No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

No abstract available.
Pneumonia*

OBJECTIVE: The aims of our study are to evaluate the effect of curcumin on spinal cord neural progenitor cell (SC-NPC) proliferation and to clarify the mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways in SC-NPCs. METHODS: We established cultures of SC-NPCs, extracted from the spinal cord of Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g to 350 g. We measured proliferation rates of SC-NPCs after curcumin treatment at different dosage. The immuno-blotting method was used to evaluate the MAP kinase signaling protein that contains extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs) and beta-actin as the control group. RESULTS: Curcumin has a biphasic effect on SC-NPC proliferation. Lower dosage (0.1, 0.5, 1 microM) of curcumin increased SC-NPC proliferation. However, higher dosage decreased SC-NPC proliferation. Also, curcumin stimulates proliferation of SC-NPCs via the MAP kinase signaling pathway, especially involving the p-ERK and p-38 protein. The p-ERK protein and p38 protein levels varied depending on curcumin dosage (0.5 and 1 microM, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Curcumin can stimulate proliferation of SC-NPCs via ERKs and the p38 signaling pathway in low concentrations.
Actins ; Curcumin* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord* ; Stem Cells*

Patients with hyperthyroidism can develop left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, but severe pulmonary hypertension association with hyperthyroidism is rarely seen. Herein, we describe the case of a 27-year-old female who presented with abdominal distension accompanied by pulmonary arterial hypertension and Graves' disease. Her pulmonary arterial hypertension was improved by treating the hyperthyroidism and pulmonary artery hypertension. Additionally, the patient's symptoms of right-side heart failure improved after pulmonary arterial pressure was reduced. Hyperthyroidism should be regarded as a reversible cause of associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Adult ; Arterial Pressure ; Ascites ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hyperthyroidism ; Pulmonary Artery ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

The incidence of adrenal incidentalomas has increased because imaging studies are now being more frequently performed, including abdominal sonography, CT and MRI. Although there is only a consensus on the treatment of adrenal incidentalomas from the National Institute of Health (NIH) conference 2003, it is generally accepted that surgical resection is required if there's any possibility of malignancy or functionality of the adrenal tumor. Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare chronic progressive suppurative disease that is caused by gram-positive bacteria of the genus actinomyces, which is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, with low virulence. Herein, we report on a case of adrenal actinomycosis that imitated a huge adrenal tumor in a 39-year-old women, and the adrenal actinomycosis was confirmed histologically only after adrenalectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Korean case report on actinomycosis that occurred in the adrenal gland.
Actinomyces ; Actinomycosis ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Consensus ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mouth

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common autosomal dominant inherited disorders affecting the nervous system. NF1 is associated with mutations in the NF1 gene, which is located on chromosome sub-band 17q11.2 and contains 57 exons spanning approximately 300 kb of genomic DNA. NF1 is caused by a loss of function mutation of the NF1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene, which encodes for neurofibromin, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) involved in the negative regulation of Ras activity. The GAP-related domain, which is encoded for by exons 20-27a, is one of the most important functional domains in neurofibromin. The cysteine-serine-rich domain has been recognized as an important functional domain in NF1-related pheochromocytomas. As the result of many genetic analyses of NF1-related pheochromocytomas, pheochromocytoma has generally been recognized as a true component of NF1. We recently experienced two families with NF1 accompanied by pheochromocytoma. The proband of family 1 is a 31-year-old female diagnosed with NF1 and pheochromocytoma. Gene analysis of the proband and her sister showed that the mutation of the NF1 gene (c.7907+1G>A) led to the skipping of exon 53 during NF1 mRNA splicing. The proband of family 2 is a 48-year-old male who was diagnosed with the same condition. Gene analysis demonstrated the mutation of the NF1 gene (c.5206-8C>G) with missplicing of exon 37. These novel germline mutations did not fall into the GAP-related nor the cysteine-serine-rich domains, but into the C-terminal area of the NF1 gene. This suggests that the correlation between the genotype and phenotype of NF1-related pheochromocytoma is somewhat difficult to characterize. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the function of the C-terminal area of the NF1 gene and its contribution to the development of NF1 and pheochromocytoma.
Adult ; DNA ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genotype ; Germ-Line Mutation ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromin 1 ; Phenotype ; Pheochromocytoma ; RNA, Messenger ; Siblings

Most of the patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) by Hantaviruses recover completely. However, the prevalence of hypopituitarism as sequel of HFRS may be approximately 10%. However, it is rare for hyponatremia to present as a manifestation of hypopituitarism due to HFRS. A 42-year-old Asian woman presented with anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. She had a history of HFRS 7 years ago. During her first hospital admission, her serum sodium was 103 mmol/L. The rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test showed no abnormal findings suggesting the possibility of adrenal insufficiency. After she underwent fluid therapy for 5 days, her serum sodium level was slightly increased to 131 mmol/L, and her clinical symptoms were improving. The next day after she was discharged, she suffered from the same symptoms and was admitted to our hospital again. On the day of her second admission, her serum sodium was 117 mmol/L. A combined pituitary function test showed diminished function of the anterior pituitary gland, which led to secondary adrenal insufficiency. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of her sella were compatible with empty sella turcica. After the replacement of prednisolone, her serum sodium levels returned to normal. Pituitary dysfunction should be included in the differential diagnosis of severe hyponatremia, especially in patients who suffered HFRS. This case also suggests that the rapid ACTH stimulation test has limitations with regard to the differential diagnosis of primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adult ; Anorexia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Empty Sella Syndrome ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Hypopituitarism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Pituitary Function Tests ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Prednisolone ; Prevalence ; Sodium ; Vomiting

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant syndrome, typically characterized by multiple colorectal adenomas and increased incidence of colorectal carcinomas if left untreated. It is caused by germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, which has been mapped on chromosome 5q21, and is accompanied by various benign and malignant extracolonic manifestations. The prevalence of thyroid tumors developing in patients with FAP is about 1~2%, are associated with FAP and have certain characteristics; mean age of tumor diagnosis at less than 30 years of age, the pathology is the papillary histiotype in more than 90% of cases, including a so-called cribriform- morular pattern, and multifocality is a frequent feature. In a genetic analysis, thyroid cancer in FAP usually has a mutation in the 5-portion of exon 15 between 778 and 1309, on chromosome 5q21. Also, the ret/PTC (especially ret/PTC1 and ret/PTC3) and p53 genes are thought probably to be associated with thyroid cancer in FAP patients. A case of familial adenomatous polyposis, accompanied by thyroid papillary cancer, was experienced in a 29 year-old female. She had hundreds of adenomas throughout the entire colon and congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE). The pathological finding of thyroid cancer was revealed as a mixture of cribriform, trabecular and papillary patterns. In a genetic analysis, she and her brother had a germline mutation of the APC gene at codon 1309. In Korea, there has been no previous case of cribriform-morular pattern and familial genetic analysis in FAP associated with thyroid cancer. Therefore, this case is reported, with a review of the literature
Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adult ; Codon ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, APC ; Genes, p53 ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Korea ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Siblings ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for urinary tract infection (UTI); emphysematous pyelonephritis (EP), a complication of UTIs, often occurs in patients with underlying, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. We report the case of an 87-year-old woman with EP in type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) with portal venous gas. PCI is a radiographic finding, which is found in a linear or cystic form of gas in the submucosa or subserosa of the bowel wall. PCI has two common presentations. Primary PCI is a benign idiopathic condition. Secondary PCI is associated with a wide variety of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases. PCI with portal venous gas in particular is associated with ischemic gastrointestinal disease. Initial pre-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography showed EP in the right kidney without PCI. Newly occurring PCI and hepatic portal venous gas were found in the right ascending colon after EP improved. This is a rare case of PCI accompanied by emphysematous pyelonephritis in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patient's general condition improved with intravenous antibiotics and fluid therapy without a surgical approach. However, she was discharged without further treatment because the family refused any further evaluations and treatments.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon, Ascending ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis* ; Pyelonephritis* ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Tract Infections

This comprehensive review critically examines the detrimental impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on bone health, with a specific focus on substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), phthalates, and dioxins. These EDCs, by interfering with the endocrine system’s normal functioning, pose a significant risk to bone metabolism, potentially leading to a heightened susceptibility to bone-related disorders and diseases. Notably, BPA has been shown to inhibit the differentiation of osteoblasts and promote the apoptosis of osteoblasts, which results in altered bone turnover status. PFASs, known for their environmental persistence and ability to bioaccumulate in the human body, have been linked to an increased osteoporosis risk. Similarly, phthalates, which are widely used in the production of plastics, have been associated with adverse bone health outcomes, showing an inverse relationship between phthalate exposure and bone mineral density. Dioxins present a more complex picture, with research findings suggesting both potential benefits and adverse effects on bone structure and density, depending on factors such as the timing and level of exposure. This review underscores the urgent need for further research to better understand the specific pathways through which EDCs affect bone health and to develop targeted strategies for mitigating their potentially harmful impacts.