This study investigated the effects of high amylose starch (HAS) consumption on gut functions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental animals were fed an diet containing HAS for 4 weeks (0, 125, 250, 500 g/kg diet). Stool weights, transit time, the pH of cecum, Bifidobacterium growth, short chain fatty acid production, and prostaglandin E2 production in colon mucus were measured. HAS intake did not affect body weight gain or food efficiency ratio during experimental period. There were no significant differences in kidney weight, epididymal fat pad weights or spleen weights, but the weights of the liver and thymus were significantly lower in the HAS100 group. The length of the large intestine, the weights of the cecum wall and cecum contents, and stool weights significantly increased through HAS intake. But transit time was not affected by the experimental diet. Although Bifidobacterium growth in the cecum increased through the HAS intake dose dependently, there were significant differences in the HAS50 and HAS100 groups. HAS intake increased the production of short chain fatty acid in the cecum contents. In particular, acetate and butyrate concentrations grew significantly. And the production of prostaglandin E2 in the colon mucus significantly decreased through HAS intake. These results demonstrate that high amylose starch intake significantly improves gut function.
Adipose Tissue ; Amylose* ; Animals ; Bifidobacterium ; Body Weight ; Butyrates ; Cecum ; Colon ; Diet ; Dinoprostone ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestine, Large ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Mucus ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; Starch* ; Thymus Gland ; Weights and Measures

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) consists of several geometric isomers of linoleic acid. CLA is found in foods derived from ruminants and exhibits strong anticarcinogenic effects in a variety of animal models. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in cancer progression. Specifically, MMP-2 and -9, which hydrolyze the basal membrane type IV collagen, are involved in the initial breakdown of collagen and basement membrane components during tumor growth and invasion. However, the effects of CLA on cancer cell motility and MMP expression and activity are not currently well known. Therefore, the present study examined whether CLA reduces the activity of MMP and cell motility in SW480 and SW620 cells, the human colon cancer cell lines. Gelatin zymography and Western blot analysis revealed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced the activity and protein expression of Mr 92,000 MMP-9 in both cell lines. To examine whether CLA inhibits the MMP activity, cells were incubated with 100 ngfmL PMA in the presence of various concentrations of CLA. PMA-induced MMP-9 activity was decreased by 20 micrometer CLA in SW480 cells, and by 10 micrometer and 20 micrometer CLA in SW620 cells. Results from the Hoyden chamber assay showed that cell motility was increased by PMA and that PMA-induced cell motility was significantly decreased by 20 micrometer CLA in SW480 cells. These results indicate that CLA may reduce the motility and MMP activity in human colon cancer cells.
Anticarcinogenic Agents ; Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line* ; Cell Movement* ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Gelatin ; Humans* ; Linoleic Acid* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Membranes ; Models, Animal ; Ruminants

PURPOSE: This study examined the expression of heparanase in osteosarcomas and evaluated its prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of heparanase from 51 osteosarcoma tissues was examined, and the correlations between the heparanase expression level and the clinicopathological factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Heparanase over-expression was observed in 37 tissue samples. There was a correlation between the heparanase expression level and a poor chemotherapeutic response, metastasis and poor survival rate. Multivariate analyses revealed that heparanase over-expression was a significant independent risk factor for a distant metastasis of an osteosarcoma. Among the 46 patients who underwent an adequate wide resection, there was a correlation between the heparanase expression level and recurrence. The 5-year survival rate was 83.8% for patients with heparanase negative tumors, and 46.9% for those with heparanase over-expression. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model revealed the heparanase expression level to be an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that heparanase expression might play an important role in local recurrence and metastasis, and might be a biological marker of the prognostic significance in osteosarcoma patients.
Biomarkers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Ectopic breast tissue may be seen along a diagonal line drawn from axilla to groin and it is rare with only a few reports in the world. There is a relatively frequent occurrence of ectopic breast tissue close to the breast or in the axilla, but the vulvar location is rare. We experienced a case of ectopic breast tissue in the vulva and reported it with brief review of literatures.
Axilla ; Breast* ; Groin ; Vulva*

In order to manufacture functional and esthetic prostheses, it is essential to accurately transmit information about the patient’s occlusal plane. In particular, in the case of a completely edentulous patient, the occlusal plane is very important to correctly support the soft tissue, to achieve aesthetic harmony with the facial appearance, and to properly pronounce it, and to form a balanced occlusal relationship for stable mastication. In the conventional method, various facebow systems were used to transmit patient’s information from the clinic to the laboratory, but there were several limitations in the process of transferring them to CAD. To simplify this process, a prefabricated POP (PNUD Occlusal Plane) Bow system was recently developed. In this case, a CAD-CAM (Computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing) treatment dentures reflecting the patient’s occlusal plane information was manufactured using the POP Bow system during the treatment of a completely edentulous patient, and aesthetic and functional satisfaction was obtained.

PURPOSE: The diagnostic criteria of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) are controversial across the world. We investigated how many discrepancies occur in the pathologic diagnosis of IEN and early gastric carcinoma in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) specimens, and evaluated the reasons of the discordance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1,202 ESD specimens that were originally diagnosed as gastric IEN and early carcinoma at 12 institutions. RESULTS: The final consensus diagnosis of carcinoma were 756 cases, which were originally 692 carcinomas (91.5%), 43 high-grade dysplasias (5.7%), 20 low-grade dysplasias (2.6%), and 1 others (0.1%), respectively. High- and low-grade dysplasia were finally made in 63 and 342 cases, respectively. The diagnostic concordance with the consensus diagnosis was the highest for carcinoma (91.5%), followed by low-grade dysplasia (86.3%), others (63.4%) and high-grade dysplasia (50.8%). The general kappa value was 0.83, indicating excellent concordance. The kappa values of individual institutions ranged from 0.74 to 1 and correlated with the proportion of carcinoma cases. The cases revised to a final diagnosis of carcinoma exhibited both architectural abnormalities and cytologic atypia. The main differential points between low- and high-grade dysplasias were the glandular distribution and glandular shape. Additional features such as the glandular axis, surface maturation, nuclear stratification and nuclear polarity were also important. CONCLUSION: The overall concordance of the diagnosis of gastric IEN and early carcinoma in ESD specimens was excellent. It correlated with the proportion of carcinoma cases, demonstrating that the diagnostic criteria for carcinoma are more reproducible than those for dysplasia.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms