Tumor suppressive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated, especially focusing on glutatione transferase and transglutaminase with aptosis in the carcinogenesis. The chemical hepatocarcinogenic procedure of Solt-Farber method was used on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental groups were divided into AA group treated by the standard Solt-Farber regimen of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetamidofluorene (AAF) and AD group treated with DHEA simultaneously with AAF and the AAD group treated by DHEA after treatment with AAF. Each group was divided by time sequence further into four subgroups, GI (8wk), G2 (16wk), G3 (28wk), and G4 (36wk). For neoplastic lesion, the immuno histochemical study with anti GSTP antibody was carried out, while the activity and expression of TGase was compared at the same time. The results were summarized as follows; GST-P positive foci detected in AD groups were significantly more suppressed by DHEA treatment than AA groups (P<0.05). AD groups. AD group showed higher activities of TGase than AA groups (P<0.05), which was confirmed by Western and Northern blot analysis. But the number of apoptotic bodies was not correlated with activity and expression of TGase in the nodule. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of DHEA on the murine hepatocellular carcinogenesis might be operating on the promotion process of carcinogenesis rather than regression process of transformed hyperplastic nodules.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

BACKGROUND: Platelet activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, which include atherosclerosis, coronary vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. There have been controversies with the influence of hormone therapy on platelet activation. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of long-term hormone therapy on platelet activation. METHODS: We recruited a total of 162 postmenopausal women aged 55 and above among wihch eighty healthy postmenopausal women had received hormone therapy for more than 5 years and the remaining eighty- two healthy postmenopausal women with no hormone therapyapy. Baseline characteristics as well as the parameters related to platelet activation were compared between the two groups using T-test. After platelet activation was defined by the reference range, multivariated logistic regression analysis was performed determining the odds ratio of hormone therapy on platelet activation. RESULTS: The MPC and PCDW were significantly lower in the HT group than the Non-HT group (P<0.001), which suggests that platelets were more activated in the HT group more than in the non-HT group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of the possibility of platelet activation in HT group was 19 times (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Long term hormone therapy increased platelet activation significantly, which may be a contributing factor of thromboembolism.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Activation* ; Reference Values ; Thromboembolism ; Vascular Diseases

Spinal cord infarction as a complication of spine surgery occurs rarely. Herein, a case of spinal cord infarction, which developed in a 69 year old woman following posterior decompression and internal fixation for a T11 bursting fracture, is descirbed. The anesthetic induction and intraoperative course were uneventful, except at the end of the procedure, where her blood pressure suddenly dropped from 130/90 to 90/60 mmHg. The patient was aggressively treated with a transfusion and vasopressor, the blood pressure then returned to its usual value within 10 minutes. However, during a physical examination in the recovery room, the patient was found to have flaccid lower limbs, with impaired sensory function below the T8 level. Her cord diameter had increased, and a high signal lesion was observed within the thoracic spinal cord, from T9 to T12 level on T2-weighted MR images, which was diagnosing as a spinal cord infarction, was and showed no improvement despite the immediate and aggressive treatment.
Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Decompression ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Lower Extremity ; Physical Examination ; Recovery Room ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that light-emitting diodes (LED) may represent a novel and effective anti-aging light source for the skin. Among many candidate molecules known to control collagens, caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is known to play an inhibitory role in cutaneous collagen metabolism. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LED irradiation on the expression levels of Cav-1 and procollagens (proCOLs) in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). METHODS: Cultured HDFs were irradiated with 630 nm LED at different doses, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Cav-1 and proCOLs I/III were analyzed. RESULTS: In LED-irradiated HDFs, mRNA and protein levels of Cav-1 were found to be down-regulated, whereas those of proCOLs I/III were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. A negative correlation between Cav-1 and proCOLs was verified in Cav-1 siRNA transfected HDFs. LED was moreover found to result in up-regulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and its receptors (TbetaRI, TbetaRII), SMAD1, and SMAD2 mRNA levels, indicating that LED may activate the TGF-1/TbetaR/SMAD pathway in HDFs. CONCLUSION: The anti-aging effects of 630 nm LED on human skin are likely mediated by up-regulation of proCOLs I/III and inhibition of Cav-1 expression levels in HDFs.
Caveolin 1* ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Procollagen* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Up-Regulation

Cerebral rete mirabile is an entity of particular disease which showed the specific angiographic findings. Many authors have been reported this disease with various discussion in opinion. It's exact pathogenesis and etiology were however unable to establish. Authors had experienced a total of 10 cases with cerebral rete mirabile from 3 period of 1973 to 1977, which were confirmed by cerebral angiography. We attempted to analyze it clinically and discussed with the review of literature. The result were summarized as following; 1) In age and sex distribution, 8 patients were over 20 years old age and 2 cases were below 20. 7 cases were female and 3 male. 2) Majority of cases(8 of 10 cases) were accompanied with subarachnoid hemorrhage and only 2 cases were non-hemorrhagic which all were over 20 years. 3) In 8 cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage initial symptoms were mainly impairment of consciousness and signs of meningeal irritation such as headache and vomiting etc. Other common initial symptoms in both non-hemorrhagic and hemorrhagic cases were hemiparesis, speech disturbance and seizure. 4) All cases disclosed the characteristic angiographic findings of cerebral rete mirabile. A patient showed nonfilling of left carotid system and anomaly of left vertebral artery. Aneurysm of anterior communicating artery was combined in other case. It is our consideration that vertebral angiography must be helpful in this disease to demonstrate the collateral circulation and an abnormal findings of vertebrobasilar system.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Cerebral Angiography ; Collateral Circulation ; Consciousness ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Paresis ; Seizures ; Sex Distribution ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vertebral Artery ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

The authors experienced a case of juvenile type cervical arteriovenous malformation. It was apoplectic in onset and represented spastic quadriparesis, sensory impairment and voiding difficulty. The authors treated with total excision of voluminous malformed vessels with good results.
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Muscle Spasticity ; Quadriplegia

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Humans ; Psoriasis*

No abstract available.
Hair*

OBJECTIVES: Alcohol drinking, obesity, and reduced physical activity are commonly related to oxidative stress, which induces plasma membrane-bound protein damage in hepatic cells and elevates serum gamma-GTP. We have a hypothesis that a long commuting time may induce oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between commuting time and serum gamma-GTP level. METHODS: Questionnaires were administered to 717 male workers who had worked at Kimpo airport until the year 2000,and had then moved to Incheon airport and were working there in 2002. The questionnaire included items concerning commuting time, sleeping time and alcohol consumption. Physical examination and laboratory data were also collected. RESULTS: Serum gamma-GTP level was significantly and positively correlated with commuting time, body mass index, systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, glucose, total cholesterol, AST, ALT and alcohol consumption. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that serum gamma-GTP level is significantly associated with commuting time, after considering the other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Commuting time is one of the factors that affects serum gamma-GTP level in male workers.
Airports ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Glucose ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Incheon ; Male* ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Oxidative Stress ; Physical Examination ; Plasma ; Questionnaires ; Transportation*

Ovulation induction is to make ovulation occur in a woman with ovulatory problems by giving her medical or surgical treatment. The method of ovulation induction varies depends on the cause and classification. In group I of WHO classification, gonadotropins should be used, and in group V or VI which shows hyperprolactinemia, dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine can be used to lower the serum level of prolactin. Group III is not an indication of ovulation induction and ovum donation should be recommended. In group II which is clinically most common, the first choice of treatment is clomiphene. If the initial treatment doesn't work, glucocorticoids, insulin sensitizers such as metformin, or gonadotropins can be added to induce ovulation. Aromatase inhibitor or gonadotropin alone can be an alternative treatment. In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian electrocautery, diathermy or laser vaporization can be helpful. In patients with prolactinoma, transsphenoidal pituitary adenomectomy is available.
Anovulation ; Aromatase ; Bromocriptine ; Clomiphene ; Diathermy ; Dopamine Agonists ; Electrocoagulation ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Insulin ; Laser Therapy ; Metformin ; Nitriles ; Oocyte Donation ; Ovulation ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Prolactin ; Prolactinoma ; Triazoles