AIMTo investigate the activity of RRR-alpha-tocopheryloxybutyric acid (TOB), an ether analog of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (VES), in prostate cancer cells.

METHODSVES and TOB were used to treat prostate cancer LNCaP, PC3, and 22Rv1 cells and primary-cultured prostate fibroblasts. The proliferation rates were determined by MTT assay, the cell viabilities were determined by trypan blue exclusion assay, and the cell deaths were evaluated by using Cell Death Detection ELISA kit. The protein expression levels were determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe MTT growth assay demonstrated that TOB could effectively suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, but not normal prostate fibroblasts. Mechanism dissections revealed that TOB reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells similar to VES. In addition, both TOB and VES suppressed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at the transcriptional level leading to reduced PSA protein expression. Furthermore, vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression increased after the addition of TOB.

CONCLUSIONOur data suggests that the VES derivative, TOB, is effective in inhibiting prostate cancer cell proliferation, suggesting that TOB could be used for both chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic purposes in the future.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vitamin E ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

We developed a novel simple microwell plate that allows researchers to culture cells on chips easily without the use of tubes and pumps for studies of cell proliferation, apoptosis and pharmacology. Unlike any other previous design, this device can be put into an incubator directly and maintains cells in an environment with stable temperature, humidity, air pressure, oxygen and CO2 concentration. We cultured PC-12 cells in these microwell plates and measured the cell proliferation and apoptosis. The microwell plate is recommended for use in all research including those involving rare samples and expensive reagents.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; Cell Proliferation ; PC12 Cells ; Protein Array Analysis ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to clarify the roles of personality characteristics and general psychopathology, including depression and hypochondriasis, in individuals with eating disorders, and to test a continuum hypothesis of eating disorders. METHODS: Using a multi-stage questionnaire sampling method including area sampling, proportionated stratified sampling, and quota sampling, we surveyed 3,062 subjects(1249 males and 1813 females) from a target of 4,400 Korean adults over the age of 18 in a nationwide area(9 ku's, 10 middle or small cities, and 17 kun's). We used the questionnaire which consisted of three parts:general information, scales for eating traits, and scales for personality characteristics and other general psychopathology. RESULTS: Psychoticism was the only personality characteristics which had a significant relationship with various eating traits including 'eating habits'(r=-0.3195), 'the Eating Attitudes Test'(EAT, r=0.3657), and 'preference for vegetables and fish, and dislike for sweet,tasting foods'(r=-0.2740). Lie scale also had a significant relationship with 'preference for snacks and instant foods'(r=-0.2117). These results were consistent in examining the relationships across genders. In female, there was a significant relationship between 'preference for the traditional Korean foods' and 'psychoticism'(r=-0.2103) in addtion to above relationships. However, there were no significant relationships between any of the eating traits and other psychopathology. Relative to the relationship between personality characteristics and general psychopathology, there were significant correlations between 'depression' and 'interoversion-extraversion'(r=-0.2174), 'depression' and 'neuroticism'(r=0.4510>, and 'hypochondriasis' and 'neuroticism'(r=0.3432). These correlations in female was the same as those of the total group, while among males, 'depression' was significantly correlated with all four personality characteristics, and 'hypochondriasis' was significantly correlated with 'interoversion-extraversion'(r=-0.2265) and 'neuroticism'(r=0.3762). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that psychoticism is the only personaltiy characteristics related to eating-specific psychopathology, while general psychopathology, such as depression and hypochondriasis is not related to eating pathology but may influence eating disorders by their interaction with other personality characteristics, such as interoversion-extraversion and neuroticism. Considering the results of previous studies in the patients with eating disorders and high risk groups, which are similar with our results in the general population, our results support a continuum hypothesis of eating disorders. Our results also suggest that gender differences in the pathology of eating disorders are the result not of difference in eating-specific pathology itself but through difference in influences of concurrent general psychopathology, such as depression and hypochondriasis.
Adult ; Depression ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Eating* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Male ; Pathology ; Psychopathology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Snacks ; Vegetables ; Weights and Measures

Many factors can be recognized for the acute rejection such as: degree of HLA mismatching, cytokine gene expression, ischemic time, etc. Some authors have suggested the importance of early routine biopsy of renal allograft to predict acute rejection. This prospective study on renal implantation biopsies was performed to evaluate the relationship between the implantation biopsies and the acute rejection during the immediate post-transplantation period. From December 1996 to February 1998 implantation biopsies were performed on 46 renal allografts within 40~60 minutes after vascular anastomosis using tru-cut needle (18G). Two samples were obtained from transplanted kidney in each patient. Serial sections were stained for the light microscopic examination. The slides were evaluated for histologic features such as interstitial cellular infiltration, nephrosclerosis, tubular damage, glomerular neutrophil count (GL-PMN), and peritubular neutrophil count (PTC-PMN). Forty six biopsies were grouped into acute rejection group (R group, n=10) and non-rejection group (N group, n=36) during immediate posttransplantation period (1 month). Acute rejections were confirmed by ultrasonography guided biopsy. Histologic findings were classified according to Banff schema. The statistical analysis was performed by using Chi-Square Test and Spearman Rank Sum Test. During the immediate post-transplantation period, acute rejection developed in 10 cases (21.7%) of which 9 cases were the biopsy-proven rejection. The male to female ratio was 21:25. Recipients were ranged from 22 to 54 years old with a mean age of 38.2+/- 9.1. Original disease of recipient were chronic glomerulonephritis in 15 cases (32.6%), hypertension in 8 cases, diabetes mellitus in 3 cases, RPGN in 2 cases. Fifteen cases (32.6%) were of unknown etiology. The mean number of HLA mismatches was 4.6+/- 0.9 in R group, 4.7+/- 1.2 in N group, and the mean number of HLA-B & DR mismatches was 2.2+/- 0.4 in R group, 2.3+/- 0.7 in N group. The ratio of the living vs. cadaveric donors was 34:12. No statistical difference was observed between two groups in interstitial cellular infiltration, nephrosclerosis and tubular damage. The GL-PMN was 0.6 0.9 in R group, while 0.1 +/- 0.4 in N group. The PTC-PMN was 5.3+/- 3.3 in R group and 0.3+/- 1.1 in N group (p<0.05). The presence of more than five PTC-PMN count was related with the occurrence of acute rejection (p<0.01). In conclusion, the PTC-PMN of renal implantation biopsies is a possible predicting factor for acute rejection in this preliminary report.
Allografts ; Biopsy* ; Cadaver ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Glomerulonephritis ; HLA-B Antigens ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Nephrosclerosis ; Neutrophils ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography

Purpose: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a devastating complication of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Minimally invasive PD (MIPD), including laparoscopic (LPD) and robotic (RPD) approaches, have comparable POPF rates to open PD (OPD). However, we hypothesize that the likelihood of having a more severe POPF, as defined as clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF), would be higher in an MIPD relative to OPD. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) targeted pancreatectomy dataset (2014–2020) was reviewed for any POPF after OPD. Propensity score matching (PSM) compared MIPD to OPD, and then RPD to LPD. Results: Among 3,083 patients who developed a POPF, 2,843 (92.2%) underwent OPD and 240 (7.8%) MIPD; of these, 25.0% were LPD (n = 60) and 75.0% RPD (n = 180). Grade B POPF was observed in 45.4% (n = 1,400), and grade C in 6.0% (n = 185). After PSM, MIPD patients had higher rates of CR-POPF (47.3% OPD vs. 54.4% MIPD, p = 0.037), as well as higher reoperation (9.1% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.006), delayed gastric emptying (29.2% vs. 35.8%, p = 0.041), and readmission rates (28.2% vs. 35.1%, p = 0.032). However, CR-POPF rates were comparable between LPD and RPD (56.8% vs. 49.3%, p = 0.408). Conclusion The impact of POPF is more clinically pronounced after MIPD than OPD with a more complex postoperative course. The difference appears to be attributed to the minimally invasive environment itself as no difference was noted between LPD and RPD. A clear biological explanation of this clinical observation remains missing. Further studies are warranted.

Renal transplantation has been adopted as the treatment of choices for most patients with a end stage renal disease. This is the presentation of our experience of renal transplantation at Hallym University Hospital. From March 1984 to July 1998, 207 cases of renal transplantations were performed, 15 cases out of which were lost during follow-up period and excluded from the study. The mean age of recipients was 37.1 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Eighty nine renal allografts (46.4%) were from living unrelated donors, 59 (30.7%) from living donors and 44 (22.9%) from cadaveric donors. As an immunosuppression theray, a triple regimen was used in 104 cases (54.2), a double regimen in 86 (44.8%) and a single regimen in one (0.5%). The overall rejection developed in 87 cases (45.3%). The rejection rate was 59.3% in renal allografts from living related donors, 37.1% from living unrelated donors and 43.2% from cadavaric donors. The OKT3 and the antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) were used for steroid resistent rejection in 8 and 2 cases, respectively. Post-transplant diabetes mellitus were noticed in 22 cases (11.5). The most common complication was infection (28.1%), and 11 recipeints (5.7%) died during follw-up period. Infection was the leading cause of mortality. The overall graft survival was 92.2% at 1 year span and 83.1% at 3 year span. The overall patient survival was 95.6% at 1 year span and 92.5% at 3 year span.
Allografts ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Cadaver ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Living Donors ; Male ; Mortality ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Tissue Donors ; Unrelated Donors

Antithrombotic agents, including antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, are widely used in Korea because of the increasing incidence of cardiocerebrovascular disease and the aging population. The management of patients using antithrombotic agents during endoscopic procedures is an important clinical challenge. The clinical practice guidelines for this issue, developed by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, were published in 2020. However, new evidence on the use of dual antiplatelet therapy and direct anticoagulant management has emerged, and revised guidelines have been issued in the United States and Europe. Accordingly, the previous guidelines were revised. Cardiologists were part of the group that developed the guideline, and the recommendations went through a consensus-reaching process among international experts. This guideline presents 14 recommendations made based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and was reviewed by multidisciplinary experts. These guidelines provide useful information that can assist endoscopists in the management of patients receiving antithrombotic agents who require diagnostic and elective therapeutic endoscopy. It will be revised as necessary to cover changes in technology, evidence, or other aspects of clinical practice.

Antithrombotic agents, including antiplatelet agent and anticoagulants are widely used in Korea due to increasing incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and aging population. The management of patients using antithrombotic agents during endoscopic procedures is an important clinical challenge. Clinical practice guideline regarding this issue which was developed by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy was published in 2020. However, since then, new evidence has emerged for the use of dual antiplatelet therapy and direct anticoagulant management, and revised guidelines were issued in the US and Europe. Accordingly, the previous guidelines were revised, cardiologists also participated in the development group, and the recommendations went through a consensus process among international experts. This guideline presents 14 recommendations made according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology, and was reviewed by multidisciplinary experts. This guideline provides useful information that can assist endoscopists in the management of patients on antithrombotic agents who require diagnostic and elective therapeutic endoscopy. It will be revised as necessary to cover changes in technology, evidence, or other aspects of clinical practice.

Background: Pruritus can impair quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis. There is evidence that acupuncture reduces pruritus and disease severity, and improves quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pruritus intensity, disease severity, and medication use, and improving quality of life. Methods: This was a patient- and assessor-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis underwent twice-weekly acupuncture for 12 weeks, with an 8-week follow-up period. Baseline and weekly assessment were done using standard data collection forms and validated assessment tools. Results: Thirty patients were randomized and 28 patients were eligible for the efficacy analysis. There were no significant differences in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the True Acupuncture group (TA) (n=16) and Sham Acupuncture group (SA) (n=12). Both groups showed reduction in mean itch intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS) (p=0.024) but TA showed greater reduction (p=0.009) that was sustained after end of treatment. There was also a reduction in medication use in both groups. The comparable efficacy of SA to TA is attributed to similar peripheral receptive fields and stimulation of cutaneous C-fibers which depletes the neurotransmitters mediating pruritus and results in tachyphylaxis. Mild adverse events, such as petechiae and erythema, were noted in both groups and resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Acupuncture is a promising adjunct treatment in atopic dermatitis with significant reduction in pruritus, disease severity and medication use and a trend towards improved quality of life. Studies with larger sample size and comparison to acupuncture points farther from the true acupuncture points are recommended. Trial Registration Food and Drug Administration Philippine Health Research Registry ID PHRR171012-001696
Acupuncture ; Pruritus ; Dermatitis, Atopic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There has been major progress in our understanding of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and novel treatment classes have emerged. The Rome IV guidelines were published in 2016 and together with the growing body of Asian data on IBS, we felt it is timely to update the Asian IBS Consensus. METHODS: Key opinion leaders from Asian countries were organized into 4 teams to review 4 themes: symptoms and epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and investigations, and lifestyle modifications and treatments. The consensus development process was carried out by using a modified Delphi method. RESULTS: Thirty-seven statements were developed. Asian data substantiate the current global viewpoint that IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. Socio-cultural and environmental factors in Asia appear to influence the greater overlap between IBS and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. New classes of treatments comprising low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosacharides, and polyols diet, probiotics, non-absorbable antibiotics, and secretagogues have good evidence base for their efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Our consensus is that all patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders should be evaluated comprehensively with a view to holistic management. Physicians should be encouraged to take a positive attitude to the treatment outcomes for IBS patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consensus ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Epidemiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestines ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Life Style ; Methods ; Probiotics