To investigate the effect of bile acid on gastric mucosa, we performed biologic test using Sprague-Dawley rat. Mixture solution of TDCA 15mM and Hcl of pH 3 was given into stomach to one group and HCl of pH 3 was given into stomach to another group. The significant gastric mucosal change was vasodilation and edema, that was disappeared progressively. These findings suggest the bile acid and damage gastric mucosa.
Animals ; Bile* ; Edema ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach ; Vasodilation

Pancreatic acinar cells exhibit a polarity that is characterized by the localization of secretory granules at the apical membrane. However, the factors that regulate cellular polarity in these cells are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of Mist1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, on the cellular architecture of pancreatic acinar cells. Mist1-null mice displayed secretory granules that were diffuse throughout the pancreatic acinar cells, from the apical to basolateral membranes, whereas Mist1 heterozygote mice showed apical localization of secretory granules. Deletion of the Mist1 gene decreased the expression of type 3 inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3R) but did not affect apical localization and expression of IP3R2. Mist1-null mice also displayed an increase in luminal areas and an increase in the expression of zymogen granules in pancreatic acinar cells. These results suggest that Mist1 plays a critical role in polar localization of cellular organelles and in maintaining cellular architecture in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.
Acinar Cells ; Animals ; Cell Polarity ; Heterozygote ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; Membranes ; Mice ; Organelles ; Phenobarbital ; Secretory Vesicles ; Transcription Factors

Acute gastric volvulus is extremely rare emergency surgical condition by abnormal rotation of stomach. It presents a puzzling picture which makes early diagnosis difficult, yet surgical interference must be accomplished early if life is to be saved. Gastric volvulus can be classified anatomically as organoaxial or mesenteroaxial. The symptoms triad of gastric volvulus are severe nausea with a paradoxical inability to vomiting, localized epigastric pain and impossibility of introducing a gastric tube. The diagnosis of it may be suspected on plain radiographic examination of the abdomen and symptoms, it is confirmed by specific findings on the upper gastrointestinal series. We experienced a case of mesenteroaxial type of acute gastric volvulus associated with diaphragmatic eventration. We treated this patient with reduction of volvulus, repair of diaphragmatic eventration, gastrojejunostomy and gastropexy. The authors report this case with a brief review of recent literatures.
Abdomen ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragmatic Eventration* ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastropexy ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Nausea ; Stomach ; Stomach Volvulus* ; Vomiting

An adenosquamous carcinoma of the penis is an exceedingly rare, highly malignant tumor, with histological features of a squamous cell carcinoma and an adenocarcinoma, which originates in the penile surface epithelium, and possibly in embryologically misplaced mucus glands of the perimeatal region of the glans mucosa. We report a case of an adenosquamous carcinoma of the penis in a 73-year-old man who had been suffering from a painful ulcerative mass on his penis for 2 years.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Mucus ; Penis* ; Ulcer

Carcinoid-type tumorlets of the lung are nodular microscopic proliferation of round and spindle-shaped small cells which originated from bronchial or bronchiolar Kulchitsky-type neuroendocrine cells, which are usually encountered as an incidental finding during microscopic examination of the lungs at autopsy or surgically removed for bronchiectasis or other reasons. We report one case of carcinoid-type tumorlets in the lung which was surgically removed from a patient who had bronchiectasis, and the cells of tumorlets showed immunohistochemical reactivities for markers of epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation.
Autopsy ; Bronchiectasis ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Lung* ; Neuroendocrine Cells

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of acute viral liver injury is decreasing, but drug induced liver injury by herbal medicine and health foods is on an increasing trend after introduction of vaccination. Nevertheless, there is no consensus of diagnostic method and causality assessment for acute liver injury. Therefore, the cause, clinical features, prevalence and pattern of acute liver injury caused by herbal medicine and health foods in Gyeongju area were analyzed. Moreover, Council for International Organization of Medical Science (CIOMS) scale and Maria and Victorino (MandV) scale, clinical scales for causality assessment in hepatotoxicity were compared. METHODS: 78 patients in whom there was definite evidence of taking medicine and there was one more increase of over 2N (upper limit of the normal range) in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or total bilirubin (TB) or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and self-remitted after drug stop were selected excluding patients with previous liver disease history and history of alcohol, metabolic liver disease and hapatobiliary disease and viral, autoimmune, unknown origin hepatitis among 150 patients of admission due to acute liver injury, from April 1997 to March 2001. Each case was investigated retrospectively about taken medicine, the pattern of liver injury, recovery period after drug stop, history of alcohol, other hepatobiliary disease, pregnancy, recent hypotension, rechallenge and viral markers of hepatitis, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, TB, ALP. Also, herbal medicine and western medicine groups were compared and consistency with CIOMS scale and MandV scale were investigated. RESULTS: For four years, among 150 cases, drug-induced liver injury were 78 cases (52.0%), occurred the highest prevalence. In taken medicine, western medicine were 39 cases (50.0%), herbal medicine and health foods were 39 cases (50.0%), too. Among those cases, herbal medication were 23 cases (58.9%), pellet 5 cases (12.8%), In-jin-ssuk 3 cases (7.7%), deer extract 3 cases (7.7%), kitosan 2 cases (5%) and pumpkin extract, carp, plant roots was 1 case (2.5%) respectively. In the pattern of liver injury, hepatocellular liver injury were 48 cases (61.5%), occurred the highest prevalence. Between CIOMS and MandV scale, best correlation were only 2 cases (2.6%), therefore, their agreement was very low. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of drug induced liver injury is on an increasing trend in Gyeongju area and acute liver injury caused by herbal medicine and health foods had very high incidence was ascertained. Therefore, we should attend to indiscreet use of herbal medicine and health foods and should give a warning to our society. And a new clinical scale suitable for characteristic of our country that had high prevalence of liver injury caused by herbal medicine and health food is needed.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Biomarkers ; Carps ; Consensus ; Cucurbita ; Deer ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Food, Organic ; Hepatitis ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Plant Roots ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Vaccination ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Alpha-interferon achieves HBeAg seroconversion in about 30 to 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis B, and recently discovered lamivudine, an oral nucleoside analogue, inhibits hepatitis B virus replication and reduces hepatic necroinflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B effectively. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of alpha-interferon, lamivudine and their combination regimen. METHODS: Fourty chronic hepatitis B patients, who were diagnosed through HBV DNA, HBeAg positivity, alanine aminotransferase elevation, and liver biopsy were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients were treated with 500 MU of alpha-interferon subcutaneously 3 times a week for 6 months, 9 patients were treated with 150 mg of lamivudine and alpha-interferon, and 19 patients were treated with 150 lamivudine daily for 6 months. RESULTS: After treatment, all of the three groups showed rapid decline in HBV DNA level, but lamivudine group showed more clearance of HBV DNA than interferon group (alpha-interferon: 75%, combination group: 89%, lamivudine group: 100%, respectively) (p=0.04). HBeAg seroconversion rate was 25% for interferon group, 11% for combination group, 26% for lamivudine group, showing no difference between three groups (p=0.705). Mean serum ALT level and rate of ALT normalization during therapy showed no differnece (83% for interferon group, 78% for combination group, 84% for lamivudine group). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the efficacy of combination interferon/lamivudine therapy appears disappointing and further study should be done for appropriate combination or monotherapy of lamivudine for patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biopsy ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons ; Lamivudine* ; Liver

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been one of the mainstay in breast cancer treatment. The effects of high dose 5-FU on cell cycle regulation were studied in breast caner cells. METHODS: A breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was used. Protein expressions of G1/S cyclins, p21(Waf1/Cip1), cdk2, E2F1 and retinoblastoma were tested by western blot analysis. Immunoprecipitation and immune complex kinase assay were done for the assessment of E2F1/RB interacton and the activity of cdk2 respectively. RESULTS: p21(Waf1/Cip1) expression was barely detectable in control cells. With addition of 5-FU level of p21(Waf1/Cip1) were induced and cyclin D3 level was decreased as cell growth decreases. In accordance with increased expression of p21(Waf1/Cip1), cyclin E-associated cdk2 kinase activity was reduced. Retinoblastoma protein (RB) became dephosphorylated and E2F-1 binding activity with RB was increased. CONCLUSION: In this situation of high concentration of 5-FU breast cancer cells tend to be G1/S cell cycle arrested. Overexpression of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and dephosphorylation of RB may mediate the effectss of 5-FU by inhibiting E2F-1 activity, which contributes to G1/S cell cycle arrest. These results could be an indicating landmark for further study of high dose chemotherapy with 5-FU.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Line* ; Cyclin D3 ; Cyclins ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Phosphotransferases ; Retinoblastoma ; Retinoblastoma Protein

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metallic stents designed to relieve malignant biliary obstruction are susceptible to occlusive tumor ingrowth or overgrowth. In a previous report, we described metallic stents covered with paclitaxel-incorporated membrane (MSCPM-I, II) to prevent occlusion from tumor ingrowth via antitumor effect. This new generation paclitaxel-eluting biliary stent is further endowed with sodium caprate (MSCPM-III) for enhanced drug delivery. The purpose of this study is to examine the safety of its drug delivery system in the porcine biliary tract. METHODS: MSCPM-III (10% [wt/vol] paclitaxel) and covered metal stents (CMSs) were endoscopically inserted in porcine bile ducts in vivo. Histologic biliary changes, levels of paclitaxel released, and various serum analytes (albumin, alkaline phosphate, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total protein, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin) were assessed. RESULTS: Based on the intensity of reactive inflammation and fibrosis, changes in porcine biliary epithelium secondary to implanted MSCPM-III were deemed acceptable (i.e., safe). Histologic features in the MSCPM-III and CMS groups did not differ significantly. In a related serum analysis, paclitaxel release from MSCPM-III stents was below the limit of detection for 28 days. Biochemical analyses were also similar for the two groups, and no evidence of hepatic or renal toxicity was found in animals receiving MSCPM-III stents. CONCLUSIONS: In a prototypic porcine trial, this newly devised metal biliary stent incorporating both paclitaxel and sodium caprate appears to be safe in the porcine bile duct.
Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; Biliary Tract ; Bilirubin ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Inflammation ; Limit of Detection ; Membranes ; Paclitaxel ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Self Expandable Metallic Stents ; Sodium ; Stents

PURPOSE: To find out the differences in eating habits between poor feeding and non-poor feeding children. METHODS: We performed questionnaires on 504 children under four years of age who visited hospitals in Gwangju city and JaollaNamdo from May to August, 2002. RESULTS: 138 (27.4%) children were included in poor feeding group, and 366 (72.%) children were in non-poor feeding group. Breast feeding rate was 18.8% in the poor feeding group and 20.3% in the non-poor feeding group. Duration of breast feeding for less than six months were noted in 70.5% of poor feeding group, and 58.5% of non-poor feeding group. The time at starting solid food in the poor feeding group was as follows; 15.9% of infants started on solid food when they were 2~4 months old, 32.7% during 4~6 months, 38.1% during 6~8 months and 18.8% over one year of age. Solid food was given in wrongly manners in both groups by nursing bottles, including 80.4% in poor feeding group and 66.6% in non-poor feeding group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated close relationships among poor feeding children under four years of age with history of low rate and short duration of breast feeding, inappropriate time to start on solid food, less interest in food during mealtime, and unbalanced diet. Pediatricians should make an effort to play an important role in nutritional education and treatment in children.
Breast Feeding ; Child* ; Diet ; Eating* ; Education ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Infant ; Meals ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires