BACKGROUND: 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) is a natural abietane diterpenoid that is mainly found in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae). DHTS exhibits a potential anti-proliferative effect in various human cancer cells. However, the mechanisms of action of DHTS as an anti-cancer agent have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the anti-cancer effect of DHTS in terms of cell cycle regulation and the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in SK-HEP-1 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: The anti-proliferative effects of DHTS were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B assay in SK-HEP-1 cells. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The elucidation of mechanisms of action such as the AMPK/AKT/mTOR and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DHTS showed a significant anti-proliferative activity against SK-HEP-1 cells. DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, which was mediated by downregulation of cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK4, CDK2, c-Myc and p-Rb expression and with increased expression of the CDK inhibitor p21. DHTS also activated the AMPK signaling. In addition, DHTS downregulated the Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of DHTS might be associated with the induction of G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and regulation of AMPK/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways in SK-HEP-1 cells.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin A ; Cyclin D1 ; Cyclin E ; Cyclins ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Protein Kinases ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

Lung cancer is one of the most common causative cancers worldwide. Particularly, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC is a serious form of lung cancer that requires prompt diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate for patients with this disease is only 24%. Gibbosic acid H (GaH), a natural lanostanoid obtained from the Ganoderma species (Ganodermataceae), has antiproliferative activities against colon and lung cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of GaH in NSCLC cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.GaH was found to induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and autophagy by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in A549 and H1299 cells. The induction of this cell cycle arrest was associated with the downregulation of cyclin E1 and CDK2.Additionally, the induction of autophagy by GaH was correlated with the upregulation of LC3B, beclin-1, and p53 expression. GaH also induced apoptosis by upregulating cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in the lung cancer cells. These findings suggest that GaH has a potential in the growth inhibition of human lung cancer cells.

Fifteen percent of patients with Cushing's syndrome could be accompanied with nonpituitary tumors that secrets ACTH-the ectopic ACTH syndrome. Among them, bronchial carcinoid is one of the rare causes of the ectopic ACTH syndrome. We experienced a 60-year-old woman who showed conditions of weight gain, generalized edema, hypokalemia, diabetes mellitus, and right middle lung mass. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed with bronchial carcinoid and was confirmed as an ectopic ACTH syndrome through immunohistochemical staining of ACTH. After resection of the lung mass, blood sugar, electrolytes, generalized weakness, and blood pressure improved.
ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic* ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Edema ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Weight Gain

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

Doxylamine succinate is common over-the-counter sleep medication that is frequently involved in accidental poisonings and suicide attempts. Doxylamine overdose is generally directed at the anticholinergic effect including autonomic,and central nervous system effect and direct cardiac toxicity. Rarely, rhabdomyolysis has been reported with doxylamine overdose. We experienced two cases of rhabdomyolysis with overdose of doxylamine in 17-year-old and 31-year-old male. They were diagnosed with high levels of creatine phosphokinase in serum, myoglobin in serum and urine, and increased radionuclide uptake of muscles in (99m)Tc-MDP bone scan. Patients recovered without any complications with hydration and diuresis. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of rhabdomyolysis in patients with doxylamine overdose.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Central Nervous System ; Creatine Kinase ; Diuresis ; Doxylamine* ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Myoglobin ; Poisoning ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Succinic Acid ; Suicide

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant type of cancers and its incidence is steadily increasing, due to life style factors that include western diet. Abnormal activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Therefore, targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been considered a crucial strategy in the discovery of small molecules for CRC. In the present study, we found that Nodosin, an ent-kaurene diterpenoid isolated from Isodon serra, effectively inhibits the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistically, Nodosin effectively inhibited the overactivated transcriptional activity of β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF) determined by Wnt/β-catenin reporter gene assay in HEK293 and HCT116 cells. The expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes such as Axin2, cyclin D1, and survivin were also suppressed by Nodosin in HCT116 cells. Further study revealed that a longer exposure of Nodosin induced the G 2/M phase cell cycle arrest and subsequently apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These findings suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of Nodosin in colorectal cancer cells might in part be associated with the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside of uterine cavity. The incidence of endometriosis is estimated about 8~15% of the reproductive women. The intestinal invasion is showed at about 3~34%. The intestinal invasion may be involved in rectosigmoid colon, appedix, ileum, and cecum in order of decreasing frequency. Until now, only 7 cases have been reported in Korea. Most cases are diagnosed after surgery. And then the diagnosis need to be confirmed by surgical pathology. Recently, a 42 year-old woman visited due to severe constipation. A flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed submucosal tumor on rectosigmoidal juction 20 cm above the anal verge. The surgical resection was performed and the biopsy showed the endomtriosis involving mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa, subserosa and lymph node.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Colon ; Constipation* ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Ileum ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Pathology, Surgical ; Serous Membrane ; Sigmoidoscopy

PURPOSE: Considering that nutritional state correlates to immunity, we performed this study to evaluate the correlation by assessing the numerical changes of the levels of serum albumin and lymphocyte subsets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on patients who were diagnosed as having gastric cancer and who underwent curative surgery from August 1998 to August 2004 in the Gyeongsang National University Hospital and whose peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were tested prior to surgery. The study population was a total of 150 cases. RESULTS: The change in the lymphocyte subsets in relation to the change in the level of serum albumin in all patients with gastric cancer was determined, and was compared to disease stages. When patients were classified by using the level of serum albumin with 3.2 mg/dl as the cut-off point (low group: serum albumin <3.2 mg/dl, normal group = serum albumin >or=3.2 mg/dl), the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes, CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and CD16+56 cells were, significantly lower in the group with the level of serum albumin below 3.2 mg/dl (low group) than it was in the group with a serum albumin level above 3.2 mg/dl (normal group) (P<0.05). In stage I (n=59), CD16+56 cells were significantly lower in the low group. In stage II (n=29), the number of CD16+56 cells was lower and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was higher in the low group than in the normal group significantly. In stage IV (n=33), except for CD19+ cells, the number of all lymphocyte subsets was significantly lower and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was significantly higher in the low group. CONCLUSION: The group with a low level of serum albumin had a low absolute number of lymphocyte subsets. Based on this, we reconfirmed that the nutritional state is closely related with the immune state in patients with gastric cancer.
Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Serum Albumin* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Considering that nutritional state correlates to immunity, we performed this study to evaluate the correlation by assessing the numerical changes of the levels of serum albumin and lymphocyte subsets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on patients who were diagnosed as having gastric cancer and who underwent curative surgery from August 1998 to August 2004 in the Gyeongsang National University Hospital and whose peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were tested prior to surgery. The study population was a total of 150 cases. RESULTS: The change in the lymphocyte subsets in relation to the change in the level of serum albumin in all patients with gastric cancer was determined, and was compared to disease stages. When patients were classified by using the level of serum albumin with 3.2 mg/dl as the cut-off point (low group: serum albumin <3.2 mg/dl, normal group = serum albumin >or=3.2 mg/dl), the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes, CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and CD16+56 cells were, significantly lower in the group with the level of serum albumin below 3.2 mg/dl (low group) than it was in the group with a serum albumin level above 3.2 mg/dl (normal group) (P<0.05). In stage I (n=59), CD16+56 cells were significantly lower in the low group. In stage II (n=29), the number of CD16+56 cells was lower and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was higher in the low group than in the normal group significantly. In stage IV (n=33), except for CD19+ cells, the number of all lymphocyte subsets was significantly lower and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was significantly higher in the low group. CONCLUSION: The group with a low level of serum albumin had a low absolute number of lymphocyte subsets. Based on this, we reconfirmed that the nutritional state is closely related with the immune state in patients with gastric cancer.
Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Serum Albumin* ; Stomach Neoplasms*