PURPOSE: Cyclin E is essential for the transition from the G1 to S-phase of the cell cycle, and plays important roles in carcinogenesis in many cancers. Especially, low molecular weight cyclin E is overexpressed in breast cancer and its level of expression correlates well with the progression and prognosis. Although the cyclin E level is amplified, and overexpressed, in many cancers, including colorectal cancer, the role of low molecular weight cyclin E in colorectal cancer remains to be studied. Therefore, the expression of low molecular weight cyclin E in various stages of colorectal tumors was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of low molecular weight cyclin E was analyzed in 45 tumors, and compared with paired normal mucosa from the same patients (6 adenomas, 11 stage A, 14 stage B and 14 stage C colorectal cancers) by Western blot analysis. The expres sion of low molecular weight cyclin E was also analyzed in normal colon mucosa from 12 healthy normal controls. RESULTS: The low molecular weight cyclin E was expressed exclusively in all stages of colon tumors, but not in the normal mucosa from the same patients or in the normal controls. However, there was no correlation between tumor progression and the degree of expression of low molecular weight cyclin E. CONCLUSION: The expression of low molecular weight cyclin E is suggested to be an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Adenoma ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cell Cycle ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cyclin E* ; Cyclins* ; Humans ; Molecular Weight* ; Mucous Membrane ; Prognosis

Even though uroplakins (UPs) are believed to serve a strong protective barrier against toxic materials, cyclophosphamide (CP) causes extensive cystitis. We investigated the expression of UPs in the urothelium in CP induced mouse cystitis. A total of 27 ICR female mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg CP/kg. Nine CP-treated mice and 6 controls were sequentially killed at 12, 24, and 72 hr post injection. Extensive cystitis and an increased vesical weight were seen. These all peaked within 12 hr post injection and they tended to decrease thereafter. The level of all the UPs mRNA, the protein expressions of UP II and III on immunoblotting study, and the expression of UP III on immunolocalization study were maximally suppressed within 12 hr; this partially recovered at 24 hr, and this completely recovered at 72 hr post CP injection. In conclusion, CP reduced the expression of UPs. The reduction of the UPs mRNA and protein was time dependent, and this peaked within 12 hr after CP injection. However, the damage was rapidly repaired within 24 hr. This study demonstrates a dynamic process, an extensive reduction and rapid recovery, for the UPs expression of the mouse urinary bladder after CP injection.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide/*toxicity ; Cystitis/chemically induced/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*toxicity ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Time Factors ; Urinary Bladder/*metabolism

No abstract available.
Cystitis*

Acute optic neuropathy occurs commonly as a result of ischemia and inflammation, but paranasal sinus disease without infection is generally dismissed. We report a rare case of acute optic neuropathy caused by compression of a mucocele in an Onodi cell, which is an uncommon anatomical variation of the ethmoid sinus. The mucocele was confirmed by imaging and endoscopic sinus surgery. An Onodi-cell lesion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute optic neuropathy.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Mucocele ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Paranasal Sinus Diseases

BACKGROUND: The role of stratum corneum has been known to be the major barrier against percutaneous absorption. The change of osmotic gradient onto stratum corneum may affect the permeability barrier function though its mechanism has not been explained. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we have tested hyperosmolar glucose solution (1M, 0.1M) over the living skin or the separated epidermal sheets to determine the penetration-related pharmacokinetics such as absorption, saturation, diffusion kinetics in vivo or in vitro. METHODS: The hyperosmolar glucose patches were applied to 10 healthy volunteers' forearm skin to analyze the absorption profiles through stratum corneum. For investigating the role of osmotic pressure influencing the disposition of glucose, in vitro two compartment model was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of glucose through epidermal sheets. RESULTS: The quantitative assay of applied hyperosmolar glucose from sequentially stripped stratum corneum of volunteers revealed the high glucose/protein ratio and steep concentration gradient at the uppermost layers down to lower layers. The pharmacokinetic profile of hyperosmolar glucose in vitro shows both the saturation delay pattern and steady flux pattern regarding glucose diffusion. CONCLUSION: The stratum corneum act as a major permeation barrier against glucose disposition, though the concentration-dependent pharmacokinetics by its osmotic gradient were rather different. Thus, the osmolarity-related event over stratum corneum might be a considerable factor during percutaneous absorption.
Absorption ; Diffusion ; Forearm ; Glucose* ; Kinetics ; Osmotic Pressure ; Permeability ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: It is well known that preoperative administration of combined antiplatelet agents can have an impact on the postoperative bleeding, the requirement for transfusion and the need for reexploration during on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Yet its effects have not been well evaluated in the case of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective study of nineteen patients who underwent OPCAB from March 2003 to December 2004. All the patients had taken antiplatelet agents until 12 hours before operation. The patients were divided into two groups as an aspirin group and a combined (aspirin+clopidogrel) group. The perioperative platelet count, the hemoglobin level, the hematocrit, the prothrombin time and the aPTT were compared between both groups. The amount of postoperative bleeding, the transfusion requirement and the need for re-exploration to control bleeding were also compared between both groups. RESULT: There was no difference of operation time and the intraoperative ACT between the aspirin group and the combined group. The amount of blood loss through the chest tube for 24 hours was not different between the aspirin group (697+/-271 mL) and the combined group (944+/-432 mL). The number of patients who received blood transfusion was also not different between both groups. There was no patient who required reexploration for bleeding control in both groups. The perioperative hemoglobin level and hematocrit were also not different between both groups, but the postoperative hemoglobin level and hematocrit were decreased significantly in the group. CONCLUSION: The preoperative combined antiplatelet (aspirin+clopidogrel) therapy group was not different from the aspirin group for the amount of postoperative bleeding, the amount of blood transfusion and the need for reexploration during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. This subject needs further evaluation because of small population in our study.
Anticoagulants ; Aspirin ; Blood Transfusion ; Chest Tubes ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diplopia ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Paralysis

No abstract available.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diplopia ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Paralysis

Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with the Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is characterized by vesicles on the pinna, otalgia, facial nerve palsy and sensorineural hearing loss. Although significant complications from VZV infection are increasing, thrombosis associated with VZV infection is one of the rare complications in adults. The VZV itself could cause endothelial damage in the various organs. Subsequently, the thrombosis might be complicated. A previously healthy 84 year-old female patient was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. On the 7th day of antiviral treatment, she complained of sudden breathlessness. She was hypoxemic with an elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and needed to be supported by mechanical ventilation. Massive pulmonary thrombosis was documented by computerized tomography and she successfully underwent thrombolytic therapy. We report a case of massive pulmonary thromboembolism associated with VZV infection, treated with thrombolytic therapy.
Adult ; Earache ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Paralysis ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: The increasing number of outpatients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has led to a new category of pneumonia, termed healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). We determined the differences in etiology and outcomes between patients with HCAP and those with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to clarify the risk factors for HCAP mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study comparing patients with HCAP and CAP at Jeju National University Hospital. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 483 patients (208 patients HCAP, 275 patients with CAP) were evaluated. Patients with HCAP were older than those with CAP (median, 74 years; interquartile range [IQR], 65-81 vs. median, 69 years; IQR, 52-78; p<0.0001). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the major pathogen in both groups, and MDR pathogens were isolated more frequently from patients with HCAP than with CAP (18.8% vs. 4.9%, p<0.0001). Initial pneumonia severity was greater in patients with HCAP than with CAP. The total 30-day mortality rate was 9.9% and was higher in patients with HCAP based on univariate analysis (16.3% vs. 5.1%; odds ratio (OR), 3.64; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.90-6.99; p<0.0001). After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and initial severity, the association between HCAP and 30-day mortality became non-significant (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.94-4.18; p=0.167). CONCLUSION: HCAP was a common cause of hospital admissions and was associated with a high mortality rate. This increased mortality was related primarily to age and initial clinical vital signs, rather than combination antibiotic therapy or type of pneumonia.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Comorbidity ; Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Vital Signs