Periodontal diseases have been associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating evidences have indicated that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontopathic pathogen, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. We showed that the MMP-9 expression induced by P. gingivalis LPS is mediated by the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of STAT3 activity reduced P. gingivalis LPS-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. Overall, our findings indicate that P. gingivalis LPS stimulates the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via STAT3-mediated MMP-9 expression.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Movement ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Periodontal Diseases ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Porphyromonas ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Transducers

Systolic time interval measurements were made sequentially during second, third trimesters and postpartum period. Recordings were made in the supine position after bed rest for at least five minutes in order to obtain a steady state. In second trimester, pre-ejection period index (PEPI) was significantly shortened and left ventricular ejection period index(LVETI) remained normal while PEP/LVET decreased. Four possible mechanisms may be involved to account for the alterations in hemodynamic changes during this period(late stage of second trimester) : (1) increased metabolic demands of pregnancy: (2) hemodynamic effects of hypervolemia: (3) circulatory adjustments secondary to an arteriovenous shunt-like effect of the placental circulation: (4) cardiovascular effect of steroid hormone. The third trimester was characterized-by a markedly shortened LVETI, a prolonged PEPI and PEP/LVET. This findings are consistent with impaired left ventricular performance and are probably due to decreased left ventricular preload resulting from diminished venous return secondary to inferior vena caval obstruction by the large gravid uterus. In the postpartum period, the PEPI and PEP/LVET remained elevated and the LVETI shortened in the supine position. It is concluded that alterations in systolic time intervals occur normally during the course of uncomplicated pregnancy and persist into the postpartum period.
Bed Rest ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Placental Circulation ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Supine Position ; Systole* ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: Glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus are frequently observed in chronic liver disease. However, the causal relationships between these two are difficult to prove. Chronic hepatitis B infection, which is prevalent in Korea, is thought to be a good model to study the natural history of abnormal glucose metabolism in chronic liver disease because many patients with chronic hepatitis B infection eventually progress to liver cirrhosis. METHODS: In order to evaluate glucose metabolism in chronic hepatitis B infection, we did intravenous glucose tolerance test in patients with chronic hepatitis B and age, sex and body mass index matched controls and compared the first phase insulin response and glucose disappearance rates between 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients with chronic hepatitis B showed lower glucose disappearance rate and higher plasma insulin and C-peptide area (0-10min after iv glucose) than controls. Patients with decreased glucose disappearance rate had higher AST level and decreased plasma C-peptide area (0-10min). CONCLUSION: Most of the patients with chronic hepatits B infection is associated with insulin resistance and compensatory increase in the first phase insulin secretion. Inadequate insulin secretion may contribute to decreased glucose disappearance rate in these patients.
Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose Intolerance ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin* ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Metabolism* ; Natural History ; Plasma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional outcome with regard to cognitive deficits in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHOD: Two hundred thirty-four patients who underwent surgical procedure for aneurysmal SAH were enrolled. Medical records of the patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Mental confusion (52.1%) was more common symptom than the motor (20.3%) and language (30.9%) impairment in patients with aneurysmal SAH. Neurological grade at admission (Hunt and Hess grade), cerebral vasospasm, and mental confusion were major prognostic factors. In terms of functional outcome, patients with mental confusion showed lower Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at admission and on discharge, lower FIM gain and FIM efficiency, and longer hospital stay with statistical significance than those without confusion. CONCLUSION: The patients with cognitive deficits achieved poor functional outcome in the patients with aneurysmal SAH. More attention to cognitive impairment is necessary to achieve better rehabilitation goal.
Aneurysm* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Rehabilitation ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious postoperative complication. Prompt diagnosis of PTE is important but it is difficult because clinical manifestations of PTE are not obvious in most cases. If a patient had tachypnea, cold sweating and hypoxemia in postoperative period, PTE must be thought to be one of possible causes of tachypnea. We have experienced one case of PTE after operation. A 40 year-old woman underwent total hystrectomy and partial omentectomy due to huge, bizarre shaped and inflammatory myoma presenting as an abdominal mass with abscess pocket accompanied by severe and adhesion. At the 5 th postoperative day tachypnea and hypoxemia were developed suddenly. PTE was confirmed with lung perfusion scan and leg edema with deep vein thrombosis occurred later. Proper cardiopulmonary support and anticoagulant therapy were done and the patient was recovered and discharged in improved condition.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Anoxia ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Leg* ; Leiomyoma* ; Lung ; Myoma ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tachypnea ; Venous Thrombosis*

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a serious postoperative complication. Prompt diagnosis of PTE is important but it is difficult because clinical manifestations of PTE are not obvious in most cases. If a patient had tachypnea, cold sweating and hypoxemia in postoperative period, PTE must be thought to be one of possible causes of tachypnea. We have experienced one case of PTE after operation. A 40 year-old woman underwent total hystrectomy and partial omentectomy due to huge, bizarre shaped and inflammatory myoma presenting as an abdominal mass with abscess pocket accompanied by severe and adhesion. At the 5 th postoperative day tachypnea and hypoxemia were developed suddenly. PTE was confirmed with lung perfusion scan and leg edema with deep vein thrombosis occurred later. Proper cardiopulmonary support and anticoagulant therapy were done and the patient was recovered and discharged in improved condition.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Anoxia ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Leg* ; Leiomyoma* ; Lung ; Myoma ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tachypnea ; Venous Thrombosis*

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a foremost periodontal pathogen, has been known to cause periodontal diseases. Epidemiologic evidences have indicated the involvement of P. gingivalis in the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we show that the P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide increases the mRNA expression and protein secretion of interleukin-6 in vascular smooth muscle cells. We demonstrate that P. gingivalis LPS activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Akt, which mediate the IL-6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. Also, P. gingivalis LPS stimulates the vascular smooth muscle cell migration, which is a critical step for the progression of atherosclerosis. Moreover, neutralization of the IL-6 function inhibits the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by P. gingivalis LPS. Taken together, these results indicate that P. gingivalis LPS promotes the expression of IL-6, which in turn increases the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.
Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Movement ; Interleukin-6 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Phosphotransferases ; Porphyromonas gingivalis* ; Porphyromonas* ; Protein Kinases ; RNA, Messenger

Dental pulp is a highly vascularized tissue with high regenerative potential. Revascularization of severed vasculature in the tooth is required for pulp healing during avulsed tooth treatment. In this study, the relative expression of angiogenesis-related proteins was determined in human dental pulp cells using a human angiogenesis proteome profiler array. The proteome profiler array detected differentially expressed angiogenesis-related factors under conditions of hypoxia, which enhances the angiogenic potential of dental pulp cells. We confirmed that hypoxia regulates the mRNA expression of angiogenesis-related factors, including CXCL16 in dental pulp cells. Furthermore, conditioned media of hypoxic pulp cells induced tube-like structures of vascular endothelial cells, which were reduced by the neutralization of CXCL16 function. In conclusion, our data show that angiogenesis-related factors are differentially expressed by hypoxia in dental pulp cells and suggest that CXCL16 may involve in the revascularization of hypoxic dental pulp.
Anoxia* ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Dental Pulp* ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans* ; Proteome ; RNA, Messenger ; Tooth ; Tooth Avulsion

Vinpocetine induces anti-inflammatory effects in various inflammatory diseases via the inhibition of phosphodiesterase type-1-independent nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and the release of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effect of vinpocetine on the proliferation of colon cancer cells and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Our data showed that vinpocetine inhibits the viability and proliferation of colon cancer cells. Vinpocetine treatment induced cell death in HCT116 cells, which the percentages of sub-G1 phase were significantly increased, and the apoptosis-related genes were regulated after HCT116 cells were treated with vinpocetine. In sum, our findings indicated that vinpocetine could be a therapeutically useful candidate in the treatment of colon cancer.

Vinpocetine induces anti-inflammatory effects in various inflammatory diseases via the inhibition of phosphodiesterase type-1-independent nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and the release of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effect of vinpocetine on the proliferation of colon cancer cells and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Our data showed that vinpocetine inhibits the viability and proliferation of colon cancer cells. Vinpocetine treatment induced cell death in HCT116 cells, which the percentages of sub-G1 phase were significantly increased, and the apoptosis-related genes were regulated after HCT116 cells were treated with vinpocetine. In sum, our findings indicated that vinpocetine could be a therapeutically useful candidate in the treatment of colon cancer.