Inflammation is closely related to the progression of cancer as well as tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on E-cadherin expression in SNU719 gastric cancer cells. E-cadherin expression decreased as the dose or exposure time of PGE2 and IL-1beta increased, whereas Snail expression increased with dose or time of PGE2 and IL-1beta. E-cadherin expression reduced by PGE2 treatment increased after the transfection of Snail siRNA. Neutralization of IL-1beta using anti-IL-1beta antibody blocked the expression pattern of E-cadherin and Snail occurred by IL-1beta treatment. However, there was no synergic effect of IL-1beta and PGE2 on the expression pattern of E-cadherin and Snail. In conclusion, inflammatory mediators reduced E-cadherin expression by enhancing Snail expression in gastric cancer cells. Inflammation-induced transcriptional regulation of E-cadherin in gastric cancer has implications for targeted chemoprevention and therapy.
Antibodies/immunology ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology ; Cadherins/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dinoprostone/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/immunology/*pharmacology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology ; Transcription Factors/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism

Retinal prosthesis is regarded as the most feasible method for the blind caused by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. One of the prerequisites for the success of retinal prosthesis is the optimization of the electrical stimuli applied through the prosthesis. Since electrical characteristics of degenerate retina are expected to differ from those of normal retina, we investigated differences of the retinal waveforms in normal and degenerate retina to provide a guideline for the optimization of electrical stimulation for the upcoming prosthesis. After isolation of retina, retinal patch was attached with the ganglion cell side facing the surface of microelectrode arrays (MEA). 8x8 grid layout MEA (electrode diameter: 30micrometer, electrode spacing: 200micrometer, and impedance: 50 k omega at 1 kHz) was used to record in-vitro retinal ganglion cell activity. In normal mice (C57BL/6J strain) of postnatal day 28, only short duration (<2 ms) retinal spikes were recorded. In rd/rd mice (C3H/HeJ strain), besides normal spikes, waveform with longer duration (~100 ms), the slow wave component was recorded. We attempted to understand the mechanism of this slow wave component in degenerate retina using various synaptic blockers. We suggest that stronger glutamatergic input from bipolar cell to the ganglion cell in rd/rd mouse than normal mouse contributes the most to this slow wave component. Out of many degenerative changes, we favor elimination of the inhibitory horizontal input to bipolar cells as a main contributor for a relatively stronger input from bipolar cell to ganglion cell in rd/rd mouse.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Ganglion Cysts ; Macular Degeneration ; Mice ; Microelectrodes ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retina ; Retinal Diseases ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; Visual Prosthesis

PURPOSE: Gastric carcinoma tissues release high level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when compared to non-neoplastic mucosa, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis, is often overexpressed in gastric carcinomas and during gastric carcinogenesis. However, little is known about the expression of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), the key enzyme responsible for the biological inactivation of PG, in gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the expression of 15-PGDH in 28 cases of advanced gastric carcinomas by Western blot analysis and also the relation between its expression and the gene promoter methylation. RESULTS: 15-PGDH expression was significantly decreased in gastric carcinomas compared to corresponding non-neoplastic tissues and inversely correlated with the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in gastric carcinomas. However, there was no correlation between 15-PGDH expression and pathological findings such as nodal metastasis and vascular invasion. Promoter hypermethylation of 15-PGDH gene was not detected in carcinomas, with only a negligible expression of the enzyme. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that 15-PGDH has tumor suppressor activity in gastric carcinomas.
Aged ; Base Sequence ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Neoplasm/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases/genetics/*metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms/*enzymology/genetics

Objectives: ：We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) patterns in patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and the relationships of these patterns with alexithymia. Methods: ：In total, 42 patients with SSD and 33 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Demographic, psychological, and HRV data were assessed at baseline, and 24 patients with SSD were reassessed after 6 months of treatment. The psychological data included somatic symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and alexithymia as indicated by the somatic symptom subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-12), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20), respectively. Results: ：Patients with SSD had a lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and lower proportions of adjacent R-R intervals greater than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) compared with controls. These HRV parameters were negatively correlated with alexithymia severity. After treatment, patients exhibited significantly decreased levels of somatic symptoms and reduced anxiety and depression, but there were no significant differences in the HRV parameters. In patients with alexithymia, a high baseline SDNN and pNN50 were associated with a decrease in somatic symptoms. Conclusions ：Patients with SSD have different HRV patterns, and several HRV parameters are associated with alexithymia severity. These findings suggest that ANS regulation is involved in the pathophysiology of SSD, mediated by alexithymia. Furthermore, these results suggest that certain HRV parameters may be associated with clinical outcomes of SSD.

Benign abducens nerve palsy is rare in children. Identifiable causes of abducens nerve palsy include neoplasm, elevated intracranial pressure, infection and trauma. Isolated abducens nerve palsy with unknown etiology is classified as benign or idiopathic. The diagnosis is made by excluding underlying pathologies. Prognosis is favorable. Most patients have been found to recover spontaneously within 6 months. Recurrent palsy is observed in some patients and is more pronounced in younger girls with left-sided palsy. Even the recurrent cases, however, are still benign. We report a case of benign abducens nerve palsy presenting diplopia and headache with normal results from MRIs and microbiologic studies. The patient underwent rapid, spontaneous recovery.
Abducens Nerve ; Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Child ; Diplopia ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Paralysis ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the effects of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes including mortality rates following surgery for osteoporotic hip fractures. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and the relationship between sarcopenia and 1- and 5-year mortality rates in a consecutive series of patients with osteoporotic hip fractures. METHODS: Among patients who underwent hip surgery for osteoporotic hip fractures, this study included 91 patients subjected to abdominal computed tomography within 1 year of hip surgery. We defined sarcopenia using sex-specific cut-off points for the skeletal muscle index at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were compared. To confirm factors affecting mortality in addition to sarcopenia, we examined patient age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, location of fracture, type of surgery, and bone mineral density. RESULTS: The 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 20.9% and 67.2%, respectively. Among the 45 patients with sarcopenia, the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 22.2% and 82.7%, respectively. Of the 46 patients without sarcopenia, the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 19.6% and 52.7%, respectively. Results of the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that sarcopenia did not affect the 1-year mortality rate (P=0.793), but had a significant effect on the 5-year mortality rate (P=0.028). Both perioperative sarcopenia (P=0.018) and osteoporosis (P=0.000) affected the 5-year mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia increases the risk of 5-year mortality in patients with osteoporotic hip fractures.
Bone Density ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Mortality* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Prevalence ; Sarcopenia* ; Spine

Common complications after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty include infection, aseptic loosening, polyethylene wear, and progression of another compartmental arthritis. Complications caused by extruded cement and loose cement body are very rare, and have not been reported in Korea. This paper reports a case of femoral cartilage injury of the lateral compartment caused by a loose cement body after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. The loose cement body was removed successfully by arthroscopic surgery.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether recommended levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) decrease the risk of MetS in a community-based prospective cohort study (Ansung and Ansan cohort).MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3910 adults (1890 men, 2020 women) without MetS examined in 2001–2002 (baseline) were included in this study and followed up from 2013 to 2014. We measured LTPA energy expenditure using the standard metabolic equivalent value [metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h/wk]. Individuals were categorized into five groups (physically inactive, 0.1 to <7.5, 7.5 to <15.0, 15.0 to <22.5, 22.5 to <40.0, and ≥40.0 MET-h/wk).RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.8 years. Among the cohort, 482 men (25.5%) and 541 women (26.8%) were diagnosed with newly developed MetS. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed a 4.4% lower MetS risk among those performing two to three times the recommended minimum of 7.5 MET-h/wk [multivariate relative risk (RR), 0.956; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.654–1.398] and a 21.9% lower risk among those performing three to four times the physical activity minimum (multivariate RR, 0.781; 95% CI, 0.574–1.063). This association was only significant in females performing three to four times the minimum (crude RR, 0.655; 95% CI, 0.432–0.994).CONCLUSION: We noted that physical activity at more than 2 times the recommended minimum prevents MetS. Healthcare professionals should encourage inactive adults to be physically active during their leisure time to take advantage of its health benefits.
Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Male ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Motor Activity ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a cardiac syndrome of a transient, reversible left ventricular dysfunction that is caused by emotional and/or physical stress and surgery. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of myocardial ischemia without a coronary artery lesion. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is more common in middle-aged women, and the prognosis is favorable. We report the case of a 50-year-old female patient who underwent a total gastrectomy and developed stress-induced cardiomyopathy after surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cardiomyopathies ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prognosis ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

BACKGROUND: Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and the proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system, usually involving the leptomeninges. Chronic partial epilepsy as a sole manifestation is rare in NCM. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man suffering from chronic partial epilepsy presented with multiple CMN on his trunk and scalp. Brain MRI demonstrated a focal lesion in the right amygdala that was consistent with interictal epileptiform discharges in the right temporal region on electroencephalography (EEG). An anterior temporal lobectomy was performed, and the pathology investigation revealed numerous melanophages in the amygdala. The patient was seizure-free after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report a patient with NCM presenting as chronic partial epilepsy who was successfully treated by anterior temporal lobectomy.
Adult ; Amygdala ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Scalp ; Stress, Psychological