical issues and improve CMR imaging. We hope that this document will continue to standardize and simplify a patient-based approach to clinical CMR and contribute to the promotion of public health.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Commerce ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; Hope ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Public Health

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is widely used in many areas of cardiovascular disease assessment. This is a practical, standard CMR protocol for beginners that is designed to be easy to follow and implement. This protocol guideline is based on previously reported CMR guidelines and includes sequence terminology used by vendors, essential MR physics, imaging planes, field strength considerations, MRI-conditional devices, drugs for stress tests, various CMR modules, and disease/symptom-based protocols based on a survey of cardiologists and various appropriate-use criteria. It will be of considerable help in planning and implementing tests. In addressing CMR usage and creating this protocol guideline, we particularly tried to include useful tips to overcome various practical issues and improve CMR imaging. We hope that this document will continue to standardize and simplify a patient-based approach to clinical CMR and contribute to the promotion of public health.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Commerce ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; Hope ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Public Health