AIM and METHODS: The effects of angiotensin II(AngII) on the activation of three transcription factors were investigated by using EMSA and western-blot methods in endothelial cells respectively. RESULTS: The EMSA results showed that AngII stimulation could increase NF-κB, SP-1 and AP-1 activation in ECV304, which suggested that activity changes in these three transcription factors could partly contribute to the dysfunction of endothelial cells.The binding affinity of NF-κB, SP-1 and AP-1 with corresponding oligonucleotides in AngII-treated ECV-304 were respectively 10.98,3.89,1.33 times as large as in control. The nuclear appearance of AngII-activated NF-κB was examined by western-blot, which corroborates our results from EMSA analysis. While as the protein appearance of AP-1 and SP-1 in nucleus, were little higher than the control group. The result of western-blot suggested that AngII-induced EC activation of these three transcription factors maybe mainly due to the enhanced binding ability to its corresponding cis-acting factors. CONCLUSION: NF-κB, a ubiquitously exposed nuclear transcription factor, is involved, together with SP-1,AP-1, in the regulation of endothelial cell dysfunction related to cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

AIM: To determine whether the high mobility group protein I (HMGI) is able to bind to the upstream sequence of platelet-derived growth factor B-chain gene and to characterize the HMGI-binding AT-rich regions. METHODS: Recombinant human HMGI (rhHMGI) protein was prepared and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used. RESULTS: The binding of rhHMGI to PDGF-B (-1 758 / +43 bp) was observed in vitro. Two major HMGI-binding fragments -1 392 / -1 180 bp and -188 / +43 bp were identified, which contained the same AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA (-1 333 / -1 326 bp, -1 314 / -1 307 bp and -30 / -23 bp). An oligonucleotide bound to the TTTATAAA and the GAGACC, the core sequence of the shear stress response element of the PDGF-B, could also bind to the HMGI. Furthermore, HMGI facilitated the binding of NF-?B to the GAGACC in the oligonucleotide. CONCLUSION: The HMGI could bind to the upstream sequence of the PDGF-B gene via the AT-rich sequence TTTATAAA, which may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of the PDGF-B gene.

PURPOSE: We performed this retrospective study to investigate the outcomes of patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus after fractionated radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 10 patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus who were treated with conventional radiotherapy between January 2000 and December 2016. The median patient age was 54 years (range, 31–65 years), and 8 patients (80.0%) were female. The mean hemangioma volume was 34.1 cm3 (range, 6.8–83.2 cm3), and fractionated radiation was administered to a total dose of 50–54 Gy with a daily dose of 2 Gy. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 6.8 years (range, 2.2–8.8 years). At last follow-up, the volume of the tumor had decreased in all patients. The average tumor volume reduction rate from the initial volume was 72.9% (range, 18.9–95.3%). All 10 of the cranial neuropathies observed before radiation therapy had improved, with complete symptomatic remission in 9 cases (90%) and partial remission in 1 case (10%). No new acute neurologic impairments were reported after radiotherapy. One probable compressive optic neuropathy was observed at 1 year after radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Fractionated radiotherapy achieves both symptomatic and radiologic improvements. It is a well-tolerated treatment modality for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus.
Cavernous Sinus* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: We performed this retrospective study to investigate the outcomes of patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus after fractionated radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 10 patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus who were treated with conventional radiotherapy between January 2000 and December 2016. The median patient age was 54 years (range, 31–65 years), and 8 patients (80.0%) were female. The mean hemangioma volume was 34.1 cm3 (range, 6.8–83.2 cm3), and fractionated radiation was administered to a total dose of 50–54 Gy with a daily dose of 2 Gy. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 6.8 years (range, 2.2–8.8 years). At last follow-up, the volume of the tumor had decreased in all patients. The average tumor volume reduction rate from the initial volume was 72.9% (range, 18.9–95.3%). All 10 of the cranial neuropathies observed before radiation therapy had improved, with complete symptomatic remission in 9 cases (90%) and partial remission in 1 case (10%). No new acute neurologic impairments were reported after radiotherapy. One probable compressive optic neuropathy was observed at 1 year after radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Fractionated radiotherapy achieves both symptomatic and radiologic improvements. It is a well-tolerated treatment modality for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus.
Cavernous Sinus* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden

Purpose: Colonoscopy is an effective method of screening for colorectal cancer (CRC), and it can prevent CRC by detection and removal of precancerous lesions. The most important considerations when performing colonoscopy screening are the safety and satisfaction of the patient and the diagnostic accuracy. Accordingly, the Korean Society of Coloproctology (KSCP) herein proposes an optimal level of standard performance to be used in endoscopy units and by individual colonoscopists for screening colonoscopy. These guidelines establish specific criteria for assessment of safety and quality in screening colonoscopy. Methods: The Colonoscopy Committee of the KSCP commissioned this Position Statement. Expert gastrointestinal surgeons representing the KSCP reviewed the published evidence to identify acceptable quality indicators and indicators that lacked sufficient evidence. Results: The KSCP recommends an optimal standard list for quality control of screening colonoscopy in the following 6 categories: training and competency of the colonoscopist, procedural quality, facilities and equipment, performance indicators and auditable outcomes, disinfection of equipment, and sedation and recovery of the patient. Conclusion The KSCP recommends that endoscopy units performing CRC screening evaluate 6 key performance measures during daily practice.

PURPOSE: To validate the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) TNM staging system for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and investigate whether a modified classification better reflects the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic HPV-related OPSCC between 2010 and 2016 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. HPV status was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of p16 and/or HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We reclassified TNM stage T0-1 and N0-1 as group A, T2-3 or N2 as B, and T4 or N3 as C. Survival analysis according to 8th AJCC/UICC TNM staging and the modified classification was performed. RESULTS: Of 383 OPSCC patients, 211 were positive for HPV DNA PCR or p16. After exclusion, 184 patients were included in this analysis. Median age was 56 years (range, 31 to 81 years). Most primary tumors were in the palatine tonsil (148 tumors, 80%). The eighth AJCC/UICC TNM classification could not differentiate between stage I and II (p = 0.470) or II and III (p = 0.209). Applying modified grouping, the 3-year overall survival rate of group A was significantly higher than that of group B and C (98% vs. 91%, p = 0.039 and 98% vs. 78%, p < 0.001, respectively). Differentiation between group B and C was marginally significant (p = 0.053). CONCLUSION: The 8th AJCC/UICC TNM staging system did not clearly distinguish the prognosis of stage II from that of other stages. Including the T2N0-1 group in stage II may improve prognostic stratification.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Classification ; DNA ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Palatine Tonsil ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To validate the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) TNM staging system for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and investigate whether a modified classification better reflects the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic HPV-related OPSCC between 2010 and 2016 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. HPV status was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of p16 and/or HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We reclassified TNM stage T0-1 and N0-1 as group A, T2-3 or N2 as B, and T4 or N3 as C. Survival analysis according to 8th AJCC/UICC TNM staging and the modified classification was performed. RESULTS: Of 383 OPSCC patients, 211 were positive for HPV DNA PCR or p16. After exclusion, 184 patients were included in this analysis. Median age was 56 years (range, 31 to 81 years). Most primary tumors were in the palatine tonsil (148 tumors, 80%). The eighth AJCC/UICC TNM classification could not differentiate between stage I and II (p = 0.470) or II and III (p = 0.209). Applying modified grouping, the 3-year overall survival rate of group A was significantly higher than that of group B and C (98% vs. 91%, p = 0.039 and 98% vs. 78%, p < 0.001, respectively). Differentiation between group B and C was marginally significant (p = 0.053). CONCLUSION: The 8th AJCC/UICC TNM staging system did not clearly distinguish the prognosis of stage II from that of other stages. Including the T2N0-1 group in stage II may improve prognostic stratification.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Classification ; DNA ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Joints ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Palatine Tonsil ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate