A hemangioma is a common soft tissue tumor, usually affecting the cutaneous regions of the head and neck in infancy and childhood. A hemangioma in the gastrointestinal tract is rare occurrence which is usually found in the submucosa of the small and large intestine, but rarely in the stomach. Infrequently, multiple cavernous hemangiomas have been reported on skin and in the intestines. A 23-year-old man was admitted with hematemesis. An upper endoscopy revealed a purple colored sessile lesion at the posterior wall side of the fundus which had surface erosion and erythema. This lesion was easy to bleed when the patient retched. Another sessile lesion was detected at the greater curvature side of the upper body. The patient had two intradermal soft masses at the back and left forearm. An X-ray revealed a phebolith that suggested a cavernous hemangioma. An abdomen CT and angiography revealed that these lesions were highly suggestive of hemangioma. Gastric wedge resection was performed and the histological diagnosis was gastric cavernous hemangiomas.
Abdomen ; Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Erythema ; Forearm ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Hematemesis ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; Intestines ; Neck ; Skin ; Stomach ; Young Adult

In this study, 23 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from a methanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla koreana. The NF-kappaB inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was measured in TNFalpha-treated HepG2 cells using a luciferase reporter system. Compounds 19-23 inhibited TNFalpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activation in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values ranging from 0.75-8.30 microM. Compounds 19 and 20 also inhibited the TNFalpha-induced expression of iNOS and ICAM-1 mRNA. Moreover, effect of the isolated compounds on PPARs transcriptional activity was assessed. Compounds 7-11 and 19-23 activated PPARs the transcriptional activity significantly in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values ranging from 0.9-10.8 microM. These results suggest the presence of potent anti-inflammatory components in P. koreana, and will facilitate the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Hep G2 Cells ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Luciferases ; Methanol ; NF-kappa B ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors* ; Pulsatilla* ; RNA, Messenger ; Saponins* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the oxidative genetic damage caused by benzene exposure in workers. METHODS: We measured urinary t,t-muconic acid levels as a biomarker for benzene exposure and measured the level of urinary 8-OHdG to assess oxidative DNA damage in benzene-exposed healthy male workers. Genetic polymorphisms of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 were determined by TaqMan assay. We estimated Pearson correlation coefficients between urinary t,t-muconic acid and 8-OHdG according to the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 and ALDH2. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between urinary t,t-muconic acid and 8-OHdG concentrations in overall subjects (R=0.532, p<0.001). Smokers showed a higher correlation coefficient between the markers than nonsmokers did (R=0.520 vs. 0.010). Individuals with CYP2E1 c1/c1 genotype also showed a higher correlation coefficient between them than those with CYP2E1 c1/c2 or c2/c2 genotypes (R=0.670 vs. -0.145). In multiple linear regression analysis including smoking status, sorbic acid intake, age and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 as the independent variables, urinary t,t-muconic acid showed a significant association with urinary 8-OHdG. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant correlation between urinary 8-OHdG and urinary t,t-muconic acid in benzene-exposed workers. This relationship was affected by genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1and ALDH2.
Benzene ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1* ; DNA Damage ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sorbic Acid

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is mandatory to be differentiated from other hepatic tumorous conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and adenoma. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical, radiological and pathological features of FNH cases reported in Korea. METHODS: We have searched the journals from the web site "http://koreamed.org" using keywords "focal nodular hyperplasia" and "liver" - total of 38 cases of FNH, 37 cases from 17 published articles and one case from our experience confirmed histologically, were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty eight cases were diagnosed between gestational age of 36 weeks and 67 years. Seventeen female patients (45%) had no history of taking oral contraceptives. Twenty cases (52.6%) experienced clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain and palpable mass. Computed tomography revealed contrast-enhancement in 34 nodules (85%) and typical central stellate scar in 9 (22.5%) of 40 nodules. Magnetic resonance imaging showed T1 weighted low signal in 18 (60%) and T2 weighted high signal in 22 (73.3%) of 30 nodules. Six (60%) of 10 cases showed hypervascular staining on hepatic angiography. Among 38 cases, 32 (84.2%) cases had single nodule and their mean size was 3.9 cm (0.5-16 cm). Pathologically, fibrous septa, proliferation of bile ductules and arterial wall thickening were seen in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: Of all the FNH cases reported in Korea, there were some differences in clinical aspects of sex ratio, accompanying clinical symptoms, and relationship with oral contraceptives, compared with previous reports. Further prospective studies are needed by means of nation-wide clinical survey and analysis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Female ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase(PHGPx), an antioxidative selenoprotein, is modulated byestrogen in the testis and oviduct. To examine whetherpotential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affectthe microenvironment of the testes, the expression patternsof PHGPx mRNA and histological changes were analyzedin 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats exposed to severalEDCs such as an androgenic compound [testosterone (50,200, and 1,000microg/kg)], anti-androgenic compounds [flutamide(1, 5, and 25mg/kg), ketoconazole (0.2 and 1mg/kg), anddiethylhexyl phthalate (10, 50, and 250mg/kg)], andestrogenic compounds [nonylphenol (10, 50, 100, and 250mg/kg), octylphenol (10, 50, and 250mg/kg), and diethyl-stilbestrol (10, 20, and 40microg/kg)] daily for 3 weeks via oraladministration. Mild proliferation of germ cells andhyperplasia of interstitial cells were observed in the testesof the flutamide-treated group and deletion of thegerminal epithelium and sloughing of germ cells wereobserved in testes of the diethylstilbestrol-treated group.Treatment with testosterone was shown to slightly decreasePHGPx mRNA levels in testes by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. However, anti-androgeniccompounds (flutamide, ketoconazole, and diethylhexylphthalate) and estrogenic compounds (nonylphenol,octylphenol, and diethylstilbestrol) significantly up-regulated PHGPx mRNA in the testes (p<0.05). Thesefindings indicate that the EDCs might have a detrimentaleffect on spermatogenesis via abnormal enhancement ofPHGPx expression in testes and that PHGPx is useful as abiomarker for toxicity screening of estrogenic or anti-androgenic EDCs in testes.
Androgen Antagonists/pharmacology ; Animals ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate/pharmacology ; Diethylstilbestrol/pharmacology ; Endocrine Disruptors/*pharmacology ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology ; Flutamide/pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Histocytochemistry ; Ketoconazole/pharmacology ; Male ; Phenols/pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatogenesis/drug effects ; Testis/*drug effects/*enzymology ; Testosterone/pharmacology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) is a promising new target for treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A high expression level of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a possible prognostic indicator for poor outcome in other malignancies. Here, we investigated the clinical significance of PD-1 and PD-L1 in patients with HCC. METHODS: We enrolled patients with HCC who underwent surgical resection at Severance Hospital between 2012 and 2017 and investigated the levels of PD-L1 in HCC tissues (tPD-L1) and PD-L1/PD-1 in serum (sPD-L1/sPD-1). We also aimed to determine whether expression levels correlated with clinical and histological features. RESULTS: A total of 72 patient samples were analyzed. The median sPD-L1 and sPD-1 levels were 25.72 and 341.44 pg/mL, respectively. A positive correlation was detected between tPD-L1 and sPD-1 levels (R²=0.426, P<0.001). The median sPD-1 level increased linearly with tPD-L1 score (P=0.002). During the follow-up period, HCC recurred in eight (11.1%) patients and liver-related mortality occurred in eight (11.1%) patients. Higher sPD-L1 levels (≥19.18 pg/mL) tended to be associated with liver-related mortality (hazard ratio 6.866; 95% confidence interval, 0.804–58.659, P=0.078). sPD-1 levels of patients treated with nivolumab as a second-line therapy changed serially, and a >50% reduction in sPD-1 levels was observed immediately after nivolumab administration. However, sPD-1 level was not associated directly with prognosis in patients with advanced HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that PD-L1 and PD-1 levels changed according to the immunotherapy. However, no significant association with clinical outcome in patients with HCC was detected.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Mortality ; Prognosis

We have shown that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) was required for the off-contraction in response to the electrical field stimulation (EFS) of feline esophageal smooth muscle. In this study, we investigated whether protein kinase C (PKC) may require the on-contraction in response to EFS using feline esophageal smooth muscle. The contractions were recorded using an isometric force transducer. On-contraction occurred in the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), suggesting that nitric oxide acts as an inhibitory mediator in smooth muscle. The excitatory composition of both contractions was cholinergic dependent which was blocked by tetrodotoxin or atropine. The on-contraction was abolished in Ca2+-free buffer but reappeared in normal Ca2+-containing buffer indicating that the contraction was Ca2+ dependent. 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), voltage-dependent K+ channel blocker, significantly enhanced on-contraction. Aluminum fluoride (a G-protein activator) increased on-contraction. Pertussis toxin (a Gi inactivator) and C3 exoenzyme (a rhoA inactivator) significantly decreased on-contraction suggesting that Gi or rhoA protein may be related with Ca2+ and K+ channel. ML-9, a MLCK inhibitor, significantly inhibited on-contraction, and chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor) affected on the contraction. These results suggest that endogenous cholinergic contractions activated directly by low-frequency EFS may be mediated by Ca2+, and G proteins, such as Gi and rhoA, which resulted in the activation of MLCK, and PKC to produce the contraction in feline distal esophageal smooth muscle.
4-Aminopyridine ; Aluminum ; Aluminum Compounds ; Atropine ; Azepines ; Benzophenanthridines ; Contracts ; Esophagus ; Fluorides ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Pertussis Toxin ; Protein Kinase C ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; Tetrodotoxin ; Transducers

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in biological fluids are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of urological diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of the study was to identify and validate urinary cell-free miRNAs that can segregate patients with PCa from those with BPH. METHODS: In total, 1,052 urine, 150 serum, and 150 prostate tissue samples from patients with PCa or BPH were used in the study. A urine-based miRNA microarray analysis suggested the presence of differentially expressed urinary miRNAs in patients with PCa, and these were further validated in three independent PCa cohorts, using a quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: The expression levels of hsa-miR-615-3p, hsv1-miR-H18, hsv2-miR-H9-5p, and hsa-miR-4316 were significantly higher in urine samples of patients with PCa than in those of BPH controls. In particular, herpes simplex virus (hsv)-derived hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p showed better diagnostic performance than did the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for patients in the PSA gray zone. Furthermore, a combination of urinary hsv2-miR-H9-5p with serum PSA showed high sensitivity and specificity, providing a potential clinical benefit by reducing unnecessary biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that hsv-encoded hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9-5p are significantly associated with PCa and can facilitate early diagnosis of PCa for patients within the serum PSA gray zone.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Simplexvirus ; Urologic Diseases

There have been numerous reports on the relationship between eosinophilia and toxocariasis. The present study investigated seropositive rates of toxocariasis among healthy people with or without eosinophilia in urban and rural areas, and assessed risk factors for positive antibody test. A total of 610 healthy people, who visited health check-up (Medicheck(R), Korea Association of Health Promotion), 310 from Seoul and 300 from Gyeongsangnam-do, were subjected for this study. Their serum samples were tested by ELISA with the crude antigen of Toxocara canis larvae. Cross-reactions with other tissue invading helminth antigens were also investigated. Total antibody positive rate of toxocariasis was 8.7% of the 610 subjects. When the subjects were grouped into 3 by their eosinophil counts, the antibody positive rates significantly differed by the groups; 5.9% (18/306) in the group<350/microL, 10.0% (11/110) in the group 350-500/microL, and 12.4% (24/194) in the group>500/microL (P=0.028). A total of 22 serum samples cross-reacted with other tissue-invading helminth antigens. A questionnaire analysis recognized drinking alcohol and smoking as significant risk factors of toxocariasis. In conclusion, toxocariasis antibody positive rate is correlated with eosinophil counts. It is recommended that healthy subjects with eosinophilia by routine health examination and risk factors undergo Toxocara serology by multiantigen ELISA to investigate etiology.
Age Distribution ; Comorbidity ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population/*statistics & numerical data ; Serologic Tests/statistics & numerical data ; Sex Distribution ; Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Urban Population/*statistics & numerical data

BACKGROUND: Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) is an essential regulator of DNA replication and plays important roles in the activation and maintenance of the checkpoint mechanisms in the cell cycle. CDC6 has been associated with oncogenic activities in human cancers; however, the clinical significance of CDC6 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether the CDC6 mRNA expression level is a diagnostic and prognostic marker in PCa. METHODS: The study subjects included 121 PCa patients and 66 age-matched benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. CDC6 expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical (IH) staining, and then compared according to the clinicopathological characteristics of PCa. RESULTS: CDC6 mRNA expression was significantly higher in PCa tissues than in BPH control tissues (P = 0.005). In addition, CDC6 expression was significantly higher in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (> 20 ng/mL), a high Gleason score, and advanced stage than in those with low PSA levels, a low Gleason score, and earlier stage, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high expression of CDC6 was significantly associated with advanced stage (≥ T3b) (odds ratio [OR], 3.005; confidence interval [CI], 1.212–7.450; P = 0.018) and metastasis (OR, 4.192; CI, 1.079–16.286; P = 0.038). Intense IH staining for CDC6 was significantly associated with a high Gleason score and advanced tumor stage including lymph node metastasis stage (linear-by-linear association, P = 0.044 and P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: CDC6 expression is associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics in PCa. CDC6 may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in PCa patients.
Cell Cycle ; DNA Replication ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger*