Nitric oxide (NO), the production of which is dependent on Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), has been shown to contribute to pathogeneses in various diseases. Recent investigations of NOS expression in tumor tissues indicate that NO may mediate one or more roles during the growth of human cancers. The aim of this study was to determine whether iNOS is expressed in human colon carcinoma cell lines and to determine the types of NOS isozymes in colon carcinoma cell lines with high and low metastatic potentials. METHODS: We measured the expressions of iNOS and eNOS and the formation of nitrotyrosine which indicates peroxinitrate production in highly metastatic colon cancer cell (KM1214) and lowly metastatic colon cancer cell (KM12C) by Western blots. RESULTS: The iNOS were detected in both KM1214 and KM12C by Western blot analysis. The expression of iNOS in KM1214 cells was significantly higher than in KM12C cells. The expression of iNOS was increased with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in colon cancer cells but the rate of increase was higher in KM1214 cells than in KM12C cells. CONCLUSIONS: In human colon carcinoma cells, iNOS is expressed in cancer cells and expression of iNOS is higher in highly metastatic colon cancer cells than in lowly metastatic colon cancer cells and iNOS expression may have some role in colon cancer metastasis.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Humans* ; Isoenzymes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide*

Purpose: Muscle relaxation following electrical automatic massage (EAM) has been found to reduce fatigue, depression, stress, anxiety, and pain in individuals with various conditions. However, the effects of EAM have not been extensively explored in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Materials and Methods: Here, we conducted a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of EAM on the cognitive and non-cognitive functions of patients with AD spectrum disorders. Results: We found that EAM attenuated changes in attention-associated cognitive scores and subjective sleep quality relative to those in controls. Conclusion While further studies in a clinical setting are needed to support our findings, these encouraging results suggest that EAM may be an alternative therapy for the management of associated symptoms in AD (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03507192, 24/04/2018).

Purpose: Muscle relaxation following electrical automatic massage (EAM) has been found to reduce fatigue, depression, stress, anxiety, and pain in individuals with various conditions. However, the effects of EAM have not been extensively explored in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Materials and Methods: Here, we conducted a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of EAM on the cognitive and non-cognitive functions of patients with AD spectrum disorders. Results: We found that EAM attenuated changes in attention-associated cognitive scores and subjective sleep quality relative to those in controls. Conclusion While further studies in a clinical setting are needed to support our findings, these encouraging results suggest that EAM may be an alternative therapy for the management of associated symptoms in AD (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03507192, 24/04/2018).

PURPOSE: The expressions of Cytokeratin7 (CK7) and CK20 have been studied by a lot of cancer researchers, and these 2 protein markers are often used to find the primary foci of metastatic cancers. There have been numerous studies on vimentin, p53 and Ki-67 as prognostic factors for different cancers. However, it seems that there are a few investigations on the expression of CK7 and CK20 in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. This study aimed to investigate the expressions of CK7, CK20, vimentin, p53 and Ki-67 in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and we wanted to determine whether the expressions of vimentin, p53, and Ki-67 are related to such prognostic factors as age, the tumor size, nodal metastasis or perithyroidal tissue invasion. METHODS: Paraffin slices of 44 papillary thyroid carcinomas from 44 patients were used for immunohistochemistry with using monoclonal antibody against CK7, CK20, vimentin, p53 and Ki-67. The expressions of CK7, CK20 and vimentin were determined simply by the staining competence, and more than 5% positive cells out of 1,000 cells in a highpowered microscopic view was considered as positive for the p53 and Ki-67 expressions. The expressions of vimentin, p53 and Ki-67 were investigated for their correlation with age, perithyroidal tissue invasion, the size of the tumor and metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes. RESULTS: Total of 44 patients (7 men and 37 women) were examined. The average size of tumor was 1.3 cm, and 28 (63.6%) out of 44 patients had perithyroidal tissue invasion. 29 (65.9%) patients had cervical lymph node metastases. The expression of CK7 was observed in all 44 (100%) patients, but only three (6.8%) among them had the expression of CK20. The expression of vimentin was shown in 43 (97.7%) patients. The expressions of p53 and Ki-67 were seen in 33 (75%) patients and 12 (27.7%) patients, respectively. The expressions of vimentin, p53 and Ki-67 were not significantly related with age (P=1.0, 0.084), perithyroidal tissue invasion (P=1.0, 0.798), the size of the tumor (P=0.234, 0.313) and cervical lymph node metastases (P=0.582, 0.948). CONCLUSION: As expected, papillary thyroid carcinoma showed a CK7(+)/CK20(-) pattern. Further research is needed to find the meaning of the expression of vimentin because it was meaningless analyzing the relationship between the prognostic factors due to fact that 97.7% of the patients had the expression of vimentin. There was no statistically significant relation between the expressions of p53 and Ki-67 and age, the size of thyroid tumor, perithyroidal tissue invasionand cervical lymph node metastasis.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mental Competency ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Vimentin*

BACKGROUND: MPO is an antimicrobial enzyme in the primary granule of neutrophil. MPO exhibits MPO-I, MPO-II, MPO-III using chromatography in human peripheral leukocytes. we investigated MPO isozymes from human leukocytes of peripheral blood. METHODS: Neutrophils were prepared from 5-8mL of peripheral blood in the group of normal persons (normal group) and the group of patients with neutrophilia (patient group). Their cells were adjusted to 2.4X10(7) cells and sonified. We got finally the crude MPO from which native PAGE was performed and treated with diaminobenzine and H2O2. RESULTS: Normal neutrophil MPO had MPO-1 and MPO-2. The expression rates of MPO-1 and that of MPO-2 were respectively 100%, 67.5% in the normal group and 56.6%, 30.2% in the patient group (P=0.000, P=0.000). The expression rate of combined MPO-1 and MPO-2 and that of MPO-1 without MPO-2 were respectively 67.6%, 32.4% in the normal group and 28.3%, 28.3% in the patient group (P=0.000, P=0.000). The expression of MPO-2 without MPO-1 and that of no MPO isozymes were respectively 0.0%, 0.0% in the normal group and 1.9%, 41.5% in the patient group (P=0.000, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Normal neutrophil MPO expresses MPO-1 and MPO-2 usig native PAGE. The main MPO isozyme is MPO-1. Expressions of MPO isozymes are variable in the patient group.
Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has been used in many surgery to treat complicated wound and impaired wound healing by delivering negative pressure at the wound site through a patented dressing, which helps draw wound edges together, remove infectious materials, and actively promote granulation at the cellular level. Recently application of NPWT has been increased to treat deep neck infection. We aimed to retrieve indications and guidelines to treat deep neck infection from our cases and after reviewing articles. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From our experience with 9 cases presented as deep neck abscess in which the application of a Vacuum-assisted closure device was used instead of common drainage tubes after surgical evacuation and journal review, indications and guidelines to apply NPWT as one of the tools to treat deep neck infection were retrieved. RESULTS: Indication and Guideline of NPWT. 1) For simple abscess involving single space excepting the mediastinum, intravenous administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, needle aspiration or simple surgical drainage is recommended. 2) In the case of failure of previous treatments, NPWT will be necessary for immunocompromised hosts such as diabetic patients for whom more than two spaces are involved, the mediastinal involvement, compromised airway or disseminated intravascular coagulation. In severe cases involving the chest, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or mediastinoscopy could be used. 3) For patients with improving signs such as decreasing pus, increasing granulation formation, negative culture results from sponge, and normalized C-reactive protein, we can stop NPWT and convert to the regular wound care. CONCLUSION: Indication and Guideline of NPWT could be applied to treat deep neck infection.
Abscess ; Administration, Intravenous ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bandages ; C-Reactive Protein ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Drainage ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mediastinoscopy ; Mediastinum ; Neck* ; Needles ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy* ; Porifera ; Suppuration ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Mutans streptococci is the major causative factor in dental caries. Especially, orthodontic patients with fixed appliance are a risk group for dental caries. Because fixed appliances attached on teeth may change the environment of dental plaque, the enamel decalcification or dental caries around the bracket and band is a major side effect of orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to search plant extracts that have antimicrobial effect on mutans streptococci. Seed-extract of Casia tora were prepared with ethanol and CHMC-2032, the leaf-extracts from Camellia sinensis extract, was obtained extract, 2 type strains and 20 clinical isolates of mutans streptococci isolated from the interface between orthodontic brackets and tooth surfaces in the orthodontic patients were used in this study. The minimal inhibitory concentration of CHMC-2032 was 5 mg/ml on the S. mutans KCTC 3065, S. sobrinus KCTC 3088, and 8 clinical isolates of S. sobrinus. However, there was no antibacterial effect of seed-extract of C. tora on mutans streptococci. These data suggest that green tea may be more effective than the tea prepared from C. tora in the prevention of enamel decalcification or dental caries around brackets.
Camellia sinensis* ; Camellia* ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Plaque ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Orthodontic Brackets* ; Plant Extracts ; Tea ; Tooth*

No abstract available.
Finasteride* ; Risk Factors ; Venous Thrombosis*

Background: and Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with acute transient global amnesia (TGA) using volumetric analysis to verify whether the brains of TGA patients have pre-existing structural abnormalities. Methods: We evaluated the brain MRI data from 87 TGA patients and 20 age- and sexmatched control subjects. We included brain MRIs obtained from TGA patients within 72 hours of symptom onset to verify the pre-existence of structural change. For voxel-based morphometric analyses, statistical parametric mapping was employed to analyze the structural differences between patients with TGA and control subjects. Results: TGA patients exhibited significant volume reductions in the bilateral ventral anterior cingulate cortices (corrected p<0.05). Conclusions TGA patients might have pre-existing structural changes in bilateral ventral anterior cingulate cortices prior to TGA attacks.

PURPOSE: The endoscopic surgery has been widely used and developed in operations of the thyroid and parathyroid gland because of the cosmetic advantage and the development of laparoscopic instrument. Since the first endoscopic thyroid surgery in late 1990's, many endoscopic operations for thyroid tumors have been performed in Korea. The authors analyzed the current status of endoscopic thyroid surgery performed in Korea. METHODS: We have collected and analyzed the data of endoscopic thyroid operations using survey. RESULTS: The surgeons working in 16 hospitals answered the questions in survey. The total endoscopic thyroid operations were performed over 1,200 cases until the end of 2004. In the pathologic diagnosis, nodular hyperplasia was most frequent in 64.5%. The axillary approach was most frequently applied in 9 hospitals (56.2%). Most of endoscopic thyroid operations were performed in 2~3 hours. The operation time was decreased according to the experience. The endoscopic surgery for malignant tumors were also performed in 11 hospitals, The hospital stay was usually 3~4 days. The most common complications in endoscopic thyroid surgery were temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and anteior chest wall discomfort or paresthesia. The most common reason for conversion to conventional surgery was the intraoperative diagnosis as for a malignancy. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroid surgery has been perfomed in many hospitals not only special thyroid clinic in Korea. The operation cases are increasing rapidly in these days. According to the development of technique and instrument, the endoscopic surgery are applied to various neck disease involving malignancy. The safety and efficacy of endoscopic surgery for malignancy should be further evaluated with accumulation of experience of endoscopic operation and long term follow-up of thyroid cancer patients.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Paresthesia ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Surgeons ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy*