PURPOSE: Neuroinflammation is mediated by activation of microglia implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Petalonia binghamiae is known as a traditional food, based on multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-obesity. In present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Petalonia binghamiae was investigated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. METHODS: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined using Griess reagent. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was detected by Western blot analysis. Activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling was examined by nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit and phosphorylation of IκB. RESULTS: Extract of Petalonia binghamiae significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS/COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with Petalonia binghamiae suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of IκB. Co-treatment with Petalonia binghamiae and pyrrolidine duthiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor, reduced LPS-stimulated NO release compared to that in PB-treated or PDTC-treated cells. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that extract of Petalonia binghamiae exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of NF-κB signaling. These findings suggest that Petalonia binghamiae might have therapeutic potential in relation to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer Disease ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Diseases ; Cell Survival ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Microglia ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Parkinson Disease ; Phosphorylation

We present two patients with clinical features suggestive of a hyperkinetic form of encephalitis lethargica described by von Economo. While undergoing treatment for viral meningoencephalitis, they both developed comatose mentality, oromandibular dyskinesia, chorea, myoclonic jerk, oculogyric crisis, opistotonus, respiratory failure, and autonomic dysfunction. One patient died of autonomic failure while the other improved several months later. In both patients, cerebrospinal fluid exmamination revealed only pleocytosis. A brain MRI and EEG showed no specific findings. In order to control severe hyperkinetism and autonomic failure, medical treatments including L-dopa, clonazepam, and steroid pulse therapy were administereed in both cases while electroconvulsive therapy was tried in one of the cases. However, they all failed. These cases and previous reports informed us of the presence of sporadic form of encephalis.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chorea ; Clonazepam ; Coma ; Dyskinesias ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Electroencephalography ; Encephalitis* ; Encephalitis, Viral ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Levodopa ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningoencephalitis ; Myoclonus ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Synchronous primary tumor is uncommon form of gynecologic malignancy. Synchronous tumor is defined as primary tumor diagnosed simultaneously or within 6 months of one another. The prognosis of the patients with synchronous malignancies was reported to be more favorable when compared to the survival of patients harboring the same neoplasms individually. We report a case of multifocal concurrent adenocarcinoma involving salpinx, ovary, uterine cervix, and endometrium as well as omentum with a brief review of literatures.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cervix Uteri ; Endometrium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Humans ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Prognosis

A 42-year-old woman who had undergo a subtotal gastrectomy for stomach cancer, developed transient bilateral cortical blindness and hemiplegia after the removal of a subclavian vein catheter. A brain MRI, transcranial doppler sonogram and visual evoked potentials revealed no abnormalities. She returned to normal neurologic status 4 days after onset. There have been a few cases of transient cortical blindness after an insertion or removal of the subclavian vein catheter. However, caution should be taken for this possibility whenever the subclavian catheter is inserted or removed.
Adult ; Blindness, Cortical* ; Brain ; Catheters* ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Subclavian Vein*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term survival and prognostic factors for radio-frequency ablation (RFA) in colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 35 colorectal liver metastases patients who underwent RFA between 2004 and 2008. We analyzed survival after RFA and prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: Of the 35 patients, 23 patients were male and 12 were female. Their mean age was 62.40 +/- 12.52 years. Mean overall survival was 38.8 +/- 4.6 months, and mean progression free survival was 19.9 +/- 3.4 months. Three- and 5-year overall survival rates were 42.7 +/- 0.1% and 26.0 +/- 0.1%, respectively. Three- and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 19.6 +/- 0.1% and 4.9 +/- 0.04%, respectively. Overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly improved in male and in patients with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) < or = 100 ng/mL, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 < or = 100 ng/mL, absence of extrahepatic disease, and a unilobar hepatic lesion. In addition, progression-free survival was improved in patients with a solitary hepatic lesion. On the multivariate analysis, significant survival factors were the absence of extrahepatic disease and the presence of a unilobar hepatic lesion. CONCLUSION: RFA for colorectal liver metastases is an effective treatment option in male patients and in patients with CEA or CA19-9 < or = 100, absence of extrahepatic disease, a solitary hepatic lesion, and a unilobar hepatic lesion.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Pulmonary embolism is most commonly related to deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. However, recent studies show that the thrombosis of superficial veins can also progress to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. To our knowledge, there is no Korean report of pulmonary embolism associated with superficial vein thrombosis. We experienced an 82-year-old woman complaining of dyspnea and chest pain. On chest dynamic computed tomography (CT), pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. To evaluate the origin of the pulmonary embolism, abdominal CT, Doppler ultrasonography, and ascending venography of both lower extremities were done. We found no deep vein thrombosis, while thrombus of the proximal left greater saphenous vein was seen. We report a case of pulmonary embolism accompanying greater saphenous vein thrombosis without deep vein thrombosis.
Aged, 80 and over ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Phlebography ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Saphenous Vein* ; Thorax ; Thrombosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

PROPOSE: To analyze the indications and cytogenetic results of midtrimester amniocentesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study reviewed 2,523 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocentesis performed at MizMedi Hospital between January 2000 and December 2007. RESULTS: The most frequent indication for midtrimester amniocentesis was advanced maternal age (45.9%), followed by positive serum markers (29.9%). Chromosomal aberrations were diagnosed in 110 cases (4.4%), for which numerical aberration accounted for 38 cases (34.5%), structural aberration accounted for 65 cases (59.1%), and mosaicism accounted for 7 cases (6.4%). Among the autosomal aberrations, there were 20 cases of trisomy 21 and 8 cases of trisomy 18. With respect to structural aberrations, there were 14 cases of reciprocal translocation and 8 cases of robertsonian translocation. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations according to the indication were highest in individuals with a family history of chromosome abnormality 14.0% (8/57) followed by previous congenital anomaly 5.9% (2/34). CONCLUSION: Midtrimester amniocentesis is an effective tool for prenatal diagnosis. Indications such as advanced maternal age, maternal serum markers, and ultrasound are important for predicting abnormal fetal karyotypes.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Maternal Age ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy

PURPOSE: There is no established formula for estimating renal depths in Korean. As a result, we undertook this study to develop a new formula, and to apply this formula in the calculation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the renal depth (RD) on the abdominal CT obtained in 300 adults (M:F=167:133, mean age 50.9 years) without known renal diseases. The RDs measured by CT were compared with the estimated RDs based on the Tonnesen and Taylor equations. New formulas were derived from the measured RDs in 200 out of 300 patients based on several variables such as sex, age, weight, and height by multiple regression analysis. The RDs estimated from the new formulas were compared with the measured RDs in the remaining 100 patients as a control. In 48 patients who underwent Tc-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy, GFR was measured with three equations (new formula, Tonnesen and Taylor equations), respectively, and compared with each other. RESULTS: The mean values of the RDs measured from CT were 6.9 cm for right kidney of the men (MRK), 6.7 cm for left kidney of the men (MLK), 6.7 cm for right kidney of the women (WRK), and 6.6 cm for left kidney of the women (WLK). The RDs estimated from Tonnesen equation were shorter than the ones measured from CT significantly. The newly derived formulas were 12.813 (weight/height)+0.002 (age)+ 2.264 for MRK, 15.344 (weight/height)+0.011 (age)+0.557 for MLK, 12.936 (weight/height)+ 0.014 (age)+1.462 for WRK and 13.488 (weight/height)+0.019 (age)+0.762 for WLK. The correlation coefficients of the RD measured from CT and estimated from the new formula were 0.529 in MRK, 0.729 in MLK, 0.601 in WRK, and 0.724 in WLK, respectively. The GFRs from the new formula were significantly higher than those from the Tonnesen equation significantly, which was the most similar to normal GFR values. CONCLUSION: We generated new formulas for estimating RD in Korean from the data by CT. By adopting these formulas, we expect that GFR can be measured by the Gates method accurately in Korean.
Adult ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Pentetic Acid ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Chronic hepatitis B viral infection causes membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Patients with positive serum HBsAg with membranous nephropathy or membranoproliferative are considered as hepatitis B virus associated glomerulonephritis(HBV-GN) in epidemic areas of hepatitis B viral infection. To elucidate the clinical difference between hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and idiopathic membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, the authors conducted a clinical study including 71 cases of patients with renal biopsy proven diagnoses. Among the patients with hepatitis B virus antigenemia, the pathologic diagnoses were 7 membranous nephropathy(HBV-MN), 13 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(HBV-MPGN) but patients with mixed pattern of both membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis were excluded. For the patients with idiopathic glomerulonephritis, 35 of membranous nephropahty(MN) and 16 cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) were enrolled in this study. The patients of HBV-GN groups had more than 80% of HBe antigenemia. The nephrotic range proteinuria presented more frequently in HBV-MN(86%) than in MN group(54%). The cases of HBV-MPGN group(4 cases, 31%) showed nephrotic range proteinuria less frequently than those with MPGN(69%, p< 0.05) and significant discrepancy existed in HBV- MN vs HBV-MPGN and HBV-MPGN vs MPGN. The cases with decreased serum C3 level below normal were over 50% of HBV-GN and MPGN group except MN group. Serum levels of SGOT and SGPT were significantly elevated in HBV-MN and HBV- MPGN groups than those of MN and MPGN groups, respectively(p<0.05). The number of cases with increased SGOT, SGPT and gamma-GTP were 4(57%), 2 (29%) and 1(16%) in HBV-MN and 15(83%), 12(67%) and 9(75%) cases in HBV-MPGN group, in respectively. The cases developed progressive renal functional impairment during follow-up period of at least one year were 3 of 5(60%) in HBV-MN, 2 of 8 (25%) in MPGN and 3 of 9(33%) in HBV-MPGN groups which were significantly more than 2 of 22 cases(9%) in MN group(respectively p<0.05, not in HBV-MPGN vs MN). The renal functional impairment rate defined by the ratio of patients with their serum creatinine elevated above 2mg/dL over 3 months in each group was more rapidly increased in HBV-MPGN and HBV-MN than the idiopathic groups by Kaplan-Meier statistic analysis. We suggest that the patients with HBV-associated glomerulonephropathy seem to have worse prognosis in terms of renal functional impairment than those with idiopathic types of glomerulonephropathy with same pathology.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria

PURPOSE: Mitochondrial dysfunction can present with various symptoms depending on the organ it has affected. This research tried to analyze the ophthalmologic symptoms and ophthalmologic examination (OE) results in patients with mitochondrial disease (MD). METHODS: Seventy-four patients diagnosed with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex defect with biochemical enzyme assay were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups based on the OE results by funduscopy and were analyzed on the basis of their clinical features, biochemical test results, morphological analysis, and neuroimaging findings. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (50%) of the 74 MD patients developed ophthalmologic symptoms. Abnormal findings were observed in 36 (48.6%) patients during an OE, and 16 (21.6%) of them had no ocular symptoms. Significantly higher rates of prematurity, clinical history of epilepsy or frequent apnea events, abnormal light microscopic findings in muscle pathology, diffuse cerebral atrophy in magnetic resonance imaging, and brainstem hyperintensity and lactate peaks in magnetic resonance spectroscopy were noted in the group with abnormal OE results. CONCLUSION: Although the ophthalmologic symptoms are not very remarkable in MD patients, an OE is required. When the risk factors mentioned above are observed, a more active approach should be taken in the OE because a higher frequency of ocular involvement can be expected.
Apnea ; Atrophy ; Brain Stem ; Child ; Electron Transport ; Enzyme Assays ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Muscles ; Neuroimaging ; Ophthalmology ; Retina ; Risk Factors