To investigate the effect of diazepam on the contractility of the intestinal smooth muscle, longitudinal muscle strip isolated from rat ileum was prepared for myography in isolated organ bath. 1) Basal tone of ileal muscle was reduced by diazepam concentration-dependently. 2) Higher concentrations (30 and 100 microM) of diazepam inhibited (p<0.05, p<0.001) The carbachol-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner; but lower concentration of diazepam (10 microM) enhanced (p<0.05). 3) Histamine-induced contraction was inhibited by pretreatment with diazepam in a concentration-dependent manner. 4) Ca⁺⁺-induced tension recovery in calcium-free solution was inhibited in the presence of diazepam concentration-dependently. These results suggest diazepam reduces the contractility of the longitudinal muscle isolated from rat ileum via interference with influx of calcium into the muscle cells.
Animals ; Baths ; Calcium ; Carbachol* ; Diazepam* ; Ileum* ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myography ; Rats*

Apocrine carcinoma is an uncommon, poorly characterized type of breast tumor. The histologic characteristics of apocrine epithelium in malignant breast lesion were first noted by Krompecher(1916), while the first detailed description of an apocrine carcinoma is credited to Ewing in 1928. The reported incidence of apocrine carcinoma is approximately 0.4% of breast cancers. Apocrine carcinoma has distinct histologic and ultrastructural features that distinguish it as a specialized form of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The finding of a uniform pattern of apocrine differentiation with dense granularity typifying the majority of cells characterizes this variant. We experienced two cases of invasive apocrine carcinoma of the breast and report with a review of the related literature.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Epithelium ; Incidence

PURPOSE: Obesity has become a pandemic and especially the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased remarkably over the past years. Childhood obesity is often accompanied by the expected morbidities such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and glucose intolerance. We evaluated the pattern of alteration in the body mass index (BMI), serum adiponectin concentration, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and complication rates after one year follow-up. METHODS: Forty two obese children (age: 8-15 years, 95th percentile of BMI for age and sex) were examined twice annually on June, 2004 and July, 2005. The body mass index (BMI) and sexual maturity rating (SMR) were determined annually by the same examiner and serum fasting glucose, liver enzyme, lipid profiles, adiponectin, insulin and HOMA-IR were measured and annual results were compared. Upper abdominal sonography was performed to detect fatty liver. RESULTS: BMI (25.3+/-2.9 kg/m2 vs. 26.0+/-2.9 kg/m2) and HOMA-IR (3.6+/-1.8 vs. 4.7+/-1.9) have increased significantly after one-year follow-up. The serum adiponectin concentration (17.2+/-5.2 g/mL vs. 12.6+/-5.2 g/mL) has decreased after one year. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia and fatty liver were not changed significantly but that of hyperinsulinemia increased after one-year. HOMA-IR showed a positive correlation with BMI and SMR, but was negatively correlated with serum adiponectin concentration. CONCLUSION: Obese children in our study showed significant increment of insulin resistance during one year. These results suggest that well-organized and continuous obesity control is required especially for obese adolescent to prevent complication of obesity.
Adiponectin* ; Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Child* ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hyperlipidemias ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Liver ; Obesity ; Pandemics ; Pediatric Obesity ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is clinically encountered during thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA), and coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). Reperfusion results in endothelial dysfunction characterized by a reduced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) in animal studies. Studies with experimental animals have emphasized the role of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in pathophysiology of reperfusion injury and myocardial stunning. The object of this study is to determine whether endothelial dysfunction was developed after open heart surgery and to evaluated the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury. METHODS: The study group was comprised 13 patients who underwent open heart surgery(male/female : 2/11, mean age : 43+/-4 year, Atrial septal defect in 4, Ventricular septal defect in 1, Mitral regurgitation in 2, Tetralogy of Fallot in 1, and Aortic stenosis and Regurgitation with Mitral stenosis in 5 patients). The endothelial function was evaluated with the vasomotor response to acetylcholine and nitroglycerin by change of arterial diameter during the continous infusion of acetylcholin, from 10(-9) to 10(-6) molar concentration to the coronary artery and intracoronary injection of 200microg nitroglycerin after acetylcholine infusion. The infusion study was performed before and 10 days after surgery. For analysis of the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury, blood samples for malondialdehyde and neutrophil respiratory burst test(hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils) were obtained in pre-declamping of aorta and 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min after declamping of aorta from coronary sinus. RESULTS: 1) The vasoconstrictor response to acetylcholine, 10(-9) to 10(-6)M concentration, at proximal and distal left anterior descending coronary artery, were increased significantly in post-operation infusion study but there was no singnificant difference in vasodilator response to nitroglycerin. 2) The mean absorbance value of malondialdehyde(MDA) in pre-declamping and 5min, 10min, and 20min after reperfusion were 96+/-12, 73+/-12, 89+/-11 and 77+/-12, respectively. There was no significant difference in plasma MDA level and hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils after reperfusion(aortic declamping). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that endothelium dependent vascular relaxation is impaired in patients with open heart surgery and post-ischemic reperfusion injury may be responsible for the abnormal response. But we did not determine the role of lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radical in reperfusion injury.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Free Radicals ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Malondialdehyde ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Molar ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Stunning ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen* ; Plasma ; Relaxation ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Respiratory Burst ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium is clinically encountered during thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA), and coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). Reperfusion results in endothelial dysfunction characterized by a reduced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(EDRF) in animal studies. Studies with experimental animals have emphasized the role of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in pathophysiology of reperfusion injury and myocardial stunning. The object of this study is to determine whether endothelial dysfunction was developed after open heart surgery and to evaluated the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury. METHODS: The study group was comprised 13 patients who underwent open heart surgery(male/female : 2/11, mean age : 43+/-4 year, Atrial septal defect in 4, Ventricular septal defect in 1, Mitral regurgitation in 2, Tetralogy of Fallot in 1, and Aortic stenosis and Regurgitation with Mitral stenosis in 5 patients). The endothelial function was evaluated with the vasomotor response to acetylcholine and nitroglycerin by change of arterial diameter during the continous infusion of acetylcholin, from 10(-9) to 10(-6) molar concentration to the coronary artery and intracoronary injection of 200microg nitroglycerin after acetylcholine infusion. The infusion study was performed before and 10 days after surgery. For analysis of the role of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury, blood samples for malondialdehyde and neutrophil respiratory burst test(hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils) were obtained in pre-declamping of aorta and 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min after declamping of aorta from coronary sinus. RESULTS: 1) The vasoconstrictor response to acetylcholine, 10(-9) to 10(-6)M concentration, at proximal and distal left anterior descending coronary artery, were increased significantly in post-operation infusion study but there was no singnificant difference in vasodilator response to nitroglycerin. 2) The mean absorbance value of malondialdehyde(MDA) in pre-declamping and 5min, 10min, and 20min after reperfusion were 96+/-12, 73+/-12, 89+/-11 and 77+/-12, respectively. There was no significant difference in plasma MDA level and hydrogen peroxide amount of neutrophils after reperfusion(aortic declamping). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that endothelium dependent vascular relaxation is impaired in patients with open heart surgery and post-ischemic reperfusion injury may be responsible for the abnormal response. But we did not determine the role of lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radical in reperfusion injury.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Sinus ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Free Radicals ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Malondialdehyde ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Molar ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Stunning ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen* ; Plasma ; Relaxation ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion* ; Respiratory Burst ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

PURPOSE: In the treatment of breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is useful to reduce breast cancer size before surgical intervention. Patients who achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) to NAC have improved overall survival (OS). However, the relationship between prognosis and partial response is yet unclear. In this study, we evaluated prognostic factors and the tumor response ratio (TRR) method among patients who received NAC. METHODS: Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated to predict OS. The TRR was calculated by dividing pathologic tumor size by clinical tumor size. TRRs were then categorized into four groups, and the survival times for the different TRR groups were compared using statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Clinical N stage (p=0.02), overall stage (p=0.04), pathologic N stage (p=0.03), hormone receptor status (p=0.01), and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.02) were significantly associated with OS. Pathologic overall stage and TRR did not correlate with OS. Patients with a pCR exhibited the best survival rates using the current staging system and the TRR method. CONCLUSION: Clinicopathologic factors can be easily applied to predict OS, and clinicians could use these parameters until an accurate, simple, and highly discriminatory methods is developed to assess breast cancer patients with a partial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Buckwheat is considered one of the most important food allergens in Korea. Although a very small amount is ingested or inhaled, it can cause serious allergic reactions. However, the major allergens of buckwheat still remain to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to identify and characterize the major allergen of buckwheat seed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Dialysis membrane with a cut-off MW 1kD was used for the preparation of crude buckwheat seed allergen extract. SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and IgE immunoblotting were performed using sera from 15 buckwheat sensitive subjects. Isoelectric focusing and lectin blotting assay were done. RESULT: Western blot analysis showed more than 15 IgE-reactive buckwheat proteins. Among them, a 24kD protein was shown to be the most frequently bound to sera from allergic subjects (54%). Isoelectric point of 24kD protein was around 5.9. In lectin blotting assay, 24kD protein did not bind to Con A nor five other lectins. CONCLUSION: A 24kD protein was the most frequently recognized allergenic component in buckwheat seed. Isoelectric point was around 5.9. Glycosylation was not detected in 24kD of buckwheat protein.
Allergens ; Blotting, Western ; Dialysis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fagopyrum* ; Glycosylation ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Isoelectric Point ; Korea ; Lectins ; Membranes

PURPOSE: Oncogen or growth factor receptor such as phospholipase C isoenzyme gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Her-2/neu which related with tyrosin kinasemay and then regulating vell proliferation may have a role as prognostic factors for breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: With assumption that expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene has close relationship with prognosis of breast cancer, 59 breast cancer patients who were operated upon at Korea University Hospital during a period of 6 years starting June 1988 to May 1994 were selected for this study. This study was carried out by comparing between expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene and patient's survival rate. These expression were also compared with TNM system, estrogen and progesterone receptor and at same time these expressions were compared with each other to see whether there are any relationship among these expression. RESULTS: Expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu were present in 42% (25/59), 46% (27/59) and 20% (12/59). The expression of PLC gamma-1 was closely related with the expression of EGFR (p<0.05) and Her-2/neu (p<0.05), but there were no relationship between the expression of PLC gamma-1 and hormonal receptors and TNM stage (p>0.05). The expression of EGFR was closely related with the expression of Her-2/neu (p<0.05) and hormone receptors (p<0.05), but there were no relationship between the expression of EGFR and pathologic TNM stage (p>0.05). The expression of Her-2/neu was not closely related with hormone receptors and TNM stage except axillary lymph node metastasis. There were close relationship between overall and disease free survival and PLC gamma-1 and Her-2/neu. But EGFR had only related with disease free survival rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the expression of PLC gamma-1, EGFR and Her-2/neu oncogene in human breast cancer may be useful prognostic factors independently and it may potentiated its individual value as a prognostic factors if use them together.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Estrogens ; Humans* ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Phospholipases* ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Survival Rate ; Type C Phospholipases*

Cutaneous epidermal cysts are benign lesions commonly experienced in the outpatients department, but the occurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma arising within a cutaneous epidermal cyst is extremely rare. Herein, a case of a squamous cell carcinoma arising from a recurrent epidermal cyst is reported.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Humans ; Outpatients

PURPOSE: Among more than 500 microRNAs, microRNA-21 (miR-21) is known to act as an oncogene. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of miR-21 expression level in relation with clinicopathological factors and prognosis in breast cancer. METHODS: MicroRNA was extracted from cancer and normal breast tissue of 109 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery from 2002 to 2004 using the Taqman(R) MicroRNA Assay. The correlation between miR-21 expression and clinicopathologic features was analyzed and the significance of miR-21 as a prognostic factor and its relationship with survival was determined. RESULTS: MiR-21 expression was higher in cancer tissues than in normal tissues (p<0.0001). High miR-21 expression was associated with mastectomy, larger tumor size, higher stage, higher grade, estrogen receptor (ER) negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, HER2 positive breast cancer subtype, high Ki-67 expression, and death. On multivariate analysis, prognostic factors for overall survival were ER and miR-21. High miR-21 expression was significantly related to lower overall survival (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: This study supports the role of miR-21 as an oncogene and a biomarker for breast cancer with its high expression in cancer tissues and its relationship with other prognostic factors and survival.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; MicroRNAs ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oncogenes ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptor, erbB-2