p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK), one of the downstream effectors in ERK1/2 pathways, shows high expression in human breast cancer tissues. However, its role in breast cancer development and drug resistance is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that Cis-DDP treatment failed to increase cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MCF-7 cells and p90RSK activation was involved in Cis-DDP-resistance to MDA-MB-231 cells. In the study, we found that inhibition of p90RSK expression or activation using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) or dominant-negative kinase mutant (DN-p90RSK) plasmid overexpression increased Cis-DDP-induced cytotoxicity of MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Mechanistically, we found that Cis-DDP resistance was associated with up-regulation of epithelial growth factor (EGF) expression and EGF treatment induced cancer survival signaling pathway including activation of ERK1/2, p90RSK, and Akt. We also examined the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins using a reverse transition-quantitative PCR analysis. Cis-DDP treatment induced EMT by increasing the expression levels of N-cadherin, Snail, and Twist, while decreasing the expression levels of E-cadherin. Furthermore, we examined the epithelial marker, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) using immunofluorescence analysis and found that Cis-DDP-inhibited ZO-1 expression was recovered by p90RSK deactivated condition. Therefore, we conclude that Cis-DDP resistance is involved in EMT via regulating the EGF-mediated p90RSK signaling pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells.
Breast Neoplasms ; Cadherins ; Cisplatin ; Drug Resistance ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Phosphotransferases ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Snails ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms ; Up-Regulation

Objectives: . A primary reason for the low adoption of hearing aids (HAs) among the large population with sensorineural hearing loss is the perception that these devices may negatively impact remaining hearing ability. Research addressing this issue has yielded conflicting results. This study examined the long-term effects of HAs on standard audiometric changes in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: . We retrospectively analyzed patients who acquired unilateral HAs between 2015 and 2017 and demonstrated consistent use over a 5-year period. We examined demographics, medical comorbidities, audiometric data, and questionnaire results from the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids. Additionally, we reviewed each patient’s history of noise exposure and prior HA use. Results: . The study included 55 patients who used unilateral HAs, with a mean follow-up period of 5.32 years. Among them, 31 patients (56.4%) used the HA on the right side. Audiometric data from the aided side showed no significant difference from the unaided side in either the pre-fit pure-tone average of air conduction (AC) or word recognition score (WRS) (PConclusion . No significant factors were identified as contributing to hearing deterioration after prolonged HA use. Overall, the use of HAs did not adversely impact residual hearing.

The development of breast implant technology continues to evolve over time, but changes in breast shape after implantation have not been fully elucidated. Thus, we performed computerized finite element analysis in order to better understand the trajectory of changes and stress variation after breast implantation. The finite element analysis of changes in breast shape involved two components: a static analysis of the position where the implant is inserted, and a dynamic analysis of the downward pressure applied in the direction of gravity during physical activity. Through this finite element analysis, in terms of extrinsic changes, it was found that the dimensions of the breast implant and the position of the top-point did not directly correspond to the trajectory of changes in the breast after implantation. In addition, in terms of internal changes, static and dynamic analysis showed that implants with a lower top-point led to an increased amount of stress applied to the lower thorax. The maximum stress values were 1.6 to 2 times larger in the dynamic analysis than in the static analysis. This finding has important implications for plastic surgeons who are concerned with long-term changes or side effects, such as bottoming-out, after anatomic implant placement.
Breast Implantation ; Breast Implants ; Breast ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Gravitation ; Mammaplasty ; Motor Activity ; Plastics ; Surgeons ; Thorax

In this article, it has been stated that this study was supported by SMtech Development Program (#2018-0006-01) and Research Fund of Chungnam National University (#2017-1794-01). This information has now been corrected as follows: This research was supported by Research Fund of Chungnam National University (#2017-1794-01).

Minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 were isolated from Korean red ginseng and reported to have various biological effects on anti-inflammatory and anti-stress activities. However, the effects of Rh1 and Rg2 on antioxidant activity and their regulatory effects on the antioxidant enzymes have not been studied. Since oxidative stress is one of the major toxic inflammatory responses stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the present study investigated the role of minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 on antioxidant effects in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we found that treatment with ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 strongly inhibited LPS-stimulated intracellular ROS production in cells. Luciferase assay showed that treatment with LPS reduced antioxidant response element (ARE) encoding the pARE-luc promoter activity, while ginsenosides inhibited the pARE-luc promoter activity. Moreover, ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 exhibited anti-oxidative activity in LPS-induced cells by upregulating antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Our results suggest that minor ginsenosides Rh1 and Rg2 may be potential bio-active compounds for antioxidative effects by inhibiting the generation of ROS in RAW 264.7 cells.
Antioxidant Response Elements ; Antioxidants ; Catalase ; Ginsenosides* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Luciferases ; Oxidative Stress* ; Panax ; RAW 264.7 Cells* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase

The authors performed rigid reconstruction using the sandwich technique for full-thickness chest wall defects by using two layers of acellular dermal matrix and bone cement. We assessed six patients who underwent chest wall reconstruction. Reconstruction was performed by sandwiching bone cement between two layers of acellular dermal matrix. In all patients, there was no defect of the overlying soft tissue, and primary closure was performed for external wounds. The average follow-up period was 4 years (range, 2–8 years). No major complications were noted. The sandwich technique can serve as an efficient and safe option for chest wall reconstruction.

Chronic invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening disease, especially in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis and treatment of tracheal aspergillosis (TA) are challenging because of its rarity and nonspecific clinical presentations. The treatment standard of TA has been medical treatment like other forms of invasive aspergillosis, but patients with medically resistant TA require surgical intervention. We demonstrated a successful surgical outcome of chronic invasive TA in a 16-year-old patient with immunocompromised status related to acute myelocytic leukemia.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is possible and can be a cause of recurrent bacterial meningitis. Petrous apex meningocele (PAM) is mostly asymptomatic and is often found during incidental imaging tests. We experienced a case of CSF rhinorrhea with recurrent meningitis in bilateral PAM after adenoidectomy. This report highlights the diagnostic process of CSF leak, identification of leakage site, and surgical approach to petrous apex lesions.

This report presents a case of contralateral breast cancer in a BRCA mutation-positive patient who had previously undergone delayed free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction for unilateral breast cancer. Having used up the available abdominal autologous tissue in the first reconstruction, a direct-to-implant procedure was employed for the reconstruction of the second, contralateral breast. Therefore, one breast was reconstructed using autologous tissue from the abdomen, while the other was asymmetrically reconstructed with an implant. If the risk of contralateral breast cancer had been anticipated initially, we might have opted for implant-based reconstruction from the start to facilitate a more symmetrical outcome in the event of subsequent contralateral reconstruction. This case underscores the importance of reviewing the risk of contralateral breast cancer in patients with unilateral breast cancer who also carry mutations in BRCA and other breast cancer susceptibility genes. Furthermore, it encourages consideration of how mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes, including BRCA, influence the choice of plastic surgery reconstruction techniques. The findings from genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility are now crucial to achieving aesthetic completeness in breast reconstruction.

Objectives: . The aim of this study was to compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus elective neck dissection (END) in clinically node-negative (cN0) tongue cancer. Methods: . This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with cN0 tongue cancer from a single institution, including 91 patients in the SLNB group and 120 patients in the END group. Results: . The overall recurrence rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. The regional control rate was also comparable between the two groups (P=0.490). The 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was slightly better in the SLNB group than in the END group (P=0.427). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 89.9% in the SLNB group versus 91.9% in the END group (P=0.737). In a propensity-matched subgroup analysis, the type of neck management did not affect RFS or OS. Conclusion . SLNB showed non-inferior oncologic outcomes compared to END in patients with cN0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.