BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Stem cell therapies for liver disease are being studied by many researchers worldwide, but scientific evidence to demonstrate the endocrinologic effects of implanted cells is insufficient, and it is unknown whether implanted cells can function as liver cells. Achieving angiogenesis, arguably the most important characteristic of the liver, is known to be quite difficult, and no practical attempts have been made to achieve this outcome. We carried out this study to observe the possibility of angiogenesis of implanted bio-artificial liver using scaffolds. METHODS: This study used adipose tissue-derived stem cells that were collected from adult patients with liver diseases with conditions similar to the liver parenchyma. Specifically, microfilaments were used to create an artificial membrane and maintain the structure of an artificial organ. After scratching the stomach surface of severe combined immunocompromised (SCID) mice (n=4), artificial scaffolds with adipose tissue-derived stem cells and type I collagen were implanted. Expression levels of angiogenesis markers including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34, and CD105 were immunohistochemically assessed after 30 days. RESULTS: Grossly, the artificial scaffolds showed adhesion to the stomach and surrounding organs; however, there was no evidence of angiogenesis within the scaffolds; and VEGF, CD34, and CD105 expressions were not detected after 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Although implantation of cells into artificial scaffolds did not facilitate angiogenesis, the artificial scaffolds made with type I collagen helped maintain implanted cells, and surrounding tissue reactions were rare. Our findings indicate that type I collagen artificial scaffolds can be considered as a possible implantable biomaterial.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adult ; Animals ; Artificial Organs ; Biocompatible Materials ; Collagen Type I* ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Membranes, Artificial ; Mice ; Stem Cells* ; Stomach ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Humans

Human colon epithelial cells secrete an array of proinflammatory cytokines that includes IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF, TNF alpha and IL-6. This response may serve to attract neutrophils and macrophags to the site of infection. In addition to IL-8 and MCP-1, the chemokine family contains other members, which, alone or in combination, can recruit and/or activate inflammatory and lymphoid cells. In this study, we asked whether colon epithelial cells express a broader array of chemokines than previously described. The colon epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was stimulated for 3h with IL-1 alpha, or was infected with Salmonella dublin. RNA was extracted and chemokine mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. Ex pression of GRO alpha, GRO beta, GRO gamma and IP-10 increased by bacterial infection or IL-l alpha stimulation. These data strongly support the notion that epithelal cells are an important and integral component of the host's natural immune system.
Bacterial Infections ; Chemokines ; Colon* ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans* ; Immune System ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella

To find out the predictors of nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation in patients with respiratory diseases, transcutaneous oxygen saturation(StcO2) monitoring studies using a pulse oximeter were performed during sleep in 20 patients. StcO2 was decreased more than 4% from the baseline value in 18 patients(90%) and more than 10%('Desaturator') in 8(40%). Five of the seven patients(71.4%) with awake PaO2<60mmHg and three of the thirteen patients(23.1%) with awake PaO2≥60mmHg were 'desaturators'. The awake PaO2/FIO2 and PaO2/PAO2 could distinguish 'desaturator' from 'nondesaturator, and PaO2, SaO2 or StcO2 could not. These results suggest that the nocturnal oxygen desaturation depends on the severity of the underlying disease rather than the baseline PaO2. Anthropomorphic and lung function factors could not separate between 'desaturator' and 'non-desaturator', and about a quarter of patients with a wake PaO2≥60mmHg developed significant desaturation. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation in patients with respiratory diseases regardless of their severity of airflow obstruction or awake PaO2.
Humans ; Lung ; Oxygen*

PURPOSE: The most important consideration for therapy using MSCs is the differentiation of the target organ's cell type. For in-vitro hepatogenic differentiation of MSCs, the main focus is efficient induction of the MSCs into the endoderm stage. Activin A, which is a signaling molecule that is similar to Nodal, promotes the induction of definitive endoderm from both ESs and MSCs. The protocols for induction into definitive endoderm have shown different efficiency and reproducibility depending on the researchers or the sources of the MSCs. Thus, a study on the various conditions of Activin A is needed to efficiently differentiate MSCs into the definitive endoderm lineage of MSCs. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissues and these were cultured in MCM (MSCs Culture Medium) on a human fibronectin coated plate. At 70~80% confluence, the MSCs were harvested and cultured in MCM supplemented with Activin A, at a 50 ng/mL concentration, and FGF4. The expression of the genes related with MSCs or primitive endoderm were analyzed by RT-PCR. The changes of cell morphology for differentiation were also observed by a light microscope & a SEM. RESULTS: The expression of genes related with primitive foregut endoderm was seen in the groups that were treated with a higher concentration of Activin A. The morphology of the cells that differentiated into definitive endoderm were not different from those of the undifferentiated MSCs. The expression of genes related with functional primitive hepatocytes was seen in the early phase during hepatic differentiation. The cell morphology was changed to a similar cuboidal form in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Activin A promotes a more rapid induction of definitive endoderm. It also makes an efficient condition for the differentiation into primitive foregut endoderm at a higher concentration.
Activins ; Endoderm ; Fibronectins ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Light

PURPOSE: The most important consideration for therapy using MSCs is the differentiation of the target organ's cell type. For in-vitro hepatogenic differentiation of MSCs, the main focus is efficient induction of the MSCs into the endoderm stage. Activin A, which is a signaling molecule that is similar to Nodal, promotes the induction of definitive endoderm from both ESs and MSCs. The protocols for induction into definitive endoderm have shown different efficiency and reproducibility depending on the researchers or the sources of the MSCs. Thus, a study on the various conditions of Activin A is needed to efficiently differentiate MSCs into the definitive endoderm lineage of MSCs. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissues and these were cultured in MCM (MSCs Culture Medium) on a human fibronectin coated plate. At 70~80% confluence, the MSCs were harvested and cultured in MCM supplemented with Activin A, at a 50 ng/mL concentration, and FGF4. The expression of the genes related with MSCs or primitive endoderm were analyzed by RT-PCR. The changes of cell morphology for differentiation were also observed by a light microscope & a SEM. RESULTS: The expression of genes related with primitive foregut endoderm was seen in the groups that were treated with a higher concentration of Activin A. The morphology of the cells that differentiated into definitive endoderm were not different from those of the undifferentiated MSCs. The expression of genes related with functional primitive hepatocytes was seen in the early phase during hepatic differentiation. The cell morphology was changed to a similar cuboidal form in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Activin A promotes a more rapid induction of definitive endoderm. It also makes an efficient condition for the differentiation into primitive foregut endoderm at a higher concentration.
Activins ; Endoderm ; Fibronectins ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Light

Lipoid pneumonia is chronic, interstitial, proliferative inflammation resulting from aspiration of lipoid material. Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon that physicians often use to treat chronic constipation in children and adults. Mineral oil may not elicit a normal protective cough reflex and may impair mucociliary transport. We experienced a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by aspiration of mineral oil given as a laxatives confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial biopsy in a 9-month-old boy with chronic cough and radiologic evidence of parenchymal lung disease.We reported this case with a brief review of related literatures.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Constipation ; Cough ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Laxatives* ; Lung ; Male ; Mineral Oil ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Pneumonia* ; Reflex

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of hydroxyurea with radiation in carcinoma of the cervix, huge exophytic or endophytic stage IIa and Iib. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty four patients with carcinoma of the cervix stage IIA(29 patients) with exophytic(> or =3cm in diameter) or huge endophytic mass and IIB(35 patients) treated with radiation and hydroxyurea at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University, School of Medicine from Aug, 1989 to May, 1991. The maximum and mean follow up durations were 68 and 57 months respectively. The radiation therapy consisted of external irradiation to the whole pelvis(3600-5400cGy) shield (4X10 cm), and combined with intracavitary irradiation (3000-3500cGy to point A). Hydroxyurea was to be taken in a single oral dose of 1.0gm/day during radiation therapy. RESULTS: The control rate was 89.1%. The actuarial overall five year survival rate was 78.8% for stage IIA and 72.8% for stage IIB. The overall recurrence rate was 25%(16/64). Twenty-three percent of the patients developed or greater thrombocytopenia. Grade 3 or greater GI, GU complication and anemia were not noted. There was no treatment related death noted. CONCLUSION: We considered that hydroxyurea and radiation therapy may improve survival rate in huge exophytic and endophytic stage IIa cervical carcinoma with acceptible morbidity.
Anemia ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea* ; Radiation Oncology ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia

There are many limitations for conducting liver disease research in human beings due to the high cost and potential ethical issues. For this reason, conducting a study that is difficult to perform in humans using appropriate animal models, can be beneficial in ascertaining the pathological physiology, and in developing new treatment modalities. However, it is difficult to determine the appropriate animal model which is suitable for research purposes, since every patient has different and diverse clinical symptoms, adverse reactions, and complications due to the pathological physiology. Also, it is not easy to reproduce identically various clinical situations in animal models. Recently, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has tightened up the regulations, and therefore it is advisable to select the appropriate animals and decide upon the appropriate quantities through scientific and systemic considerations before conducting animal testing. Therefore, in this review article the authors examined various white rat animal testing models and determined the appropriate usable rat model, and the pros and cons of its application in liver disease research. The authors believe that this review will be beneficial in selecting proper laboratory animals for research purposes.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Social Control, Formal

PURPOSE: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have the potency for self-renewal and differentiation into various kinds of cells. The hMSCs are obtained from the various tissues, including adipose tissue, bone marrow and cord blood. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important factor that affects cell adherence, growth, migration, apoptosis and differentiation both in vitro and vivo. The adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) have CD29 (integrin) on the cell surface, which is the receptor for fibronectin. The aim of this study is to validate the efficacy of ECM, and especially fibronectin, for cell expansion. METHODS: The AD-MSCs were obtained from the abdominal fat of humans. These cells were seeded onto culture plates coated with fibronectin-Human (FN) and plates without ECM (control). The cells were incubated for 3 passages and the cellular morphology was simultaneously observed with microscopy. CCK-8 assay was performed to compare the proliferation ability in each condition at the same passage. Immunocytochemistry staining for integrin-beta1 was performed to observe the cell to cell interaction. RESULTS: The hAD-MSCs in the FN-coated and non-coated plates exhibited cytoplasm staining for integrin-beta1. In all the cultures, extended fibroblastic-shaped cells that turned into rhomboid cells were most frequently observed. The cell growth rates for the non coated culture plate were lower than those for the FN coated plates. After 72 hour culture under the different coated concentrations of FN and the non coated condition (control), the control group had a lower growth rate. In the culture with a FN coated plate, a significant change was observed as compared with that of the control group. We observed an increase in cell proliferation, with a maximum of 140%, on the FN coated plate by performing CCK-8 assay. In comparison, integrin beta1 on the cells was more expressed in the FN-coated plates than that in the non-coated plates. CONCLUSION: The cell morphology can be changed faster in the FN coated culture plates than that in the non coated culture plates. Because proliferation and adhesion with FN can enhance the expansion, the culture within a FN coated plate is needed to encourage hAD-MSCs to proliferate in vitro.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Antigens, CD29 ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fetal Blood ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Microscopy ; Seeds ; Sincalide